Karl wanted to speak, but before he could, the door to the room opened.
It was the old man from earlier, carrying something… Milk? A baby bottle.
I spoke to the system.
'Can you hear me?'
My voice was still a little stiff and nervous from the sudden situation.
[Yes, host, I can hear you] it replied.
The voice sounded like an AI robot from my original world. Hearing that, I spoke again.
'Alright, so you're the system?' I asked.
[Yes, host, I already told you earlier]
'Ah… so, are you the one who brought me to this world?' I asked with a bit of anger.
I still didn't know if it was the system or someone else who sent me here.
[No, host. I only follow orders to ensure you stay alive.]
Hearing that, I frowned—even if only in my imagination. I spoke again.
'Who gave you those orders—'
But before I could finish, the old man arrived beside me, holding the bottle of milk.
"Come now, child, here's your milk~"
He said with a cheerful smile to comfort the baby.
But in Karl's eyes, the old man looked like some kind of creep.
Karl's face scrunched up in disgust and slight fear.
'Go away, old man! I don't need—' I started to shout,
But before I could finish, the milk was shoved into my mouth.
To the old man, it looked like Karl's mouth opened and closed as if he were thirsty.
But in reality—
'Ah! Wuh! Get away, old man! An adult like me doesn't drink baby milk!'
My pride as an adult was completely shattered—this was the second time.
But then, a notification suddenly appeared before my eyes.
[You have gained 10 EXP for drinking milk]
I received the system message. I had gained EXP simply from drinking the bottle of milk the old man gave me.
Seeing that, I finally drank the milk calmly. I spoke to the system again.
'Hey… system.' I said, pretending to be indifferent while drinking the milk,
as if my pride wasn't hurt—though it was obvious I was drinking eagerly—
Shut up, narrator!
[Yes, host, I'm here] it replied.
'Who ordered you?' I asked.
I wanted to know who sent me here. The system replied.
[That information is confidential, host.]
My eyebrows twitched, though it was just in my imagination. I asked again—
this time, whether I could return to Earth, my home world.
'Then… can I return to Earth?' I asked with hope.
[Yes. That is possible—by obtaining as many Shop Points as possible] it said.
I quickly asked another question.
'How can I earn Shop Points quickly, aside from missions?' I asked curiously.
[By creating a channel]
'A… channel?' I muttered, a question mark floating over my head.
[Yes, create a channel.] the system repeated.
Karl wondered how he was supposed to make a channel in the middle ages.
'…How?'
---
(POV: Old Man)
Two hours earlier.
My name is Himael, the village chief of Stella Village.
And my favorite hobby is… sword fighting.
You might not know this, but I was once the strongest swordsman.
People used to call me the Sword Saint. That was the title they gave me.
It's not that I'm bragging, but what can I do? That's what everyone said.
One afternoon, I went to the royal capital to meet the emperor.
They said his child was about to be born.
Now, I was on my way home, passing through a teleportation gate.
And let me tell you, the fee was ridiculously expensive.
If I were an ordinary man, I would've cried.
But who am I? I am the Sword Saint! Hahaha!
"…Oh dear, I've started getting really narcissistic lately," I muttered.
When I arrived at the gate, a guard greeted me. Judging by his insignia, he was new here.
"Greetings, sir," he said respectfully—or so I expected. But instead…
"Identification card, please," he demanded arrogantly.
I raised an eyebrow slightly. The guard spoke again, this time even harsher.
"Hurry up, old man! I've got other work to do!"
He barked so loudly that everyone nearby could hear.
"…Very well."
I was a bit surprised. Perhaps because he was new, he didn't know who I was.
I handed him my identity card.
The guard snatched it rudely and began to read.
Then, his face paled.
He blinked rapidly, glancing back and forth between me and the card in his hand.
"….."
"….."
After a long pause, the guard suddenly bowed deeply in an awkward position.
He spoke in a trembling voice.
"M-my deepest apologies, Sword Saint! Please punish me! I didn't realize it was you, sir!" he cried, almost in tears.
I watched quietly, which only made him sweat profusely.
The young guard bent even lower, begging for forgiveness.
"P-please forgive me, Sword Saint!!" he wailed.
Then, a burst of laughter escaped me.
"Whahaha! You don't have to bow like that, young man!"
I helped him stand and patted his shoulder.
"B-but sir…!"
"It's fine." I reassured him.
"…Alright," the guard muttered nervously.
"Hahaha! Come now, never kneel to anyone, boy—except the elderly and the emperor, of course," I advised.
"Y-yes, sir!" he shouted with determination.
But little did he know… those words could become the downfall of his life.
Because I was a battle maniac who had never lost, no one dared oppose me.
And thus, I had never knelt before anyone except the emperor.
"OYYY!!"
Suddenly, another guard shouted. Both the rookie and I turned to look.
"What are you doing!?" the guard yelled at the recruit,
then immediately turned to me and bowed.
"This way, sir," he said nervously.
"…Alright."
I followed him toward the teleportation gate.
This guard was the same one who had seen me earlier when I visited the emperor.
When I reached the teleportation gate, I stepped forward with a bored expression—
after all, I was used to it by now.
Just before entering, I saw someone scolding the recruit who had taken my card earlier.
Seeing that, I shook my head and entered the teleportation gate.
"Home, here I come~" I chuckled.
After a moment, I emerged from the gate and found myself in Arcana City,
territory of Duke Arcana.
"From here, I'll walk back to my village."
I left through the Arcana city gates.
Once outside, I continued my journey home.
Of course, if I wanted to, I could've reached home quickly by running.
But my instincts told me not to.
And sure enough, after several hours of walking, I noticed something by the river.
There, floating downstream, was a small boat.
I froze in place—then suddenly, I spotted a large wolf eyeing the boat from across the river.
Curious as to why the wolf was after the boat, I drew closer and sharpened my senses.
Inside the tiny boat was a baby, and the wolf was hunting it.
Moments later, the boat became stuck between some rocks.
Without hesitation, I pulled a sword from my storage ring,
and dashed to save the baby from the wolf.
"Open," I muttered.
Instantly, the sword in my hand shone brightly.
[Sword Technique: Light Blade – Reiken]
I slashed at the wolf targeting the baby.
There was no sound, no wind—only the clean cut of something being sliced.
Sing!
The wolf's head spun in the air before falling into the water.
Thud.
I sheathed my sword with a soft click.
Then, I turned my gaze toward the baby in the little boat and walked toward him.
To avoid getting wet, I channeled mana into my feet, stepping across the water's surface.
Once in front of the boat, I lifted the baby and carried him to the riverbank.
I asked seriously,
"What's your name, child?"
As if he understood, the baby's brows twitched.
I chuckled and continued.
"Oh right, babies can't talk yet, can they? Hahaha!"
I laughed to myself.
Afterward, I looked at the baby again.
I noticed his mana core was missing, raising my eyebrows.
"You… don't have a mana core?" I muttered to myself.
"But that's alright, child. I'll take care of you~"
Himael decided to raise him.
After seeing the emperor's newborn, he had wanted a child as well.
Perhaps this is fate, child, I thought.
He had a strong premonition that this child would defy destiny itself.
And his premonitions had never once been wrong.
.
.