The Accidental Rise of a Retired Hero

Kaito spent the next few days hoping the strange gathering of creatures around his cottage would be nothing more than a fluke. But as he sat on the porch, carving a piece of wood into a crude spoon, he couldn't help but notice the growing presence of eyes watching him from the trees.

The wolves had become a constant. At first, he'd assumed they were simply curious, but now they lingered in the shadows, always just out of sight. He could hear their soft growls, their low, rumbling chatter. And it wasn't just the wolves—other creatures, too, had started appearing. Strange, bird-like beings with feathers as dark as night perched on the roof of his cottage, their unblinking eyes following his every move. The insects, too—large and iridescent—flitted around the clearing, always circling him but never getting too close.

Kaito had hoped they'd eventually go away, but they never did. Instead, they seemed to grow in number. It was as if the forest itself had decided to keep him under constant surveillance.

One afternoon, as he was gathering firewood in the woods, he found something unexpected. A tall, lanky creature—a creature he hadn't seen before—stood before him, its spindly arms outstretched, as though waiting for something. Its skin shimmered like liquid silver, and its eyes were like deep pools of darkness.

Kaito blinked, stopping in his tracks. "Uh, hey there," he said, his voice flat. "Can I help you?"

The creature didn't respond, only standing still, staring at him with those unnerving eyes.

"Right," Kaito muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess we're doing this now." With a shrug, he turned to continue his task, but the creature didn't budge. It simply followed him, its presence a strange weight in the air.

After a few moments, Kaito stopped, dropping the firewood to the ground. He turned to face the creature, a frown tugging at his lips. "Why are you following me? I'm not here to start anything. I just want to be left alone."

The creature tilted its head in a slow, deliberate motion, as if considering his words. Then, finally, it spoke in a low, melodic voice. "You are… the one they wait for."

Kaito raised an eyebrow, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"The creatures of the forest… they have gathered," the creature said, its voice echoing strangely in the still air. "They seek your presence. They wish to… follow you."

Kaito shook his head, stepping back. "What? No. No one's following me. I'm just here for some peace and quiet. I'm not looking for a fan club."

The creature's expression didn't change, but there was a subtle shift in the air, an unmistakable pressure that made the hairs on the back of Kaito's neck stand on end. "They wait," it repeated. "They will not leave until you lead them."

Kaito's heart sank. This was ridiculous. Was he really hearing this? He didn't want to lead anyone. He didn't want to rule over anything or anyone. He had come here for a life of isolation, not to become the figurehead of a horde of forest creatures.

"Lead them?" Kaito muttered. "I'm not leading anyone."

But the creature wasn't listening. It had already turned and started walking away, its long limbs stretching out in impossible ways as it moved toward the clearing. Without thinking, Kaito followed.

The clearing was packed. Wolves, birds, large insects, and even smaller creatures that Kaito hadn't seen before—giant lizards, foxes with shimmering fur—had gathered around the area. They were all watching him, waiting. It was like an army had formed, but it wasn't one he'd ever intended to lead.

Kaito stood at the edge of the gathering, his mind racing. He couldn't just ignore them. The forest was unnaturally quiet, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves. The creatures were waiting for him, and it was clear that they wouldn't leave until he did something.

With a heavy sigh, Kaito approached the center of the clearing, standing before them, his heart heavy with frustration. "Look," he began, his voice carrying more authority than he intended. "I don't want to be your leader. I didn't come here to lead anyone. I just want to be left alone."

The creatures didn't move. They didn't even flinch. They simply watched, their eyes never leaving his face. A strange, oppressive silence hung in the air, and Kaito realized that there was no simple way out of this. No matter what he said, they weren't going anywhere.

In that moment, something deep within him stirred—something he hadn't felt in years. It wasn't the heroism of the past, but a strange pull of responsibility. He couldn't explain it, but it was as though the forest was waiting for him to make a decision. And no matter how much he wanted to walk away, to turn his back on this growing horde of creatures, he couldn't ignore them.

"Fine," he said at last, his voice sharp but resigned. "You want me to lead you? Fine. But don't expect me to start making speeches or whatever you think a leader should do. I'm not here for that."

The creatures didn't react. They simply continued to watch him, as though waiting for the next step.

Kaito didn't know what he was getting himself into. But one thing was certain: his quiet life in the cursed forest was over. He had become the leader of something he never asked for, and the weight of it was heavier than any battle he had fought before.