Chapter 2

(1)

1.

Right after his consciousness was cut off.

Ulan’s vision turned pitch black in an instant.

He was swallowed by a vast darkness. A space where neither sensation nor the flow of time could be felt.

How much time had passed like this?

Suddenly, his consciousness, which had disappeared, began to slowly recover. Like a dying ember reigniting. Along with it, memories he thought he had forgotten started to resurface one by one.

What’s this? Wasn’t everything supposed to end when you die?

Why are these memories suddenly coming back?

Just as he was engulfed in a strange feeling.

[…Failure]

A bizarre voice echoed.

It sounded like metal scraping.

[Memory… Preservation… Restart…]

It was a voice devoid of any emotion, utterly alien. As if it didn’t belong to this world.

But before he could even question it.

Light broke through the dark world.

Soon, Ulan’s eyes snapped open.

The first thing he saw was the ceiling of a tent.

A vividly embroidered red pattern reflected in his eyes. Then, a breeze blew in from outside the tent.

A vast, sprawling prairie.

Ulan blinked blankly.

‘This place…’

Where he was born and raised.

The northern prairie of the continent. Ulan’s homeland.

What’s going on? Am I still reminiscing about my past life? Questions bubbled up, and without realizing it, he pinched his cheek hard.

Ouch!

It hurt. Ulan was startled.

Not because of the pain. But because he couldn’t feel the rough beard that should have stretched from his ear to his jaw.

Then, at that moment.

He noticed a basin placed beside the bed.

A basin filled with warm water.

Ulan, as if entranced, approached it. When he finally saw his reflection in the calm water.

“…!?”

His eyes widened in shock.

No wonder. Reflected there was the face of a young Ulan. The face of his boyhood.

It wasn’t just his face that had changed.

The excruciating pain that had plagued his body was gone. Instead, he saw a clean, muscular torso.

Ulan muttered blankly.

“I was sure I had died…”

Then he was startled again.

Even his voice was different.

Just as he was struggling to sort out his confusion. Suddenly, he heard the sound of people talking outside the tent.

“He’s truly an amazing guy.”

“Indeed.”

“Who would’ve thought he’d pass the Trial of the Hero?”

“So, is Ulan the next Clan Leader?”

“Hahaha! Of course!”

“There’s no warrior in the entire prairie who can match Ulan’s strength.”

The lively chatter.

Hearing this, Ulan recalled a time long ago when he had experienced the exact same situation.

‘…The Trial of the Hero.’

It was late summer when he was sixteen.

Having already passed the Trial of the Warrior, Ulan had once challenged the legend of his clan.

An ancient ruin on the outskirts of the tribe.

This ruin, teeming with monsters and golems, was called the ‘Cave of the Hero’ by the tribe.

And the challenge to enter this cave, defeat all the monsters, and retrieve the token kept at the end of the ruin was called the ‘Trial of the Hero.’

‘Those who pass the trial…’

Can obtain anything.

One thing they desire.

That was the gist of the legend.

Back then, the sixteen-year-old Ulan, full of youthful vigor, had challenged this legend and, after a grueling ten-day battle, barely managed to pass the trial.

As he recalled this memory.

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

‘That’s right, the Token of the Hero!’

Since he passed the trial, he should have the token.

Frantically, Ulan searched around.

Then he realized he was wearing the Token of the Hero around his neck. However, there was one difference from before.

‘The gem is gone.’

Originally, there should have been a large gem embedded in the center of the token. The very gem that had emitted light before he lost consciousness.

But now, the spot where the gem should be was empty. As if someone had taken it. Just as he was feeling confused.

Flap!

Someone entered the tent.

A tall, well-built young man.

With a lean, muscular body, reddish-brown hair, and faint crimson eyes.

“Ulan. Are you awake now?”

A warm gaze.

He spoke with a smile.

“Congratulations on passing the Trial of the Hero. I’m proud to call you my brother.”

A familiar face and voice.

Meeting his gaze.

Ulan muttered blankly.

“…Brother?”

Alk Bator.

Ulan’s blood brother, six years his senior.

And now, a family member who no longer existed in the world. Alk had died just before Ulan turned seventeen.

‘But how…’

Is brother here?

Ulan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Did he notice? Alk spoke with a worried expression.

“If you’re not feeling well, let me know anytime. You’re now our pride and the hope of the tribe.”

Warm words.

Alk turned away again.

“The preparations are almost done. I’ll call you when everything’s ready, so rest a bit more.”

He had a rough idea of what ‘preparations’ meant. On the day he passed the Trial of the Hero, the tribe held a festival to celebrate.

But now.

Ulan wasn’t interested in the festival.

No, it was more accurate to say he didn’t have the time to care about such things.

‘Let’s sort this out.’

Ulan had died after a final battle with the Giant King Rargtan. But when he opened his eyes, he had returned to the time when he had passed the Trial of the Hero.

And the Token of the Hero, which was supposed to grant any wish, was left behind, missing its large gem.

As he recalled this.

Ulan assessed the situation.

‘Does this mean I’ve returned to the past?’

To live life again.

That was Ulan’s wish. And now, his wish had been granted.

‘If that’s really the case…’

At this very moment.

Ulan had the opportunity he had longed for.

A chance to wield a much stronger body and weapon than in his past life, and to crush the heads of monsters!

‘I won’t miss it this time.’

Ulan’s eyes gleamed.

The eyes of someone who had seized an opportunity.

2.

Boom! Boom boom!

The sound of drums echoed.

Flames rose, and lively cheers filled the air. The festival to celebrate passing the Trial of the Hero had begun.

The tribe of the prairie was thoroughly drunk.

They ate and drank merrily, forgetting tomorrow and enjoying today. Just as the atmosphere was reaching its peak. Suddenly, everything fell silent.

Thud thud!

Someone appeared.

A woman draped in the skin of a giant snake.

She appeared to be in her late thirties, with black hair braided down to her waist swaying with each step.

Soon, the woman stopped.

She had arrived at the center of the tribe. In front of her sat Ulan. The woman pointed at Ulan with a staff adorned with various feathers and spoke.

“Prairie Warrior, Ulan Bator.”

“Ulan! Ulan!”

As soon as the woman finished speaking, the warriors around them beat their weapons on the ground. This was a sign of support, respect, and praise for Ulan.

“You have challenged the legend and achieved the feat of passing the trial. Therefore, show us the token of your trial.”

As soon as she finished speaking.

Ulan silently handed over the necklace.

After examining the necklace for a while, the woman revealed her white teeth and grinned.

“Hmm, it’s indeed the Token of the Hero.”

“…”

On the other hand, Ulan looked dejected.

He thought he wouldn’t be recognized as the Hero since the gem was missing.

‘I even prepared an excuse…’

Who knew it would be this easy to be acknowledged.

Just as he was feeling pointlessly empty.

Her shout continued.

“Thus, Warrior Ulan has completed the proof to be called a Hero. If anyone has any objections to this ceremony, speak now!”

The surroundings fell silent.

Meaning no one objected. After glancing around briefly, the woman smiled brightly and shouted.

“Then, with everyone’s agreement, I hereby recognize Warrior Ulan as a Hero!”

“Wahhhhh!”

“Hero Ulan!”

Loud cheers erupted.

Everyone was cheering for Ulan.

Meanwhile, Ulan was lost in other thoughts.

‘I’m sixteen now.’

He had returned about thirty years.

In his past life, he had died at the age of forty-five. After roughly gauging the passage of time, Ulan looked around.

He saw many familiar faces.

Including the woman currently conducting the Hero’s ceremony.

‘Sorcerer Ajuheuh.’

Outwardly, she looked like she was in her mid-to-late thirties, but in reality, she was over seventy. Yet, she maintained such youth because she was a highly skilled sorcerer.

‘Did she create an elixir of immortality?’

That’s what he had heard.

After that, Ajuheuh wandered the continent before returning to the prairie just before turning sixty.

‘In the past, I only thought of her as a vain, greedy old woman…’

That was Ulan’s prejudice.

Looking back, Ajuheuh was a wise sorceress and priestess. She was also famous enough to have made a name for herself outside the prairie.

Just as he was thinking this.

Suddenly, a voice broke his thoughts.

“Now, choose. Hero Ulan!”

Pointing her staff at the altar.

Ajuheuh shouted loudly.

“We have prepared rewards worthy of your feat, so choose whatever you desire!”

There were three rewards.

A spear imbued with blue light.

A flag adorned with a seductive beauty and the symbol of the tribe.

Each had a different meaning.

‘Choosing a weapon first…’

Means fulfilling the duty of protecting the tribe. The beauty signifies leaving strong offspring for the tribe’s future, and the flag means becoming the Clan Leader who will lead the tribe’s future.

‘In the past, I said this.’

That I wanted all three.

Ulan didn’t compromise. He believed he was worthy of it.

So he took them all.

But now, his thoughts were different.

‘The blue spear.’

Of course, it’s a useful weapon. But weapons of that level are a dime a dozen outside the prairie.

‘The most beautiful woman in the tribe.’

A pretty face and a voluptuous figure. But that’s all. Outside the prairie, there are countless women more beautiful and charming than her.

‘Lastly, the Clan Leader’s flag.’

That didn’t suit Ulan either.

Because the Clan Leader should be a wise person, not just a strong warrior. Ulan only realized this when he turned forty.

In other words, there was nothing there that Ulan wanted.

Ulan calmly pondered what he truly desired. Thus, three goals were set.

‘First, reach the Realm Beyond Mastery.’

Possessing a much stronger body and power than in his past life is the first goal. Only then can he stop the Lords of the Abyss without dying.

‘Second, obtain a powerful weapon.’

The axe Ulan used was a precious weapon blessed with various powers. It was among the top ten most powerful weapons in the world.

But even that axe was shattered by the Giant King Rargtan. So this time, his goal was to obtain an even better weapon.

‘Third, accumulate diverse knowledge.’

Strength isn’t everything in this world.

Wisdom is needed to build and lead a faction. So, accumulating some knowledge would be beneficial in many ways.

And one more thing.

There’s a reason to accumulate knowledge.

Long ago, Ulan had heard Ajuheuh mention this by chance. Outside the prairie, there exists a place that holds all the knowledge of the world.

‘Arsen Academy.’

The continent’s premier educational institution and treasure trove of knowledge, having produced countless talents.

There, surely, lies the key or knowledge to reach the Realm Beyond Mastery. Perhaps even a way to obtain a powerful weapon.

Of course, this is just a vague speculation.

But even a sliver of hope, Ulan had no intention of letting it go.

‘But to enter the Academy…’

At least basic knowledge is required.

Arsen Academy is famous for its difficult entrance exams. But Ulan wasn’t smart. He was known as the tribe’s biggest blockhead.

Still, there was no need to worry.

‘Because Ajuheuh is here.’

She’s the tribe’s top sorceress.

In her youth, she wandered the continent, broadening her horizons, and now she’s renowned as the most knowledgeable person in the tribe.

‘She’s more than qualified to teach me.’

With the goal of entering Arsen Academy, I’ll seek her guidance. Ulan, with a serious glint in his eyes, immediately turned around.

Then he spoke.

“What I want isn’t there.”

As soon as Ulan finished speaking.

The hall buzzed momentarily.

But only for a moment.

“Silence!”

A sharp shout echoed.

Soon, silence fell, and Ajuheuh’s gaze returned to Ulan.

“Hero. Then what do you desire?”

With the returned question.

Ulan answered as if he had been waiting.

“I desire knowledge.”

“Yes, knowledge… What?”

Ajuheuh, who had been nodding silently, suddenly widened her eyes. As if she had seen a ghost, her expression was utterly shocked.

“Sorcerer Ajuheuh.”

On the other hand, Ulan was serious.

He bowed his head to Ajuheuh and spoke.

“Teach me.”

On the day the Hero was born in the prairie.

The lively festival quickly fell silent.

As if cold water had been poured over it.

Chapter 1. Opportunity

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