The Greatest Hero Zack Draven

It was like falling into a deep river. Slowly the cold turned into warmth.

It was as if a ray of sunshine hit my face. When I opened my eyes, I was lying in a meadow by the river, strange because something soft fell on my hand, when I confirmed that a wolf was biting my hand.

"Ah... my hand, my arm is broken; call an ambulance."

"Can you be quiet? Just being bitten by a wolf won't kill you."

"The problem is my hand."

"Take a good look."

My hand feels fragile, and what's more surprising is that the wolf's teeth were all broken, so it decided to run away.

"Thank you, who just spoke?"

"Something under you."

Following the woman's voice, I found a Sword lying near me.

"You can talk?"

"Aah, it's faster if you try to look at the water's edge in the mirror."

I was confused and followed her words until I was wide-eyed in shock. This is not my face; long silky hair, a thin body and a pretty face.

"Am I a woman?"

I hastily checked my chest, and there was no bulge; after confirming what was underneath me, I could breathe a sigh of relief.

What is clear is that I am still a man, thank God. My appearance is probably around fifteen years old, wearing black trousers and a white shirt, and a black hooded cape.

I took the sword and asked her, "What exactly is this? I don't think this is my body."

"It is indeed your body or rather a new body, which is clear survivor you have been reincarnated into another world where magic and swords reside."

Hearing that, I immediately protested, "Wait a minute; I don't remember dying. I was buying a game, and then I walked home."

"Do you not remember? This is called the punishment of the miser."

"What do you mean by the punishment?" I asked with troubled eyes.

"You bought the game, but when you discovered that your change was lacking, you wanted to return. But unfortunately, you accidentally were hit by a truck, and died."

"What kind of death is that? And it has absolutely nothing to do with games or misers either."

"Do you know how much the change is?"

"One thousand?"

"So, you're stupid."

"One hundred?"

"So. you're an idiot."

"Ten?"

"Then you're not smart enough."

This sword likes to make fun of me, and its speech also sounds sarcastic.

"One?"

"Precisely."

I held my frustrated head while said, "I died because I only wanted to take a one dollar, so my life only cost a one."

"Indeed."

I let out a deep breath, and if I were to come back to life here, I would be much more generous. But we can ignore that for now.

"By the way, who are you?"

"My name is Olivia, and I am a Goddess who brought you to this world."

"But you're just a sword."

"I have reasons for taking this form, but if I want to eat, I will become my Goddess form."

"Seems like there's something you're trying to hide?"

"When the time comes, I will tell you."

I sighed softly, decided not to ask any further, and walked forward. I don't know where I'm going, and the most important thing is that I can arrive at a town or village like that.

After desperately arriving at a city surrounded by walls, one of the guards asked me, "Is there anything I can help with?"

"Poor sir, I haven't eaten in three days."

"Even though you say it's not like your stomach looks big."

"I mean, I haven't eaten grilled meat, sweetbreads and juice," I immediately objected; on the way here, I picked some fruit.

"No money for you; you have to work to eat."

"Work?"

"I see you have a sword, and it's not like you can become an adventurer in the guild."

"Adventure? Just like in the game."

"Games?"

"It is nothing."

"If you decide to stay in this city, I must write your name."

"Ah, sure, my name is Zack Draven, fifteen years old, and I'm an orphan."

"Zack, it's not like your name sounds like a lad."

"I am a man."

"What?" she shouted.

Her expression is too much. "With a face like that?"

I smiled in return, and if I wanted to blame someone, blame the Goddess in my hands, I slowly walked past this guard.

"You have to walk a little faster."

"The slow walker always wins. Do you know the story of the tortoise and the hare?"

I just wanted to trick a few more people into giving me money.

"Sure, the tortoise wins."

"Actually, before the match, the tortoise put sleeping pills in the rabbit's drink, so he won."

"What? That's a cunning move."

"Not cunning but wise; by the way, what is the name of this city?"

"*****"

"What the hell you say? What's the name of this city? I'm asking you."

"I told you what the name of the city is."

"Wrestle."

"No need to worry."

After finishing fighting, I could finally enter; along the busy city streets, I saw several people doing buying and selling transactions. Every shop was lined up neatly as if anything you could want was right here.

They give money in silver coins; sometimes, copper is also available, but unfortunately, I don't see people using gold coins. Is this city poor? Just as I thought, I arrived at a building that said, guild.

I didn't think that this city was named ***** City.

The one who gave this city its name had a strange taste; when I opened the door, a row of adventurers seemed to be talking to each other; not only from the human race, there were Beast races and Demi-humans, there were Elves as well.

Elf is easy to recognise by just looking at their pointed ears. Their beast has a body like an animal but stands and looks like a human, while the Demi-humans only have a tail and ears in the shape of an animal. The fantasy world is different, and a kind-hearted receptionist greeted me at the registration counter.

"I want to join a guild?"

"Yes, all around two silver coins."

"Is there an administration fee?"

In this world, nothing is free; now, I can understand my grandfather's words.

"Is the lady from far away?"

I don't want to be called miss, but because I look like this, many people will always think of me that way. For now, silence is much better.

"I come from a country called Iceland."

"Iceland? I've never heard of it."

"Well, it's a beautiful land far away."

"All right."

"Since I don't have any money, I guess I'll beg some people here first."

"Wait a minute, you can't do that . . . I'll pay for it."

"Oh, you are very generous. In the next life, you will become a goddess."

"Please don't say anything weird; put your hand on this crystal ball to see your status."

Another world feels now, and I think I have a great status.

When I touched it, everyone secretly watched me from behind burst laughing. After all, my status popped up.

My skill only has one called [Magic Tree], and the rest are weak, no, fragile.

Even the receptionist went to great lengths to cheer me up, who was out of style.

"Over time, the power will continue to grow."

The more she talks, the more I get hurt here; only after receiving my adventurer card can I take a job. The work is divided into missions according to the rank of the adventurer.

Because I'm ranked E, I can only take the same quest, and the most stuck can only take quests above it, namely Quest level D. The pay was low, and the work looked insulting, like waiting for a rooster to lay an egg for two silver coins.

The person asking for this must be crazy. Or they were cleaning a canal of foul-smelling mud for five silver coins.

The pay should be much higher. And the last one doesn't seem to be a problem.

"Fish ten pufferfish in the river for five silver coins."

Even though it is called a puffer fish, it looks like a box, but let it be the most important thing; it is much better. I pulled out the sheet of paper and gave it to the receptionist.

"Want to take on this mission?"

"Aah, can I catch this fish normally?"

"Of course, you must use golden caterpillars as bait, and these fish will eat them."

"I see; where can I get golden caterpillars?"

"At the corner of this street, there is an old house whose yard is filled with red roses. Caterpillars live there a lot, but the house belongs to Caroline; I'm not sure she will allow you to take it."

"At least I'll try it first."

"Well, fight... many adventurers fail on the first mission, too, so don't worry about it."

I haven't even started yet, but she's already convinced that this world is cruel to a weakling like me.

On the way to that place, Olivia and I chatted; even though this sword has an evil nature, it's the only one I can talk to.

"Olivia and Zack, it's not like our names match a bit. Could it be that we were meant to be together?"

"Damn, I am a Goddess if I send you to hell."

"As a friend, you are beautiful... to me, you just look like a sword."

"Yuck, if later you fall in love, watch out... I have a curvaceous body, its body-ody, long beautiful hair; every time I walk, it goes up and down well."

If she put it that far, I wouldn't be sure.

Following the cobblestoned streets, I finally arrived at a mansion with rose walls; whether it was a building or a courtyard, all of them were covered with plants.

I hesitantly went inside and found a woman with long black hair in a similarly coloured gothic dress, one hand holding an umbrella while the other holding a flower sprinkler.

Olivia, who was always silent when someone was around, spoke for the first time.

"She's a vampire."

"Can a vampire be this beautiful?"

"You should look in the mirror for yourself, and your face is also beautiful even though you are a man."

"It's your fault; give me my cool face back."

"Look... in this world, there are more women than men; I don't want you to be stuck because of them. Thank me."

"And who do I blame the situation on?"

"It's all the demon lord's fault."

"Is there a demon lord here?"

War may kill many men who joined the war, and I don't want anything to do with the demon lord.

More than that, I need money now.

When I approached, the woman in front of me immediately retreated.

"Why did you back off?"

"Because you're a man, I can tell the gender of a person when I smell it."

Finally, someone knows me without me having to mention it. I feel like crying when she keeps avoiding me.

I took one step forward, and the woman took one step back; when I took one step back, she took one step forward.

"What is this? Your name is Caroline. My name is Zack Draven. I came here to ask for golden caterpillars."

"Just take as much as you want and get out of here," she said it while hiding behind the pillar of the house.

"Why are you here?"

"I fear men; they are beasts that try to take anyone's chastity away."

Olivia burst out laughing.

"You're a unique person, even though you're a vampire. You can kill them if you want."

That's a word that a goddess shouldn't say.

"Do I want to be a vampire?"

"There are vampires who don't want to be vampires, and Zack, isn't that funny?"

I just put on a troubled face.

"Get out of here quickly. Usually, I don't want to give anything to anyone."

After getting enough golden caterpillars, I immediately went to the river with a fishing rod that I made myself.

***

I used the caterpillars I caught as bait until I got the five pufferfish in question, while I used the other fish for lunch.

After making a fire, I started to roast it; after I cooked it, I took it, but when I realised two of them had disappeared, the culprit was sitting next to me.

She looked like an Elf girl with dazzling silver hair, sparkling emerald green eyes, a high nose and thin lips as if stained with blood red.

When she came down, she had white skin, like snow, as if it was transparent and wrapped in a dress of the same colour.

"Olivia."

"What's wrong, Zack? You are mesmerised by me, my waist is slim, and my chest is big. Am I your type? I'm sorry, I'm a Goddess. You won't be able to win my heart."

Yep, unless she's silent, she's a sweet lady.

"Can you get my face back to how it used to be?"

"That's not a problem for me; it's just that you sure don't want to look like that."

"Not at all; I like my old face."

"Since I'm happy, I will grant your request."

I looked back at my reflection in the still water of the river and saw I was just like I used to be, with short black hair covering my ears, black eyes and the same nose and mouth.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"You sure are handsome with that face, so make sure not to try to find a Harem or something."

"I'll cover my face with a mask," I said weakly.

"That's good."

"But on one condition?"

"What's that?"

I sat back down next to Olivia.

"Please tell me who you are. And also why my status is so weak."

"That's because I'm also weak; in the past, my power was sealed in six different places by all the strong people in this world; if you want to be strong, then you have to go to that place and take back my power."

"Me? Wouldn't it be better if it were you?"

"I guess I don't need it anymore. Do you better use it and can you not call me you? Call me Olivia."

I just smiled wryly and continued.

"About the Goddess?"

"I am the evil Goddess previously feared by all beings in this world."

"Huh?"

I was speechless until I couldn't say anything else; a girl as beautiful as this was an evil Goddess.

"I escaped the prison that imprisoned me when I used summoning magic in the meadow, and I chose you to be summoned to this world."

"In other words, am I still alive?"

Olivia nodded in agreement.

"I don't want you to blame me for calling you here. When you fell, you were still alive."

"So that's what happened."

This is going to be tough.

"If someone finds out I am with the evil Goddess, what will happen?"

"Everyone will hunt you; demon lords, high priests, every kingdom and even other races will kill you."

"You seem to have many enemies."

"I'm bad; if you want to leave me, just go there."

Even though Olivia said this and that she was scared if I left her alone, her hands were shaking now.

"Fuck," I took a deep breath and continued.

"It can't be helped; I've decided to continue like this since I'm already here."

"Are you serious? I mean, it's only natural that I summoned you to this world after all."

You idiot, how can I leave a lonely girl like you, especially since I like girls with big breasts and pointy ears?

Can I touch it next time?

As I was filled with strange thoughts, Olivia interrupted, "By the way, I can read people's minds."

"Ugh." I choked until I coughed; I tried hard to beat my chest to swallow the food properly.

"This food is very delicious. If only there were rice, everything would be perfect."

"Don't pretend nothing happened." Olivia was still glaring at me with her cold gaze.

***

After returning to the guild, I received money from the results of completing the quest; with this money, I could rent an inn and change the mask on my face, which was made entirely of leaves.

"Ugh, why are you hiding your face?"

"I think I'll be wearing a mask from now on."

"Your voice is a little deep too."

"It's just how you feel."

I walked away while holding my sword in my hand; before I could get out, one of the adventurers accidentally bumped into me, causing me to fall to the floor.

"Sorry, your body is weak, so I accidentally bumped into you."

"It's okay; next time, be careful." Whiles cleaning my clothes, a fist hit me in the stomach, causing me to crash into the guild wall.

"Sorry, my hands are a little slippery."

"Don't worry; I'm sorry too. Your hand fell off."

A severed hand appeared to lie with blood covering the floor until everyone was silent.

"Ugh...... my hand."

The man got up after one of his comrades healed him with magic.

I held the scabbard in my left hand while in my right was the sword; without lowering my gaze, I continued to look around me.

"What does this mean? You're trying to attack me."

The man I cut off his hand replied with a bitter smile. "We saw you come out of that vampire house; if not his friend, then who are you?"

"I was there to complete a quest."

"There's no way, and we wanted to eliminate that woman from the start... anyone who has any relationship with her must die."

"It's not like that, and the receptionist also said I can go there to run a quest."

I glanced at the woman in question, and she turned away. "What the hell? You set me up, but what's the reason?"

Olivia answered me. "I don't want to say it, but that woman is a demon; it seems she's a demon sent to spy on this city."

"Oh, I see."

"I warn you, with your current strength, you won't be able to defeat them; better run away quickly."

"What about that vampire woman?"

"Humans hate the demon race and vice versa; just let her die."

I recalled my meeting with Caroline, who insisted she was human. In other words, it wasn't her wish that she turn into a vampire. Damn, trouble has come even though I just arrived in this world.

"I will save that woman."

"Up to you."

I ran to the side to break the window before rolling forward and running towards the Caroline residence. Several adventurers tried to block me, but I reached out my hand, creating plant magic that ensnared them helplessly.

This magic is called [Magic Tree], which allows the user to manipulate any plant; with quick movements, I arrived at the mansion and saw Caroline, who was surrounding several adventurers.

***

"I told you to get out of here quickly," shouted Caroline in fear.

"We will leave after killing you."

I touched the roses in this residence, and with my skill, I moved their tendrils, entangling the adventurer's entire body.

"You are okay?"

"Who are you?"

I tore the leaf mask off my face.

"Wasn't it you earlier?"

"It's a long story; I'll explain later."

"Wait a minute, there must be a reason you're covering your face... I'll take something inside."

"All right, let's go."

"Just a minute."

Caroline entered the house, and just as she came out, I immediately pulled her running with me until she hid behind a deserted alley. I hugged Caroline while covering her mouth, and she glared at me.

"I think it's safe."

While I breathed a sigh of relief, Caroline stomped my foot until I was in pain. "What are you doing?"

"Your fault," she retorted in annoyance.

Olivia cut in. "You guys must get out of this city, and I think going through the underground sewers will be our only way."

"It seems so."

I let Caroline down first while I followed later; the bad smell was my first impression when I entered this place.

"Your name is Zack Draven. Take this."

Caroline gives a white mask with a pattern of two black lines from top to bottom and from left to right, forming a plus sign. Although there are no eyes or nostrils, I can still see and breathe air.

"This mask is magic," I said before opening my mouth.

"Is this what you took from your mansion?"

"General."

"Thank you."

"You guys are lucky to be able to escape, and I believe the demon lord has been eyeing this city for a long time."

"Devil's King?" asked Caroline.

"You're a vampire, but you don't know anything about it."

"I just remember someone killing my whole family and suddenly forcing me to drink their blood."

"Oh, I see."

"What's wrong? Please explain to me." I demanded that of Olivia.

"Caroline seems to have been turned into a vampire on purpose, I don't know the reason, but that person must have bad intentions towards you."

"Could it be the receptionist?"

"The chances are very high; if he wants Caroline... that person will appear again." I nodded in agreement.

"If that's the case, then it makes sense that he purposely framed me from the start."

***

We came out of the sewers and found someone already standing in front of us; without saying anything, everyone knew he was the Receptionist I met in the guild.

I stood in front of Caroline to keep her safe.

"You're a demon, right?"

"Seems like you've noticed; I'm a vampire demon who has turned the woman in the back into the same creature."

I drew my sword to reveal the blade.

"What do you want from Caroline?"

"The reason I turned her into a vampire was to make her my strength, and if vampires eat another vampire's heart, they will become stronger... by eating it, I can become a demon lord."

"Unfortunately, I will not allow it."

I dashed forward to swing the sword from above at the Receptionist.

"Fool, an attack like that won't work on me."

He pushed me aside until I hit the outer city wall.

"Very strong."

"I told you he was too strong for you to deal with," Olivia said.

Though strong, I couldn't ignore Caroline; I got back up and shouted while attacking the Receptionist. Even though I thanked the receptionist at the guild, it turned out like this.

The receptionist dodged my left and right before sending his hand through my chest.

"So stubborn, die."

"I'm not going to die, and you're the one who's going to die now."

I held his hand so I couldn't use it anymore before I dropped my sword until Caroline picked it up.

"Caroline?" I shouted.

"Shit."

"Argh..." accompanied by that scream, Caroline swung my sword, cutting off the Receptionist's head until he fell to the ground.

I took out the hand that previously penetrated my body until I lay down.

"You're so reckless."

"At least you're safe."

Unexpectedly Caroline can use healing magic, so I feel a little better; after being able to stand, we decided to go into the forest to hide there immediately.

Right by the river, I took off my mask and washed my face; I had explained my situation to Caroline until she understood the problem.

"So, this sword is the incarnation of the Evil Goddess."

"Stop calling me that," Olivia interrupted firmly.

"I plan to go to six different places before settling down... how about you?"

Caroline silently thought about it and said, "I guess I'll come with you; after all, I have nowhere to go back to."

"I don't mind anyway."

"I'm the one who objected, and you're currently taking the Harem route... I told you I didn't like it."

"Calm down, Olivia; Caroline is not the kind of person she could like me... right, Caroline?"

"Ah... yes."

"She was silent for a few seconds before replying to you, suspicious."

This goddess is very evil to the heart. For now, we will rest here until things are under control. I made a base using leaves that can be used to lie down.

"Please use that."

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me, I'll light a bonfire to keep us warm."

"Um."

In front of the blazing fire, Olivia returned to her elf form.

"Are you sure you want to take it?"

"Why not? I also don't want us to leave someone I just saved."

"You are."

"More than that, Olivia... you haven't said why you summoned me to this world. You only said your true identity."

"There's no particular reason, and I want someone to protect me... if it's someone from this world, I'm not sure that person would do it. That's why I summoned you to this world."

"You just want to use me."

"There's nothing wrong with that; after all, you don't like the world you used to live in either, do you?"

"How much do you know about me?" I said with a troubled face.