Dark Word Curse

The Kingdom of Arthur had begun implementing a paper currency system more than a decade ago, issuing banknotes in place of coins. However, the locals of Ake Town, a frontier settlement, were clearly more accustomed to settling payments with coinage.

Li Wen had found four shillings in one go. Under the Kingdom of Arthur's currency conversion, 1 gold pound equaled 20 shillings, and 1 shilling equaled 12 pence.

At least in Ake Town, one penny could buy roughly three to five pieces of dark bread, or about a gallon of beer. Thus, four shillings was no small sum for an early-stage player—enough for Li Wen to acquire some equipment.

Though the sun was just about to set, Ake Town's night had only just begun.

The night watchmen refilled the roadside oil lamps with grease and lit their wicks. Before long, the frontier town was brightly illuminated.

Caravans that had traveled all day were desperate to shake off their fatigue, while the dazzling array of taverns gladly welcomed these wealthy outsiders and prepared beer and food for them.

Li Wen walked along one such street. This was the West District, the most densely populated area of Ake Town. She casually entered a blacksmith shop that had yet to close.

"Brat, get lost. There's nothing here for you to play with."

The burly blacksmith with an enormous beard was far from friendly. He glared at the girl, then ignored her.

Li Wen was not angered; there was not even the slightest ripple in her emotions. "I need a handy dagger with full killing capability."

With that, she tossed a shilling to the blacksmith.

The silver coin struck the ground with an exceptionally crisp sound. The blacksmith glanced at it, then at Li Wen. "Custom-made or ready-made? That isn't enough for a custom order."

"Ready-made will do." She had no time to wait.

The blacksmith put down his tools, turned around, and carried out a pile of daggers and short swords in sheaths from the back room, placing them on the counter.

"The finest steel from the Black Dragon Territory, paired with Ake Town's best craftsmanship. You won't find anyone else in all of Ake Town who can make weapons like these."

Li Wen could not be bothered to listen to his boasting. She casually picked up a short sword and drew it from its sheath. The blade gleamed beneath the candlelight. Beneath its art-like texture lay an edge sharp enough to take a life. To be honest, Li Wen did not find it particularly comfortable in her hand, but it was more than enough for self-defense.

Refined Short Sword

Weapon - Dagger - Common (White)

Forged by a professional blacksmith, it possessed the power to kill even in the hands of a frail girl or child.

"I'll take this one."

"One shilling and three pence. The sheath is a freebie."

Li Wen could not be bothered to haggle and handed over another silver coin.

After leaving the blacksmith shop, Li Wen went to a tailor's shop to get herself an outfit, mainly a belt for hanging her short sword and a cloak to conceal her expressions and movements. There was no fitted leather armor, and the cloak could only be resized on the spot by the owner. It would have to do for now.

At the very least, she would no longer look so easy to mess with. That was what Li Wen thought.

The game's hunger system required at least one full natural day before it dropped low enough to inflict a debuff, so Li Wen did not intend to eat first. Once her preparations were complete, she headed straight for the Hop Tavern.

The Hop Tavern was Ake Town's largest tavern. Li Wen did not even need to search for it deliberately before spotting it.

The tavern was packed with noise. Unrestrained laughter and curses rang out from within. Li Wen frowned slightly, but still walked inside.

A lazy young man stood behind the counter. Dark circles hung heavily beneath his eyes, and he had the air of a hoodlum.

"Beer, one penny a cup. Wine, two pence. Cheap ale, all you can drink for one penny. If you're willing to pay another penny, you can enjoy unbelievably delicious mashed potatoes... Who came up with this idiotic line? What idiot comes to a tavern for mashed potatoes?"

Li Wen rapped her knuckles against the counter and casually set down a penny. "I'm looking for someone."

Upon hearing Li Wen's voice, the young man's eyes widened.

"This isn't a place for women..." The young man then noticed the penny on the counter and immediately changed his tone. "Still, I'm always happy to help others. Everyone calls me Good Guy Ivan."

"I'm looking for Black Wind Fang. Do you know them?"

It was said that tavern keepers were the best informed, and Li Wen decided to believe it for the moment.

Upon hearing the name, the bartender's expression became extremely interesting. He raised a hand and pointed. "There, see that table..."

Li Wen followed his gesture and saw only an empty table. It was strange. The entire tavern felt packed to capacity, yet no one sat at that table, nor did anyone dare get too close to it.

"That's their exclusive spot."

"Them" meant Black Wind Fang?

Li Wen nodded. After approaching the table, she chose a conspicuous seat and sat down.

The bartender yawned, his expression turning intrigued.

"Hey, that seat is..."

Someone tried to warn her, but was pulled back by a companion. Most of those who noticed the situation were simply waiting to watch the show.

Li Wen remained calm and quietly waited for time to pass.

Not long afterward, a group of people who stood out from the crowd by sheer temperament entered the tavern.

Most of them wore half suits of chainmail or leather armor and carried weapons such as axes and flails. Many bore wounds and bloodstains. Their gazes were savage, their faces vicious, and the moment they entered the tavern, an unpleasant scent of blood spread through the room.

The noisy tavern fell silent at that moment. Even the drunkards who had been drinking most wildly no longer dared to shout.

The group walked straight toward Li Wen.

"Who are you? Didn't anyone tell you this spot belongs to us?"

The speaker was likely the leader of the group. He was huge, with disheveled hair and muscles comparable to a black bear. His gaze was crueler than a wild wolf's, and a long scar on his face nearly seemed to split him in two.

Li Wen had guessed their identities. They really were Mercenaries, but that had been during wartime.

After the Hedge Wood Battle, a large number of Mercenaries had remained along the kingdom's border. They had no official status and varied greatly in quality. They would neither be absorbed by the kingdom's army nor recruited by lords as retainers. Many of them became swindlers, bandits, and killers, becoming a headache for lords and sheriffs alike.

"You are Black Wind Fang?"

"Since you've heard of us, why did you still dare sit there?"

Without waiting for an order, a fat dwarf carrying an axe stepped forward and swung it down at Li Wen.

"AAAAAH!"

The axe fell to the ground before it even came near Li Wen. The fat dwarf's agonized screams echoed throughout the tavern, and everyone watched him in horror.

He knelt on the ground, his bones seeming to have softened beyond their ability to support his obese body. Black, foul-smelling pus flowed from his eyes and nose. The fat across his body evaporated rapidly as if he had fallen onto a scorching grill, while fetid blood seeped from every pore.

When Prayer Incantation was cast upon an enemy unit, it became the exceptionally sinister Dark Word Curse.