Kazuki’s body slumped to the ground, lifeless and battered after the intense battle with the Cyclops. His body lay still, the once fierce warrior now unconscious amidst the ruins of Grimvale. The villagers rushed out of their homes, their hearts racing as they gathered around the fallen hero. The old shopkeeper knelt beside Kazuki and pressed two fingers against his neck, searching for a pulse.

"He's still alive!" the shopkeeper shouted. "Rush him to the inn! We must heal him, quickly!"

The villagers sprang into action, carrying Kazuki's limp body to the inn. Inside, healers worked furiously, their hands glowing with magic as they tried to mend his injuries. After a long hour of effort, one of the healers, Mary, stepped forward, her face pale.

"We tried our best," Mary said, her voice trembling. "But the wounds on his fist... we couldn’t heal them. They're too severe. However, he is safe. We just need to wait for him to recover."

The old shopkeeper nodded solemnly. "He deserves more than just healing. We’ll have a feast tonight to celebrate him, our savior!"

The villagers, grateful and eager to honor their hero, began to prepare the feast.

In the Depths of Kazuki’s Mind…

Kazuki drifted into darkness, his consciousness slipping into a dream that felt all too familiar. He stood in the house he grew up in, his childhood self huddled in the corner, bruised and shaking. His "parents" loomed over him, their faces twisted with fury. The sharp crack of a slap echoed through the room.

"You’re worthless!" they yelled.

But as Kazuki’s younger self endured the torment, a shadowy figure appeared behind him, placing a hand over his eyes. Everything went black.

When Kazuki opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dark, eerie landscape. Shadows stretched endlessly, and towering mythical creatures and devils stared down at him with gleaming eyes.

Suddenly, he woke up.

Kazuki’s eyes snapped open. The dim light of the inn greeted him, the smell of herbs and incense thick in the air. He was surrounded by the old shopkeeper, Mary, and other villagers, their faces filled with relief.

"I... I'm awake," Kazuki muttered, his voice cold and detached as he pushed himself up.

"You should rest," the old shopkeeper urged. "The villagers are preparing a feast in your honor. Stay a while longer."

Kazuki blinked in surprise. A feast? For me? He looked around, noticing the grateful faces of the people. For the first time in his life, he was being treated as something more than a failure or outcast. He had never expected to be praised or thanked for anything.

As he stepped out of the inn, the sight that greeted him was surreal. The entire village had gathered, the air filled with the warmth of celebration. The villagers looked at him with admiration, calling out to him as they offered their thanks.

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"Hero!"

"Savior!"

Their voices rang in his ears, but Kazuki remained expressionless. He wasn’t used to this—accepting praise for his actions felt foreign. His cold eyes swept over the crowd, his lips barely moving as he nodded in acknowledgment.

The old shopkeeper stood beside him, smiling kindly. "You’ve earned it, lad," he said softly. "Stay at the inn for as long as you need. Everything is on the house."

Kazuki's lips curled slightly into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Thank you," he said, his voice still low and emotionless. The old man, after so many months of knowing him, finally saw something in Kazuki he hadn’t before—a glimpse of humanity, buried deep beneath the cold exterior.

The Journey Continues

After the feast, Kazuki left Grimvale early the next morning, his heart weighed down by conflicting emotions. The villagers' trust and admiration clung to him, but he quickly cast it aside. As he walked down the winding road toward Nocturnia, he murmured to himself, "This isn’t my problem anymore."

His journey, however, was soon interrupted.

Kazuki spotted a group of bandits lurking near a carriage. It seemed they were planning to rob a noble's daughter who was traveling along the same road. The bandits noticed him, and with greedy smiles, they approached.

"Oi, traveler," one of them sneered. "Why don’t you join us? We’re about to score big by holding that noble hostage!"

Kazuki stopped and turned his cold gaze toward the bandits. "I have nothing of value, no items, no money. You can’t take anything from me."

The bandits were taken aback by his blunt response. One of them scratched his head. "Well, you could always join us—"

Kazuki interrupted, his voice like ice. "I have no interest in your schemes. Good luck." He turned to leave, his coat billowing behind him.

The bandits, bewildered, handed him a map as a parting gift. "Here, traveler. You look like you’re not from around here. Take this map as a token of goodwill."

Kazuki’s eyes narrowed at the map, and he gave a faint nod before walking away.

A Hidden Threat in Aldoria

Upon reaching Aldoria, the capital city of Malvora, Kazuki kept his hood drawn low, wary of his classmates who might recognize him. His heart raced as he passed through the bustling streets, careful to avoid unnecessary attention.

A guard stopped him near the gate, suspicious of his foreign attire. "Where are you from?"

Kazuki met the guard's gaze with cold indifference. "Another country," he said flatly.

The guard seemed unconvinced but ultimately let him go after finding no reason to detain him. Kazuki wasted no time heading toward the local guild to register as an adventurer. As he stepped inside, the atmosphere was thick with the stench of alcohol, sweat, and old adventurers shouting over each other.

His gaze shifted toward the far end of the room, where he saw two familiar faces: Taro Suzuki and Sato Takumi—former classmates. They were drinking and laughing, unaware of Kazuki’s presence due to his hood. Their conversation caught his attention as they casually spoke about someone he once knew all too well—Aiko Shimizu.

"Aiko's a prodigy, but she can’t control her magic properly," Taro slurred, his words laced with drunkenness. "She still cries every night... especially after Kazuki was banished."

Kazuki's fists clenched under his coat, the mention of Aiko stirring a deep, unshakable rage within him. His expression remained cold, but beneath the surface, the wounds of the past had been ripped open again.

He approached the guild counter. "I want to register as an adventurer," he said, his voice void of emotion.

The guildmaster eyed him carefully. "What’s your magic type?"

"Lightning," Kazuki replied curtly.

The guildmaster nodded and took him outside to test his strength. Without hesitation, Kazuki obliterated twenty trees with a single punch.

"Goodluck beginner! ," the guildmaster announced upon their return, offering Kazuki his first set of rewards, including 10 gold pieces. The room fell silent as the other adventurers watched in awe.

Kazuki returned to the guild bar, ordering himself a drink. As he sipped, he overheard more of Taro and Sato’s drunken chatter, their words about Aiko cutting deeper with every mention. His cold eyes lingered on the exit as he prepared to leave.

But just as he stood to go, the door to the guild swung open—and there stood Aiko Shimizu.