Chapter 1

Taking off the iron armor and tossing it to the floor, he removed his sword from his waist and placed it by the pillow. Both items had weighed on him like lead. Only then did he finally sit down on the bed.

It was a strange sensation. It felt as if his legs were not used to sitting, as if they were surprised that they didn’t need to work. Then, he suddenly realized: Ah, it had been days since he had last sat down to rest.

A peculiar sense of relaxation and the gradual spread of blood throughout his legs. Indeed, his body, which had been overused, deserved a break. He hadn’t even eaten any preserved food for dinner, but it was better to lie down on the bed. Surely, even God would say the same.

Lying down on the bed in a daze, just as sleep began to overtake his fatigue, he heard a woman’s voice from the next room.

Damn, he thought, and mentally clicked his tongue. Usually, he would either keep a distance for night watch or surveillance, or, as tonight, go to bed early to avoid such situations.

If it were just any woman’s voice, he wouldn’t have minded. But this voice was unusually sultry, clearly laced with seduction. The high-pitched voice easily seeped through the gaps in the walls.

He covered his eyes with his arm and wrapped himself in the thin futon. For a while, it helped, but as the night grew silent, the voice became more pronounced in his ears.

"Damn..."

He muttered softly, got up without turning on the light, and reached for his armor. He inserted the almost only personal item he had, a chewing tobacco, into his mouth. Chewing it, the faint remaining flavor distracted him.

Still, the woman’s voice continued. He could hear her calling a man’s name. He recognized both the name and the voice, which belonged to the party traveling with him on the quest to save the world.

*

"Is it okay for you to take the watch tonight, Ruis?"

Despite being called a savior, the man’s voice was slightly high and gentle.

"Sure. It’s better if I take the watch. I can move more easily in emergencies."

At first, it seemed true.

In fact, since I had the best night vision and could buy time by putting my body on the line in emergencies, it was the most efficient and seamless arrangement for the party.

But recently, it was different. I volunteered for the night watch purely because I felt uncomfortable. It was the women’s gazes, or the atmosphere. In any case, it was much better to take the watch alone.

The man called a savior briefly lowered his eyes, but when one of the women called him, he bowed his head and went. He waved his hand lightly and headed to a rocky area away from the party’s sleeping quarters.

Is that the voice of the elven princess? So, it’s her turn tonight. He narrowed his eyes, savoring the chewing tobacco hidden in his armor. Here, the voice wouldn’t reach him.

Our party, called the group of saviors, had become more impressive as the journey progressed. Of course, excluding me.

The elven princess, the mage, the knight, and the bard Arieun.

Each of them was a prominent figure in their country or region. Entrusting such a group to this journey meant it was of utmost importance. Of course, I was an exception.

He exhaled. A pleasant scent passed through his nostrils, and he felt a rare sense of calm.

Still, he couldn’t understand why someone like him was included in this journey. He had no outstanding qualities and no status to match theirs. His sword skills were nothing special, and his only talent was good night vision.

It was probably due to Arieun’s recommendation. That was the only thing he could think of, as she was his childhood friend.

The tobacco, chewed too much, had accumulated saliva. He spat it out on the spot and put it back in his armor.

At first, he was happy. Of course, it wasn’t because he could join a great journey or because he had an opportunity to be recognized.

It was because Arieun was with him. She was his childhood friend and the object of his unrequited love. Being with her on this journey was undoubtedly exhilarating, and he vividly remembered leaving his hometown with high spirits.

Ah, I was definitely a fool back then. Did I really think I was worthy of such a grand journey?

The women traveling with the savior were undoubtedly top-notch and irreplaceable. To them, someone like me must have seemed incredibly dull and unattractive.

I wasn’t doing nothing. I handled chores, scouting, and combat. I did everything. But their eyes, which watched me, were cold. Some showed it openly, while others didn’t. If I had to describe it, it was neglect. But from their perspective, they were probably just giving me the evaluation I deserved.

Among them, Arieun was the only one who cared for me. Even on this journey, her inherent kindness remained unchanged. It was a great comfort. Yes, that’s right.

"The savior, huh."

That man was clearly a prodigy. I could tell. Just being next to him in battle, his inexplicable strength and responsiveness were astonishing. It was unimaginable how he had acquired such power at such a young age. A true prodigy, unmatched by anyone else.

And his presence naturally captivated the women. The elven princess, the mage, the knight, and even Arieun.

When did this relationship begin? It was unclear. But by the time I noticed, they were already in such a relationship.

Tonight, they were surely entangled with the man called the savior, somewhere out of earshot.

So, I had to find a place out of earshot every night, using some excuse. Recently, I had been taking the night watch, standing and getting a little sleep.

It was still okay if it was the other women. They were all beautiful, the kind of women any man would want. It was enviable, but it was still okay.

But, if. By any chance. If I heard Arieun’s voice.

*

"...Has it settled down?"

Finally, the voices from the next room subsided, and he could take a breath. Fortunately, it was still deep into the night. He could still get a good night’s sleep if he went to bed now. He reached into the darkness to put away the chewing tobacco in his armor.

"Then, how long do you intend to continue this journey?"

A voice emerged from the darkness.

A shadow appeared. It was a human figure. The voice was human. The shadow, having kicked his armor, was already sitting at the table facing him.

It was a blunder. Even though he was distracted by the voice, he hadn’t noticed the intruder until now. He instinctively reached for the sword by his pillow. But,

"I apologize for the rudeness. But this was the best way to contact you, and it worked. Please forgive me."

As he reached for the sword, his body froze, unable to move. In the silence of the night, his heartbeat echoed within him. He couldn’t even open his mouth, let alone speak.

"You should still be able to breathe. You won’t die. Relax, I’m just a messenger. I didn’t sneak in to harm you!"

The content of his words was calm, but the tone was rough, like a poorly performed play. It was incomprehensible and strange. Most of all, he couldn’t make out the man’s appearance. The shadow in the darkness was visible, but the clothing, face, and details were completely unrecognizable.

Impossible. I have confidence in my night vision. And with eyes fully adapted to the darkness, at this distance, there’s no way I couldn’t see.

"You tried to recognize me, didn’t you, Ruis? But it’s impossible. I know your abilities well, so it’s only natural to take appropriate measures!"

Raising his voice again, the man then calmed down.

Measures. Why. Everything was unclear. Why would he need to sneak into my bedroom, taking such measures, when I was the least necessary part of this party?

"That’s right, there. Ruis, how long do you intend to remain in your current position, huh?"

His body was still frozen, but his throat made a slight sound.

The shadow continued speaking.

"I’ve brought you a good offer! Ah, a very good offer! I know you might be a bit wary when I say this, but I have to. It’s a very, very good offer!"

No, I’ve been wary all along. He was definitely off. A flawed existence.

"I’m a messenger. I’ve brought you an opportunity. I’ll give you one chance. A chance to erase everything and redraw the canvas of your life!"