The cold sensation of what seemed to be a floor made of planks directly transferred to both my hands and knees as I breathed heavily in fatigue. I was on the ground, exhausted and unable to stand as I stared directly at the floor drenched in sweat.

"Haa..haa.." My voice wheezed every time I exhaled.

"Stand." A slightly hoarse and steely voice called out to me, it felt very familiar for some odd reason.

I hurriedly looked up to see who called. He looked like a stern old man, standing above me wearing what seemed to be a kendo gi and hakama while he had a kendo sword in hand. And now that I looked at myself, I noticed that I myself was wearing the same attire.

This is from the past...right?

"Stand, I say!" The old man repeated his order.

It startled me, a little, and made me jolt up to stand in response. I don't know why I felt like I was obligated to follow, since I don't even know why I'm here. I wonder, was he some sort of teacher to me back then?

The old man sighed, looking me in the eye with a disapproving glint in his gaze. He looked like he hated being with me. He then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Looking at me again and speaking right after.

"For quite an intelligent child, you're weak. I've witnessed more than enough of your type. Whenever things don't go your way on the first try, you give up instantly and move on. And that weakness is radiating out of you. I already know what you're thinking of doing." He told me unreserved, still with the disapproving glint in his eyes.

My body immediately moved on it's own, standing up and stomping on the ground in anger. "You think I'm the same as those people?! I am not giving up!" I yelled out, without my own consideration. "This was just a warm-up round, nothing too important! And don't ever think that I don't have the resolve!"

I was only an observer here. Since it's the past and my memories, the me right now can't interfere. This is probably just a random dream though, nothing that important.

The old man seemed to chuckle after past me said all that. "Oho? If you're so sure, then win against me!" He swung his kendo sword at me, moving quicker than what I expected of an old man.

My past self, very aware of these situations, dodged immediately and picked up his sword. He was smiling, from excitement I guess? I don't really remember, it was already so long ago.

Then, the fight began. It was a normal duel, but it was pretty obvious that my past self was losing. It's still just the beginning for him though, so of course he's still bad at it.

But from the corner of my eye, I see someone watching from the door, hiding. I then tried to move my consciousness out of my body. Luckily, it was possible. I know I'm lucid dreaming right now, and all of the risks. But this dream is strange. It almost looks like it isn't. I can't even change anything about it. Now enough of that and see who's actually watching.

A girl? She's awfully familiar. And she's adorable, and also very beautiful. In a way, gazing at her like this feels like second nature to me. Then after a second, it just popped into my head.

It's her!

I need to know her name! I don't know why but I need to! She's making me feel something so familiar and soothing. I knew now she's special! If she's in the same world as I am, I need to find her.

She then whispered, with a bit of a worried tone. "Grandfather, please go easy on him."

She sounded so precious. Her voice was so soft. I wanted to hear more of it. But as the desire to learn or remember more of her started to increase, the dream ended abruptly.

My eyes shot open as if I had just experienced a nightmare. Well, the amount of disappointment did make me agitated though.

Then as I continued to stare directly up at the ceiling, something urged me to look around more and not just that one single point in space. And following my instincts, I looked around, sitting up from the bed I rested in.

The room I was in, it was very unfamiliar. It looked somewhat modern with only the technology excluded from what was in the room. The room was basically a clean, and unused one. It had bookshelves without anything in them, a desk with drawers, a closet, and of course the bed. Also, the room has a balcony.

As I surveyed the room a bit more, the door creaked open, revealing someone I have yet to know. There stood a girl, holding a basin of water, a towel, and a change of clothes. She seems quite unfazed seeing me awake.

"You're finally awake." She says with a cold yet child-like voice. It was pretty suitable for such a stoic and young girl like her.

Walking next to the bed and placing down all the things she carried here, she walked back out the door saying, "Please wait for a second." Her short, white tipped, black hair waved as she closed the door.

Eh?

I was genuinely confused right about now. I thought that she'd stay more, since she was likely the one that took care of me while I slept for who knows how long. But I guess she won't be the one asking me questions. Though the way she talked seemed somewhat familiar, I shrugged the feeling off.

After a few moments of silence with me thinking of things that happened before I collapsed, probably even before I woke up in this world, the door opened once again, with three people entering, the black and white haired girl from earlier, a silver haired woman that looked young, and a man standing at about six foot two. He looks pretty young, I don't even see a single strand of white hair on his black hair covered head.

Looking at the clothes they're wearing, they seem to be some sort of nobility, with the air of adventurers surrounding them. I don't even know how I recognized them as adventurers. It was probably just my gut instincts.

Pulling a chair for the both of them, the man sat down with the silver haired woman. He then gestured to the girl to leave them with me for now. She left immediately with a nod as she received the order to.

Now that I've gotten a closer look at them, I could immediately tell that they were a married couple due to the two silver rings. I could also tell that the man had a pair of deep blue eyes with the woman having amber colored ones.

Looking at their contrasting features, with only their attractiveness alike, they look like a perfect balance, a pair like none other. And the aura surrounding the both of them feels somewhat relaxing, it's as if they give you relief when you're in a state of danger.

"Before we talk, let's introduce ourselves first," the man spoke. "My name's Markus Ares Violus, and this here is my wife, Romana Ares Violus. We found you on the second floor of the dungeon fighting the boss, it was quite a rare sight."

Introductions, I know I've done this multiple times before. And I don't really think I still know my na- wait a second. I know my name. It's Kazuki. But my last name I still do not know. It's as if my brain is returning my memories gradually as I continue with life.

"I'm Kazuki, and may I ask how long I've been asleep?"

The two's eyes widened for a moment but then returned to its normal state before answering. "For about two weeks now, why do you ask?"

"I was just curious…"

Crap, I can't continue the conversation now.

Even the two knew how awkward the situation was after I stopped talking. But like the adults who want information that they are, they continued the conversation.

"Um...You see, the both of us were supposed to exterminate that abnormal boss on the floor, but you took it down before we even arrived there. We just have a few questions…"

This might get complicated…

I continued sitting there, silent, waiting for him to ask me anything they wanted to. I was a bit nervous that they might ask me where I came from and how I got in the dungeon, someone who looks like a twelve year old.

Then, he finally asked. "Just where did you come from?"

It was as I predicted. He asked for my origin. But I can't just say I'm from another world. They might just not believe me or literally freak out knowing an otherworlder appeared out of nowhere. You never know, this world might regard me as a tool or a literal God if they knew and I don't like both options. So a lie must be the correct option, right?

"I... don't know? I can't remember…" I tried being as convincing as I can. I've had years worth of doing this so it's pretty much second nature.

They seem unusually calm hearing that I remember nothing. Are they used to it or something? No, they shouldn't be. Unless there's some sort of important reason this type of situation is normal.

Markus sighed then spoke once more. "I see… It seems you're from the Northwestern lands…"

"Eh? How do you know for sure?" I asked, confused on how he could say it as an almost obvious fact.

"How do I say this… that part of the Human Empire is filled with very unspeakable and inhumane things." He answered my question almost immediately. "And several people from there have been thrown away to surrounding cities."

Thrown away? Why exactly? I openly wondered for the reason of such actions being done. It was unusual. Why not just dispose of those people?

"If you're thinking about why they do it, we don't know the reason." He scratched his head in absolute uncertainty of what actually happens. "It's not even a good reason for the 'throwaways' to be failed experiments. It's also best you don't ask what type of experiments they actually do."

Experiments… I guess in this world it's allowed to do to human beings…

As if reading my thoughts once again for the second(?) time, he answered nonchalantly. "Doing human experiments is illegal, absolutely illegal. But they're too strong of a force that not even if we were to cooperate with the other cities would we be able to do the least bit of damage to their army. They're basically their own country."

...or not.

"I-I see…" I said as I was baffled at his skill to read someone's thoughts and emotions. He was actually really good at it.

"Putting all of that aside, we have a bit of an offer for you," He changed the subject then looked at his wife, who nodded right after.

He and his wife then bowed their heads, with Markus speaking. "Please allow us to adopt you!"

Eh?

"Eh?" Utterly confused, I stared with no response.

I wasn't completely confused though. I was somewhat expecting something like this to happen. But I wasn't so sure that this will actually happen.

They continued to bow their heads, waiting for a response from me. Though I wasn't sure if I should actually accept. I didn't really want to say no but I also didn't want to say yes. Well if that's the case,

"Please let me think first…" I politely postponed my answer to their offer which sounded very much like a request. "A lot has happened in such a short period of time and…"

With a sigh, Markus finally spoke. "It's fine, we can wait a while for your answer. We were a bit too excited. You can leave now if you want to and your things are over there at the table. You can also keep those clothes you're wearing."

"Ah, thank you. But can I ask how you can check your status?" I asked without certainty that there was actually a status in this world. I was just curious since Earth didn't have those and this world seemed a lot different compared to it.

"Your status? There's a ring for that. We put one for you over there along with your things" Markus answered me happily.

I smiled back and said again. "Thank you again, I'll be taking my leave."

With all my things with me once again, I took off and went to explore the town just outside their land.

Luckily, they also gave me a bag to carry the crystals I got from that dungeon. It had a bit of an extended storage so it could carry more than it looked like it could.

Wearing the <Gray Fur Coat> and with the <Gray Claw Dagger> strapped to my side, I started my short journey into town. Though I have a slight uneasy feeling that absolutely nothing of note would actually happen.

----------

Name: Kazuki

Class: None

Title: None

Level: [1]

HP: 100/100

MP: 100/100

Strength: (E)20

Agility: (E)20

Defence: (E)20

Vitality: (E)20

Intelligence: (E)20

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Skills

Passive:

[???]

Active:

[Fire magic(low)]

[Water magic(very low)]

[Body Enhancement(low)]

Special:

[???]

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