"Wow… Even though I know that you''ve said no lies, it is still hard to believe. The darkest era of humanity… and you were one of the protagonists of that era?"


    "Yes, that is correct. I died at the hands of the hero, but somehow, I find myself regressed back to this time. Rest assured, I don''t want to walk that same path once again, so I won''t be causing much harm to the world."


    ina hadplicated feelings after hearing this. She was a ruler with many children, so she did not have much attachment to any of them, but hearing that her own daughter suffered such a cruel fate made her feel unsettled.


    "...Why did I hire you? Why didn''t I avenge my daughter with my own hands?"


    "I don''t know. You just used the courtroom of truth to see if I was dependable or not. It was her knight who offered his eternal servitude to me as a price."


    "...I might know that child, but I''m not too sure. Anyway, it''s been fate that we met today, so I''d like to offer you this."


    ina brought out a green gem and handed it to Xavier. He held it gently and then said,


    "So I''m a royal guest of the elves now… Why?"


    "It''s obvious, you''re destined for greatness. It''s a good thing to be involved with people like you for the sake of my nation. You tell me yourself, if you were in my ce, wouldn''t you like to befriend a Crafted Archon who has regressed?"


    Xavier was silent for a few moments before he sighed and kept the gem inside his pocket.


    "I''ve got no choice either way right now, do I? Rejecting this is a sign of hostility towards the elven nation, isn''t it?"


    "I''m d that you''re so understanding. I''ll let you go now, I have some things to do after hearing your story…"


    Xavier looked into the crafty eyes of the queen, who had already sorted out the information relevant for her and her kingdom from the story Xavier had told. She got up and snapped her fingers, and right before Xavier''s eyes, a portal opened up.


    "I''ll keep this garden as it is for the sake of yourtepanions. I know that we are fated to meet again, so let''s see each other soon."


    Saying that, ina stepped inside the portal and vanished, and Xavier finally felt as if the strings holding his tongue had disappeared. When he was sure that she waspletely gone, he sighed and cursed his luck,


    "Haa, that damn bitch… Seriously, why do I keep running into such high-profile people so often?"


    He then took onest look at the grave he had dug, and proceeded to leave that ce.


    ***************


    Back to the present, it had been two years since that time. Xavier had well-established his reputation as a C-ranked adventurer,pleting many C- and C rank quests. He then decided to open his Status Screen, something that had be his habit in the recent days


    ***********


    [Name]: Xavier


    [Rank]: Crafted Novice


    [Physical Age]: 11


    [Mental Age]: 96


    [Innate Gift]:-


    Primordial Celestial Devourer


    [Skills]:-


    Limitless Ascension Battle Arts:


    Stay tuned for updates on m-v -NovelBin


    The battle arts created by a genius that defies the norms of the world. Has the capability to use Aether instead of qi at the user''s will. Since there hasn''t been a precedent of using energy for battle arts, the potential of this art liespletely with the wielder.


    Rating: Immeasurable


    Mastery: Novice


    Sub-skills: Aether Strike (Novice→Adept)


    Basic Magic:


    Basic magic learned from the theories of Szar. Uses elemental-less mana.


    Rating: Rare


    Mastery: Adept


    Sub-skills: Barrier (Novice→Adept), Mana Bullet (Novice→Adept), Mana Inspect (Novice→Adept), Mana Disarm(Novice→Adept), Mana Carve (Novice)


    *******


    ''Sigh, is this the limit of the Novice rank? I have mastered basic magic and created a form of Aether Strike to be able to use itfortably in battle multiple times. I don''t see any more ways I can improve, so should I start looking towards reaching Rank 2?


    But… Even that has a problem.''


    ********


    [Current Status]: Ready to reach rank 2, appropriate consumption of mana source rmended.


    *******


    ''Where will I get another core? I want to start using elements, so I need something rted to that, but there just haven''t been any good ones out there. I only have one chance to consume these cores, so I must be choosy and pick out the best one.''


    Xavier silently contemted as he looked at the dusky sky. The farmer also realized that Xavier was in a solemn mood, so he spoke up,


    "Youngd, I can see that you''re having trouble with something. This poor old me can''t really help, but I can give some advice…"


    The farmer caught Xavier''s attention, who began listening to him now.


    "This might sound harsh, but you seem like a prideful guy who does everything his own way just because of his ego. While it isn''t a bad thing to carry yourself with such confidence, it starts to be foolish when it bes something that hinders you from making the best choice possible.


    You must have friends, or people willing to be of help to you, right? Go ask them for help. It might help you."


    "...I don''t want to owe anyone favors."


    "Bah, what nonsense. All human connection in the world is built on favors and grudges, distancing oneself from that would mean not living like a human at all. Tell me, do you want to dehumanize yourself because of your ego?"


    Xavier went silent at the words spoken by the old man. They resonated with him deeply, especially thest line where he mentioned losing your humanity due to ego. How could it not, when he had already done that before by bing the demon king?


    "Hahaha, you are a wise old man. I guess wisdom cane at you from unexpected ces…"


    Xavier smiled and regarded this simple farmer in a bit higher regard, the farmer smiled back in return and said,


    "You look better when you smile,d. You should smile more..."