That night, Karin couldn't sleep.
Curiosity burned inside him like an unrelenting flame. His father's words echoed again and again—a gift… a surprise. Something important. Something worth waiting for.
"When will I get it?" Karin had asked.
Theo's answer was simple.
"On your birthday."
Two weeks.
Karin stared into the darkness, his thoughts racing.
Then I'll use this time… to grow stronger.
Two days later, Karin stood alone, activating one of his abilities.
"Item Radar…"
A faint pulse spread outward, invisible yet precise. Instantly, his surroundings unfolded within his mind—materials, elements, hidden resources scattered across the land. Wood. Metals. Rare fragments buried beneath the earth.
A sharp smile appeared on his face.
"So this is how it works…"
He moved swiftly through the forest, collecting everything he could. Strong wood. Dense minerals. Unfamiliar elements. His movements were efficient, focused, almost unnatural for a child.
Back in the basement, he began experimenting.
Combining. Adjusting. Failing.
Again and again.
Then—
On the third attempt…
Success.
Karin stared at the object in his hand.
Rough. Unstable. Incomplete.
Yet unmistakable.
"A… gun."
It wasn't perfect—just a prototype. But even then, it carried dangerous potential.
Karin's eyes gleamed.
"If I find better materials… I can perfect this."
Without wasting time, he made a decision.
"I need gunpowder… and rare elements."
And those could only be found in caves.
The next day, Karin stood before his parents.
"I want to go on an expedition," he said calmly.
Kathy immediately frowned. "You're too young. It's dangerous."
But Theo remained silent for a moment… then nodded.
"He's capable."
Before leaving, Theo called out to him.
"When you face monsters—or humans—never let your guard down. Awareness is survival. One mistake… is death."
Karin nodded.
"I understand."
Theo then turned and brought out something wrapped in cloth.
Slowly, he revealed it.
A katana.
The blade gleamed with a cold, deadly beauty.
"This has been passed down through generations," Theo said. "It belongs to the leaders of our family."
Karin's grip tightened slightly.
"You are not the leader yet," Theo continued. "But I believe… you will become one."
Karin accepted the katana with both hands.
"I won't waste your trust," he said firmly. "I'll become strong enough… to lead this family."
And with that—
He left.
As he traveled through forests and across mountains, his thoughts deepened.
If I become the family leader… I'll attract attention.
Nobles. Power. Even the Hero…
His gaze hardened.
Then I can't afford weakness.
After a full day of travel—
He found it.
A massive cave.
Dark. Deep. Silent.
Karin stepped inside.
The deeper he went, the colder the air became. His Item Radar guided him, revealing hidden materials embedded within the stone—everything he needed.
Gunpowder components.
Rare minerals.
Perfect.
Then—
A sound.
Something moved in the darkness.
Monsters.
For a brief moment, Karin stood still.
Then—
He moved.
The katana flashed.
Clean. Fast. Precise.
The monster didn't even react.
Slash.
It fell apart instantly.
Karin stared at the blade.
"So this is real combat…"
The weapon felt natural in his hands. Perfect.
"This… is my weapon."
More monsters appeared.
This time—
He didn't hesitate.
Steel cut through the darkness again and again.
Every strike sharper.
Every movement faster.
When it was over—
Silence returned.
Karin calmly gathered the remaining materials.
By the time he exited the cave…
An entire day had passed.
The journey back took another.
Three days in total.
When he finally reached home, exhaustion overwhelmed him.
He collapsed into bed.
For two days—
He rested.
Then—
He began again.
Using his ultimate crafting skill, Karin worked relentlessly.
Refining. Adjusting. Perfecting.
After several attempts—
It was complete.
A real gun.
Karin stared at it, stunned.
"It's… exactly like it."
He stepped outside to test it.
He aimed.
Pulled the trigger—
BOOM.
The sound echoed violently.
The bullet struck—
And exploded.
Karin's eyes widened.
"Incredible…"
Then, a new idea formed.
Something greater.
He raised the gun again.
This time, he focused.
Using his eyes, he gathered aura into his hand—compressing it, shaping it, forcing it into the weapon.
"Let's see…"
He fired.
The bullet ignited mid-air—
Turning into a blazing projectile.
Impact—
Explosion.
Fire.
Destruction.
Karin froze for a moment.
Then—
A slow grin appeared.
"This… changes everything."
A week passed.
His birthday arrived.
Karin stood outside, anticipation building within him.
"This is the day…"
Theo called out.
"Come outside."
Karin stepped forward.
In the distance—
A horse carriage approached.
It stopped before the house.
The door opened slowly.
And then—
She stepped out.
A girl.
Beautiful.
Graceful.
Mysterious.
Karin's eyes locked onto her.
His thoughts froze.
Who… is she?
Is this… the gift?