The gentle breeze from the rural outskirts of the village brushed against my skin as I walked. Far from the bustling center, wide golden fields of wheat stretched endlessly beneath the sky, swaying softly like waves on a calm sea.
It felt peaceful. Familiar.
This place… it was what I now called home.
Plow in hand, I finally made it back to the farm. I spotted my father nearby, already done with the rest of the chores while I was away.
Back at his side, he greeted me with a warm smile.
I used this quiet moment to gather my thoughts. I had secured some gear with Thomen and the book I borrowed earlier had given me some interesting information—more than I expected, even.
Now, I decide to focus on which way to go and which place to visit.
The world was vast, and unlike last time… this time, I had the luxury of choice.
We are currently in the Kingdom of Aedwyn, more precisely in the rural region of Kaed. Aedwyn is a kingdom know for its rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant traditions passed down through generations. Yet, beneath its beauty lies a history marred by conflict and weakness. For centuries, Aedwyn lacked the military might to defend itself, becoming a frequent target of invasions and conquests. It earned a grim reputation—the kingdom with the most recorded defeats in the known world.
Which were true...
Until the awakening and rise of the Hero and his party.
Of course…
That "Hero" was me.
And those "companions"… were the very ones who betrayed me.
It all started fifteen years ago—though for me, it feels like only five. The Kingdom of Aedwyn was on the brink of collapse.
An alliance of three neighboring kingdoms had joined forces to conquer and divide Aedwyn among themselves—each wanting a piece of its lands because of its weakness, it was seen as an easy target. Honestly… they were winning. Aedwyn's military was weak, its defenses outdated, and its morale shattered.
That was, until the former king found us—me, Mike, and Lia.
At the same time, a greater threat loomed over the world: the Demon King. A monstrous being whose army razed entire nations without mercy. It was a matter of time before the entire continent was engulfed.
But there was one twist in Aedwyn's favor—The Hero had been born within its borders.
Me.
And with that, the king found his leverage.
He made the offer to other surrounding kingdoms:
He would offer the help of the hero. If the demon were to attack their country, the hero would make them a priority.
When I found out… I was furious.
I wanted to help everyone, not become a bargaining chip. But without the royal family's support, I wouldn't have had access to top-tier equipment, training, or resources. Without them, I wouldn't have stood a chance against the demons... Or country.
And so… I stayed silent.
Then, the Kingdom of Aedwyn forged an alliance—uniting with three neighboring nations to stand against the invaders. Thus began the Awakening War, a brutal conflict that ended with the resounding victory of Aedwyn and its allies.
The three invading kingdoms, having underestimated the strength of the Hero and his companions, lost far more than just a war. Their defeat branded them as enemies of the land that birthed the Hero. From that moment on, even the simplest diplomatic gesture toward those nations was viewed as an act of betrayal—a show of support for those who had once dared to threaten the Hero's homeland.
If I remember correctly, the three invading kingdoms—Leos, Illyria, and Brimma—crumbled from within after their defeat. Crisis, rebellion, and insurrection swept through their lands like wildfire. With no other nations willing to support them, and with Aedwyn rarely dispatching the Hero's aid when the forces of darkness attacked, it's no wonder that even now—ten years later—they are still rebuilding. Once proud nations, they have become the poorest kingdoms on the continent.
I can't help but pity them. Every time I was sent to their borders, I saw it—the flicker of hope in the eyes of their people. And then, each time I was ordered to leave, I saw that light vanish, replaced by despair. A quiet, aching kind of suffering I was powerless to stop.
During that time, I began to doubt my title as a Hero. In the end—even now—I can't help but see myself as nothing more than a tool. A tool for politics. A tool for war. I wasn't a person to them—I was a weapon forged to lift a kingdom to glory.
On the other hand, Aedwyn rose to become the most powerful kingdom on the continent. Even after my departure… even after my death. The fact that Mike and Lia now sit on the throne says everything. After all, they're the ones who 'defeated' the Demon King—by my side.
To the other kingdoms, they are a force too dangerous to provoke. And to Aedwyn's allies, they're seen as the ultimate symbol of strength—living proof that power lies on their side.
I snapped out of my thoughts as I stretched, the sun beginning to set... painting the sky in hues of orange and gold. Dusk is drawing near.
"Let's get back to the house. We're done for today,"
my father says, placing a firm hand on my shoulder before turning to walk ahead.
Whatever, in Aedwyn—specifically in the region of Kaed—there is no adventurer guild. To join one, I would need to either travel to the capital or to the neighboring region next to us :
Troen.
Compared to Kaed, which is widely known for its fertile farmland and impressive agricultural output, Troen is renowned for its vast landscapes that attract tourists from across the kingdoms. It is also infamous for being home to a wide variety of monsters and numerous dungeons. Installing an adventurer guild there was an obvious choice—after all, it's the ideal region for monster hunting, dungeon raiding, and would allow the escort of merchant caravans or tourist carriages.
Troen is an important region—arguably even more crucial than the capital itself. Economically, the spoils from dungeon raids and monster hunts generate a wealth of raw materials, rare artifacts, and valuable loot, bringing in a steady torrent of goods for trade and commerce. Militarily, since most of the kingdom's adventurers are stationed there, Troen serves as a powerful concentration of force.
Yet, from what I've heard, the adventurers in Aedwyn only reach up to Diamond rank at best. Ten years ago, that would've been an incredible force—one to be reckoned with. But things have changed.
According to the book "My Experience as an Adventurer," the ranking system was expanded not long after my... departure. Two new ranks were added: Platinum and Mythril.
So now, the hierarchy goes like this:
Copper for beginners, then Silver, followed by Gold,
then Diamond, and finally the two elite tiers—Platinum and Mythril.
The book also stated that each kingdom possesses at least one or two Platinum-ranked adventurers, and only a select few have even a single Mythril-ranked one.
This means that, on paper, Aedwyn is the kingdom with the least powerful adventurer force. But of course, that's assuming Mike and Lia aren't counted among them.
Realistically, I'm sure both of them would be at least Platinum, if not already worthy of Mythril rank. That alone explains why the book didn't label Aedwyn as weak in terms of adventuring power.
But nonetheless, whether Aedwyn was strong or not—whether it possessed the weakest adventurer guild or not—as long as there was one, I would join it.
It would be a waste of time to travel to another country just for that. Besides, I learned that no matter your skills, unless you're born into nobility or a child of some legendary warrior, you start at the bottom anyway.
Which, frankly, I find unfair. They should've implemented a proper test to gauge actual ability… but whatever.
My thoughts were interrupted as I finally arrived in front of my house.
The scent of dinner drifted through the air—freshly baked meat, warm bread, and a hearty stew waiting for us inside.
But what I focused on wasn't the meal—it was the announcement I was about to make.
It was finally time. Time to tell them.
To declare my decision to leave and become an adventurer.
As I stepped inside, I followed the usual routine.
I thanked my mother for the food. Sat next to my little sister. Took in the warm, comforting scent of dinner. We said our prayers and gave thanks for the meal. I shared bits of my day—how I visited Thomen, how I ran into Sophia.
They appreciated Thomen's help and chuckled at the awkward moment with Sophia.
Warmth filled my chest, and without realizing it, I smiled.
Ah… that boy was lucky.
To have a family like this. A place that feels like home. Somewhere you know you'll always be welcome.
I never had that—not really.
But… I wasn't given this second life to enjoy a quiet life of farming.
I wasn't meant to live out my days in peace.
No. I'm here to seek the truth.
To get my revenge.
A purpose I can't afford to forget.
Even though they weren't my real family... I owed them the truth. And now, I had to walk alone — towards a future that only the fire of my vengeance could illuminate.
I took a deep breath.
With the attention of my family on me, I looked at each of them in turn.
"Mom, Dad, Mariella…" Another breath.
Heavy with guilt—for the life I've stolen, the peace I'll disrupt.
"I've decided. I'm going to become an adventurer… and I'll be leaving soon."
It had begun.
The first step toward my goal.
The reason I was brought back to life.