FirstPen

No cheat. No system. No girls falling over him.
Kazuma wakes up in the dungeon city of Orario with nothing—no power, no guidance, no destiny.

He’s not the hero. He’s not chosen.
He’s just a man trying to survive in a world that rewards only the strong.

But strength doesn’t always come from magic or gods—it comes from scars, pain, and the will to keep walking.

No harem. One love. Many scars.
For readers tired of clichés, this is your story.

Translated by AI

DanMachi: Reincarnated Adventurer’s Journey

I want to address a topic that many have asked about:

"Why has Kazuma already decided to 'become strong' in Chapter 17, but until now his skills haven't emerged when skills usually arise from strong and pure motivation."

This isn't a writing error—it's an intentional character journey. Allow me to explain:

What happened to Kazuma in chapter 17 wasn't actually a point of awakening, but rather a point of confusion.

When Kazuma decided "I will become strong" after seeing Bell and Hestia's closeness, this wasn't a decision coming from his deepest heart or pure determination.

Strength is a path, not a destination.

He lost hope of being with Hestia, and instead of facing that pain, he redirected his focus to something measurable—strength.

Uncle Baros' words were indeed powerful: "Become strong so no one can take anything from you." But Kazuma forgot—you cannot protect something you don't possess.

But look at the contradiction here:

Hestia? No, because he realizes Hestia has chosen Bell.

His home village? No, because his village isn't in danger.

Himself? Perhaps, but this is too abstract.

But the crucial question is: what does Kazuma truly want to protect?

Without a clear answer to this question, his determination isn't yet strong enough to trigger a skill.

Not an "instant" character like Bell who had a clear purpose from the beginning.

His negative spiral is slow because in childhood (Uncle Baros taught strength = a tool for survival, not a purpose).

His skill intentionally hasn't emerged yet—it will be an emotional explosion when he finally finds his answer.

The philosophy is simple yet profound: "If I become strong enough, perhaps someday I'll understand... what I'm actually becoming strong for."

Imagine yourself suddenly transported to another world. What would be your goal? To become the strongest? To collect a harem of beautiful companions? To defeat the demon lord?

These might be initial reactions, but as time passes in this new reality, you'd inevitably face a deeper question: what is your purpose in this world?

This is exactly Kazuma's struggle. Unlike protagonists who immediately find their calling, Kazuma is searching for meaning.

Thank you for following his journey.

Author's Note