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Even now, when I close my eyes, I can still remember.
The moments I spent with the family I loved.
Those blazing days when we laughed, shouted, struggled, and screamed, yet still found the strength to rise and run again.
Laughing together, crying together, and pushing forward until, in the end, I became a hero.
After severing the breath of the black calamity and accomplishing feats that left the gods in awe and humanity in praise, I brought the peace to the mortal realm that everyone had longed for.
But what waited for me at the end of it all was only eternal loneliness.
The voices of praise were heard by no one but me, and there was no one left with whom I could share the joy.
The comrades I had relied on, the beloved goddess I served, the heroes I had admired—all of them had vanished, leaving only me behind.
I know I shouldn't, but sometimes I still find myself wondering.
If only I had been stronger.
If only there had been a better way.
If only I had more time.
If—if—if—
Countless "what-ifs" crossed my mind every single day. But a what-if is just a what-if, and reality always offered nothing but bitter pain.
Today was no different. In fact, today was especially poignant.
Today was Elegia, the day to mourn the fallen heroes.
Today, I was going to pay my respects to my own heroes.
...Or so I had planned...
"An intruder!"
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Quick, get the captain!"
"Surround him!"
How did it come to this? Ignoring the commotion around me, I drifted into my own world.
*Where am I?*
I had definitely gone to sleep a little earlier than usual yesterday.
Tomorrow... or rather, today, was Elegia, and I had nothing else to do anyway.
It wasn't that I couldn't sleep. On the contrary, for once, I had slept soundly. Perhaps the deepest sleep I'd had in years.
Unless I had some unknown sleepwalking disorder, I should have woken up in my own bed. And yet...
*Where on earth am I?*
I had clearly fallen asleep in my bed, but when I opened my eyes, I found myself buried in the wreckage of what looked like a shattered hut—as if a meteor had struck it or a bomb had detonated.
That alone was shocking enough, but there were countless people surrounding me.
I had been starting to think I might finally be seasoned enough to be called an experienced adventurer, but then this happens. Am I still that far off?
Perhaps they didn't appreciate me indulging in such trivial thoughts. The man who appeared to be the leader of the group shouted,
"Who are you! How did you find this place?!"
"Uh... I'm not sure?"
I wanted to know that too. Seriously, where is this?
*Is this... a Dungeon?*
No matter how I analyzed it, the atmosphere and the sensation told me this was a Dungeon.
But did that even make sense? I wake up and I'm just in a Dungeon? Unless I'd been kidnapped, that was impossible.
And yet, my instincts were certain. Honestly, the place looked a little familiar, too.
*This place... it's similar.*
It resembled the safe zone we used to use for resting on the middle floors. A secluded spot that Ryuu had once shown me as a secret hideout.
Since it was located between the middle and lower floors, we always stopped there whenever we had business below.
...Wait. Then why are these people here? Did others discover it after I retired from adventuring?
"Um... is this your hideout or something?"
"...And if it is, what of it?"
I thought so. Now it made sense.
It was only natural they'd be on guard if their secret spot had been exposed. An adventurer's greatest enemy isn't monsters or the Dungeon, but their own peers. They were likely worried I'd bring trouble to their doorstep.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude..."
"...You expect us to believe that?"
Fair point. Normally, no one would believe that.
But it couldn't be helped. I didn't even know why I was here myself.
Actually, it was a little irritating. This place used to belong to us.
"I just woke up here. I want to know what's going on as much as you do."
"...Right, I see."
Oh, he was more reasonable than I expected.
I'd been a bit worried because he looked quite menacing—to be honest, he looked like a criminal—but maybe he was actually normal—
"I see that you have no intention of telling the truth! Get him!"
"Ehh..."
Are you serious? Even so, attacking without warning?
I thought adventurers like this had all disappeared. I guess crime really never goes away completely.
***
"Ah, it really is here."
Tracing the fading threads of my memory, I walked until a familiar village came into view.
There were a few differences from what I remembered, but this was definitely the place.
So it really was a Dungeon. It's still strange that I ended up here.
Regardless, I couldn't stay here forever. Fortunately, I had all my gear, but I was out of food and low on money. I'd head to Rivira Village quickly, grab a meal, and then make my way to Orario.
"Orario..."
How many years had it been? I couldn't even remember properly anymore.
I ran a hand over my face. The sensation against my fingertips felt no different from when I was young.
Supple skin, without a single wrinkle or blemish. I'd gained quite a few scars through countless battles, but the texture of my skin was still that of a boy.
Whether it was thanks to my goddess's blessing or just a natural gift, I was a human who aged as slowly as an elf.
Because of that, every time I looked in the mirror, memories of the past would drift back to me.
*I wonder if I've become a bit more mature?*
I knew it was a spoiled complaint, but having grown up around so many impressive adults, I admired maturity more than youth.
That kind of maturity where you're dependable and cool just by existing.
Given my age, I figured it was about time I started exuding that kind of aura, but...
"Tch. That's something I've never heard in my life."
For some reason, everyone always treated me like a child. Was I still just a kid?
It wasn't a matter of appearance. Finn, a Pallum, looked far more childlike than I did, yet he possessed the air of the most mature man among adults.
I guess I'm just still immature.
"What a shame."
I felt a bit pathetic for not having become an adult despite my age.
Then again, it would be ridiculous for someone still clinging to the past like me to be considered an adult.
"Oh, there it is."
Rivira Village, seen for the first time in ages. During my adventuring days, I'd grown sick of this place, but after being away, it felt strangely nostalgic.
Anyway, now that I've arrived, I'll just eat and head up—
"...Huh?"
Suddenly, a strange feeling washed over me.
Something was off, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was.
"What is it?"
I looked around, but nothing stood out.
The village was slightly different from my memory, but it was a place built to be destroyed. My memories lost their reliability after just a week anyway.
The hostile glares from the residents weren't unusual either. This was a village of adventurers; suspicion was the default.
...Of course, it had been so long since I'd felt those eyes on me that it was a bit overwhelming. Most of the people here were strangers, so the village must have been completely overhauled while I was resting. I'd experienced that a few times even when I was active.
Aside from the intensity of the stares, it was the same old Rivira. And yet, an unshakable sense of dissonance held onto me, refusing to let go.
What was it? What on earth—
"Ah...?"
I looked up, and finally, I realized the source of the dissonance.
[37th Rivira Village]
*Thirty-seven...?*
I didn't remember perfectly, but the last Rivira Village I saw was at least the 400th. But 37? What in the world...
"Ah, maybe they started counting from one again?"
That seemed plausible. Come to think of it, 400 was a bit excessive. It made sense.
...Did it, really?
To be honest, I didn't trust that theory at all.
If they were going to do that, they wouldn't have bothered counting in the first place. The petty vanity of adventurers would never allow them to reset the count.
Still, no conclusions without confirmation. I decided to stop a passerby and ask.
"Excuse me..."
"Huh...? Who are you?"
*Who am I?*
Does this person not know me? Me, the number one on the [Promising Future] ranking, number three on [Strike While the Iron Is Hot If You Want to Turn Your Life Around], and number seven on [The Male Adventurer Who Wants to Be Called 'Big Sister!']?
That was strange. I thought I was fairly famous; was I not as well-known as I thought?
I'd been away for a while, but such a cold response stung a little.
"I just wanted to ask something... Do you happen to know which number Rivira Village this is?"
"What the hell are you talking about? Are your eyes just for show? Can't you see the 37 written right there?"
"Ah, not that. I mean, including the numbers from before."
"Huh...? What are you even rambling about?"
...So I was wrong?
"...No, sorry. I must have been mistaken."
"Tch. I'm busy, and you're here playing games."
Watching the man walk away after spitting on the ground, I could only stand there in a daze.
Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong.