"Well… I'll be damned." Those were the first words I muttered a few days ago when I woke up in this new body.
It had been a few days since my reincarnation. I wasn't in a rush—taking my time to understand and adapt to this new body. And to this new world.
First of all, it seemed Death was telling the truth: the war had indeed ended ten years ago, and the king and queen were none other than Mike and Lia. Thanks to my new parents' casual conversations, I was able to confirm it—though they did find it strange that I kept asking such "obvious" questions.
But well, I had to be sure somehow, right?
It felt strange, especially during the first few hours and days.
"Yosh! I finally finished it," I said, wiping the sweat from my forehead. I had just finished cutting all the weeds that had grown wild and threatened the crops.
"Teiko! Come help me with the cows!"
The farmer, and owner of this farm, with his brown hair and kind green eyes, called out to me. He was my new 'father,' and I made my way toward him without a word.
We were feeding the cows. Using a pitchfork, I pulled the hay closer to their feeding area. Standing beside him, I took a deep breath, lost in thought.
This body, despite being well-built and stronger than most pampered nobles or idle citizens — but compared to my former self, blessed by the gods and hardened through battle, the difference was night and day. It could hold a blade, yes… but the grip wasn't firm enough.
The biggest issue, however, was the lack of "Magical perception".
"Good. Can you feed the chickens next? I'll take care of the pigs," he said.I nodded.
I made my way back to the chicken coop and scattered some seeds generously, making sure they were well-fed. Feeding chickens was a simple task, but my mind kept drifting toward a more pressing concern — my lack of mana perception.
Magic in this world was… peculiar. Mana existed everywhere — in the air, in the ground, in water, even in objects. It wasn't just energy, but tiny particles that clung together, fused, and then split again, forming new ones in the process.
"Like a mother and father creating a child" — or so the mages explained it. The real process was far more complex, but that metaphor stuck.
"Alright, next up — collecting the eggs," I said, reaching out gently to take them from the nests.
Anyway, for adventurers, the fact remained:
'Mana Perception' was an essential skill.
First of all, it allowed one to sense the mana present in the surroundings, such as living beings or magical artifacts. However, this perception had its limits — distinguishing between the two wasn't always reliable, and sometimes, it only worked when the object or being was within visual range.
Because of that, seeing through walls or thick smoke wasn't as easy as most fairy tales claimed. That's why many relied on mages or clerics for detection spells, or on trained rogues and scouts for reconnaissance and investigation.
The reason behind this phenomenon lay in the nature of mana itself. Mana particles, unable to remain fused for long, constantly tried to attach themselves to living beings or objects — clustering around them, creating a sort of "aura" that trained individuals could perceive.
"Like a mother and father searching for a home," as the mages often said in their romantic metaphors.Personally, I couldn't help but wonder if those guys weren't just projecting their love problems onto their theories...
But more importantly, the crucial part is unlocking 'Mana Control' — the ability to manipulate mana, just as the name implies.It's essential for spellcasters like mages, clerics, sorcerers, and witches... but just as vital for warriors — shielders, archers, spearmen, and swordsmen like myself.
Even if we don't rely on magic directly, using mana to enhance techniques brings tremendous advantages in combat. From slicing through solid rock to cutting the scales of a gold dragon…From shrugging off a weak spell to withstanding the devastation unleashed by the mightiest demons — all of it becomes possible through rigorous training, steady mana development…Or sheer, natural talent.
"Teiko!"
A warm voice called out just as I stepped out of the chicken coop.
"Come have lunch! It's already noon!"
It was the voice of my "mother."
I made my way toward her — a kind-looking woman with long black hair and gentle green eyes.
As I sat and ate alongside this new family of mine, she smiled warmly, watching me enjoy her cooking.
"You already worked hard. So take a little break and enjoy mommy's cooking", she said, watching her family enjoy her meal with pride.
I stayed silent, savoring the taste. But even as I enjoyed it, I couldn't help but long for my old body.
It is certainly well-built but back then, even before becoming a Hero, I had been born with at least a trace of Mana Perception. That small gift had made it possible to jump straight into training Mana Control. It was a good start as it allow me to directly train my 'mana control'.
But now… this body possessed none. Not even a spark.
Which meant I had to start over—from the very beginning. Firstly, by developing Mana Perception before I could even begin Mana Control.
The issue wasn't the process itself. Gaining magical perception is, in theory, simple: find a place dense in mana, sit down, and wait. That's it.The surrounding mana, drawn to life, would naturally cling to the body—especially in high-density areas where the particles actively seek vessels.
Naturally mana-dense zones were rare. In my past life, I had access to a few—but I figured those spots were likely now seized and regulated by the Adventurer's Guild.
Even worse, these areas took years to form. And once adventurers began using them, the density would slowly collapse.
After all, when mana clings to people, it leaves the zone with them. Once or twice is fine… but repeated visits?
The particles scatter. The equilibrium breaks. And the magic fades. Making the years to develop going back to zero.
I sighed, my thoughts still tangled in the problem ahead.
"Teiko... Teiko," a gentle voice whispered from my right.I turned to see her — "Big brother… I don't want my vegetables. Can you take them?" my little sister asked, nudging her plate toward me.She hid her face behind her cute little brown twin-tails, pleading with those big emerald eyes.
Glancing toward our mother to make sure she wasn't looking, I quickly scooped the vegetables off her plate the moment her attention drifted elsewhere.
"Thank you," she whispered with a smile, her voice full of relief.I gave a small nod and returned to my thoughts, keeping things discreet.
Where was I? Ah, right — finding a way to develop my Magical Perception.
While locating a mana-dense zone is one option, there is another method... a riskier one.
Killing a magical creature.
Yes, it's dangerous — far more than meditating in a mana-rich zone — but it works. The thing is, magical creatures don't just have mana clinging to their bodies like everything else. They store it inside them, compressed and accumulated over time.
When a magical creature dies, that compressed mana is released all at once. The particles, no longer contained, erupt outward in a burst of energy. Desperate for a new host, they cling to whatever they come into contact with — In such a force and density that the mana becomes visible to the naked eye.
It's this violent surge that can trigger the awakening of Mana Perception in someone nearby.
A brute-force method, yes. But brutally effective.
"Was it good?" the gentle mother asked, watching us with hopeful eyes.
"It was delicious, honey," my father said with a warm smile.
"Tasty! You're the best cook ever, Mom!" my little sister chimed in, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"It was excellent. You've outdone yourself," I added with a kind smile. The mother blushed at our praises, clearly pleased.
"Let me help you with the dishes," I offered as I began standing up.
"Yeah, me too!" my father added, rising to his feet.
"Me three! I'll help too!" my little sister shouted excitedly, already hopping down from the bench and grabbing plates. "Yay!"
As I helped bring down the plates and began washing them with this new family of mine, I squeezed the sponge, watching the soap bubble out. Strangely enough, it made me think of magical creatures. Just like this sponge absorbs soap and releases it under pressure, magical creatures absorb mana and release it upon death.
The reason magical creatures can absorb mana from their surroundings, rather than having it simply cling to them like any other living being, is because they possess something scholars and magicians call "Mana storage". Thankfully, no one tried to give it a poetic name like "Mana home" or something equally ridiculous.
Anyway, these mana storages are internal reservoirs where mana is collected and stored—just as the name implies. Mana can be absorbed into them through breathing, eating, or drinking.
The problem is, you're either born with a storage or you're not. While it's technically possible to develop one later in life, it's extremely rare, and even then, the capacity is minuscule.
To make matters worse, mana storage usually only begins to appear between the ages of twenty and thirty—typically closer to thirty. And even then, if someone hasn't trained properly, it might not develop at all.
Either way, I don't think trying to force a mana storage to develop inside me is worth the effort. Of course, that doesn't mean I won't train toward it—better to have one eventually, even if it takes years from now.
"Thank you, everyone! I'm so grateful to you all!" the mother said as I finished my part of the dishes with a smile.
"It's nothing, Mom. I'm glad I could help."
"After such a meal, honey, it's the least we could do!" my father added.
"Mom! I was a good girl, right? Right?" my little sister chirped.
"Yes, you were, sweetheart!"
I watched with a quiet smile as our mother gently patted her daughter's head, full of tender care. But just as I took a breath to enjoy the moment, a firm hand landed on my shoulder.
"Let's get back to work."
"Okay. Right away, Dad."
Without further ado, I followed him back to the field. As we reached the land and began preparing the draught horse, my father noticed an issue with the plow and scratched his head with a sigh.
"Hmm... Son? Would you mind heading to the village and taking this to the blacksmith? The plow's part cracked this morning—I'd rather have it fixed before it gets worse."
"Oh? Sure. I actually had some things I wanted to ask Mr. Thomen anyway. And I was thinking of stopping by the library."
He looked at me, a bit surprised, then nodded with a light smile.
"Alright, works for me. Be careful on the road, and ask your mother to prepare a little something to thank him. A favor for a favor, right?"
I nodded and headed back to the house, asking my mother to prepare a little something. She went off to the kitchen without question.
Going to see the blacksmith and passing by the library was a great opportunity — not just to catch up on how much the world had changed during the years I was gone, but also to ask for a small favor. If I want to become an adventurer, the first step is to be properly equipped. And that starts with the right gear.
As my mother returned and handed me the basket filled with various homemade meals, I thanked her before heading off toward the village.
"Be careful on the road!"
"I will!" I called back with a wave.
Making my way toward the blacksmith, I took advantage of the walk — and the solitude — to reflect on my next steps after leaving this village. The first and most logical move would be to register with the Adventurer's Guild. Marching straight to the royal capital would be a waste of time at best, and suicide at worst, given my current level. No — the guild would be the smartest starting point.
On top of that, it's not like I can just walk into the royal court and say, "I have returned." Not only would they never believe me, but even if they did, I wouldn't stand a chance against them—let alone the Royal Guard. The only realistic way to meet them is by becoming a prestigious adventurer. I remember, in my previous life, that's exactly how we met the king and queen.
Of course, proper preparation comes first, I reminded myself, stopping in front of the blacksmith's shop.
"Nails and Hammer." I raised an eyebrow at the sign. A peculiar name... but fitting, I suppose.
I took a deep breath, steadied myself, and knocked on the door.
I heard hurried footsteps approaching, and moments later, the door flew open to reveal a stout, middle-aged man with a strong build—though his round belly slightly offset the image. His expression was initially annoyed.
"Who is it—?" But the moment he saw my face and the basket in my hands, his tone softened instantly.
"Oh? Teiko!" he greeted warmly, his voice now gentle and welcoming. "Good to see you!"
"Hello, Mr. Thomen. Sorry for the unexpected visit," I replied calmly. As far as I knew, the man had always had a soft spot for me—or rather, for the boy who originally owned this body.
Good for me, though. It would make things far easier.
I held out the basket toward him with a small smile.
"Would you mind doing me a favor?"