The Awakening
"Huh? Did I black out? But how... was it all a dream?"
"You’re finally awake, I see."
The voice drifted toward me just as the thought crossed my mind.
"Yes? What happened? Where am I?"
"I had to give you a good knock on the head to keep you from doing something stupid," the voice replied. "After that, I brought you back to my place. You’re in one of the guest rooms."
"I... I see. But what exactly happened?"
"After that man was beheaded, you started fighting me, trying to break free. I didn't have much of a choice; I had to knock you out to calm you down."
"So that's how it went. I’m sorry for the trouble."
"You certainly put us in a tight spot back there, you know? Regardless, forgive me for hitting you."
"Don’t worry about it. You did what you had to do."
"Anyway, let’s talk in the dining room. Breakfast is ready. Just head out, walk a bit, and take a right."
"I’m coming. I truly am sorry for the inconvenience."
Where am I, really? I wondered. Is this somewhere in Northern Europe? Why did they behead that man despite his apology? Whatever the case, I knew I shouldn't linger.
The bed I lay on was modest, crafted from oak with a straw mattress and a heavy wool blanket. Beside it sat a small wooden table where a tallow candle flickered, bathing the room in a warm, golden hue. I found myself fascinated by the simplicity of the place, but I couldn't delay any longer.
Stepping out, I realized it wasn't just the room that was beautiful—the entire house was magnificent in its own rugged way. The walls were made of grey stone, beneath a dark timber ceiling. The floor was packed earth, softened by a layer of straw matting.
As I moved forward, the savory scent of seared meat whetted my appetite. Entering the main room, I saw a young woman cooking—the daughter of the man who had helped me. From what I could see, she was preparing a thick meat and vegetable stew.
The dining area was sparse but tastefully decorated with a wooden crucifix and a simple wool tapestry. It was humble, yet it felt profoundly cozy and warm.
"Don't just stand there. Come, take a seat."
"Are you sure? Is it alright?"
"Don't worry, my daughter made plenty for all of us. Sit."
"Yes, don't be shy," she added, smiling.
"It’s refreshing to have guests every now and then. By the way, what’s your name?"
"Kaito G. Shimizu."
"Eh? That’s a peculiar name, isn't it? Are you some kind of nobleman?"
"Hey, you shouldn't ask things like that," the man cut in. "Forgive her, please."
(Huh? Did I say something wrong? Well, as far as I knew, my father was obsessed with a novel where the protagonist was named Kaito, and my mother is Japanese... I guess it’s normal for it to sound strange here.)
"Oh, no, please don't worry about it. May I ask your names?"
"Right, forgive my manners. I’m Roland, and this is my daughter, Emma. Since we’re commoners, we don't have a surname—though I expect you already guessed that."
"Oh, so that's it..." (He probably thinks I'm from some fallen noble house or something.)
"Well, let's eat. I hope you like the stew."
"I know you will," Roland boasted. "My daughter’s stew is fantastic."
"Thank you for having me."
"Oh, there's no need for thanks. If anything, forgive us for not being able to host you more grandly..."
"That was delicious, thank you."
"I told you her stews were good. Now then, tell me... what brings you to these parts? You don't look like a merchant, nor an adventurer."
(What should I tell him?) "I... I came to become an adventurer. I just don't know where to start."
"Oh? So you want to be an adventurer, do you? I could teach you a thing or two."
"No, I couldn't possibly trouble you further."
"Nonsense. I was an adventurer myself years ago. I only stopped because, well, as you can see, I lost my right arm. An adventurer is no good like this."
(It was true—his right arm was gone. I hadn't noticed before. He looked to be at least forty, rugged and robust with tanned skin, short hair, and sharp eyes. His daughter was beautiful, with soft light-brown eyes; she looked about nineteen. I didn't see a mother anywhere. Regardless, I needed to take this chance to learn more.)
"If you don't mind me asking... how did you lose your arm? And what is going on with this kingdom?"
"Well," Roland sighed. "About three years ago, I was the captain of an old party. During a slip-up in a dungeon, lives were lost... including Emma's mother. She was an adventurer too. But I’d rather not dwell on that. As for the kingdom... for a long time, the Heroes took care of the monsters that raided us. The Demon King tried to destroy the realms many times but never succeeded. Eventually, he gave up and sent word to the five kingdoms to negotiate a peace treaty. The world was prosperous, happy. The Demon King was weak; no matter how hard he tried to rule even a single kingdom, his demon allies were all frail. Even if he intervened personally, he knew that while he might kill a Hero or two, he would eventually perish. We all lived with that certainty."
"..."
"Until one day, someone very peculiar arrived in this world, proclaiming himself a 'New Hero.' We were all confused; the world didn't need a new one. But over time, his contributions earned the trust of the Heroes and the kingdoms alike. He became friends with everyone. No one knew what was coming next."
"When the meeting with the Demon King was announced, this 'New Hero' started causing unrest. He claimed the meeting was unnecessary because he would go and finish off the Demon King himself. Then, all the Heroes started acting strange. They stopped being kind. They began doing whatever they pleased... slowly taking the kingdoms for themselves. They control everything now. Everything. And next month, they plan to invade the Demon Realm. Once they do that, likely..."
(This is bad.) "I... I see. Could you tell me the names of these Heroes?"
"Thargon, Xylaris, Valtor, Eryn, Kael... and Akira."
"Eh?" (This has to be a coincidence...)
"The... the statue of the hero at the entrance... is that of the one called A-akira?"
"No, it’s nothing. It’s just... it’s the first time I’ve seen him from so close."
(H-he actually made it to another world? What is that bastard doing here? Why is he inciting the other Heroes to follow his lead? This is bad... I don't feel like my appearance has changed at all. If he sees me...)
"I see," Roland replied. "In any case, as you may have noticed, speaking ill of a Hero—not just him, but any of them—is a death sentence. To speak of them with such contempt is seen as an act of treason. I wouldn't recommend it. In fact, that’s why I knocked you out. If you had gone through with whatever you were thinking, you wouldn’t be the only one dead. As I said, you would have dragged us down with you. Regardless, the knights will be more active than usual lately; Hero Kael’s engagement to Princess Alesya Lutia is approaching."
"Even though everyone knows that marriage is just a political arrangement, right Father?" Emma added.
"That’s as may be, but don't go spreading those kinds of rumors in the streets either."
"I see," I said, my mind racing. "It’s going to be complicated, but... would it be possible for you to tell me more about this kingdom? To be honest, I was kept confined in my old home and had almost no contact with the outside world. If you could give me some general information, I would be truly grateful." (I hope that lie works. It’s probably the worst excuse in the world, but I had to come up with something on the spot. I have to know more, no matter what.)
Time slipped away as we spoke, and before we knew it, night had fallen.
"It's late," Roland said, leaning back. "You should stay here, seeing as you have nowhere else to go. Once you’ve earned some coin, you’re free to move on. Besides, I can’t let you leave like this. Starting tomorrow morning, I’ll spend a few days teaching you the basics. We’ll see if you have any knack for magic. Emma, please get Kaito’s room ready."
"Ok."
"Thank you." (They really are good people.)
