Chapter 1

In the midst of cherry blossom petals dancing in the wind, Misaki opened an old diary and read the words of promise written there.

Knowing one's own talent is, surprisingly, quite a difficult thing.

Even in a world where talents manifest clearly in the form of skills, this remains unchanged.

And the moment when talent blossoms is usually sudden, with no prior warning.

"Hey, grandpa!"

"What is it, Maril?"

"Look, look, a sawyer beetle!"

"Ho ho ho, you're mistaken."

In a dilapidated house in a rural village of the Ziga Kingdom, an old man and a young girl were having a friendly conversation.

The old man's name is Dil, a man over sixty who plans to spend his twilight years doting on his grandchildren, the village's longest-living elder.

The girl, Maril, Dil's granddaughter, is the village's most energetic girl, rumored to be in high demand in the future. She was looking at a bug on the floor, her back turned to Dil.

Dil was tasked with taking care of Maril until sunset, in place of his sons who were busy with farm work.

Since he was only a burden until he died, he thought he should at least do what he could. While feeling a bit uncomfortable, he found comfort in Maril's lively smile every day.

Even though she couldn't speak clearly yet, her adorable manner was endearing, even without the bias of being his granddaughter.

"Maril, that's not a sawyer beetle, it's a mantis... oh!"

Dil opened his mouth to correct her but was forced to close his eyes due to a strong light.

"Grandpa, is something wrong?"

"Did something just shine?"

"The sawyer beetle?"

"That's not a sawyer beetle... it's shining again."

Dil thought for a moment and whispered "sawyer beetle." The strong light appeared again, seemingly reacting to the word.

He knew what this phenomenon was.

"Who would have thought I'd be granted a skill at this age..."

A skill is a special talent that only certain individuals can use. Skills are entirely innate, fundamentally different from magic, which can be enhanced through effort. They can make one's thoughts clearer or grant superhuman strength to break rocks, among other benefits.

It is said that everyone has one skill, but in reality, only one in several dozen can actually use it. The conditions for manifestation vary from person to person; some can use their skills from infancy, while others only understand how to use them on their deathbed. Considering this, manifesting a skill at sixty isn't so bad.

"However, I've never heard of a skill called 'Sawyer Beetle'..."

Dil stared intently at the mantis, watching its small body swing its scythe-like arms from top to bottom. Time seemed to slow down, and he instinctively knew how to respond to the swing. Of course, since the mantis was far away, there was no need to react. But through this experience, he understood what his skill was.

"I see, it's not the skill 'Sawyer Beetle,' but the skill 'Insight.'"

As the skill activated, information about its nature flowed into his mind.

'Insight' is a skill that allows one to instinctively know how to evade an attack.

It also seems to extend one's subjective time during an attack, enabling a calm response.

It's a useful skill, no doubt. But there's a significant issue.

"I'm already so old..."

If he were forty years younger, he could have made a name for himself through martial prowess.

But now, at over sixty, his joints creak and his arms can't lift above his shoulders.

This skill is clearly too much for his aging body.

"Grandpa, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just a bit startled."

Maril is a lovely child, but they don't have enough food to fill her belly, nor the means for her to pursue girlish hobbies.

(If I leave... perhaps life will be a bit easier for them.)

He had already considered living in the mountains during famines to reduce the number of mouths to feed. If he left a bit earlier, it would be fine.

A journey to find a place to die... it's not as grand as that, but using the skill to find a way to survive is a viable option.

"Father, I'm home."

"Ah, Tore, just in time. I'm leaving home to live a life of battle."

"Eh... what!?"

"I've realized my innate talent, and my body is itching to move."

Before his son, Tore, could guess his true intentions, Dil hurriedly took out his meager savings and headed for the door. If Tore guessed his intention to reduce the number of mouths to feed, he would never let him leave.

"Wait, Father! Are you serious!?"

"Dead serious, very serious."

"Are you worried about our savings...?"

"No, Dad."

Maril, making a difficult face, stopped Tore, who was about to vent his anger.

"Men... sometimes have to go to battle. It's Grandpa's time now."

"Right, that's it. Don't worry, I'll be fine. I've acquired a combat skill."

"Father, don't say such ridiculous things..."

Unable to bear it any longer, Tore tried to grab Dil's withered hand.

Thinking "Insight," Dil's body predicted the attack and found the optimal solution.

He stepped forward and nudged the heel of Tore's back foot, causing his much larger son to fall over easily.

"Ouch... you really...?"

"Right, that's it. I might pop back in, so treat me well when I do."

Opening the creaky wooden door, Dil began to walk slowly, gazing at the sky, which was starting to turn orange.

With Tore standing in shock behind him, he started walking.

"Grandpa, let's play again, okay!?"

"Sure, but that bug is a mantis, not a sawyer beetle!"

"Got it, thanks!"

Dil felt a weight lifted from his shoulders and walked a bit more lightly.

If his share of the food could be divided among the three of them, they would have more to eat. Thinking this, his heart felt lighter along with his steps.

"Well, let's see... maybe I'll become an adventurer."

He never thought he would start a second life from such a life. As he grumbled to himself, a bright smile appeared on his face.

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