Chapter 2 : Separation is difficult

That morning, the sky above the small village was clear. The sun had just risen, casting its light upon the simple houses made of wood and stone. The sound of birds chirping in the distance mixed with the faint noise of villagers starting their daily routines.

Amidst the peaceful atmosphere, a young man stood in front of his house, gazing at the modest building that had been his home for years. Reinhardt Vale gripped his backpack tightly, his heart feeling heavy.

Today was his departure day.

Today, he would leave the village that had been his home since childhood.

As Reinhardt walked toward the village center, almost all the villagers had gathered. Their faces displayed various emotions—some smiling, some looking sad, and others appearing proud.

The first to approach him was an elderly woman with white hair. She was Grandma Mira, the one who always made him warm soup on cold nights.

"So, you're really leaving?" Her gentle voice carried a hint of sorrow.

Reinhardt swallowed hard, trying to suppress the emotions rising in his chest.

"Yes, Grandma. I have to go."

Grandma Mira offered a small smile, though Reinhardt could see the glint of tears in her eyes. "I always knew you weren't an ordinary boy, Reinhardt. You are destined for greater things."

Reinhardt could only return a small smile, unsure of what to say.

After that, he bid farewell to the young children who always followed him around, asking him to teach them how to fight. They looked at him with sparkling eyes, though sadness was evident in their expressions.

"Brother Reinhardt, when will you come back?" one of the children, Leo, asked innocently.

Reinhardt crouched down and ruffled the boy's hair. "I don't know, Leo. But when I do, I want to see you become stronger, okay?"

Leo nodded firmly, though Reinhardt could see the tears welling up in his eyes.

Finally, Reinhardt turned to the five elderly men who had trained him for years. They stood with arms crossed, looking at him with pride.

One of them, Garet, stepped forward and patted his shoulder.

"Don't think you can come back as a rookie, kid." His voice was firm but filled with warmth.

Reinhardt chuckled. "I'll make sure I return much stronger."

Garet smiled before handing him something—an old wooden spear. "This was your first spear. Keep it as a reminder of this place."

Reinhardt gripped the spear tightly.

"Thank you… everyone."

As he spoke those words, Reinhardt felt his eyes sting.

This wasn't an anime.

This was reality.

Everyone in front of him wasn't just two-dimensional characters that could be ignored. They were the people who had been with him for fifteen years.

People who had cared for him, taught him, and given him a place he could call home.

And now, he had to leave them all behind.

After an emotional farewell, Reinhardt finally stood at the village gates. From here, a narrow dirt road led to the main path toward Orario.

Some villagers remained behind him, waving their hands.

Reinhardt took a deep breath, calming his emotions.

"This isn't the end, just the beginning of a new journey."

With steady steps, he began walking.

And without looking back, Reinhardt Vale left the village of his birth, heading toward a bigger world—Orario.

The road to Orario stretched long before Reinhardt. A dirt path cut through a dense forest, with sunlight filtering through the leaves, creating a peaceful atmosphere. However, for an adventurer, this forest was not just a scenic route—it was a place where danger could arise at any moment.

Reinhardt walked steadily, carrying the wooden spear Garet had given him on his back. Though old and worn, the spear held great sentimental value.

"This journey will take about a week if I walk nonstop. But if I'm lucky, I might find a merchant heading that way."

From the map he had seen in the village, Orario was located at the center of this world, surrounded by various small towns and remote villages. Although he had never been there, Reinhardt knew exactly what awaited him—The Dungeon World, the City of Adventurers.

The sun gradually sank toward the western horizon. Reinhardt knew he had to find shelter before nightfall.

Using his experience as a village hunter, he found a small cave near a river. It wasn't large, but it was enough to provide shelter from wild animals.

He quickly gathered dry wood and lit a campfire. The orange glow illuminated his face, casting shadows on the cave walls.

As he leaned against the wall, his thoughts drifted back to the village. He could picture the children who always pestered him, Grandma Mira preparing dinner, and the old men who had given him grueling training.

"I miss them."

But he quickly pushed that feeling aside. He had made his decision. There was no point in regretting it now.

Tomorrow, the journey continued.

With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and allowed his body to rest.

The next morning, after a simple breakfast of wild fruits, Reinhardt resumed his journey.

However, after walking for a few hours, his ears picked up an unusual sound in the distance—shouting and terrified screams.

Cautiously, he hid behind the trees and observed.

A group of armed men surrounded a merchant's wagon. In the middle of it, an elderly man with a white beard knelt while a young brown-haired girl trembled in fear.

"Hurry up and hand over your valuables! Otherwise, we'll take them ourselves!" one of the bandits threatened, wielding his sword.

Bandits…

Reinhardt clenched his fists. This was reality, and these people truly existed.

He glanced at his spear.

"If I want to become an adventurer, I can't just stand by."

"Think of this as my first test as an adventurer."

With steady steps, he emerged from his hiding place.

"Hey, you sewer rats!" Reinhardt called out loudly, drawing the bandits' attention.

The five armed men immediately turned toward him. One of them—the apparent leader—scanned Reinhardt from head to toe before letting out a chuckle.

"Hah? A brat? You think you can take us on?"

Reinhardt simply smiled. "Try me."

The bandit leader swung his sword wildly, attempting to slash Reinhardt from the front.

But for someone trained by former adventurers, such an attack was far too slow.

Reinhardt sidestepped effortlessly, pivoting his body to strike the man's stomach with the tip of his spear.

"GUH!"

The leader staggered back, his face filled with shock.

"That little bastard… KILL HIM!"

The remaining four bandits charged at once.

But Reinhardt was ready.

Using his spear mastery, he dodged their attacks with nimble movements. He thrust his spear into one of the bandits' legs, causing the man to scream in pain and collapse.

Then, he leaped back, using the shaft of his spear to strike another bandit's chin.

The two remaining bandits exchanged nervous glances, clearly starting to panic.

"Damn it… he's no ordinary kid!"

Seeing their leader struggling, they immediately fled into the forest.

Reinhardt turned to the bandit leader, who was still kneeling while clutching his stomach. With one swift motion, he struck the back of the man's head with his spear—hard enough to grant him a quick, painless death.

After ensuring there were no more threats, Reinhardt approached the elderly man and the young girl.

"Are you two okay?"

The old man stood shakily before looking at Reinhardt with deep gratitude.

"Young man… you saved us. If you hadn't come, we might have been dead."

The girl beside him, still visibly shaken, finally mustered the courage to speak. "Th-Thank you…"

The old man then smiled. "As a token of gratitude, would you like to travel with us? We are heading to Orario."

Reinhardt was momentarily surprised, but then he smiled. "That would be a great help."

And with that, he finally secured a ride to the city of adventurers.