The rhythmic sound of hooves against the dirt sent a strange tension through the village. The mist parted, revealing a tall, armored man riding atop a black warhorse. His movements were sharp and disciplined, his posture rigid like a seasoned warrior.

  Before I could even process what was happening, a loud scream broke the silence.

  "BIG BROTHER, YOU’RE BACK!"

  I turned just in time to see Kaito sprinting toward the man, his face lighting up with pure excitement. His voice echoed through the village, instantly waking the sleeping villagers. Windows creaked open, doors swung ajar, and murmurs spread among the people.

  The armored warrior dismounted effortlessly, his blue cloak swaying in the morning breeze. He removed his helmet, revealing sharp features, piercing eyes, and dark blue hair—a striking resemblance to Kaito.

  His gaze scanned the area before landing on Kaito, a small smirk forming on his lips.

  "You’re still as loud as ever, Kaito," the man spoke in a deep, composed voice.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Kaito practically tackled him in a hug. "Maito! It’s really you!"

  Maito Kasama.

  The name felt heavy—it carried weight, respect, and power. The villagers who had gathered around whispered among themselves.

  “Maito-sama has returned.”

  “The prodigy of the Kasama family… an elite soldier of the kingdom’s army.”

  “With him here, the village is safe.”

  I noticed something odd. My system didn’t display his stats. Usually, when I focused on someone, their stats would appear—but for Maito, there was nothing.

  “System?” I whispered in my mind. “Why can’t I see his stats?”

  > [System Restriction: Target exceeds Grade B+. Information unavailable.]

  That meant… Maito Kasama was at least a Grade A- warrior, stronger than his father, Ryoji.

  I clenched my fists. Just when I thought I was starting to catch up, I was reminded of how vast the power difference truly was.

  Maito’s sharp eyes finally landed on me. I felt a chill.

  “And who’s this?” he asked, his voice carrying authority.

  Kaito grinned. “Big brother, this is Hiroshi! He’s my friend—and guess what? He’s the one who killed the Direwolf!”

  The moment Kaito said that, the murmurs around us exploded into full-blown shock.

  Maito’s gaze sharpened. “You? You killed a Grade 3 monster?”

  I swallowed hard but nodded. “…Yeah.”

  He studied me for a long moment before smirking. “Interesting.”

  Without another word, he turned to his father, Ryoji Kasama, who had just stepped out of his house, arms crossed.

  “Father, let’s talk inside.”

  I watched as the two men walked into the Kasama household, leaving me standing there with Kaito.

  Kaito, still buzzing with excitement, turned to me. “Hiroshi! You have no idea how awesome my brother is! He’s one of the youngest elite soldiers in the kingdom! He’s fought on real battlefields!”

  I exhaled, still processing everything.

  Maito Kasama. A Grade A- elite soldier.

  His arrival… was going to change everything.