Chapter 2 1. No Intention to Save the World in the 10th Life (2)

Bill, an ordinary country boy, was an orphan but grew up with the love of those around him. The nun who took him in and raised him was like a parent to him, and the other children in the same situation were his siblings. Although his life was not abundant, it was not impoverished either. The villagers were kind, and he did not have to worry about going hungry as he helped with their work.

One day, an event changed his ordinary life.

- "Child, the child who will save the world."

It was a divine revelation from the Goddess of Creation, who was said to have created the world. Thus, Bill transformed from an ordinary country boy into a hero chosen by the goddess.

Everything for humanity.

Everything for the world.

Everything for the Goddess of Creation.

As the hero Bill, he lived to uphold his mission as a hero. He lived for the world. During the first recorded invasion of the demon race, he sacrificed his life to defeat the Demon King and save the world.

Perhaps the goddess felt sorry for him? Bill was reborn with his memories intact, this time as Dain.

Dain Bagrude.

Born into a minor noble family, albeit a powerless one, his life was quite luxurious compared to his first life as an orphan. Of course, not everything was good. Unlike his previous life, where people helped each other due to poverty, his siblings in this second life were very greedy. His older brother was greedy, his older sister was even greedier, and his younger brother was so greedy that his desire overflowed.

Despite this, Bill, or rather Dain, was content with the life he was given. One day,

- "Child, the child who saved the world."

It was the same voice he heard in his previous life. Although the content was slightly different, Dain knew it was the voice of the goddess. A divine revelation. Once again, the world was in crisis. The human traitors who fell to the demons' deceit had already infiltrated the heart of the empire, and even the emperor had become their puppet. A battle not against demons, but against humans. The confusion of fighting against fellow humans was overwhelming, but the continuous battles over more than ten years had hardened his spirit.

Thus, the battles against the demons who had infiltrated the human world and the black mages who followed them continued, making it impossible to distinguish friend from foe. This cannot continue. Dain, resolved, waited for the moment to gain the upper hand in the war against the empire and then targeted the heart of the empire. He managed to defeat the leader of the black mages who controlled the emperor and the demon who controlled him. However, in the final moment, the leader of the black mages sacrificed his life to cast a curse, and Dain ultimately lost his life.

Just as his second life seemed to end meaninglessly,

"Huh?"

His third life began.

"Huh?"

Perhaps the goddess pitied me and gave me another chance to live. He thought this, but the world was in danger again, and he was chosen as a hero once more. And after fighting for the world, he died with the enemy.

"Huh?"

His fourth life.

He began to feel something was wrong. Was another crisis about to hit the world? Would he have to become a hero again? He lived with these thoughts, but this life was peaceful. He attended an academy, enjoyed his school life, and was recognized by a professor who saw potential in him, eventually becoming a graduate student.

"Huh?"

Something is wrong. He realized this after seeing the true nature of the professor, who had always seemed kind. But it was too late. The difference between a student and a graduate student was minimal, but the experiences were vastly different. His life as a graduate student, or rather, a slave, was filled with things he never imagined during his enjoyable school days.

Thus, in his second year as a graduate student, just when he thought living as a hero might be easier,

- "The child who saved the world."

Fortunately, the world was in crisis, and he happily became a hero to escape from the graduate school. Thus, after his fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth lives,

The hero who saved the world nine times murmured,

"Ugh."

'I have to live this again.'

Lewin de Dryverf.

Reflecting on the name he received in his 10th life, the hero who saved the world nine times thought,

'My hypothesis that gods lack a conscience is correct.'

Whether it's the Goddess of Creation, the main deity of humanity, or the Demon God, the main deity of the demon race, the fact that they make their "children" fight each other is evidence that gods lack a conscience.

'They wouldn't have made me live ten times if they had a conscience.'

Initially, he marveled at the thought that "The goddess has given me another chance!" but now, things are different. Is the world so weak that it faces a crisis every time I am born? That doesn't make sense. It's more reasonable to think that I am brought back to life when the world is about to face a crisis.

"Ugh."

Damn.

The child, mumbling, looked around.

'This place is huge.'

Perhaps they wanted to show off by giving him a better environment each time he was reborn. He was born into a noble family, then a baron's family, and after a few more rebirths, he was born as the eldest son of a marquis's family in his previous life.

'This time, I'm not the eldest son.'

One of the two pillars of the empire, the Dryverf Duke's family. The third son of the family with the world's greatest military power. That was Lewin de Dryverf's status.

'It's not bad.'

The higher the noble rank, the more responsibilities one has. As the head of the family or the successor, one is almost consumed by work. Having experienced the life of a hero and the successor of a marquis's family, Lewin did not desire power. He just wanted to live freely this time, like an ordinary person.

'Go to the academy, fall in love, get married!'

In his 10th life, he had only experienced love three times and never married.

'One of those times, I was betrayed badly.'

It was a betrayal that felt like a dagger to the heart. His most trusted lover and friend turned out to be in a relationship.

The endless rage consumed him, and unfortunately, the Great Demon King Avelios, who became the target of his anger, was destroyed.

'After all that, if I save the world again, I'll be a fool.'

The legendary Black Mallow Cow, said to exist somewhere in the world. He would no longer care about saving the world.

'If you give me another divine revelation, I'll show you what a hero can do in a temple.'

It would be an act to destroy the achievements of all the heroes, but Lewin was confident. After all, he was the one who achieved all those things!

"Ugh."

Lewin, sensing a presence, stopped his thoughts and let out a cry.

"You have distinct features, and your mana flow is smooth."

An old man who looked like a mage spoke with a kind smile.

"Is that so?"

"Yes. With this, it would not be an exaggeration to say you have been blessed with mana."

"Ugh!"

Lewin responded, as if agreeing with the old man.

'It's actually similar.'

Perhaps because he was the body that would face the world's crisis in the future, he had never been told he lacked talent in his 10th life. In his first life, he lacked the time to learn magic, which is why he couldn't use it. In his second life, he learned magic through a decade-long war and, in his third life, developed the most efficient way to use mana.

'I'm doing the breathing exercises well.'

The Breathing Exercises!

All things in the world contain mana, and it's just a matter of borrowing it. This was what he heard when he first learned magic, and it remained unchanged even in his ninth life. In his third life, he interpreted this in his own way and eventually found a solution.

Breathing.

There are three main ways people gather mana.

The first is instinct. Just as breathing is natural, gathering mana is also natural. However, the rate at which mana increases is very slow. Occasionally, geniuses can gather a lot of mana or recover quickly without any special training.

The second is using mana stones, magical creatures, or herbs. For example, the mandrake herb can be processed and consumed to quickly increase mana.

The third is mana cultivation techniques. This is the method used to train knights and mages, involving various ways to gather mana. It includes creating environments with high mana concentration or having a master teach a student to feel the flow of mana.

The first and third methods have a common element: breathing. Breathing is an action that most living beings perform, and it gradually accumulates the mana in the world into the body. Therefore, optimizing this action is key. By breathing unconsciously, one can absorb mana and naturally accept it, making one stronger just by breathing.

It might sound ridiculous, but in a world where one is often weak and in danger, it is necessary to protect oneself. In his third life, Lewin thought this and, after living three more lives, finally created a method to become stronger just by breathing.

"Ugh."

At this moment, Lewin was absorbing the subtle mana in the air through his breathing. Although it was a very small amount, doing this constantly made his body more accustomed to mana, allowing it to grow and accept more mana.

A more effective mana cultivation technique, especially when practiced from a young age. A secret technique of the hero, who becomes stronger just by breathing.

"Holding a sword will not easily be blocked, and if you learn magic, you will be able to attempt advanced spells."

In this world, the standard of strength is mana. No matter how skilled a swordsman is, without sufficient mana, they cannot reach the level of a master, and even if they understand the concepts, they cannot perform advanced spells.

'If that's the goal, I don't need this.'

However, the talent of a hero is far beyond just reaching the level of a master or performing advanced spells. The breathing exercises were a cultivation technique created to cut off the Demon King's head without dying!

"Ugh!"

The 10th life cried out.

Although he no longer wanted to save the world, he had experienced too many times how powerless one can be in a dirty and ugly world.

'After all, their affairs were only possible because I died!'

If he hadn't died with the Demon King, would those lovers have openly married?

'No.'

The hero was strong. During his ninth life, he fought to the death against demons and their related monsters. His mere glare made nobles offer artifacts, and his threats made even a kingdom's ruler offer money and troops.

'A dirty and despicable world.'

This time, he would stand firm until the end. Whether it's the goddess's schemes or the overly diligent demons, anyone who stands in the way of his life will be eliminated.

"Ugh!"

'I will kill them all.'

It was a fierce cry, but unfortunately, his vocal cords were not functioning properly. Therefore,

"Young master seems very lively."

"All children are like that."

The two people watching the child smiled kindly, unaffected by Lewin's cries.