As a matter of fact, this was an especially rare Skill even among the Unique Skills. It was comparable to "Absolute Severance" and "Unlimited Imprisonment," powers once wielded by chosen heroes who had altered the course of history. Though it bore the name of a Unique Skill, the strength it carried was more akin to an Ultimate Skill—its capabilities were extraordinary, enough to shake the world.
Jinrai might have been among the strongest warriors in the town, but against the power of "Chosen One," he stood no chance.
Masayuki, however, was blissfully unaware of any of this. He had no idea what kind of overwhelming force he had just released.
But it didn't matter whether he understood or not—"Chosen One" was a passive skill.
Once awakened, it acted on its own, unbothered by its wielder's intentions, dragging Masayuki forward on the path of the "hero" with ruthless determination.
Whispers rippled through the crowd like wind through tall grass.
"So he's the blonde chosen hero…"
"Oh! Oh ho, I've heard of him—"
"Wasn't that the chosen hero who disappeared years ago?"
"Could it be… he's been resurrected?"
"The chosen hero?"
"He's the chosen hero?"
"There's no way—"
"But look at those skills. He's definitely the real deal!"
It didn't take long for the mob to agree on their own version of the truth. They looked at Masayuki with wide, shining eyes, faces full of awe and longing. It was as if they were staring at the dawn of a new legend.
Actually, my hair was only dyed…
Masayuki panicked as their cheers swelled. He raised his voice to deny their claims, but before he could say much—
"Back down! How dare you all try to befriend the mighty chosen hero who defeated me in a single blow!"
It was Jinrai. A few moments ago he'd been sprawled on the ground, unconscious. Now he stood upright, voice booming over the crowd. He turned sharply toward Masayuki, then dropped to one knee with surprising grace for a man of his size.
"I am sorry to have offended you," Jinrai said, bowing deeply. "I didn't know that you were the chosen hero."
"W-wait a second!" Masayuki stammered, flailing his hands. "You've got the wrong—"
"My name is Jinrai," the man continued without hesitation. "People call me the Crazed Wolf. I've earned a name for myself here. But I was arrogant. I was blind. And in a single moment, I was shown the vast difference between us. Hero-sama, I humbly ask… allow me to follow you. Let me become your subordinate."
He lowered his head further. His voice carried no hint of mockery or doubt—only sincerity and respect.
Masayuki was completely frozen in place. What was he supposed to do with this mountain of a man suddenly pledging loyalty to him?
"N-no, I'm telling you!" Masayuki pleaded. "I'm not a hero—"
"Oh ho, are you trying to keep your identity hidden?" Jinrai asked with a grin, ignoring him completely. "Then how shall I address you, Hero-sama? And may I at least know your name?"
Jinrai leaned in closer, his enthusiasm practically glowing. Masayuki was trapped in his own snowballing misunderstanding.
Around them, the onlookers had fallen silent, hanging onto every word. The pressure mounted. Masayuki swallowed hard.
Whatever happens now, I guess I have no choice…
"My name is Masayuki," he finally said, trying to sound composed. "Just… call me Masayuki. I only arrived in this town recently."
Jinrai's eyes lit up like a man who had just received divine revelation.
"I understand," he said. Then he stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"Hero-sama, you've only been revived recently, haven't you?"
Masayuki blinked.
Huh?
But then a thought clicked in his head. If Jinrai was this convinced, then… perhaps he could use this. The man clearly saw him as a symbol of hope—no matter what Masayuki said, Jinrai would twist it into a heroic narrative.
Besides, if he didn't play along, Jinrai would probably lose face entirely. And maybe… just maybe, this misunderstanding could give Masayuki some leverage.
Fine… I'll just ride this wave.
From that moment on, Masayuki stopped denying that he was the chosen hero.
A decision that would prove to be a painful miscalculation later.
Because at that very moment—
the legend of the "Shining Hero Masayuki" was born.
Not long after, Masayuki was escorted to the capital of the Kingdom of Ingracia under the banner of the Freedom Association. His supposed "heroic deed" had already spread ahead of him, carried by excited witnesses.
There, under the grand white archways of Ingracia's capital, he met Atem—the man who would shake the course of this world.
Atem stood waiting, his presence filling the air with silent pressure. His eyes carried the weight of a king, his posture radiating an authority that no one dared defy. Masayuki could barely meet his gaze without straightening his back unconsciously.
"You've been through much," Atem said, his deep, commanding voice reverberating in the hall. He didn't need to raise it. Every word carried power. "For someone dragged into something greater than themselves, you've held up well."
Hearing that, Masayuki felt something tighten in his chest. He hadn't expected… kindness. But there it was—tempered steel wrapped in calm.
He soon learned more about Atem: the sovereign of Eterna, the one blessed with Solarys, Sovereign of Wisdom. Atem was no ordinary ruler—he was a force that even nations acknowledged in silence. His presence alone demanded respect.
And then there was Yuuki Kagurazaka, a young man with sharp eyes and a calm smile who had been in this world for nearly ten years. Though his body appeared young, his aura told a different story—he had endured much.
He's been through a lot more than me… Masayuki realized, pushing back the sting in his eyes. If Yuuki could keep standing, then so could he.
After their talk, Masayuki made a decision—one born from a mix of uncertainty and newfound resolve.
He would become an adventurer.
Jinrai, still firmly believing him to be the chosen hero, agreed to become his companion. Yuuki approved without hesitation.
"For some reason, I can understand their language," Masayuki noted aloud. "So I guess I'm luckier than Yuuki-san."
Yuuki chuckled. "That's my line. You can't imagine the trouble I went through at the start. Though… I had a mentor who took care of me. Magic makes a lot of things easier."
Magic also handled basic language comprehension in this world. Reading and writing were another story, but oral communication was manageable thanks to mana-based translation.
Yuuki flipped through the documents in his hand—lists of potential adventuring companions. "Oh yeah. Bernie here used magic too."
Bernie, another otherworlder under Yuuki's care, was an American who could only speak English. Magic had bridged the gap. Ever since, Bernie had become obsessed with studying magic and enrolled in Ingracia Academy. He'd recently become an adventurer and was searching for a party.
It just so happened that Masayuki's group fit perfectly.
That was how the three-man squad was formed—
And without knowing it, Masayuki's reluctant step onto the world's stage was about to set far greater events in motion.
Masayuki and his crew rose through the ranks at an overwhelming pace.
It had only been half a year since they began their journey, yet their names were already echoing across cities and guild halls. Their squad had been given a nickname by adventurers and commoners alike—
"The Shining."
Jinrai, despite being officially ranked at C-plus, had strength that rivaled seasoned Rank B adventurers. With Bernie's precision in magic, the team swept through every quest they took on. Whether it was subjugation missions, dungeon dives, or escort jobs, nothing could slow them down.
And at the heart of this unstoppable streak was Masayuki's ultra-rare Skill: "Chosen One."
Even though Masayuki was merely an amateur with only basic kendo knowledge, this single Skill changed everything. It didn't just empower him—it extended its blessings to his entire party. Their attacks became devastating, every strike landing as a critical hit.
Jinrai's strength soared beyond Rank A when under its influence. Bernie's spells became impossibly precise, cutting through enemy defenses like silk. And with the added buff that increased their evasion, their team became a force that no ordinary opponent could hope to face.
The "Chosen One" was working at full throttle.
Masayuki didn't even need to act like a hero—the Skill forced the world to see him as one.
Every good deed, every heroic act his companions accomplished was attributed entirely to him. Even when Jinrai saved someone's life or Bernie single-handedly defeated a rampaging ogre, the people cheered not for them, but for Masayuki the Shining.
His name spread like wildfire.
His title—"Masayuki the Shining"—became a household name, whispered in taverns and celebrated in bustling city squares.
Their fame reached new heights when they entered the Kingdom of Ingracia's Grand Martial Tournament.
The tournament promised a grand prize fit for a champion—a prize Masayuki and his crew needed to upgrade their gear. They signed up fully expecting a hard-fought series of battles.
But the reality was absurdly different.
The moment Masayuki unsheathed his sword in the ring, his opponents threw down their weapons and surrendered on the spot.
"I-I've lost," one warrior declared, trembling.
Another fighter didn't even step into the ring. "There's no point. I know when I'm outmatched."
The crowd roared, their imaginations painting Masayuki as a swordsman whose speed was too blinding to follow. But in truth… Masayuki hadn't even moved.
"Did you see that? I didn't even see the blade!"
"He's like a flash of light!"
"This is why they call him the Shining!"
Their screams shook the coliseum. His legend grew with each match he didn't actually fight.
All in a day's work for the Unique Skill "Chosen One."
Masayuki, by now, was very aware of what was happening. He understood the overwhelming effect of his power… but he couldn't control it. He couldn't stop it even if he wanted to.
If anyone wanted to resist the effect of "Chosen One," they'd need at least a Unique Skill of their own. For the rest, the outcome was always the same—they lost before the fight began.
The rumors spread faster than fire in dry grass.
"Did you hear? Masayuki the Shining never loses."
"They say he can end battles before anyone blinks."
"He might be the reincarnation of a legendary hero."
The attention was suffocating. But no matter how much Masayuki complained to himself, it didn't actually hurt him. So he stopped resisting and decided to play along with what the world already believed.
It was during this surge of fame that a fourth member appeared.
A young woman named Jiwu.
She was a high-level Spirit Magic user with a sharp tongue and eyes like polished steel. She had come specifically to challenge the rumors surrounding Masayuki.
"I've come to see the so-called 'Chosen Hero' for myself," Jiwu said coldly, arms folded, staring him down. "I've heard the stories. Frankly… I think you're just a fraud who waves around a borrowed name."
Her words struck hard, but Masayuki didn't even have time to respond properly. Before long, she found herself caught in the web of the "Chosen One" like everyone else.
Jiwu joined the party under the pretense of "exposing him." But day after day, quest after quest, she witnessed the strange and impossible fortune that followed Masayuki.
And then—almost without realizing it herself—she changed.
"Masayuki-sama… your presence in battle is unmatched," she said one night, voice quieter than before. "I'll follow your lead."
What happened to 'fraud'? Masayuki thought grimly. This skill is terrifying…
Jiwu was eccentric, often blunt to a fault, but she was a brilliant healer and her spirit magic complemented Bernie's spells perfectly. She quickly became a crucial pillar of the team.
And so, Masayuki and his companions climbed the ranks like a rising star—storming through tournaments, clearing quests that crushed other parties, achieving A-Rank with ease.
From their base in the Kingdom of Ingracia, the party "Shining" became the talk of adventurers, nobles, and commoners alike.
In less than a year, Masayuki—guided by a power he didn't control—was elevated into the ranks of heroes.
The legend of the "Shining Hero" had only just begun…