Volume 1 — Chapter 1.0: Reborn

"Good to see you, Yamazaki."

I opened my eyes. Above me stretched a clear sky, and a soft, warm wind brushed against my skin. The pain had vanished completely—only warmth and silence remained.

It felt so good… as if I had just been born anew.

I slowly sat up and saw a white-haired boy standing before me. His deep black eyes watched me closely, and his smile was frozen—genuine… or perhaps fake?

"Who are you?" I asked.

He stepped closer and offered his hand. I hesitantly reached out and did the same. He pulled me to my feet effortlessly.

I examined him more carefully. His clothes were a blend of black and gray: a dark shirt, gray jeans, black belt. A silver bracelet with white stones adorned his right wrist.

His nails were painted black, and on his middle finger was a tattoo—thorns spiraling around a rose stem.

"I'm your savior, my young friend."

"Savior?"

"Exactly. You're not in pain, are you? Feel at peace?"

"I guess... yeah."

He turned and walked toward a small round table nearby.

"Please, have a seat," he said, motioning to an empty chair.

I stepped up and noticed two cups of tea on the table, along with plates of cake and cookies.

"Don't worry, the food's safe."

I sat down. He added two sugar cubes to my tea.

"How did you know how much sugar I take?"

"I know everything about you. Your birthday. Your first word. Favorite food... even the day you died."

"Died?..” I jumped up and slammed my hands on the table. “What are you talking about?"

“Relax. Sit down and drink your tea—it’ll calm you," he said, voice steady.

I picked up the cup, though my hand trembled. Something inside me resisted taking a sip. Fear.

"Why are you afraid? I’m not your enemy. If I wanted to harm you, you’d already be dead."

I brought the cup to my lips and drank it all in one go.

He smiled.

"You died one minute ago. Cardiac arrest. I’m sorry. Which is why I’m offering you a second chance."

"Why would you feel sorry for me?"

"You truly don’t understand… From childhood, you knew no happiness. Everyone hated you—your parents, classmates. You were a true outcast."

"That’s not true!" I shouted.

"You escaped reality through games, fell into debt, hid from collectors… Was that your happiness?"

I didn’t notice the tear until it dropped onto the table. Only then did I realize I was crying.

"You said you didn’t suffer. So why are you crying?" he asked quietly, handing me a handkerchief.

"Life is unfair—or rather, people are—but I’m ready to change everything."

"And how will you change my life?"

His eyes flashed. He stood and stepped close.

"It’s simple. You’ll become someone new. My hero. The one who saves me… and this world. You’ll find true love. You’ll never be alone again."

"I’d be glad to help… but are you sure a sixteen-year-old student can do this?" I scratched my head doubtfully.

"Of course. Only you can complete this mission," he replied firmly.

"And don’t worry—I won’t abandon you in a foreign world." He paused, sat down thoughtfully.
"Ah! How could I forget about the Pact?"

A black parchment appeared out of thin air beside him. He scanned it briefly and tossed it over his shoulder.

"I’ll give you a second life—with a fragment of my mana. In return, you’ll gather twenty elemental spheres. Simple, right?"

"I guess, but—"

"No ‘buts’," he interrupted.

"I’ll be by your side. I’ll protect you. Share my mana. Fulfill your requests. Isn’t that enough?"

"Alright…" I sighed. "But just one question, if I may."

He nodded. I looked up.

Silence. Heavy, uneasy silence. It lasted a few seconds, then broke with my voice. I couldn’t hold back. Tears streamed down my face.

"I promise—I’ll do everything to make you smile, not cry. You’ll have real friends. People will call you a hero."

I wiped my tears with a sleeve and looked up. His face still held that cold mask. No sorrow, no joy. Just calm.

"If you’re ready, sign your name. In blood."

He slid the contract toward me along with a needle.

I pricked my finger and pressed it against the parchment. It flared and dissolved in a burst of flame.

"Thank you, hero!" he said, smiling sincerely for the first time.

Then—splash! He threw his cup of tea in my face.

"AAAH! Are you insane?!" I shouted, wiping my eyes. "Is this how you treat heroes?!"

I wiped the last of the liquid from my eyes—only to find myself standing in the middle of a bustling plaza. A market.

“Is this the new world? Strange… looks a lot like old Europe.”

Stone and timber buildings surrounded me. Tiled rooftops. Colorful fabrics fluttered in the wind.

People passed by in rough linen and wool clothing, mostly in muted colors.

The cobblestone underfoot creaked. Wooden stalls stretched out on both sides.

"Fresh fish! Straight from the port!" shouted someone on the right.

"Cheap crystals! One crystal for two gothins!" called another from the left.

I stood like a phantom among them. People walked around me. A few cast wary glances, but most were absorbed in their own business.

"I need to focus and form a plan."

Voices rang out. Children laughed. Wagon wheels creaked.

"This city’s lively—for something medieval."

"Hey, young man! Want to buy some fruit?" called a merchant.

"I… I understand him? But how do I respond?"

"You're talking to me?" I asked, a bit unsure.

"Who else? Your clothes aren’t local—they probably cost more than the whole town!" He laughed.

I glanced down. I wore ordinary clothes: black jeans, a white t-shirt with a stain, a black windbreaker… with snot dried on the sleeve.

"I’ve got the cleanest apples in Bartaz! You won’t regret it."

"I’d love to… but there’s one problem." I scratched the back of my head.