The soft zephyrs caressed my cheeks, carrying the fragrance of wet grass and painting my closed eyelids with the touch of warm sunshine. Gentle breezes whispered in my ears, bringing nothing but tranquility.
"Hey, Subaru... do you really intend to leave the village? I understand that you and Grandpa Len put a lot of effort into your research... but your aspirations may be unattainable."
A strident and irritating voice accentuated the serenity, alternating between my left and my right, passing over my head. Still, eyes closed, I replied with a dispassionate tone.
"Tell me, Koth. Do you think I'm foolish enough not to have a plan?"
"Huh? You're not referring to that dusty old compass, are you? Grandpa Len kept it for a reason... But if we could really rely on some kind of map, our journey might stand a chance... Unfortunately, such a map still does not exist, and the compass is nothing more than a fable."
Unperturbed, I lay back on the grass. Koth interpreted my silence as characteristic of my nature and spoke again.
"But that doesn't convince you, does it? Once an idea takes root in your mind, there's nothing that can shake your resolve..."
Two years and three months had passed since my invocation to this world. The memories that preceded my arrival remained vivid. I was shopping for snacks at a convenience store when my eyes snapped open to a setting reminiscent of medieval times, as if I had stepped into a fantasy movie. As a hermit used to immersing myself in novels and anime, understanding the situation wasn't too challenging; clearly, I had been transported to another world.
However, this revelation was not the most surprising aspect; it was my accompanying "ability". One could imagine acquiring a holy sword that rends demons, an enchanted shield that adapts to the circumstances, a ring that grants superhuman powers, or even a mana pool that allows for formidable spells to be cast... However, my reality turned out to be harsher than those fantasy tales.
My ability enabled my return from the death, aptly named "Return by Death", dictated that, upon my death, I would return to a specific starting point, comparable to a checkpoint in a video game. My initial meeting with this was less than ideal. I was mugged and stabbed in an alley during an attempted robbery.
What did I do when facing firsthand the reality of "dying"? My response was perhaps the most natural: I ran away.
As you can imagine, realizing that I was dead but still alive, I ran through the streets of a kingdom populated by a variety of fantastical creatures: elves, dwarves, dragonborn, demi-humans, demi-orcs, tieflings, and more. Finally, I found myself at the foot of the carriage of a man known as Len Benith, an old man who tended a humble farm on the outskirts of the kingdom.
Finding him, I discovered not only the existence of good souls in this world but also knowledge about the world itself.
Len introduced himself as my grandfather, while I carried the title of his adopted grandson. He had no close relatives and, from what he told me, he never had a close relationship with his relatives, only whispers of his wife, who had left years before. Our farm was located within a town of approximately two thousand inhabitants. I contributed by helping Len with tasks that his years made arduous: from milking cows to venturing into the woods to hunt.
Trying to divulge the fact of my summoning or my ability to return from death proved futile. Every effort to pass on my story and power was met with agonizing heartache, before instantly resetting my starting point.
In essence, discussing those two attributes meant dying. However, the creator of this hellish system failed to take into account humanity's innate adaptability, a quality ingrained in our nature. Therefore, I began to allocate the monthly money that Len graciously gave me for my work to buy books. He found it inconceivable that my efforts would not be paid; therefore, the money was put to practical use. Selling the farm's cheese and the skins of the animals I hunted gave me the opportunity to explore shops in the Kingdom of Lugunica, where I had been summoned, and to acquire books.
A repository of the wisdom acquired through the ages, Len could perceive beyond the appearance of objectivity. Therefore, it didn't take him long to deduce that a motive underpinned my fascination with summoning and magic; he captured my search to return to my own world. Tacitly and to the best of his ability, he joined me in starting an investigation, with the aim of engineering my return.
Two months ago, Len died.
However, our search had reached an inconceivable point, a point so absurd that it seemed implausible. Without him, faced with loneliness, I had no alternative but to try. If I managed to return to my world, it would be to fulfill the last aspiration of the man who gave me life in this one.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, the earth began to shake, as a cacophonous roar reverberated through the atmosphere. I blinked open, watching as the birds left the trees and the leaves fell to the ground.
Within my line of sight materialized a creature adorned in dark fur, sporting twin red horns and a pair of scarlet wings. Its stout tail and formidable legs were brimming with pointed claws. However, its size was on par with that of an adult head, and its large amber eyes showed no predatory threat.
"Wow! Subaru, did you feel that too?"
The voice was that of Koth, the spirit with whom I had forged a contract.
Before I could reply, the earth trembled again, though differently this time. It bore the aural signature of an explosion.
"That seemed to emanate from deep within the forest..." I said, standing up.
"What could it be? Who would cause an explosion in the heart of the forest?"
"Perhaps a group of adventurers?"
The forest was teeming with magical creatures, and this particular region was favored by the Adventurers Guild as a training ground for newbies. Therefore, it would not be unusual if the restlessness of a young nobleman led to a detonation via some device. Alternatively, a college student could replicate the scenario as he experimented with his spells.
"No matter its origin, if it possesses the power to shake the ground, it could potentially set the entire forest on fire…"
Whether Koth's guess was true or not, our course was clear.
"We'd better investigate."
The depths of the forest were inundated by a brilliant green sea. Towering trees loomed large, a stream ran between them, and cobwebbed vines adorned the landscape. Over time, I had grown accustomed to the variety of flora and fauna as I ventured out hunting, but the allure of this mystical forest never diminished.
"Subaru, whatever caused the explosion must be nearby…"
Koth hovered nearby, like an aerial lookout, relaying information about his sightings. His company was always immensely valuable.
"Behind you!"
Acting quickly at Koth's cry of alarm, I spun around and raised my bastard sword. My adversary turned out to be... a bush?
"Koth?" I asked in disbelief.
"I swear, I saw movement! Look!"
The instant his diminutive form moved downward, the bush did indeed tremble.
"Whoever you are! On behalf of the townspeople of Klivenor, I command you to reveal yourself!"
"Eek!"
A female squeal answered my demand, too genuine to be faked. As I beheld the figure emerging from the foliage, my grip on the sword hilt wavered for a moment. Before me stood a girl of average height, slender with alabaster skin. Her pointy ears protruded from her head, while her long hair cascaded in a mix of silver and white to her hips. Every strand of hers, including her straight-cut bangs, had a flawless line. A pink ribbon adorned the right side of her hair, while a butterfly clip nestled on the left side of her bangs. Her immaculate white attire seemed incongruous here, an ensemble worn only by the upper echelons of Lugunica's nobility. This girl, with a pair of terrified black eyes, gripped the edges of her dress firmly, her expression mixing embarrassment with surprise.
"Who is this girl? Her beauty makes it rare to forget her face. But I'm sure I haven't found her around these parts..."
Though I wholeheartedly agreed with Koth's assessment of her charm, such insolence was unbecoming. Disrespecting her, especially if she came from the nobility, could have dire consequences for our people...
I quickly lowered my sword, took a step forward, and asked, "Are you unharmed? No injuries, I hope."
Biting her lower lip, the girl hastened her steps, leaning closer to me to whisper in a tremulous tone, "P-Please... H-Help me!"
"She's a bit shameless to make such a request," Koth said, looking at her.
"You there! Don't move! You, drop your sword right now!"
The mysterious girl's hand clenched my clothes at that harsh and demanding cry.
Two burly figures pushed their way through the undergrowth. Judging from their dark armor and the shape of their helmets, it was certain that they were soldiers of the Vollachia Empire. The Empire, an authoritarian government, prioritized expanding its territory through conquest, absorbing any vestiges of power it could not resist.
「Those guys must have been following her here…」
"What's with that demanding attitude? You're in Lugunica territory too! How dare you fight us! Subaru will beat the crap out of you!"
「Ah? Wait...」
Koth's scream was getting me into trouble. While it was true that with the sword and years of hunting, I had acquired certain skills, the largest prey I had brought down was a wolf... There was no comparison to trained soldiers, let alone two of them right in front of me.
"Boy, I'll spare your life for your pet's insolence. But if you don't hand over that girl, you'll pay for your companion's words."
"Pet?!"
The soldier's voice was thick and authoritative, characteristic of Imperials who believed they had power over everything. However, something was wrong. Why would two imperial soldiers venture so close to Lugunica? This could even be considered a provocative act of war.
The two soldiers began to approach us, their forms becoming clearer. I could discern the intricate details of their flawless armor. Len may not have been a high-caliber warrior, but before his life as a farmer, he had been an adventurer. While he hadn't been able to impart much combat knowledge to me, his advice was priceless. According to him, a warrior with armor intact from scratches or dents was like a lamb in a wolf costume.
"You heard me! Give me the girl! If you don't, you won't be able to regret your stupidity later…"
Slowly, I raised my sword, gripping it firmly with both hands.
"Do you think I'm going to take your word for it? She asked me for help, and I never say no to a pretty girl!"
"Yes, yes! That's true... Wait... What?" Koth cut himself off.
There was no way these soldiers would let me live if I gave them the girl. It was absurd to think that they would leave a witness out in the open. Besides, she had asked for my help. How could I face Len if I refused to help her? That old man had instilled in me values that a teenager in my modern world might miss.
"It seems that commoners' stupidity is a shared trait... You will pay for ignoring my warnings."
The soldier drew his sword. For the second time, I noticed that not a single mark marred the sheet metal.
While I wasn't sure I would win, unlike before, I believed I could at least try, especially after calming down and sizing up my enemy like Len had taught me.