Kaien sat beside a campfire he barely managed to light with two rocks, a half-dead goblin skewer on a stick, and two traumatized but very hot girls staring at him from across the flames.
"...So. Y'all from around here?" he asked with the dumbest grin.
The redhead—clothes torn, blade still bloody—scowled. "You're smiling? We almost died!"
The blonde crossed her arms. "You're supposed to be a hero?"
Kaien blinked. "Hero? Nah. I'm what they call a technical accident."
He leaned back, shirtless, bruised, and borderline delusional. "But I am great with my sword," he winked.
Redhead: "Pervert."
Blonde: "...Tch."
But neither of them walked away.In fact… they stayed.
💥 Meanwhile – East of the Capital
Reinhard Skyeveil stood outside the Royal Academy gates, his duel request hanging from the board.
"Still trying to challenge the Chosen Ones?" asked a smug noble. "You lost your family name. You're nothing now."
Reinhard didn't blink. "They called the wrong people 'heroes.' I'll fix that."
His cloak fluttered in the wind, silver hair sharp, eyes glowing faintly.In his chest, his bonded sword pulsed: "The Calamity has awakened."
🛡️ Donovan's Side
Donovan meditated by a waterfall, shirt off, scarred body bruised from training.He remembered the name from the prophecy: Kaien Everflame.
"That cursed child…" he muttered, gripping his shield. "I'll protect him… even from himself."
🔥 Aziel's Entrance
Aziel Duskborne stood in front of a burning carriage, shirt half open, smirking like a menace.
"Another bandit raid averted. That's three this week."A noblewoman grabbed his arm. "You're amazing! What's your name, oh handsome mage?"
He pulled her close, kissed her hand, and whispered:"Name's Aziel. But you'll be screaming it tonight, love."
Cue fainting and blushing intensifies.
🐒 Back to Monku
Monku was currently wrestling a bear.
Yes. A f**king bear.
And winning.
"YOU AIN'T READY FOR THIS BANANA STYLE!"
Crowd: "MONKU! MONKU! MONKU!"
After bodyslamming the bear, he walked away like a legend and stopped by a quest board.
"Kaien… huh? That name rings a bell."
📚 Cut to Nikolai
In a dusty, magical archive…
Nikolai: "Kaien Everflame… why is your name in the ancient records from 1,000 years ago?"
He looked up, the candlelight flickering across his cold smirk."The others are being drawn to you… it's already begun."
🌕 Back at Camp – Kaien's Harem Progress: 1.5 Girls
Redhead was now cleaning her sword. "...Thanks for saving us back there. Even if you're a perv."
Kaien: "Hey, I could've run. Instead, I saved two beautiful girls. That's peak MC behavior."
Blonde: "You're not wrong. Still dumb, though."
Suddenly—
A monstrous roar echoed from the forest.
Kaien jumped up, sword in hand. "Looks like round 2."
The girls stood beside him.
Redhead smirked. "Let's see if you're all talk, boxers boy."