*Bastard!!!*

The syringe slipped from trembling fingers and clattered against the floor.

Clink.

The sound echoed throughout the ward.

For a brief moment, neither of us moved.

Then my son staggered back after I shoved him away with the little strength I had left.

Yet instead of fear-

He smiled.

No.

He grinned.

The kind of grin worn by a man who had finally achieved something he had dreamed about for years.

Something he had rehearsed countless times in his head.

Something he had waited for.

The grin of a victor.

"What are you going to do, huh!? Call the police?"

He laughed.

A cruel, mocking laugh.

"Go ahead. Try it if you can even speak!"

Before I could react, his hand shot forward.

My scalp burned.

He grabbed my hair and yanked my head upward.

The sudden pain sent a jolt through my aging body.

My eyes met his.

Those eyes.

The same eyes that once looked at me with admiration.

The same eyes that used to run toward me whenever I returned home from work.

The same eyes that now stared at me as though I were filth.

My vision blurred from rage.

Blood vessels burst within my eyes.

Yet even then-

I could do nothing.

My body was already failing me.

"Do you even know how much trouble you've caused me?"

His voice trembled.

Not from sadness.

From resentment.

Years and years of resentment.

"I had to spend my entire life carrying your name!"

His grip tightened.

"I had to live being known as the son of a corrupt man!"

I wanted to laugh.

Corrupt?

If only he knew.

If only he understood the sacrifices hidden beneath history's pages.

The compromises.

The wars.

The impossible decisions.

But my tongue refused to obey me.

Only a hoarse sound escaped my throat.

A pathetic noise.

Nothing more.

"You'll die from heart disease and old age."

He leaned closer.

His breath brushed against my face.

"And once you're dead, all those frozen assets will belong to me."

His smile widened.

A smile that no longer resembled the child I once knew.

"What do you think of my story?"

My pupils widened.

Not because of fear.

Because of disappointment.

Because somewhere deep inside me, a foolish part of my heart had continued hoping.

Hoping that he would change.

Hoping that he would understand.

Hoping that he would forgive me.

How ridiculous.

How utterly pathetic.

"Haaa..."

He released an exhausted sigh.

"There's no point talking to a mute who's about to become a corpse."

The grip on my hair vanished.

My head fell heavily against the pillow.

He turned away.

Each step toward the door sounded heavier than the last.

Then he stopped.

Without turning around, he spoke one final time.

"Rest in peace, Father..."

A pause.

Then a cold chuckle.

"Oh wait."

He looked over his shoulder.

"Professor 'Emeritus' Albert Dyson."

My heart trembled.

Not from the poison.

Not from old age.

But from hearing my title spoken with such contempt.

"A..."

My throat burned.

"A...ri..."

The effort felt unbearable.

Still-

I forced the name out.

"Arian..."

For a moment, his expression froze.

Then he smiled.

Not as a son.

Not as family.

But as a stranger.

A stranger looking down upon a dying man.

The door closed.

Click.

Silence.

Pure silence.

The ward suddenly felt enormous.

Empty.

Cold.

I sank deeper into the hospital bed.

My breathing became uneven.

Heavy.

Painful.

Every inhale felt like dragging shattered glass through my lungs.

The poison was finally beginning to show its fangs.

*Neurotoxin...*

The realization came almost immediately.

A bitter laugh escaped me.

Or at least I tried to laugh.

Only air left my mouth.

*Scorpion venom, huh...*

Of all things.

The greatest scientist in human history.

The architect of humanity's golden age.

Killed by a method so primitive.

How ironic.

How very human.

Outside the window, the evening sky glowed crimson.

The setting sun painted the horizon with rivers of gold and red.

Beyond the glass stretched the futuristic skyline of mankind's greatest era.

Towering structures of steel and crystal.

Neon lights dancing like stars.

Air traffic flowing through the sky.

A civilization powered by miracles.

My miracles.

The world I had spent ninety years building.

*How ironic...*

My gaze remained fixed on the horizon.

*They enjoy the fruits of my creations while discarding their creator.*

Millions of people lived comfortably because of my work.

Cities flourished.

Entire worlds prospered.

Humanity reached heights once thought impossible.

Yet when I finally fell-

Nobody was there.

Nobody remembered.

Nobody cared.

A strange emptiness settled within my chest.

Not anger.

Not hatred.

Just emptiness.

*Human civilization won't last much longer.*

My vision began darkening.

The edges of the world dissolved into shadow.

My heartbeat weakened.

Once.

Twice.

Then slower.

And slower.

I raised a trembling hand toward the setting sun.

The movement felt impossibly difficult.

As though I were lifting a mountain.

My fingers stretched toward the crimson light.

Toward the star that had witnessed everything.

My triumphs.

My failures.

My regrets.

My loneliness.

The Dyson Swarm continued orbiting that distant sun.

My masterpiece.

My legacy.

My greatest achievement.

Humanity's golden age has come to an end...

My hand shook violently.

*Farewell...*

The darkness crept closer.

*My greatest creation...*

My fingers slowly curled.

*Dyson...*

My heartbeat faltered.

*Swarm...*

A long, continuous tone filled the room.

The heart monitor screamed.

Footsteps erupted from the hallway.

Doctors rushed in.

Nurses shouted.

Hands grabbed my shoulders.

Voices echoed around me.

But all of it sounded distant.

Very distant.

As though it belonged to another world.

Another life.

The last thing I saw was the dying sun disappearing beneath the horizon.

Then-

Darkness.

The greatest mind humanity had ever produced died that day.

Not because of war.

Not because of disease.

Not because of failure.

But because of humanity's own betrayal.

I was an Atheist.

A stubborn one.

The kind that spent decades mocking concepts such as fate, destiny, reincarnation, and the afterlife.

The universe was governed by laws.

Equations.

Observable phenomena.

Not divine intervention.

Not miracles.

Not cosmic nonsense.

That had always been my belief.

Yet-

"Honey! Honey! He opened his eyes!"

-I was beginning to suspect I owed several religions an apology.

Light flooded my vision.

Warmth wrapped around my body.

The first thing I noticed was how small everything felt.

Or rather-

How enormous everything felt.

The ceiling stretched endlessly above me.

The walls seemed absurdly distant.

Even the faces hovering over me looked gigantic.

Two people were staring at me from an uncomfortably close distance.

Far too close.

Close enough for me to count individual eyelashes.

A beautiful brunette woman.

And a man.

A very ordinary-looking man.

No.

"Ordinary" was perhaps too generous.

There was absolutely nothing remarkable about him.

His face was average.

His hairstyle was average.

His fashion sense was average.

The only redeeming quality I could identify was his physique.

The man looked capable of wrestling a bear.

Other than that-

Nothing.

Meanwhile, the woman was stunning.

Elegant features.

Warm eyes.

A smile that seemed capable of calming storms.

The contrast between them was frankly ridiculous.

What kind of genetic lottery had this man won?

The two of them stared at me as though I were the most fascinating thing they had ever seen.

Their eyes sparkled.

Actually sparkled.

As if they had just spent two straight hours watching kitten videos.

"Look at his hair!"

The woman gasped dramatically.

"It's so silky and soft! Just like mine!"

I blinked.

There were approximately four strands of hair on my head.

"His eyes are definitely mine, Sophia!"

The man immediately objected.

"Look at them!"

"They're my eyes!"

"No, they're mine!"

"They're mine!"

"They're mine!"

Both your guys eyes are black!!

For the next five minutes, the two of them enthusiastically debated which parts of my face belonged to whom.

Meanwhile-

I considered whether death might have been preferable.

"Kuh..."

A tiny noise escaped my mouth.

Unfortunately, it emerged as baby noises.

Not words.

Not language.

Just meaningless sounds.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

A ninety-year-old genius trapped inside a newborn body.

What could possibly go wrong?

"...Young couples..."

The sentence existed perfectly within my mind.

Unfortunately, what emerged from my mouth was:

"Guuu..."

Pathetic.

Absolutely pathetic.

The man suddenly grinned.

"Btw, what should we name our son, Sophia?"

His eyes shifted toward me.

"Our son looks like he's impatient to know his own name."

"Ta?"

Who?

Me?

I had been making annoyed expressions this entire time.

Sophia looked down at me.

A gentle smile spread across her face.

The kind only mothers seemed capable of making.

For a moment, she looked toward the old wooden window beside the bed.

Sunlight streamed through its cracks.

Beyond it lay endless greenery.

Rolling hills.

Forests.

A clear blue sky.

No neon lights.

No skyscrapers.

No aerial highways.

No orbital elevators.

No Dyson infrastructure.

Nothing.

Just nature.

Primitive.

Untouched.

Beautiful.

Then Sophia spoke.

"Our son's name..."

She paused.

A strange tenderness entered her eyes.

"Arzad."

The room became silent.

"Arzad Spes."

She smiled.

"What do you think, Lucas?"

Arzad?

I frowned internally.

Where did that come from?

Lucas blinked.

"Arzad?"

He scratched his head.

"Where did you get that name from, honey?"

Excellent question.

I would also like an answer.

Sophia laughed softly.

"I found it years ago."

Her gaze drifted somewhere distant.

"Remember that cave we explored together?"

Lucas nodded.

"There was an ancient text inside."

"A translator helped decipher part of it."

She looked back toward me.

"There is a word inside the ancient text that captivated me and the word is Arzad! freedom!"

Freedom.

Interesting.

Not bad.

Far better than some of the names humanity had invented during my era.

I once met a person named X Æ A-Xii.

His parents claimed it sounded sophisticated.

It did not.

"So you want our son to become a hero of freedom?"

Lucas chuckled.

Sophia immediately nodded.

"Of course!"

Her eyes sparkled.

"I hope he becomes someone strong."

Someone kind.

Someone brave.

Someone who can protect the people he loves."

The warmth in her voice caught me off guard.

No ambition.

No greed.

No expectations of greatness.

Just hope.

Simple.

Pure hope.

Then-

Something changed.

Sophia's hands trembled.

The smile on her face weakened.

Her eyes became glassy.

And suddenly-

Tears.

"Arzad..."

A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"Arzad..."

The room grew quiet.

Even I stopped thinking.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

She hugged me closer.

Too close.

As though she was afraid I might disappear.

"S...Sophia..."

Lucas's expression immediately changed.

His smile vanished.

Pain replaced it.

A familiar pain.

The kind that came from an old wound.

"Arzad..."

Her voice cracked.

Then came another name.

A name spoken so softly I almost missed it.

"Lucien..."

The atmosphere froze.

Ah.

Now I understood.

Not completely.

But enough.

I wasn't their first child.

Lucas immediately wrapped his arms around her.

"It's okay."

His voice was gentle.

"It's not your fault."

Her shoulders shook.

"It is..."

"No."

"It is..."

"No."

Tears continued falling.

Lucas closed his eyes.

For a moment, he looked exhausted.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

Like someone carrying a burden he could never put down.

Then he gently lifted Sophia's face.

"Sophia."

She looked at him.

"Our Lucien is already in heaven."

Fresh tears appeared.

"We can't bring him back."

His own voice trembled slightly.

"But we can keep moving forward."

He glanced toward me.

"Together with Arzad."

The sincerity in his voice silenced me.

I had expected many things from this new life.

This was not one of them.

For the first time since waking up-

I felt guilty.

Not because I had done anything wrong.

But because another child had been loved before me.

And now I occupied the place he left behind.

Then-

Lucas gently caressed Sophia's cheek.

Sophia looked up.

Their eyes met.

And suddenly-

The sadness disappeared.

Replaced by romance.

Pure romance.

Dangerous levels of romance.

I immediately sensed catastrophe approaching.

One hour later-

I was proven correct.

...

Kya!!!

MY EYES, DAMMIT!!!

I had been forced to witness enough flirting to sustain an entire romance novel franchise.

At one point I genuinely considered learning how to crawl solely so I could escape.

Sadly.

My body lacked the necessary qualifications.

That evening, after dinner, Sophia carried me toward my crib.

"Bleh..."

Mother. I need a bathroom.

And I would like to formally file a complaint regarding the carrot porridge.

That thing was a crime against culinary science.

"Shh..."

Sophia smiled.

"My precious Arzad..."

She gently rocked me.

"Mommy knows you're sleepy."

No.

"Come on."

No.

"Let's sleep."

Absolutely not.

If this woman realises she was asking a ninety-year-old scientist to sleep, she would probably dump me and forget.

Sophia carefully placed me inside the crib.

The mattress was soft.

Comfortable.

Annoyingly comfortable.

Then she began humming.

A gentle lullaby drifted through the room.

The melody was simple.

Nothing special.

Yet strangely-

It felt warm.

Safe.

Comforting.

Hmph!

I smirked internally.

Does she really think a medieval lullaby can defeat the greatest genius of the Gamma Generation?

Ridiculous.

Absolutely ridiculous.

I will not sleep.

I crossed my tiny arms.

Or attempted to.

I am Albert Dyson!

Creator of the Dyson Swarm.

Architect of humanity's greatest age.

I refuse to be defeated by a song-

I fell asleep.

Immediately.

And very, very soundly.

However,

In the middle of the night, when everyone had fallen asleep, a silhouette quietly approached my crib.

It was Lucas.

He gently placed his hand against my forehead and softly chanted something under his breath before leaving the house for a purpose that remained shrouded in mystery.

A full year had passed since my rebirth.

During that time, I had gradually come to understand the world I now called home.

This world existed in what could only be described as the medieval era-a time far more primitive than the age I once belonged to, the era of interstellar civilization.

However, there was one crucial difference between the Middle Ages recorded in my world's history and the one before my eyes.

This world possessed something my former world had never known.

Mana.

A mysterious medium that permeated the world itself.

Here, humans could wield magic, manipulate the elements, and reshape natural phenomena according to their own will.

How did I know?

Because I had seen it with my own eyes.

My mother cooked using fire magic.

My father healed his wounds with restorative magic and instant healing potions, then casually split massive boulders apart with a single swing empowered by enhancement magic.

It was exactly like the fantasy novels from my previous life.

The first time I witnessed magic...

I was genuinely amazed.

Unfortunately-

That sense of wonder did not last very long.

Because despite their ability to command magic, I soon realized that life in this world was anything but peaceful.

It was cruel.

Our village stood near the great frontier separating human territory from the lands ruled by monsters.

In simple terms...

We lived in one of the most dangerous places imaginable.

The monsters here were nothing like the anthropocentric creatures from the fantasy stories of my previous world.

They did not exist merely to become stepping stones for human heroes.

No.

These monsters were powerful.

Intelligent.

Their mastery of magic surpassed humanity's own.

And to them...

Humans were nothing more than prey.

...No wonder Father always comes home covered in wounds.

Although... why are we still living here?

If I could speak properly, I'd have filed a formal complaint long ago.

I sighed inwardly as Sophia spoon-fed me rich bone marrow.

"My love..."

Sophia spoke with an uneasy expression.

"I think we should return to the capital."

"This place isn't safe anymore."

Ohh? Mother read my mind!

Father-Lucas-shook his head while fastening the straps of his armor.

"I don't agree, Sophia."

"The capital isn't nearly as safe as it used to be."

Sophia frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Lucas let out a weary sigh.

"I heard it from the royal messengers yesterday."

"The monster armies have already reached the capital."

"They say the city has been under siege since last year..."

"And there hasn't been any new information since then."

Sophia's face turned pale.

"T-That's impossible..."

"My sister is there, Lucas!"

The spoon slipped from her fingers and clattered onto the table.

"I know."

Lucas stepped closer before gently brushing a hand through her hair and down to her cheek.

"Right now... all we can do is pray for your family's safety."

"..."

Sophia slowly lowered herself onto her chair.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably.

Fear.

Helplessness.

Despair.

It took several moments before her breathing finally steadied.

"How are we supposed to fight enemies like this?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"They're becoming stronger every year..."

"They've already reached the capital..."

She lowered her head.

"Will we end up like cattle waiting to be slaughtered?"

...

This is the first time I've ever seen Mother this hopeless.

I always thought she was the cheerful type.

Seriously...

God, why did You send me to this world?

Don't tell me You expect me to clean up this mess.

Who exactly do You think I am?

I snorted in dissatisfaction while reaching for the spoon Mother had dropped.

At one year old, I had become surprisingly proficient at feeding myself.

Lucas smiled faintly.

"Don't say that, Sophia."

"As long as we're still alive..."

"As long as humanity still exists..."

"We must keep fighting."

"For ourselves..."

"And for our children."

"Our grandchildren."

His gaze shifted toward me.

Naturally, both of them ended up watching me struggle heroically against a piece of bone marrow.

Sophia's sorrowful expression slowly melted into a gentle smile.

Watching me enthusiastically smear food across half my face seemed to ease her anxiety.

"You're right..."

She smiled softly.

"We can't give up."

"For our son."

"And for the future of our family."

She looked at Lucas apologetically.

"I'm sorry..."

"I let my fear get the better of me."

Lucas chuckled before resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"It's alright."

"There's nothing wrong with being afraid."

He picked up his sword before heading toward the door.

"I should get going."

"Take care of yourself, alright?"

Before leaving, he leaned down and gently kissed Sophia.

...

Seriously...?

Do you two have to flirt right in front of me?

Young couples...

I let out another exhausted mental sigh.

---

Several hours passed.

The afternoon sun now hung lazily above the village, bathing everything in a warm golden glow.

From my crib, I watched as Mother carefully folded a letter before sealing it with wax.

She stepped outside and handed it to a messenger bird perched on the windowsill.

The bird let out a sharp cry before taking flight, disappearing into the endless blue sky.

Even after watching it vanish beyond the horizon...

Sophia remained standing there.

Her eyes lingered on the distant sky for several long moments.

She was still worried.

About her sister.

About the capital.

About the uncertain future awaiting all of us.

Yet despite everything...

She forced herself to smile before returning inside.

Mother was stronger than she gave herself credit for.

She headed into the kitchen to prepare dinner, humming softly as she searched through the wooden cabinets.

"Hmm..."

"Bone marrow..."

"Potatoes..."

She continued rummaging through several baskets before suddenly freezing.

"Oh no..."

She looked inside another basket.

Then another.

An awkward smile appeared on her face.

"We're almost out of ingredients..."

She scratched her cheek sheepishly.

"Lucas will come home hungry."

"He'll definitely be disappointed if dinner isn't ready."

She clapped her hands together as though arriving at an important conclusion.

"I should hurry to the market."

She immediately began preparing to leave.

Then-

She turned toward me.

A bright smile spread across her face.

"Come on, Arzad!"

"Let's go shopping together!"

Without waiting for my approval, she gently lifted me into the baby sling strapped across her chest.

"Ta!"

(Sure, why not?)

(Even I get tired of staring at the same ceiling every day.)

(A little fresh air sounds wonderful.)

---

The moment we stepped outside...

A gentle breeze brushed against my face.

I instinctively narrowed my eyes.

...

Beautiful.

Truly beautiful.

Endless fields of emerald grass stretched beneath the afternoon sun.

A crystal-clear river shimmered like liquid sapphire as sunlight danced across its surface.

Cattle peacefully grazed across wide meadows.

Beyond them stood dense forests that surrounded the village like natural walls.

The distant mountains pierced the clouds, completing a landscape so breathtaking it almost felt unreal.

"Ya! Ya!"

(Magnificent!)

(It's been... so long since I've seen scenery this beautiful.)

Back in my previous life...

Towering megastructures had replaced mountains.

Artificial skies had hidden the stars.

Steel had conquered forests.

Glass had buried rivers.

Progress had transformed humanity into masters of civilization...

Yet somewhere along the way...

We had forgotten how beautiful simplicity could be.

Perhaps...

Primitive wasn't always synonymous with inferior.

Sophia looked down after hearing my cheerful babbling.

"My little Arzad seems happy today."

She giggled.

"So you like going on walks too?"

"I do as well."

"You know..."

"I used to be an adventurer."

She smiled proudly.

"I hope you'll grow up and follow in Mommy's footsteps someday."

...

Absolutely not.

Considering the current monster situation, I'd much rather become a researcher again.

At least laboratories don't usually try to eat their employees.

Well...

They actually drain us to death...

Sophia continued walking toward the marketplace, gently humming the same lullaby she often sang before putting me to sleep.

---

As always...

I carefully observed everything around me.

Observation.

Analysis.

Understanding.

Those principles remained deeply rooted within me, regardless of age.

The villagers bustled about with their daily routines.

Some milked cows.

Some worked tirelessly in the fields beneath the afternoon sun.

Others guided sheep across grassy hills.

Several men chopped down towering trees near the forest's edge.

Children laughed as they chased one another through the dirt roads.

Simple lives.

Simple happiness.

...

Life here is strangely peaceful.

I almost envy them.

They lived without worrying about orbital infrastructure.

Without debating quantum engineering.

Without calculating stellar energy output.

Their concerns revolved around harvests...

Family...

And tomorrow's meal.

Perhaps...

That wasn't such a terrible way to live...

If there's no monsters in this world it is.

---

Before long, we arrived at the village marketplace.

Compared to the commercial districts of my previous life...

Calling this place a "market" felt rather generous.

There were no towering shopping complexes.

No automated logistics.

No holographic advertisements.

Only rows of wooden stalls lining a dirt road.

Fresh vegetables.

Bundles of herbs.

Smoked meat.

Simple tools.

Handmade clothing.

Everything was crafted by hand.

Sophia wandered from stall to stall, cheerfully greeting familiar faces while purchasing ingredients for tonight's dinner.

Meanwhile...

My attention remained fixed elsewhere.

People fascinated me far more than vegetables ever could.

I watched merchants skillfully negotiate prices.

Farmers exchanged news over baskets of fruit.

Blacksmiths displayed freshly forged tools.

Every smile.

Every conversation.

Every tiny interaction became another piece of information stored within my growing understanding of this world.

Then-

Someone called out to us.

"Hey, Mrs. Spes!"

Sophia turned around.

"Oh?"

A man wearing a well-tailored tunic approached us with a friendly wave.

Unlike the average villager, his clothing was noticeably more refined.

Not extravagant.

But respectable.

The kind of attire that naturally commanded authority.

"Mr. Romelo?"

Sophia smiled politely.

"How have you been?"

"Hahaha!"

The man laughed heartily.

"What kind of question is that?"

"You're asking the village chief what he's doing in his own village?"

He spread his arms dramatically.

"Naturally, I'm inspecting the area!"

His laughter echoed across the marketplace before gradually fading.

His expression soon became more serious.

"Besides..."

"The monster attacks have become more frequent lately."

"And every raid seems worse than the last."

"I have to keep an eye on everything."

He let out a tired sigh.

"You've heard about the capital's situation... haven't you, Mrs. Spes?"

Sophia's smile disappeared.

"...Yes."

"My older sister is stationed there."

"She's one of the Royal Elite Knights."

Her voice became noticeably quieter.

"I'm... very worried."

Romelo nodded solemnly.

"In that case..."

"Let's pray they succeed in driving those monsters away."

Sophia silently lowered her head.

She couldn't even force herself to answer this time.

"Don't lose hope, Mrs. Spes."

Romelo offered her a reassuring smile.

"God has never abandoned humanity."

"Not once."

His cheerful expression returned as though trying to chase away the heavy atmosphere.

"So..."

"What brings you here today?"

"Buying groceries?"

Sophia nodded.

"Yes."

"I'm preparing dinner."

"My husband will be home tonight, so I'd better hurry."

"I see!"

Romelo laughed.

"Then I won't keep you any longer."

He placed a hand over his chest before bowing politely.

"My apologies for taking up your time."

Sophia hurriedly waved both hands.

"N-No, not at all, Mr. Romelo."

"You weren't bothering me."

"Hahaha!"

"I'm relieved to hear that."

He turned around.

"Well then..."

"I'll continue my patrol-"

"Kyaaaaa!!"

A piercing scream shattered the peaceful afternoon.

Everyone instinctively turned toward its source.

A young woman came sprinting down the road leading into the village.

She wasn't one of the villagers.

That much was obvious at first glance.

Her silver hair flowed wildly behind her as she ran.

Her once-elegant clothes had been torn in several places, stained with dirt and blood.

Terror filled her beautiful face.

She wasn't simply running.

She was fleeing for her life.

And behind her...

Thunder echoed across the earth.

Doom.

Doom.

Doom.

Ten armored riders burst from the forest.

Mounted atop enormous wolves clad in crude iron armor, they charged forward with terrifying speed.

Their riders...

Were goblins.

Each one wore battered plate armor dyed crimson by countless battles.

Weapons glimmered beneath the afternoon sunlight.

Their eyes burned with savage excitement.

"G-Goblins!!"

The marketplace instantly descended into chaos.

Villagers abandoned their stalls.

Children screamed.

Merchants scattered in every direction.

The peaceful atmosphere from only moments ago vanished completely.

---

Romelo reacted immediately.

With a swift motion, he seized the spear strapped to his back.

His entire demeanor transformed.

The warm village chief disappeared.

In his place stood a warrior.

"Someone call the village guards!"

His voice thundered across the marketplace.

"I'll hold them here!"

He pointed his spear toward the charging monsters.

"Anyone who can wield a weapon..."

"Follow me!"

Several villagers hesitated.

Then...

One after another...

Men grabbed axes.

Pitchforks.

Hunting bows.

Woodcutting hatchets.

Anything that could be used as a weapon.

Without another word, they rushed toward Romelo.

Together, they formed a defensive line in front of the fleeing woman.

The armored goblins slowed their mounts.

Eventually...

They came to a complete stop.

Silence.

The only sound remaining was the heavy breathing of frightened villagers.

One goblin slowly rode forward.

Unlike the others, his armor was drenched in far more blood.

Old blood.

Fresh blood.

Layers upon layers of it.

He tilted his head.

Then...

He smiled.

A smile filled with naked contempt.

"You..."

His coarse voice echoed across the square.

"Are trying to stop us?"

...

It spoke.

My eyes widened.

A goblin... spoke.

During my entire year in this world...

Every goblin I had heard about was described as little more than an unintelligent monster.

Savage.

Violent.

Animalistic.

Yet this one...

Not only wore full armor...

It possessed intelligence.

Language.

Discipline.

...

These aren't ordinary goblins.

Not even close.

Tsk...This is terrifying.

---

The goblin leisurely rested its axe across one shoulder.

"Hand over the woman."

It looked down upon everyone before raising its chin arrogantly.

"You all know we're not uncivilised goblins like what you usually fought,right?"

Its grin widened.

"Or..."

"Do you wish to offend the New Kingdom?"

...

"...The New Kingdom?"

The words rippled through the crowd.

Confused murmurs spread among the villagers.

Romelo narrowed his eyes.

The goblin chuckled.

"Hehehe..."

"You don't know?"

Its laughter gradually became louder.

Then-

It roared proudly.

"The Kingdom of Elpis has fallen!"

Every face froze.

"You humans..."

"Now belong to the domain of our great king!"

The goblin spread both arms dramatically.

"Remember his name well!"

"King Nivgorod the Great!"

His booming voice echoed throughout the marketplace.

Silence followed.

Utter silence.

It felt as though time itself had stopped.

Then...

The villagers' expressions crumbled.

Faces turned pale.

Weapons trembled.

Hope...

Vanished.

"N-No..."

Sophia's lips quivered.

"My sister..."

Her knees gave way beneath her.

She collapsed onto the ground, staring blankly into nothingness.

Her face became completely devoid of color.

...

...Damn.

This just became infinitely worse.

I swallowed nervously.

"M-Ma!"

(Mother!)

(Get up!)

(We have to leave!)

I slapped her shoulder repeatedly with all the strength my tiny body could muster.

She didn't react.

Not even slightly.

She remained frozen.

Her mind had already been consumed by despair.

Damn it!

Not now!

---

The goblin smirked as it admired the hopeless expressions before it.

"Now then..."

"Hand over the woman."

It lazily pointed toward the terrified traveler.

"And we guarantee your safety."

The offer hung heavily in the air.

Slowly...

Almost instinctively...

The villagers turned toward the woman.

She stood there trembling.

Completely alone.

"...Chief."

One man lowered his weapon.

"We should hand her over."

"We can't risk the entire village for one stranger."

"He's right!"

Another villager nodded.

"This is for everyone's safety!"

"We have families!"

"Our children!"

One after another...

More voices joined in.

The atmosphere shifted.

Fear slowly eroded conviction.

Survival began outweighing morality.

Only Romelo remained silent.

He looked at the frightened woman.

She was human.

She was terrified.

She wanted to live.

Just like everyone else.

...

Without saying a single word...

Romelo walked forward.

Spear in hand.

The goblin smiled mockingly.

"So..."

"You've finally made the right choi-"

SHHK!!

A silver arc flashed through the air.

For a brief instant...

Nobody understood what had happened.

Then-

The goblin's head slid cleanly from its shoulders.

Thud.

Its severed head rolled across the dirt.

Its body remained standing for a heartbeat...

Before collapsing lifelessly onto the ground.

Blood erupted like a crimson fountain.

The entire marketplace fell deathly silent.

Romelo calmly planted his spear into the severed head.

His eyes blazed with unwavering resolve.

"Accepting your offer..."

He declared, his voice carrying across the square,

"...would be nothing less than betraying humanity itself."

He tightened his grip around the spear.

"No matter what happens..."

"Never."

His gaze swept across every villager.

"Never side with the enemy."

"Remember those words!"

Not a single soul spoke.

Some stared in horror.

Others...

Felt something inside them awaken.

Courage.

Conviction.

Honor.

...

...Oh, for heaven's sake.

This is NOT the time to hold a morality lecture!

We're all going to die at this rate!

I resumed frantically smacking Mother's shoulder.

Still...

She refused to move.

---

For several long seconds...

No one moved.

The remaining goblins stared at the headless corpse of their commander.

Disbelief.

Shock.

Fear.

All of it was written plainly across their faces.

Then-

One of them stumbled backward atop his armored wolf.

"H-He..."

"He killed the Captain!"

Panic erupted among their ranks.

"Y-You humans..."

His voice cracked with rage.

"You're asking to die!!"

He immediately reached for the horn hanging from his waist.

BWOOOOOOOO-!!

A deep, deafening blast echoed across the valley.

The sound rolled through the forests like distant thunder.

...

Silence followed.

Then-

The trees began to shake.

Leaves rustled violently.

The earth trembled beneath countless pounding footsteps.

Doom.

Doom.

Doom.

My pupils shrank.

From every direction...

Armored Goblin Riders burst out of the forest.

One squad.

Then another.

And another.

Within moments-

Twenty additional riders had surrounded the entire village.

Including the nine survivors...

There were now...

Twenty-nine.

...

...We're finished.

The newly appointed goblin leader slowly rode forward.

Unlike the previous captain, this one's left eye was missing.

A jagged scar stretched across half his face.

His lips curled into a savage grin.

"So..."

He glared at Romelo.

"You chose death."

He raised his axe toward the sky.

"Kill them."

His grin widened.

"Then mount every last one of their heads on the village gates!"

A chorus of monstrous laughter answered him.

The villagers instinctively tightened their grips around their weapons.

Many of them were shaking.

Some were crying.

Others silently whispered prayers beneath their breath.

They were afraid.

Terrified.

Yet...

No one stepped back.

Romelo slowly raised his spear.

His voice remained steady.

Surprisingly steady.

"Don't fear them!"

His words cut through the panic.

"We fight with everything we have!"

"If death is inevitable..."

He planted the butt of his spear firmly into the ground.

"Then let us die with dignity rather than live beneath our enemy's chains!"

He pointed his spear toward the goblins.

"Charge!!"

With a thunderous roar...

Romelo rushed forward.

The villagers followed.

Axes.

Pitchforks.

Woodcutting hatchets.

Old hunting bows.

Anything that resembled a weapon.

They charged anyway.

Even knowing many of them would never return.

...

Perhaps...

That was what courage truly looked like.

Not the absence of fear.

But the resolve to move forward despite it.

The battlefield exploded into chaos.

Steel clashed against steel.

Magic illuminated the air.

Fire.

Wind.

Earth.

Screams echoed in every direction.

Armored wolves crashed into defensive lines.

Bodies were thrown aside.

Blood stained the once-peaceful marketplace crimson.

The village...

Had become a battlefield.

---

Meanwhile...

I had far more immediate concerns.

Several Goblin Riders suddenly turned their heads.

Toward us.

...

No.

One.

Two.

Three.

Five of them broke away from the battlefield.

Straight toward Mother.

Straight toward me.

Their wolves accelerated with terrifying speed.

Dust erupted beneath their claws.

The distance closed almost instantly.

...

Damn it!

"They're coming!"

"Ta! Ta!!"

(Wake up, you idiot!!)

(Mother!!)

(Wake up!!)

This time, I slapped her cheek with every ounce of strength my one-year-old body could produce.

A pitiful amount.

Barely enough to sting.

Yet I struck her again.

And again.

And again.

Still...

Nothing.

Sophia remained frozen.

Her vacant eyes stared at the ground.

Her lips silently trembled.

"My sister..."

She whispered.

"...No..."

She wasn't seeing the battlefield anymore.

Her mind had already collapsed.

...

Damn it!

Wake up!

Please...

Move!

I had spent my previous life solving problems that challenged the brightest minds of humanity.

I had designed megastructures capable of harvesting the energy of stars.

I had rewritten the civilization itself.

Yet now...

I couldn't even wake a grieving mother.

How...

Ridiculous.

---

The Goblin Riders closed the distance.

Twenty meters.

Fifteen.

Ten.

The lead goblin raised his sword.

His yellow eyes gleamed with bloodlust.

Five meters.

Four.

Three.

The blade rose high above his head.

Ready to split us apart in a single strike.

...

There was no escape.

No miracle.

No hidden trump card.

Only death.

I slowly closed my eyes.

So...

This was how it ended.

Twice.

I had conquered death once only to arrive in another world.

And now...

I would die again before even learning how to walk properly.

...

What an absurd life.

No...

What an absurd pair of lives.

...

Then-

Something warm splashed across my face.

...

Warm...

Sticky...

Thick.

...

Blood?

My eyes snapped open.

Scarlet droplets slid down my cheeks.

The goblin's sword...

Had stopped.

Someone...

Was standing in front of us.

A broad figure.

Unmoving.

Like an unbreakable wall.

The afternoon sunlight cast a long shadow over both Mother and me.

For the first time since the battle began...

Hope flickered once more.

Whoever that person was...

They had intercepted the strike.

And judging by the blood covering my face...

They had done so at a terrible cost.