It was a path I had walked many times before, yet this time, my feet felt unusually heavy as I tread upon the familiar, nostalgic road.
Beyond it lay my beloved home, a sight filled with memories.
The chimney that tilted just slightly, the edge of the roof my father had tried to repair but ended up breaking through and gave up on, and the main entrance that was replaced after being blown off during a storm, now contrasting with the rest of the house in its newness.
An ordinary home, yet one that seemed so hard to come by.
I approached it breathlessly, threw open the door, and called out.
“I’m home!”
This, I thought, is what a proper homecoming feels like.
As I heard exclamations of awe and admiration, I slammed my cup onto the table and wiped my lips.
Why couldn’t I have someone help me unpack and settle in instead of being dragged to the communal hall and made to drink?
At first, it felt fine; my local volunteer guard colleagues warmly greeted me as I came down from the watchtower. “You’re back!” they said, but as the news spread, every person I encountered raised a commotion with their shouts, pulling more crowds together.
And they spun tall tales upon seeing me, assuming all sorts of things.
One claimed I had been promoted, favored by some noble. Others speculated I had achieved knighthood due to owning two fine horses. Then came the whispers that I had become a concubine simply because I looked well-groomed — though that was just thanks to a thorough cleansing ritual.
I couldn’t refute each claim one by one. The villagers, starved for entertainment during the winter months, had gathered, and eventually, the chaos drew me into the gathering hall.
People brought out remaining bottles of wine, and a drinking session began under the guise of listening to stories from my travels.
Questions followed, ranging from the mundane and harmless — “How was the Imperial Capital?” — to queries about the elegance of the city’s ladies and the fashion trends there. Some even dared to ask salacious rumors about the red-light districts while others, overly curious about foreign beverages, made me want to ask them if they had ever considered joining the priesthood to control their excessive drinking habits.
With the family’s reputation at stake, I couldn’t dismiss them outright. I laughed along with everyone else, answering their questions without pause, while the cups were continuously filled without allowing me a moment’s rest.
Then came the inevitable.
“Were there any adventurers? What were they like?”
“Since when did you sneak into this, Brother?”
There, unassumingly mixing with the crowd, drinking casually and pouring wine into my empty cup, was my brother, his arm casually draped over my shoulders.
“Come on, Erich! Tell us!”
“Were there cute sisters? What about beautiful women of other races?”
Not only him, but my twin brothers joined in too, likely informed by Margit who had returned and spread the news about my arrival.
Despite the raucous atmosphere, I was glad to see familiar faces. Hans’ beard had grown in, giving him an air of authority worthy of our family’s patriarch. Mihail appeared cleaner than usual, his hair neatly combed. Even our older brother seemed more refined, though the substance of his questions was questionable.
There were others too — childhood friends, kind adults from my younger days, and a fertility god priest who drank as if it were his birthright.
While sharing stories with them brought joy, deep down, I had hoped for something more intimate — a heartwarming reunion with my immediate family.
But somehow, it didn’t feel quite right.
Realizing once again how my life seldom unfolded as I imagined, I finished another drink, attending dutifully to the boisterous onlookers.
One must not expect privacy in a village where entertainment is scarce.
After fending off wave after wave of drunkards, I eventually escaped the gathering hall, retreating to the terrace to sit on the railing. The cool night air soothed my flushed cheeks, still warm from the alcohol.
Had I forgotten how a quiet return turns into a drinking party simply due to the lack of diversions in the countryside? When someone comes back from the city, it’s only natural for them to stir up a commotion.
I pulled out a bottle of red wine I had filched earlier and took a sip, uncorking it with my teeth in celebration of my arrival.
“…It’s sour.”
Being a simpler product aimed at commoners, this wine from the shrine of the elemental gods wasn’t bad, but its sharp acidity couldn’t compare to the fine beverages I had tasted during my year among the nobility.
Still, the local wine drunk in the company of rowdy friends tasted sweeter than expected.
“Yes, indeed,” I said to myself. “This one’s better, no doubt.”
“Where’s the main event running off to?”
It was unmistakably the warm and close presence of my father by my side.
“Father, isn’t it cold out here?”
“I thought we could finally have some quiet time together.”
Neither advising against the party nor actively joining in, my father had been watching us from afar. Now he had slipped out to join me, sitting beside me with another bottle of wine and a bag of roasted dried meat.
I accepted a piece from the bag he silently offered, washing down the saltiness with the sour wine. The rugged flavors of my homeland lingered pleasantly on my tongue.
“You’ve come back well.”
“Yes, I’m home.”
“…You’ve worked hard, haven’t you.”
With those heartfelt words, I nodded and asked about the family’s recent affairs. I preferred lighter topics over anything sentimental, given the nature of the occasion.
Father was genuinely worried about my apprenticeship with Lady Agrippina.
My letters home, though infrequent, had been accompanied by financial support, considering the expense of postage. Father, understanding my priorities, had forgone writing back, choosing to save the expenses for the family’s benefit over mere replies.
With a tilt of the wine bottle towards Father, I silently invited him to share, and after some thought, he began speaking about the changes at home.
Apparently, in the three years I was away, my brothers had fathered another nephew and niece each. Another niece or nephew was on the way, this time from our sister-in-law, Mina.
In a surprising twist, Mihail had caught the eye of a local official and married into their family, becoming the groom for their second daughter. The move provided stability, eventually allowing him to move out when sharing space became unnecessary. Such an advantageous match seemed fortuitous.
What truly astonished me, however, was that Hans, the third brother, had secured a position at the local administration.
“With the financial support you regularly sent home, we managed to enroll him in a private school. Initially, he was reluctant to attend alongside younger kids, but look at him now — starting a job as a scribe at the fortress come spring. Some things are truly unpredictable.”
The financial support I provided, substantial enough to warrant a reputation of filial piety, had allowed Father to enroll a brother who missed out on prior schooling.
It was rare for an adult to return to school for such purposes, especially given the twin’s age proximity to the eldest, yet this proved both novel and exceptional. As it turned out, the elder brother excelled in writing, eventually catching the eye of local officials.
After graduating and assisting with record-keeping for a half-year under a local administrator, his elegant handwriting earned him an offer of employment this autumn.
A fixed salary of four drachmas, equivalent to two person’s upkeep, might seem modest for supporting an entire family, but with raises based on tenure and performance potential, this was a substantial career opportunity.
Most importantly, being a clerk in the regional administration is akin to the dream career for someone living in the village. It represents the most pragmatic path to upward mobility, comparable in modern terms to landing a prestigious job with a top company.
Indeed, the string of successes since my departure with Eliza has been remarkable.
Wait… if the eldest brother runs a prosperous farm while the second brother married into a key village family, and the third brother now serves in the local administration, while Eliza studies at the Magic Academy, then…
Doesn’t that leave me, the unemployed adventurer aspirant, as the black sheep in the family of achievers?
Feeling a twinge of loneliness in my chosen path, I finished the bottle of wine, its sour tang growing stronger.
“Wow… everyone’s doing so well.”
“That’s all thanks to you, Erich.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” I protested. After all, while there may be instances of serendipity in life, at the end of the day, one’s achievements hinge on individual capabilities.
I couldn’t claim any influence over the number of children Hans fathered. Mihail’s marriage was unrelated to me. Even Hans’ employment owed more to his own talent, despite the fact that attending school was enabled by my support. There may be reason for gratitude, but calling it “all thanks to me” was clearly excessive.
“Alright, if that’s what you say.”
“Sounds pretty wishy-washy to me.”
“Parents tend to magnify everything their children do,” Father chuckled, ruffling my hair with a coarse hand that made it messier than ever. Yet, the comfort of his touch felt better than the gentle grooming I once received from Lord Raizenitz’s manservant. It brought a sense of fulfillment, rewarding all the hardship I endured away from home.
“So, what are your plans?”
A moment of embarrassment passed between us, accompanied by a somewhat awkward smile. Then, without hesitation, I answered.
My plan was to take a break, helping around home until spring. Bringing two new horses naturally meant I was prepared to cover the costs for lodging and support. The recent capture of some highwaymen en route left my purse slightly warmer than usual.
After the spring, my destination would be the Western Frontier of the Threefold Empire of Rain, also known as Enderede, governed by Marsheim.
This was a plan formulated long ago.
Generally, the occupation of an adventurer primarily involves mundane tasks, with monster-hunting being a considerably rare occurrence. In areas established enough to house cities, dangerous creatures and ancient relics have long since been cleared out for human safety, leaving such environments unsuitable for economic activities that attract peril.
However, the job scope for adventurers typically extends from errands and escorts to search missions and occasional house repairs. The occasional forays into neighboring woods for pest control may arise but largely, the tasks remain rather mundane.
In provincial areas, the situation varies.
Untamed regions harbor dangerous beings. Outlaws multiply in areas without constant patrols by officials, and shadowy figures of questionable allegiance may even abound.
Venturing to these parts might give me a chance to engage in more traditionally adventurous activities as an adventurer.
Naturally, the risks will soar. Encounters with mythical beasts will increase, and dangerous confrontations with magical creatures that prefer solitude may become routine.
This simply translates to ample opportunities for fame and glory.
Admittedly, my carefree declaration isn’t born out of ignorance. I have conducted thorough research, asking questions of adventurers who had found their way to the Imperial Capital and scouring available texts.
The data-gathering wasn’t limited to just skills; it covered regional characteristics, influential figures, customs — anything that could help navigate negotiations with GMs in the area. All preparations were meticulously completed.
With careful consideration, I chose my new base, the Western frontier territory of the Threefold Empire of Rain: Marsheim, also known by its nickname, Enderede. Marsheim is governed by the Mars-Baden family, a collateral branch of the House of Baden, located at the very edge of the empire, adjacent to the satellite states of the West.
This region is colloquially referred to as “The End of the Earth,” reflecting its position as the most remote area of the Triple Empire. Mars-Baden, the local baron, ensures that the political landscape remains stable despite the inherent dangers of the frontier. Yet, the hazards are significantly higher compared to the empire’s more settled regions.
This territory harbors outlaws in areas where law enforcement hasn’t fully settled. Dangerous creatures dwell in the verdant lands, trading with satellite states may yield high returns despite the ever-present threat of conflict, and through them, one can access foreign lands to the west, resulting in an endless stream of requests for adventurers.
A land teeming with opportunities, known as one of the “magic lands,” where adventurer’s prospects are abundant—a setting ideal for crafting eventful narratives.
As it turns out, what seems like mere fantasy has real-world analogs if one only searches for them.
If the snow melts soon, it will be about two months before I can reach the frontier to seek my future as an adventurer.
I aim to fulfill my dreams.
I dream of becoming an adventurer, not to linger aimlessly in some tavern corner, disheartened by the trials of a beginner, but to embark on thrilling adventures, defying those who might scoff at the lack of romance within practical pursuits. If nothing else, the pursuit of the extraordinary holds no fault in itself. I yearn to become the adventurer I always admired, ready to achieve the adventures I’ve long envisioned.
Plans have been made clear. It’s simply a matter of stepping forward.
The outcome rests entirely on my abilities. I shall, as always, cast my chips onto the board, leaving the dice rolls to fate. The gamble becomes more exciting when the stakes are higher, and even if the odds seem to favor doom, let it be.
“I am going to be an adventurer.”
My aspirations have not dimmed. The dreams of youth remain vivid. The flame within my heart burns brightly.
Though the years advance, a man’s spirit is forever young. Laugh, if you must, and so shall I — my aspirations are undeterred.
Someday, I wish to be the subject of epic poems, regardless of any detractors. Has there ever been a tale of grandeur that lacked lofty aspirations?
“There you go.”
A simple acknowledgment, yet it felt like the strongest support one could receive.
I truly have been blessed. Neither my parents nor our future requires any concern. Our family is secure and thriving, leaving me the rare luxury of embracing my dreams unburdened.
I am incredibly fortunate.
“Ah, that’s right,” Father suddenly interjected, clapping his hands.
“Your mother was furious, scolding you for drinking as soon as you return.”
“WHAT!?”
What kind of injustice is this?! It wasn’t my doing!
“Worse still, leaving the horses without proper care and failing to unpack. Mina’s fuming! Looks like every man will need to brace for a lecture.”
“No way! That’s not right! It’s not my fault! Father, you need to defend me!”
“Well, the more people to scold, the shorter the lectures for each of us. Besides, I’ve also contributed to the temple’s additional wine supply.”
“Ah, that’s why the drinks weren’t running out! What’s gotten into you?!”
The full moon overhead seemed to mock the strange twist my homecoming had taken…
【Tips】 Frontier Territory. Regions bordering foreign lands. The rulers of such areas, known as Barons of the Frontier, are selected from among the most powerful members of the domestic nobility.
And here we are with a sudden update.
A depiction of Erich’s bittersweet homecoming.
Bookstores are fully operational once again.
Inventory on online stores seems to be replenishing too.
That’s all for now. Liked it?
