Who Might You Be?

Naturally, Shien had no way of knowing what would happen next.

Still, Shien could more or less guess part of it.

"If possible, I really hoped my first experience living in Another World could unfold peacefully and smoothly."

With that thought in mind, the faint excitement and anticipation that had lingered in Shien's heart ever since leaving the forest vanished without a trace.

Basically, Shien was not someone who liked drawing attention to himself.

Although he no longer remembered anything about himself from his previous life, Shien had retained parts of his personality.

So, Shien understood himself very well and knew exactly what kind of person he was.

He was someone who was curious about novel things, yet disliked overly thrilling developments and events. If possible, he wanted to live an ordinary life, avoid crowds, and, even more so, avoid standing out. He only wanted to blend into the crowd and quietly observe all sorts of new things.

But on the other hand, if something truly irreversible happened, Shien would not blame heaven or earth, nor would he deliberately run from it. He would simply accept it as something unavoidable.

Therefore, regarding something as utterly unbelievable as being reincarnated in Another World, Shien had basically had no particular feelings about it. He had merely accepted it as unavoidable, then indulged his curiosity when the occasion called for it.

Thanks to that, Shien was highly adaptable. Or rather, he was good at facing objective facts head-on, and even better at finding joy amid hardship. Even though he was curious about being an adventurer and curious about the customs of Another World, he had no desire to become conspicuous. Unlike the protagonists of novels, he was not eager to make a tremendous name for himself in Another World, leave his name in history, and change his formerly ordinary and boring life.

In other words, Shien actually preferred living a quiet, ordinary life.

Even after being reincarnated in Another World, gaining a second life, becoming the legendary Hero, and being asked by the Goddess to defeat the Demon King, he did not want to act too high-profile.

If possible, Shien planned to become an ordinary adventurer, complete all kinds of commissions and quests in an ordinary manner, slowly raise his level and strength, then, once the time was right, find an opportunity to defeat the Demon King and fulfill his mission.

More than that, Shien hoped to defeat the Demon King quietly and without anyone knowing, before anyone even had time to react.

By then, the people of this world might be utterly astonished or deeply shaken, but no one would know that Shien had done it. He could then hide both his achievements and his name, continuing to live out his second life in this world as an ordinary person.

That was what Shien wanted to do.

Ambitious people might look down on Shien for this, believing that after being reincarnated in Another World, becoming a Hero, and receiving such an absurdly overpowered advantage, he had no ambition whatsoever and was wasting his good fortune.

People who fantasized about having such a life, crossing into Another World like a protagonist and embarking on a magnificent, turbulent existence, might also resent Shien. They might think that he had received what others could only dream of, yet remained so unmotivated. It was simply infuriating.

However, Shien was just that kind of person. He did not seek excitement, much less fame and success. He only hoped to live out his life safely and peacefully. That was enough.

"Making a living as an adventurer, perhaps traveling around this world and seeing all sorts of novel things along the way, steadily raising my level... What is wrong with living like that?"

Shien sighed to himself as he walked down the bustling street.

Shien did not notice at all that someone had happened to pass by him, overheard his words, and stopped in her tracks.

"Hey, adventurer over there. You seem to be saying something rather interesting."

When that pleasant voice reached Shien's ears, he froze, stopped walking, turned his head, and looked toward its source.

The moment he did, Shien could not help but stare.

Because a beautiful young girl had entered his field of vision.

She looked to be only seventeen or eighteen, perhaps one or two years younger than Shien, yet she was tall and slender, standing well over 170 centimeters. She carried an air of nobility and elegance, making her seem like a wealthy young lady out for a stroll.

The girl had long, straight, glossy black hair and red eyes. She wore a dress that suited her temperament perfectly while still allowing easy movement. Though it was not lavish, her exceedingly lovely looks and exceptional bearing made it appear like a princess's gown from the royal court.

As the saying went, clothes made the man and the saddle made the horse. Clothes were supposed to flatter the wearer, yet this girl instead made the clothes look better. It was rather incredible.

This girl was holding a flatbread-like snack with its wrapper torn open, taking bite after bite as she looked at Shien. As though acting on a whim, she struck up a conversation with him.

"You are an adventurer, right? Don't adventurers all hope to make a name for themselves and achieve something?"

The girl asked with apparent curiosity.

She was not wrong.

Generally speaking, adventurers all hoped to make a name for themselves. Only then could they catch the attention of major nobles and even the royal family, allowing them to take on more high-level, high-difficulty, and high-paying commissions.

It could be said that what adventurers needed most was fame.

With fame, they could attract more attention and gain more profitable opportunities. In the end, they could leave their names in history. That was what every adventurer pursued.

Many people had expectations and admiration for the adventurer profession because successful, famous adventurers were dazzling figures like celebrities. They could receive the hospitality of great powers and even entire nations, gathering wealth, prestige, and status into their hands.

Therefore, whether for ordinary people or even nobles, becoming an adventurer was something worth aspiring to.

Under such circumstances, it was no wonder the girl was curious when Shien made such a statement.

But—

"Who might you be?"

After falling silent for a while, Shien actually asked this question in confusion.

He did not become smug just because he had caught a beautiful girl's curiosity and attention. Nor did he become flustered because a beautiful girl had suddenly spoken to him. He was not even delighted, nor did he chatter on to draw her attention and set up some fateful beautiful encounter. Instead, he rather unromantically voiced his doubt.

This made the girl raise a lovely eyebrow and lower the snack in her hand.

"Are you asking me to introduce myself?"

The girl's attitude turned somewhat teasing.

"But you should know that not just anyone gets to hear my name."

Because of the girl's words, the atmosphere began to turn subtle.

Here is the third update!

A new character finally made her appearance in this chapter!

As for her identity, can you guess? (*^▽^*)