Why my body is so hurt...What happens...
"Don't relax your guard! We almost defeat Overlord Zenorth!"
That man why he's pointing his finger at me and why he calling me Zenorth? Who is that...
"Dammit, he's going to cast another magic! Clair cut his arm now!"
Huh? I can't feel my hand… what happened...where's my hand...
"Good! Medea bind him now!"
"By the power of ice lord - Frozen land!"
Why I can't move...my leg is frozen?....No...that monster….who is that….is that me?! No that impossible! It can't be right! Why I look like this!?
"Good, he's panicking! Take this Zenorth!"
Why I become a monster...no wait where's my sword...Ashen where are you!
"Roan get back! He still alive! He's calling back up!"
No wait stop what are you--
"No, I will finish this! Take this Explosion Strike!"
----
So his name is Roan...why he attacking me…
Because you're Overlord Zenorth.
Who is that?
The lord of chaos who once fought with the goddess light and darkness before finally sealed in this world.
But why that man call me that I am a human…
Yes,...you're a human...once before you set foot on the forbidden land.
Forbidden land...the land where forbidden god sleep forever....why I enter such a place...
Don't you remember? What's you wish for?
Wish? Who am I? And who are you?
It's so sad, in the last moment you finally defeat Zenorth lost yourself in the process, but don't worry even you forget the deal has been made and you already fulfill your contract.
Did I defeat Zenorth? Deal? Contract? What are you talking about….
It won't be too long before Zenorth last fire gave up your brethren shall be free and you'll be reborn again as a human, there's no need to worry.
Hey….wait…please explain it to me...
Good night O little one….
-----
I don't remember anything afterward, that voice not even tell me who is she, but just like she said, I was reborn again as a human child, in a small remote village on the north part of the continent as a child of the farmer.
"Hey, Gene how long you going to daydreaming! We need to carry this vegetable to Central city!"
"Ah wait for me aunt Lucas."
That woman is, my mother sister, she has been with me as far as I remember, she used to be a veteran mercenary but I hear after her husband died, she retires earlier and live with us and works as village guard.
"Are you still angry that you're not accepted into Reingard? Didn't I told you not to worry about that! And today I'm going to introduce you to Roselia guild master."
"Not really, but thank you aunt Lucas."
Ah right now I remember, I take the entrance test at Reingard 3 weeks ago and failed even before show up my ability.
"Alright let's go, We can't waste any more time, hey Runa I'll borrow you kid again today ok."
"Ok but please keep him safe Lucas!"
"No worries, hell as if somebody could defeat him Runa! you know that right- hey why'd you pinch me!"
And that woman is my mother, unlike my Aunt, my mother is a farmer, but from my aunt story, my mother are used to be some nobles in small country, but because of war, that country now is lost and my mother lost all his nobility but somehow she doesn't even care about nobility in the first place.
"Aunt Lucas let's go we don't have much time."
"Alright Gene let's go."
----
It's doesn't takes so much time from our village to Garrion City which located exactly south from here, a big town where a mercenary or pedler usually stay before making trip dangerous region. Now I'm just standing outside feeding the horse some wheat while waiting my aunt submitting her report.
"Gene why you so quiet? Did you feel something wrong?"
"Not really, it just feel to peaceful, I almost lost myself to it."
"Hahaha what are you talking about? You talk as if you're a battle hardened warrior who just return to his home. Anyway Roselia Guild Master Russel want to meet you."
"Where to?"
"To his office of course, he says want to talk with you."
----
"Is this his office? Why the door is so big."
"I don't know ask the architect, anyway you enter this room alone, I'll wait outside good luck Gene."
"Alright thanks aunt."
----
"So, you're Gene Ashte? Son of former noble Runa Ashte?"
"Yeah that's right."
"Lucas says he want you to apply to works here as carriage rider right?"
"Yes that's right."
"Well I don't have a problem with that, but…you see…"
"Is there something wrong?"
"She says that you're Downer right?"
Ah right Downer, the nick that given to those who unable harness mana from this world...in other words are failure or defect, and the chance to be defect are 0.19%.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
"Yes that's right, I can't use any magic."
"You see, our line of work are dangerous, at least you need possess a small resistance against magic or curse."
"Well I could handle simple delivery for short distance."
This man I hate it, He's right though, but I need a work...I guess I hold it just a little bit.
"Still that would be a problem, If you're not a downer I could let you in that easily."
So he reject me huh, at least he should taste if he underestimate something so much without even giving it a chance.
"Well why not try it on me then, you will know what will happen."
"Cursing you? Well, I never back down from a challenge you know, a kid like you should teached so you know your-"
"Russel stop! Don't cast anything on him I promise to his mother to return him unharmed."
Ah why'd you enter....
"Don't worry Lucas, I'm just kidding alright, but I can't accept him, not only he's a downer he also doesn't know his limit, I don't know what happen with you recommending a kid like him here guess your skill has been dulled."
Alright that's it I can't stand him anymore!
"Gene stop it!"
"Ouch why you pinch me!"
"But he can join us in tomorrow expedition to make him realize how dangerous is our line of work at least that will become good experience for him."
"Hahaha thanks sorry for taking your time I'll take my leave now.
----
"Aunt why would you do that?"
"I told you isn't?! Don't use your soulbound weapon, it's too dreadful! You could kill him on the spot!"
"What? There's no need to worry, as long as he not cast something dangerous on me he won't die."
"Sigh...you're showing that twisted expression again and you think I would believe you? Who you're trying to fool anyway."
"Uh...nothing?"
"Anyway you can show your ability in tomorrow expedition along with some Reingard newbie trainer and senior."
"Will be that makes any differences?"
"Well if you did good maybe they will reconsider."
"Alright then I'm hardly wait for that."
"Please hide that twisted expression of yours, it's really creepy you know, let's just go home from now."
----
"Gene why you keep rolling on the wagon?"
"This place is spacious after you taking off the goods, I can lie down all the time, is this a truly a peaceful life!"
"Sigh sometimes I can't understand what are you thinking."
"Aunt Lucas stop the carriage!"
"What? Why?"
"There's a demon beast near us hurry hides your presence!"
"A demon beast?! Why would appear here!"
"I don't know, probably it's a captured beast that got free."
"How'd you able to say that?"
"Oh, because from what I sense there's many human corpse, I say serve them right."
"Wha-is there survivor?"
"Just one or two survivor demi-human, they won't survive any much longer though the beast already notice them."
"How could you be so heartless!"
"Wa-Aunt Lucas where are we going!?"
"We have to save them!"
----
"Sister I guess this is our end, I'm sorry. I though by releasing the beast he could help us escape."
"It's ok Mirie, you should escape now before the beast notice us."
"No! I don't want to leave you behind again!"
"Stop crying Mirie, I won't survive much longer with the wound like that, at least one of us need to survive."
"Sister what was that sound? somebody approaching here!"
"A reinforcement?! Mirie quick you need to escape before they find you."
"Heya! Take this you vile demon!"
"Aunt Lucas what the hell are you doing! You just crash our wagon into a Minotaur! And look even our horse are already escaping!"
"Sister they don't look like some royal reinforcement…"
"Forget the small detail Gene! Look we arrive just in nick of time before the beast eat them!"
"As if! Hey are you ok?"
"...."
"Ok I take that as yes, but not with your friend though, Aunt Lucas there's only two survivor, one lightly wound, the other are….well maybe just few step away from death door."
"Hey! Don't talk like that to my sister!"
"It's alright Mirie he's right."
"Oh so both of you can talk."
"Stranger...It's maybe odd to ask, but can you take her escape from here."
"Gene switch with me, I'll give emergency first aid to her!"
"Figures, alright I'll play a little bit -Ashen Blade- come to me."
"Hey are you alright?"
"Yeah she's alright Aunt Lucas, almost good as dead if that what you ask!"
"Ugh Gene, stop talking and just fight that monster! I just wanna ask her feeling."
"Oh alright then, don't mind me! I'm just playing with the minotaur here!"
"Please hold it a little, I can't use high tier healing spell so it's probably sting a little."
"Yeah a little sting from giant hornet in a berserk state!"
"I told you to shut up Gene!"
"Guh! It's hurt!"
"Please sister just hold a little!"
"It's almost done, your wound almost close!"
"Hey is your- is he will be ok? I mean fighting with rusted weapon like that?"
"Yeah don't worry, I know it's kinda rusted but it's still do the job perfectly, so no worry as if something like that could kill him."
"But that's a Demon beast!"
"Yeah I know, Hey what's take you so long? I'm done here."
"Ah ok, it's time to go home then, O Ash of my enemy, Heed my call, I summon thee from the depth of the abyss, come forth and serve me! Wraith King."
"Wha…."
"See told you."
"B-b-but to finish is in a single slash! And what was that giant skeletal shadow just now?!"
"Just forget about it, you probably won't understand what he do anyway."
---
"So...how we go home?"
"Huh? Of course using the wagon why you ask Gene?"
"Well because somebody just crash the wagon and let the horse escape, so yeah, that both option are dead, and we're practically dead too if we return with literally nothing."
"You're right! How come I didn't think any of that?!"
"Um...you could use their horse if you want."
"Wha?! There's a horse?! Where?"
"It's on their camp, little north from here."
"Ok then it's time to salvage the junk."
"Uh wait!...What about us?"
"Sigh, I don't know, maybe you could come with us for few days or something, but it's up to you….Why you looking at me like that?"
"Gene....speak something good?! Oh no is the minotaur poisoning you in some way?! Are you sick?! Gene!? Speak to me! Gene is it really Gene!"
"You're gonna really make me sick if you shake me that hard urp!"
"Ew....disgusting…"
"And whose fault is that! Anyway let's go there's nothing left here."
"You say there's nothing left and yet...you carry that load that bag of gold coin."
"Ehe it's better than let it rot here and it's really odd why would slave trade could have this amount of riches."
"You're right it's really odd, but better you drop all of it, it could become a problem if they think you stole it."
"You're right...but really, leaving all of it like this are really-"
"Drop it."
"Ok...so should we carry her sister to the wagon or just tied it with rope and pull it?"
"Gene...we're helping them not torturing them...please just use your head a little."
"I'm kidding alright, geez why you people are so tense!"
"Uh...I'm sorry but what should I call both of you, my name is marie and my sister is Sera."
"Oh I'm Gene and that's my aunt Lucas btw she's almost thir-"
"Don't dare you speak my age Gene! I can hear you loud and clear!"
"Um it's kinda late but, thank you for saving me and my sister!"
"If you want to say thanks say it to that idiot over there, he's the one who notice the beast anyway hold on tight I'm going to raise the speed!"
----
"Sir the camp we're already scout the camp area the demon beast that duke order are dead."
"What's the cause?"
"From what we found, it was killed by single slash from giant sword, judging from the wound the opponent are likely from cyclops.
"Then what about the slave?"
"It seem they captured by the raider, I found trace somebody dragging a wounded person."
"Alright secure the loot first and continue find a clue for their whereabouts!"
"Sir!"
"So how's the condition Duke Noir?"
"This is bad, first the beast is dead, and those slave are missing or the worst case is dead."
"They're just a slave why not find the replacement?"
"I really hope I could do that, alright call the troops we need to go back and make a report!"