Struggling to open his eyes, the man felt an overwhelming heaviness.

"Hey, sis, he's waking up!"

Whose voice was that? His head still felt foggy, and his vision was too blurred to focus.

Where am I? This place feels strange. Is it made of bamboo? Have I gone back in time? Reincarnated as an SSS-class hero from the Fire Kingdom?

"Ugghh.." He rubbed his eyes, slowly rising from his slumber.

"Take it easy... You've just woken up after drifting at sea."

The gentle voice came from a woman to his left.

When his eyes finally adjusted, he saw a beautiful woman. Her face was like a plum blossom, with rosy cheeks, a cute appearance, and large eyes accentuating her beauty.

Am I in heaven?

"You should rest more, don’t rush."

"Uhhh.. am I okay.. How long have I been asleep?"

"Since I found you, it's been a week."

"A.. a week!?" Suddenly, the man stood up spontaneously. But he didn't realize he was unclothed. After a moment, he became aware and quickly covered himself, lying back down.

"SO EMBARRASSED!!"

In that room, the man noticed there were two women. The one who had spoken to him was stunningly beautiful. However, the other one seemed... monstrous?

Her physique was plump, her nose not sharp, riddled with acne, and her lips were exceptionally thick. Her nose was pierced, resembling that of a buffalo. At a glance, she did appear somewhat monstrous.

"... It seems you're healthier than you look.."

"Uh.. it's not like that, I was just a bit startled... hehe."

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Claire Stewart, and this is my sister, Yukito Stewart."

"Nice to meet you..."

The man was slightly taken aback. Were they really sisters?

"What's your name? Do you remember it?"

"Of course, my name is Kenneth Alvison."

"Nice to meet you. By the way, your accent is very unique. Where are you from?"

"I'm from Veinsburg City."

"Veinsburg?"

"Yes, Veinsburg. Is there a problem?"

"Hmmm... Veinsburg is a legendary city. It was destroyed and submerged... 100 years ago?"

"!!!"

Kenneth was shocked to hear that the city he once lived in had become legendary, and that too, a century ago?

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"What happened???" Kenneth was still confused.

"Maybe you're mistaken, and Veinsburg is just a city you remember, hehe, it's okay. By the way, do you remember what happened before you were drifting at sea?"

"Hmmm... I think I remember... It might sound a bit strange, but my friends and I were fighting a huge monster, like a sea dragon. If I'm not mistaken, its name was Leviathan."

"!!!"

"What's wrong?"

"It's strange, everything you mentioned is from long ago. People who fought with Leviathan are now among the high rulers."

"What? High rulers? And you know about Leviathan?"

"Everyone knows about Leviathan. To this day, it's the highest pinnacle monster of the sea."

"And who is this ruler you're talking about?"

"Everyone knows his name, Steven Allthrough, the Demon Lord."

"!!! STEVEN!"

"Correct, it seems you do know about him."

"I think what he thinks and what I think are different. Better keep quiet." Kenneth thought.

"Yes.. Right."

"Well, sorry for asking too much. You should rest again. I need to go to town, and my sister Yukito will take care of you."

Yukito waved her hand and smiled... flirtatiously?

Kenneth felt a bit uneasy but returned the smile. Hopefully, nothing strange would happen?

Several days passed, and Kenneth gradually began to understand the situation. After a century, his body, adrift at sea, had not aged or suffered any injuries. He speculated whether he had traversed through time or if his body was somehow immune to harm and aging.

The world now was divided into three major groups, each with distinct philosophies:

Machination, led by Brehmann, was a nation where people believed that technology was the source of hope and peace against monsters.

Galdurr, under the leadership of Vyse, held the philosophy that those capable of magic were chosen by the energy released a century ago. They relied on magic as their primary strength.

Lastly, a group not quite a nation due to its small size and lack of a defined territory or name. They were led by Steven Allthrough, the head of the Black Laskar. Their strength was considered equal to the other two nations. Each member of the Black Laskar was incredibly powerful, though they didn’t follow a specific philosophy.

Nowadays, monsters no longer rampaged as before. They had established their territories, dividing the world into safe and dangerous zones.

Kenneth found himself in the city of Labodyr in the nation of Galdurr, specifically in a remote and peripheral area of the city. Claire and Yukito were orphans, their parents having been killed in a hunt for Splinter, one of the 12 World Conqueror Monsters, equivalent in power to Leviathan.

Of the 12 World Conqueror Monsters, only one, Darkinroot, a nature-powered monster, had been defeated by Steven and 12 members of the Black Laskar. In that battle, three Laskar members were lost, and rumors suggested there were replacements for them.

Labodyr was a city where the primary livelihood came from skinning monsters to create weaponry and equipment for warfare.

Those in Galdurr with weak or no magical powers contributed by crafting weapons from monster bodies.

Kenneth had resumed training, recalling his control techniques and various martial arts he once practiced.

"So, you can fight?" Claire inquired.

"Yes, I used to practice various martial arts."

"I haven’t seen martial arts in a long time. Such techniques aren’t useful against monsters anymore."

"I understand. By the way, as a citizen of Galdurr, can you use magic?"

"Of course! Look at this!"

Claire conjured a flame from her hand, not large but sufficient to grill fish.

"I always cook our food with this fire magic."

"Amazing, magic is really something!"

"Yes! Fire magic is quite rare among elemental magic. I inherited it from my great-grandmother!"

"Interesting, was she an extraordinary person?"

"Yes, my great-grandmother even met Steven Allthrough before he gained his powers!"

"!!!"

"What was your great-grandmother’s name?"

"Tania Rossenbard, one of the most famous fire witches and a founder of this nation!"

"!!!"

"Tania Rossenbard... the only one I know is Tania, my classmate. A great-grandmother?"

"Is there a chance.. ah, never mind."

"Do you want to meet our great-grandmother?"

"Eh? Is she still alive?"

"Yes, she is! But we’re not very close to her, especially with the traditions she now follows."

"Could you take me to Tania? I mean, your great-grandmother?"

"Hmm.. I'm not sure, as I said, we’re not close. Especially Yukito."

"I don’t mind, sis. I think Kenneth really wants to meet her." Yukito replied shyly. Perhaps she had a liking for Kenneth? He was indeed quite handsome.

"Alright, if Yukito agrees. Maybe we can go tomorrow?"

"Okay, that’s a plan."

"I must meet her. Perhaps she can explain a lot. And maybe, she can reconnect me with Steven?"