The morning sun peeked through my window, casting a golden hue over the wooden walls of my room. Today was different. Today, I had officially turned five years old—a significant milestone in this world.
Birthdays weren't celebrated annually like in my past life. Instead, only certain ages held special significance:
• Five years old: Surviving infancy without succumbing to disease or injury.
• Ten years old: The age when children begin learning a profession.
• Fifteen years old: The age of adulthood, often marked by marriage and true independence.
I turned onto my back, staring at the ceiling. No one had wished me yet, but I knew they were planning a birthday party for later in the evening. If my meta-knowledge still held, I could already predict their gifts:
• A sword from Paul.
• A herbology book from Zenith.
• A magic wand from Roxy.
Would it be the same as I remembered? Or would fate twist events, forcing me to reevaluate my expectations? Either way, I was eager to find out.
With that thought in mind, I got up and stretched. It was time to freshen up.
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As warm water ran over my skin, I took a moment to reflect on my journey so far. It had been a struggle to learn language, magic, and combat techniques, but now, at five years old, I could confidently say I had made progress.
I had officially reached:
• Advanced Rank in all four elemental attack magics—Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire.
• Intermediate Rank in Healing and Detox Magic—which was uncommon for someone my age.
• Fluency in three languages—Human, Demon, and Beast-Race tongues.
This accomplishment in Detox Magic made me question the reliability of my meta-knowledge.
According to what I knew, my mother, Zenith, was supposed to be Intermediate in Healing Magic and only Elementary in Detox Magic. But reality had proven otherwise.
Over the past six months, I had learned that she was much more skilled than I had originally assumed.
Zenith's true abilities:
• Intermediate Rank in Healing and Detox Magic.
• Elementary Rank in Divine, Barrier, Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire Magic.
It wasn't overpowered by any means, but it was far beyond what my meta-knowledge had led me to believe. When I asked her about it, she told me a story that made me understand how her skills had developed.
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Zenith was a noble runaway, naive to the harsh realities of the world. As an adventurer, she specialized in support magic—Healing, Detox, Divine, and Barrier—and was valued in her party. Or so she thought.
Her first adventuring party took advantage of her ignorance. They never paid her fairly, nor did they treat her as an equal. For a time, she didn't realize the exploitation. But that changed when a brash young man reeking of alcohol confronted her.
He was rough, unpolished, and clearly drunk, yet his green eyes held an intense fire. He was Paul Greyrat, leader of the Black-Wolf's Fang Party.
"You're with the wrong guys. You're being used," he told her, gripping her arm.
His touch was firm—almost painful—as if trying to force her to understand the truth. She pulled away, confused and startled. Before she could argue, her party members arrived, forcing Paul and his team to leave.
She thought that was the end of it.
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A few weeks later, her party took their first B-Rank mission. It was a disaster.
The mission went south fast. She exhausted herself healing her teammates, ensuring their survival—only for them to abandon her the moment things got too dangerous. She was left alone, injured, and exhausted as a pack of monstrous wolves closed in on her.
For the first time in her life, she truly feared death.
Then—shadows moved. Before the monsters could rip into her flesh, four figures emerged from nowhere. Two of them charged into the wolf pack, while the other two blocked the escape route. Before she could react, she felt strong arms lift her.
Then—darkness.
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When she awoke, she was bandaged, weak, but alive.
A blonde woman sat beside her, smiling gently. "How are you feeling?" she asked.
It was then that Zenith realized where she was—Black-Wolf's Fang had saved her.
Her memories came flooding back—betrayal, fear, loneliness, the pack of monsters about to kill her—and she broke down. She clung to the elf, sobbing uncontrollably.
She had almost died alone, abandoned by people she once called comrades.
The next day, her former party members returned. They apologized, begged her to come back, saying it was a mistake.
Zenith hesitated. Maybe she could forgive them. Maybe it really was just a mistake. Maybe she had known them too long to throw it all away.
Then—Paul stepped in.
Still reeking of alcohol, but dead serious, he spoke words that shook her soul.
"Going back is your choice. But trust, once broken, is not easily regained."
"I, Paul Greyrat, leader of Black-Wolf's Fang, officially invite you to our party. If only once, show us your trust. Let us prove we won't break it."
Her heart spoke before her mind could.
"I accept your offer. Thank you for having me."
Her former leader, Zeroh, snapped.
"You noble brat! We treated you well, and now you're running off with this green-eyed bastard because of some sweet words?!"
Before he could finish his rant, Paul punched him so hard that he flew across the room.
The elf and beast-woman took care of the rest, beating Zenith's former teammates into the ground.
Paul simply stood over Zeroh's broken form and spoke coldly.
"Watch your tongue. Especially when speaking about my party members."
From that day on, Zenith was a part of Black-Wolf's Fang.
And eventually, she fell for Paul.
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But even in those days, many had heard whispers of a famous A-Rank Party—Fang of the Black-Wolf, most known as Black-Wolf Fang or Wolf Fang.
A party filled with skilled and misfit adventurers alike.
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The Members of Black-Wolf's Fang:
Leader: Paul Greyrat – A former noble and runaway heir of the Notos-Greyrat household. He was an Advanced Rank swordsman in all three major sword styles—Sword-God, Water-God, and North-God. However, outside of battle, he was a mess—a womanizer, a drunk, and a frequent visitor of brothels. The only time he looked anything like his noble heritage was when he wielded his sword.
Sword-Saint Ghislaine Dedoldia – A beastwoman and daughter of the Dedoldia Clan's leader. Like Paul, she was of noble blood, but her intellect was… lacking. She was an airhead, completely illiterate, and struggled to pronounce complex words. But with a sword in her hands, she was a force of nature.
Elinalise Dragonroad – A breathtaking beauty and Advanced Rank North-God Swordsman. Despite her noble mannerisms, she had one insatiable vice—men. She slept with a new man nearly every night, as if she were under some kind of curse. But when it came to combat? She was just as lethal as she was seductive.
Talhand – The party's offensive mage, specializing in raw destruction.
• Advanced Rank in Earth and Fire Magic.
• Intermediate Rank in Wind Magic.
• Elementary Rank in Water Magic.
A powerful dwarf magician. But, just like every other dwarf, he loved alcohol. Even more surprisingly? He was into men. Quite the oddity.
Geese Nukadia – A Demon-Race member from the Demon Continent. Unlike the others, he lacked both magic and sword skills. Instead, he was the party's strategist, scout, and logistics expert. His mapping, budgeting, and resource management kept them afloat. But his true nature? He was a gambler and con-man.
Zenith Greyrat – The party's healer, specializing in:
• Intermediate Rank in Healing and Detox Magic.
• Elementary Rank in Divine and Barrier Magic.
Still stuck with her Millis Church upbringing, but slowly learning the ways of adventurers.
Zenith's transition from a C-Rank party to an A-Rank one changed everything.
Unlike her first party, Black-Wolf's Fang valued her skills. They trained her, taught her how to survive.
During one such training session, she learned all four Elementary Rank Attack Magics—Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind.
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I snapped out of my thoughts as I finished bathing.
That story made me realize something: Zenith was stronger than I thought. Not just in magic, but in willpower.
Even though Paul was an idiot in some ways, there was a reason why he was respected as a leader.
As I dried off and dressed, I smirked to myself.
"No one has wished me yet, but I know they're planning something big."
For now, it was time to face the day and see what surprises awaited me.