Afternoon sunlight spilled across the land as I stirred awake.
"Oh… where am I? What place is this?" I muttered, blinking at the wooden beams above me.
A voice answered, calm yet playful.
"You awoke. I am a spirit called Narrator—call me Narrate. I'll guide you, nourish you, and perhaps annoy you."
I sat up, frowning. "I thought I would awaken in a grand castle… but this is just a hut."
Narrate chuckled. "You want to go to the castle, right? Then go. You'll understand once you arrive."
Hesitant, I stepped outside and made my way toward the looming fortress.
When I reached it, my jaw dropped.
"Oh! What a huge line… is there some feast in the castle? But I don't have money to enjoy it," I sighed.
"You fool," Narrate snapped. "Are you here to enjoy a feast? This world needs a hero. You're here to claim the Holy Sword and prove yourself. Focus!"
I straightened. "Right… I'm here to become a hero."
Still, I didn't realize I had joined the massive line. Hours passed—one hour, then twenty-three minutes more—until finally, I reached the front. My heart raced. "At last… I'm going to become a hero."
But the guard blocked my path.
"Wait. Where do you think you're going?"
"Isn't it obvious?" I said proudly. "I'm going to become a hero."
The guard's expression hardened. "You have to pay to enter this place. The hero trial isn't free."
Narrate coughed awkwardly. "Ah… Dransart, sorry. I forgot to mention—you need to earn D coins. That's the currency here. You'll need them to attend the trial."
I groaned. "Why didn't you say that earlier? Oh my god…" I turned to the guard. "How much does it cost?"
"Just 100 D coins," the guard replied flatly.
Behind me, people shouted angrily. "How long are you going to block the line? Move already!"
I clenched my fists. It was useless to argue. "Fine. I'll collect the coins. Then I'll enter this trial."
Narrate grinned. "As expected of you, hero. The trial is like earning a certificate—you'll be fine."
I glared at him. "Just shut up. You're the spirit who wasted my time. I'll get those coins, and I'll get that certificate… no, that hero title."
Thus begins Dransart's first quest—not against demons, but against poverty. To earn the coins, to prove himself, and to step into the trial that will shape his destiny.