“Hmph—Ha! Ha!”
On the slightly frigid plains, the young man gripped his gleaming silver sword. He wore a somewhat tattered leather battle armor, and a cloak, stained crimson by blood from an unknown source, billowed behind him.
“Damn them! Damn them all!” the young man cursed, his voice raw. “Those despicable nobles of the Royal Capital, with their mouths full of lies and hearts of beasts! Even the filthiest maggots I’ve ever seen are a thousand, no, ten thousand times better than them!”
A thunderous roar echoed.
Once again, he narrowly dodged a sudden assault from the colossal monster before him. His face contorted into a snarl as he hurled every vile epithet he could conjure at the nobles who had abandoned him, retreating alone.
“They disregarded organization, abandoned discipline, and ignored all plans!” he raged. “They cast aside the commander’s comprehensive strategy, leading to the complete collapse of the rear guard! Every single one of them should be dragged to the Temple of the Great God of War, executed under the gods’ watchful eyes, their flesh scattered in streets plagued by wild dogs, and their souls incinerated in an unending sea of fire!”
Yet, his venomous curses, biting sarcasm, and helpless complaints seemed to bring the young man no good fortune.
Instead, it was as if the gods above had forsaken him.
In mere breaths, his sword struck empty air. He watched, helpless, as the colossal axe in the monster’s hand abruptly shifted course, hurtling towards him with even greater ferocity. The young man silently closed his eyes.
‘Just like this…’
‘Is it over?’
Ah…
The young man was unwilling; deeply, profoundly unwilling.
He had poured his heart and soul into the previous battles, finally earning the recognition of his superior, the Centurion. He had become the first commoner in decades to command a squad at the tender age of seventeen, achieving widespread renown.
The monsters he had slain were countless. Just yesterday, he had even been granted an audience with the Earl, officially bestowed with the rank of [Knight]. With this, he could have returned home to immediate fame, becoming the youngest great hero in the kingdom’s history, securing high office, noble titles, and bringing immense glory to his ancestors!
‘But…’
‘Under circumstances that were all but certain, with success within grasp…’
‘Could someone as young, capable, and promising as I am actually be about to die here? To perish in a place no one would remember, where even the scavenging birds wouldn’t notice one slightly gaunt corpse among countless future skeletons?’
‘It shouldn’t be like this…’
‘This shouldn’t be my end!’
‘I still have my family—my aging mother and elderly father waiting for me to support them, and the relatives and friends who bid me farewell with such reluctance, their faces etched with sorrow and unforgettable pain!’
‘So, why…’
‘Why must it be me who dies?!’
‘There are so many others who deserve death far more!’
‘So many wicked people are still living freely, so why, why…’
‘Why must it be me, a person so devout, kind, and upright, who has to die?’
‘Is it merely because they are nobles and I am a commoner?’
‘Is it because they were born into the ruling class, while I am just an insignificant speck among the countless ruled?’
‘Is it because they revel in lavish lives yet remain discontent, constantly scheming to extort more wealth to sate their hollow, sordid desires?’
‘While I, who live frugally, fighting desperately just for a morsel of food and a shred—just a shred—of basic human dignity, must I die because of this!?’
‘Must I die for those scoundrels from the Royal Capital—those who carelessly issued commands, disregarded the army, fled faster than anyone after causing catastrophe, leaving the rear guard to struggle and buy them time to escape? For those absolute beasts?!’
Ha…
‘If that is truly the case, then so be it.’
‘This kind of world…’
‘I want no part of it!’
As if reaching a complete understanding, the young man let out a soft chuckle. Then, he silently closed his eyes, ready to accept the judgment of the Goddess of Fate.
“Um…”
However, there was no pain or sorrow as he had imagined.
Instead, the young man seemed to hear a voice. A…
“I’ve been calling you for a while now. Excuse me, could you tell me where this place is?”
‘…………’
A girl’s voice, asking for directions.
****
‘All of this…’
‘Is it a dream?’
‘Or just another dream?’
Roy’s mind suddenly reeled, unable to process what he was seeing. He stared blankly at the… Goddess… who had appeared before him!
Yes! A goddess, truly a goddess!
Compared to her, ordinary women were like the faint glow of fireflies against the brilliance of the full moon! An ancient poem, long passed down, might describe her thus: “As if a light cloud veiled the moon, fluttering like a returning snowflake on the wind. Seen from afar, she shines like the morning sun; approached closely, she blazes like a lotus emerging from clear ripples.”
Though Roy himself had never heard this poem—it had simply materialized miraculously in his mind—this was clearly not the time to ponder its origins.
“You… are you alright?”
“Could it be you’ve been scared senseless?”
The Goddess murmured softly, a frown creasing her brow, in a tone no ordinary person could have heard.
“Ah… oh… oh! I’m fine, completely fine! Thanks to your generous assistance, Miss, I… I am perfectly alright now!”
As he spoke, he hastily patted his chest twice as if to prove his robust health.
In his speech and demeanor, Roy adopted the posture of a knight, unconsciously lowering his head.
This gesture signified both respect and obedience.
While utterly astonished by the Goddess’s beauty, a moment’s thought revealed that her ability to emerge unscathed from an area surrounded by layers upon layers of monsters meant she was undeniably extraordinary. Applying the theory that “power equals potions equals wealth,” and observing her dazzling, glass-like attire, Roy instantly concluded she had to be the esteemed daughter of a great noble.
‘And a goddess like this, I should probably just dream about her…’
Alas, the disparity in their statuses was simply too vast! Roy possessed this much self-awareness, so as he continued speaking, he instinctively lowered his head, mentally categorizing their relationship as one of superior and subordinate.
“Is that so? That’s truly wonderful!”
Upon hearing this, the Goddess’s expression immediately softened, and she offered a sweet smile.
Ah! What a beautiful smile it was! Roy’s heart swelled with an overwhelming emotion; he couldn’t find words adequate enough to describe the Goddess’s smile, one capable of melting the very soul.
Though just moments before, he had been using the world’s most venomous words to mock and curse the great nobles…
Now, it no longer mattered.
Indeed!
After all that had transpired today, the young man had gained a new perspective on many things.
Whether it was wealth and power, or fame and fortune… none of it mattered anymore. It was all irrelevant.
In life, one must always find something they need to protect, desire to protect, and are willing to sacrifice everything for. In the early stages of life, this pursuit is often mundane, typically focused on material pleasures.
However, as one grows older, a realization dawns: material possessions cannot bring everything. Glory and reputation are ultimately hollow, superficial, and fleeting. Only things like friendship, love, and kinship are truly real. There is always one person or thing that transcends money, wealth, glory, and reputation—something worth dedicating one’s entire life to.
Previously, the young man had never noticed such a thing, nor had he ever possessed it, let alone protected it. But now…
He believed he was on the verge of finding it.
“Miss, this place is exceedingly dangerous. Although you have temporarily saved me, there are still a great many monsters currently… currently… uh…”
No!
This was impossible!
Roy could scarcely believe his own eyes.
For he beheld a sight truly astonishing: the monsters, spread across the mountains and plains, were fleeing in all directions like a receding tide, as if desperate to escape some unseen terror!
“Hmm, young man!”
“Uh… Yes, yes! I’m here!”
Upon hearing the source of the voice, Roy immediately suppressed his inner astonishment and stood at rigid attention, speaking with utmost solemnity.
His intuition told him that the sudden retreat of the monsters was no simple matter; it was likely connected to the Goddess before him. As for the exact nature of that connection… that was difficult to say, and Roy was not foolish enough to ask such a question now.
“Your wounds are still bleeding… won’t that be a problem if it continues?”
“Uh…”
‘Isn’t it obvious that it would be a problem, hello?!’
‘I’m not immortal!’
There was nothing for it. Though he disliked losing face before the Goddess, the reality was stark. His healing potions had been nearly depleted when he broke through the encirclement with his comrades. Now, he still bore at least a dozen wounds, and if not properly treated, his life could very well be at risk.
This was no exaggeration. When large, untreated wounds were exposed to the air, they could lead to a host of related illnesses. In the era of cold weapons, without sufficient medicine, “injury” essentially equated to “death”—which was why the ancients often paired the words “casualties” and “fatalities.”
Similarly, the “Goddess,” deeply aware of this truth, naturally couldn’t ignore the young man’s injuries. After all, she still needed him to guide her out of this great valley and to provide her with some basic knowledge of this world. For the time being, the young man was quite useful…
Although it might sound strange, one might ask: ‘What kind of joke is this? How could someone who has lived in this world since childhood not even understand its basic conditions?’ Yet, surprisingly, that was indeed the truth!
For the “Goddess” before him was, in fact, a transmigrator! Moreover, before this, “she” hadn’t even been a girl!
“She” had been a “young man” enjoying a mountain climbing trip in the snow-capped peaks during winter break, only to accidentally lose their footing and plummet into a deep abyss!
“Is that so? Well then… if you don’t mind, would you like to try this?”
The Goddess, somewhat theatrically, carefully produced a triangular glass vial containing a red potion from her pocket.
‘Hmm, good thing the young man doesn’t know my current clothes have no pockets! Otherwise, I wonder if spatial magic would cause a commotion in this world, perhaps leading to me being captured and dissected for study, just like in my previous life…’
Disregarding these thoughts, Roy was initially quite flattered. He hastily waved his hands, his face slightly flushed, and replied, “No, how… how could I possibly dislike it!”
However, before his words had even finished, almost immediately after the [Goddess] drew out her arm, the moment he saw the potion, Roy’s eyes widened in a fixed stare. Then, reacting with astonishment, he gasped, “This… this is a red healing potion with eighty percent efficacy?!”
He then quickly shook his head, saying, “How could this be acceptable? I am merely of common birth. If I may be frank, Miss, the cost of this single potion would likely amount to several months of my wages…”
At this, even Roy felt a blush of shame creep onto his face.
“Nonsense!” the Goddess exclaimed, sounding somewhat annoyed.
Yet, even her annoyance had a certain charm. Her delicate eyebrows, drawn together, possessed an indescribable cuteness that somehow made one want to tease her even more!
Though Roy certainly lacked the courage to act on such a bold thought.
“The value of a potion isn’t measured by how many gold coins it can fetch. A potion’s true value is determined the moment a physician creates it: to sacrifice itself to save more lives. Am I wrong, young man?”
“No… though that logic holds… but…”
‘But can there truly be such kind-hearted people in this world?’
Roy asked himself, biting his lip. Perhaps… maybe… possibly… he might make the same decision?
Emmmmm…
Putting himself aside, Roy racked his brain, thinking of all the people he knew. Truthfully, he couldn’t recall a single person who might act with such carefree generosity as the young lady before him!
However, it was an understandable outcome. After all, everyone struggled to earn money. A luxury item like this… even among the families of lesser knights, he had never seen anyone offer it to an ordinary commoner.
Realizing this, Roy looked at the red potion, his eyes unconsciously growing moist.
“Alright, take it, young man. You are the first living human I’ve encountered after traveling for so long. So, if only for the sake of your comrades, please live on for them!”
‘Live on for them!’
‘Yes… live on for them!’
“Tha… thank you, truly, Miss, I am incredibly grateful!”
To prevent his voice from breaking into a sob, the young man could only repeatedly utter these words, head bowed.
At the same time, filled with profound gratitude, he formally accepted the potion.
‘That’s right, the Goddess is correct! Live on for them! Before achieving my aspirations, Roy, I refuse to die!’
‘No matter what, I must make those beastly wretches pay the price, yes!’
‘I will no longer live only for myself, but rather…’
‘For all the unnamed heroes who sacrificed themselves on this battlefield, this meaningless battlefield!’
And…
The young man thought, beyond that, there was an equally important task: to…
Protect someone…
A Goddess, pure and kind like an angel, full of righteousness, who had granted him a second life…
With these thoughts, the young man could no longer control his surging emotions. He respectfully knelt on one knee before the Goddess.
Slowly yet powerfully, he raised his blood-stained sword above his head, speaking each word distinctly:
“Miss, though I do not yet know your name, I believe that is not important. For more than a mere designation, I wish for you to know that what I truly desire to protect is your very existence…”
“Eh?”
The Goddess was clearly startled by this sudden turn of events, unsure how to react.
But it didn’t matter, for Roy had no intention of stopping.
“Here, I, Roy, swear by my life to the gods above: Today, at this very moment, I, Roy, vow to stake my personal honor. Henceforth, I shall serve you as my liege, sharing both glory and disgrace, unwavering in my loyalty, never leaving your side, and pledging my fealty unto death!”
[Ding—Host has acquired the first knight of this world. Rewarding Newbie Gift Pack Part Two. It has been sent to system space; please check.]