...Sigh, Just a reminder that this is actually a rewrite of another fanfic I wrote. Why? Well, I like the idea but perhaps my writing skill was... ehem, bad when I came up with it. So... I rewrite it! Obviously, there would be changes. You know, like copying homework but deliberately make it looks different-

Warning: OOCness, Grammar.

Prologue

"Life."

Unknown Forest

"AARRKHH!"

A swivel sound rang through the space, and a sickening shriek shocked the organisms within.

In the scene, a silhouette was looking down on a corpse similar to a wolf, but bigger and scarier. Its head turned around and the light from the gaps of leaves managed to catch a glimpse of the silhouette.

A male, with a pair of green eyes, sharply stared at what was in their front, eyebrows narrowed complemented the look. Slight-long brown hair softly stroked by the breezes that passed by. The revealed silhouette wore a grey vest over a dark-grey shirt, a pair of black trousers, a belt over the vest, a bag suspended onto the belt with a sheath seated beside it. Complimenting them is a pair of boots that reached his mid-calf.

Height could be considered as average, the figure's skin is slightly tanned, but still somewhat light. Not too buff but not too skinny either.

A proportionate stature is what he has.

Considering he had done such a deed, his green eyes are still somewhat brighter than most people had. A slight smirk plastered on his face as a short sword was tightly gripped in his right hand.

"Ah… what sunlight, disturbing me in the middle of my hunt…"

Blinking a few times, he moves to the dimmer region and checking his surroundings. His hand entered the small bag and a bronze card appeared on his hand. He was obviously inspecting the writing on it as his face brightened up.

"Level 23… I've come far. But not too far."

It seems like the figure is half-satisfied and half-disappointed with the result he got from the card. He shook his head in dissatisfaction, before putting the card back.

"Who knows that with just a mere short-sword, I could kill dozens of such monsters..."

He looked upwards and chuckled. Eyes lightly narrowed and lips curved up a little. Glancing in a particular direction, he looks around before rushing to the said direction.

Within such a dangerous site, a person is currently 'enjoying' the atmosphere the 'dangerous' forest presented.

At least, it used to be dangerous in his eyes.

"#$?!"

"?!"

Shrieks of horror and agony rang throughout the forest, and it was caused by monsters who were killed by a mere person.

To be more precise, it was caused by a mad lad.

It's been a month, but he still couldn't get used to such a feeling. A feeling of witnessing his own progress, a progress that instantly showed its effects.

A feeling of witnessing what he became because of his own effort.

Proud, satisfaction, happiness, content, and…

Free.

With nothing to listen, to follow, to depend.

He's genuinely free.

'What a blessing in disguise…'

"Luna-san, do you know how much I could get from collecting the bounties of these things?"

"Hmm… what are 'these things' you're talking about, Kazuma-san?"

"Umm… Mad Wolves, One-shot Bears, Rookie Killers, and… Arctic White Griffins."

She could only stare at the proofs of this amazing person presented. The teeth of Mad Wolves, talons of One-shot Bears, the tails of Rookie Killers and the beaks of Arctic White Griffins.

These items that could be considered as rare loots are sprawling on the table before her, treated as if they were merely random junks.

Such advanced things are before her eyes, she admitted, this guy has widened her perspective in her job.

What is he doing in this mere beginner town? The capital is the right place for such a person!

"U-umm… K-Kazuma-san, m-might you be kind and tell which level you're currently at?"

"23."

23?!

He has already done such a thing at such a level?! What is this revelation?! While she wanted to shout to express how unbelievably it was, she remembered that this guy is literally the guy who didn't even know what Eris was the first time he visited this place.

So no matter how unbelievable it is, coming from such a person, she believes it's unlikely that it was a lie.

Still! A level 23 defeating what even a 30 level couldn't defeat?! What the heck!?

"...I-I will send it to the Capital and your rewards will be yours as soon as possible."

"Thank you."

He merely smiled at her, before snatching the bag he used to carry the proofs and left the guild in silence. His head bowed down and eyes closed, but they could clearly see a slight smirk etched on that face of his. To have done such a thing and not even being loud about it…

They have to say, it was such an impressive accomplishment.

He just walks through the town, gazes locked forth and hands-on sides, posture straight and complexion neutral. In all, he just looks like a normal person in this town.

It was currently noon according to the stance of the sun, so it feels like it's the right time for him to eat. But right now, he doesn't have the appetite to eat lunch. What he feels like doing right now is entertainment, a satisfying activity to pass the time.

He looks up, his brown hair slightly moved by the breeze.

"Grind, as always."

...No.

He realized that food hasn't entered his poor self for hours, and while he mostly doesn't care about such a thing, an experienced adventurer had said that food is an essential aspect to be a good adventurer.

What a pain! Wasting time on such a triviality, but he admitted, the foods here are really tasty. No, it's not an inn, not a restaurant, or a stand.

Yes, it's the Guildhall!

A waitress arrived before him and bowed slightly, which he politely nodded at. She picked up the food from the tray in her other hand and placed the plate on the table.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, Sir."

Hospitality is one of the utmost important aspects of interacting with others. It doesn't matter what kind of person you're talking to, always put hospitality first before anything else.

You'll receive a favourable impression of them. That itself is a good thing.

The menu contains odd food, from fried big slimy frog's meat, seasoned cabbages, yes, cabbages, crispy eyes, toasted wolves, walking vegetables like those creepy sashimis and damn there are too many!

He could recall a couple of normal ones, mead and alcohol. That's all, oh, and as usual, fried chicken and meat. Meat from cows, mind you.

It is indeed strange. But he couldn't say it was a hateful thing. Instead, they make his life feel more… colourful. Imagine if such adventurous life was accompanied by normal, boring food. Bah! Tiring!

A minute it's all it takes to finish these foods, and with a quiet burp, he stood up and gave the appropriate amount of money to pay for the food. And maybe a little tip for the waitress's hospitality.

Just a small act of kindness, but it's ironic that it could brighten up one's day. He always wondered why many people don't do it, it's just a small act, and it could make someone's day better!

If someone is happy not because of someone's misfortune, aren't we feeling it too within our guts?

Conscience, as always. It could bring misfortune and it too could bring fortune.

He left the guildhall. And what's the irony?

It actually makes someone's day better!

"...T-Thank you."

A pair of glimmering crimson eyes glassy stared at what he left, a slight sob came from the waitress. She put the 'small' tip within her chest and smiled slightly.

"Thank you s-so much…"

Just a small act, a small contribution, a small thing that isn't even worthy in his eyes. But it means a lot for someone else.

This world is certainly fascinating.

The pair of green eyes looked back, and his lips curved up slightly. He put a hand into his pocket and looked up at the sky. And as always, the constant breezes stroked his hair softly.

"Life is a mystery for me, even in this present. But while it sucks, it's not wrong that it's too, really beautiful."

A whisper camouflaged within the wind, the owner of it walks forward and again, smiles.

This life, this world, this present, this past, this future, this fate.

All of them have their bad sides, but if he digs deeper into them, he could see why people could smile widely while laughing cheerfully.

In the end, it's a matter of perspective.

And while he's just a mere teenager, having a positive perspective towards everything actually makes everything looks beautiful.

Weird, isn't it?

"Maybe I'll go to the blacksmith... after grinding."

Crimson eyes intently observe the back of the brown-haired figure, they brighten up constantly since they locked their gazes to the figure's back. A small clenched fist was placed onto the wall and slick black hair motioned by the movements of its owner.

'What a person...'

A person that distinguished himself within thousands of people she has met without even realising it.

'Is it odd that with just a single encounter, I could already tell that he's that kind of guy who could be a good companion?'

A single encounter, a single sentence, a single act, and that's all it takes for her to know what kind of person he is. And what kind?

That he, is a nice guy.

It was just a simple action out of an ideal of a person. But amazingly, it could even be the cause of why someone wanted to be close to the said person. Of why someone knew that the person is... well, nice.

Even though she doesn't know him entirely, she was able to make up a conclusion of him out of only an occasion.

Again. Weird, huh?

A back of a silhouette before a forest with endless obstacles within it, a short-sword in its hand relaxedly gripped by the silhouette. The dawn emits its light brightly and the silhouette was revealed by it

It's him.

He entered the forest and as usual, shrieks of agony frequently rang through the nearby regions.

Level 25, it doesn't seem to be far.

A pair of green eyes sharply moved themselves to their surroundings, and a constant in-motion hand with a knife continuously injured the monsters surrounding him.

An apathetic complexion is what he showed, and a massacre is what he bestowed.

And while it's really brutal, it's not a lie that it's really mesmerizing.