"…Then let's see if you're worthy of that wish."
Light swallowed everything.
And then—
Darkness.
…
Akiro's eyes snapped open.
"…Hah—!"
His breath came out shaky.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
Tears streamed down his face before he even realized it.
"…What…?"
His voice trembled.
He was lying on something rough.
Dry.
Uncomfortable.
Hay.
Slowly, he sat up.
"…Where am I now…?"
His hands brushed against his face, wiping the tears.
Then—
He froze.
"…Huh?"
His skin.
Smooth.
No wrinkles.
No roughness.
He quickly grabbed his arm.
His left arm.
The scar—
Gone.
The massive scar that had been carved deep into his flesh years ago…
"…It's… gone…"
His eyes widened.
He clenched and unclenched his fist.
Strong.
Light.
"…What the hell…"
He looked at his hands again.
"…This isn't a 65-year-old body…"
His voice dropped.
"…How old am I now…?"
Silence answered him.
Akiro slowly stood up.
The hay fell off his body as he moved.
His balance—
Perfect.
No stiffness.
No pain.
"…You've got to be kidding me…"
He stepped forward.
Wooden walls.
A cramped space.
Beds made of hay.
A barracks.
"…So I got thrown somewhere like this without even a warning…"
His expression darkened.
"…That old man…"
He clenched his teeth.
"…I'll punch him if I ever see him again…"
He pushed the door open.
Creak—
Light flooded in.
Voices.
Noise.
Movement.
Akiro stepped outside—
—and froze.
"…What… is this place…?"
The surroundings were completely unfamiliar.
Stone buildings.
Strange clothing.
People walking around with—
Different hair colors.
Silver.
Blue.
Even red.
Eyes that didn't look normal.
Sharp.
Glowing faintly.
"…This isn't… Earth…"
His heart started beating faster.
"…Don't tell me…"
Before he could think further—
"HEY! YOU!"
A loud shout.
Akiro turned his head.
Armed men.
Running toward him.
Armor.
Weapons—
No.
Something else.
Energy.
Flowing around them.
"…Magic…?"
Akiro muttered unconsciously.
The men surrounded him instantly.
"Don't move!"
"I said don't move!"
Akiro raised an eyebrow.
"…Relax. I'm not even doing anything."
"Shut up!"
One of them raised his hand—
A glowing circle formed.
Symbols.
Rotating.
Akiro's eyes widened.
"…So it's real…"
Chains—
Formed out of light.
They shot toward him.
Fast.
Too fast.
"…!"
Before he could react—
They wrapped around his body.
Tight.
Restricting.
"…Tch—!"
He struggled—
But his strength…
"…It's not enough…?"
His body—
Younger, yes—
But not trained.
Not yet.
"Got him!"
"Move!"
They dragged him.
Akiro gritted his teeth.
"…This is how you treat someone who just woke up…?"
No one answered.
People stared as he was dragged through the street.
Whispers.
Confusion.
Suspicion.
"…Great…"
Akiro sighed.
"…New world… and I'm already a criminal…"
Before he knew it—
He was thrown inside a carriage.
Metal bars.
Locked.
"…So this is how it goes, huh…"
The carriage started moving.
Akiro leaned back.
Sweat ran down his face.
His mind racing.
"…Magic… different people… different language…"
He closed his eyes tightly.
"…And I don't understand anything…"
The voices outside—
He couldn't understand them clearly.
Different.
Completely different.
"…Damn it…"
He slammed his head lightly against the bars.
"…At least give me a manual or something…"
Silence.
Then—
The old man's voice echoed faintly in his memory.
"…Do you still want to be a hero?"
Akiro clicked his tongue.
"…Yeah, yeah…"
He opened his eyes slowly.
"…I get it now…"
His gaze hardened.
"…That wasn't heaven…"
"…That was a setup…"
He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees.
"…You threw me into another world…"
His jaw tightened.
"…Without even explaining anything…"
A pause.
Then—
He let out a long breath.
"…Tch…"
"…That damn old man…"
A small, bitter smile formed on his lips.
"…At least give me a hint next time…"
The carriage suddenly stopped.
"Open it!"
The door was pulled open.
Bright light again.
"Out!"
Akiro stood up slowly.
"…Guess no tutorial…"
He stepped down.
Chains still binding him.
Guards surrounding him.
"…Fine…"
His eyes sharpened.
Cold.
Focused.
"…I'll figure it out myself."
As he walked forward—
Toward the unknown—
He muttered under his breath.
"…Just wait…"
"…Old man…"
A faint smirk appeared.
"…I'll survive this world…"
"…And when I see you again…"
His eyes gleamed.
"…You better explain everything."
The gates opened.
Iron.
Heavy.
Loud.
And just like that—
Akiro entered his new world.
Not as a hero.
Not as a savior.
But as—
A prisoner.