Memories always linger in a person's mind.
They are what make people reminisce, bringing them nostalgia.
Although some things may be forgotten, most remain.
So, in a way, the brain is like a library of memories.
Right now, Tyler is experiencing that feeling.
Only after a slime dropped onto the back of his neck...
That was when Tyler lost consciousness, sinking into a sea of memories.
"Huh?"
Tyler looked in the mirror and pulled his cheek hard.
It hurt quite a bit...
In the mirror was his younger self—around the same age as his students.
His name was... what was it again? How strange...
No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't remember.
"Ah, whatever! If I can't remember, it must not be important!"
Tyler said cheerfully, looking around.
This was his old house, and it was quite filthy.
"Did I... go back to the past?"
The thought made Tyler suddenly excited.
'Back to the past? That means I can redo everything!'
For some reason, he felt an odd sense of joy.
Tyler opened the door and looked outside.
This was Loggan City—not that the name meant anything to him.
He headed straight to the Adventurers' Guild since that was how he made a living.
When he arrived, the adventurers noticed him and greeted him excitedly.
"Oh! Newbie! You finally showed up!"
"I'm here, old man! I need to make a ton of money!!" Tyler shouted, running straight to the mission board.
"Haha! If you make money, don't forget to treat us to some food!"
"Screw off, old man!"
Tyler grabbed a mission and handed it to the guild girl.
"You want to take this quest?"
"Yeah!"
"Alright then, stay safe!"
And with that, Tyler headed straight into the Abyss Dungeon.
Nearby adventurers watched as he entered so confidently, slightly surprised.
"That kid's going into the Abyss Dungeon at his age? Does he have a death wish?"
"Let's just hope he survives..."
Once inside, Tyler, using his battle experience, wiped out all the monsters on the first floor and ventured deeper.
In no time at all, he returned to the guild with a monster in hand.
"You—You finished that fast?!" The guild girl was shocked.
"If I don't do it fast, how am I supposed to make money?" Tyler scratched his head with a grin.
"Kid! Since when could you kill monsters like that?!" An adventurer stared at the monster in disbelief.
Tyler lifted his head high, smiling proudly.
Time passed, and Tyler turned 16.
"Congratulations! You've become an A-rank adventurer!" The guild girl cheered.
"Yayyy!!!" Tyler jumped in excitement—only to get smacked on the head.
"Ow!"
"If it hurts, then stand still, idiot." A white-haired boy with wolf ears glared at him.
"What?! You wanna fight?!"
"Bring it on! I ain't scared of you!"
The two lunged at each other, only to be stopped by a girl who smacked them both.
"Knock it off, you idiots! Our Range Rake group's reputation will suffer if you two keep acting like this!"
"Ugh... fine." Both of them looked away, still annoyed.
Then, a black-haired young man approached them with a smile.
"Captain!" The girl excitedly ran up and hugged him.
"Guys! I found a mission for us!"
"Oh? Then let's go!" Tyler stood up excitedly.
The group left together, and nearby adventurers watched them.
"That's the Range Rake group, isn't it?"
"Yeah, the famous one."
"I heard they made it to the 16th floor. That's pretty impressive."
"Man, I'm jealous..."
More time passed...
"Ugh... Why does it have to rain?" Tyler looked up at the dark clouds.
He was heading to the guild but hated how the rain would soak his clothes.
Then, a girl appeared, seemingly taking shelter from the rain.
"Damn it... Why did it have to rain now?"
Tyler's eyes widened as he looked at her.
She also looked at him, confused by his gaze.
"...Ely."
"Huh?? How do you know my name??"
"It's written on your shirt..."
"Ah... I forgot."
Tyler smiled, his eyes filled with nostalgia.
'Still as clueless as ever.'
That was the moment Tyler fell in love.
Time continued to pass.
The Range Rake group had grown so powerful that they became an official guild, reaching the 43rd floor.
This was their golden era...
It was also the time when Tyler left Range Rake and got married.
"SEE YOU, EVERYONE!!" Tyler scratched his head awkwardly, his face looking like a gorilla.
"Can't believe someone like you actually found a wife... Well, congrats." The wolf-eared man, now older with a beard, smirked.
"Make sure you take good care of Ely!" The girl sitting next to the guild leader gave Tyler a warning look.
"I hope you both have a wonderful marriage," the leader smiled.
"If you two have kids, make sure they call me Grandpa! Haha!" The old man from the Adventurers' Guild laughed as he drank.
"I hope you two have lots of children!" The guild girl cheered while holding a baby in her arms.
Almost everyone Tyler knew was present at his wedding, showering them with blessings.
"Will the groom please step forward?"
Tyler walked up, looking incredibly nervous.
"Will the bride please step forward?"
She walked up, standing right in front of him.
This was the most beautiful moment for Tyler. No matter how many times he looked at her, she was still breathtaking.
"Do you both... take each other as husband and wife?" The priest asked.
"We do," they answered in unison.
"Then hurry up and kiss so we can get this party started!"
"Ah..."
The two looked at each other, faces flushed, before finally leaning in.
As their lips met, the crowd erupted in cheers.
"CONGRATULATIONS TO TYLER AND ELY FOR BECOMING HUSBAND AND WIFE!!! NOW, LET'S CELEBRATE!!!!"
"UOHHHHHHHH!!!"
As they watched the lively atmosphere, Tyler and Ely could only smile shyly.
It was a beautiful memory...
Time passed.
"Congratulations! Your child is born—it's a girl!"
Time passed.
"We're moving to Blue Cloud City. There's a great academy there for our daughter!"
Time passed.
"I'm quitting adventuring. I'll become a teacher," Tyler scratched his head.
"A teacher? That sounds great!"
"Dad's gonna be a teacher?! That's awesome! I want you to be my teacher!"
Hearing that, Tyler smiled, determined to take on the job.
Time continued to flow...
Until that day arrived...
"PLEASE! DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH ME, JUST SPARE MY DAUGHTER!!" Ely knelt, begging the man in front of her.
The little girl trembled in fear, her mouth covered by the bastard's hand.
He said nothing, simply unbuckling his belt befofe shoving the girl aside.
"..."
Ely wept, but she had no choice.
She had to do whatever it took to save their child's life...
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out.
A bullet pierced straight through the bastard's head.
He collapsed, making Ely flinch as she looked forward—
Then burst into tears.
"Dear!!"
"Dad!!"
Both mother and daughter ran to embrace Tyler.
Tyler simply comforted them, smiling.
"It's okay now. I'm here."
Everything ended peacefully.
Tyler continued sinking deeper into his memories and illusions.
He didn't want to return to the painful present.
He wanted... to stay here forever.
His memories kept flowing...
Until he became a literature teacher and homeroom instructor for Class F at the academy.
He read through the student list—until his eyes stopped on one name.
Strangely, the name was blurred.
Odd...
During roll call, every student responded when he called their name.
But when he reached the blurred name, he couldn't read it.
And it felt like the student didn't even exist.
Why was that?
Tyler stood up and left the classroom.
He walked along a familiar path.
Then, he stopped.
He noticed a student running for his life.
The boy had green hair, golden eyes, and a slim figure.
He felt... oddly familiar.
Chasing after him was a spider-like creature.
Just as Tyler was about to save him, something held him back.
'Why bother helping that student? He has nothing to do with me.'
'I have a wife and child. I can't risk my life, even if the enemy is weak.'
Those thoughts convinced him.
And just as he was about to walk away—
A fierce roar echoed.
Tyler turned back—
And saw an intense battle.
The student was viciously beating the spider creature to a pulp—
Even with a spider leg pierced through his body.
Then, with one final attack, both collapsed.
Tyler stared at the boy.
He looked exactly like Tyler in his youth.
The fire of life in the boy's eyes was fading.
He was dying... slowly.
At that moment, Tyler looked at him—
As if he were looking at his murdered wife and child.
"...Kai?"
Tyler immediately opened his eyes, his body exhausted and aching.
"This is...?"
"You're awake?"
He heard a familiar voice and turned toward it.
In front of him stood Kai, his clothes tattered, yet without a single wound.
"Must've been dreaming about something nice, huh? You were out cold," Kai said, handing Tyler a revolver.
"..." Tyler smiled.
"A beautiful dream."