The street was silent, only the crunch of Kaito Haruma's footsteps against the pavement was heard. A chilly wind blew through the alleyway, carrying the faint smell of rain and city grime. His stomach growled, but he ignored it, just as he ignored the emptiness of his wallet. Tonight wasn't much different from most nights another exhausting shift at the convenience store, another walk back to his cramped apartment where he'd scrape together a meal from whatever scraps were left.
But as he turned a corner, his routine was shattered.
Ahead, in the dim glow of a flickering street lamp, a group of men surrounded a young woman. Her muffled cries sent a jolt through Kaito's chest. He froze, his heart pounding.
"Stay out of this, Kaito," a voice in his head whispered. "You're just a weakling. You'll only get hurt."
But another part of him, the part that hated himself for always feeling powerless, pushed him forward.
"Hey!" Kaito shouted, his voice shaking but loud enough to draw their attention. The men turned, their faces twisted with irritation. The woman's wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto his.
"What do you want, hero?" one of the men sneered, stepping forward.
Kaito's hands trembled, but he clenched them into fists. "Let her go."
The fight was over before it began. Kaito's untrained punches were easily dodged. A hard blow to his stomach sent him crumpling to the ground. He could barely see through the haze of pain, but he still dragged himself toward the woman, shielding her with his body as the men kicked and cursed at him.
Then came the knife.
A sharp, icy pain spread through his chest. Kaito gasped, collapsing fully onto the pavement. The men fled, their curses fading into the night.
As his vision darkened, the woman's frantic voice reached him. She was crying, shaking him, but her words felt distant.
"At Least she was saved, thank god" Kaito thought bitterly. "I don't wanna die"
As Kaito's vision darkened, regret consumed him. Why was I so weak? Why couldn't I do anything?
Kaito awoke in a place of blinding light. His body felt weightless, the pain and exhaustion gone. He looked around, disoriented, and saw a figure approaching—a radiant woman with flowing hair and eyes like molten gold.
"Do you know why you're here?" she asked, her voice soft yet commanding.
"Am I… dead?" Kaito whispered.
The woman nodded. "Your life ended in a moment of bravery, a selfless act to protect another. That is why I am giving you a choice."
Kaito's fists clenched. "A choice?"
"To live again," the woman said, stepping closer. "To start anew in a world far different from your own. But be warned—this second life will not be easy. Strength must be earned, and the weak are often left behind."
Her words struck a chord in him. Memories of his helplessness, his failures, flooded his mind. "I don't want to be weak anymore," he said, his voice trembling. "I'll do whatever it takes to become stronger."
The woman smiled. "Then go forth, Kaito Haruma. Your new life begins now."A beam of golden light fell on him.
When Kaito opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a straw mattress in a small, dimly lit room. The smell of bread and stew drifted through the air, and the faint sounds of children laughing reached his ears.
"Where am I?" he muttered, sitting up. His voice was higher, softer, and his hands were smaller. Panic set in as he realized his body was no longer his own. He stumbled to a cracked mirror on the wall and stared at his reflection—a young boy with messy black hair and bright green eyes.
The door creaked open, and a cheerful voice called out. "Kaito! Breakfast is ready!"
A girl with braids peeked in, grinning. She couldn't have been older than ten. "You're always so slow! Mama says you'll miss the food if you don't hurry!"
Before he could respond, she darted away, leaving him more confused than ever. Slowly, he pieced things together: this wasn't the world he knew. He had been reborn in another world—as an orphan.
Kaito quickly learned that he was now living in Raventhorn, a small town on the edge of civilization. The orphanage was a modest but lively place run by Matron Seria, a kind woman who cared for the town's abandoned children.
Life was simple but harsh. Kaito and the other orphans spent their days doing chores, scavenging for supplies, and helping around the town to earn a few coins. But unlike the other children, Kaito's mind was constantly occupied by memories of his past life.
"I was weak before. But not this time."
Every night, he trained in secret. He practiced swinging sticks like swords, running laps around the orphanage courtyard, and building his endurance. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Years passed, and Kaito grew into a determined young man. At sixteen, he was lean and agile, with a quiet confidence that set him apart. The day finally came when he decided to leave the orphanage and pursue his dream.
Kaito stood before the towering doors of the Raventhorn Adventurer's Guild. It was a bustling hub filled with hunters of all ranks—grizzled veterans with gleaming weapons and cocky rookies eager to prove themselves.
Inside, he approached the registration desk, where a bored-looking clerk handed him a form.
"Name?"
"Kaito," he said firmly.
The clerk looked him over and smirked. "Another one, huh? Let me guess, you want to be a hunter?"
"Yes," Kaito replied, his voice steady.
After filling out the paperwork, the clerk handed him a wooden badge. "Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild, rookie. As an E-ranker, you're at the bottom of the barrel. Don't get cocky."
The First Mission
Kaito's first mission was straightforward: clear a nearby cave of goblins. It was the kind of job no seasoned adventurer would bother with, but for an E-ranker, it was the perfect starting point.
"Don't go alone," the clerk warned. "You'll need a party."
The guild paired him with three other rookies: Rogan, a brash swordsman; Mira, a nervous mage; and Dane, a quiet archer.
The group set out for the Cave of Mists, a dark and foggy dungeon on the outskirts of town. Inside, they quickly encountered trouble. The goblins were weak but cunning, attacking in packs and using the terrain to their advantage.
Kaito struggled to keep up. His swings were clumsy, his movements slow. By the time the group reached the dungeon's core, he was battered and exhausted.
The final fight against the goblin leader pushed him to his limit. Bloodied and trembling, they managed to slay the leader, collapsing to his knees as the creature fell.
As the group emerged from the dungeon, battered but victorious, Kaito stared at his hands—raw and trembling.
"This was just an E-rank dungeon," he muttered, frustration boiling inside him. "And I could barely survive…"
He clenched his fists, his resolve hardening.
"I'll get stronger," he vowed, looking up at the sky. "I'll become the greatest hunter this world has ever seen. No matter what it takes."
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End of Chapter One.