NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8
Past 3
───A few days before Haise set out to collect white clover flowers.
Haise was sitting in a shabby room near the slums, examining an ancient manuscript he had found in his bag.
He couldn’t understand the writing, but it intrigued him.
It was likely someone else’s possession, but Haise couldn’t bring himself to part with it.
“Hmm… What is this writing? And… this diagram?”
It was a strange diagram.
A slender, tube-like object, resembling some kind of odd spring.
The writing was incomprehensible.
In its unintelligibility, it seemed to echo something about Haise’s own ability.
“Well, no matter. I’ll try decoding it bit by bit. Who knows… it might be the key to awakening my ability.”
Haise closed the book and put it back into his bag.
He strapped on the large basket sitting in his room, secured the copper sword he had painstakingly bought, and went downstairs.
The elderly owner of the inn shot him a sharp look.
“Alright, I’m off.”
“…………”
No response. Haise didn’t dislike the old man, though.
When he entered the adventurers’ guild, eyes turned toward him.
“That guy… used to be in Sacred.”
“Got kicked out, didn’t he?”
“He’s just an herb-gatherer now.”
“Guess he got tossed aside.”
“Still hanging on as an adventurer, huh?”
He was used to the whispers by now.
After accepting an herb-gathering request, he headed toward a nearby forest.
Mornings were for herb collecting. Afternoons, for training in a beginner dungeon outside the royal capital.
That was Haise’s routine.
After finishing herb-gathering in the morning, Haise went to the dungeon in the afternoon.
Typically, dungeons were tackled in teams.
But with his reputation as someone exiled from Sacred, no one wanted to partner with Haise.
So, as always, Haise entered the dungeon solo.
He could barely defeat the weakest monster on the first floor, the goblin.
He had grown accustomed to taking hits from goblin clubs.
“Ouch…”
Today was no different—he had been hit several times.
Still, he managed to defeat twenty goblins in one day, a personal best.
Haise smiled to himself.
“I’m getting stronger.”
He was undeniably better than the day before.
Haise believed that steady progress was the first step on the path to true strength.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
The next day.
After finishing his herb-gathering and reporting to the guild as usual—
“Oh───”
He ran into Sasha and the others as they were leaving the guild.
He had nothing to say to them. Truthfully… he wanted to apologize for what he said before being expelled.
But Sasha and the others had become people he could no longer casually approach.
So, he bowed and tried to walk away.
“Haise, listen.”
“…………”
“To the west, on the way to the Ohara Kingdom, there’s a small marsh. There’s a field of white clover flowers there—the material for healing potions. It’s an untouched spot.”
“Huh…”
“That’s all. Later.”
Sasha spoke with a hint of awkwardness.
Her expression was as cool as ever.
But Haise, who had known her for years, could tell.
This was the same Sasha as always.
“…………”
Feeling a bit happy, Haise walked into the guild at a slightly brisker pace.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
A few days later.
As Haise was heading to his usual forest for herb-gathering, he remembered Sasha’s words.
“A small marsh on the way to the Ohara Kingdom, huh…”
A field of white clover flowers.
Among the ingredients for healing potions, white clover was one of the most valuable.
If he collected a lot, he could sell them for a good price.
Maybe even afford a new copper sword—or perhaps an iron one.
Though it was a bit far, Haise decided to go.
Spending a full day gathering herbs didn’t sound too bad.
“Alright, let’s do this.”
Buying some bread for lunch, Haise set out.
The path to the Ohara Kingdom was a bit tricky, but with a map, he wouldn’t get lost.
After walking for half a day, he finally saw it—a small marsh surrounded by a little forest.
Without hesitation, Haise stepped in.
“Whoa…!! This is amazing.”
The marsh was overflowing with white clover flowers.
Haise carefully harvested them, taking care not to damage the roots.
If the roots were left intact, the flowers would grow back.
“Heh… Thanks, Sasha.”
Their worlds were different now… but maybe it wouldn’t hurt to thank her.
Lately, the bad rumors about him had been getting him down.
But at least for today, things were going well enough to forget about that.
And then───something completely unexpected happened.
“…Huh? Nighttime?”
Suddenly, it grew dark.
Looking up, Haise saw a jet-black something descending into the marsh before him.
“What the—?”
Grrrrrooooaaaaarrrr!!
It was a dragon, towering over 30 meters tall.
Bipedal, with long arms, a long neck, and short legs. A slow-looking, humanoid dragon.
Unbeknownst to Haise, this marsh was the dragon’s bathing spot.
“Ah… ah…”
Graaaaaaahhh!!
“Agh!”
The dragon’s massive hand reached for Haise like a cat playing with a caterpillar.
Haise slipped on the muddy ground and fell.
The dragon’s claws grazed him as he fell.
Its claws ripped through Haise’s right eye.
“Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh───!?”
Blood gushed out.
As Haise collapsed, the dragon swatted him with its tail, sending him flying.
“Guagh!”
He slammed into a tree at high speed.
Blood poured from his mouth, and his vision turned completely red.
He was strangely clear-headed despite being on the brink of death.
One thing was clear: this marsh was the dragon’s territory.
“…So…”
Why?
Why had Sasha told him about this place?
Did she know it was a dragon’s bathing spot?
Grrrrrrr…!!
“…………”
He was going to die.
Not as an adventurer, but as nothing more than food.
His hands and feet wouldn’t move. Only his mind remained oddly sharp.
All he could think about was his time with Sacred.
And the awful rumors he’d heard.
“That Haise guy… He’s like a stain on Sacred’s reputation, right? Sasha and the others probably hate him too.”
Had Sasha known?
“…No.”
No way.
He didn’t want to die.
Tears of blood streamed down Haise’s face.
The dragon loomed closer, drool dripping from its massive jaws.
He was going to be eaten. What could he do?
Fight? His sword had broken at some point.
What could he do?
───His ability.
“…………”
For the first time, Haise remembered the day he had awakened his ability.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
“Sasha, the power you’ve received is… [Sword Master]!”
Abilities.
The unique powers possessed by 40% of the world’s population.
At the age of twelve, one either awakens to these abilities or does not.
Both Haise and Sasha were among those chosen.
At twelve, the gift reveals itself. While it’s clear one has a power, its nature remains a mystery until they use the magical tool known as the Book of Ability Confirmation found at adventurer guilds.
When the book is opened, it reveals the ability’s true nature.
Sasha was overjoyed.
“[Sword Master]…!! I did it!! Haise, I got a Master-class ability!!”
“Yeah!! Congratulations, Sasha!!”
Master-class abilities were rare.
Many S-ranked adventurers were gifted with Master-class powers.
Now, it was Haise’s turn.
“Haise, your ability is───…”
Haise also received a Master-class ability.
However, no one at the guild—not even the S-ranked adventurers—could understand its nature.
Though he had gained a power, its use was incomprehensible.
With no discernible enhancements to his physical abilities, Haise began his journey as a regular adventurer.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Haise, torn apart by the dragon.
His mind, though lucid, felt an overwhelming desire to sleep.
His eyelids grew heavier.
If he closed his eyes, he knew he’d never open them again.
“…??”
Suddenly, his blood-soaked vision fell upon the ancient text he carried.
Its pages flipped, wet with blood, and Haise saw the once-indecipherable letters clearly.
And then he realized—he could read them.
“………”
Summoning the last ounce of his strength, he shakily raised his trembling right hand.
In that instant, an immense power gathered in his hand, taking form and manifesting in reality.
It was… a strange-looking cylinder.
[GRRAAAAAHHHHH!!!]
The dragon opened its gaping maw wide.
Haise, pouring all of his remaining strength, pulled the trigger.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Haise’s ability was registered in the Book of Ability Confirmation.
“This… What does this even mean?”
“Er, well, it’s definitely a Master-class ability, but…”
“I’ve never heard of this before. Sasha, do you know?”
“No idea…”
“Um, we called the Guild Master over!”
“Let me see… Hmm?”
The Guild Master, Geist, tilted his head in confusion.
“[Weapon Master]…? What does that mean?”
“Not even the Guild Master understands?”
“Hmm… Let’s confirm this with an S-ranked adventurer I know.”
Haise’s ability was labeled [Weapon Master].
Neither a sword, nor a lance, nor an arrow.
No one could decipher the meaning of weapon.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
What the cylinder in Haise’s hand fired was a grenade.
The projectile shot forth at an incredible speed, lodging itself in the dragon’s throat before exploding violently.
The blast tore the dragon’s neck from its body, the head rolling to the ground before Haise.
Now, fully understanding his ability, Haise felt strength surge through him.
He stood up, clutching the ancient text, and gazed at the cylinder in his hand.
“This is… my ability. [Weapon Master].”
The ancient text described it.
Perhaps because he now understood, Haise could read its words.
“Weapons of another world.”
The object he summoned was an M79 grenade launcher—a weapon of a foreign realm.
The launcher, imbued with Haise’s power, was far stronger than its original form.
And once its role was fulfilled, it shattered like glass, leaving no trace behind.
“…I’m alive.”
Haise had survived.
But at the same time───rage began to boil within him.
“Hah… Hahaha… AHAHAHAHAHA!!”
He couldn’t stop laughing.
Haise was alive.
“Tough luck.”
Perhaps it was all in his head. But at that moment, he couldn’t help but believe it.
Haise had been betrayed.
The information Sasha had given him nearly killed him.
“I won’t forgive this.”
Never again would he trust anyone.
He no longer needed companions.
That day, Haise died.
Having lost his right eye, he was reborn as a shadowy figure of vengeance.
Thus began the swift and ruthless rise of the Dark Stalker, whose name would echo in legend.