It had been a while since he had a success like this, to think he could actually score two whole silver coins in just one day. He couldn’t be happier.

His family was going to be so funny to hear this. His daughter loved it when he made more than usual, since it meant that she was going to get more food.

He loved her little smile.

The biggest wish she had was to get enough money and connections to somehow get into the Blue Rose, that way he could show his daughter what a true world is, one where you don’t have to worry about living to the next day.

And while he was still far away from doing so, he had hope, something rare in a place like this.

Walking through a crowd of people, many stared at his smile. It wasn’t normal to smile, even more to show it to others. But he just couldn’t hold it in.

With the corner of his eye, he saw a little boy come from the shadows in his direction. It was strange, at least if you weren’t used to this kind of behaviour. He didn’t seem to have much experience. I mean, many people would recognize what he was trying to do.

As they passed each other, the boy accidentally bumped into him, stumbling in his own large cloak. He regained himself, then turned to say sorry to him, leaving faster than he came.

Yet he couldn’t hold his laugh. Before the boy got away, he grabbed him by his wrist so he couldn’t get away, and turned him to face him.

“Boy, who do you think I am?” He extended his other arm with his palm open. “Come on, give me my money.”

The oldest trick in the book, he remembered doing it when he was young. He felt bad that the younger generation was stepping on their feet. He didn’t want his daughter to turn on to the same bad stuff he did, but at the same time, he had to teach her his ways so that she could defend herself when the time came.

The kid tried to get away, constantly budging and hitting him with his feet and other arm, and it surprisingly did hurt. He wasn’t that strong; he hadn’t ascended in class or rank, but still, he was much older than the child. So it was strange.

Seeing that his attempts to get away were unsuccessful, the boy sighed, taking off his hood, which surprised him, since he didn’t expect his appearance.

A boy with blonde hair and blue eyes, quite unheard of in a place like the Withered, together with his lanters, if he stayed without his hood, he was bound to attract attention.

He had wanted to say something, but suddenly the boy’s eyes dilated to the point his pupil completely covered his iris; it was quite frightening, but what was more strange was the sudden pain in his head, like someone was drilling inside and stuffing his skull with something.

“Damn it, what is this?”

…

…

Walking through a crowd of people, many stared at his smile. It wasn’t normal to smile, even more to show it to others. But he just couldn’t hold it in.

He knew he attracted attention, but he didn’t care.

Suddenly, though, a guard from the Blue Rose stopped him. He brought his sword to his neck.

He raised his arms in fear, looking at the guard’s face.

“Listen here, you either give us all your money or we kill you and your family.”

Why was this suddenly happening? He knew that the Blue Rose usually scammed merchants from the Withered, but they never stood this low. To not only ask for money, but also threaten him.

He didn’t know what to do; he needed the money to feed his family, and his daughter needed something to eat. But at the same time, if he didn’t, they were going to die.

‘Shit.’

He took a deep breath, put his hand in his pocket, and hesitantly took all his coins, throwing them at one of the guards.

The guard smiled and nodded as he took his blade away. “Pleasure doing business.” Then he turned to leave.”

But as he did that, he saw a bracelet on his arm, the same one that he had made for his daughter.

He felt his heart drop to the ground, as if his whole world had fallen down on him.

“Wait, where did you get that?” He pointed to the bracelet.

The guard stopped, taking a look at what he was pointing at, and laughing as he realized what he was talking about.

“Well, remember earlier when I said I was going to let you and your family go if you paid me? Well, it was only for you. I already killed your family.”

…

“What?”

His family was dead? Why, what had he done to deserve this? And why all of a sudden, something like this was unheard of, so why was he the first to experience to?

He fell to his knees, putting his head into his hands, and letting his emotions fall out.

…

…

“A cruel world the Withered is, but people who give up like this don’t deserve to take part in changing the world.”

Aether took one last look at the man and walked away as if nothing had happened.

[The Waning Tear] was more powerful than he could ever have thought. To the point where he could remember what memory to give. Did it waste a lot of his essence, yes. But it was worth it, after all, doing a simple trick got him money.

He didn’t have to observe and learn information with Shadow Speech anymore; he could be a complete newbie and still be successful.

Now, he had gotten enough money to buy something he needed. Five silver coins that was what he needed to buy this relic. He had eyed it a while ago, so he really hoped no one bought it.

Silver coins weren’t easy to get; just one silver coin is worth one hundred bronze coins. And he didn’t even have to say anything about gold coins. And well, recently the marketplace has also adopted the coins of the Blue Rose, to make it easier for them to buy something.

And if he was right, one bronze Blue Rose coin is worth a lot more than the Withered bronze coins.

It’s like night and day.

…

Walking through the streets of the Withered with five silver coins was risky, even more in such a crowded place like the Marketplace, but walking through the shadows, he was able to make it without any problem.

Now that he accepted who he was, the shadows also seemed to be more peaceful and welcoming. To the point he was almost invisible inside them. He wondered what else would happen when he ascended. Maybe he was going to be stronger, faster, maybe.

Well, there was one problem: each time he had to leave without his lantern when he wanted to go into the shadows. But since he has learn to deal with the poison for some time, he was able to get his work done. Plus, the pain was not as bad now that his path was back, so he could stay a lot longer.

If he had to say, around the fiftieth minute. That is how much his soul can endure before he dies.

Which was why he was rushing through the shadows; he needed to get there in time.

…

As he reached the stand, he stepped out of the shadows, walked under the light of the stand, and took off his hood. In case the man didn’t want to sell it to him, he could try to use his earring; he doubted he could find a memory to give him to manipulate him, but either way, it was still a possibility he could take.

“I wish for this one.”

He pointed to a brush.

Greetings in the Withered were unusual; no one liked anyone, so greetings were considered useless, so if you wanted to buy something, you just said what it was, or pointed.

Heck, even both, like he did.

The man nodded, extending his arm for him to give the money.

He felt a pain in his chest from giving away so much money. He really wanted to steal the brush, but since it was a relic, it was impossible.

A message appeared in front of him.

[Do you wish to spend 5 silver coins to buy the relic [Unwavering Paint]]

“Yes.”

…

[You have gained a new relic]

He sighed, leaving the marketplace with his new relic, which was going to start the second part of his plan.

“Showing the world that the Abyss was alive.”

With his new relic, he painted one of the walls, drawing the mark of the Abyss.

The relic made it so the paint was never cleaned, permanent, well, some relics could wash it, but it can’t be cleaned normally.

…

“All right, now, this way, people are going to see that the world isn’t going to be the same for long.”

…

“The question is who is going to want to be a part of the new world.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep