15 Years Ago — Nepal Kingdom
A small village in the Nepal Kingdom.
In front of the village head's house, a large crowd of villagers had gathered.
At the center of the crowd stood a boy.
Beside him were a man and a woman—his parents.
Everyone looked sad.
The boy had curly pink hair and red eyes.
Boy (sadly):
"Mom... Dad... please let me go."
His mother suddenly grabbed him and pulled him into a tight hug.
Mother (crying):
"Why...? Why do you want to leave...? Don't go anywhere... please...!"
But the boy gently pushed his mother away and stepped back.
Boy:
"Mom... I'm already 17 years old now. I can register in the Adventurers Guild. Please let me go."
A villager stepped forward.
Villager:
"Why do you want to become an adventurer?"
The boy clenched his fists.
Boy:
"Aunt... because of our village."
He looked around at everyone.
Boy:
"If I become a popular adventurer, our village won't remain poor anymore. It will grow."
His father spoke with a trembling voice.
Father:
"But son... becoming an adventurer is not easy. And becoming a popular adventurer is even harder..."
The boy nodded.
Boy:
"I know, Dad."
His voice became firm.
Boy:
"But I will try my best! Even if I become just an AA-rank adventurer, I'm sure this village will change a lot!"
His parents lowered their heads.
They couldn't stop crying.
Mother (whispering):
"N... no... you don't need to go anywhere... please stay..."
Another villager spoke with a trembling voice.
Villager:
"Young master... please think about it... You are our only hope. You are the future leader of this village. If you leave... what will happen to us?"
The boy looked down.
His voice trembled.
Boy:
"P... please everyone... just... let me go..."
At that moment, an old man from the crowd stepped forward.
Old Man:
"Let him go."
Everyone turned toward him.
Old Man:
"He is leaving for our sake. One day, he will return as a powerful and famous adventurer."
The villagers fell silent.
Villager:
"...He's right."
The boy's mother looked hesitant.
Mother:
"But—"
The father wiped his tears.
He didn't say anything.
The boy smiled slightly.
Boy:
"Thank you, old uncle."
The old man nodded.
Old Man:
"Young master... don't forget your promise. When you return, come back as an adventurer."
Boy:
"I promise."
And just like that—
The boy turned around and began walking away.
The villagers, along with his parents, could only stand there...
Watching his figure slowly disappear into the distance.
Present Day — Year 01
It was night.
Dark clouds filled the sky.
Snow covered the ground as a cold winter wind blew through the forest.
A young man walked through the jungle.
That same boy.
But now his body was strong and well-built.
His name was Mass.
Mass (narration):
"My name is Mass."
"I was born in a small village in the Nepal Kingdom. A village so small... you probably wouldn't even find it on the map."
"My family and everyone in that village loved me very much."
He walked through the snow-covered forest.
Mass:
"Fifteen years ago, I left that village. I said I would return as a popular adventurer."
He sighed.
Mass:
"I did become an adventurer... but I never became popular."
"My rank is only E-Rank."
Still—
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
Mass:
"But I'm happy."
"It's been fifteen years."
"After such a long time... I'll finally meet everyone again."
Mass jumped down from a rock and landed on the ground.
He continued walking.
Then he looked around.
Mass:
"Hmm... this should be the forest near the village."
He frowned slightly.
Mass:
"Why don't I see any beasts here? Maybe they're sleeping..."
He paused.
Mass:
"But there aren't even any monsters either."
Suddenly—
BOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion echoed through the forest.
Mass froze.
He quickly turned toward the source of the sound.
In the distance—
A huge fire was burning.
His eyes widened.
Mass (trembling):
"N... no way..."
"That direction... that's where my village is..."
His breathing became unstable.
Mass:
"No way...!"
He immediately started running.
Branches scratched his body.
He tripped several times but quickly stood up again.
Finally—
He burst out of the forest.
Panting heavily.
Mass:
"Haa... haa... haa...!"
Then he saw it.
His village.
Everything was burning.
Buildings were destroyed.
Flames covered the entire area.
Mass slowly walked forward.
His body felt numb.
Mass (whispering):
"N... no..."
His voice grew louder.
Mass:
"No... no... NO!"
He started running.
Mass ran into the village.
Everywhere he looked—
Houses were destroyed.
Bodies lay scattered across the ground.
Blood stained the earth.
Mass (shaking):
"W... what happened here...?"
He slowed down.
His eyes searched desperately.
Then—
Under the rubble of a broken building—
He saw someone.
A woman.
She was barely alive.
Her body was badly injured.
Mass rushed toward her.
Mass:
"Aunt Mak!"
He knelt beside her and held her carefully.
Mass:
"Aunt Mak! Are you okay?! What happened here?!"
The woman slowly opened her eyes.
Mak:
"M... Mass...?"
A weak smile appeared on her face.
Mak:
"Is that really you...? Long time... no see..."
Mass's eyes filled with panic.
Mass:
"Aunt Mak! What happened here?! Who did this?!"
"My parents?! The villagers?!"
Suddenly—
Mak's eyes widened.
She remembered something.
Fear filled her face.
Mak (whispering):
"Run..."
Mass looked confused.
Mass:
"What...? What are you saying?"
Mak suddenly grabbed his collar and pulled his face close to hers.
Her voice trembled with fear.
Mak:
"RUN, MASS!"
"Run away from here!"
Mass froze.
Mak:
"Don't come back!"
She pushed him away.
Mass stumbled backward.
Confused and terrified.
Mak screamed.
Mak:
"Don't come back! Stay safe!"
"RUN, MASS!"
"RUN!"
Snow began to fall heavily.
The temperature dropped even further.
Mass ran deep into the forest.
His breathing became rough.
Mass:
"Haa... haa... haa...!"
His body trembled from the cold.
Still, he continued walking.
Mass:
"What happened back there...?"
"Mom... Dad..."
"Who did this...?"
"WHY did this happen?!"
Snow continued to fall.
Soon—
Mass found a small cave.
He quickly entered it.
Mass:
"Haa..."
He sat down inside the cave.
Mass:
"This is better..."
The cave was silent.
Outside, snow kept falling.
Then—
Footsteps echoed in the darkness.
DHAP...
DHAP...
Mass's body stiffened.
Mass:
"...!"
Slowly—
Behind him—
A dark figure appeared.
Two glowing red eyes shined in the darkness.
Mass trembled with fear.
Slowly, he turned around.
And saw it.
Mass:
"!!"
"N... no..."