The Healing Brave Man found himself back fifteen years ago

Hmm? Huh??

Why did I become a girl?!

Syldra’s mind spun with confusion, overwhelmed by her current state.

“Miss?!” Rosetta, the maid in a neat and clean uniform, was startled by Syldra’s odd reaction. “What’s wrong? What happened? Did you have a nightmare?”

Hearing that, Syldra turned to look at Rosetta.

The brunette’s expression was genuinely worried—her pale green eyes reflecting Syldra’s own panicked face.

It was just like when they were children, the way she’d come running whenever young Syldra had fallen and scraped her knee.

The familiar scene slowly calmed Syldra’s racing thoughts.

“Rosetta… sorry, I think I had a nightmare,” Syldra said, rubbing her temples. “I dreamed that Lentiya was destroyed, and the entire world fell into war.”

“That sounds terrifying, Miss,” Rosetta scolded lightly, giving Syldra a playful glare. “Lentiya would never be destroyed!”

Syldra gave a bitter smile.

Yes. Who could’ve imagined that the flourishing Duchy of Lentiya, now at the height of its power, would collapse in just a few years due to internal rebellion?

The Duchy of Lentiya was land granted to the Lentiya family through their hereditary title of Duke. As distant relatives of the imperial family of Aetelarma—the largest empire on all of Neuin Continent—the Lentiya family had enjoyed privilege and favor since the empire’s founding.

Back then, as the only child of the current Duke of Lentiya, Syldra had been raised on imperial history lessons that constantly emphasized the Lentiya family’s importance within the royal lineage.

She had believed it wholeheartedly—that she was destined to be the human representative of the Lentiya house, a future Imperial Grand Duke who would embody the dignity of the throne.

That belief had driven her to study and strive tirelessly.

Yet in Stardate 244, when she—then thirteen years old—joined the Central Theocracy as a novice priest to begin secluded training toward becoming the Duchy’s future bishop and next Duke:

—Within just three short years, the Duchy of Lentiya crumbled into chaos from within, its authority shattered, its kin scattered.

And when, four years later, she finally emerged from isolation to find her homeland already destroyed, she never saw again any of her loved ones—her father, mother, or even Rosetta, who had grown up beside her.

After two more years of aimless wandering as a broken priest, the world invasion led by Samael began in Stardate 250.

Five years later, in Stardate 255, she was chosen as a Hero and thrust into hellish training as part of the elite unit tasked with assassinating the Demon King.

Finally, in Stardate 260, at age twenty-nine, she died by the Demon King’s hand…

……Hm?

Syldra’s brows twitched.

“Rosetta, um… hey, how old are you this year?”

“Huh?”

“I’m thinking about what gift to get you for next year.”

“Next year?! Does that mean my gift for this year is already ready?!”

Seeing Rosetta’s eyes suddenly sparkle, Syldra instinctively leaned back.

“This year’s… your birthday is coming up?”

“It’s October 7th already! It’s next Friday!” Rosetta pouted. “Mmm~~~ Miss can’t even remember my birthday!”

Syldra chuckled awkwardly.

Of course she remembered.

But she asked not because she forgot—she needed to figure out exactly what year and date it was.

Ever since accepting the reality—I’ve been given a second chance—Syldra had made a vow:

This time, if she had even the slightest opportunity, she would save her blood relatives, save her fellow Heroes, and save the countless lives across the world.

But without knowing the current situation, she couldn’t take action.

Her first instinct was to rely on Ludwig’s memories for clues—but…

There had been countless times when Ludwig and Rosetta rode together in a carriage. From the present details alone, there was no way to tell which instance this was.

Moreover, in Ludwig’s memories, there had never been a girl named “Syldra” in the main Lentiya household.

Although she could deduce from the fact that Rosetta—a maid specifically assigned to serve the Duke’s child—was still with her that “Syldra” must be the Duke’s daughter, were “Syldra” and “Ludwig” truly living identical lives?

What year was it now? Was “Ludwig” even alive in this timeline?

Where was this carriage taking them?

And why were they here?

Just thinking about it made Syldra’s head spin—while across from her, Rosetta was already happily swaying side to side.

“A gift for turning 14~ A gift for next year~ Next year~ 14-year-old gift~ What is it~?”

Fourteen. Next year she’ll turn fourteen.

So Rosetta is thirteen now?

Syldra jolted upright.

—Rosetta was one year younger than Ludwig.

Ludwig had entered the Central Theocracy for secluded training at age thirteen, meaning Rosetta should have lost contact with him after turning twelve.

If Rosetta is thirteen now, then Ludwig would be fourteen—this must be Stardate 245, the second year of Ludwig’s seclusion!

Yet here Rosetta was, riding in a carriage with Syldra as if nothing had changed.

That meant “Syldra’s” life path was not identical to “Ludwig’s”!

Syldra’s heart twisted with conflicting emotions.

……After finishing his training, Ludwig had desperately sought answers in the Central Theocracy, trying to uncover the truth behind Lentiya’s fall.

But those elders and friends who once treated him warmly either vanished due to sudden transfers—or, when confronted, fell completely silent. Some acquaintances he rarely saw simply avoided him altogether, even turning away when they met on the street!

It was then Ludwig realized:

[People love you only for the value you show them.]

In the end, he managed to learn a single clue—from a young girl he’d befriended during training.

“The Duchy of Lentiya was sabotaged from within by spies planted by other noble families of the Aetelarma Empire.”

Yet if that was the case, the conspiring families would have already covered their tracks, eliminating every trace.

Until he was chosen as a Hero, Ludwig never found the mastermind behind Lentiya’s coup.

If she followed the same path as before—leaving Lentiya for the Central Theocracy at age thirteen—she wouldn’t be able to save her homeland. Everything would repeat itself exactly as before.

But now, she hadn’t become a priest. That meant she still had time. She could change things. She could prevent the future from repeating the tragedy of “last time.”

…Yes. She had to do something!

Resolved, Syldra sorted through the information in her mind.

“Rosetta. Rosetta.” She tapped the swaying maid’s shoulder.

“Yes, Miss Syldra~?” The maid giggled sweetly.

“Go fetch the luggage, Rosetta. I need to—”

“Nngh!” But Rosetta pouted stubbornly. “Gift! I want my gift!”

Right. She promised a gift. And she said it was already prepared.

…Ugh. What now?

Syldra paused, then an idea struck her.

“Rosetta, I’ve already sent your gift to Father’s study. I’ll have someone bring it to you shortly. Right now, though, I need to speak with Father…”

She’d brush Rosetta off for now. Later, after meeting the Duke, she could just grab any random trinket from his study and pass it off as the gift.

The real priority was seeing the Duke of Lentiya immediately—and warning him about the possible infiltration threatening to tear their family apart from within!

With that plan in mind, Lentiya-Syldra pulled open the carriage curtain, gazing at the ground near the iron wheels, one foot stepping down.

She was desperate to undo the tragedy of “last time”—

“……What are you talking about, Miss Syldra?” Her words were cut short by Rosetta’s confused voice from inside the carriage.

“You won’t be able to see the Duke until at least two weeks from now, right?”

At the same moment, unfamiliar streets came into view before Syldra’s eyes.

Unrecognizable southern-style architecture lined the pedestrian avenue—and just ahead of the carriage stood a luxurious inn.

Huh?

Syldra froze, her right foot suspended mid-step.

“We’re in the capital of the Kingdom of Wylding, Miss,” Rosetta said, stepping beside the stunned Syldra.

“Our estate is… well, let’s just say very, very far from here.”

Syldra stood motionless, staring blankly at the grand signboard above the opulent hotel.

In Common Neuin script, it boldly read:

“Wylding ‘Lion’s Invitation’ National Guesthouse”