The Accidental Rise of a Retired Hero

Kaito sat on the porch of his cottage, staring out at the sea of eyes watching him from the trees. The creatures had gathered again, as they had every day since he reluctantly agreed to "lead" them. There were more of them now—new creatures seemed to appear every day. Some were harmless, like the small, rabbit-like beasts with glowing blue eyes, while others were larger and far more intimidating, like the massive, black-furred wolves that now stood at the edge of his clearing.

His life had devolved into a strange mix of constant surveillance and awkward diplomacy. He hadn't intended to become their leader, but the creatures wouldn't leave. They waited. And now, he couldn't help but feel the weight of their collective gaze on him, every second.

He sighed, rubbing his temples. The peaceful life he had envisioned was a distant memory. Instead, he had inherited the responsibility of a strange and growing empire of monsters.

"Alright," Kaito muttered to himself. "Let's get this over with."

He stood, brushing the dirt off his worn clothes, and approached the clearing where the creatures had gathered. They parted as he stepped into their midst, allowing him a path through their ranks. Despite their strange appearances and varying sizes, they watched him like soldiers waiting for orders.

"Listen up!" Kaito called out, his voice carrying through the silence. "I don't know why you're all here, and I don't care to know why. But I'll say this once: I'm not going to start ordering you around. I don't want a horde. I don't want to be your king. But—" He paused, realizing the absurdity of the situation. "But I'll help you with whatever you need. If you want to follow me around like this, at least try not to wreck my house, alright?"

There was a long pause, and then, slowly, the creatures began to stir. One by one, they nodded in unison, as if accepting his words. The wolves, still watching him intently, let out low, rumbling growls, their eyes softening ever so slightly.

Kaito blinked, surprised at the quiet cooperation. Was that… a sign of respect? He couldn't be sure, but it seemed like it.

"Good," he muttered, stepping forward. "Now—what do you need from me?"

Before he could get a clear answer, the ground shook beneath his feet. The sky darkened for a moment, casting the forest in an eerie shadow, and Kaito looked around, his senses going on high alert. The creatures around him shifted, their posture tense.

"What the hell was that?" he asked, instinctively reaching for his sword, which he had thankfully kept by his side.

A loud roar echoed from the distance, one that made Kaito's blood run cold. It was deep and guttural, unlike anything he had heard before. The creatures stiffened, their eyes darting around as though searching for the source.

"Something's coming," Kaito muttered under his breath, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.

And then, as if on cue, a massive figure emerged from the treeline—a creature the likes of which Kaito had never seen before. It was a towering beast, with scales like obsidian and eyes that burned like coals. Its claws were long enough to tear through the thick trunks of the forest, and its massive wings stretched wide, casting a shadow that darkened the entire clearing.

The creatures around Kaito immediately reacted, growling and circling, their posture defensive. Kaito stood frozen for a moment, taking in the sheer size and power of the creature. It was unlike any forest creature he had encountered so far—nothing this large or powerful should have been wandering this close to his cottage.

The beast stopped at the edge of the clearing, its gaze shifting from Kaito to the surrounding creatures. It growled low, a rumble that seemed to reverberate in the very earth.

Kaito swallowed hard. "What… what do you want?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the fear creeping up his spine.

The creature's eyes flicked toward him, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause. It was as if the creature was studying him, weighing him.

Then, unexpectedly, it spoke. "You… lead them now," it rumbled, its voice like gravel grinding together. "I challenge you."

Kaito's heart skipped a beat. A challenge? What was this? A duel?

The surrounding creatures—his creatures, it seemed—moved back slightly, some even lowering their heads as if giving the two of them space. The wolves growled lowly, and the birds above fell silent. All eyes were now on Kaito.

"Challenge me?" Kaito echoed, eyes wide. "I'm not interested in fighting you. I didn't ask for this. I'm not your king. Whatever you want, I don't—"

The beast cut him off with another roar, one that shook the ground beneath his feet. "You are weak," it snarled. "A leader who does not fight is no leader at all."

Kaito froze, his mind racing. He wasn't a fighter. He had been a hero once, yes, but he hadn't fought in years—not like this. He didn't want to fight. But these creatures, his creatures—whether he wanted it or not—were watching him. They were looking to him for strength.

And the beast in front of him clearly didn't believe he had any.

The air was thick with tension, and Kaito could feel it weighing on him. The creature before him wasn't going to leave. It wasn't going to accept anything less than a challenge. The creatures around him were waiting, watching, expecting him to step up.

Kaito's eyes narrowed. This wasn't what he had planned. This wasn't what he wanted. But he couldn't turn away now. Not without risking everything.

With a heavy sigh, he stepped forward, raising his sword, feeling the weight of the moment. "Fine," he said, voice firm. "But don't think for a second that I'm doing this for you. This is just to shut you up."

The beast snarled, and with a sudden, terrifying speed, it lunged toward him.