Your existence is mine

As Edward stepped into the bustling town, the lively chatter of the streets abruptly died down. Heads turned, eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and caution fixed on him. Clad in tattered rags and sporting wounds that painted a grim tale of survival, he cut a strikingly disheveled figure. Draped over his shoulder was the lifeless body of a plain rover, it's weight seeming insignificant against the aura of exhaustion and determination radiating from him.

Paying no mind to the stares of the onlookers, Edward pressed forward, his steps unwavering as he made his way toward his destination—the Adventurer's Guild. Being a small town, it was easy to spot, it's familiar structure standing out amidst the other buildings.

Just like on the streets, many eyes turned to Edward the moment he stepped into the Adventurer's Guild. Some adventurers whispered among themselves, while others barely spared him a glance, too engrossed in their own affairs. Ignoring the attention, Edward strode straight to the reception desk, where a stunning woman stood, her professional demeanor unwavering despite his ragged appearance.

Without wasting time, he asked, "Can I sell this monster?"

"Do you have an adventurer ID, or else you will have to register first." the receptionist replied, her tone calm and professional as she assessed him with a practiced gaze.

"Does it cost money?" Edward asked, his voice flat, focusing on the only question that mattered to him right now. He was utterly broke—so destitute that even a beggar would pity his lack of a single coin to his name.

"No, the first registration is free," the receptionist explained with a polite smile. "However, if you lose your ID or need to reactivate it, you'll face a hefty penalty fee."

"Please register me."

Edward went through the registration process, answering basic questions about his name, origin, and kingdom. However, aside from his name, he knew nothing about his past. Instead, he fabricated answers on the spot, hoping they wouldn't scrutinize too closely.

The final step was a blood test to verify his race, a precaution against demons who had historically infiltrated society as spies. The receptionist explained this was standard protocol, her tone firm but not unkind, as she pricked his finger to collect a sample.

Once the process was complete, the receptionist handed Edward his adventurer ID with a polite smile. Alongside it, the payment for the monster corpse he had brought in.

Fortunately, no one approached to cause trouble, allowing Edward to leave the guild without incident. Before stepping out, he made sure to ask for the day's date. From the information he gathered, he still had two weeks left before he needed to reach the academy. Relieved, he stepped back onto the bustling streets, already planning his next move.

"12 copper coins... it isn't much, but it could buy me a decent meal," Edward muttered to himself, looking at the coins in his hand. "On the other hand, I think I'll have to sleeping under the starry sky again." He sighed, knowing it wasn't enough for anything more. The cold night ahead would be another challenge he'd have to face.

After grabbing a simple meal, Edward was left with only two copper coins. With his stomach no longer growling, his focus shifted to finding a place to sleep. He had no intention of returning to the wilderness tonight, so he needed a safe spot within the town. After some searching, he stumbled upon a short, narrow alley, tucked away from the main street and bathed in shadows. It was empty, quiet, and the perfect place to rest for the night—just out of sight, yet still close enough to the town's bustle.

"Just what state have I fallen into... I feel like crying."

Edward muttered quietly, the weight of his thoughts pressing heavily on him. It wasn't a joke; that was how he truly felt. As the memories of his past life resurfaced, so did the harsh realization that the world around him wasn't some happy, carefree harem fantasy. The cruel reality hit him hard—life wasn't easy, and it never had been.

Realizing there was no use dwelling on the past, Edward decided to sleep. But in this world, peace wasn't something he would find easily.

Just as Edward was about to drift into a deep sleep, the sound of approaching footsteps snapped him awake, his senses immediately on alert.

He opened his eyes to find three thug-looking men standing in front of him, their nasty grins spreading across their faces.

"If you think you'll get anything from me, forget it. I'm worse than a beggar," Edward said, his voice flat as he sized up the thugs.

"Hehehe, don't worry about it," one of the thugs sneered. "We can just sell you as a slave." They chuckled darkly, their grins widening.

"Don't you know slavery is illegal in this kingdom?" Edward shot back, his voice laced with defiance. "Do you really think the guards will just stand by?"

"Haha, look at this idiot," one of the thugs laughed. "They can only do something if they even find out, right?"

Edward realized he is still naive. If he wants to survive in this world, he would have to adapt more. It's a place where you either became the prey or the predator.

"You're right, only if they find out," Edward replied, his eyes sharp yet filled with exhaustion. He just wanted this to end quickly so he could get back to sleep.

Existential Manipulation.

As Edward vanished before their eyes, their grins quickly faded, and panic spread across their faces.

"Where did that bastard g—" the guy in front, who had acted like their leader, couldn't finish his words as a hand pierced his throat in an instant.

With a swift motion, Edward took the dagger from the leader's hand and turned to deal with the remaining two. They never even saw the attacks coming, their confusion evident as they collapsed.

Standing straight, Edward glanced at the three lifeless bodies, his expression empty.

"I'm not feeling much."

He had just killed three people, not monsters, but humans. Yet, there was no discomfort, no regret—only a strange sense of detachment, as if it was natural. Perhaps it was the exhaustion weighing on him, or perhaps it was the harsh reality of this world. In the end, they died because they were weak.

Edward quickly stripped the three of their valuable belongings: their clothes, two daggers, a one-handed sword, three silver, and seventy copper coins. Each item was essential for his survival. With everything collected, he left the alley, seeking a new place to rest.

"With this much, I can spend the night at any inn," Edward muttered to himself, his grip tightening on the coins and weapons as he walked through the streets.

(AN: One copper coin= 0.50usd)

The next day, the guards discovered the dead bodies, but without clear evidence, they had no leads to follow. Incidents like this were disturbingly common in this world, making it just another mystery that would likely fade into the background.

After purchasing a cheap leather belt to hold his sword and daggers with ninety copper coins, Edward left the town behind, setting off to continue his journey.

Walking through the vast plains once again, Edward intentionally sought out multiple plain rovers. This time, armed with proper weapons and training, they posed no threat to him, quickly falling under his strikes.

The reason behind Edward fighting them was simple: to earn money. He quickly butchered the rovers, taking their hides—the only valuable part of their bodies that could be sold—leaving the rest behind. Carrying entire bodies would have been too much of a hassle.

"It's not well done, but I guess I'll earn something at least," Edward muttered to himself, eyeing the hides he had managed to collect.

To reach the capital of this continent's sole empire safely, where Solaris Academy was located, it would take Edward at least over three weeks on foot from his current location.

However, there was a shortcut that could shorten his travel time by more than a week. The only problem was that it required crossing a mountain teeming with dangerous monsters.

"Sigh, it's not like I have another option," Edward muttered to himself, his gaze shifting toward the daunting mountain ahead.