Algeni stepped out of the ancient sanctuary as the brilliant sunlight flooded the world outside.
After spending so much time surrounded by the suffocating darkness of the ruins, the sudden brightness struck his eyes like a physical blow.
Shielding his face with one hand, he exclaimed,
“Damn…
the sun is way too bright!”
He blinked several times, waiting for his vision to adjust.
Slowly, the blurry landscape came into focus.
Before him stretched a vast, lush forest.
Towering trees reached toward the sky, their emerald leaves swaying gently in the breeze.
Branches creaked softly overhead while birds sang hidden among the canopy, their melodies breaking the peaceful silence of the wilderness.
The scent of fresh grass and damp earth filled the air.
Without any clear destination in mind, Algeni began walking between the towering trees.
It didn’t take long before boredom caught up with him.
To pass the time, he started asking the system random questions.
“So…
is this system supposed to help me defeat some Demon King or something?”
“Can I ever go back to my world?”
“And where are my friends?”
The system answered in its usual calm, emotionless voice.
“User, I am unable to answer many of your questions.
Please be more specific.”
Algeni sighed as he pushed several branches out of his way.
“This world feels just like the fantasy novels I used to read in my free time.”
“Magic.”
“Monsters.”
“And sometimes a mysterious system…”
“Then, somewhere down the line, the hero has to defeat the Demon King.”
“That’s usually how those stories go.”
After thinking for a moment, he asked again,
“So…
is the system’s purpose to make me the strongest person alive so I can defeat some Demon King or something like that?”
The system replied,
“User, I cannot reveal every detail about this world.
However, I can clarify one thing.”
“Demon Kings do not exist in this world.”
“They were exterminated more than five hundred years ago.”
“However, the system exists to keep you alive and help you build a bright future.”
Algeni frowned.
“Well…”
“That makes things even more confusing.”
“It’s similar to those novels…”
“But it’s not the same.”
“So…”
“What the hell am I even doing here?”
He became so lost in thought that—
THUD!
He walked face-first into a tree.
The system commented with what almost sounded like impatience.
“User, please remain focused.”
Algeni rubbed his forehead with a painful grimace.
“Ow…”
“You really didn’t have to point that out.”
After dusting himself off, he decided climbing through the trees would be much faster than walking on the ground.
Using his enhanced physical abilities, he leaped effortlessly from branch to branch.
The wind rushed past his face as the forest stretched endlessly beneath him.
“How the hell am I supposed to find everyone if I don’t even know where I am?” he muttered while continuing his journey.
A moment later, he smiled sarcastically.
“The only thing missing for this to become the opening of one of those novels…”
“…is hearing some girl scream for help because she’s being chased by monsters or bandits.”
As though the world itself had decided to mock him…
A desperate scream echoed through the forest.
Algeni slowly raised one eyebrow.
“…Who wrote this script?” he muttered with obvious annoyance.
Without wasting another second, he sprinted across the treetops, jumping from branch to branch until he reached the source of the cry.
Perched atop a thick tree branch, he looked down.
Several goblins had completely surrounded a young woman dressed like a mage.
“…How cliché,” he thought.
He activated the HUD.
Several translucent windows immediately appeared before him.
Goblin Level: 4
Goblin Level: 4
Rose Level: 1
Algeni quietly asked the system,
“Doesn’t it seem strange that she’s only Level 1?”
The system answered immediately.
“Level is subjective.”
“Not everyone begins their lives by hunting monsters.”
“Many people live peaceful lives without ever risking themselves in battle.”
Algeni nodded to himself.
“That makes sense.”
“Most people probably just want to live normal, peaceful lives.”
He looked back at the scene.
The goblins continued closing in around the frightened young woman.
Algeni quietly reached for the hilt of his sword, preparing to intervene.
But before he could make a move—
A young man suddenly appeared.
In a single swift motion…
He eliminated every goblin.
The monsters didn’t even have time to react.
Algeni’s eyes widened slightly.
“…He’s fast.”
Not wanting to be discovered or accidentally cause a misunderstanding, he immediately activated Spectral Walk, concealing both his body and his presence while silently observing the stranger.
The young man smiled warmly at the frightened girl.
“It’s okay now,” he said reassuringly.
He extended his hand toward her.
Rose accepted it with visible relief and repeatedly thanked him.
Curious, Algeni decided to inspect the young man with the system.
Nen
Sex: Male
Age: 18
Level: 8
Statistics
Strength: 12
Defense: 12
Speed: 14
Mana: 400
Special Trait Hero’s Blessing
Surprised, Algeni asked,
“But if there aren’t any Demon Kings…”
“…why is there a Hero?”
The system answered calmly.
“User, the absence of Demon Kings does not mean Heroes do not exist.”
“Heroes are individuals entrusted with protecting peace.”
Still confused, Algeni quietly muttered,
“Well…”
“It’s pretty strange that I ran into the Hero out here…”
The young man looked toward the girl before speaking.
“You need to be more careful, Rose.”
Rose let out a tired sigh before replying,
“Tell me about it, Nen.”
“I didn’t think the goblins would gather together like that.”
Algeni continued listening to their conversation.
Then…
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
The ground trembled ever so slightly beneath the massive weight.
Algeni frowned.
“What the hell was that?” he whispered.
From between the trees…
A gigantic green-skinned creature slowly emerged, towering over the surrounding vegetation.
Without hesitation, Algeni activated the HUD once more.
Ogre
Level: 13
Statistics
Strength: 23
Defense: 20
Speed: 4
Mana: 0
Algeni spoke under his breath, his eyes fixed on the enormous creature in the distance.
“It may be a lower level than me, but its strength is far greater.”
The ogre continued its slow advance, each thunderous step making the ground tremble beneath its massive weight.
Nen and Rose immediately stopped talking as the monster unleashed a deafening roar that echoed throughout the forest, shaking the nearby trees and sending frightened birds soaring into the sky.
Nen stepped forward without hesitation, placing himself between Rose and the monster.
Tightening his grip on his sword, he declared firmly,
“Stay behind me, Rose.
I’ll handle this.”
Rose nodded without taking her eyes off the beast.
“All right.
I’ll support you from the rear.”
Hidden high among the thick branches, Algeni silently watched as Rose raised her staff and cast an enhancement spell over Nen.
A soft magical glow surrounded him, strengthening his body and sharpening his movements.
Empowered by the spell, Nen dashed toward the ogre with incredible speed.
His sword flashed repeatedly through the air as he unleashed a rapid barrage of slashes.
Steel struck flesh again and again.
However, despite landing several clean hits, the attacks barely managed to pierce the monster’s incredibly thick hide.
The ogre let out an annoyed growl.
With a single swing of its enormous arm, it struck Nen with overwhelming force and hurled him across the clearing.
BOOM!
Nen crashed violently into the trunk of a massive tree.
The impact sent cracks racing through the wood, while leaves and splinters rained down around him.
Algeni grimaced.
“Damn…
that hit was brutal.
I hope it didn’t leave him crippled or something.”
His gaze immediately shifted toward Rose.
She sprinted desperately toward Nen, panic written across her face as she prepared a healing spell.
Meanwhile, the ogre continued lumbering toward them, each heavy step crushing roots and rocks beneath its feet.
Algeni let out a long sigh.
He pulled the Sovereign’s Hood over his face until every feature was concealed beneath the dark fabric.
“Well…
it’s time to move,” he murmured calmly.
“I’d better keep this on.
I don’t want any trouble afterward.”
In the blink of an eye—
He disappeared.
His speed was so overwhelming that the sudden gust stirred the leaves throughout the surrounding forest.
Just before the ogre’s enormous fist could crush Nen and Rose, Algeni appeared between them.
With one swift movement, he grabbed both of them and carried them safely out of the attack’s path.
“I made it just in time.”
He gently placed them on the ground before turning his body slightly, ensuring that his hood completely hid his face.
Rose stared at the mysterious hooded swordsman with wide eyes and quickly warned him,
“You have to leave!
If you stay here, you’ll die!”
Algeni didn’t answer.
Instead…
He vanished once again.
Even the ogre could barely follow his movement.
A storm of sword strikes suddenly slashed across the monster’s legs, forcing the giant backward several steps.
“This thing’s hide is tougher than I expected,” Algeni thought.
The ogre answered with a massive punch.
But its movements were far too slow.
Algeni effortlessly dodged the attack and immediately took advantage of the opening, sprinting up the monster’s gigantic arm.
With perfect precision, he drove his sword directly into one of the ogre’s enormous eyes.
The monster let out an agonizing roar that echoed across the forest.
Algeni calmly remarked,
“Nothing personal…
but you brought this on yourself.”
Completely enraged, the ogre swung wildly, trying to crush him once more.
But Algeni evaded the attack again with the faintest smile.
He raced up the giant’s arm one last time.
His feet barely touched the monster’s skin as he accelerated.
Then—
With a single, clean, and perfectly executed slash…
He severed the ogre’s head from its body.
The gigantic head crashed heavily onto the forest floor, sending up a massive cloud of dust and causing the surrounding trees to shudder from the impact.
Algeni quietly observed the fallen corpse for a few moments before speaking in a calm voice.
“I thought cutting off its head would be much harder.”
A gentle breeze swept through the forest as silence slowly returned after the ogre’s fall.
The monster’s colossal body lay motionless upon the grass, while the scent of freshly turned earth, broken wood, and lingering blood drifted through the cool air, marking the end of the battle.
A notification suddenly appeared before Algeni’s eyes.
The System announced in its calm, emotionless voice,
“Congratulations, User.
You have reached Level 17.”
Algeni’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
“I leveled up again?
Why?” he asked curiously.
The System answered in its usual composed tone.
“Although the monster was three levels below you, larger monsters grant significantly more experience.”
Algeni slowly nodded as another translucent window materialized before him, displaying his newly updated statistics.
He could immediately feel a subtle change coursing through his body.
His muscles felt lighter, stronger, and more responsive than before.
“That actually feels pretty good,” he murmured with satisfaction.
Before he could continue examining the information, a trembling voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Thank you…
so much…”
Only then did Algeni remember the two people he had just rescued.
The young woman repeatedly bowed her head in gratitude, unable to stop thanking him.
Algeni gently raised a hand to stop her.
“It’s all right,” he replied calmly.
“You don’t have to thank me so much.
Really.”
Without warning—
Nen suddenly sprang to his feet.
In a single fluid motion, he drew his sword and lunged directly at Algeni.
CLANG!
The sharp ring of steel echoed throughout the forest.
Algeni reacted instantly, raising his own sword just in time to block the strike without taking more than half a step backward.
“What a strange way to thank someone,” he remarked dryly, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Nen kept his sword raised, never lowering his guard.
“Who are you?” he demanded, his eyes filled with unmistakable suspicion.
Algeni held his gaze for several silent seconds before answering coldly.
“That’s not something I’d like to share.”
Nen frowned slightly.
“Who the hell is this guy?
This is the first time I’ve been completely unable to see through someone,” he thought, genuinely confused.
“Just my luck…
getting attacked by someone I just saved.”
The System suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
“This individual attempted to use a reconnaissance skill on you.
The attempt was automatically blocked to protect your information.”
Understanding dawned on Algeni immediately.
“That explains why he attacked me.
Since he can’t see anything about me, he probably assumes I’m dangerous.”
The two young swordsmen remained perfectly still, their weapons ready.
The tension between them was almost tangible.
Even the wind seemed to fall silent as the forest held its breath.
Then Rose finally raised her voice, clearly fed up.
“That’s enough!
Both of you!”
Slowly, the two lowered their fighting stances, though neither took their eyes off the other.
Rose immediately turned an angry glare toward Nen.
“Nen!
Why would you attack someone who just saved our lives?
Explain yourself!”
Nen opened his mouth to answer.
But Rose didn’t give him the chance.
“Just because he’s hiding his face doesn’t mean he’s a bad person!
He could have a scar…
or, I don’t know, maybe he’s just ugly and doesn’t want anyone to see his face!
What is wrong with you?”
Algeni quietly looked away.
“That last part really wasn’t necessary…” he thought with dry amusement.
After several minutes of silently enduring Rose’s lecture, Nen finally let out a long sigh.
“I’m sorry…” he admitted sincerely.
“I shouldn’t have attacked you without a reason.”
Algeni sheathed his sword.
“Don’t worry about it.
My head’s still attached.” A faint smile appeared beneath his hood.
“But you might want to avoid doing that to other people.
It leaves a pretty bad first impression.”
Rose lowered her head apologetically.
“I’m truly sorry for what this idiot did.
And…
thank you so much for saving us.”
Algeni looked at the two of them for a few moments before thinking to himself,
“I thought they’d only just met…
yet they argue like they’ve known each other for years.”
Trying to lighten the mood, Rose smiled shyly before asking,
“By the way…
what’s your name, sir?”
Algeni quickly shook his head.
“First, you don’t have to call me ‘sir.’ I think we’re about the same age…
or close enough.”
A faint blush appeared on Rose’s cheeks.
“Oh…
I’m sorry.
With that hood, I couldn’t really tell.”
Algeni gave a small nod.
“My name is Algeni.”
Nen and Rose exchanged a quick glance.
“That’s…
a unique name,” they remarked almost at the same time.
Algeni simply stared back at them in silence, as if trying to burn holes through them with his gaze.
After a few awkward seconds, he decided to change the subject.
“Do either of you know if there’s a village nearby?”
Rose answered immediately.
“Of course.
It’s just—”
But Nen interrupted her.
“Before that…
where are you from?”
Algeni remained silent for a moment, searching for a believable answer.
Finally, he improvised.
“I’m a traveler.
I lost a lot of things…
including my map.”
Nen studied him carefully for several seconds before giving a slow nod.
“I understand.
If you keep heading north, you’ll find a village.”
“Thanks,” Algeni replied sincerely, genuine relief slipping into his voice.
Nen sheathed his sword.
“We’d go with you, but we have our own missions to take care of.”
Algeni raised an eyebrow.
“Missions?”
Nen answered calmly.
“They’re assigned to us by the Adventurers’ Guild.
We complete jobs in exchange for money.”
Curious, Algeni tilted his head.
“Can anyone become an adventurer?”
“First, you have to pass a test.
If you succeed, you’ll be allowed to join the guild.”
Algeni nodded thoughtfully.
“Thanks for the information.”
He was just about to leave when Rose called out to him again.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to come with you?”
Algeni shook his head with a friendly smile.
“I don’t want to waste your time if you already have things you need to do.”
Rose lowered her eyes slightly.
“Alright…
but…”
She hesitated for a few moments before nervously asking,
“Would you let us see your face before you leave?”
Algeni smiled to himself.
“That’s definitely not happening.”
Then he answered politely,
“I know it may seem strange, but I don’t usually trust people I’ve only just met.
So…
I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”
Although both of them looked a little disappointed, they eventually nodded in understanding.
“We understand.”
Algeni raised one hand in farewell.
“Well, I’m off.
Good luck with your missions.”
Without waiting for a reply, he bent his knees and launched himself high into the air.
In a single powerful leap, he landed on a thick tree branch before continuing from treetop to treetop, disappearing deeper into the forest as leaves rustled behind him.
Nen watched him until the mysterious traveler vanished among the sea of green.
A thoughtful expression crossed his face.
“I just hope that guy doesn’t end up causing trouble later on.”
Far away from them, Algeni finally pulled back his hood as he continued moving through the branches.
A cool breeze brushed against his face, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth.
He let out a quiet sigh.
“Talking to new people after being alone for so long was more difficult than I expected,” he thought.
Without slowing down, he continued heading north, following the directions Nen had given him.
Gradually, the dense forest began to thin.
Sunlight streamed more freely through the trees, and the sounds of civilization slowly replaced the songs of birds.
In the distance, beyond the last line of trees, the rooftops of small houses came into view.
Thin trails of smoke drifted lazily from several chimneys, rising into the clear sky.
After a long journey through the wilderness, Algeni finally reached the village.
He slowed his pace and quietly observed the peaceful settlement before him.
A new chapter of his adventure was about to begin.