Ascension Through Skills

The bandit struggled to stand somehow.

He tried to shake off Taesan and flee.

But it was impossible.

Forget fleeing—he couldn’t even get up.

Even breathing properly was difficult.

‘What on earth!’

The man was horrified.

They weren’t weak. The fact that they openly demanded tolls in broad daylight meant they had the skills to escape even if someone came to subjugate them.

But against Taesan, such strength was meaningless.

“Don’t be too scared. If you answer properly, I’ll let you go.”

Taesan spoke leisurely.

To them, that relaxed voice sounded like the voice of death.

Taesan began questioning them. They answered his questions with great enthusiasm.

As a result, Taesan gained quite a bit of useful information.

“So, they call you the Cursed Child.”

A bastard child of divine blood. The child was widely known as a being that was cursed by all things.

The reason was simple.

Everything around the child would break and deteriorate.

If the child stayed in a village, the village would collapse. Buildings would crumble, and people would die without a trace.

If the child stayed in a forest, the forest would wither. Lakes would dry up, and vegetation would shrivel.

And through all of this, the cursed child wouldn’t sustain a single injury.

“When everyone was afraid and curious, the Emperor himself decreed an oracle. He said that the child, cursed by all things, would destroy the world simply by existing.” Ṛ𝘈ŊǑᛒĘ𝐬

“The Emperor?”

“The ruler of the Holy Empire, who has governed this world for a long time. He is also an apostle of the God of Order. He is beyond human comprehension.”

The face of the bandit showed reverence. It wasn’t just respect for a ruler—it was akin to worshipping a god.

“The Emperor is the ruler of the world. His words are law. That’s why we call the child the Cursed One and keep our distance.”

Hearing the explanation, Taesan thought for a moment.

Then he asked the bandit again.

“This curse—does it take a day to manifest?”

“Yes, yes… So far, whenever the Cursed Child stayed in one place for more than a day, the curse would take effect.”

“What if someone followed the moving child?”

“That… we have no information on…”

No one would dare to follow the Cursed Child.

The man glanced nervously at Taesan.

What he had just said was considered common sense.

But Taesan acted as if he was hearing it for the first time.

While the man was pondering Taesan’s identity, Taesan waved his hand.

“That’s enough. Now scram.”

“Ah, th-thank you!”

Not sure if he’d really be spared, the man ran off in a panic. The remaining bandits quickly followed after him.

“Does the Lord of Divine Blood also possess such traits?”

[Hmm… I don’t know. There’s too little information. It doesn’t seem impossible, but could the Lord of Divine Blood really remain unscathed?]

The ghost seemed uncertain. For now, Taesan decided to confirm things firsthand. He stomped his foot.

The child hadn’t gone far. Taesan caught up in just two steps and stood in front of the child.

“Huh?”

The child’s eyes widened as they saw Taesan blocking their path.

“Didn’t you leave?”

“I heard about you from those guys earlier.”

“Oh… So you didn’t know about me.”

Finally, the child made a face of understanding. Since Taesan was unaware of the curse, he had stayed nearby. That’s what the child concluded.

“I cause suffering and death to everything around me just by existing. So please, stay away.”

The child said this and continued walking forward.

And Taesan followed.

“Uh…”

“Where are you headed?”

“H-huh?”

The child stammered in surprise at Taesan’s question.

“…The vast forest. I’m going to Lecresen.”

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“Huh?”

The child was taken aback.

“If you stay near me, you’ll be cursed! Please stay away!”

“I’m strong.”

Taesan spoke calmly.

“At least in this world, nothing can curse me.”

“Uh…”

The child didn’t seem to believe him.

But Taesan was confident. In combat, maybe it might cause some issues, but curses could be easily shrugged off.

“So let’s go together.”

The child desperately tried to shake off Taesan.

They tried reasoning, hiding, and moving away stealthily.

But nothing worked. Taesan didn’t listen to the child and found every hiding spot immediately.

In the end, the child gave up.

“Even if you’re cursed, don’t blame me.”

Taesan and the child walked together. The child kept as much distance as possible.

The path was wide enough that there were plenty of passersby.

“Huh?”

“The Cursed Child…”

Those who recognized the child backed away in fear.

It was the look one would give a monster, not a fellow human.

The child accepted those gazes calmly.

The child kept walking until night fell. Eventually, they staggered into a forest.

The child lay down on a patch of soft grass.

As they tried to fall asleep, a loud rumbling sound came from their stomach.

Their face turned red with embarrassment.

Watching the child, Taesan entered the forest.

“Ah.”

The child almost called out to Taesan but stopped themselves.

If he left, it would be for the best. Convincing themselves of this, they lay back down. But soon, Taesan reappeared.

“Huh?”

The child’s eyes widened.

In Taesan’s hand was a deer.

Taesan tossed the deer down and waved his hand. Flames engulfed the deer, and the meat began to cook with a sizzle.

“Ah…”

The child stared blankly at the deer.

Their body was weak and slow. They couldn’t catch swift wild animals. Most of the time, they filled their stomach with grass or fruit. The only meat they had was fish.

Now, freshly cooked meat was in front of them.

As the child stared, Taesan spoke.

“Eat.”

“…Really?”

“I brought it for you.”

“Th-thank you!”

The child buried their face in the meat. Startled by the heat, they quickly backed off but didn’t give up, blowing on it before taking bites.

Taesan waved his hand.

A breeze surrounded the meat, cooling it to a more edible temperature.

The child devoured the meat hungrily.

Finally full, sleep overtook them, and they collapsed.

The child fell into a deep sleep.

Taesan gathered wood and started a fire.

A gentle breeze ensured the child could sleep comfortably.

Their face became noticeably more peaceful.

The next morning, the child woke up and saw Taesan looking perfectly fine.

“Huh? Huh?”

Until now, every place the child stayed for more than a day had been devastated.

But even after staying by the child’s side for more than a day, Taesan was completely unharmed.

“How…”

“I told you. I’m strong.”

Taesan spoke calmly.

“Your curse doesn’t work on me.”

“Uh, uh…”

The child was flustered.

It was the first time they had experienced such a thing, leaving them utterly confused.

But life began to return to the child’s eyes.

As they walked again, the distance between the child and Taesan was noticeably closer than the previous day.

The child continuously spoke to Taesan, and Taesan responded appropriately.

“So, back then, I was so happy to have caught a squirrel and eaten its meat, but suddenly, the baby squirrels appeared. I was so hungry but had no choice but to let it go.”

“Honestly, I still can’t really tell which mushrooms are edible or not. It’s hard to distinguish.”

“How long do you think it took to build such a big road? A lot of people must have worked really hard, right?”

The child’s words didn’t stop. It was as if they were releasing all the conversations they hadn’t been able to have for a long time. They kept talking while walking along the road.

They continued on their journey until it was night again. The child kept nodding off, trying hard to stay awake.

“If you’re sleepy, why don’t you sleep?”

“No, I can’t. I still have so much to talk about…”

The child desperately tried to stave off sleep.

They wanted to share all the things they’d experienced while wandering the world alone—everything surprising and noteworthy.

Unlike Anetsha, the princess of Vekveta, this child was different. While Anetsha was also a child, her education as a princess had made her realistic and composed.

But this child was simply a child.

That’s why they hadn’t been able to properly push Taesan away. Once they realized their curse didn’t affect Taesan, they quickly opened up to him.

Taesan asked.

“Why are you risking your life for this?”

The child closed their mouth at Taesan’s question.

“No.”

The child shook their head.

“I… am a being that shouldn’t exist in this world. Devoting myself to His Majesty the Emperor is the only way I and the world can be saved.”

Their voice was full of conviction, as if there were no other choice. Taesan spoke again.

“Why are you offering yourself to the Emperor?”

“Because only His Majesty can suppress my curse.”

The child replied bitterly.

“I even visited a temple to understand my curse. They said His Majesty prayed directly to the god to figure it out. I was cursed from birth, and I can’t even die as I wish.”

If the child were to die, their curse would scatter across the world and torment all existence. But even while living, the curse devastated everything around them.

“Only His Majesty can resolve this. I shouldn’t exist.”

The child clenched their fists.

Their thin arms trembled.

“This journey is for him.”

The child fell asleep with a sorrowful expression.

Taesan poked at the campfire.

‘Choice, huh.’

What kind of ending did the God of Choices desire?

Taesan gazed at the night sky. A vast expanse filled with countless stars spread above him.

While staring blankly, Taesan spoke.

“Go away.”

[You have activated the Declaration of Rejection.]

Crunch.

With the declaration, the space distorted. The force of the gaze directed toward them was crushed and blocked.

The suppressed force carried emotions of anger and confusion.

No more gazes were felt. Taesan stirred the campfire.

“We’ve arrived…”

The child murmured while looking at the vast forest. It was a remarkably beautiful forest. With a melancholy face, the child stepped inside.

“The vast forest. Lecresen. Do you know what kind of place it is?”

“No idea.”

“It’s a very beautiful forest. For a long time, it’s been home to countless plants and animals, and people love it. But I…”

The child clenched their fists and walked deeper into the forest.

As they ventured into untouched areas, the path became rougher. Eventually, a sharp leaf cut the child’s arm.

“Ouch!”

Blue blood spurted from the child’s arm.

With a gloomy expression, the child moved further inward.

Taesan picked up the leaf stained with blue blood and stored it.

“When I declared that I would offer myself, an oracle descended. To become a sacrifice, I must pass trials. I must clearly realize what kind of being I am and how horribly twisted I’ve become.”

Reaching the center of the forest, the child sat down.

“To stay in Lecresen for a day—that’s the first trial.”

If the child stayed in one place for a day, that place would inevitably be cursed and devastated.

The child spoke with a sorrowful face.

“Please leave. I don’t know why you’re unaffected by the curse, but this time, it really won’t be okay.”

The child didn’t know why Taesan remained unharmed.

But this time was different. Every place they had stayed longer than a day had been ruined. There was no reason for this time to be any different.

“No.”

Taesan shook his head. The child, though conflicted, was simultaneously grateful for his decision.

“…Thank you for staying with me.”

The child lowered their head quietly.

Time passed.

The child dozed off intermittently. They nibbled on the meat Taesan brought and silently closed their eyes.

And so, a day passed.

Birds chirped, and the sound of flowing water filled the air.

The scent of grass wafted strongly, and the leaves swayed in the wind.

The forest was serene.

“Huh?”

The child’s eyes widened.