Dance of Blood

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“The world is filled with invisible forces. These forces are what allow us to use magic. These invisible forces can be active and moving, or they can be fixed and stationary. When these forces are in motion, we call them ‘magical power,’ and when they’re stationary, we call them ‘mana.'”

“Teacher! I have a question.”

“What is it now… Baek Jun-woo?”

“Well, magical power is actually visible, isn’t it? Calling it invisible seems like… some kind of metaphor? Also, I’m having trouble understanding how magical power and mana are ultimately the same thing. Magical power is visible, but mana isn’t, right? The feeling when touching a mana coin is different from absorbing magical power too… So how are they the same thing? Can mana be melted into magical power, like ice melting into water? I’ve never seen anything like that happen… When exactly does mana transform into magical power?”

“Sigh… Baek Jun-woo. I told you before. If you keep saying strange things, I’ll kick you out.”

“What? But these aren’t strange things, I’m genuinely curious…”

“Enough! Enough! Do you not see that your nonsense is affecting the other students?”

“Tone it down already! Jun-woo, you jerk!”

“So frickin’ annoying. Seriously.”

“Um… I just…”

“Sigh… Now, where were we?”

-A class from some time ago.

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+ – + – +

At fourteen years old.

This was my first time killing a person.

If you ask what it felt like, I’d say it was exactly like butchering a dead horse. Avoiding bones as you stab, scraping joints as you dismember.

Earth people seem to have this widespread notion of ‘respecting life,’ but it’s a culture I find difficult to understand. In the Star Continent, human life is no more valuable than that of a fly.

Besides, I have no mercy to spare for enemies who threaten my existence.

This isn’t Earth, after all.

“Haah… haah… Damn it…”

Blood feels thin like water at first, but becomes stickier as time passes.

Blood-soaked clothes grow heavy, and as the blood dries in the creases of my arms and armpits, it feels rough and uncomfortable against my skin.

Right… I was trying to convince myself.

But at this point, honesty serves me better.

Killing people?

It actually feels utterly disgusting.

With each repetition, I sink deeper into what feels like a quagmire, making me increasingly nauseated and on edge.

Nothing like butchering an animal. The mental toll is incomparable.

My stomach churns like I might vomit any moment.

I don’t know if this revulsion comes from being influenced by Earth memories or if it’s what they call instinct…

But one thing is certain. It’s incredibly difficult.

Yet,

I must continue.

“Haaah…”

I caught my breath, wiped the blood from my dagger, and sat down to sharpen it with a whetstone.

Scrape- scrape- scrape-

The blade, dulled from cutting through flesh and bone, regains its edge.

I examined the blade from various angles before standing up. I stripped off my blood-soaked outer clothes, tipped my water container over my head for a quick wash.

The sun was already setting, bringing cool winds from the wilderness, and at my feet lay four corpses in disarray.

Three at first, then three more looking for alcohol, then two who came searching for them, and then four more. Twelve people dead already.

Even with my enhanced physical abilities surpassing those of adult men, I was exhausted to the point of collapse. My arms and legs trembled and I felt dizzy.

The sickening feeling of fighting against someone desperately trying to stay alive had seeped into my bones, making my whole body shiver.

But I pretended not to care, swallowed hard, and took a step forward. I deliberately made my voice sound cold and detached.

“Twenty more to go.”

Too many eyes were watching me to show any weakness. Not human eyes. The magical powers swirling around me, staring intently.

Through my experiments with magical power over these past months, I’d discovered something.

White and bright green magical powers don’t appreciate cruelty and bloodshed.

But they dislike something even more.

Self-doubt. Magical powers of all colors despise weakness.

I’d already chosen this path.

Even if it required cruelty, even if it earned me the scorn of white and green magical powers, I needed to move forward with absolute conviction.

Showing weakness would be a million times worse.

So,

I’ll go all the way.

Just as the magical powers want. As if I’m not human.

The sky grew darker, and stars large and small rose beautifully into view.

For a moment, I thought I glimpsed something hazy in the center of the sky.

But before I could wonder about it further, I was already mentally preparing for my next kill.

+ – + – +

At last, Lanches appeared in the marketplace.

All twenty came fully armed.

While the nineteen men following Lanches already emanated a murderous aura like they’d filleted three people, Lanches himself smiled smoothly as always at the front.

After walking straight into the center of the market, Lanches grabbed a random person and asked. Still with that smiling face.

“Excuse me, do you know who killed our boys?”

Not something you’d ask with a cheerful expression, but that’s how he was. His casualness made the person being questioned uncomfortable.

“I-I don’t know. How would I know?”

As the man averted his gaze and tried to leave, Lanches stopped him. His smile grew even friendlier.

“Come on now. Don’t be like that. Twelve men have died already. Is it really possible you don’t know anything?”

“I-I really don’t know?”

The man unconsciously switched to formal speech as Lanches put his arm around his shoulder and asked in a friendly tone.

“Oh, come on. Tell me. It’s the Sena School Nomad, right?”

“…”

The man couldn’t answer and just averted his gaze.

Lanches nodded as if he understood, then took two steps back. He bowed deeply.

“Thank you for letting me know.”

Then he bowed again to the whispering nomads around him.

“Everyone, please don’t worry. We’ll resolve this quietly. Sorry for the disturbance.”

He was impeccably polite.

“What are you waiting for? Bow your heads too.”

At Lanches’ instruction, all nineteen young nomads bowed their heads as well. Just looking at this scene, they could have passed for exemplary young men—a rare sight in today’s world.

After finishing his greetings to everyone around, Lanches walked away from the market with light, casual steps.

His destination was the Sena School Nomad.