who is he

Three weeks had passed since I was summoned—or rather, reincarnated—into this world. My life had become a repetitive cycle of “Quest, Rank Up, Repeat” until I finally hit Level 30.As an E-Rank adventurer, I finally felt like I was finding my place. But more than the stats, it was Miss Sophia. Whenever I was with her, I felt a warmth I hadn't known in my previous life. Her smile was my true reward. Hehe, she really is the "Main Heroine" type, isn't she?But peace in this world is a fragile thing.

The heavy wooden doors of the Aris Guild House slammed open. The rowdy atmosphere turned to ice. A man walked in, draped in an aura so suffocatingly thick it felt like physical weight on my chest. Every veteran adventurer in the room went pale, their hands trembling on their sword hilts.

“Hey,” I whispered to a nearby rogue. “Who is that guy? Why did everyone stop breathing?”

“You don’t know?” the rogue hissed, his teeth chattering. “That’s Baron. The ‘Clan Slayer.’ He’s the monster who wiped out the top-tier clans single-handedly. He fears no king, no law—not even the Gods. They say the Great Clans murdered his entire bloodline—his wife, his children—everything. Now, he’s a walking catastrophe. He’s looking to declare war on the entire world... I never thought he’d show up in a border town like this.”

My blood ran cold. Before I could process the danger, Baron moved. In a blur of motion, he was at the counter. His massive hand clamped around Sophia’s throat, lifting her off the ground.

“Ak... aaghhh...!”Baron’s voice was like grinding stones.

“You... the spawn of Zenob Aurelia?”

“Ahhh... l-let... go...”

Sophia’s face turned a terrifying shade of blue.Something snapped inside me. My heart raced, not with fear, but with a searing, white-hot heat. My vision went red. I didn’t think about levels or ranks. My body moved on its own—the ‘Protagonist Instinct’ finally kicking in.

“LET HER GO!!!!”

“Hoh? And what are you, brat?”

Baron didn't even look at me.

“I SAID UNHAND HER!”

I threw a desperate, full-power punch at his jaw. It connected, but it felt like hitting a mountain of solid iron. He didn't even flinch. Slowly, he released Sophia, but before she even hit the floor, his fist buried itself in my midsection.I didn't feel pain. It was too fast for pain. There was just... emptiness. I looked down, dazed, and saw a literal hole where my stomach should have been. Blood sprayed across the floorboards.

“Let us meet again, Harber... if you can survive the void,”

Baron muttered, stepping over my collapsing body.I reached out, grabbing his boot with blood-slicked fingers, but my strength vanished.

Am I dying again? Just like that? Why am I so weak? Why can't I protect the one person who smiled at me? Damn it... DAMN IT ALL!Darkness. Total, absolute silence. Then, a voice—ethereal and mocking.

“Gav Harber... you really are a handful, aren't you?”

I looked up. A woman stood there, glowing with celestial light.

“Who...?”

“I am the Goddess Clara. I’m the one who pulled your soul from the brink when you ended your life in your old world. You’re only breathing because of my whim.”

“I see...” I muttered.

“So... am I dead again?”

“Technically? Yes. But I’m not done with you. I’ll send you back, but know this: reincarnation isn't free. There is a Condition.”

“A condition? What is it?”

But before she could answer, a blinding light swallowed me.

“Mmm... so soft...”

I woke up feeling like I was laying on a cloud. I nuzzled into the pillow. “Wow, this is the best bed ever...”

“It seems you’re finally awake, Gav.”

I jolted upright.

“HUH?!”

I wasn't on a bed. I was lying in Sophia’s lap. She was looking down at me, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

“Sophia?! I’m so sorry! I didn't mean to... I mean, your lap... I promise I wasn't being a creep!”

“It’s okay,”

she whispered, fresh tears falling onto my cheek.

“I thought you were gone, Gav. I’m so sorry you got hurt because of me.”

“I’m fine, really!”

I checked my stomach. The hole was gone, replaced by smooth skin.

“How...?”

“My mother’s emergency Resurrection Spell. It... it worked.”

She suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace. My heart did a somersault—half from the hug, half from the lingering fear of Baron.

“Sophia... who is that Baron guy? Why did he come for you?”

“I don’t know,” she sighed, leaning her head against mine.

“But my father arrived just in time to drive him off. He saved us both.”

A deep mystery began to swirl in my mind. Who is her father? And what is the 'Condition' the Goddess mentioned?

“Can I talk to your father?” I asked.

“He’s out assessing the damage,” she said softly, stroking my hair.

“Rest for now. I’ll wake you when he returns.”

I closed my eyes, but I knew one thing: The peaceful adventuring days were over. The real story was just beginning.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***