Rin awoke the next morning to the soft sound of birds chirping outside his window, but the sense of unease from the previous night still lingered in his chest. He sat up slowly, glancing at the invitation that lay on the small table beside his bed. It had been left there by Aila after her visit—his ticket to a path he was unsure about. The Royal Hero Academy… He still couldn't believe it. How had his life gone from being a low-level adventurer to being courted by an institution filled with the world's strongest heroes?
He sighed and stood up, stretching his arms overhead as he made his way to the small kitchen to make breakfast. The village was quiet this morning, save for the faint sounds of the early risers setting up shop in the square. He couldn't shake the feeling that his life had already taken a dramatic turn, and no matter how much he tried to avoid it, he was being pulled into something much bigger than himself.
As he heated a pot of water for tea, his thoughts wandered back to the events of the last few days. The troll battle. The wyvern. The strange feeling of being thrust into situations where his reputation as a hero was growing despite his complete reluctance. People were starting to expect things from him. Heroic feats. Grand acts of bravery.
The worst part? He had somehow survived it all. And not just survived, but thrived.
Why did I have to get stuck with this stupid luck?
He sat down to eat in silence, thinking about what Aila had said the night before. Once a hero, always a hero. It was easy for her to say. She had likely trained her entire life for this role, whereas he had been dragged into it unwillingly. He wasn't like the other heroes. He didn't care about fame, fortune, or status. He just wanted to be left alone. He didn't want any part of this world of monsters and guilds. He just wanted peace.
---
A Familiar Face
Later that morning, as Rin walked toward the Guild to check on his next job, he spotted someone familiar—a young boy running toward him, out of breath.
"Rin!" the boy shouted, waving his arms. "Rin Park! You're the hero who defeated the troll, right?"
Rin stopped and sighed. Here we go again.
He forced a smile, trying his best to be polite. "Yeah, I guess that's me."
The boy's face lit up. "Can you sign my training sword? My sister's gonna be so jealous! She said you were the hero of the village!"
Rin hesitated for a moment before taking the sword and signing it. He could already feel his reputation growing—spreading beyond just the Guild and the village. He had no doubt that the whole region would soon know his name.
"Thanks!" the boy beamed, running off toward the market.
Rin stared after him, wondering how long this would continue. It wasn't like he had asked for this attention. But with every heroic feat, the expectations just kept rising. The weight of the title "hero" was heavy, and he had no idea how to handle it.
---
The Mission
When Rin finally reached the Guild, Ms. Clipboard was waiting for him, her usual smile plastered on her face. "Ah, Rin! Just the person I wanted to see," she said brightly. "I've got a special mission for you today. It's a little more challenging than usual, but I'm sure you'll manage just fine."
Rin eyed her warily. "Let me guess. It's some kind of monster-slaying task?"
"Actually, yes. But don't worry, it's not anything too big. Just a simple escort job. There's a merchant caravan that's about to head out to the eastern border, and we need a hero to accompany them. It's supposed to be dangerous terrain, and there's talk of bandit activity in the area. I thought of you since you've got that whole 'hero' reputation now. You'll be perfect for the job!"
Rin groaned internally. An escort job? It was exactly the type of thing he had hoped to avoid. The idea of dealing with more bandits, more monsters, and more attention made him sick to his stomach.
"I don't know… it sounds kind of boring," Rin muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Ms. Clipboard raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me you're going to turn down the chance to prove yourself as a real hero? To make your reputation even bigger? Think of it as an opportunity to show the Guild—and maybe even the Academy—that you're ready for bigger things."
Rin didn't want to admit it, but something in her words tugged at him. He had already proven himself in the last few battles, but deep down, he knew he wasn't quite done. Maybe this is the last mission I'll have to do. If I can just get through this one, maybe I can go back to my normal life. Maybe.
He sighed. "Fine. I'll do it. But don't expect me to get all excited about it."
Ms. Clipboard smiled, obviously pleased with his answer. "Great! I'll have the details ready for you by noon. You can leave as soon as you're ready. And don't worry, Rin. I'm sure you'll handle it perfectly."
---
The Journey
By noon, Rin was on his way to meet the merchant caravan, his mind still torn about the decision he had made. The road to the eastern border was long, winding through forests and hills that Rin barely knew. He had spent most of his time in the village, but this mission would take him deep into uncharted territories, places where he hadn't set foot before.
As he approached the caravan, he saw the merchant's wagons, large wooden structures loaded with crates of goods. The merchants themselves were a mix of nervous and excited, looking as though they were used to traveling dangerous routes but still wary of the unknown.
A burly man approached him, holding a hand out. "You must be Rin Park, the hero. We were told you'd be joining us."
Rin shook his hand reluctantly. "Yeah, that's me. I'll be your escort for the trip."
The merchant's eyes lit up. "Good! We've heard about your battles. I'm glad we've got someone like you to watch our backs."
Rin nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He wasn't here to prove anything. He wasn't here to become some kind of legend. He was just trying to survive the trip and get back to his peaceful life. But as the caravan began its journey, Rin couldn't help but feel the pressure mounting.
The day passed slowly as they traveled through the dense forests, the air cool and crisp with the coming of fall. The merchants talked amongst themselves, but Rin kept his distance, lost in his own thoughts. It was quiet—too quiet, almost. A tense silence had settled over the group, as if they were all waiting for something to happen.
And happen, it did.
---
Ambush
As they reached the foot of a particularly steep hill, Rin's senses suddenly tingled. Something was off. He immediately motioned for the caravan to stop, signaling the merchants to be silent. He listened carefully, his ears straining to catch any sound.
The wind rustled through the trees, but otherwise, the forest was eerily still. And then, the silence was shattered by the unmistakable sound of footsteps—heavy, deliberate.
"Bandits," Rin muttered under his breath. "Stay close to the wagons. Don't make a sound."
The caravan froze, and Rin's eyes darted to the trees ahead. Figures began to emerge, cloaked in the shadows, their faces masked. It was clear from the way they moved that they had done this many times before.
Rin's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword. It's showtime.
---
The Showdown
Before the bandits could fully surround the caravan, Rin dashed forward, slashing at the nearest attacker with swift precision. His blade cut through the air, striking the bandit in the side with a sharp, decisive blow. The bandit stumbled back, clearly surprised at how fast Rin had moved.
But Rin wasn't done. He spun, his other hand drawing a dagger and throwing it at another bandit in the shadows. It hit its mark, a loud thud echoing through the trees as the bandit crumpled to the ground.
The remaining bandits hesitated, surprised by the ferocity of Rin's attack. But they quickly recovered, drawing their own weapons and preparing to charge.
Rin smiled to himself. This is what they wanted, right? To see a real hero in action?
With a flick of his wrist, Rin drew another blade. "Let's make this quick," he muttered, ready to finish what he had started.