Chapter 3: Miss Valentine and the Road to the Forest
Before I could start training, before I could chase power or destiny or whatever nonsense this world believed in, I had to deal with something far more terrifying.
Responsibility.
Specifically, my house.
I stood in front of my neighbor's door, staring at it like it was the entrance to a dungeon boss room.
"…Alright," I muttered. "Just knock."
I raised my hand and knocked.
A moment later, the door opened.
"Oh? Hi, Nero."
Miss Valentine smiled warmly at me.
She was… dangerous.
Tall, mature, with long flowing hair and eyes that seemed to know far too much. The kind of woman people whispered
about. The kind of woman a lonely teenage boy absolutely should not be thinking about.
"Why are you talking to me after so long?" she asked, tilting her head. "Did something happen?"
"Actually," I said, forcing myself to sound calm, "I need some help, Miss Valentine."
She blinked. "Help?"
"I need to go somewhere for about a month," I explained.
"Could you take care of my house while I'm gone?"
She laughed softly. "Of course I can. But where are you going?"
I leaned in slightly and whispered, "Shhh… it's a secret."
She raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? Mysterious, are we?"
"Very," I replied, nodding seriously.
She chuckled. "Alright, Nero. Have a nice trip."
"Thanks."
She closed the door, and I turned around immediately.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
"She's a hot milf," I muttered to myself as I walked away. "I need to do something about her—"
I stopped.
"No. Nero. Stop."
I smacked my own cheeks lightly.
"You're a good boy now."
Valentine – POV
She leaned back against her door after he left.
"…That boy," she murmured.
So quiet.
So polite.
And yet… something about him had changed.
"I need to do something about him," Valentine whispered, biting her lower lip.
Then she shook her head sharply.
"No. Valentine. Don't."
Back to Nero
I packed lightl
Good clothes.
Old clothes.
A backpack with basic supplies.
Then I locked the door, slung the bag over my shoulder, and headed toward the train station.
Yes.
This world had trains.
Cars.
Televisions.
Computers.
It wasn't some primitive medieval fantasy.
Technology existed.
But the land itself was divided into kingdoms, empires, and territories constantly at war.
A modern world wrapped in old blood.
The train ride was quiet.
My destination?
Cool Forest.
Despite its name, it wasn't particularly cold. It was famous for its scenery, known as a tourist hotspot. Families visited.
Adventurers relaxed. Merchants passed through.
Most importantly—
It wasn't dangerous.
At least, not on the surface.
Deep within the forest lay something else.
A gate.
A hidden entrance to a mysterious library.
A place where one could obtain up to five book copies.
Any book.
Even books from other worlds.
Free.
"That's the plot twist I mentioned earlier," I muttered, staring out the train window.
The hero never went there.
The main story ignored it completely.
Which made it perfect.
"Well," I said, tightening my grip on the strap of my bag, "let's see what kind of future I can steal."
I stepped off the train, breathing in the fresh forest air.
Heh.
This was going to be fun.