[3] New Civilization

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This is me, Corrin.

Somehow, I had transmigrated into the body of a boy who shared my name.

It all started three months ago when I woke up in this body—the body of a child who had died after falling off a cliff near his village.

At first, I was confused. But after sifting through his memories, I realized one thing—his life had been filled with suffering.

His parents had died, leaving him with only his younger sister, a small, innocent girl. But even she hadn't survived. The villagers had sold her to a slave trader.

They were despicable.

My blood boiled when I learned the truth.

And the moment I regained my strength, with the knowledge and experience from my previous life, I exacted my revenge.

Brutally, I slaughtered the entire village, hiding my face behind the skull of a deer I had found in the forest.

On that silent night, I came like the shadow of death.

I could only imagine how terrifying I must have looked. A child wearing a stag's mask, appearing in the dead of night, wielding a massive wooden warhammer, crushing anyone in his path.

They called me a monster.

And in that moment… perhaps they weren't wrong.

Long story short, I succeeded.

Despite my ruthlessness, I didn't kill the women and children. I let them go, only slaughtering the men who had tainted the village with their sins.

Cruel? Maybe.

But this is how the world works.

Before he died, the village chief—the one responsible for this tragedy—finally confessed. My little sister had been sold to a slave trader and taken to the city of Apex.

Apex…

The name sounded familiar.

If I wasn't mistaken, I was still in the same world—just in a different era.

And Apex… was the capital of a vast kingdom known as the Holy Kingdom of Mallian.

A kingdom that, in my memories, was known as a center of religion, trade, and military power. If things were the same as they were in my past life, then that place would be filled with nobles, holy knights, and, of course—countless corrupt men hiding behind the façade of law and justice.

But more importantly…

That was where my sister was.

She might still be alive. She might not.

But one thing was certain—I wouldn't stand by and do nothing.

After finishing my business with the village, I gathered whatever useful supplies I could find.

Clothes, food rations, and a handful of gold coins from the village chief's house—enough to sustain me on a long journey.

Of course, I didn't forget to take a weapon.

I could no longer use the wooden warhammer. That was merely a temporary tool, something I had used to slaughter those people. A real weapon had to be more than that.

After searching, I found an old longsword in one of the houses. The blade was slightly rusted, but it was still sturdy enough for battle. I sharpened it as best as I could and tested its swing—it wasn't perfect, but it would do for now.

And with that, I left the village.

Without looking back.

Without a shred of regret.

Speaking of my strength, let's start from the bottom—I was probably around the level of an average soldier.

Even so, I had already begun reinforcing my body using a technique I had developed in my past life.

This technique essentially doubled my growth rate—a method I created after realizing the natural limits that once restricted my potential.

Its name was Forced Ascension.

The principle was simple: expand the dantian and forcibly widen its capacity to hold more spiritual energy.

However, in order to achieve this, I had to bring myself to the brink of death—by detonating my own Core.

The method? Continuously filling it with Mana without stopping, forcing it past its limit until it inevitably exploded from within.

Of course, this wasn't something to be taken lightly. The risks were immense. If I failed to control the explosion, I wouldn't just lose my power—I would lose my ability to wield magic forever.

But after vomiting blood and enduring unbearable agony, I finally managed to reconstruct my Core after the explosion.

And at that moment, my dantian was formed within me.

This was only the first step, but over time and through natural growth, my dantian would continue to expand, making me stronger.

With this power, I could finally tip the scales in my favor.

Ever since I successfully underwent Forced Ascension, my strength had skyrocketed—far beyond the limits of my previous body.

Though I still appeared somewhat thin, there was now an overwhelming force hidden within me.

All thanks to my expanded dantian and the surge of spiritual power that now coursed through my veins.

After a long journey, I finally stood before Apex, the capital of the Holy Kingdom of Mallian.

And as I lifted my head, taking in the city up close for the first time—I found myself speechless, my mouth slightly agape.

"What… the hell is this?"

Towering structures with intricate architecture and soaring spires stretched into the sky. The streets were paved with neatly arranged stone tiles, a stark contrast to the dirt roads and muddy paths of the villages I had passed. Luxurious carriages were pulled by muscular steeds, while merchants dressed in pristine, elegant clothing showcased goods I had never seen before.

"What… the hell…?" I muttered again, this time softer, almost a whisper.

I tried to recall my memories of Apex from my past life.

Back then, this city was a military stronghold filled with knights and clergymen. Its buildings weren't this extravagant, and though civilization was advanced, the city still had a rough, rugged feel, as expected of a military capital.

But now…

What lay before me was no mere royal capital.

This was a new civilization.

A place brimming with beauty, innovation, and luxury beyond what I could put into words.

I swallowed hard.

I felt like a country bumpkin seeing the world for the first time.

My simple clothes and the old sword on my back felt utterly out of place here.

And perhaps, I truly didn't belong here.

I glanced around—men and women dressed in refined, elegant attire, many of them wearing long coats embroidered with gold. The women donned lavish gowns that seemed impractical for walking, while the men, with their tall hats and ornate canes, strode through the streets with the confidence of those who owned the world.

Among them, I was nothing more than a lone boy in plain clothes, with a puzzled expression on his face.

And as expected, I had started attracting attention.

Several people glanced at me curiously, while others whispered among themselves.

"Shit… I really stand out."

I scratched my head, feeling slightly uneasy.

As someone accustomed to battlefields, dungeons, and life-or-death combat, I had never really thought about how to blend into normal society.

And now I realized… I had no idea how to do it.

I scanned my surroundings, searching for a place to start—perhaps a cheap inn or the adventurer's guild.

But before I could take another step, someone bumped into me from the side.

"Move aside if you're going to daydream, brat!" snapped a man with an irritated expression, dressed in a long black coat with gold accents on the shoulders.

I frowned.

I was used to hostility and threats in dungeons—but here, that hostility came with expensive perfume and an air of aristocratic arrogance.

Before I could react, the man was already walking away, not even bothering to look back.

I let out a long sigh.

"Great. Barely a few minutes in this city, and I already know how annoying its people are."

I took a deep breath and steeled my resolve.

I hadn't come here to admire the city—I had come to find my sister.

And for that, my first destination was clear…

The Adventurer's Guild.

With steady steps, I started walking, doing my best to ignore the lingering stares that followed my every move.

I might not know much about this world.

I might look like a lost country boy.

But one thing was certain…

I was no ordinary person.