78 Curse [3]


    —Six years ago.


    It was another cold day in Everde.


    In fact, it was snowing.


    The sun was nowhere to be seen and it was freezing cold. But growing up in Everde, Oliver was used to the cold.


    "Come on, Oliver. Hurry up!"


    A voice called out to him. With ck hair andvender eyes. It was his senior in the small guild he was in.


    "Yeah, yeah, David. Have you told your Family we''re all going out today?"


    "Uh… I forgot."


    "..."


    "Haha, we''lle back anyway. What''s the big deal?"


    Oliver was used to this. David was always quite the entric person.


    "...Are you sure you should even take part in this subjugation? Your wife is pregnant, you know?"


    "I know, I know. Which is why it''s better if I didn''t tell her."


    "..."


    What kind of Father…


    But Oliver cleared his thoughts. David''s family was none of his business.


    "Ah, right. Your soon to be born child, have you given the name some thought?"


    Pinching his chin, David pondered for a while.


    Oliver was quite taken aback. After spending time with David in the guild for three years, he was still as irresponsible as ever.


    "...Seriously?" n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Wait, wait. Give me time to think."


    "..."


    And then, David''s eyes lit up. Pursing his lips, he turned to look at Oliver.


    "If it''s a boy, I''ll name him David II."


    "..."


    "And if it''s a girl… Maybe Emma?"


    "Hmm… Emma Aurae, not bad."


    "Right? I''ll have you know I was the one who named Sarah as well."


    "Ah, right, your first born."


    "Yup."


    Noticing that the other guild members were by the exit, the two hurriedly made it to their side.


    Currently, there were some disturbances in the forest. There were no reports on what was the cause but they decided to take action.


    Unlike the main city, Everde was far out in the countryside.


    There would often be reports of Mana Beats or Wraith Beasts.


    Mana Beasts were within their capabilities. While for Wraith beasts, they would have quite the difficulty.


    But if it were Wraith Beasts, then they had their trump card.


    David Aurae.


    A mage with the [Curse] affinity, and an A ranker.


    Despite the prejudice of the [Curse] affinity, David had built up quite the reputation.


    Oliver had the [Curse] affinity as well. Normally, he wouldn''t even qualify to join the guild, but David decided to pick him up.


    At that, the group ventured forth, arriving at the city''s main gate.


    But then they paused as a little girl stood in front of them.


    Her long flowing ck hair cascaded around her shoulders. Hervender eyes sparkled from the sunlight.


    Her expressions formed a frown as she called upon her father.


    "Dad, you''re leaving again?!"


    David was startled to see his daughter, he didn''t expect Sarah to be waiting for him by the gate.


    "Ah, Sarah… What a surpr—"


    "Mom is about to give birth. Are you not gonnae to see my little sibling?"


    David leaned down and patted the ten-year-old Sarah on the head.


    "Sarah, if I don''t do this, then we wouldn''t even live to see tomorrow."


    "..."


    Oliver stood there in shock. What kind of Father would say such scary things to his own daughter?


    "Sarah, don''t worry. Daddy will be there in time to see… David II? Emma?"


    Sarah''s eyes lit up.


    "You''ve finally thought of a name?"


    "Of course, what kind of Father wouldn''t?"


    "..."


    Once again, Oliver was taken aback. In fact, he gave him a skeptical look.


    Ruffling his Daughter''s head once more, David shed the little Sarah a smile.


    He then grabbed something from his bag. Leaning down, he extended his hand to give it to the little Sarah.


    "Here."


    "What is this?"


    "..."


    Seeing the sight, Oliver stifled augh.


    David had given his daughter a doll, and yet she couldn''t even tell if it was.


    "...I''ve been learning how to make these, Sarah."


    "A handkerchief?"


    "..."


    "...Daddy will see youter, Sarah."


    "Mhm."


    At that, the beast subjugation had begun.


    In the first ce, they didn''t think it would be that difficult.


    Turning around, David turned to look at the ten-year-old Sarah—who waved at them with conflicted expressions.


    He then shed his daughter a smile.


    That smile…


    It was hisst smile.


    .


    .


    .


    At the start, there were a total of 15 members in the group.


    Now? There were only two left.


    What they thought were just some beasts was actually a Wraith.


    "Fuck…"


    "H-haaa…"


    In front of the Wraith, they were helpless. Not once had they even managed to leave a scratch on it.


    The Wraith was of a lower ss. A lesser to be exact.


    Ifpared to a ranker, a lesser would be of the same rank as an S+ ranker.


    But unfortunately, the highest ranker they had was an A rank, David Aurae.


    Olivery on the ground while David gave it his all to buy some time.


    "I…"


    Oliver didn''t want to die.


    No one wanted to die.


    But the fear had frozen Oliver in ce as he watched David singlehandedly fending off the Wraith.


    Run.


    His instincts told him so.


    Run away.


    He got up.


    Save yourself.


    His legs had started to move.


    "Oliver?"


    When David turned around, Oliver wasn''t there anymore.


    Realizing that his guildmate and friend had abandoned him, David stifled augh.


    "I can''t me him. He''s still young."


    Drip. Drip.


    Tears started to flow down his eyes.


    "But I have a fucking Family!"


    With the cursed threads in his hand, David thrusted his palms onto the Wraith.


    "If this could buy enough time for the main Guild to take notice, then so be it."


    A magic circle had materialized.


    Splurt!


    The Wraith had thrusted its fist inside David''s chest.


    "Khh..! Bastard, I''ll seal you if it''s thest thing I do."


    At that moment, the Wraith had gradually merged with David.


    He wasn''t confident that he could even overpower the Wraith with his mental strength.


    But it was all he could do. The Wraith would suffer the limitations of the human body.


    But to his surprise, the Wraith was far stronger than his mental strength.


    "Sienna… Sarah… Emma…or David II… I''m sorry."


    Thest words he could ever mutter before the Wraith took hold of his body.


    But…


    "Huaaaaa!"


    A final ditch attempt.


    With thest of his strength, David ced a curse on his own body. A binding vow. In exchange he would lose all sense of reasoning.


    The Wraith possessing his body would be unable to leave the forest. If it does then his body would perish.


    Was it a good idea? David didn''t know.


    From a distance, Oliver watched the entire scene unfold.


    The guilt gripped him immensely.


    He had abandoned the man who took him in when he had nothing.


    Drip. Drip…!


    Tears flowed down his cheek. He knew the kind of sin he hadmitted.


    He was a coward.


    "Fuck…"


    A weakling.


    "Fuck…"


    He slumped down.


    Bang!


    And smacked the cold hard ground.


    Drip. Drip…!


    Tears kept flowing out. But what was the point?


    His tears were nothing but a means to justify his actions.


    "Fuck…"


    On that day, thirteen deaths were confirmed, leading to the guild''s disbandment.


    It was then announced that two were missing, as their bodies were never found.


    David Aurae and Oliver White.


    And on that day, Emma Aurae was born.