The next day, after Frieren and the others had departed, Himmel sat alone in his modest house. The silence of the morning was almost oppressive, with no sounds of banter or laughter from his former companions. For the first time in decades—Himmel felt truly alone. To distract himself, he focused on system.
Sitting comfortably in a wooden chair by the window, sunlight streaming over his desk, Himmel opened the system's interface. Two functions glowed faintly in his mind:
1. States: ( Allow you to display your abilities and progress.)
2. Inventory: (Allowed you to store everything, except living things. )
Curious, he first opened the Inventory. A semi-transparent screen appeared before his eyes, listing the items he currently had:
Minor Mana Potion
Grimoire (Fire and Defensive Spells)
He stared at the screen for a moment, marveling at how easily he could interact with it. With a quick mental command, he closed the inventory and moved on to the States function. When the screen materialized, it revealed the following information:
States:
Name: Himmel
Level: 1
Tier: Beginner
Race: Human
Title: Hero
Age: 26+105
Skills: Sword Proficiency, Superhuman Speed, Super Sense, High Intelligence, Basic Fireball.
Himmel blinked in surprise as he read through the details. "The old Himmel was this strong?" he muttered to himself. Though he had inherited the body of a hero, he couldn't help but feel like a mere shadow of the man Himmel once was. The "Level" and "Tier" indicators puzzled him, though he quickly surmised they must be tied to magic.
Just as Himmel was contemplating his newfound identity, a familiar chime echoed in his mind:
Ding!
[New Quest: Learn a defensive spell. Reward: Grimoire (Water and Ice Spells).]
The system's sudden appearance startled him. "A defensive spell, huh?" Himmel mused, rising from his chair. It seemed like a good opportunity to explore his newfound abilities further. He opened his inventory again and focused on the grimoire listed there. With a simple thought, the item materialized in his hands.
The grimoire was an ancient-looking tome, its leather cover worn with age and its pages slightly yellowed. Holding it felt strangely nostalgic, as though it had always belonged to him. Without hesitation, he uttered a single word: "Learn."
Immediately, the system's mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[Do you want to learn a defensive spell?]
Yes or No.
Himmel responded firmly, "Yes."
As soon as the word left his lips, a surge of light burst from the grimoire, enveloping his body. He felt knowledge pouring into his mind, filling it with the intricacies of the spell. When the light faded, he instinctively raised his hand, murmured an incantation, and cast the spell. A small, shimmering shield formed in front of him, its translucent surface glowing faintly.
Eager to test the spell's strength, Himmel retrieved his replica sword from the corner of his room. With a deep breath, he swung the weapon with all his might at the shield.
Boom!
The shield shattered instantly, the force of the impact sending a faint gust of wind through the room. Himmel frowned, lowering the sword. "Why did it break so easily?" he wondered aloud, frustration creeping into his voice.
The system's voice chimed in nonchalantly, its tone almost mocking:
[Host! I detected that you are wasting the high intelligence that Himmel once had. Or do you simply not think at all?]
Himmel's irritation boiled over. "I asked a question, you just need to answer me!" he shouted.
Unfazed by his anger, the system replied in the same calm tone:
[Host! The spell you learned is merely a beginner-tier spell. Additionally, do you not realize you are in the body of Himmel, the hero who once defeated the Demon King? Even an intermediate-tier shield would shatter under your strength.]
The words hit Himmel like a slap. Embarrassment and surprise flooded his mind. He had underestimated his power, failing to account for the incredible strength of the body he now inhabited.
Before he could dwell too long on his mistake, the system's chime echoed once more:
Ding!
[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully learned a defensive spell.]
Reward: Grimoire (Water and Ice Spells, Basic).
Additional Reward: Title: Dumb. (This title can make you permanently dumb, so think wisely before acting rashly.)
Himmel's lips twitched in annoyance as he read the words. "This bastard system," he muttered under his breath, his tone laced with exasperation. It seemed the system had a cruel sense of humor, and he would need to tread carefully in the future.
He glanced at the new grimoire that had appeared in his inventory. Though he was tempted to examine it right away, he decided to take a moment to compose himself. Himmel had much to learn—not just about magic, but about himself and the responsibilities he now carried.
Himmel leaned back in his chair, determined to prove the system wrong. The road ahead would be challenging, but he vowed to grow stronger, smarter, and more capable. After all, he wasn't just a hero in the name—he had a second chance to live up to the title.
---
End of Chapter 4.
"Enjoying the story? Don't forget to send some Power Stones my way. It keeps the motivation flowing!"