I sat cross-legged in the middle of my campsite, staring at the small glass bottle in my hands. The Fountain of Youth.
It was almost too pretty to drink—almost. The liquid inside swirled like liquid starlight, glowing faintly as if it held the essence of something divine.
I exhaled sharply. "Alright. No big deal. Just drinking immortality like it's a fancy soda."
I twisted the cap, and a faint mist curled into the air, carrying a scent so refreshing it made my lungs feel cleaner just by breathing it in.
I tilted my head. "Kinda smells like… morning dew? Or maybe fresh rain? Is immortality supposed to smell this good?"
I hesitated for a second longer before shaking my head. "Stop overthinking it. Just drink the damn thing."
With that, I tipped the bottle back.
The first sip was cool and smooth, like drinking the crispest mountain spring water. It went down so effortlessly that, for a second, I thought—huh, this isn't so bad.
Then—fire.
My whole body ignited. Heat rushed through every inch of me like I'd swallowed the sun. I choked, falling to my knees, gripping my chest as if that would somehow contain the inferno.
"Oh—oh my god—okay—this is not what I signed up for!"
My heart pounded like a war drum, my veins thrummed like a live wire, and my vision blurred. For a brief, terrifying second, I genuinely wondered if I'd just made the biggest mistake of my life.
"Okay—ow—ow—what the hell?! This was supposed to make me immortal, not set me on fire!"
I gasped, gritting my teeth through the burning. "I swear to god, if I just drank some ancient god's expired bathwater, I'm gonna be so pissed—"
Then, just as suddenly as it started, the fire vanished.
And in its place? Something new.
I stood up slowly, rolling my shoulders. I felt… different. Lighter. Stronger. Sharper. Like my body had been fine-tuned to perfection.
I blinked, flexing my fingers. "Huh. That was awful… but also kinda cool."
A small grin tugged at my lips.
"Did it work?"
I needed proof. Solid proof.
My gaze landed on a sharp rock nearby, and without hesitation, I grabbed it.
"Alright, moment of truth."
I dragged the jagged edge across my forearm. A thin line of red appeared—then vanished within seconds.
I stared.
Then, I started laughing.
"Holy shit. It actually worked!"
To test further, I dug the rock deeper into my palm this time, watching as the cut closed up before my eyes.
No pain. No scars.
I clenched my fist, a thrill running through me. I did it.
I was immortal.
I grinned. "Hell yeah!"
I threw the rock away, stretching my arms above my head. "Man, this is wild. So what now? Should I find a volcano and jump in just to test my limits?"
I snorted. "Nah, knowing my luck, I'd just get stuck and have to wait for some clueless adventurer to dig me out centuries later."
I flexed my fingers again, still marveling at how perfectly normal yet completely different I felt. My body wasn't just healed—it was optimized.
"A second chance," I muttered. "A life without fear. No more worrying about dying like some nameless extra in a fantasy world."
I let out a slow breath, letting it sink in.
This was it. The start of something big.
I sat cross-legged in the middle of my campsite, staring at the small glass bottle in my hands. The Fountain of Youth.
It was almost too pretty to drink—almost. The liquid inside swirled like liquid starlight, glowing faintly as if it held the essence of something divine.
I exhaled sharply. "Alright. No big deal. Just drinking immortality like it's a fancy soda."
I twisted the cap, and a faint mist curled into the air, carrying a scent so refreshing it made my lungs feel cleaner just by breathing it in.
I tilted my head. "Kinda smells like… morning dew? Or maybe fresh rain? Is immortality supposed to smell this good?"
I hesitated for a second longer before shaking my head. "Stop overthinking it. Just drink the damn thing."
With that, I tipped the bottle back.
The first sip was cool and smooth, like drinking the crispest mountain spring water. It went down so effortlessly that, for a second, I thought—huh, this isn't so bad.
Then—fire.
My whole body ignited. Heat rushed through every inch of me like I'd swallowed the sun. I choked, falling to my knees, gripping my chest as if that would somehow contain the inferno.
"Oh—oh my god—okay—this is not what I signed up for!"
My heart pounded like a war drum, my veins thrummed like a live wire, and my vision blurred. For a brief, terrifying second, I genuinely wondered if I'd just made the biggest mistake of my life.
"Okay—ow—ow—what the hell?! This was supposed to make me immortal, not set me on fire!"
I gasped, gritting my teeth through the burning. "I swear to god, if I just drank some ancient god's expired bathwater, I'm gonna be so pissed—"
Then, just as suddenly as it started, the fire vanished.
And in its place? Something new.
I stood up slowly, rolling my shoulders. I felt… different. Lighter. Stronger. Sharper. Like my body had been fine-tuned to perfection.
I blinked, flexing my fingers. "Huh. That was awful… but also kinda cool."
A small grin tugged at my lips.
"Did it work?"
I needed proof. Solid proof.
My gaze landed on a sharp rock nearby, and without hesitation, I grabbed it.
"Alright, moment of truth."
I dragged the jagged edge across my forearm. A thin line of red appeared—then vanished within seconds.
I stared.
Then, I started laughing.
"Holy shit. It actually worked!"
To test further, I dug the rock deeper into my palm this time, watching as the cut closed up before my eyes.
No scars.
I clenched my fist, a thrill running through me. I did it.
I was immortal.
I grinned. "Hell yeah!"
I threw the rock away, stretching my arms above my head. "Man, this is wild. So what now? Should I find a volcano and jump in just to test my limits?"
I snorted. "Nah, knowing my luck, I'd just get stuck and have to wait for some clueless adventurer to dig me out centuries later."
I flexed my fingers again, still marveling at how perfectly normal yet completely different I felt. My body wasn't just healed—it was optimized.
"A second chance," I muttered. "A life without fear. No more worrying about dying like some nameless extra in a fantasy world."
A second chance to live without fear of dying like some nameless extra in a fantasy world.
Hell yeah.
My stomach grumbled, and even though I technically didn't need food, I wasn't about to pass up a good meal.
I flicked through the inventory and summoned a feast.
A juicy Wagyu steak glistening with melted butter. A bowl of rich, savory ramen topped with chashu pork. A plate of golden, crispy fries dusted with truffle salt. And for dessert? A massive slice of strawberry shortcake.
I picked up my fork, took a bite of the steak, and moaned.
"Oh my god."
It was stupidly good. Like five-star, last-meal-on-Earth good. I devoured the meal with zero regrets, washing it all down with a glass of summoned red wine.
Immortal or not, I was going to enjoy life.
The sun was barely up when I packed my camp, feeling better than ever. No soreness. No fatigue. No hunger.
Still, I needed more than just a cool trick to survive here.
Sitting on a fallen log, I pulled up my Celestial Inventory and started summoning.
Clothes. I need clothes
I wasn't gonna roll into town looking like I had just lost a fight with a tree.
First, I tried a sleek black suit, then a high-collared assassin's cloak. Too formal. Too edgy.
Finally, I settled on a black leather jacket with gold accents, comfortable yet stylish. Paired with durable pants and boots, it was practical but still looked damn good.
I glanced at my reflection in a summoned mirror.
"Alright. I'd date me."
By midday, the forest finally gave way to rolling hills, and there, nestled in a valley, was Shirotsume.
The town's stone walls looked old but solid, standing strong against time. Even from a distance, I could hear the buzz of life—voices talking.
Civilization.
I sighed in relief. "Finally."
It had been days since I last saw anything other than trees, dirt, and whatever unfortunate wildlife crossed my path. As much as I enjoyed the peace and quiet, I wasn't about to turn down a warm meal and an actual bed.
Sure, I could've summoned a vehicle and gotten here in no time, but I chose not to. I wanted to experience the journey—the kind of adventure I'd only read about in stories. Besides, I wasn't in a rush.
As I approached the gate, a couple of guards stepped forward, blocking my path with their spears. One was tall and broad-shouldered, the other shorter but just as alert.
"Halt," the taller one said, his voice firm but not hostile. "State your business."
I raised my hands in a universal 'I come in peace' gesture. "Just a traveler passing through," I said, keeping my tone easy. "Looking for food and a place to sleep."
The shorter guard eyed me, his gaze lingering on the sword strapped to my hip. "You don't look like a merchant."
I shrugged. "Got lost in the forest. Just trying to get my bearings."
The two exchanged glances. There was a brief pause before the taller one grunted and stepped aside. "Forest isn't kind to travelers. You're lucky to make it out."
I smirked. "Yeah, I get that a lot."
With that, I strode into Shirotsume.