There was information about a person in the town of Acadora who helped people cross the border for money.
Clyde obtained this information from the traveling merchant who frequented Heremos.
Clyde went to a tavern on the outskirts of Acadora and spoke to the waiter who came to take his order.
“I’m looking for a man named Kersund.”
Though he was only sixteen years old, Clyde’s build already resembled that of an adult man. Covering his face with a hood and speaking with a deep voice, he did raise suspicion.
“What do you want with Kersund?”
The response came from the next table. Turning around, Clyde saw a man with a scruffy beard staring at him.
“I want to cross the border. I heard there’s a way if I find Kersund.”
Clyde approached the man, lowered his voice, and continued speaking.
The man looked him up and down, then wiped the beer foam from his beard with the back of his hand.
“Follow me.”
Clyde followed the man out of the tavern.
After walking through a few alleys, they descended into the basement of a building.
As they entered through a door, Clyde saw a group of men sitting at a table, engrossed in a card game.
“Who is that?”
One of the men with sharp features and a prominent jaw asked. The bearded man shrugged.
“He’s looking for Kersund. He wants to cross the border.”
At the man’s words, the sharp-featured man got up from his seat and walked toward Clyde.
“I’m Kersund.”
Clyde took the man’s outstretched hand and shook it wordlessly.
“How many people are with you?”
“Just me.”
“When do you want to depart?”
“The sooner the better.”
Kersund gently stroked his chin with a slow gesture.
“It’s tough at the moment. There are many people ahead of you.”
“How long do I have to wait?”
“About two weeks should do.”
“I can’t wait that long!”
Clyde unintentionally raised his voice. In the letter he left for his mother, he promised to return within two weeks. His mouth dried up from nervousness.
“Well, it’s not entirely impossible.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it’s obvious. If you pay more than the usual price, the problem will be easily solved.”
“…How much do I have to pay?”
“Three thousand.”
Clyde’s eyes widened. It was more than twice the amount he had heard from the traveling merchant.
“I don’t have that kind of money!”
“Well, then there’s nothing I can do. You’ll just have to wait.”
Kersund said that and turned away without hesitation. Clyde quickly grabbed his arm.
“Just wait for a moment. I don’t have much time. I must cross the border today or tomorrow. Please, understand my situation just this once. If you do, I promise to come back and pay the remaining amount. I swear.”
Kersund seemed startled by Clyde’s firm grip.
“Uh, let’s discuss this after you let go.”
As Clyde released his grip, Kersund frowned and rubbed his wrist.
“How much do you have right now?”
“…If we deduct the travel expenses to the destination, I can offer a maximum of 2,200 dorts.”
After much contemplation, Kersund sighed.
“I have no choice. I’ll take only that amount this time and let you pass. Your situation seems dire, so I’ll make an exception just this once.”
“Thank you, thank you so much!”
Clyde’s face brightened, and he firmly shook Kersund’s hand.
“Ah, it hurts. It hurts! Let go of me!”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Kersund glared at Clyde with a pained expression.
“We’ll be leaving at night, so wait in the back room over there until the sun goes down.”
“Understood.”
Clyde followed Kersund’s instructions and went inside the corner room, where he sat down.
After a while, a woman with an apron came in carrying a tray.
“You must be thirsty, Have at least this.”
It was beer. Clyde shook his head.
“Thanks, but no alcohol.”
“You don’t drink? Why not?”
The woman asked with her eyes wide open. As if she was looking at something strange.
“I just, I don’t like it very much.”
Clyde gave a vague answer, unable to say that he had never tried it.
The woman stared at Clyde for a moment, then turned around and left the room.
How much longer did he wait after that?
Finally, Kersund poked his head in from outside the door.
“Ready. Let’s go.”
Clyde followed Kersund as they exited the building. It was already dark outside. Without a lamp, he couldn’t see an inch ahead.
It was when he was walking deep in an alley, looking only at Kersund’s back.
Suddenly, a loud thud and a dull impact on the back of his head made everything before him turn white, and he stumbled forward.
A warm liquid trickled down his ear, and he felt the touch of rough hands rummaging through his belongings.
“Damn it, you should have drunk the drink that was offered to you. Why do you have to complicate things and make a mess?”
Kersund’s annoyed voice faintly echoed in Clyde’s ears as if it were from a dream.
Soon, he felt rough hands searching his body.
“What’s this? You’re still a kid, aren’t you? You look too pretty to be a simple boy. By the way, Mr. Brunt, can we make some money with this?”
It was the voice of the bearded man.
“Arthur, look at him. He looks like a nobleman’s son. If we mess up, we could get in trouble. It’s better to handle this cleanly without any fuss.”
‘Not Kersund… Brunt…’
Only then did Clyde realize that they had deceived him from the beginning. He tried to grab Brunt’s arm as he searched through his belongings, but his body wouldn’t respond.
“Hey, doesn’t this one look expensive?”
“What? Let me see.”
Clyde felt the sensation of the necklace being cut off.
It was the magic necklace that Ruby had given him, which could change the color of his eyes..
‘…I can’t let them have it.’
Ruby had given it to him. He couldn’t let anyone take it away. Without it, he couldn’t go see Ruby. If people found out he wasn’t human, it would be dangerous. So, never….
“You’re right. It looks like a luxury item. See, I told you, He must be some runaway nobleman’s son.”
“Are you sure it’s alright? What if something big happens later because of this…”
“Don’t you dare regret now after smashing his head. We can’t let him live anyway; he already saw our faces. Finish him up quickly.”
“Alright, alright.”
Clyde’s hand finally moved. He staggered and grabbed Brunt by the beard.
“What… this brat, isn’t he…!”
Once again, a dizzying blow struck Clyde’s head. The blows were repeated two or three times in the same spot, breaking bones and splattering blood.
Clyde collapsed to the ground, his face hitting the pavement.
“Hyungnim, what should we do? Should we dispose of him?”
“What’s the use of killing him after smashing his head? Put him in the sack where no one will notice, and we’ll bury him later. Now grab his legs quickly!”
Then, his once pitch-black vision began to be tinted with red.
His body felt as if it were engulfed in flames.
Yes, just like back then. The time when that man burned him alive. The sensation of flesh melting away, bones incinerating without end…
The searing flames that had wrapped around him began to spread outward like an explosion.
“Huh? What is this….”
“Ack!”
“Just a moment! Acckk!”
The men trying to move Clyde screamed simultaneously.
He couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
His body moved on its own, beyond his control.
Yet, he keenly felt everything.
He wasn’t sure who he was holding at the time, but he was certain that a life was being taken from someone because he could clearly feel it.
With a sickening sound, a warm and sticky sensation spread in his hand.
“Aaaahhhh!”
When he finally came to his senses, Clyde found himself standing alone in the dark alley.
His clothes were torn to shreds and rags, and his hands were soaked with sticky blood.
However, his physical condition was remarkably good. Despite the darkness enveloping him, he felt an overwhelming surge of strength coursing through his body.
He felt more powerful than ever before.
Even though there was not a single speck of light in the pitch-black darkness, Clyde could see everything around him as if it were a bright daylight scene.
‘…Oh, I see.’
In a moment of bewilderment, Clyde suddenly realized what had happened.
He had finally become a complete monster.
Without hesitation, he walked towards the remains of flesh, which presumably belonged to someone who had once been human. He picked up the fallen necklace and money purse.
And after putting on his cloak, he began to walk outside the alley.
Just your usual ordinary day ~~~