Character Introductions
Rio
Age: 24, Height: 148 cm.
With shoulder-length black hair and golden eyes, Rio possesses deep black lion ears and a tail that are darker than her hair. She has a youthful appearance, resembling a girl, and is a pureblood Black Lion, a rare breed among the Beast-folk known for their leadership qualities. She is set to inherit the position of pack leader from her father in eight years.
Though she is smaller in stature compared to the generally tall and muscular Beast-folk, her personality diverges from the typical boldness and heroism associated with her kind. Instead, she is unhesitant in deceiving others, often resorting to ambushes and manipulation as her first means of interaction. This explains the difference in her tone between her first appearance and the epilogue. Initially, she spoke in a more delicate manner, but Ferno, surprised by her being older than him, did not recall the specifics of that encounter.
In combat, she excels in stealth, ambush tactics, and assassination. She possesses the strength to lift and move objects weighing around ten tons, showcasing greater raw power than Ferno in terms of sheer muscle. However, due to her height, reach, and weight, she struggles to maintain continuous destructive power. Thus, her strength lies in delivering a single, decisive blow when her opponent is unaware.
Rio holds a worldview that life is fleeting, which has led her to lack feelings of vengeance or hatred towards the Demon Race and monsters that have attacked her village and taken her loved ones. Nevertheless, she does wish to seek revenge and, recognizing her own limitations, has asked Ferno to take on that task, joining him and the two survivors as a form of prepayment for his assistance.
Fon
Age: 44, Height: 196 cm.
Fon has white hair and blue eyes, along with the characteristic black and white spotted ears and tail of a Snow Leopard Beast-folk. He has a muscular build and a youthful face. Hailing from a snowy village, he was hired as a servant and bodyguard for Rio, who is destined to lead her village in the future. Unlike the other two, he still has a home to return to.
Fon is an average adult male Beast-folk, neither particularly distinguished by birth nor upbringing. He strives to maintain a stoic demeanor befitting a servant and protector, but his true nature is filled with the boldness and valor typical of his kind. He respects Ferno as a leader due to his abilities and holds a similar affection for Rio, readily obeying her commands without complaint.
His combat style is a blend of assassination techniques that ensure no enemy escapes and surprise attacks using concealed weapons. He has the potential to defeat a dragon in direct combat, but realistically, he would likely emerge victorious only at the cost of severe injury. If he were to face a High-Ranking Demon in peak condition, it would likely result in a mutual defeat within an hour.
Fon is not at a standstill in terms of growth; rather, his lack of experience against stronger foes and his avoidance of life-threatening situations have kept him at a moderate level. Interestingly, he is a virgin, having played the role of the unfortunate man who helps the woman he loves pursue relationships with other men. His first love was a woman who approached him while he was searching for work after leaving his village, who later fell for the man who would become her husband—Rio’s father.
Lulu
Age: 160, Height: 188 cm.
Lulu has long hair that appears silver, extending to her waist, and red eyes, complemented by golden-yellow fox ears and a tail. Though her muscular build is not immediately apparent due to her preference for modest clothing, she possesses a healthy, athletic physique rather than the innate muscularity typical of Beast-folk.
Born to a fox Beast-folk mother and a father with a race-specific recognition barrier, Lulu enjoys an exceptionally long lifespan. Her personality is altruistic, and she uses her unique traits to support those she favors. As a result, she lacks a strong sense of self and does not demand specific desires; instead, she anticipates the needs of those she cares about and prepares gifts for them in advance. Currently, her top favorites are Ferno, followed by Fana, and then Rio. This preference stems from her admiration for Ferno and Fana’s freedom to live as they choose, while she feels Rio is not yet living her own life fully.
While Lulu has minimal combat ability, she possesses some knowledge of jujitsu, allowing her to engage in basic self-defense when necessary. However, her primary roles lie outside of combat, focusing on household tasks such as cooking, procurement, and information gathering.
Lulu is not a virgin; she has experienced love, marriage, and motherhood. Her husband passed away peacefully, and while her child did not survive, she has no lingering regrets regarding his death.
Stella
Age: 24, Height: 170 cm.
Stella has mid-length hair that is a muddled gold with hints of black and striking light green eyes. She is a slender beauty and the biological sister of Elifia Oz, the Saint and a member of the hero’s party. Due to not being born with healing powers, she was disowned by the Oz family at a young age, a consequence of unfortunate circumstances.
Her personality is carefree, resembling a wandering vagabond with no particular destination. Having been disowned early in life, she lacks attachment to any specific place, accepting her expulsion without resistance, even when driven out by jealousy or noble pride.
Stella’s combat style is that of a fast attacker, continuously assaulting her opponents until they break, then delivering a flurry of strikes to secure victory. This style is distinct from both Ferno’s offensive specialization and Fana’s defensive focus, representing a third, speed-oriented approach. She possesses one powerful spell, but due to its high energy cost and the lengthy preparation required, she only uses it in dire situations.
Interestingly, Stella has fought alongside Ferno on several occasions during his time as a hero, and she was deeply impressed by his ability to inspire those around him on the battlefield. As a result, she holds a high regard for him. While she has expressed dissatisfaction about handling noble affairs, she secretly feels pleased to be relied upon by Ferno and is eager to help train Fana and Rio in negotiation skills to prepare them for future challenges.
Knight Commander
Fana’s father and the authority overseeing all knights in the Kingdom of Alstovar, he holds the ultimate decision-making power. He has four sons and three daughters but believes that children should be free to pursue their own paths without correction.
He holds a favorable view of Ferno, appreciating his accomplishments even beyond his time as a hero, and wishes to welcome him as a member of the family if possible. However, since Ferno’s family is alive and well, he hopes one of his daughters will form a romantic relationship with him.
Ferno also regards the Knight Commander positively, feeling comfortable negotiating with him, knowing that the Commander understands his capabilities. He lives with a sense of pride in serving the kingdom rather than the king, obeying royal commands without harboring any particular loyalty to the king himself.
Hermes
A merchant affiliated with the king, Hermes has previously assisted Ferno. He prioritizes his own profits but seeks to cooperate with Ferno without engaging in direct negotiations. He believes that establishing a beneficial relationship with Ferno, who is destined to become a hero, is essential for future endeavors.
His judgment has proven correct, as he has gained access to pristine dragon materials that would be unattainable through ordinary merchant dealings, establishing a bright connection with Ferno Desire, the hero of the next era. Ferno recognizes that Hermes likely has his own motives, but he can see the potential for mutual benefit, leading him to trust Hermes.
High-Ranking Demon
This term refers to a group of exceptionally powerful demons with high intelligence, reason, and abilities, including those who have perished early in the story. They generally possess a high sense of self-worth, looking down on all life forms except for the Demon Lord, and take pleasure in deceit and the brutal slaughter of humans.
Unlike lower-ranking demons, who instinctively fear Ferno Desire, High-Ranking Demons plot ways to kill him and fulfill their desire for human slaughter. The recent infiltration of the Black Market and the attack on Rio’s village were part of their ambitious schemes.
Disaster Classification
This designation is given to monsters that possess overwhelming power. However, such monsters typically self-destruct due to their growing bodies or perish while attempting to attack stronger foes, making their emergence exceedingly rare. When they do appear, they pose a significant threat that could lead to the destruction of nations or the end of the world if no clear countermeasures are in place.
End of Prologue
The prologue concludes here, and the first chapter will begin next. The new hero will be introduced in the latter half of the first chapter. Among the characters introduced, two will serve as heroines.
Comment Responses
“Interesting, looking forward to it!”
Thank you! Your encouragement fuels my creative spirit.
“Typo report.”
Thank you for your vigilance! I strive to minimize errors, so please report any you find.
“Comments on the writing.”
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“About the king.”
Your understanding aligns with my intentions. While I have a clear vision, I won’t correct differing perceptions, as individual interpretations are natural.
As a supplementary note, the king, born into royalty, understands the significance of great deeds but lacks a detailed understanding of the associated struggles. He believes that since the hero possesses status and power, they should make requests as needed. This is why there was no support during the hero’s initial journey; the hero did not make specific requests, and the king assumed that fulfilling all demands would suffice. Had the hero simply asked for resources or allies, the king would have promptly complied. However, the hero, having lived as a commoner for 15 years, was unaware of how to navigate the world of power.
“About the collar.”
Similar to the previous point, there is a barbaric mindset that believes strength can overcome anything, but there is also an ingrained understanding that one cannot survive by defying authority in human society. Thus, the hero complied with wearing the hero’s collar, which could be easily torn off if ordered to die.
“About the new hero.”
He will face struggles and setbacks. However, he possesses greater potential as a hero than the protagonist. No matter what happens, he will rise and fulfill his mission as a hero. After all, he has already been burned by an extraordinary brilliance.
“About healing.”
The protagonist must assess whether a situation allows for taking fatal damage or if it should be avoided. If a healer joins the party, the protagonist may become overly reliant on their ability to recover from injuries. This concern led the protagonist to decide against including a healer in the group. At present, there are no foes capable of bringing the protagonist to the brink of death in a single blow, so this decision has not proven to be a mistake. However, it is worth noting that the world is not so forgiving.
“About the gods.”
In this story, the gods are omniscient and omnipotent. They neither intervene in the affairs of mortals nor manipulate fate, except in rare circumstances. The hero’s unique situation, the revocation of reincarnation benefits, and the actions of angels repeating past mistakes were not deemed worthy of divine intervention.