Author's Note: Hey, Bandit here! With the quarantine and all, I'll strive for a double release each week, as each subsequent chapter from this one would probably be even longer. Additionally, I'm also open to suggestions for canon character additions to Hajime's team, so just comment here or hit up my DMs. They have to fit the isekai theme though, so I suggest someone from a fantasy or magic show. If you like what you see, comment or give me a review! I'm always open to constructive criticism!

See you all next time for the second chapter of Life Restart!

I awoke to the sound of crying. A stifled wail, followed by unfettered sobs full of the blue tinge of melancholy. This was not the outburst of a lady scorned by a lover. This was the pain of someone marooned in the depths of despair, the anguished plea for release of someone devoid of all hope and companionship.

My mind throbbed, pulsating like a beating heart, as pain rushed into my nervous system like water escaping from a breaking dam.

Marianne. Reginlaze. Asura. Pendragon. Alsace. Second Age. Dragon King. The Silver Forest. Ambrosius.

Even with the sheer amount of information about my new environment hurtling through my nervous system, the sound of her cries overpowered even the headache I was experiencing.

Apparently, I'm supposed to be some kind of… Hero? Just like in those old novels and games?

I scratched my head, sighing at the fact that even though my luck saved me from dying, I was thrust right into another clusterfuck of a situation.

Still, I powered through, attempting to regain my bearings and find out where I am.

We seemed to be in the woods. Cool air wafted through the branches, the leaves dancing as a result. It brought with it the scent of the forest, the smell of brush and faint musk as equally nostalgic as the basketball game I witnessed just minutes ago. Surrounded by dozens of fireflies, I gazed into the sky.

Marie Jade Alsace.

A face, framed with locks of auburn hair, flashed into mind. Young and beautiful, her rosy cheeks were flushed with the warmth of youth, the eyes she possessed glistening like finely-cut emeralds underneath the noon sun. She was like a fairy, dribbling with springtime innocence, and apparently hated vehemently by the Second Princess of Pendragon—

Wait, who?

Still dressed in the green coat and dark jeans I was wearing, I adjusted the cream turtleneck I wore before looking at the center of the disturbance.

Hero. Death. Reginald.

Normally, I wouldn't really care about physical appearance. The Organization's training against honeypots were pretty damn effective. But I must admit, this girl was way above the standard.

A golden waterfall adorned her head, each lock of hair more magnificent than any jewel-encrusted crown in the world. Her eyes, greener than any verdant vale, gazed back into mine in bewilderment before looking back at the gem in her hands. Her features alone… You could show her face to any bard or king, and they'd agree she was an angel in human form.

Cracked, it seemed to glow a feeble cyan as its light slowly petered out like the last vestiges of a fireworks display, reflecting the deep pools of emerald green the lady in front of me had for eyes.

I mused. Finally, the knowledge transference stopped. Most of the information that was imprinted on my mind by the process was still in shambles, but she must be…

"Princess Aurora, am I correct?"

If my new knowledge was accurate, the land I was transported to was a land embroiled in war. This entire continent of Marianne was on the edge of their seats as they observed the climax of the Pendragon Campaign led by Alsace's best and brightest. And this lady was said to be the root of all this conflict.

The Second Princess of this land of Pendragon, Aurora Marianne Pendragon. The third child of the royal family, she was a peerless beauty and a talented sorceress, but her aversion to the opposite sex made her unsuited to be used as a pawn for politics. However, the Kingdom of Alsace made a deal the King could never refuse. The hand of Aurora in marriage, in exchange for their lost lands, conquered by Alsace decades ago.

I shook my head. It wasn't the time for calm assessment.

"I found her!"

Torchlight blossomed from the treeline before me, the soft, ringing sound of blades clanging against chainmail unmistakable even amidst the clamor of insects and twittering birds.

These must be her pursuers.

Aurora's eyes widened in fear and trepidation, seemingly returning her back to the world of the living. She stood up, her shapely curves concealed by a large robe..

With her bloodshot eyes and the wild look she had on her face, she wasn't really treated well by the fugitive lifestyle.

"I can't hold them back for long, Princess! Whatever the hell you're doing, you better do it now!"

Someone shouted from behind the trees. Her companions, maybe?

I focused on the task at hand.

She was clearly reluctant to interact with me. But still, she wiped her tears away and stood up.

—Understandable.

If I was in her position, I wouldn't want to talk to me either.

"…I'll pay you, so, can you do it? Will you save us?"

A haughty tone, even in these circumstances. How ice-cold.

Reminds me of a certain someone.

Still, even with the fact that she was the one who summoned me, she said I'd be getting paid. Fair compensation, even though this whole process of summoning was basically slavery.

"I'd say you're quite the businessman, but I'm the one getting money for all this."

I responded dryly, scratching my head.

From the information presented to me by this world, her actions caused this senseless war. Technically, she was similar to the people I helped bring down. Normally, I'd just walk away. This situation was just too sudden.

—But if this was my second chance, I better not waste it. I still have to know the meaning behind her words.

"I hope you can afford my fee, Princess."

Besides, she asked for salvation. Something I was never given. Something I couldn't give her.

How could I refuse? Besides, it's not like I really cared about her plight. I was doing this on a whim. Maybe I could understand if I helped her. Maybe not. There was no harm in trying this out.

"W-Wait, are you not bringing any weapons?"

She asked in alarm.

"I didn't have any when I was brought here. But I'll manage."

I said, before narrowing my gaze at the encroaching mass of torches before me.

They were coming. Judging from the footsteps and the amount of torches, there must be more than 30 hostiles, all armed with spears, swords, axes, you name it. While I'm used to fighting against those with more modern implements of war, I can adapt to these conditions.

"Fuck this, they're coming, Princess! I can't hold them off!"

A brunette came into view, holding an intricate wooden bow. Despite the rough manner in which she spoke, she was petite in frame, possessing delicate-looking limbs that no doubt packed serious power behind them, judging from the way her arrows flew into the night and found their mark.

Howls of pain arose from the brigands that advanced from the shadows, but it wasn't enough. Even I could tell she was running out of arrows to shoot.

Her gaze flitted in my direction, the hazel eyes she bore widening with every second.

"I-It worked?! She summoned a fucking Hero?!"

She grinned widely, but I paid her no heed. Not yet, I thought. I have to assess what I could do, and to do so…

I closed my eyes.

—I felt strong. Stronger than I've ever been. A lot lighter too. I felt like I could run for more than 100 miles without getting tired.

As expected of the Summoning Stone.

Devised and created by Pendragon's greatest court mages three hundred years ago, the Summoning Stones allowed the Pendragon Royal Family to summon a Hero from another world in times of great need, bestowing the one being summoned with knowledge gleaned from the summoner. It was a one-way trip, and it often ended in the bestowing of titles and treasures to the one being summoned as a form of compensation for the "Hero" being called.

In the past, the Kingdom of Pendragon had seven Summoning Stones, leading to its rise as a superpower within this continent and its continued rule before Alsace summoned their own Heroes and started the War of the Braves—

Or so my new memories say.

I shook my head. Now was not the time to think about useless things.

My head still hurts, but with the passive physical boost the Summoning gave me, I should be able to get out of this. I opened my eyes.

"Fuck, that bitch had a Summoning Stone, huh? I thought we used the last one when we summoned the kid."

Muttering a string of profanities, a young man in armor appeared from beyond the line of trees. Blue eyes colder than the ice of Siberia gazed back at my own, inadvertently making me gaze back with the same intensity.

"…you… You dog! You killed them! Mother, Father, Nii-sama, Celestia… You and Marie— I'll never be able to forgive you!"

Oh. Well. Looks like the Princess isn't really happy with this one.

Immediately, an arrow flew towards the blonde knight, but it was easily evaded, easily outmaneuvered by the newcomer with a single step to the side.

Not bad.

"Hero, that woman right there is a criminal. I only seek her arrest."

He began to walk towards me, his arms outstretched. A thin sword, decorated in gold, hung from his leather belt, almost obscured by the long blue coat he wore. Covered in dark leather, a dagger also adorned his belt, cold brass serving as its guard with treated walnut being the material for its handle.

—With his calluses and his movements from earlier, he seemed to be pretty handy with the weapon.

"She renounced her duty as a Princess and caused a war with our ally, the Kingdom of Alsace."

"I SHOULD HAVE YOU HANGED! YOU AND MARIE, YOU BETRAYED ME! YOU FERRIED ME TO THE WRONG TEMPLE—"

Aurora interjected, her green eyes screaming bloody murder as she yelled vehemently.

"Insulting the Crown Prince by not showing up to her own wedding, a wedding she herself agreed to, she then proceeded to run away with the help of Lilianna Krautz, a Silver-ranked Sentinel."

"WELFORD! YOUUUUUU!"

Flames blossomed from beneath her feet, blazing an incandescent crimson. Like erupting pumice from an active volcano, the raging sparks of what promised to be an inferno straight out of hell rose to great heights like the morning sun.

I could really feel the heat, even from where I was standing. The air itself shimmered, for crying out loud.

But still, the man before me was unfazed. Almost as if such flames would never hurt him.

My gaze wandered once more towards the enraged Princess behind me.

"You were never put under the Contract of Servitude. You still have your free will. Go and join the other Heroes, Hero-san, and help us put her to justice. The King of Alsace is a merciful lord. We'll also train you and teach you how to use your abilities to better everyone."

He stopped, the knight standing just three meters ahead of me. Perfect range for his sword. Negotiating, all while giving himself the advantage.

This man… he's trouble.

Suddenly, a gigantic curtain of flame fluttered like smooth velvet, incinerating even the grass and the trees that were foolish enough to stand in its path. An unstoppable force of nature, that it was. However, something as powerful as the rushing flame was severed by the knight's sword, the blade seemingly drawn instantaneously.

Waves of heat transfigured into jets of cold wind as its connection to the princess was severed alongside its physical form, the knight doing all this with a cold smile on his face.

"Oi, Princess! You all right?!"

Lilianna, the archer, frantically rushed towards the Ojou-sama, catching her before she fell entirely.

"Ugh!"

Crumpling to the floor, the Princess seemed to have reached her limits. Exhaustion, it seemed like. But I still needed her for one last thing.

"Princess Aurora Marianne Pendragon. Let me just ask you one thing."

I saw it in her eyes. I heard it in her voice. At the very least, she believed she was innocent. The very moment I was summoned, she brought up compensation before saying her request.

If Erica was here, she'd tell me to at least hear her out. She seemed reasonable after all. And that's what I'm going to do.

"—Can you pay?"

Her visage contorted into the very image of fury, even as she desperately fought exhaustion.

"Every single one of you… pigs and scum… I'll pay. I'll pay all right. But you better give me my money's worth, Hero. You… better…"

I smiled.

Looks like she collapsed. She must be tired. Well, she did look like she was running all day, so I guess that's understandable.

What she said… that's all I wanted to hear.

"Looks like you just got your answer, Welford-kun."

I kept my hands in my pockets. Right now, I had nothing. My ability won't be appearing just yet. It usually takes weeks. No weapons, nothing.

Except for the element of surprise.

"So it seems, Hero. But I suggest you surrender. Even with the boons to your physicality, I'm still a knight. Training and experience will always triumph over brute strength, and I happen to possess all three."

He gave his sword a little flourish, the estoc glimmering under the moonlit sky.

He'll feint left, and thrust right. He's relatively intelligent. Probably guessed I had training, but thought I had no experience. Must be that pride talking. Probably worked for him a lot of times, as he glanced over those directions as he spoke.

"You won't surrender? Very well. I shall at least endeavor to give you a swift death!"

Right on cue. As soon as he gazed at my left and positioned his blade in that direction, he immediately thrusted to the right like a striking viper, promising perforation with his lance-like blade. If I was hit, I would've choked on my own blood after being stabbed right in the lung.

He was fast...

—But I was faster.

Instead of playing into his hands and dodging to avoid his feint, I immediately unfastened my leather belt, holding it taut with two hands as I redirected the thrust to the dirt using nothing but treated leather.

Surprise blossomed from his face, his eyes widening in shock as I immediately allowed my right hand to go free and strike his now-open windpipe with its knuckles.

It was over within a single moment. How could it not? He had his guard down.

I kicked him right in his open sternum, pushing him away from his sword and further negating his chances to counter.

You can never be too careful. He did still have a knife.

"Urk—"

He coughed, his airways distressed by the sudden stimulus, his sword still embedded in the dirt.

I had nothing to say. I wasn't being paid for it. I should just do my job as quickly as possible. After all, the Princess's little fireworks display just started a forest fire.

With a swift motion, the estoc Welford owned was used against him, the blade glinting in the moonlight and the warmth of the growing forest fire as it was thrusted into its owner's body.

—Cold steel struck flesh, the rapier-like blade now driven through skin and muscle by my own hand, right into his ribcage and the heart it protected.

While I would prefer making sure he really died by stabbing his eye, the fire was growing stronger. I could already see the enemy soldiers bursting out from the trees, desperate to save Welford. I had my client and her protection detail to escort into safety.

"Y-You… H-How…"

I gazed at him one last time, the proud knight now resting upon a pool of his own blood.

He coughed, mumbling inaudible curses as his eyes slowly turned cloudy.

"We'll… We'll ge-get you."

I turned around. No need to pay a dying man any heed. My hand flew towards the sword that promised the cold embrace of death to my existence just moments ago, brandishing it against the light of the flickering flame after its release from the earth.

It wasn't my style. But it'll do.

The scabbard he bore, I also took with me, the blade I stole fitting snugly with the high-quality wood that served as its prison.

"You hear me? I-I'll…"

He sputtered.

"Oi, Princess. Krautz. It's time to go."

Separated by a wall of fire, the soldiers could do nothing but to stare in dismay and anger at our fleeting forms.

They'll probably come after us as soon as they put out the flames. We better move quickly.

"Y-Yeah, sure."

The archer, still surprised, lightly slapped her own cheeks with her two hands in an attempt to wake herself up.

"Wait, how do you even know my— oh yeah. Welford mentioned it.

I turned towards the Princess, sighing as I picked her up. I didn't notice it when I first saw her due to the large cloak and all, but she's got one hell of a figure.

"Where to?" I asked, the feisty princess now asleep in my arms. This physical buff sure was convenient. She weighed like nothing!

"Yeah, we're almost at the border! Straight ahead!"

"All right, let's go, Krautz!"

—And so, we ran like our lives depended on it, desperately charging in at full speed like runaway trains to reach salvation.