A gentle male voice spoke. "So then... this should heal him. But he might need some nourishment."
"Okay! Thank you." A soothing female voice replied, her tone carrying a soft warmth. A blanket was gently draped over Alex's body, cocooning him in a comforting heat. He felt an overwhelming sense of relaxation despite his exhaustion.
"You know, you don't have to do all this. You only found this guy, and saving him is already more than enough," the man added.
Though Alex could hear the conversation, he found himself unable to move a single finger. Fatigue weighed on his body like an iron shroud.
"It's alright. I wanted to... so, please don't mind me." The woman's tone was calm yet resolute, unwavering in her decision.
The man sighed. "Fine, I understand. Also, take this pouch. Your daughter sent it. I'll inform her about him, so don't blame me for it."
With that, silence fell over the room. Alex felt a warm presence settle near his legs, but the pull of unconsciousness was too strong. As a strange sound echoed within his consciousness, he finally succumbed to sleep.
[Installation Complete.]
[Template System: Activated.]
[Blessings Received: Three.]
[Blessing of the God of Adventure: Activated.]
[Blessing of the God of Ero: Activated.]
[Blessing of the God of Life and Death: Activated.]
[Random Template Summoning: Initiating...]
[Astrea: Silver Hero Template—Merging...]
[Astrea's memories will be inherited.]
[Astrea's skills will be inherited.]
[Astrea's blessings will be inherited.]
[Astrea's jobs will be inherited.]
[Astrea Inheritance: 1%] (Host can use Blessing Exp to increase the merging rate.)
[Host: Alex Bran]
[Job: Holy Swordsman, Template Summoner (Hidden)] (Acquired.)
[Skills: Stamp, Chop, Physical Enhancement, Sword Fortification, Limit Break.]
[Hidden Skills: Holy Resonance (Passive), Cut, Copy, Edit.]
[Status: Level 1]
Strength: Level 1
Agility: Level 1
Vitality: Level 1
Intelligence: Level 1
Spirit: Level 1
[Note: All skills and statuses are being inherited through the Astrea Template. The host may remove the template, but doing so will result in losing the unique skill set "Cut, Copy, Edit," which was exclusive to Astrea. While other skills can be retained, the host has complete control over hiding abilities from detection spells in this world.]
The notifications continued flashing, but Alex, deep in slumber, remained unaware of them. A faint frown formed on his face as he drifted into a dreamscape—a vision of Astrea, the Hero of Wits and Zero.
"Hah... he's sweating." The blonde-haired woman beside him murmured, watching his resting form. She reached for a cloth, intent on wiping his face once he woke up.
Her gaze lingered on his features, an odd sense of familiarity tugging at her heart. "He looks just like him... though only the hair colour matches. Still, it's quite rare in this world."
Her thoughts wandered back to when she found him—drifting unconscious in the river, wounded and barely clinging to life. "It's been ten years since he left... also, why was he injured and floating there?"
The doubts lingered, but in the end, she hadn't been able to leave him. Instead of taking him to the temple, she had brought him home.
She sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "What kind of fate brought you here, I wonder..."
A faint glow stretched across the horizon, heralding the arrival of dawn. Soft golden rays filtered through the wooden-framed window, casting long, delicate shadows along the walls of the unfamiliar room. The air smelled faintly of herbs, clean linen, and a lingering trace of something warm—like freshly brewed tea.
Alex's consciousness stirred, a dull throbbing pressing against his mind as he drifted from sleep into wakefulness. His eyelids twitched before he slowly forced them open, only to be met with a hazy blur of light and unfamiliar surroundings. His body felt sluggish, heavy, as if he'd been asleep for days.
As he adjusted to his senses, fragments of memory flickered in his mind.
'I... I remember.'
Unlike someone who had simply woken up in a new world with no past, Alex's mind was filled with the recollections of his previous life. His struggles, his ambitions, the ordinary existence he once had—everything remained intact.
And beyond that, he remembered something even greater.
The divine realm.
Hundreds of gods towering above him in an endless expanse of celestial radiance, their divine gazes evaluating his very soul. He had stood before them, facing the vast pantheon, as they offered him a chance—a choice.
Out of the countless gods present, he had received the favor of three:
The God of Adventure, who bestowed upon him the courage to seek the unknown.The God of Ero, whose gift… well, he had yet to fully grasp its implications.The God of Life and Death, a deity whose blessing carried the weight of something far more profound.
And then there was the system.
A power granted to him not by any singular god but by a force beyond comprehension. It had fused into his very soul before he descended into this new existence.
Everything was real.
And now… he was here.
With a deep exhale, Alex forced himself to take in his surroundings. The ceiling above him was made of polished wood, dark beams running across it, holding up a sturdy structure. To his side, there was a small table with a ceramic pitcher and an empty cup. A soft, warm blanket covered his lower body, and a thin but comfortable pillow rested under his head.
His limbs still felt heavy, but with great effort, he shifted his fingers, feeling the rough yet well-worn fabric of the bed beneath him. Slowly, he pushed himself up, his breath slightly ragged from the exertion.
His gaze swept across the room again, his mind processing everything.
'Someone brought me here. But who?'
A sudden movement from the doorway caught his attention. A shadow shifted beyond the wooden panels, followed by the soft creak of the door being pushed open.
Alex inhaled sharply and turned his gaze toward the approaching figure.
The wooden door creaked open, and a stunning blonde woman in her early twenties stepped inside. At first, her attention was fixed on the parchment in her hands, her delicate fingers holding it with absentminded ease. But then, as she lifted her gaze, she froze.
Her striking azure eyes met his, widening in mild surprise.
The once-unconscious boy was now awake—and watching her intently.
Alex's breath hitched for a moment. Even in his past life, he had rarely seen a woman of such beauty. She possessed a unique charm. The kind, that could make men forget their very purpose.
Her golden hair cascaded down her shoulders in soft, natural waves, shimmering under the morning sunlight streaming through the window. It was long, reaching her lower back, with a few strands framing her delicate face. Her skin was flawless—pale with a rosy hue on her cheeks, exuding a softness that seemed almost unreal.
Her figure was the very definition of mature elegance.
A full, well-proportioned bust—easily in the realm of G-cup—pressed slightly against the fabric of her modest yet refined dress, which clung to her curves in just the right places. Her waist was narrow, accentuating the perfect hourglass shape of her body, and her hips were generous, built for both grace and allure. The snug fit of her dress highlighted her shapely legs, which, though hidden beneath the fabric, hinted at smooth perfection.
Her scent reached him—a subtle, intoxicating blend of lavender and something uniquely feminine.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then, the woman's lips parted slightly before she regained her composure.
"Oh?" She said, her voice soft yet carrying a mature allure. "You're finally awake."
Alex swallowed, feeling the dryness in his throat. He tried to speak but found his voice hoarse.
"Where… am I?" he managed to ask.
The woman smiled faintly, setting the parchment on the nearby table before stepping closer. "You're in my home. I found you unconscious, floating down the river not far from here. You were barely breathing, so I brought you back and treated your wounds."
Her gentle yet confident tone put him at ease, though questions still swirled in his mind.
"Who… are you?"
The woman placed a hand on her hip, tilting her head slightly as she studied him. "You can call me Lea. I'm a healer—and the owner of this house."
He noted the way her dress subtly hugged her body as she shifted her posture. The way she carried herself spoke of maturity, experience, and undeniable charm.
Lea's gaze softened as she reached for the cup on the table, pouring fresh water from the pitcher. "Here, drink this. Your throat must be dry."
She leaned forward slightly, offering him the cup, and Alex's attention momentarily flickered downward before he caught himself. Damn… she's ridiculously attractive.
Still, he gratefully took the cup, feeling the cool liquid soothe his parched throat.
"Thank you…" He hesitated before adding, "And… I appreciate what you did for me."
Lea smiled, seemingly pleased by his manners. "It's nothing. I couldn't just leave you there, now could I?" She then narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression turning more inquisitive. "But I have to ask… who are you? And why were you floating in the river like that?"
Alex's grip tightened on the cup.
That was the problem—he didn't have an answer to that.