Chapter 1: A Field That Was No Longer the Same

I returned to the fields the next morning.

The soil was still damp with dew, and the air of Citra Village remained as cool as ever. At a glance, nothing seemed to have changed. But as I walked forward, I realized something was different—the villagers’ gazes lingered on me longer than usual.

Some farmers stopped their work.

“Is that… Rei?”
“Since when did his body look like that?”

I understood their surprise. My shoulders were broader, my arms more solid. This was no longer the body of the farmer they were used to seeing. I pretended not to notice and kept walking as I always did.

The village children ran up to me.

“Big brother! Big brother!”

One boy stood in front of me, staring at my body with sparkling eyes.

“Did you get this strong because you eat lots of vegetables and fruit?”
“My mom said if I eat like that, I can be strong like the Hero!”

I froze for a moment.
Then I crouched down and gently rubbed his head.

“Kid,” I said softly, “what your mother told you is true.”
“If you want to be strong and healthy, eat your vegetables more often. Don’t forget fruit, too.”

The children smiled widely. They laughed and ran off to play again.

That day felt normal.
Peaceful.

For a moment, I even thought today might turn out badly—but nothing happened.

After finishing my usual work, I decided to expand the field. I had heard from some merchants that rice sales were profitable lately. If I could clear more land, maybe I could give it a try.

The problem was that parts of the land were covered with large rocks.

I picked up a stone-breaking tool and swung it, just as I always had.

But with just a single strike—

BOOM!

The rock shattered into countless pieces.

“HEEH?!”

I froze. The farmers nearby turned around in panic, thinking there had been an explosion. I quickly pretended to look confused.

“What was that just now?”
“Maybe the rock was already fragile…”

My heart pounded violently.

That was when I realized—this strength could not be known. I did not want this village to be dragged into something big. I did not want their lives to change because of me.

That night, at home, I tried to confirm my suspicions.

I made a simple barbell from scrap iron. When I lifted it—

Light.
Far too light.

I lifted it with one hand, without any difficulty.

“This… isn’t normal.”

The next day, I went into the village to buy supplies. But the moment I stepped in, the gazes of women and mothers kept turning toward me.

“Look at that…”
“Isn’t that Rei?”
“He looks like a soldier.”

I tried to ignore them.

An elderly merchant approached me.

“Sir Hero, what are you doing here?”

“Hero?” I frowned.

The merchant froze, then his expression turned gloomy.
“My apologies… I was mistaken. I thought you were the Hero.”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

He let out a long sigh.

“The Hero has disappeared in the Kingdom of Latavia.”
“Some believe he’s still alive. Others are convinced he’s already dead.”
“His party is on the verge of breaking apart. The kingdom has sent troops to search for him.”

“I’m not the Hero you’re talking about,” I said quickly.

The merchant nodded slowly, though sadness still lingered on his face.

Rumors spread.

“What if the Hero is already dead?”
“That’s impossible… he must still be alive.”
“Rei looks similar, but there’s no way.”
“He’s in the fields every day.”

Each word weighed heavily on my ears.

They were searching for hope—without knowing that Reinhart Solvane had died right before my eyes, turning into light.

And for reasons I could not explain, I felt guilty.

That afternoon, I returned to the fields.

But my steps came to a halt.

My carrot patch was destroyed. The soil was torn up, the fence broken.

“Wild boars…?”

I stepped forward—then stopped.

A black wolf stood there. Its body looked as if it were coated in armor. Its eyes were red, fixed on me with clear intent.

My instincts told me to run.
But my body remained still.

The wolf slowly backed away, as if hesitating.

I let out a long breath. Nothing happened—aside from my ruined carrot field.

That night, I repaired the fence and returned home.

The dream came again.

I saw Yuzare. I tried to approach her, but a hand grabbed my leg and held me back.

I woke up, gasping for breath.

Morning came… along with screams.

“There’s smoke!”
“Fire!”

I looked toward Citra Village. Black smoke rose into the sky.

I ran.

Houses were burning. Villagers panicked, trying to put out the flames with what little water they had.

“Village Chief! What’s happening?!”

“The Demon King’s forces are attacking!”
“They’re searching for the Hero who supposedly fell near this village!”

My chest tightened.

A heavy impact shook the ground.

A massive figure landed in the center of the village—its body dense like a war buffalo. Thick, veined muscles, dark gray skin resembling old iron. Its face was covered in scars, its dull red eyes looking as though they were weary of endless war.

A pair of large horns curved forward.
Black armor covered its body.

“Where is the Hero you’re hiding?” it muttered.

No one answered.

“If you refuse to speak,” it continued,
“I’ll search for him by sacrificing all of you.”

It raised its hammer.

“Stop!”

It turned toward me.

“The Hero?” it said flatly.
“No. You’re just a boy borrowing his power.”

I stepped forward. The villagers behind me retreated.

I clenched my fist—one that now felt unfamiliar.

I didn’t know how to fight.
I didn’t know how great this power was.

But if I backed down now, this village would be destroyed.

I stood before it.

And in that moment—

the battle I never wanted
could no longer be avoided.