I didn't know what storm was coming the next morning… My life changed forever. I saw a bunch of weird dreams—waking up in my mom's body, being stranded in the middle of an ocean, drowning as if the waves themselves were conspiring against me. Everything felt unreal, like I was trapped inside a simulation designed to toy with me.
When the dreams finally ended, I woke up for real—but something was off. My body felt… different. Not human, at least not entirely. The Demon Lord from Abatos, a world brimming with magic and terror, had cursed me without warning. Just like that, my normal life had been ripped away.
Turns out, my father was from the very same world. He had been an SS-rank hero, the strongest human in his golden age. I should be proud, I guess. But part of me wanted to scream at him—why didn't he tell me everything sooner? Why leave me in the dark? Mizuki, a spiritual girl who had been with me all along, was trapped inside me, silently observing. I hadn't even noticed her presence until now. Her past was tragic; her entire village destroyed by monsters. She had been on the brink of death, yet somehow, thanks to my father, she was now a spirit bound to me. How that worked? I had no clue.
She guided me to Abatos and cast an illusion spell that made me appear human again. After that… everything happened so fast, I barely had time to process it. And then there was Rika Aihara—the receptionist from the Adventurers' Guild who claimed my father had chosen her as my future wife. They thought I hadn't overheard their conversation that evening. Heh… I had been listening the whole time.
I didn't know why I was supposed to be here. I had a peaceful, quiet life—no chaos, no crowds, no tension. Everything had been fine. But now, the fate of this strange world lay in my hands. Why should I help it recover from a Demon Lord I didn't even know? Why curse me? He saw me as a threat… but I didn't even care about this world. So how could I possibly be a threat?
And that was a short recap of everything that had happened over the past three days. One moment I was a middle school student, the next I was a hero candidate. I had no choice but to accept it. I would save this world, and after that, I would return to my own.
---
Just like that, after a peaceful, quiet night, the sun's sweet rays conquered the darkness. Renji woke up and stepped outside into Rika's garden. He wandered slowly, taking in the sight of flowers blooming in every corner. Some were familiar, reminiscent of the ones he had seen in his past world, but others were completely alien—petals that shimmered like distant stars, releasing subtle, sweet fragrances that teased his senses. Among them, a strange-looking flower caught his eye. It resembled a rose from his world, yet its petals were multicolored, as if the universe itself had spilled across it.
"Don't touch them. They're pretty rare," Mizuki's voice echoed softly from within him.
Renji groaned. "Come out of me. I don't like you staying inside me like this."
A shimmer of light appeared beside him, and Mizuki materialized, her ethereal form glowing softly in the morning sun. "As you wish," she said, her voice calm and gentle, yet carrying a teasing lilt.
At that exact moment, the door behind them creaked open.
"Looks like you're already awake," Rika said, stepping into the morning sunlight, her expression warm but curious.
Renji stretched, feeling the tension in his shoulders. "I think I should move on and start training," he said.
Rika tilted her head, giving him a small smile. "Let me prepare breakfast first."
Renji paused for a moment, then nodded. "Okay… if you want."
He waited in the living room as Rika went into the kitchen, humming softly. The house smelled faintly of fresh bread and herbs from the garden, and sunlight spilled across the wooden floors in golden stripes. Mizuki's soft chuckle drifted inside his mind, teasing him silently.
"Mizuki," Renji called.
"Yes?" she replied, curiosity lacing her tone.
"Where's the toilet?"
Mizuki tilted her head, a hint of amusement in her glowing eyes. "You should ask Rika," she said, her voice teasing.
Renji groaned, feeling a little awkward. The morning felt peaceful, almost fragile, like the calm before a storm. The scent of flowers mixed with the faint aroma of cooking, making the room feel surprisingly cozy despite the weight of everything that had happened.
---
Renji stood up and walked toward the kitchen. Rika was busy at the stove, sunlight catching strands of her hair and giving her a soft glow.
"Ahm… Rika—" he started.
She jumped in surprise, spinning around. "Hay! Renji! You shouldn't sneak up like that! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Her cheeks flushed bright red.
Renji scratched the back of his neck, feeling awkward. "Uh… hey, where's the toilet, by the way?"
Rika's expression shifted from bright red to mild exasperation. "It's on the opposite side of the garden," she replied, her tone flat but not unkind.
Renji nodded and quietly left the kitchen, trying not to laugh at the chaos he had just caused. The warm aroma of breakfast lingered behind him, and the garden outside seemed almost magical in the morning light. Each flower, each blade of grass, felt alive, almost as if the world itself was holding its breath.
He paused at the edge of the garden, taking it all in. The gentle breeze, the soft hum of morning insects, the faint rustle of petals—it was peaceful. Too peaceful, maybe. Yet in the back of his mind, he knew this calm would not last. Somewhere, the Demon Lord waited. Somewhere, Rika, Mizuki, and he were preparing for a future none of them fully understood. But for now, Renji let himself breathe in the moment.
Because after the past three days, moments like this… were rare.