Andy couldn't understand. Angel-like beings like those seen in comics or anime had invaded their planet. They were killing everything in their path, showing no pity or mercy.
As Andy struggled to escape from the aggressive creatures, his classmates had already been slaughtered, their bodies lying on the ground.
"Ughh."
Tears kept falling even against his will, but he didn't give up and kept running. He could clearly hear footsteps behind him, as if the figure wanted him to hear them.
"Hahahahaha, keep running, insect!"
Hearing the cruel laughter, Andy grew even more afraid. He couldn't understand the man's language, but he could tell he was laughing. What had happened to the angels who taught humans goodness, who guided them to the right path and presented themselves as messengers of God? Could these really be angels?
Andy clenched his teeth. He still didn't understand. Had their planet been targeted by another god? Whom had they offended?
While his mind drifted through countless thoughts, the angel-like man behind him grabbed his throat and laughed as if he were enjoying himself.
"You insects are so pitiful. And in this state, you dared challenge a god… You truly don't know your place!"
The man roared, tightening his grip and terrifying the choking Andy.
"W-we… didn't do anyth—ugh!"
Andy felt his vision darken, but he could do nothing. All he could do was curse the man in front of him. All he had ever wanted was a peaceful life, taking care of his sick mother—but now neither his mother nor that peace remained.
"Why have you been dawdling for hours, Cornu?"
Startled by the sudden voice from behind, the man threw Andy to the ground and turned around.
"Forgive me, Feldway…"
"Instead of begging forgiveness, why don't you clean up this trash? I came to see whether you were done here, but I'm disappointed."
Cornu trembled at Feldway's cold voice—no, at the oppressive authority emanating from him.
"My army is dealing with the nearby planets, so I thought you'd enjoy making these insects suffer…"
Andy's vision was blurry, but just a few steps away he could see the shoulder and lower body of a white-haired man standing there.
"Are you comparing yourself to those lowly demons?"
"N-no, I—"
"Whatever. Finish your task quickly and contact Dino. We'll be putting our plan into motion soon."
Cornu nodded and headed toward the gate that opened to this world.
"I will definitely take revenge…"
Feldway suddenly stopped and looked toward the hoarse, faint voice behind him. Unlike him, Cornu ignored it and continued on his way.
"I used to think that too,"
Feldway said, then continued.
"But you see, thousands of years have passed and I still haven't succeeded. So how do you plan to do it? Especially in that state, looking like you're on your deathbed?"
Feldway mocked him. Normally he wouldn't care about such insects, but when it came to revenge, it always caught his interest.
Andy couldn't understand what the man was saying and could only stare into his deadly blue eyes.
One day, I definitely—
As Andy's vision faded, he kept looking at the man's back as he walked away, and slowly breathed his last.
…
"Aghh!"
Shrill cries filled the room, making the woman lying on the bed smile through her tears.
Where am I?
Andy suddenly stared blankly at the ceiling before him, his mind racing.
Was it all just a nightmare?
He instantly rejected the thought. First, the ceiling didn't match the one in his home—it was wooden and very old. Second, he was being held in a woman's arms, and his hands were tiny. Not to mention his arms!
Andy suddenly realized a truth and stopped crying.
Don't tell me… I was reborn? He looked around—or rather, tried to—but he couldn't move his neck due to weakness.
I'm so weak, he thought. Memories from before his death came back, and he started crying again. The long red-haired woman holding him brushed aside the strands of hair touching his face and gently rocked him to calm him.
"Honey, what should we name him?"
Holding the baby, she asked the bearded man standing nearby. He thought for a moment.
"Our baby is very cute. Then let's name him Andy."
So in this life and my previous one, my name will be Andy too?
"You're right. I hope he lives a happy future."
Five years later
By the time Andy turned five, he had already started walking and could speak fluently. In the past five years he had learned many things. He was now living as a commoner in the Eastern Empire, and his father was a former soldier who had married late due to his duties and had Andy at the age of thirty-two. Another important thing was that this world had magic! Andy was thrilled. He wanted to learn magic as soon as possible and see what it was like.
He wasn't in a hurry, but he needed luck. Being born a commoner in this world made strengthening himself difficult. At least his father being an ordinary imperial soldier was something he considered fortunate.
"Andy, are you ready?"
The gray-haired man in his forties holding a wooden sword and taking a stance was Andy's father, and today he would teach his daughter swordsmanship for the first time.
"Yes, Dad!"
Andy smiled cheerfully like an ordinary child and took the wooden sword.
Since the age of three, Andy had held a sword and practiced swinging it firmly every day. During this time he had strengthened his body and become capable of performing some simple movements. Every morning he woke early, watched his father training outside, and repeated the same sword techniques.
"What you'll do is simple. Attack me from any direction, and I'll correct your movements."
Andy nodded and dropped his smile. He focused directly on his father, quickly thinking about which direction to attack from—and in a single second, he moved.
Clashing swords head-on would be foolish. Physically he was especially inferior compared to a thirty-seven-year-old man with far greater strength.
Just as their swords were about to collide, he used his father's upward strike to his advantage, hooked his sword to his father's with his foot, and leapt into the air with the force. I have to finish this quickly, he thought, and aimed straight for the man's exposed throat.
CLACK!
With a swift motion, the man blocked the strike aimed at his throat, and from the force Andy's sword slipped from his hand and fell.
Rubbing his hand from the impact, Andy looked at his father respectfully and said,
"Again."
After hours of training, Andy collapsed against the garden fence, too exhausted to move.
"That was very good for your first try."
Still astonished by his daughter's movements, her father Edwin could only praise her.
"I still have a long way to go! I've told you many times, Dad! I want to become a hero too!"
Andy's mother Aisha often read her stories about heroes before bed, especially the tales of the hero Ludra, which were quite famous in the Eastern Empire. Even if some parts were exaggerated, they gave people motivation and encouraged them to grow stronger.
Edwin smiled cheerfully and patted his daughter's head.
"Eat first. Your mother must have already prepared dinner."
Taking the hint, Andy nodded and ran into the house.
After she left, Edwin wiped the sweat from his forehead with a cloth, still amazed. His daughter, who had just had her first training session with him, had already adapted to sword movements and synchronized with her limits of strength.
My daughter really is a genius!
Edwin smiled proudly and followed the direction Andy had gone.
After dinner, Andy returned to her room and began taking out the money she had hidden under the bed.
The room was rather small, only large enough for a single bed and a wardrobe, but Andy didn't mind and never complained to her parents. Their financial situation was only one step above that of a poor villager.
After counting the money and arranging it neatly, Andy ran to the living room where her parents were sitting.
"Mom, Dad, I want to ask you for something."
Sensing the seriousness as her cheerful smile faded, Edwin and Aisha simply nodded. Edwin asked,
"What's wrong, Andy? Where did you get that money?"
Sitting on the patched rug on the floor, Andy looked at her father.
"In my free time I helped people in the village and did simple jobs. With the money I saved, I want a basic magic book."
A brief silence fell over the room.
"If that's what you want, why not?"
Edwin smiled. At first he had planned to gift Andy an iron sword, but it seemed his daughter wanted to learn magic.
Andy smiled and held out the money to her father. Edwin refused it outright, saying the magic book would be his gift to celebrate her effort.
After hugging both her parents with a bright smile, Andy returned to her room.
I still have many kinds of magic to learn and my swordsmanship to improve. If I repeat the same things every day, I can slowly grow stronger.
After visualizing the plan she made every night, all that remained was to put it into action.
When I reach what they call A-rank, I'll leave home and set out on adventures.