Chapter 2 TSH Vol. 1 Chapter 1 Part 1

Chapter 1: The Second Departure

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Alright. With that settled, it’s time to make a plan.

First, Sieg decided to figure out what year it was. There should be a record of his trades with the merchants who came to the village. That would tell him everything he needed to know.

…There it is.

Inside a wooden box he used for storage, Sieg found the wooden slip he used for record-keeping. The last trade was marked as the year 963 of the Kingdom Calendar.

…Which means I’m thirteen right now.

He had awakened as the Hero in the spring of 966, if he remembered correctly. That gave him about three years.

Three years… It’s just barely enough time to prepare.

The next three years would decide his future as the Hero.

Sieg sat down in a chair and began to formulate his plan. Broadly speaking, there were three things he needed to do.

First, make money. Traveling, buying weapons and armor—it all required money. He also had plans that would require a large sum of money in the capital. He could never have too much.

Second, gain experience points. He could earn EXP by defeating monsters and mastering skills. Once he accumulated enough, he would be granted a boon from the gods that improved his base stats. This was called an Ascension. In his current state, he probably couldn’t even defeat the magical beasts in the forest. He needed to gain experience and Ascend as quickly as possible.

Third, pray at the church. When a Hero awakens, they are granted three Blessings from the gods—special powers bestowed upon them. He’d learned later that the initial Blessings one received were determined by their rank at the time of awakening and which god they had prayed to the most.

The three Blessings Sieg wanted were [Hyper Recovery], [Appraisal], and [Spatial Storage].

[Hyper Recovery] could heal even grievous wounds like severed limbs, making it essential for a dangerous journey.

[Appraisal] could determine the value of objects and reveal an opponent’s stats. It was a useful Blessing both in and out of combat.

[Spatial Storage] allowed him to carry a large amount of luggage in an invisible pocket of space. Without it, his journey would be immeasurably more difficult.

To get them, he would need to pray to three specific deities—

Sanatia, the Goddess of Healing and Medicine. Minerva, the Goddess of Knowledge and Learning. Mercurios, the God of Commerce and Trade.

If he prayed at the church without fail and offered his mana to the gods, he should be able to prioritize their Blessings when he finally awakened.

Sieg continued to think, drawing on the knowledge from his previous life.

The final destination for these next three years should be the undiscovered labyrinth within this territory. It would be best to Ascend as much as possible there before awakening as the Hero. Besides, there’s a good weapon in there, not to mention a massive amount of treasure…

But…

His expression soured.

Conquering that labyrinth in just three years is impossible with a straightforward approach. No matter how many times I Ascend, I won’t be able to beat the monsters on the way, let alone the final boss.

He would need a very careful plan.

After weighing his options, Sieg decided on a general course of action and got to his feet.

First things first, he needed to make some starting capital. Everything else would follow.

With the knowledge I have, the quickest way to make money is…

Sieg glanced at the medicinal herbs drying in the back of his hut and gave a small nod.

…making potions, of course.

During his last journey, an apothecary had taught him several formulas. They weren’t methods that used magic, so he couldn’t create high-potency potions, but he could produce decent ones cheaply. They should be a hot commodity for rookie adventurers.

Let’s see, it was greenleaf and moonpetal… sunblossom… what else was there…?

He selected the herbs, trying to recall the proper formulas. Spreading them out on his desk, he pulled out a pot and a bowl and immediately got to work.

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…So sleepy…

With a haggard look on his face, Sieg shouldered his pack and hurried toward the village. He’d managed to create the healing potions, but the process had required a great deal of trial and error. As a result, he’d been forced to work for several days straight without sleep. His stomach was also sloshing uncomfortably from the countless times he’d had to drink the potions to test their effects.

Ugh, I feel sick…

He walked on, his face pale, until the entrance to the village came into view.

This place was known simply as the “West Village.” It was about a day’s journey from the territorial capital by carriage, making it a convenient stop for those traveling west. Because of this, merchants visited every weekend to trade and sell their wares.

He greeted a few familiar villagers as he scanned the main square. It seemed the merchants hadn’t arrived yet. In that case, he decided to head to the church to pray.

The “church” was hardly a grand structure. It was just an old wooden building. The building next to it served as an orphanage, and he could see children playing in the yard while a nun hung laundry, keeping a watchful eye on them.

This place hasn’t changed…

Trying not to be seen, Sieg slipped quietly into the church. After confirming no one was in the back kitchen, he placed the meat he’d brought on the table—the spoils from a beast he’d hunted the other day. Having grown up here, Sieg knew the orphanage’s food situation all too well. The stipend from the feudal lord was never enough to feed a house full of growing children.

He left the kitchen and entered the chapel. A simple altar stood at the front. There were no pews, only mats spread across the floor. On the altar rested a statue of a deity carved from white stone, its features ambiguous enough that it could be either male or female.

Sieg glanced at the statue, then immediately dropped his gaze to the floor. A magic circle was inscribed on the floorboards before it. This circle, not the statue, was what mattered. Worshipping the idol or praying with all your heart wouldn’t get your prayers to the gods. To truly offer a prayer, you had to kneel on this circle and offer your mana.

Sieg knelt on the circle and clasped his hands before his chest. In his mind, he offered a prayer to the three deities. The words were ones the priestess of this very church had taught him.

I, in accordance with the ancient covenant, offer my prayers unto the gods—

Instantly, the magic circle glowed with a pale blue light, and he felt his mana being drawn from his body. The particles of light swirling within him began to flow out from where he touched the circle. It was a strange sensation, as if his entire body was being pulled into the sigil.

The mana continued to drain away, and soon, his vision began to flicker—a classic sign of mana depletion. Sieg quickly pulled out a homemade mana potion and drank it in one go. The small amount of mana that returned was immediately absorbed as soon as it was restored.

Cold sweat broke out, and his limbs grew numb. He was determined to offer as much mana as possible in a single prayer. If he didn’t, he might not receive the Blessings he wanted.

Guh…

A throbbing pain started in his head, and an involuntary groan escaped his lips when a voice called out from behind him.

“Sieg! What are you doing!? That’s enough!”

The voice made him jump back from the magic circle as if he’d been shocked. He lost his balance and landed hard on his rear. Turning, he saw a middle-aged woman standing there, her expression a mixture of anger and concern.

“I told you, didn’t I? Praying is important, but there are limits! Do you really think the gods would be pleased by such recklessness!?”

Sieg let out a breath and stood up. The sight of her familiar face made him clench his jaw for a moment. He answered, feigning composure. “I know. But you’re the one who taught me the true meaning of prayer—Priestess.”

The woman snorted and shook her head in exasperation. She was the priestess of the church and also ran the orphanage. In other words, she was the one who had raised him.

The priestess beckoned him to the kitchen and offered him a chair. After Sieg sat, she poured him a cup of tea herself. That was usually a nun’s job, but she was likely busy with the orphanage at the moment.

Sieg accepted the cup and took a moment to enjoy the aroma. It was a cheap tea leaf from the region, but she brewed it so well that none of the fragrance was lost. He savored the taste, a wave of nostalgia washing over him.

…Ah… this is good…

Seeing this, the priestess looked at him in surprise. “Did you learn proper etiquette somewhere? You look just like a nobleman.”

The priestess often traveled to the capital and had met nobles before. Even to her trained eye, Sieg’s manners were flawless.

Oops… force of habit…

Sieg’s eyes darted away. It was no wonder. As the Hero, Sieg had met not only feudal lords but royalty itself. The royal attendants had drilled etiquette into him relentlessly, to the point where his manners were impeccable. Old habits die hard.

Sieg deliberately set his cup down with a clatter. “O-Of course not! I was just trying to imitate you, Priestess!”

She tilted her head. “You can do that just by imitating me? Sieg, maybe you should go to the capital.”

The capital was the central city of the territory, surrounded by high walls. Though it was a remote region, it boasted a magnificent castle and a vast noble district. It was a metropolis, completely different from the villages outside its walls.

The capital… Sieg thought to himself. I’ll have to go there eventually. There’s an item I absolutely need to conquer the labyrinth… it’s impossible without it.

The priestess looked at him, then changed the subject. “So? Did you bring this?” she asked, gesturing to the meat on the table.

Sieg shrugged. “Yeah, it was leftover. It was about to go bad.”

He would never have leftover meat. He could salt it or smoke it to preserve it. And if he truly had a surplus, he could just sell it to a merchant.

The priestess smiled warmly. “Is that so? Well, we’ll eat it before it spoils then. …Thank you, Sieg. You’re always helping us.”

Sieg winced slightly and quickly changed the subject again. “How’s the orphanage?”

The priestess placed a hand on her cheek. “Well, we should be able to make it through the winter this year. The lord increased our stipend a little.”

Sieg knew she had sent letter after letter to the lord, begging for aid.

An idea came to him. If the potions sell well, maybe I can entrust the production to the orphanage. I’ll have to be careful so the formula doesn’t leak, but if their income increases, fewer children will die.

Winter was harsh at the orphanage. Every year, one or two children would perish. Sieg had seen the priestess’s overwhelming grief too many times.

I don’t want to see her make that face ever again…

Seeing the look on his face, the priestess smiled. “You’ve matured quite a bit since I last saw you. Have you found yourself a sweetheart?”

“Wh-What!? A priestess shouldn’t say such strange things!” Sieg sputtered, flustered by her sharp observation. It was true; he had experienced a brutal, three-year-long journey. He may look like a child, but inside, he was the Hero who had saved the world. “I’m thirteen now! I just thought it was time to start acting more like an adult!”

The priestess’s eyes softened as she let out a soft chuckle. “Well, I’m not worried about you. You’ll grow into a fine man.”

Sieg looked away and stood up. “I have to go. I still need to sell my herbs.”

“Alright. Stop by and see everyone next time. The children will be happy to see you.”

“I’ll be back,” he said, then left the church.

When he returned to the square, several carriages were already lined up, with villagers gathering around them. The merchants had arrived and were beginning to set up their shops.

Sieg approached a carriage parked off to the side and called out to the young man unloading it. “Hello, Thomas-san.”

The young merchant jumped, then smiled when he saw it was Sieg. “Oh, hey, Sieg! It’s been a while. Did you bring more herbs to sell?”

“Yes, I did.”

Thomas was a novice merchant from the capital, acquainted with both Sieg and the priestess. His father ran a merchant company, and Thomas was sent out as a traveling salesman as part of his training. However, his timid nature wasn’t suited for the job, and he always set up his stall modestly in a corner of the square. His father apparently yelled at him often, asking if he even had the will to sell anything.

Sieg looked at him and nodded to himself. This man is my key to the capital. If I build a connection with Thomas, I can eventually connect with his father’s company. Through them, I should be able to get to the capital.

Sieg showed Thomas his herbs, trading some for daily necessities and receiving money for the rest.

Thomas smiled cheerfully. “The herbs you bring are always so well-prepared, Sieg. It’s a great help. My father praised them, too.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

After their transaction was complete, Sieg checked to make sure no one was watching and moved closer. He took a water canteen from his bag and showed it to Thomas.

“Thomas-san, I actually have a favor to ask… I want you to see if this is something you could sell.”

“Oh? What’s inside is the product? What is it?” Thomas asked, looking at the canteen with interest. It was a makeshift container Sieg had made from bamboo since he didn’t have any pottery.

Sieg replied, “It’s a healing potion.”

Thomas’s expression immediately turned skeptical. “You mean… someone gave it to you?”

Sieg shook his head and lowered his voice. “No. I made it myself.”

Thomas’s eyes went wide. He glanced left and right, then motioned for Sieg to climb onto the wagon bed. The two huddled together in the cramped space.

Thomas whispered, “W-What do you mean, you made it? Aren’t potion formulas closely guarded secrets?”

“Someone taught me the method. A traveling apothecary,” Sieg said, concocting a plausible lie. He told a story about saving a collapsed apothecary who, in gratitude, taught him a secret formula. It wasn’t entirely untrue.

Thomas eyed the canteen suspiciously. He uncorked it and sniffed the contents. While his father’s company didn’t deal in healing potions, he had seen the real thing before. The scent was different from what he remembered. “This doesn’t smell like the ones I know… in fact, it has almost no smell at all. Are you sure it’s a healing potion?”

“I’ve tested the effects on myself. There’s no doubt it works.”

Thomas hummed in thought. If this boy could really make healing potions, it was a guaranteed moneymaker. But if it was just a child’s game, he’d be wasting his time… That’s what he was likely thinking.

Seeing his hesitation, Sieg put on a disappointed expression. “…I understand. It’s a shame, but I suppose I’ll have to take this to another merchant…”

“W-Wait! You can’t do that! We’re friends, aren’t we? I’ll take it for now!”

Sieg grinned internally. Though still uncertain, Thomas could smell a business opportunity. A man who was constantly being berated by his father wouldn’t let this chance slip by.

“Thank you! In that case, I’ll give you two for now. You can test the effects or have it appraised.”

“Got it. Let’s see… if it works, maybe we can draw up an exclusive contract?” Thomas said jokingly.

Sieg replied with a serious face. “Yes, that’s my intention. The quality of this batch is low, but I already know how to improve it. This could become a major venture for your company. Please, I ask that you treat this with the utmost seriousness.”

Thomas’s eyes widened, taken aback by Sieg’s intensity. He muttered to himself, “…A venture for the company? I see… that is a possibility…”

His expression shifted to that of a merchant, and he nodded at Sieg. “Alright. You have to take everything seriously, right? I’ll give it my all!”

“I’m counting on you!”

The two shook hands firmly in the back of the wagon. After discussing their next steps, Thomas decided to cancel his sales route and return to the capital immediately.

As he was leaving, he remarked, “You know, Sieg, it feels like you’ve become incredibly mature in the short time since I last saw you. Did something happen?”

Ugh… did it again. Sieg forced a childish grin and chirped, “Eh, really? Hehe… maybe I’m a full-fledged adult now!”

Seeing him act silly, Thomas laughed, thinking he must have imagined it, and left the square. Sieg waved enthusiastically until the carriage was out of sight, at which point his expression went blank.

The market for healing potions was huge. Thomas’s father was sure to bite. This would be his connection to the capital. Letting out a sigh of relief that his plan was moving forward, Sieg started walking toward the village exit.

He walked slowly, taking in the familiar sights. Women drawing water from the well, children playing around them. Men returning from the hunt, carrying their prey with pride.

He paused at the edge of the village and looked back, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at the place where he’d grown up. The people here worked together, helped each other, and lived each day to the fullest. Seeing them filled his chest with an overwhelming sense of guilt. He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw.

In the previous timeline, this village was wiped out.

It had been attacked by demons and utterly destroyed. A remote village like this had no strategic value. It was ravaged simply to make an example of it—as the village where the Hero was born.

He hadn’t been able to save them. By the time he heard the news during his journey, the village had already been razed. The priestess, the nuns, the children at the orphanage, all the villagers he knew—everyone was gone. The attack happened on a weekend, so some unlucky merchants were likely caught in it as well. Thomas must have been among them.

The village was burned to the ground, leaving nothing but ash.

Sieg’s hands tightened into fists.

…It was my fault.

If he hadn’t told anyone he’d awakened as the Hero, none of it would have happened. He’d awakened during a hunt and, ecstatic, had rushed to tell the priestess. He’d wanted her praise, wanted her to be proud. The birth of a Hero was observed by the kingdom’s mages, and an envoy was sent to the village shortly after. The news spread throughout the country, and the village became known as the Hero’s birthplace.

Sieg turned his back on the village, his resolve hardening as he walked home.

This time, even when he awakened as the Hero, he wouldn’t tell a soul. And he would not awaken in this village. Before that time came, he would cut his ties here and leave this place behind.

That was the choice he had made.