I think it was about two years ago.
Back then, I was seventeen years old, working at my father's small market stall in the village.
My father was an ordinary vendor.
He had no grand dreams, no special talents.
It seemed like I would live the same kind of ordinary life as him.
At least, until that day.
That morning, as usual, I was sweeping in front of the stall.
Or at least… pretending to sweep.
In reality, I was using the broom as an excuse to stare toward the village square.
Because watching the girls passing through the square at that hour was far more important than sweeping.
"I'll sweep later… just a little more watching," I thought.
But then…
Somehow, I ended up sitting by the roadside.
Then lying down.
And before I even realized it…
I fell asleep.
Something hard touched the side of my head.
Tap.
Then again.
Tap.
"Ha… huh…?"
I slowly opened my eyes halfway.
Standing in front of me was a tall, strange-looking man.
He wore a long, dark wizard's robe,
and in his hand was a staff that reached nearly to the ground.
And…
He was poking me with it.
"Wake up," he said in a short, stern voice.
I forced myself upright.
There were several children standing beside him.
All of them looked younger than me.
They were probably around thirteen years old.
The man touched one of the children's shoulders with his staff.
The staff glowed faintly.
The child trembled for a moment.
Then let out a relieved breath.
He did the same to the other children.
That's when I realized.
He was opening their mana pathways.
Normally, every child in the village had their mana pathways opened by the priest at the church when they turned thirteen.
But me…
I had spent that day playing instead.
Because honestly…
It felt like too much trouble.
After finishing with the last child, the man turned toward me.
His gaze was sharp.
"You." he said.
He pointed directly at me.
"Why haven't your mana pathways been opened at your age?"
"Ha… um…"
My mind went blank.
And what was with this traveling wizard anyway?
If I told the real reason, it would sound ridiculous.
Because I was too lazy.
But I couldn't say that.
"Um… I don't want to… it sounds like too much trouble…"
I muttered quietly.
The man stared at me for a moment.
Then he raised his staff.
"Come here."
I tried to run.
But I couldn't.
My feet felt glued to the ground.
The staff glowed faintly.
And then…
It touched my body.
The man suddenly froze.
He pulled the staff away.
Then he looked straight into my eyes.
His brows furrowed deeper.
3 seconds…
5 seconds…
7 seconds…
Then…
His eyes slowly widened.
His entire body began to tremble.
"Y-you… y-you…"
He stuttered.
His face turned completely pale.
Before I could understand what was happening—
THUD
The man suddenly collapsed to the ground.
He didn't move.
Later, I learned that…
He had suffered a heart attack.
And died.
The problem was…
I was there.
And he had died while talking to me.
The villagers began staring at me strangely.
Some whispered.
Some looked frightened.
Some kept their distance entirely.
Even my father.
When I returned home, he stood at the door.
His face looked strange.
As if he didn't recognize me.
"You…" he said.
Then he fell silent.
"..."
With trembling eyes, he slowly closed the door.
From behind the door, in a low voice, he said:
"You can't stay in this house."
I had been cast out.
At that moment, I didn't understand what he meant.
Why was I being kicked out?
I hadn't done anything.
And that's how it happened.
Because of a cursed wizard who died from a heart attack, I was driven out of my village.
Even my father refused to let me stay.
So…
I had no choice but to leave.
And the most ridiculous journey of my life…
Started that very day.