My name is Jirei. You may describe me as a lean, brown-haired young man in my early twenties, with sharp amber eyes half-hidden under messy bangs. I also have a plain face that looks forgettable, and simple D-rank gear: worn leather jerkin, white shirt, dark pants, and an unremarkable sword.
This is my story on how I, an unremarkable D-ranked adventurer, was bothered by literally every girl! I just want peace, quiet, laziness, NOT THIS!
"Hello! I want you to join my party!"
A girl with silky pink hair and pale garnet eyes slammed my front door open with enough force to rattle the hinges. Sunlight poured in behind her, framing her like some overzealous sunrise. My name is Jirei, barely 20 years of age, and I had no idea who this intruder was.
"I'm sorry, I'm busy right now."
I shut the door in her face and turned back to the kitchen, where sliced vegetables waited beside a sizzling pan. The aroma of herbs and oil filled the small hut, promising a quiet breakfast. I plated the food with practiced calm, ignoring the world outside.
Knuckles hammered the wood again, rapid and unrelenting. The sound cut through the morning peace like a poorly tuned bell. I set the plate down, wiped my hands on a towel, and opened the door with a scowl sharp enough to slice bread.
"What the hell? Do I need to call the Knights?"
My voice carried a growl, but the girl only beamed wider, undeterred by threats. She rocked on her heels, pink hair swaying like silk in the breeze. Before I could slam the door again, she wedged her foot in the gap.
"…Maybe I rushed things. I'm sorry. It's not sales, not a cult, just relax!"
"Hey! Don't just barge in!"
She shoved forward while I pushed back, and the old door groaned in protest. Wood splintered with a sharp crack, and the entire panel tore free from its hinges. It crashed to the floorboards, kicking up a cloud of dust that danced in the light.
"…Introductions first! I'm Retinoa Innocent! Friends call me Letty!"
"Can you pay for that door?"
Letty ignored me and dropped into my only chair, crossing her legs as if she owned the place. I stared at the gaping doorway, cold wind whistling through the empty frame. The morning chill crept across my skin, raising goosebumps.
"Of course I'll cover the door. Better idea, join my party as the Attack Hero and I'll give you a real house! Cute girls will travel with us! It's the deal of a lifetime!"
The name struck a chord deep in my memory, sharp and clear. Retinoa Innocent, chosen by the Holy Sword Gran Verse, bearer of the Attack Mark. One of ten heroes this generation, a rare and celebrated harvest.
"Why me?"
I lived in this hut on the city's edge, leaving only for guild requests or the occasional tavern meal. My adventurer rank sat at a humble D, nothing to draw a hero's gaze. Black hair was my only standout trait, and it caused endless mix-ups.
"That's because my dream is to adventure with you."
"With me? Why?"
"You don't remember me?" She asked. She then gathered her pink hair and tied it into twin tails with quick, practiced motions. The style tugged at a buried memory, a forest clearing years ago, a crying girl, and a towering Great Bear. My own voice echoed back, dramatic and painfully teenage.
"I think… it was during the Great Bear fight…"
"Yes! You saved me when the beast had me cornered!"
Her smile exploded across her face, bright enough to rival the sun outside. "Don't cry, be patient. Only the weak can cry. If you still can't stand it, then become a hero. If you become a hero, you won't be weak and will not cry. Even your dreams will come true… To become a hero, I also try to laugh even when I am sad.
She recited my old words with reverence, each line carving shame into my chest. I clutched my head, heat flooding my face.
"Stop! Stop right now, my dark past!"
Letty ignored the plea and kept talking, voice rising with excitement. She had spotted me in the city, recognized the same clouded eyes from that day. Fate, she insisted; I called it a nightmare.
"So the answer is…?"
Hope shimmered in her gaze, but my refusal was already locked and loaded. I met her eyes and spoke with finality, leaving no cracks for doubt.
"No. The answer is NO." I said with utmost certainty.
Her smile froze, then shattered. She cupped a hand to her ear and shouted over me. "I didn't hear that!"
"Irritating."
"Inaudible! It was inaudible!" I then repeated it, and each time I was shot back with a resounding, "Can you repeat?" "What was that?" "Hello Jirei, do you hear me?"
Silence stretched between us, broken only by the wind through the doorway. Thirty minutes of questions and denials followed, her voice growing louder, my patience fraying. Finally, exhaustion claimed victory.
"Fine. I'll join the party."
Letty leapt from the chair with a triumphant yell, fists pumped high. The sound ricocheted off the bare walls, filling the hut with victory. I rubbed my temples, regret already settling in.
"So, what name do I sign up under?" I ask as Letty handed me the forms. "Great! The party is called Black-Haired Hero, named for you!"
I didn't ask for details; the origin was obvious and mortifying. She bounced on her heels, waiting for the next step. I waved a hand toward the broken doorway.
"I'll apply later. Come back tomorrow."
"Tomorrow it is! Bye-bye!"
She dashed out, twin tails streaming like pink banners in the wind. I barricaded the gap with a spare plank, then turned to the empty room. Packing began in silence, clothes vanishing into magical storage.
A quick call to Magic Real Estate canceled the lease with a single sentence. The hut felt lighter, ready to fade into memory. I shouldered my bag and stepped into the morning light.
"Running away it is."
The city sprawled ahead, full of inns and alleys to vanish into. A hero party promised chaos, and I craved quiet mornings. I walked away from the hut, the wind carrying Letty's laughter far behind.
The road stretched wide, cobblestones warm under my boots. Merchants called from colorful stalls, hawking potions and enchanted trinkets. I slipped through the crowd, black hair hidden beneath a hood.
The road stretched wide, cobblestones warm under my boots. Merchants shouted from colorful stalls, offering potions and glowing trinkets. I slipped through the crowd, black hair hidden beneath a deep hood.
The northern gate rose ahead, iron bars open to the world beyond. A caravan of wagons rumbled past, loaded with grain and cloth. I joined the flow, blending with travelers and guards.
Fields replaced the city walls, golden under the morning sun. Birds wheeled overhead, their cries sharp in the quiet. My hut felt far behind, a memory already fading.
A river sparkled to the west, water clear over smooth stones. I followed its curve, boots crunching on gravel. The path narrowed, winding through tall grass that brushed my knees.
Hours passed, the sun climbing higher. Sweat beaded on my skin, but the air stayed cool. No pink hair, no twin tails, no persistent voice.
A village appeared at dusk, thatched roofs glowing in the fading light. Smoke curled from chimneys, carrying the scent of stew. The sign above the inn creaked in the breeze: The Wandering Hearth.
I pushed open the heavy door, hinges groaning softly. The common room hummed with low voices and clinking mugs. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting warm shadows.
The innkeeper looked up, wiping a glass with a rag. "Room for one?" she asked, voice rough but kind. I nodded, sliding a silver coin across the counter.
She handed me a key, iron cold in my palm. "Second floor, end of the hall. Supper's included." The stairs creaked under my weight, steady and familiar.
My room was small, a bed with clean sheets and a window facing the river. Moonlight spilled across the floor, silver and calm. I dropped my pack, the silence wrapping around me.
Outside, the village settled into night. Crickets chirped beyond the glass. My black hair fell across my eyes, unchanged and ordinary.
Letty would definitely search for me, but the roads were many. The hero party marched east, dragons waiting. I stayed west, D-rank and free.
I blew out the candle, darkness folding in. The bed was soft, the sheets cool. Tomorrow would bring new paths, new quiet mornings.
Sleep came easy, the river's murmur a lullaby. No twin-tailed hero, no destiny, no chaos. Just the open road and a simple life ahead.