Chapter 1: Tragedy

Ten years old.

It was around that time that Logan became vaguely aware of his own existence.

Previous life.

He realized that he had once been an ordinary young man on a blue planet called Earth, and was now reincarnated in a medieval fantasy world where monsters and magic were real.

The very world he had encountered countless times in creations like games, novels, and comics.

Buildings crudely constructed of stone and wood instead of steel and concrete, blacksmithies spewing acrid smoke, unpaved dirt roads where carriages rattled by.

Everything was unfamiliar yet strangely familiar.

And he had a hunch.

That he was not the protagonist of this story.

He wasn’t blessed with a noble lineage, hidden talents, or even extraordinary luck.

Simply the only son of a commoner couple.

That was all Logan was given in this life.

Even so, to try and accomplish something grand by recalling memories of his past life, he had been nothing more than an unremarkable young man during his time on Earth.

He possessed no specialized knowledge, nor did he have any particular skills.

He wasn’t certain, but since nothing specific came to mind, that was probably the case.

So, despite being reincarnated in another world, there wasn’t much he could do.

Nevertheless—

‘…Well, does it matter?’

He had no particular complaints.

No, there was no reason to complain.

He was grateful enough just not to have been born a bottom-tier s*ave or an outcast.

And above all, in his world, there already existed a dazzlingly precious being, incomparable to any blessing or extraordinary ability.

As he was lost in such thoughts.

“Logan~!”

A clear and bright voice called his name.

A warm voice, as if sunshine had settled upon it.

Logan reflexively turned his head towards the sound.

Behind the village, on a low hill.

A girl was smiling brightly and waving her hand, her pretty brown hair fluttering in the gentle breeze.

Her clear, large black eyes, untainted, were filled with mischief and affection.

His childhood friend, Irene.

She was ten, like him.

Though still young, she was as beautiful as a completed painting.

Anyone would recognize it at a glance.

That this girl would soon grow into a stunning beauty.

Right now, Logan was quietly spending time with that very girl under the warm afternoon sun.

Irene.

She was the reason for Logan, thrown into an unfamiliar world, to live.

It wasn’t just because of her pretty and cute appearance.

Her gentle and warm nature softly filled the emptiness in his heart, which had been somewhat vacant due to the memories of his past life.

“What are you making so diligently again?”

Logan approached Irene with a gentle smile.

In her small hands, blue wildgrass and tiny flowers were being woven together, taking shape.

Irene smiled playfully and carefully placed the completed flower crown on Logan’s head.

The fresh scent of grass tickled his nose.

“A crown for Prince Logan!”

“Why am I a prince?”

When Logan asked back with an awkward smile, Irene seemed to ponder for a moment, touching her chin with a finger, then her eyes sparkled as she exclaimed.

“Hmm.. then my knight?”

“Pfft—!”

Logan finally burst out laughing.

“Why, why are you laughing—”

Irene pouted and grumbled.

Even that expression was so lovely—

A corner of Logan’s chest tickled.

Just looking at her like this seemed to make all the worries of the world disappear.

A warm feeling welled up from deep within his heart, and he was overcome with an unparalleled sense of happiness.

Yes, this was enough.

It was okay if he couldn’t become a hero who saved the world like in novels or games, or a great swordsman or mage.

It was fine even without any special powers.

If only he could spend ordinary days like this, by Irene’s side, laughing and talking with her—

That alone made his life already perfect.

Considering his past life, his mental age had long since reached adulthood, but Logan, now a ten-year-old boy, made a firm resolve in his heart.

He would live this life solely for Irene, only for her.

Even if she never knew his feelings.

Even if no reward came back for that devotion.

He would love her unconditionally and dedicate everything to her happiness.

And so, Logan’s small, simple world—

Revolved perfectly and peacefully around the dazzling sun named Irene.

---

Even as time flowed swiftly—

Logan was always with Irene.

They ran around the village together laughing, sometimes getting upset over small misunderstandings, but quickly making up by leaning on each other.

Life in the frontier village was monotonous.

But for the two children, every day was filled with new discoveries and small joys—

Infinitely fulfilling and happy days.

Logan earnestly wished for this peace, this precious happiness, to last forever.

However, one afternoon.

That wish was shattered.

He was spending time with Irene on the hill as usual, and was on his way home at dusk.

Suddenly.

KABOOOOM—!

A deafening roar, as if to tear eardrums, erupted from the center of the village.

Following that, horrifying screams that froze the heart echoed in succession.

“Kyaaaaaaah!!”

“R-run away! It’s monsters!”

“A horde of monsters has appeared!!”

It was a monster raid.

In an instant, the peaceful village turned into a scene of pandemonium.

Terrified people screamed and scattered in all directions, and the crashing sound of buildings collapsing mixed with unidentifiable roars, amplifying the chaos.

“Wh.. what.. is this…”

A monster raid.

Scenes he had only encountered in text within games or novels were unfolding vividly before his eyes as reality.

Only then did Logan realize.

That this world he was living in was by no means a romantic fantasy world.

It was a cruel and merciless reality where death and violence lurked everywhere.

“Ah.. ah..!”

Goblins, Orcs, Kobolds, and more.

Seeing monsters for the first time in reality, Logan felt overwhelming fear.

They were just small fry in games or comics, but reality was so different.

‘Move..! Move..!’

He knew in his head that he had to run, but his feet felt rooted to the ground, unable to move.

Thump-thump—!

His heart pounded like crazy, and he was on the verge of forgetting even how to breathe.

At that moment.

“Keereuk..?”

A goblin spotted Logan.

“Kikik! Keereuk—!”

A greedy and vile smile spread across its hideous face.

“Kraaaaargh—!!”

The goblin raised its rusty dagger and, without hesitation, charged towards its young prey.

The shadow of death instantly loomed over Logan.

However, he couldn’t even scream, merely staring blankly at the approaching blade.

‘Am I… going to die… like this…?’

In that fleeting moment of mixed futility and terror.

Clang—!

With a sharp metallic clang, a sword strike, flying like a flash of light, knocked the goblin’s dagger into the air.

Simultaneously, a figure appeared, blocking Logan’s path.

It was a female adventurer with red hair tied back, her back to the sunset.

Swish—!

She swung her sword without a hint of hesitation, and in the next moment, the goblin’s head soared into the air.

Splaaash—!

Dirty green blood splattered like a fountain, and its body tumbled limply to the ground.

“Kid! Get a grip!”

The adventurer shouted, looking back at Logan with fierce eyes.

Then she grabbed his shoulder and shook him hard.

“Heok..! Heok..!”

Only then did Logan catch his breath, which had stopped, and come to his senses.

“Th-thank you…”

“It’s dangerous here! Hurry back home!”

“The monsters probably haven’t penetrated deep into the residential area yet, so hurry!”

Saying so, the adventurer readjusted her grip on her sword and, without hesitation, ran towards the inner streets where other monsters were rampaging.

Logan, following her words, immediately started running towards his home like mad.

Horrible imaginings of what might have happened to his parents if they had encountered the monsters plagued his mind.

Fortunately, when he reached home, the door was firmly shut, and he could hear his parents’ voices from inside.

“Logan! You’re safe, my son!”

“Oh, my goodness! Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Mother! Father!”

Logan threw himself into his parents’ arms.

Their warm body heat and familiar voices reassured him.

Tears welled up in his eyes from the relief of being alive.

However, that relief did not last long.

‘…Irene!’

The face of a precious person flashed through his mind.

And a chilling fear gripped his heart.

Irene lived with her family in a small hut near the forest on the outskirts, not in the village’s residential area.

If monsters had attacked the village, her place would have been the first to be exposed to danger.

“Oh, no..!”

In an instant, the relief turned into chilling terror.

His heart grew cold, as if submerged in icy water.

“Logan! Where are you trying to go!”

“It’s dangerous to go out now! Please stay inside!”

Pushing away his parents’ desperate attempts to stop him, Logan kicked open the door again and ran out.

He had already forgotten the fear from moments ago.

His only thought was to find Irene.

He ran until he was out of breath, arriving back at the village square.

The chaos seemed to have subsided somewhat.

It appeared that the adventurers and village guards had joined forces to deal with most of the monsters, as there were no more rampaging monsters in sight.

The ground was littered with monster corpses and broken debris.

“Heok..! Heok..!”

Gasping for breath, Logan scanned his surroundings, and his eyes caught a familiar red head of hair.

It was the adventurer who had just saved him.

She was cleaning up the scene with others.

There was no time to hesitate.

“Excuse me! Please help me!”

Logan ran straight to her and shouted.

“Huh? That kid from before?”

“What’s wrong?”

“The monsters are almost all dealt with, so you can rest assured…”

The adventurer recognized Logan and looked surprised for a moment, but then spoke as if to reassure him.

However, Logan cut her off and clung to her desperately.

“Please! My.. my friend is in danger!”

“She lives on the outskirts of the village.. please come with me! Please?”

Seeing Logan’s desperate state, the adventurer seemed momentarily bewildered, but then nodded as if she had made a decision.

“…Alright, I understand. Lead the way.”

“Thank you! This way!”

Logan hurriedly headed with the adventurer towards the hut on the outskirts of the village where Irene lived.

He felt a little relieved that a skilled adventurer was helping him, but as they got closer to the hut, the ominous premonition grew stronger.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, and there was no sign of any living creature.

And what Logan finally faced upon arrival was—

A hut destroyed almost beyond recognition.

The door was broken and blown away, and there was a large hole in the roof.

And in the middle of the yard…

Something was lying there.

It was—

A person.

The corpse of an adult male, his limbs horribly mutilated, lying in a pool of blood.

“Mister..?”

Logan instinctively knew it was Irene’s father.

“Ah.. ah.. Aaaaaargh—!”

Logan screamed without realizing it.

He couldn’t believe the sight before his eyes.

“K-kid! Don’t look!”

The adventurer hastily tried to cover Logan’s eyes, but he pushed her away and stumbled into the hut.

As soon as they entered, another tragic scene awaited them.

“Ah.. ah…”

“These.. filthy monster b*stards…”

Seeing the corpse of a woman on the floor, Logan was dumbfounded, and the adventurer couldn’t help but scowl.

She hadn’t just been killed.

Her clothes were torn, and traces of defilement were evident all over her body.

The victim was probably—

Irene’s mother.

“Kid.. I’m truly sorry.. but let’s go back now.”

“Your friend is probably…”

The adventurer, with a sorrowful expression, tried to stop Logan by placing a hand on his shoulder.

She didn’t want him to have to identify his friend’s body amidst this horrific scene.

It was too harsh a reality for a young boy to bear.

Thwack!

“Kid!”

But Logan roughly brushed her hand away.

His rationality seemed paralyzed, and he began to search the house like a madman.

“Irene! Irene! Where are you! Answer me! Irene!!!”

Shouting until his throat was raw, until he could taste blood in his mouth, he didn’t stop—

“Irene! Please! I’m begging you!! Irene!!!”

He screamed his childhood friend’s name repeatedly, ransacking the entire house.

“No.. no..!”

He rummaged through broken furniture, lifted torn pieces of cloth.

“Please.. please..!”

He desperately prayed for her to be alive.

Then.

“Hic.. hic.. sob…”

From a corner of the room.

A faint cry leaked out from inside an old wardrobe.

“…Irene?”

Logan, with trembling hands, carefully opened the wardrobe door.

Inside—

A small girl was cowering.

Her face was a mess, covered in tears and snot, but—

It was unmistakably Irene.

“Sob.. hic..! Lo-Logan..?”

She was trembling faintly with terror, but upon seeing Logan open the door, she burst into even more sorrowful tears.

“Hwaaaaaah—!”

Logan collapsed on the spot and hugged the trembling Irene tightly.

“Irene..!”

“Logan..! Logan..!”

Ah—

She was alive.

Ah—

He hadn’t lost her.

Logan needed nothing more.

Just—

The fact that Irene was breathing and alive in his arms right now.

That alone was enough.