Menu no.3 - Hero of Drachenfall

The crystal pulsed one last time, then dimmed into silence.
Words—or rather, the complete lack of them—floated before my eyes.

[Skill: None]
[Rank: 0]

That was it.

No flashy aura. No divine glow. . . .nothing. Nothing Happened. My mouth went dry.

“So, . . .what does that mean? Am i the strongest perhaps?” I muttered under my breath, staring at the blank screen.

Ah, i see

“Pffft—BWAHAHAHA!” Kazuha doubled over, clutching her stomach.

“Oh, this is priceless! The almighty ‘summoned one’ with absolutely nothing! Not even a scrap of a skill!” He stomped his foot, unable to contain himself. “Oh man, this is the best day of my life!”

Asuna, on the other hand, was far less amused. Her brows furrowed, lips pressing into a thin line. “GAAAAAAAAARH!!!!!!! Kazuha, stop laughing! This isn’t funnyyyyyy!” \

She turned to me with an apologetic glance. 

“I… I thought you might be something more. To think your result is…” She trailed off, shaking her head. A faint pink spread across her cheeks, though whether it was embarrassment or anger, I couldn’t tell.

I wanted to say something, to defend myself. But the truth weighed heavier than I expected.
Zero. Nothing. Empty. Just like reality back home.

My shoulders sagged. I lowered my gaze, a bitter chuckle escaping. “So . . . it’s the same here after all . . . huh? No matter where I go, I’m still nothing.”

For a moment, silence pressed down on me. But then, a gentle hand tapped my shoulder.

“It doesn’t matter Daiki,” Tiara said softly. Her voice carried a warmth that cut through the gloom. “Rank 0 or not, skills or not… you’re still you. And there are countless things you can do here, regardless of what that crystal says.”

I looked up at her. The way her armor gleamed, you’d think she was carved out of winter steel. But her eyes—those were undeniably warm, carrying a kindness I didn’t expect from someone who looked so stoic. Somehow, her words made me breathe easier. A faint smile tugged at my lips. 

"Thanks, Tiara."

"Yeah, even i never saw Rank zero before. well, you are the first."

"I take back my sincerity."

.
.
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“By the way . . .  this whole talk about ‘heroes.’ Who actually was the hero you guys keeps mentioning?”

At that, everyone expression shifted, becoming distant, almost reverent. Tiara folded her arms, her voice steady as her gestures.

“Long ago, this place was nothing more than a small village. Then, an entity appeared—a dark lord who called himself Lord Drachen. He forged his kingdom through blood and fire, ruling from the fortress that now stands as the dungeon you see today—The Drachenfall Dungeon.” 

She paused, her eyes reflecting faint traces of memory not her own. “But from the altar where you awakened, a hero was born or more precisely, he was 'choosen'. He fought tirelessly and, fifty years ago, struck down Lord Drachen on his throne.”

Asuna nodded, her voice calmer now. “Before his final battle, the hero left a prophecy. He said his soul would reincarnate, should the Dark Lord ever rise again. That was why… when you appeared from the altar, many thought…” She stopped, biting her lip. 

"You mean 'you thought'?" Kazuha cut in

“Well, 'I'  thought you were him.” Asuna glaring Kazuha.

I swallowed. The weight of her words pressed hard against my chest. Reincarnation of a legendary hero? Me? With nothing but a rank of zero? It almost felt like the world itself was playing a cruel joke.

“So, . . .” I asked slowly, “does that mean… the Dark Lord has already returned?”

This time, Alisa spoke up. She had been quiet until now, her tone calm, measured, almost scholarly. “Not exactly. The new Dark Lord has yet to reveal himself. But the reactivation of Drachenfall Dungeon can only mean one thing: his presence stirs once more. It is a harbinger… a sign that Lord Drachen’s heir, or perhaps Drachen himself, has been reborn.”

A chill prickled down my spine. Drachenfall. The place I had awoken in. The place that felt almost… familiar. I shook my head quickly, trying to rid myself of the thought.

Kazuha clapped her hands dramatically. “Well then, zero boy, what now? Where are you going to live? Surely the great ‘Rank 0 Hero’ has a plan?”

My mouth opened… and closed again. The truth was, I had no plan. No idea where to go. I was stranded in this world with nothing but the clothes on my back. “I… don’t know,” I admitted, heat creeping into my cheeks. “As you see. I just got here.”

Alisa stepped forward to me. 

“Actually, there is a solution. The Guildmaster, Hugo Bronzoweild, offers lodging for adventurers. Perhaps he would allow you to stay—if you worked part-time to cover rent for a while.”

My head shot up. “Work? Like Part-time?”

“Yes.” Alisa’s eyes softened, just a little. “You would serve at the guildhall. Cleaning, organizing, perhaps assisting with supplies. In exchange, you would be given a room. A modest arrangement, but it will suffice until you find your path.”

For a long moment, I just stood there. My heart sank and swelled all at once. I had crossed into a new world—fantasy, adventure, magic—and yet… here I was. Offered another part-time job. Just like back home. Just like always.

A laugh, bitter but genuine, slipped out. “So that’s how it is. i will take that!”

Maybe, just maybe, there was still a place for me here.