The bodies of the goblins were already cooling when Shuya forced himself to breathe normally. A real fantasy world. Real monsters. Real danger. And he'd survived only because his ability turned their attacks back on themselves.
It felt almost unfair.
He wasn't sure if that made him lucky… or terrifying.
"Okay… first objective," Shuya murmured to himself. "Find civilization. Or at least someone who won't try to stab me."
He wiped goblin blood off his new clothes—simple linen, sturdy boots, and a black belt-key robe that reminded him faintly of a martial arts gi. His new body moved comfortably, like muscle memory restored after years of dust.
He started toward the distant city he'd glimpsed earlier.
With each step, the world felt unreal. The trees were taller, the air cleaner, the colors sharper. Birds chirped unfamiliar melodies. A silver-blue deer watched him silently before bounding away.
After nearly an hour of walking, the forest thinned. A stone road emerged, leading to a towering wooden gate surrounded by high walls reinforced with iron plates. Flags depicting a silver crown rippling above a sword fluttered in the breeze.
VALORHOLDCITY OF FIRST LIGHT
The lettering was carved into the archway.
Shuya gulped. "A medieval city… I really isekai'ed."
He approached slowly, unsure what to expect. Two armored guards spotted him immediately. Their gleaming breastplates and polished spears suggested they weren't amateurs.
"Halt! Identify yourself!" the taller guard barked.
Shuya raised his hands. "Um… Shuya Matsumoto. New here."
The guards exchanged glances.
The shorter one frowned. "Foreign name. You a traveler from the eastern isles?"
"Something like that," Shuya said, praying this world didn't ask for passports.
Another guard stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "You're unarmed, but you look roughed up. Any monster encounters?"
"Yeah. Goblins." Shuya swallowed. "Six of them."
The guards' eyes widened.
"You survived an ambush?""By yourself?""With no weapons?"
Shuya hesitated. "I… got lucky."
The guards whispered among themselves before waving him through.
"Head to the Adventurer's Guild. They'll want to register you before nightfall. And kid—Valorhold's safer than the wilds, but don't pick fights. We already have enough trouble with monster raids."
Shuya nodded gratefully and stepped inside.
The city was a living organism—vendors calling out fresh produce, children chasing each other, smiths hammering steel, magic lights drifting lazily above doorways. Everything hummed with life.
Shuya followed directions to a large stone building with a sign showing crossed swords over an open book. Noise poured out the moment he opened the door—laughter, arguments, clinking mugs.
The Adventurer's Guild.
A red-haired receptionist raised an eyebrow as Shuya approached the counter. Her nameplate read Aira.
"Welcome to Valorhold Guild Branch. Registering?" she asked, tapping a quill against her cheek.
"Yeah. I'm new."
She motioned to a crystal orb the size of a softball. "Place your hand on the mana stone. It'll read your class."
Shuya gulped nervously and placed his palm on the glass.
The orb glowed gold, then purple, then a sharp red.
Aira blinked. "Oh."
"What? Is something wrong?"
"N-No… just unusual. Your class is registering as—" She leaned over the orb. "Vengebound Monk. That's a rare hybrid class."
A few adventurers nearby overheard.
"A Vengebound? Haven't seen one in years…""What's a Monk doing with vengeance magic?""Those Reflect-types are scary, man. You punch them, you punch yourself!"
Aira looked up, eyes sparkling with interest.
"You have self-reflection magic? That's extremely powerful for early-level adventuring."
Shuya scratched his cheek, embarrassed. "It's… something like that."
Aira scribbled details onto a parchment. "Given your rare class, the Guild recommends beginners start with subjugation quests—goblins, boars, slimes. But if you already fought goblins alone, you may skip straight to Rank D assignments."
Shuya blinked. "There are ranks?"
Aira nodded. "F through S. Most newcomers start at F." She stamped his paper. "You're D-Rank."
More whispers instantly rose around the guild.
"A D-Rank rookie?""He's either crazy or gifted.""Better than those pampered noble brats jumping ranks…"
Aira slid him a metal badge engraved with a simple shield.
"Welcome, Adventurer Matsumoto. Try to avoid dying on your first week. It makes paperwork annoying."
Shuya laughed awkwardly. "I'll… try."
On his way out of the guild, someone blocked his path.
Shuya looked up to see a girl around his age—short, silver hair, sharp blue eyes. Leather armor hugged her slim frame, and two short swords hung at her waist.
She stared him down for a moment before speaking.
"You. New guy."
"…Me?"
"You killed six goblins alone?"
"Uh… kind of. Yes."
She narrowed her eyes. "How?"
"They, uh… accidentally killed themselves."
Silence.
Then:
"…What?"
"It's complicated."
The girl sighed heavily. "Adventurers don't 'complicate' goblins into self-destruction." She crossed her arms. "Name's Rena. I'm a C-Rank scout. I'm forming a party. We're hunting a goblin nest north of the city. I need someone durable."
"Durable?"
"You're a Monk with a Reflect-type skill, right? I saw your registration."
Shuya swallowed. "Yeah."
"Good. Then come with us tomorrow morning."
Shuya blinked. "Just like that?"
Rena shrugged. "You'll either be useful… or bait. Either way, it helps."
She walked away, waving lazily."Meet at North Gate at sunrise, Reflect-boy!"
Shuya watched her disappear into the crowd.
Then he looked down at his badge.
D-Rank Adventurer.A party invitation.A mission tomorrow.
His chest tightened—not with fear, but excitement. Something he hadn't felt in years.
He whispered to himself:
"I think… I really can start over."
And for the first time since his death, Shuya smiled.
But the smile didn't last long.
His stomach growled loudly enough to turn a few heads. Right—he hadn't eaten since… well, since he died. The adrenaline from the goblin attack had carried him this far, but now hunger was hitting him with the force of a battering ram.
"Okay. Food. Before I pass out in the middle of the road."
He wandered until he found a small tavern tucked between a blacksmith and a potion shop. A wooden sign above the door read The Hearth & Hammer. Warm light spilled from the windows, and the smell of roasted meat drifted into the street like an invitation.
Inside, the atmosphere was cozy and loud. Adventurers crowded tables over mugs of ale and steaming bowls of stew. A burly woman behind the counter waved him over.
"You look like you've fought the forest and lost," she chuckled. "What'll it be, traveler?"
Shuya hesitated. "Uh… what can I get for this?" He placed the small pouch of coins the guild had given new registrants.
The woman peeked inside and nodded. "A starter pouch, huh? First day adventurer. I'll get you the house stew and bread. Hearty and cheap."
Minutes later, Shuya found himself sitting at a table with a hot bowl placed before him. The rich scent of broth and herbs hit him so hard he nearly teared up.
He picked up his spoon.
"いただきます…"
The first bite nearly knocked him out.
Real food. Not convenience store noodles. Not microwaved meals. Real, warm, lovingly prepared food.
For a moment he forgot the goblins, the danger, even his own death.He just ate—slowly, quietly, savoring every second.
When the bowl was empty, Shuya leaned back, hands over his belly, feeling more human than he had in years.
A few adventurers glanced his way with curious smiles. A couple raised their mugs in a quiet welcome. It wasn't much, but… it was something.
A warmth settled in his chest.
"…I really got a second chance, didn't I?"
Tomorrow he'd meet Rena and her party. Tomorrow he'd face something bigger than a handful of goblins. Tomorrow, he'd finally move forward—not as a shut-in stuck in his room, not as a fallen champion haunted by failure, but as someone who could fight again.
Someone who could matter.
Shuya clenched his fists lightly under the table.
"This time… I won't run."
He didn't know if this new world was a blessing or a trap.He didn't know if his broken ability would save him or destroy him.
But he knew one thing for certain:
For the first time in a long, long time—he wanted to live.