Dev stood over the trembling fat man.
"Alright. First question—
Who is Raizen?"
The fat man blinked in confusion, tears mixing with sweat.
"What… what are you talking about? You are Raizen."
Dev's eyebrows shot up, his face twisting like what the hell is this guy saying?
"What the f— are you tal—"
But the system interrupted instantly.
[He is right. You are now Raizen.]
Dev froze. His body stiffened, lips slightly parted.
"Now… I'm Raizen?"
His voice was quiet, heavy with disbelief.
[Yes. Because your soul has transferred into Raizen body.]
Dev wasn't shocked like a normal person—he had already seen portals, monsters, summons…
But one thought crossed his mind:
So this is like an isekai or transmigration…
But usually when your soul moves into someone else's body, you gain their memories.
I didn't get ANY memories of this body.
While Dev was thinking, the fat man lay on the ground crying, shaking, his broken limbs twitching.
"Vice commander will not let you go… h-how dare you…
Heal me with potions and I'll only cut your hand and let you go…"
His tone was painful, angry, and arrogant at the same time.
Dev's eyes narrowed.
I really don't like this bastard's attitude.
Dev crouched beside him, grabbed the fat man's hair, and yanked his head up violently.
"If you don't shut up, I will fucking kill you.
Now tell me—who the hell is this vice commander?"
The fat man trembled, but he kept talking.
"Y-you don't know?
Did you forget how he made your life hell?
He's a Gold-1 tier knight!
And he has many Bronze and Silver tier knights!
Magicians! Archers!
You're dead when he comes back!"
Dev's eyes widened slightly.
"Gold-1… tier knight?"
The system responded at once:
[These are the ranks for knights,magicians and some other categories]
Trainee Tier
Bronze-1
Bronze-2
Bronze-3
Bronze-4
Silver-1
Silver-2
Silver-3
Silver-4
Gold-1
Gold-2
Gold-3
Gold-4
Diamond-1
Diamond-2
Diamond-3
Diamond-4
…more above.
Dev swallowed hard.
Damn…
If the vice commander is Gold-1…
And he has many Bronze and Silver knights, magicians, and archers…
He's seriously strong.
And I only have 11 trainee knights and 1 Bronze-1 knight…
Seeing Dev fall silent, the fat man smirked.
"Ha… scared now, bastard?
The vice commander will definitely kill you when he comes back—"
BANG!
David, furious at hearing his lord insulted, stomped on the fat man's stomach so hard he coughed blood and died instantly.
Dev's eyes widened.
"David! Why did you kill him!?"
David lowered his head, guilt visible in the way his shoulders sagged.
"My lord… I'm sorry.
He dared to disrespect you, so I acted.
If needed, I am ready to cut off my own head to atone—"
"No, no—stop!" Dev waved his hands quickly.
"You don't have to cut your head. It's okay."
But inside, Dev's thoughts were different.
It's NOT okay… I still had many things to ask him.
Dev sighed deeply.
"Sigh… useless to think now. He's already dead."
He looked toward the forest.
But he said the vice commander will kill me when he comes back…
That means he's not here right now.
Good.
That means I have time—time to grow stronger.
Another thought entered his mind:
And he said "vice commander"…
That means there must also be a commander.
Maybe the commander could help me…
But I don't even know who the commander is.
Dev tightened his fists.
Time was limited.
Enemies were coming.
A Gold-1 knight existed somewhere nearby.
And Dev was currently… Raizen.
Raizen's thoughts raced.
I need more information.
That fatty came from that direction…
Maybe if I go there, I'll find more people.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself.
And… I should remember.
I'm not Dev anymore.
I'm Raizen now.
Raizen straightened his posture.
"David. You, and five knights—come with me.
The rest of you, cut down some trees.
Rebuild a proper defensive line and break the old bamboo one."
"Yes, my lord!"
All the knights shouted together.
As Raizen walked, he noticed something.
The glowing rope tied around the bamboo barrier…
He blinked, annoyed.
…We broke that fat guy's arms and legs for NOTHING.
Meanwhile, David and the five knights chosen to accompany him were practically glowing with happiness.
Their faces clearly showed how proud they were—traveling alongside their lord was like receiving a personal blessing.
Raizen entered the forest with his formation:
—David and two knights in front
—Three knights behind
—Raizen protected in the middle
Their eyes scanned everywhere, ready to jump at any danger that approached their lord.
But nothing attacked.
No monsters.
No traps.
Just quiet woodland.
After walking a few hundred meters—
Raizen, David, and the five knights pushed aside the last curtain of branches and—
They stopped.
All of them.
They had stepped out of darkness into a breathtaking valley glowing in warm golden sunlight.
Rolling hills stretched endlessly.
Yellow grass waved like an ocean touched by wind.
And nestled in that sea of gold was a village—no, a small town—with wooden houses clustered together, smoke rising lazily from chimneys.
Raizen froze.
His breath caught.
"W-woah…" he whispered.
The peaceful scenery felt unreal.
Too beautiful… too calm for a world plagued by portals and waves.
David inhaled deeply, closing his eyes as sunlight warmed his face.
Even the knights looked like children discovering beauty after years of hardship.
"It feels… alive," David murmured.
But paradise was not unprotected.
A tall wooden boundary fence surrounded the entire settlement, curving around the hill like a protective wall. Guard posts stood along the perimeter, shadows of sentries moving steadily atop them.
And directly in their path—
A reinforced wooden gate, tall and sturdy.
The only entrance.
A narrow road led from the forest to the gate, winding gently downhill through the grass.
Raizen adjusted his cloak, eyes narrowing.
"A fortified village-town…
More secure than it looks."
David nodded, though Raizen could tell his gaze kept drifting back to the peaceful sunlight.
After waves… goblins… broken bones…
This place felt like another world.
"Let's go," David said with a rare smile.
"A little peace wouldn't hurt."
Raizen nodded.
The group of seven began walking slowly down the path, toward the only gate…
Toward the mysterious settlement hidden in the valley.