NOVEL'S EXTRA: I Will Die at the Peak-Chapter 27: Shadow

In the sky, a wild bird with orange feathers was gliding. With its broad wings, it traced silent circles, watching the stillness below from above. From its vantage point, everything was much clearer: an endless stretch of barren, flat land... So lifeless, so abandoned, that it seemed even nature itself had forgotten this place.

In the middle of this desolation, an old fortress built of gray stone stood, resisting time and wind. At the beginning of the road leading to the fortress, a long caravan had come to a halt. A little ahead of the caravan, people had lined up in front of a small stall set up on the dry ground. Tired faces, impatient steps, a crowd waiting with hungry eyes...

In the distance, to the northeast, a forest was beginning to take the place of the barrenness. A deep, dark green stretched toward the horizon, as if drawing the boundary of another world.

Jiho leaned back in his chair behind the stall. In front of him were an ink bottle, a few thick sheets of paper, and a fountain pen. The sun was directly overhead, casting a sharp shadow on the ground.

He lifted his head slightly and looked at the next person in line—a woman. With a faint smile, he spoke:

"Can I have your name?"

"Zehrin."

"Your surname?"

"Velane."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-eight."

Jiho lowered his eyes to the paper and jotted down his notes. After a brief silence, he lifted his head again.

"Everything correct?"

The woman nodded slightly. "Yes, sir."

Jiho gestured toward the small square ink bottle in front of him.

"Dip your thumb in the ink, then press it here at the bottom of the page."

The woman hesitated for a moment, then pressed her thumb into the liquid. When she touched it to the paper, the mark was clear. Jiho examined it carefully, then nodded.

"Alright. Move to the back. Your share is ready in the basket on the left."

The woman took a few steps back, lowered her head, and slowly walked away.

The next in line—a frail old man—took her place. His cane left small indentations in the dirt with each step.

Jiho picked up his pen again and looked at the man's face.

"Your name?"

"Halem."

"Your surname?"

"Velane. Zehrin's father."

"How old are you?"

"Seventy-eight."

Jiho studied the man carefully. His eyes were red, his hands trembling. Lowering his head, Jiho made a note.

"Press your thumb into the ink, then leave a mark on the same spot."

Halem extended his shaking hand. It took effort, but he managed. The mark on the paper was slightly smudged, but still readable.

Jiho took a deep breath and nodded.

"Alright. You may go as well."

Ravien watched as the villagers stood in a single-file line in front of the stall. He paused for a moment, observing them with a puzzled expression.

So no one objected...

That's unexpected. Normally, a few people would complain, grumble. But everyone had lined up quietly.

Well, it's better this way.

He quickened his steps toward Jiho, planning to exchange a few words before heading back to the fortress. When he reached the stall, he saw Jiho meticulously checking the papers. For a moment, he simply observed. The man really did work with discipline.

"Jiho," Ravien said in a firm voice. "Bring those with Fate Abilities to my study tomorrow. But first, distribute all the rations. In order, without missing anyone."

Jiho nodded slightly, not taking his eyes off the papers.

"Understood, young master. Don't trouble yourself. By the way, the dungeon is accessible through the passage left of your study."

Ravien's brows furrowed slightly.

Sometimes, I just don't understand him... One moment, he acts like he knows nothing, and then he says something like that, as if he's aware of everything.

Is he truly naïve, or is he just pretending?

Ravien kept his gaze on Jiho as a thought crossed his mind:

I'm watching you, Jiho. Your loyalty is too unnatural. It's as if someone crafted you into this.

Perhaps one day, I'll meet the one who did.

Jiho cast Ravien a brief glance but said nothing. Ravien, too, remained silent and walked away, leaving everything to Jiho.

Now then... let's see what our little piglet is up to.

---

Throughout all this, Asogi stood silently in a corner, watching his father without blinking. Ravien's words to the villagers did not match his body language at all.

Asogi analyzed everything—every word, every glance, every small gesture. The fleeting look he gave Jiho, the way his voice lowered at certain moments—he missed nothing.

"Father's words were soft, and there was sorrow on his face... but his body was saying something else. He stood tall, his expression controlled, his eyes barely lingering on the villagers' suffering. He wasn't truly sad.

Their plight didn't matter to him in the slightest—he was simply doing what needed to be done.

So this is how it should be done... Appear empathetic on the outside, but let nothing in."

There was not a single trace of emotion on Asogi's face, but his mind was working ceaselessly. He was recording everything—his father's posture, the way he walked, the rhythm of his movements.

When Ravien finally started walking toward the fortress, Asogi waited a few seconds. Then, he silently followed. He maintained the perfect distance—ten steps behind.

But he wasn't just following.

He was measuring Ravien's every step, the way his body swayed, the way his weight shifted. And as he walked, his movements began to sync with his father's. His legs lifted at the same rhythm, his feet pressed into the ground the same way.

By the time they neared the fortress, from a distance, they looked almost like reflections of each other.

Asogi had no intention of speaking.

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Right now, he was memorizing his father's behavior.

Ravien had noticed Asogi trailing behind.

He spoke in a loud voice:

"Asogi, you're falling behind. Come here—I have some questions for you."

Asogi immediately abandoned his imitation and walked quickly to his father's side.

"I'm here, Father. What do you want to ask?"

(POV: Ravien)

There are many things I'm curious about when it comes to Asogi.

My ability created a living, thinking being. But I still don't fully understand how this thing works or what its limits are.

What intrigues me the most is how Asogi uses capacity.

Humans cannot use capacity directly—at least, not unless they have a Fate Ability. I've read about this before. But Asogi is not human.

He is an intelligent being that I created... So, things might work differently for him.

We passed through the eight-meter-high stone gate at the front of the fortress. I slowed my steps and started asking my questions.

"Asogi, can you use the capacity in your body directly?"

Asogi paused for a moment, thinking.

"Give me a second, Father. I'll check right now."

He raised his right hand, pressed his index finger against his forehead, and slowly pierced his skin. As the flesh split open, dark red blood trickled down. When his finger reached the bone, a faint crack was heard, and then it sank into the soft tissue beneath.

His eyes glazed over slightly as he stirred the inside of his brain, and an indistinct smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

Schlak.

His finger moved through the wet, warm tissue. A few seconds later, he slowly pulled it out.

Blood continued to drip from the hole in his forehead, but before long, the skin began to mend itself—as if it had never been pierced in the first place.

My eyes followed the trail of blood dripping from the closing wound.

This isn't my Rewind ability.

No, Asogi... He's regenerating.

"I found the answer, Father." His voice was steady. "By using capacity, I can shape my body however I want. I can regenerate. Every human I consume, I absorb their capacity. But I can only take ten percent of it permanently. The rest is used to replenish the capacity I burn. I can't take more than that."

I pulled out my notebook from my pocket and quickly wrote down what I had just heard.

Interesting... Very interesting.

So, Asogi can use capacity directly.

If that's the case, then maybe the other beings I've created can do the same.

I'll learn more when I go down to the dungeon.

"I'll save the rest of my questions for when we get there."

Asogi nodded and continued walking beside me.

I paused for a moment—his steps were perfectly synchronized with mine.

My eyes lingered on him... but I let it go.

When we reached the stone pathway of the fortress, the place had already been cleaned. There were no traces of blood or flesh left. The broken stones had been removed, though their spots remained empty.

This place needed proper repairs.

I continued toward the fortress's main gate.

XZ and the servant boy had done a good job.

I pushed open the door and started making my way toward the dungeon.