"Ah… I'm finally dead," Jing Quan thought as darkness swallowed him. "I remember… Lady Deng Xia performed a reincarnation ritual for me. I prayed it wouldn't succeed. Why is everything void? Is this the afterlife?"
Then light returned. He heard a woman's labored breathing, a man's excited voice, and the sound of a newborn's cry.
"Wow! Is this my son?" the man asked, eyes shining.
"This is our new son," the woman said from the bed, exhausted but smiling. "He's finally born."
Jing Quan blinked—no, he couldn't blink. His body was so small, his vision blurred. What's going on? Who are these people? Are they giants?
"Let's give him a name," the woman whispered.
"I already decided," the man said proudly. "Rowan is the perfect fit."
And in that moment, Jing Quan understood—he had been reborn. Rowan… that was his new name.
Six Years Later
It had been six years. I'm really tired, Rowan thought. His father was a noble, but barely—among the lowest rank. Still, that didn't matter much anymore. He was no longer Jing Quan. Now, he was Rowan.
Rowan… that name still feels strange. Aldwin Rowan. That's me.
He gripped the small practice sword his father had given him. Though ordinary, it felt heavy with meaning. He swung it clumsily but with determination, cutting the air again and again.
"Rowan! Rowan! It's time to come inside and eat," Mira, his mother, called from the doorway.
"I'm coming!" he shouted back. He stopped, looked at her with a smile, then ran toward the house.
As he ran inside, he moved to the dining table where they were about to eat. Elian, the maid, worked quietly in the small kitchen. Their house was modest for a noble; his father, Aldwin, held the title of viscount, but they were far from wealthy.
Rowan swung his little practice sword once more, then climbed onto a chair and sat at the table, looking around at the trophies and scraps that hinted at his father's past. Aldwin had been an adventurer in his younger days. He had accomplished enough to earn the king's favor and a viscountcy, but the honors had not made their home grand.
Mira set the dishes down and smiled. She handed Rowan a knife and carved a piece from the roast chicken. "I saved this for you," she said.
Rowan bit into the meat. Mira was a wonderful cook. He chewed slowly, thinking he had never asked for this new life. He had wanted to die. He had wanted to be done. Yet here he was—reincarnated—in a world that echoed the one he had left. There was a Demon Lord here too, he realized, and the thought tightened something in his chest as he swallowed another bite.
if you're not satisfied and want more food, tell me. I can give you more," Aldwin, Rowan's father, said.
"I'm okay. This is enough," Rowan replied, continuing to eat the meat.
"Since everyone is here, I want to say something," Aldwin added.
"What is it you want to say?" Rowan asked.
"I want him to become an adventurer," Aldwin said firmly.
"What? That's not possible. I don't want him to follow that path. There are other things he can do. He could become a merchant," Mira interjected.
"But this is what I want. Please, understand," Aldwin countered. Mira didn't say a word, quietly acknowledging his wish.
Then Aldwin looked around the table. Elian, the maid, had joined them, quietly setting the dishes and watching Rowan with a smile.
"Son, when you turn ten, you will be sent to the capital to study at the Royal Academy. Most of the strongest adventurers today came from those schools. The tuition is high, but I have some savings—enough to cover your expenses," Aldwin explained.
Rowan nodded, finishing the last of his food.
In this world, my parents are kind and calm. The atmosphere here makes my heart feel warm, he thought. In my previous life, before I was reincarnated as Rowan, my father, Jing, was very strict. When I was seven, I had to stay under the waterfall. The first time I tried, I passed out after two days, but he stood there watching. He wanted me to become a powerful Sword Saint. He died as a Sword Saint, and was killed by the demon lord.
As he climbed down from the chair, Mira called out, "Hey, don't go rushing off. You just finished eating. You need to rest."
"Yeah, okay, Mom. I'll do that," Rowan said as he headed toward his room.
Once inside, he thought, I came here to train my body. I haven't used my skills yet; I've been focusing on building my physical strength. That way, when I use my abilities, it won't take as much toll on my body.
Let me test this… let me try flight.
He lifted off the ground and hovered in the air, feeling the freedom. Now that no one is watching, I can use my sword.
He swung his blade, golden energy flowing from it, cutting through the air with precision. He soared to the ceiling, pivoted, and moved back, gradually descending until he landed softly on the ground.
Just then, a knock echoed from the door. He quickly deactivated his skill and the glowing energy from his sword faded.