The sun was barely visible through the dense forest canopy as Rin stood over the fallen bandits. His breath came in short bursts, his muscles tense, and his mind sharp as he scanned the area for any lingering threats. The merchants behind him were silent, their expressions a mix of fear and awe. They had never seen a hero fight like this, let alone one with Rin's reckless style—a combination of raw power and a strange, chaotic luck that seemed to guide his every move.
One of the merchants finally broke the silence. "I… I can't believe it. You took them all down by yourself."
Rin sheathed his sword with a sigh, giving a nonchalant shrug. "Yeah, well, they were pretty weak. Not much of a challenge, honestly." He looked away, hoping they'd stop fawning over him.
But the admiration in the merchants' eyes only grew. They began murmuring among themselves, no doubt spreading tales that would make him sound even more like a legendary hero. The thought made Rin cringe. The last thing he wanted was more attention. All he desired was to finish this mission and slip back into the quiet, uneventful life he'd been desperately trying to hold onto.
As they resumed their journey, Rin found himself constantly on edge. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was only digging himself deeper into the world he wanted no part of. Every fight, every step closer to the Royal Hero Academy, seemed to pull him further from the peaceful life he craved.
---
An Unexpected Encounter
As the caravan continued through the forest, Rin walked alongside the lead wagon, his mind drifting to thoughts of what awaited him at the Academy. He imagined a grueling schedule, countless battles, expectations piling up on him every day. The mere thought was exhausting.
Just then, a sound broke through his thoughts—the sound of someone approaching on horseback. He tensed, readying himself, but quickly relaxed when he saw a familiar figure: Aila, the silver-haired recruiter from the Academy. She rode up alongside the caravan, dismounting gracefully as she gave Rin a faint smile.
"Seems you're making a habit of rescuing people," she said, eyeing the unconscious bandits tied up by the wagons. "Not bad for a supposed 'Rank F' hero."
Rin sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "It wasn't by choice. These guys just showed up. Besides, I'm still not interested in the Academy, if that's why you're here."
Aila chuckled softly. "You don't seem to understand your position, Rin. Your name is already circulating among the heroes as someone who takes down threats with ease, yet holds no desire for glory. That… is rare."
Rin rolled his eyes. "Right. Tell that to the people who keep trying to throw me into life-or-death situations." He walked a few steps away, as if putting distance between them would make the conversation disappear.
Aila approached him, undeterred. "Perhaps you don't care about the Academy, but what about the people around you? The ones who look up to you? You've already inspired them, Rin, whether you like it or not."
He was silent, her words cutting deeper than he expected. He knew she was right, and that was exactly the problem. Heroes were supposed to be symbols of hope, figures to be admired. But he wasn't interested in being anyone's symbol. All he wanted was to be left alone.
"Look," he said, finally turning to face her. "I'm not some hero like you and the others. I just got lucky a few times, and now everyone's acting like I'm something I'm not."
Aila's gaze softened. "Sometimes it's not about being the strongest or the most skilled. Sometimes people just need someone to believe in. And whether you like it or not, Rin, they're choosing you."
He clenched his fists, a surge of frustration bubbling up inside him. He wanted to scream, to tell her he didn't want any of this. But something held him back—a feeling he couldn't quite place.
---
The Path Ahead
After Aila left, Rin's mood grew darker. The remainder of the journey passed in silence, with the merchants exchanging wary glances as they noticed his brooding expression. When they finally reached the border town where the caravan would stop, Rin barely spoke a word as he helped unload supplies, his mind spinning with thoughts of what Aila had said.
Just as he was about to slip away, one of the merchants approached him. He was an older man, with a rugged face and hands calloused from years of labor. "I know you probably don't want to hear this, but… thank you, Rin. You saved us out there. If it weren't for you, I'm not sure we'd have made it."
Rin forced a small smile, nodding. "It was nothing. Just… doing my job, I guess."
The merchant smiled back, but there was a sadness in his eyes. "Not everyone has the courage to step up when things get dangerous. You might not see yourself as a hero, but to us, you are."
Rin felt a lump form in his throat. He wanted to argue, to tell the man that he was just an ordinary guy trying to get by. But deep down, he knew that wouldn't change anything. People had already made up their minds about him.
As he watched the caravan depart, Rin felt the weight of the expectations piling on him once more. He thought about returning to the village, slipping back into his quiet life. But somehow, he knew it wouldn't be that simple anymore. The events of the past few days had changed him—and, whether he liked it or not, they had changed the way others saw him.
---
A Decision Made
Rin walked along the edge of the forest, lost in thought. For so long, he had been running from his destiny, trying to escape the pull of a life he didn't want. But with every step, it seemed like fate was dragging him back into the world of heroes and monsters.
He stopped and took a deep breath, feeling the wind rustle through his hair. Maybe it was time to stop running. Maybe it was time to accept that he had a role to play in this world, even if it wasn't the life he had envisioned.
The memory of Aila's words echoed in his mind: Sometimes people just need someone to believe in.
Fine, he thought to himself, clenching his fists. If this is what they want… if this is what I have to do… then I'll do it my way.
Rin turned and began walking back toward the village, his steps steady and purposeful. He wasn't sure where this path would lead, but he knew one thing: he would face it on his own terms, with his own rules.
No matter what challenges lay ahead, he would tackle them his way.