The first morning in this world passed by just like that.
Gen took a deep breath, filling his chest with the air of freedom beyond those cold iron bars. Freedom—always so sweet.
Carrying that sweetness, he walked toward the Imperial Capital's main gate. The rescue mission notice for the kidnapped princess still lingered in his memory like a tempting invitation. Not just because of the reward, but because it was a thrilling adventure.
He followed the familiar path shown by the soldier earlier, eyes quietly observing every nook and cranny. This strange world still felt so new to him.
Suddenly, a harsh sound tore through the silence—and shattered his brief illusion.
Clang!
"You bastards, let me go!"
Gen turned instantly, heading toward the alley he had just walked past.
In that alley, sunlight illuminated a violent scene. A dark-skinned Elf girl—her gray hair tied high with a few braids like a nomadic warrior, proud pointed ears perked upward. Her body was toned and flexible. Not very tall, but agile like a wild cat. But her arms were bound tightly with chains, and three brutish men were dragging her.
Gen stood frozen.
An Elf.
A real Elf.
Not a 3D model in a game. Not a fantasy illustration on a book cover. A living being, being humiliated right before his eyes.
Then, the Elf girl's eyes accidentally locked onto his. That moment froze in time. The rowdy laughter and stench of those Adventurers faded from existence.
Gen narrowed his eyes. In her emerald gaze, he saw fear—but also something else: worry.
Does she know me?
That thought flashed through his mind. Could this Elf girl be connected to the "Gen" of this world? It wouldn't be the first time someone recognized him—though he usually remembered it when it happened.
But this time, he didn't. This time, he was the outsider.
Without hesitation, Gen stepped toward the alley. Whatever it was, he would find out the truth.
"Hey buddy, what are you doing? Want to buy this Elf girl?"
"Look at him!"
"Hahaha..."
The three Adventurers laughed when they saw Gen approach and kneel on one knee before the Elf girl.
He ignored them, his gaze unwavering. "Do you know me?"
"N-no... I don't know anything... I swear..." The Elf girl averted her eyes, voice trembling.
One of the three men—probably the leader—sneered. "Heh? Haha... Look how obedient she is!"
"Scram."
A low, firm voice, cold as ice.
"Huh? What did you say, punk?"
"I said... SCRAM!."
Gen slowly stood up, each word colder than the last. Then his fist, like thunder, slammed into the nearest man's face.
The man reeled back and collapsed. Without wasting time, Gen spun and swept his leg sideways with full force, slamming into the second man's head. He crashed into the wall like a ragdoll.
"You bastard! [Muscle Strength]!"
The last man roared, muscles bulging as a pale golden aura covered his body. His breath grew heavy—his presence intense.
A skill?
Gen narrowed his eyes.
Without delay, he charged. His fists struck—face, neck, gut—three clean hits.
But the man barely staggered. He grinned. "Is that all, rookie?"
Gen stepped back in surprise. The other two men were already getting up, faces twisted in rage.
Level 26—seventeen levels above him. If this world worked like a game, Gen was nothing more than a nameless pawn. A level-9 foot soldier couldn't defeat foes that high-leveled.
"What the hell is going on here?!"
Just as the three enraged Adventurers were about to pounce, a powerful voice echoed.
Everyone froze, turning toward the source.
A radiant figure emerged from afar—a golden-haired girl clad in shining white armor, her crimson cape fluttering behind. Behind her, a mighty troop of over a hundred soldiers marched.
Gen's face stayed calm, but the three men turned pale as if they had swallowed poison.
"You know her?" Gen asked one of them, while the young woman approached.
"...That's Lady Celestia, daughter of Lord Aaron!" the man gritted his teeth.
Aaron? The man Gen had just met less than twenty minutes ago?
"What's going on here? Why are you causing trouble?" Celestia demanded, her voice as sharp as steel.
"L-Lady Celestia... It was him! He attacked us for no reason..." the three men shouted, pointing at Gen.
"Is that true?" Celestia's gaze turned to Gen, her eyes like cold blades.
"Well..." Gen muttered, stepping aside. His eyes shifted toward the chained Elf girl. That was all the explanation needed.
Seeing the Elf girl, Celestia understood immediately.
She was a Dusk Elf—a rare subgroup living at the edge of the Lioran Desert and the dry forests in the South, where sunlight was harsh and unforgiving. Their dark skin and cat-like eyes made them distinct.
They were viewed as "Dark-bloods" by traditional fair-skinned Elves, persecuted for their isolation and resistance to the Empire. Most were hunted down and disappeared.
"Do you realize you're breaking the laws of the Capital?" Celestia's tone remained icy.
"You're not wrong. I... Wait, what? I was helping her!" Gen exclaimed.
Celestia frowned. Is this guy an idiot?
"Whether you were helping a slave or not is irrelevant. What matters is you used violence and injured people."
She wasn't angry. Nor was she sympathetic. Just cold—a person forced to stand for the law, even if she didn't agree.
Slave?
Gen flinched. His gaze returned to the cowering Elf girl.
So that's how it is...
Only humans lived like humans. This so-called fantasy world was disturbingly real. Elves—beautiful, long-lived, powerful—were now chained merchandise.
He smirked. "I really walked right into trouble, didn't I?"
Celestia glanced at him.
He wasn't begging for forgiveness, nor was he some righteous hero screaming about injustice. Just a man... who accepted reality too easily.
She sighed. "I don't like the slave system either. But law is law. Even I can't change it."
"If the law sides with the powerful, then it's not justice—it's a leash for the weak," Gen said quietly.
Celestia froze. Her eyes flickered with a complicated light, touched by something long buried. No one had ever said that to her before.
"You speak dangerously," she said, her voice softer. "Be careful. In this city... not everyone likes people who think too much."
"Disperse!" Celestia ordered the three Adventurers.
"Y-Yes, Lady Celestia..."
"W-What about the Elf? Can we take her...?" one of them asked hesitantly.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot. From now on, she's part of my unit," Celestia declared flatly.
"You too," she added, eyes turning to Gen.
---
Past noon, on a quiet dirt path far from the glittering Capital.
The scorching sun beat down as Celestia's unit marched steadily. At the rear, Gen trudged along in tattered gear. His so-called "uniform" was a rusted breastplate, a dented helmet, and a spear barely better than a stick.
Since being conscripted by Celestia that morning, Gen had no choice but to follow. Still, after asking around, he learned their destination: the Dungeon where the princess was held. A grand rescue mission with a massive reward. Lucky, perhaps—but still a battlefield he wasn't ready for.
Ironically, Celestia kept the Elf girl because she was a skilled warrior. Gen? Just a number to fill the ranks.
No matter. This was an opportunity, Gen told himself. He had wanted to reach the Dungeon anyway, though he never actually knew where it was.
Pushing aside his thoughts, Gen killed time by opening his status screen.
STATUS WINDOW
Name: Gen | Age: 23 | Male
Race: Human
Title: None
Class: Soldier - Intermediate
HP: 90/94 MP: 52/52
Level: 9
Strength: 131
Physical Resistance: 47
Magic: 52
Magic Resistance: 26
Agility: 122
Unique Skills: None
Basic Skills: [Appraise] [Swordsmanship Lv3]
Status: Normal (Amnesia)
"Pretty pathetic," Gen muttered.
Half an hour passed quietly.
Bored, Gen used his weak [Appraise] skill on nearby soldiers.
His thoughts were interrupted by a rough hand thrusting something toward him.
"Hey, your food."
A soldier tossed him a rock-hard piece of bread.
"Thanks," Gen nodded, accepting it. Not tasty, but his body needed fuel.
He bit into the bread. It was awful, but he smiled.
His thoughts drifted. What if he changed form? Would his status window change too?
Fuzzy memories crept in, like mist.
In the beginning...
A primordial world. Dense jungles ruled by dinosaurs. He saw his reflection in an icy stream.
Just a skull. No flesh, no emotion. Empty sockets like bottomless pits. He called himself Wake.
He wandered for millennia, not knowing why he existed—whether cursed or not.
Until one day...
He discovered his second form.
No one guided him. No gift bestowed.
Just a feeling—that deep in his immortal blood, a quiet light waited to be named.
Back then, beasts bowed. Trees bloomed in winter. The sky parted under his steps.
---
Hours passed. Sunset painted the sky like fire.
They finally arrived.
Tents scattered across a clearing, campfires blinking like watchful eyes.
Gen looked up, cautious.
Stares met the marching troops—curious, skeptical. Adventurers, mercenaries, free warriors. Like hungry beasts waiting.
But Gen's eyes weren't on them.
Beyond the forest, a massive stone gate loomed. Crude, cold, and alone. Like a giant exclamation mark dropped into nature, it opened into a staircase descending into darkness.
"Halt!"
A command rang out. Celestia ordered final roll call.
Then she stepped forward, her eyes scanning each face.
"Let's go."
Marching footsteps echoed. One by one, soldiers, shadows, and souls entered the ominous Dungeon.
But minutes later, someone sprinted back out.
Gen.
Even as the rescue mission began, he slipped into the Dungeon's shadows and vanished.
Now, leaning against the giant stone gate, he sighed in relief, sweat on his brow.
"Damn it..."
He tossed his spear aside, removed the suffocating helmet. The old uniform? A burden now.
He was free. Once more.
Not to escape.
But to begin his own path.