For Some Reason, I've Rejuvenated
I was reincarnated into this nameless world.
For forty long years, I'd lived as a wanderer swordsman roaming the continent.
"Grandpa Leban!! Tell us a story today too!!"
"Heh heh heh, shall I? What tale would you like to hear today?"
Having wrapped up my long, wandering life as a swordsman, I settled down in a small hut in a quiet rural village on the outskirts of the Lumerne Empire.
"The one about the super huge dragon we didn't finish last time!!"
"Very well, today I'll finish that story for you."
"Waaah!! Grandpa Leban is the best!!"
The village children who occasionally visited my home loved hearing my old tales, so I became a laid-back grandpa storyteller, spending my remaining years in peaceful leisure.
"That happened back when this old man's face wasn't covered in so many wrinkles yet."
"Waaah……."
"During the days when I wandered aimlessly across this vast land… I once faced a dragon larger than that mountain over there, all alone in a place where the endless earth burned fiercely."
"Really, Grandpa? Was there really a dragon bigger than the mountain behind our village?"
"Of course."
The old stories I told the kids who came to play at my hut were drawn from my own life as a wanderer swordsman, roaming the continent for forty years since I was twenty.
Of course, now in my old age, frail and decrepit, I could barely draw the sword hanging on the wall without effort—I was just a feeble old man.
But like the protagonists in all those stories I'd read on Earth before reincarnating here, my youth had been a dazzling journey that wouldn't pale in comparison to theirs.
Well, if there was one difference between their journeys and mine… it was probably that I never had a single heroine-worthy romance in my life.
"So what happened? Did you beat that dragon all by yourself, Grandpa?"
"Of course I did. It was a formidable foe worth remembering… but in the end, that fire dragon fled first."
"Waaah…!! So, were you happiest back then, Grandpa?"
"Hmm… That moment of victory was pure bliss, of course… but it's hard to say it was my happiest time."
"Why? You beat a super strong dragon!"
"Heh heh heh……."
But failing to experience romance wasn't a deep regret in my long life—it was a minor footnote.
For someone like me, who had chosen the solitary path of a strong yet lonely wanderer swordsman, roaming the continent alone…
"Then when were you happiest, Grandpa?"
"……Why, when I first met my precious disciples, of course."
"Disciples? Grandpa, you had disciples?"
The bonds and memories with those three disciples, more precious than anything else, made even these solitary final years feel less lonely.
Time passed before I knew it, and after the village kids who'd been listening to my story headed home, I sat in my armchair by the window, gazing at the sunset over the village outside.
I began to reminisce longer about the moment after reincarnating into this world when I'd been happiest.
"…Yeah, even thinking back now, that was my happiest time."
I'd first met my three disciples twenty years ago, while wiping out an infamous illegal slave ring from the underworld.
Even covered in filth and grime, their neat, pretty features stood out—they were three adorable children.
They leaned on each other like real sisters, having endured that harsh place with unbreakable resolve.
Looking back now, for a good-for-nothing wanderer like me, past my prime and drifting aimlessly, to take them as disciples…
Wasn't that a bit presumptuous? Good thing they turned out so kind-hearted. Thinking about it now, I was no better than a thief myself.
Over the seventeen years I spent with those children I'd taken in by chance, I learned how proud it made a master to watch a talented disciple's steep growth.
And how joyful it was to raise a lovable daughter as a father.
They grasped a hundred things from one lesson and thirsted for more knowledge on their own.
For me, who could only teach swordsmanship, basic magic, and mana circulation…
Those kids were a blessing far beyond what I deserved, even now.
'Even when I told them they could leave since I had nothing more to teach, all three stubbornly stayed till the end.'
They'd insisted on staying by the side of an old man like me, throwing tantrums.
It had been three years since I'd sent them off to the heart of the Lumerne Empire.
That day, I'd been half-ruthless, practically chasing them away, so we hadn't kept in touch for those three years…
But with their overflowing talent, facing a wider world beyond my narrow well of a life, it was only natural they'd grow even faster.
I had no doubt they'd become the empire's top talents, succeeding brilliantly.
"……Oh, has it gotten this late already?"
Lost in reminiscence, the view outside the window had grown dark before I realized.
I rose from the armchair and headed to bed.
Thanks to the village kid stirring up those fond memories, tonight's sleep felt like it would be warmer and cozier than usual.
"Grandpa!! Grandpa Leban!!!"
"……Mm."
Early in the morning, the village kid's clear voice rang out from beyond the door—probably excited from yesterday's story, rushing over at dawn.
It shook me awake from deep slumber.
"You rascal… this old man's ears work fine……."
Still groggy and not fully awake, I sat on the edge of the bed for a moment to gather my wits, then got up and headed to the door.
Normally, I'd need much longer to shake off sleep, but…
Maybe because last night's rest had been so comfortable and snug? Today, my body felt light and refreshed, like in my youthful days.
"You're earlier than usual. So, what story do you want to hear toda……."
"Huh? Who's this big brother?"
"……?"
As I opened the door to invite the kid inside, he suddenly called me 'big brother' and asked who I was.
'This kid… even if he wants to prank me, calling an elder 'big brother' is rude.'
I figured it was just mischief and was about to scold him.
"You rascal, teasing this old ma……."
"I came to see Grandpa Leban, but is big brother the only one here right now?"
"……???"
"I wanted a story today too… Guess I'll come back when Grandpa Leban gets here."
But before I could finish my scolding, he said he'd return when Grandpa came back and trudged away toward the village, looking genuinely disappointed.
"……What?"
Realizing something was seriously wrong, I rushed inside, yanked open a drawer, and grabbed a hand mirror.
Clatter…….
"……Wh-what is this."
A young, snow-white face without a single wrinkle or scar.
Lustrous black hair without a single white strand.
The mirror I'd grabbed to figure out what happened reflected me as I was right before starting my wanderer swordsman life—an immature twenty-year-old.
"A dream??"
At first, I thought it was just a vivid dream, born from reminiscing about my precious disciples before sleep—a happy dream, nothing more.
Clang…….
But when I tested by gripping my sword—which I'd long left hanging on the wall as mere decoration, unheld for ages—
The familiar weight at my fingertips and the cool grip's sensation told me this was no dream, but reality.
"……Not a dream. This is real!!"
Rejuvenation.
My body had literally reverted to my youthful prime, right before I began walking the path of the wanderer swordsman after reincarnating.
Just how precious and valuable 'youth' is… I truly felt it now that I'd regained it.
Whoosh—whoosh—.
Like in the old days roaming the entire continent, swinging my sword fiercely and wildly caused no back pain or aching limbs.
And my stamina—how vibrant it was.
Even after dashing around the back mountain like a madman all day, my body showed no signs of fatigue.
Now, I felt like I could easily defeat that fire dragon from the edge of the land—or even something greater—single-handedly.
'But… that's arrogant, foolish thinking. Having rejuvenated, I don't want to repeat that aimless wanderer's life.'
I didn't know who or how had rejuvenated me to my twenty-year-old self.
But surely they didn't do it hoping I'd relive my reckless youth as a good-for-nothing wanderer swordsman.
'Yeah. No need to overthink it. My path was decided from the start.'
"I need to go meet my precious disciples again."
On the first day of returning spring, I resolved without hesitation to go find my beloved disciples.
Teaching them everything I couldn't back in my wanderer days…
That became the first goal of me, Leban, now rejuvenated as a twenty-year-old youth.