Prologue: Lingering Dream
The afterimage of the dream lingered thickly.
This marked the three-digit count for the same kind of dream.
Though the content varied each time, one thing remained constant.
A stranger would appear, spinning some incomprehensible tale.
"Ugh, Evan? Who's that...?"
Zien glanced around in silence.
Arcana Academy's D4 dorm.
The rooms assigned to low-performing students were rundown and cramped. The only furniture was a desk and a bed, and the space was so tight he could barely stretch out his legs to sleep.
"...Haa."
It was depressing. He'd truly believed he could make it happen, but he was wrong. His current grade placed him dead last—162nd out of 162 in his year—a talentless nobody.
Even the swordsmanship he'd once prided himself on had fallen apart after residual mana turned him into a cripple.
"Evan... Evan."
The name echoed in his mouth. It wasn't his, but it belonged to someone he'd definitely read about in a book.
Thud thud thud!
He bolted off without knowing why. His overweight body was already heaving for breath, but he couldn't stop.
"Huff... found it."
An epic saga spanning roughly 800 pages.
Why hadn't he thought of this sooner? If he didn't know who it was, he just had to look it up. Especially for someone famous enough to have a biography...
He'd come to the library drawn by some inexplicable urge. Normally, he'd have given up after a few pages—boring stuff.
"...Ah."
About five hours later, Zien had devoured the book cover to cover right there in his seat. Was it because the book was interesting? Absolutely not.
[Rank 8 Gate: Demon King's Castle Demoniac Conquered.]
[Thus, Evan gained the fateful opportunity to become the disciple of the Sword God in a 3rd zone gate.]
[An irreplaceable feat.]
It was because of the truth that grew clearer with every page Zien read.
"Wasn't lying after all."
The person the figures in his dreams had desperately sought was Evan Crowe.
One hundred years ago. Evan Crowe, who etched an unprecedented record by clearing a Rank 8 Gate with just five people...
Though he met his end in the final battle against the demon king.
That very fact elevated him to mythic status, earning him the exalted title of Hero —a great hero.
And that hero...
"Why is this hitting me now?"
Zien.
Was his previous life.