We Did It!

A dizzying shock sent his consciousness flying for a split second.

- Woof! Woof woof!

Tiny forced his eyes open at Wolrang's desperate bark upon being unsummoned. In that instant, he realized his body was plummeting at breakneck speed. And with it came the dull, tingling pain radiating through his entire frame.

"Urk."

He tried to move and regain his balance, but even that slight motion was no easy task.

'Can't say I'm surprised.'

His already exhausted body had forcibly absorbed ambient mana time and again, pushing far beyond its limits. On top of that, he'd repurposed the power of a relic despite his insufficient realm. In short, surviving at all was a miracle. If not for his Mana Body—still greedily devouring mana to heal itself—he would've been dead for sure.

Hummm. Creak.

He could feel it in real time: mana seeping in, rapidly mending his torn and broken flesh.

'...Talk about lucky.'

Even after blacking out briefly, the Mana Body was operating so proactively. Since Wolrang's authority had awakened, Tiny had a gut feeling that his Mana Body had advanced another step.

And most satisfying of all was the "leg" gripped in his right hand. Staring at the withered, skeletal limb—like it'd been yanked straight from someone's body—he couldn't help but grin. That gruesome thing now felt like the greatest trophy imaginable.

"Kuh... kuheheh."

Cough. The unconscious chuckle warped into something grotesque, distorted by the wind pressure twisting his face. He snapped his mouth shut in surprise, but his mood was still sky-high.

A Superior-grade dark wizard, unknown even in his past life's memories. The headache that variable had caused was still fresh—and so was the vivid image of the bastard flying off after getting smashed by the Kraken's leg. The sight of Tiny ripping that leg free, crushing and sending the fiend tumbling away.

If there was any regret, it was that he'd blacked out from the glancing blow and couldn't confirm the bastard's final end.

But the guy had taken a massive hit from Tiny in his wounded state, sacrificed a leg in a desperate kamikaze, and then gotten finished off by the Kraken.

'Even past-life me would've died from that.'

So...

'Rot in hell, you trash!!!'

...Now all he had to do was survive.

Whiiiiiish.

Unable to move, he was forced to take in the desolate nightscape of half-ruined Ortus—and it somehow felt like a glimpse of his own future...

'...No, screw that! You think I'm dying here?!'

Hummm.

He tried forcing mana to rise anyway, but his Mana Body rebelled. A warning: divert power from recovery, and he'd drop dead on the spot.

'Damn it, fine then...'

This time, he focused his will on the relic in his bosom.

And then—

Humm, flash.

The relic, fading to transparency, suddenly erupted in pure white light, responding to his will.

'...Please!'

He pinned his hopes on that light for a moment, but the relic—meant to repel demonic energy and drive off beasts—did nothing against gravity. Worse, his head began to throb from then on. Overdrawing the relic's power must've caused a slight rift between soul and body. Even after his flesh healed, that disconnect wouldn't resolve quickly, he sensed.

Of all the damn timing...

"Son of a biiitch!!"

Die like this? After turning back time itself?

'No way in hell!!'

Crunch. Hummm.

Ignoring the Mana Body's resistance, he squeezed out the bare minimum mana—not for healing, just to maintain his state. The instant that tiny amount was secured, resummon Wolrang and use spatial steps for a landing.

'That'll save me. Hold on just once more, body! Please, Wolrang.'

- Woof!

Tiny gritted his teeth, glaring ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the rapidly approaching ground.

Rumble rumble rumble.

Suddenly, a massive octopus leg thrust in between.

'Huh?'

And then—

Pssshhh.

A sinister yet oddly cozy black energy caught his falling body.

'...Is this really demonic energy?'

As the black aura enveloped him, prompting thoughts he'd never entertained before—

- Thank you, Contractor. I could at least sate a little of my grudge.

A wave reached only Tiny, tapping at his soul once more.

"...No problem."

Thump.

The giant tentacle gently set him down atop Ortus's royal palace.

And soon—

"...Who the hell is that guy?"

"Why would that monster...?"

"H-Huh. It, it won't attack again, right?"

Disaster survivors gathered, murmuring in awe. Tiny, dazedly scanning the crowd, finally felt it sink in: he was alive.

'We did it. Stopped the first disaster...!'

The wrecked palace, the throng of survivors. That sight and their stares filled him, and his fist clenched tight on its own.

"I did it! Hahahahaha!!"

It wasn't just relief at averting one disaster. It was conviction: he could change the hopeless future ahead.

'I can do this! I know I can!'

Tiny reveled, swinging punches at empty air.

And thus—

"...Is he nuts?"

"Looks a bit unhinged."

"Well, surviving that monster's grip... Poor guy."

—he became a legend, in more ways than one.

* * *

A Kraken had appeared in Carun's Ortus.

The unbelievable rumor swept the continent.

A legendary sea beast, whispered of only among sailors crossing the East Continent for centuries. That myth had suddenly materialized, half-destroying Carun Kingdom's capital.

As shocking as it was, rumors soon proliferated from Carun outward, in every flavor imaginable.

The royal family's vast wealth was the fruit of heinous sins.

No—the city had suffered the beast's assault as an offering to the Goddess.

Theological tales spread alongside—

Carun had stolen the Kraken's treasure, enraging it.

The royals held treasure tempting even to the Kraken.

And more worldly gossip.

In truth, a demon worshipper plot.

A sign of the end times.

Rumors close to the truth were dismissed as nonsense.

But Carun's royal proclamation soon quashed the chatter.

Shockingly, casualties were minimal despite the Kraken's appearance.

And in that saga, a hero rose like a comet.

A young knight who'd chased demon worshippers to Carun. He'd smashed them, safeguarded the relic, and sent the Kraken back to the depths.

"...Does that even make sense?"

"Heard he was small-built."

"Half-elf blood, they say, but still..."

Many shook their heads in disbelief, but too many had witnessed the Kraken depositing him atop the palace before vanishing.

And then—

Carun nailed the "nonsense" tale as truth, bestowing the grandiose title Knight of Brilliance alongside their thanks.

Thus, new rumors trailed Tiny.

"Stronger than the Seven New Stars of the continent?"

"Nah, come on..."

"Think about it. He wielded a relic, smashed demon worshipper skulls, made the Kraken retreat. By feats alone, the other new stars can't compare."

"Sure, but skill-wise... He's young, right?"

"Hey, you think age determines strength? Then God Hand's the strongest of the Seven Knights?"

The Seven New Stars—young knights likeliest to reach Superior. Tiny's name now stood among them.

* * *

"I am... so, so grateful to you, cough. Truly, Sir Tiny."

King Emerd von Karon, pale-faced and half-reclined on his throne, hacked as he spoke. Tiny shook his head at once.

"No need, Your Majesty. I've received more than enough."

He meant it sincerely, but the king saw otherwise.

"No, no. Cough, haha. It pains me I can't reward the kingdom's savior more. A relic loan whenever you need it—that suffices?"

"Yes, more than enough. Frankly, it's beyond what one man deserves."

The relic Humanitas needed to stay in Ortus awhile, guarding against follow-up demon worshipper strikes. But when the Demon King Army descended, it'd be their ace against them. For Tiny—aiming to smash the Demon King's skull and etch his name in history—nothing topped that reward.

Plus, he'd snagged a fancy epithet absent in his past life.

Heh.

'This is overkill.'

Past life, introducing himself as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the "Knight of Brutish Strength" to his sister upon dying had felt awkward. And he sought only fame, not gold or goods—this was perfection.

Yet to others, it sounded humble.

"Hahaha. So selfless, no excuse to keep you. A shame. Isn't it, Liam?"

"Indeed, Your Majesty."

Liam von Peterson nodded worriedly from the king's side. Tiny had even refused a title, opting for free knight status—regret filled the king's face.

"You came to Carun chasing demon worshippers. Leaving for the same?"

"...Yes, Your Majesty."

"Haha, remarkable. A true new star graces the continent."

The king marveled genuinely, but Tiny bristled inwardly. The Seven New Stars sounded grand, but...

To someone who knows the future, not all rosy. None ring a bell! All unfamiliar. Means none reached Superior... or they died...

If the latter, they'd all perished in the few years after he left Philes alone.

'Wait... Even if not Superiors, new stars that strong—all dead? Weird. Demon schemes too? Then...'

As Tiny delved into sudden thoughts, Liam cleared his throat.

"Ahem. One of the Seven New Stars lies abed right here."

"... Ahem."

The king recalled Jenas in the royal sanctuary, reduced to coughs.

"The famed Knight of the North gains no credit for nationality, can't even roam from injury... He hides it, but resentment must brew."

"Unavoidable. Having received grace, we protect him till healed."

As king and captain traded wry smiles, Tiny smirked and chimed in.

"Sir Jenas says he'd recover faster if you two stopped using him as a shield."

"Ahem, hem."

"Ahem."

Carun's powers coughed, averting eyes before changing subjects.

"You need ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠recovery time too, I hear?"

"Repercussions from overusing the relic? No better?"

"Improving bit by bit. Just needs time."

Tiny's face stiffened slightly in reply; the pale king smiled faintly instead.

"Stay and recuperate here. You must witness my funeral—or my youngest's coronation."

"Your Majesty!"

Liam sternly rebuked the king's jesting tone. But all present knew: the recent ordeal had shattered the king body and soul; he wouldn't last.

Yet his calm acceptance felt overly detached. Tiny bowed with a bitter smile.

"...As you wish."

Truth be told, wasting time here wasn't ideal amid the chaos—but his state demanded rest somewhere stable.

'Still off.'

Every intent misaligned subtly with his body. Overload from Humanitas's compression barrier clung to his soul, separate from flesh damage, resisting easy recovery.

'Not healable by holy power either...'

Nothing for it but wait naturally.

'At least three months.'

Coincidentally matching Jenas's projected recovery from mana exhaustion and grave wounds.

'Plus Sword Emperor's words nag.'

Past talk with Jenas flitted through his mind.

- Might miss the young lady's wedding after all.

- Pardon?

- His Grace said detour to Elvenheim with you en route. Unaware?

- Ah...!

- Ahem. Meant to hurry, but this injury...

Elvenheim, elves' capital. Site of the third disaster come winter, post-Aslan Empire's summer palace calamity.

But entering elf turf—xenophobic as they were—could take months.

And—

'Sword Emperor handles Cloi's wedding palace disaster... Gotta trust him, gotta...'

Doubt lingered.

- Call me sis then.

Cloi's voice echoed. His life's turning-point benefactor, now early ally in this life. Gratitude endured.

'Yeah, that's why I hesitate. Elvenheim first makes sense, but...'

Jenas's words tugged.

- His Grace ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seems intent on keeping you from the young lady's wedding. Can't deny feeling slighted.

- ...But His Grace wouldn't command without reason. Know something, Tiny?

Tiny got Sword Emperor's concern. Jenas—thirty-two this year, Blue Wing captain, Challenger-grade at thirty...

What deathly peril at such a wedding?

But put another way—

'Even with Jenas there, couldn't stop it...'

Knowing disaster loomed abstractly—without specifics—could he?

Doubts gnawed.

'What to do...'

The unknown Superior dark wizard fueled unease further.

'If more like him...'

No certainties, just frustration. But one path forward, one feasible act.

"...I'll impose a bit longer during recovery."

"Haha, splendid. A history-book hero witnessing my end. Thanks again, Sir Tiny."

The king's quip hardened Liam's face anew; Tiny bowed, heart heavy.

Thus, three months flew by like an arrow.