The sun hung lazily in the sky, a few fluffy clouds drifting by. Birds chirped. The wind carried the scent of fresh bread and farm soil. It was the perfect, peaceful day.

And under the biggest tree in the village, a young man lay stretched out, a straw hat covering his face, a blade of grass in his mouth.

"Finally… a quiet life."

This was Raine, a man who had lived and died over a million times across countless worlds. He had been a hero, a villain, a king, a beggar, a god, a demon, and everything in between.

And now?

He was nobody. A simple villager. A farmer, at best. And he wanted to keep it that way.

Or so he thought.

CRASH!

A loud shockwave shook the ground, sending dust flying. Raine groaned and lazily tipped his hat up, peering at the source of the disturbance.

Standing in front of him was a stunning knight in silver armor, her golden hair flowing behind her. Her bright blue eyes were filled with determination and battle spirit. Her sword gleamed under the sun, pointed directly at him.

"I finally found you, Sage of Eternal Wisdom!" she declared.

Raine blinked. He looked behind him. Looked left. Looked right.

Then pointed at himself. "Who?"

The knight’s face burned with conviction. "You cannot fool me! I saw it with my own eyes! You—"

"Shh." Raine held up a finger. "Lower your voice. You’re ruining my nap."

The knight stumbled over her words. "B-But! I saw you defeat a dragon with a single flick of your finger!"

Raine furrowed his brows. Dragon? Ah. That.

Flashback—

A past version of Raine, in one of his many lifetimes, stood on a cliff. Absentmindedly, he flicked a pebble. It bounced off a tree, a rock, a shield, a bird, before finally hitting a giant black-scaled dragon right between the eyes.

The dragon, instantly killed, collapsed.

The kingdom hailed it as a miracle, saying the Legendary Sage had returned.

Back to the present—

Raine rubbed his temples. "…That was an accident."

The knight clenched her fists. "Even so! You must train me! The kingdom needs your power!"

"No thanks." He tipped his hat back down.

The knight twitched. "W-What do you mean, 'no thanks'?! This is a matter of life and death!"

"Not my problem."

The knight’s hands trembled. "T-Then… I have no choice."

A long whistle came from behind. Raine’s eyes flickered up, seeing a dozen heavily armed soldiers surrounding them.

The lead knight, a high-ranking commander, stepped forward. "By order of the kingdom, the Legendary Sage must come with us!"

Raine exhaled slowly. He sat up, stretching his arms. "You people never learn, huh?"

The commander narrowed his eyes. "Seize him."

The soldiers charged.

Raine… yawned.

Then, with a casual flick of his finger, he sent a tiny pebble flying.

The pebble ricocheted off five different surfaces—a tree, a shield, a horse, the castle walls—before landing squarely on the commander’s forehead.

The commander dropped instantly.

Silence.

One soldier gulped. "H-He took down the commander without even looking…"

The knight’s face turned red, eyes filled with awe. "S-So powerful…!"

Raine stood up, brushing off his simple tunic. "Welp. Time to find a new nap spot."

And with that, he walked away, hands in his pockets.

The knight clenched her fist. "I won’t give up. I WILL make him my master!"

Meanwhile… In a Dark Castle

A shadowy figure sat on a throne, watching through a floating magic crystal.

The figure’s lips curled into a smirk. "He has returned… The Eternal Reincarnator…"

To be continued…

Next Chapter: Trouble Follows MC!

Raine stretched lazily, feeling the cool grass beneath him as the gentle breeze rustled through the serene village. The warmth of the sun kissed his face, and he sighed in contentment.

"This is the life," he thought, shifting his position slightly, letting himself sink deeper into the soft earth.

The quiet hum of the village soothed him—the distant chatter of merchants, the laughter of children playing, and the occasional bark of a stray dog. It was a peaceful, ordinary day.

And that’s exactly what he wanted.

Just as he closed his eyes, ready to drift back into his well-earned nap—

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion shattered the tranquility.

The ground trembled. A thick plume of smoke rose near the village’s entrance, followed by the frantic cries of the villagers. Doors slammed shut, people scrambled into their homes, and a group of men dashed toward the well, preparing to put out the small fire that had erupted from the impact.

Raine groaned. Not again…

The sound of galloping hooves grew louder, and within moments, a squad of knights in golden armor stormed into the village square. Their leader—a fierce-looking woman with long blonde hair tied into a high ponytail—dismounted with a sharp, practiced movement.

She locked eyes with him immediately.

Without hesitation, she drew her sword and pointed it straight at his face.

“Raine! The kingdom demands your return!”

The blade gleamed under the sunlight, but Raine barely reacted. He simply blinked up at her, unimpressed.

"Oh no." He internally sighed. "Here we go again."

Yawning, he rolled onto his side, tucking his hands under his head like a pillow. “Nah.”

The knight’s eye twitched. “You can’t just say no!”

“I just did,” Raine muttered, already closing his eyes again.

The surrounding knights stiffened, their hands instinctively going to their weapons. The villagers peeked from their homes, torn between curiosity and fear.

The blonde knight exhaled sharply, rubbing her temple as if dealing with an insufferable child. “Listen, Reincarnator, we know who you are. A million lives, a million battles. You’re a legend. But our kingdom is in crisis. We need you.”

Raine cracked one eye open. Of course they do. Every lifetime, it was always the same thing. War, duty, expectations. Every single kingdom, every single era, always wanted something from him. And he was tired of it.

He just wanted to sleep.

And maybe eat something good.

His stomach grumbled loudly.

The knight stared at him.

He sighed dramatically, propping himself up on one elbow. “Fine. I’ll come with you—but only if you buy me lunch first.”

The knights exchanged bewildered glances. “What?”

“Lunch.” He stretched again. “You interrupted my nap, so you owe me. And I want something good.”

The blonde knight’s jaw clenched. “You—!” She inhaled deeply, visibly restraining herself. “Fine. But after that, you’re coming with us.”

Raine smirked lazily. “Deal.”

After all, if he was going to be dragged into some grand war again… he might as well get a good meal out of it first.

The knights led Raine through the village, their golden armor gleaming under the midday sun. The villagers cautiously peeked from behind doors and windows, whispering among themselves. Some recognized Raine as the quiet drifter who had appeared in their town months ago, spending his days either sleeping under the grand tree or lounging at the bakery. Others were wary, knowing that the arrival of knights usually meant trouble.

Raine, however, seemed completely unbothered. He walked at a slow, relaxed pace, his hands in his pockets, his posture lazy. The blonde knight, who introduced herself as Seraphina of the Holy Order, shot him an impatient glare.

"Could you walk any slower?" she snapped.

Raine yawned. "I could, actually. Want me to try?"

Seraphina groaned. The knights behind her stiffened, some struggling to suppress their irritation. It was clear they were used to discipline, to urgency, to warriors who understood the gravity of their situation.

Raine, however, had lived a million lives. He had fought in wars that shook the heavens, stood against demon lords, and faced calamities that wiped out civilizations. He had done everything—and he was done with it.

Right now, all he wanted was food.

They finally arrived at the village tavern, a small yet cozy place with the scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread wafting through the air. Raine’s eyes lit up slightly. If there was one thing he still enjoyed, it was a good meal.

Seraphina sighed and turned to the other knights. "Secure the perimeter. I don’t want any surprises."

The knights saluted and scattered, standing guard outside as Seraphina followed Raine inside.

The Meal Begins

The tavern owner, a burly man with a thick beard, glanced up as they entered. He hesitated upon seeing Seraphina’s armor but quickly plastered a smile on his face. "Welcome! What can I get for you?"

Raine dropped into a seat at the nearest table, stretching his legs. "I’ll have a full-course meal. Start with some soup, then bring me roasted lamb, a loaf of your best bread, and—oh! Do you have honey-glazed apples?"

The tavern owner blinked. "Uh, we do, but—"

"Great! Bring a whole plate of those. And some ale. Actually, no, just bring water. I’m not in the mood for ale today."

Seraphina folded her arms. "You do realize you’re delaying something important, right?"

Raine shrugged. "You said you’d buy me lunch. I intend to enjoy it."

Seraphina exhaled sharply but waved at the tavern owner. "Fine. Just bring him what he wants."

The owner nodded and hurried to the back.

Seraphina sat across from Raine, studying him intently. He was young—or at least, he looked young. Silver-white hair, deep golden eyes that seemed to hold centuries of wisdom. He didn’t look like a warrior, nor a hero. His posture was too lazy, his expression too detached.

But she knew the truth.

He was the Reincarnator—a man who had lived one million lives. A man who had once stood above gods and demons alike. A man who, for some reason, was hiding in a tiny village, napping under a tree.

"What happened to you?" she asked suddenly.

Raine glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You were a legend," she said. "A warrior who shaped history. And now… you’re here, running from everything."

Raine smirked. "I wouldn’t call it running."

"Then what would you call it?"

"Retirement."

Seraphina clenched her fists. "You can’t just retire from destiny!"

Raine’s smirk widened. "Oh, but I can. And I have."

Before Seraphina could argue, the tavern owner returned with the food.

The rich aroma of roasted lamb filled the air as the plate was set before him. A bowl of steaming soup followed, along with a basket of warm bread and a plate of golden honey-glazed apples. Raine’s stomach growled in approval.

"Finally," he muttered, grabbing a piece of bread. He tore into it, taking his time savoring the soft texture and rich flavor.

Seraphina watched, her patience wearing thin. "Are you really going to make me wait through your entire meal?"

Raine grinned. "Absolutely."

Trouble Arrives

Just as Raine was about to take another bite, the tavern doors burst open.

A knight from Seraphina’s squad stumbled in, blood dripping from his forehead. His breath was ragged, his face pale with fear.

"Commander!" he gasped, barely managing to stay on his feet. "We have a problem!"

Seraphina immediately stood. "Report!"

The knight swallowed hard. "We’re… we’re under attack."

Raine sighed, placing his bread down. Of course they were.

Seraphina grabbed her sword. "Who is it? Bandits? A rival kingdom?"

The knight shook his head. "No… it’s them."

Seraphina froze.

A cold, heavy silence filled the air.

Raine raised an eyebrow. "Them?"

Seraphina’s grip on her sword tightened. She turned toward him, her voice low.

"The Abyss Cult has found us."

Raine let out a long breath. Well, there goes my peaceful lunch.

The Abyss Cult Strikes

Outside, the village had descended into chaos.

Figures in dark robes moved swiftly through the streets, their faces hidden beneath hoods. Strange symbols glowed on their arms, pulsating with ominous energy.

The villagers screamed as black tendrils of shadow slithered across the ground, corrupting everything they touched.

The knights fought bravely, swords clashing against the cultists' cursed magic. But for every cultist they cut down, two more took their place.

And then—they arrived.

Towering figures with glowing crimson eyes stepped into the village, their monstrous forms wrapped in darkness.

Abyssal Beasts.

Creatures that should not exist.

Seraphina cursed. "We have to move. Now."

Raine, however, remained seated, taking another bite of his food.

Seraphina’s eye twitched. "Are you serious?! We don’t have time for this!"

Raine chewed thoughtfully. "Mmm. You know, I’ve fought a lot of crazy cults in my past lives. But these guys…" He swallowed, tapping his chin. "These guys are new."

Seraphina drew her sword. "Then you’d better get serious. Because if we don’t stop them here, this entire village is going to be wiped out!"

Raine sighed, finally standing. "I really hate getting involved in these things."

The moment he stepped outside, he felt it.

The weight of dark magic. The hunger of something… unnatural.

The Abyss Cult wasn’t just here for destruction.

They were searching for something.

Raine rolled his shoulders. "Guess I don’t have a choice."

Seraphina turned to him. "Are you finally taking this seriously?"

Raine smirked. "Nah. I just realized something important."

Seraphina frowned. "What?"

Raine clenched his fist. Power pulsed through his veins—power he had locked away for so long.

"I didn’t finish my meal," he said.

And with that, he vanished, moving faster than anyone could see.

The first Abyss Cultist didn’t even have time to react before Raine’s fist connected with his face, sending him flying into a nearby wall.

The other cultists turned in shock—only for Raine to appear behind them.

With a casual flick of his wrist, a burst of energy erupted from his fingertips, disintegrating the nearest three enemies instantly.

Seraphina’s eyes widened.

Raine cracked his knuckles. "Alright, let’s get this over with. I have dessert waiting for me."

To Be Continued…