Oliver Clarke, a young man of nearly the same age as Shun.

He had nothing lacking in his life. His father was a dealer in the local casino while his mother was a housewife.

​​

He went to the Spring Hill School of Fine Arts, the same school as Shun. His grades weren't as good as Shun so he wasn't allowed to stay in the hostel but it didn't matter much to him.

His house wasn't far away from the school and he could easily walk to the school.

As a cheerful kid, he had many friends in school including Shun. As his family was somewhat well-endowed, the birthday party of a friend was celebrated in his house.

Shun and his other friends frequently visited his house and were familiar with his family. His father was quite happy that his child had so many friends.

Also, when he met Shun, even he was astonished at the genius mindset of the child. He learned how to play multiple games after reading the rules.

Shun could easily defeat his friends in any strategy game. Even when playing against Oliver's father, he lost a couple of times in Chess but started winning again.

Oliver's father had a forced smile as he stared at Shun 'This child isn't unbeatable. But he grows too quickly. If someone doesn't have the same rate of growth as him, catching up to him is impossible.'

The man felt pity for Shun.

A genius mind was something that made plenty of people envy Shun but it also prevented Shun from understanding others.

As a genius, he couldn't understand the struggles of his less talented friends. He found it difficult to explain some of his reasoning or some tasks that he could do naturally.

Nobody would be able to understand him and he would slowly feel lonely.

Moreover, the hard work he did in the background was just given the stamp of being a genius.

Oliver's father was right about this.

Even though Shun had many friends, he never felt as if any one of them understood him. They were with him because they thought it was fun to play with him. Or the fact that he was a genius student.

Shun always felt as if he was lonely and sometimes, he would lose the motivation to work hard.

'If I stop working so hard, will I be able to understand other people? Will this feeling of loneliness vanish?'

He began to take it easy on his studies and just spent some time raising the plants.

He wanted to feel that he belonged to the group as well. It was not comfortable to stand alone when others were talking among themselves.

But he also didn't want them to just focus on him. He wanted them to be natural as they were with other people.

Currently, the group of friends was walking towards Oliver Clarke's house because it was Shun's birthday.

As they were walking down the road, they heard the sound of the horse's footsteps.

Shun was the first one who noticed the horse and alerted his friends, "Let's move aside. A carriage is coming."

"Okay."

His friends immediately reacted and moved to the side.

Shun noticed that Oliver wasn't with them though. He turned around and was surprised to find that Oliver was still there.

He noticed that Oliver's vision was focused on the ground. Possibly, something fell out of his pocket while they were moving towards the side.

"Oliver. You can find the silver coins later. Get out of there." Shun immediately guessed what Oliver was searching for and asked him to get out of there.

Oliver took a moment to think and answered, "Alright."

He then began moving towards the side when suddenly, Shun and his other friends saw that the carriage had already arrived at a rather quick speed.

The driver of that carriage saw Oliver and immediately pulled the reigns of his horses. The horses slowed their great momentum and stopped just when the distance between them and Oliver was less than a meter.

Before the carriage driver could say anything, there was an irritated voice from within the carriage, "What was that?! Why did you stop the carriage?!"

The man appeared well angered.

Shun looked at the crest on that carriage understood that this carriage belonged to the Renner Noble House. Whoever sat inside it must belong to the Renner Noble House.

The door to the carriage opened and a young man with white, greasy hair that slightly covered his thin face stepped down. Round hazel eyes, set concealed within their sockets, glared at Oliver.

"You! How dare you get in front of my carriage? Do you even know who I am?!" The young man yelled out with scorn-filled eyes.

Oliver trembled upon being yelled at. He immediately turned towards him and bowed, "Please forgive me. I won't do this again."

The crowd began gathering around them when they saw it was a member of the Renner Noble House. It seemed as though he had an issue with a child.

Some of them even recognized Oliver. They regularly saw him pass this road.

"A lowly creature like you actually thinks that a simple apology is enough?" The young noble snorted in anger. He added, "Break your arm and leg and I can consider letting this go."

Shun frowned when he heard the man. He knew this young man was a noble heir but still, this wasn't even an offense.

Just because his carriage was forced to stop didn't mean that the other person had to break their arm or legs.

How could he give such punishment to a child?

Moreover, his tone appeared to be casual as if was natural.

Before Shun could speak up, someone covered his mouth and prevented him from speaking.

Shun knew it was another one of his friends. He heard a soft whisper, "Don't speak anything. Don't intervene. We will all be killed."

He knew that they were preventing him from asking questions. If he asked something from this unreasonable man, this guy might target them as well.

However, if nothing was done then Oliver would be forced to break his arm and a leg.

Oliver sobbed as he pleaded for mercy, "Please, be merciful, lord. Forgive me. I really didn't mean to do this."

"Shut up!"

"It seems I need to educate the people of what happens when you don't obey someone from Noble Family." The young man looked at his driver and ordered him, "Whip him to death."

The driver looked very hesitant as he laid his eyes on Oliver.

The young noble heir was irritated that the driver hadn't replied yet, "Quick!"

"…As you command, young master." The driver spoke out as he picked up a whip and got on the ground.

In front of Shun's eyes, he saw his friend whipped to his death.

Shun looked around, seeking help from someone in the crowd with his eyes but he saw how everyone seemed to have pitiful look yet no one planned to step forward and help.

The screams echoed in his mind. Along with a voice that said 'Why did you not do anything?'

'What good is it for me to be a genius if I can't even protect the life of one of my closest friends?!'

After Oliver died, the Noble Heir soon returned inside his carriage and purposely ran his carriage over Oliver's body.

After that noble heir went away, the crowd dispersed. Shun and his friends remained at the scene though as they continued to look at Oliver's dead body.

Shun hatefully glared at the guy who had stopped him from speaking at that time, "Why did you stop me?!"

"Did you want to be killed as well, Shun?! Go and die then! But don't drag us with you!"

Another guy spoke out, "Do you think we didn't want to help him out?! But we can't! This was a Noble Hier! He is much stronger than us in both strength and family background!"

Shun had no response to those words. He could only clench his fists in frustration and anger.

Now, a couple more sentences were echoing in his mind, making him angry.

'You failed to help him because of your weakness.'

'If you had status, a word from you and you could have done the same with that guy.'

Shun was surprised when he heard this thought.

The emotions he felt right now certainly made him angry enough. If he had enough status, he would have definitely killed this detestable guy.

As those thoughts entered his head, he began to think of ways to acquire high status.

A few of his friends picked up Oliver's body and carried it to his house. Shun walked with them with a blank look.

He was lost in thought as he was still thinking of what he could do to acquire a great position in the kingdom at the fastest speed possible.

If he became some clerk and tried to raise his position then it would take him decades to get to a position to command a Noble House.

'Warrior. If I become a warrior strong enough under the service of the King, I could take revenge.'

He had read about the warriors and how they cultivated mysterious energy named Ardor to get stronger.

However, to get the techniques to cultivate Ardor, Shun would have to join a martial school.

He looked at the dead body of his friend that was hugged by his parents.

Perhaps that sight was enough for him to make up his mind.

~~

The next day, Shun went to the principal's office.

"Principal, I had a request," Shun spoke with a neutral expression.

"What is it? Is it related to the death of young Oliver?" The principal frowned as he guessed Shun's request.

Shun shook his head and replied, "Can you please recommend me to a Martial Academy? I want to grow stronger."

The principal's frown deepened as he heard Shun. His observation and deduction skill was far from equal to Shun but the principal was very skilled in reading people. He asked him with a solemn look, "Are you thinking of taking revenge for young Oliver?"

Shun chose his words carefully and selected the option with which he had a higher chance of achieving his motive, "…Yes. I cannot forget his screams, sir. I feel obligated to do something. Even if I will lose my life because of this impulsiveness, I feel it's better than doing nothing and wasting my years while regretting why I didn't do anything."

The principal had a fierce look as he spoke, "I could refuse you and force you to stay in this school. Have you not thought about this?"

Shun replied with a straight look, "There was no need for me to even consider this possibility, sir. You love your students more than anyone."

"You already broke your precious table and that painting which usually hangs on the wall behind you. And even right now, you are clenching your fists in anger. I know that you won't stop me from walking down this path. Especially when all I am asking you is to recommend me to a Martial Academy." Shun spoke everything with complete emotion to convey his words to the principal.

"...It seems you already had me all figured out?" With a strained smile on his face, the principal spoke, "Alright. I know the headmaster of the Willow Creek Academy of Martial Arts. I will contact him and ask him to accept you as a student. The rest would depend on you."

"Thank you, Sir." Shun gratefully said to the principal before leaving his office.