I Became a Hero With a Lot of Experience

20 – 020: 5,000 Years of History (1)

Close to dawn, on an early morning when the night had turned into day, I, who had awakened earlier than usual due to a change in my sleeping position, stood by the window rubbing my eyes.

In the dark blue sky mixed with the black of the night and the azure of the day, the sun and the stars seemed to be watching each other.

Seeing the faint edge of the sun beyond the horizon, it was only a matter of time before the sun drove away the stars.

“Well, then…”

Retreating from the window, I headed straight to the bathroom, splashed water on my face, and rinsed my mouth lightly with water.

Although it wasn’t known last night, there was toothpaste in this world too. Trying it once, I quite liked the refreshing mint scent that filled my mouth.

‘If there’s mint, is there mint chocolate?’

If not yet, my first task as a warrior would be to spread mint chocolate in this uncivilized land.

How can I, as a warrior, not enlighten them about the importance of purity or, as a cook, fail to civilize those with an undeveloped food culture?

With these thoughts, I wiped away the moisture on my face and left the room.

After proving his strength, he had received treatment akin to that of a king, yet there was no reason for him to act lazily.

The place he headed straight for was the kitchen. Even in this world, the kitchen remained bustling, with people bustling about since the early morning.

When an unfamiliar outsider entered, momentarily, everyone’s attention focused on them, but soon after, they returned to concentrating on cooking due to the head chef’s commotion.

“Who’s here… (Experience Points: 6)”

“Hero. Step aside; I’ve come to prepare food.”

“Yes, yes? (Experience Points: 6)”

With an expression that seemed to question the unadulterated truth, he narrowed his eyes, but soon after scrutinizing my face, his complexion changed.

Whether it was unique to the kingdom or not, Western characteristics were evident in the people of this world.

While he didn’t have a clue about my identity, he guessed who I was by looking at my completely non-Western face.

“I… heard about it. We’ll take care of the hero’s meal… (Experience Points: 6)”

“How can we trust you to handle all the cooking?”

For the chef, it was the worst possible remark, and the brows of everyone, including the head chef, furrowed.

He didn’t believe the nobleman would come and engage in such ridiculous behavior, but they couldn’t afford to be complacent.

Moreover, I was personally curious about the ingredients of this world’s cuisine.

“Not going to intervene? Should I report to the king? He’d love the commotion this early in the morning. Wouldn’t he?”

“…… (Experience Points: 6)”

In the end, he vacated the seat with a nonchalant expression, and I prepared a decent dish using the kitchen’s ingredients.

I made a vegetable stir-fry with pre-made bread, vegetables, and meat adequately sautéed. Despite not knowing what ingredients I used, it turned out quite edible, especially when I split the bread and stuffed it with the stir-fry.

It was around the time I finished the meal and cleaned up that someone knocked on the door at a remarkably fitting moment, as if they had been peering through the crack in the door all along.

“Come in.”

“Excuse me. (Experience Points: 2)”

With permission, the door opened, and the person who entered, bowing respectfully, was the knight who had first guided me to this room.

For some reason, whether due to last night’s events or something else, he looked at me with a complex expression, unable to articulate.

“So, you…?”

“I’m Baz. (Experience Points: 2)”

“Right, Baz. What’s the matter?”

“Well, actually, I’ve come to ask if the hero could join the upcoming morning training session for the knights. I hope it’s not a personal request.”

“Of course, it’s training in preparation for the upcoming battle with the Demon King’s army. As you are an esteemed guest, you don’t have the authority to command us, but we hope you’ll join us… (Experience gained: 2)”

“Got it. I’ll go.”

“Yes, really? (Experience gained: 2)”

Perhaps not expecting a prompt response, Baz blinked his eyes like a goldfish.

“I’m going. Oh, is this outfit suitable?”

The clothes he was currently wearing were not uncomfortable for everyday wear, but they were not suitable attire for sparring.

“Oh, no… During the sparring, we will wear protective gear, so it’s fine. (Experience gained: 2)”

“Good. But if it’s knight training, are all the castle knights gathering?”

“No. It’s training for knights excluding those on guard duty. Also, former Commander Las will be observing. (Experience gained: 2)”

“I see. Let’s go then.”

Though he gestured to lead, he hesitated to guide immediately.

“What are you waiting for? Not coming?”

But one couldn’t linger like this forever.

With a slight squint, when urged, he had no choice but to take heavy steps.

The place we arrived at was the training ground used by the knights, with scarecrows similar to those often seen in the dojo scattered about.

However, unlike the dojo’s scarecrows, the ones here looked somewhat shabby.

Made of sand and sawdust, the training ground scarecrows didn’t seem like they could withstand Lance’s bombardment.

Not only knights gathered in the training ground, but in a distant spectator-like facility, I noticed nobles I had seen in that room before.

As expected, there were also gossips in the stands. They immediately averted their eyes, trembling, upon making eye contact with me.

“Hmm…”

Taking a step forward, I faced the knights who were probably waiting for me.

Just like the nobles in the stands, I felt an unpleasant gaze that seemed to be judging me, and my impression momentarily soured.

With composure, I scanned them in return and spoke calmly.

“So, who’s the next commander? The one before got chopped.”

To the words I secretly anticipated, some laughed, while others suppressed their anger.

There was no need to say how Las might have been.

*****

“Easy.”

The knight’s training would be classified as insane by the standards of ordinary people, but I could handle it with ease.

The reason was not just because my physical abilities were enhanced by divine power.

Thanks to the rigorous training in autonomous escape and the harsh training spent at the Gellance Dojang, my body was more accustomed to physical exertion than others.

However, knights who were unaware of such circumstances cursed me from behind, claiming that I could barely stand thanks to the strength of a warrior.

The more I looked at them, the more despicable they seemed.

On the first day, I found myself laughing at the medieval weaponry that I had thought was impressive. After all, I was nothing more than a commoner who was lucky enough to be born in a world without Gellances.

Comparing myself to the knights of Earth who proudly displayed their martial arts skills amidst Gellance’s bombardment would be unreasonable.

“…Warrior. (Experience Points Acquired: 8)”

“Huh?”

Lost in contemplation for a moment, a knight approached me.

Unlike the other young knights, an elderly knight with white hair spoke in a low voice.

“After a short break, we plan to engage in sparring. However, I heard that despite defeating a demon army officer, you’re not accustomed to combat.”

From a distance, along with the sound of coughing, the murmurs of calling me a cook reached my ears.

It wasn’t entirely incorrect, but they were forgetting one thing—I was a chef who had learned to handle Gellances.

“I can do it too. Do I just take a weapon from there?”

Pointing to the armory, I asked, and the elderly knight sighed, nodding.

The armory was filled with numerous weapons, ranging from basic ones like swords and shields to more peculiar ones like spears and whips.

But, of course, there was no Gellance, the undefeated weapon that had earned the praise of all.

Seeing the inadequate display in what could be called a national armory, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

Whether he knew my feelings or not, the old knight, without understanding the atmosphere, blabbered nonsense.

“I heard your growth is in shields. If you’re comfortable with a shield, then a spear or a sword would be suitable. (Experience Points Acquired: 8)”

The old knight handed me a shield and a spear.

I refused the spear, accepting only the shield, and he looked puzzled or annoyed, his expression showing both.

“Are you going to fight with just a shield? (Experience Points Acquired: 8)”

Rejecting the spear and taking only the shield, he looked at me with a puzzled or irritated expression.

“Leaving one hand empty is not a wise choice. You can gradually learn swordsmanship or spear techniques, so don’t decline it. (Experience Points Acquired: 8)”

“That’s not a weapon for a man.”

“…Excuse me? (Experience Points Acquired: 8)”

All the weapons he showed me weren’t something you could call a man’s weapon.

After all, shouldn’t a true man of Korea wield a Gellance, boasting a tradition of 5,000 years?

Is it possible that this man, despite his age, doesn’t know such a simple fact about Korean men?

“Is this all the weaponry you have?”

“…No, there are also the equipment and weapons used on horseback, beyond this… (Experience Points: 8 individuals)”

“What?!!”

The knight was taken aback when I suddenly raised my voice, hesitating and taking a step back.

“You should have said that earlier, damn it!”

In my fury, I headed straight for the firmly closed adjacent room.

The door was securely locked, but such a lock couldn’t stop a determined man.

-Boom!

With one strike, the door shattered along with the lock, revealing an assortment of gear, including a horse’s helmet.

Scanning the room, wiping away useless information with my eyes, amidst it all, as expected, was something akin to a disciple of Gains, waiting for me.

“…I have no choice for now.”

“Ah, no, sir! That’s…!! (Experience Points: 8 individuals)”

What I had held in my hands numerous times on Earth was now back in my grip.

“Ah… I’ve missed this feeling.”

The lance, a pride of Gains, was in my hand again.