Prologue: The Kingdom That Vanished Into a Hunter's Body
The Archmage's voice resonated through the throne room.
"Your Majesty, I will now cast the ultimate grand magic."
The king swallowed hard.
He was gaunt beyond all recognition compared to his former self. The long monster wars had worn him down to this.
That was enough to snap him back to full attention at the words of his old comrade-in-arms, the Archmage. They had found a way to survive on the brink of annihilation.
"The ultimate grand magic?"
"Precisely! This spell will solve every problem our kingdom faces! No more worrying about those wretched monsters or the food shortages, Your Majesty!"
"Oho! But what sort of magic is it?"
"It is the culmination of my secret research to prevent the kingdom's destruction!"
"So what is it, exactly?"
"Your Majesty, think of all the suffering you've endured. Cast this spell and the hardship ends! Happiness begins!"
The king furrowed his brow slightly.
He had survived on the battlefield with this man for more years than he could count.
When the Archmage started speaking in such vague, roundabout terms, it was a clear sign that whatever he was about to propose would not be easy to approve.
"So what exactly are you planning to do?"
"It is a spell related to a hero!"
"A hero? That has a nice ring to it. You're saying you'll summon a hero to our world?"
The king laughed heartily, his anxiety seemingly washed away.
After all, wasn't it the hero's role to resolve the kingdom's crises? The man had always claimed it was impossible before—had a path finally opened?
Yet the Archmage smiled, bright and gleaming. Or perhaps it was an ominous smile.
"Your Majesty, are you familiar with this particular saying?"
"What saying?"
"It is easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission."
"What?"
The king's eyes flew wide, but the Archmage had already completed the incantation. A blinding white light exploded in every direction.
"We are entering the hero's body! Hold on tight!"
"What?"
"Commencing!"
"You son of a bitch!"
The light burst from the royal castle and swallowed the entire nation.
That day, a small kingdom vanished into a hunter's body. And thanks to that, my life—one I had never once imagined living as a hunter—changed forever.