We walked about fifteen minutes and have entered the forest’s middle layer. The forest did not have a specific name or anything but it was used as a training ground for the beginner clansmen. Although the forest contained only low-tier to middle-tier beasts and monsters, I never dared to enter it with my prowess. It was practically suicide.

Even if I was born as a person with little to no power, deep in my heart, I always had a sliver of hope that someday I might be able to cast the spell [Fireball]. Of course, I also knew that it was only useless daydreaming.

I was leading the group in front even though I did not know anything about this forest except some very basic information. Garve, Darrian and their party were behind me, telling me where to go. We were walking really slow as I was still suffering from the injuries I received early this morning.

I was surprised that they only yelled and insulted me instead of beating me up for my slow walking speed. Perhaps they had some common sense after all; beating me up would only slow down the walking pace even more.

Shortly after, I was forced to stop at a rather large tree by Garve’s command. I have an extremely bad feeling about this situation. They couldn’t possibly try to do that, right?

“Heh, we have finally arrived after walking at a snail’s pace. Surely this would be worth the time, no?” One of the boys that was following behind Garve and Darrian, which I do not know what his name is, turned his head to pose a question to Garve.

“Why are you asking such a rhetorical question? Of course it is! Say, dog, why do you think we put up with your overly slow walking pace and did not beat you up on the spot?” Garve replied to the aforementioned boy and sneered at me while asking a question that I deemed dangerous.

“Garve, surely you wouldn’t be as brutal as to tie me up on that large tree and leave me as food for the beasts and monsters?” I asked as cold sweat rolled down on the side of my face and I took half a step back in caution.

“Exactly. Beat him up, boys.” With those two sentences alone, the previously ‘docile’ group of boys came charging at me and used their punches and kicks to pummel me to the ground.

“Using our fists and feet alone is enough to deal with you!”

“I ain’t gonna waste my time to use mana on a measly flea like you.”

“Be grateful that we are nice enough to touch you!”

“”””AHAHAHAHAHA!””””

“AHHHH! Uwagh! Oof! Ugh….” The once clean bandages wrapped around my body was now soaked in blood as I screamed continuously in pain and tears escaped from my now swollen eyes.

“Stop. That should be enough. Anymore and he will be dead. I want to make him feel the fear of facing the beasts and monsters with no way out so someone go and tie him up to the tree.” Darrian, who was quiet the whole journey, spoke and brought out a long rope from his bag.

“Aww, we haven’t had enough fun yet. Tch, no matter. Once he becomes a skeleton, that would surely be a good memory to remember. Maybe our parents might even praise us for getting rid of a pest that ruins the clan’s honor!” A boy stepped out and grabbed the rope from Darrian’s hands.

“Hmph, what skeleton? There would simply be nothing left of him when the fearsome beasts and monsters are done with him. Not even a single speck of dust.” Darrian snorted as he looked at me with undisguised disdain in his eyes.

“No…please, spare me.” I, who had become a bloody mess, earnestly begged mercy from these disgusting, repulsive 9 year olds. I could not even properly beg as I only had enough energy to speak.

“You are not qualified for our mercy. Know your place! You two, come help me tie up his body on the tree.” The boy who had the rope asked two of his friends to help him. I suppose this would seal my fate.

After a few minutes, I was already bound to the tree; with no power to escape from the thick rope that’s binding me. Garve, Darrian and the rest of the group only grinned with satisfaction before leaving me to my death. I did not even have the energy to stop and ask them to release me.

Soon enough, the day started to darken and strange cries erupted in the silence of the woods. I had already given up all hope of living and my eyes have turned into the dead eyes of a fish as I stared at the empty space.

“How laughable am I right now? If another life without flaws is given to me, the first thing I would do is to utterly and thoroughly crush this despicable clan,”

“I don’t care anymore….. I wanted to die anyways...” I muttered under my breath as deep hatred was the only thing that I could feel aside from the pain of my body.

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“Ssssk….ssk…” My attention soon turned towards a direction where the rustling sound of bushes and grass seemed to come from.

“Indeed, you are laughable and pathetic looking.” A man wearing a rather conspicuous black robe who came out of the woods, confirmed what I had previously said. He also wore a pair of black glasses, covering his eyes.

As he caught my attention, I studied his expression. It did not contain any of the usual contempt and disgust that I received from my peers. I was not able to know what he was thinking and feel about me.

Did he felt pity for me?

I do not know.

His reply was of course not ignored by me as I was muttering those words of hatred quietly yet, he was seemingly able to hear them clearly. I may have not able to use magic but I have studied a little about them. He must have used mana to enhance his hearing. Moreover, this forest was within the clan’s territory. No normal people can set a foot in here if they were not from the clan.

Well, at this point, what use is there to ponder about these useless things? --- With that thought, I casted my gaze downwards, devoid of everything except despair.

“I didn’t expect to find a young boy like you here in this forest. I might as well end your suffering.” The man stopped his sentence there. Currently, I do not know what kind of face he’s making and honestly speaking, I do not care anymore.

“That is if you were just some kid who got bullied. It seems like I need to move my plans to a much later date. It irks me that you seem to have some similarities with me. I’m in a good mood today. I’ll offer you a chance to change your life. Whether you accept or not is your choice.” He did not approach me nor did he kill me. Instead, he offered me a chance.

Those words he spoke struck a nerve inside of me. It instantly made me look up to see the man.

“If you reject then, you could only die pathetically here; becoming food for the beasts and monsters. This is as far as I can offer. Consider yourself lucky, boy.” His words didn’t contain disgust or contempt but it contained pride and dignity. He must be someone of important stature.

As the man said, if I want to die, I can reject him. If I want to live, I need to accept. I was feeling  skeptical about this man, however, it’s not like anything worse would happen than the situation I’m currently in. There was no loss.

“…. It’s not like I have any other choice.” I replied back to the man in black.

Before I noticed, the thick ropes binding my body was cut off and I was set free. I looked at the man with my red eyes widened. When did he do that?

“You are not allowed to regret your decision.” As soon as he finished his sentence, a black light flashed right before my eyes, blinding my sight.

When I have come to, I was in a large extravagant room.

“Where is this?” I involuntarily let out a question, all the while forgetting the pain that my body was feeling.

“You shall be staying here for a week. Don’t make yourself at home and don’t go out of the room. I will order someone to bring food to you. Till then, sit tight and stay in the room or else.” Without  answering my question, the man then informed me of some rules and immediately disappeared with a flash of black light.

What just happened?

These things that were happening were too abrupt. I was still processing the rest of the information in my head. And the “don’t make yourself” at home is …… really worrying. It’s usually “make yourself at home” not the other way around.

Basically, I pretty much cannot do anything and my activity is limited to this room.

“Ouch….” My voice was hoarse, caused by some of the blood that I accidentally swallowed when I got beat up. I want to look around this room but it seems that my current condition does not allow it.

I searched around the room with my black and blue swollen eyes for a bed. When a bed of quite a large size entered my vision, I slowly crawled towards it. After arriving at the foot of the bed, I climbed onto it carefully. Despite that, because of my injuries that I considered as severe, a part of my body would sting when I brushed against the bed.

After much difficulty, I was finally on top of the bed. With exhaustion accumulated from what happened for the entire day, I slept soundly with tears in my eyes.