Rebirth Online World

Master of Dungeon volume 1 chapter 1 – Fate

Bruit village was a small village with roughly two hundred people living in it. It was part of the Elora Kingdom and occupied the Southern Territories. Located near a river that flowed through the west side of the village, farming based life grew prosperous. The east was decorated with wheat and corn fields while the north was surrounded by forest; Bruit was a small but lively village.

In Bruit village, Varn grew up showered full of love by his parents. His father Gerrard was a former C rank dungeon raider. He sometimes told his adventures in the dungeons to Varn. However Varn never aspired to become a dungeon raider. His parents also told him that it was dangerous and they didn’t want to lose their child.

Varn grew up to be an average boy, with nothing special in particular. He spent his day leisurely and wanted to be a big farmer when he grew up. He had several friends whom he liked to play with.

“Congratulations!”

When he got back from playing outside and openned the door, he found his parents inside having prepared a surprise party for him. Today he reached seven years old. He came in and hugged his parents.

“Mom! Dad! Thank you.”

“Hahaha. Finally our boy has grown up.”

Gerrard hugged him and played with Varn’s hair, showing his affection. Varn’s father, Gerrard, was a former C rank dungeon raider. Even though right now he was working as a farmer, his body was still muscular. Brown hair and some stubble couldn’t hide his righteous air and his blue eyes showed his good nature. If he were to walk to the town, many girl might fall for him.

“Dad stop that! Today finally I’m seven years old.”

As they talked, they headed towards the dining table and sat down. His mother came and brought some food to the table. Varn’s mother, Sandra was almost thirty this year but her face looked so young; people may mistake her to be twenty. Her long and black smooth hair fluttered when she walked, enticing anyone who saw her. Her petite face and beautiful smile were the reasons Gerrard fell in love with her.

“Varn, today you’re finally seven years old. When you have finished your dinner you can check your presents in your room.”

“Presents!”

Varn immediatelly bolted off from his chair without even touching his food. Gerrard and Sandra can only smile seeing their son’s reaction.

“What have I told you, we should’ve told him about the present later.”

“Haha. What can I do? It’s only natural for a child to be excited about it. After all, it’s his seventh birthday.”

The seventh birthday had a special meaning for the populace. At the age seven, the parents will gift their child a [fate tag]. It was a common artefact that was numerously found in F rank dungeons. In a form of red piece of paper, it had the effect of determining a suitable future for the child. Therefore since their future was known the parents can plan for their children according to the results.

Even if it were a commoner’s child, if the fate listed his future as a prince, this will become true eventually. A nobody carrying a [fate tag] of noble will be accepted anywhere. It had already broken countless noble lineage families when they had found out their children had been tagged as farmer or baker.

Therefore the usage of [fate tag] had now became a custom and the best time to use it was at their seventh birthdays. Since after seven years old the children will have wider opportunities to lay foundation for their fate. Those who were tagged as dungeon raiders could enlist at fighting schools and those who were tagged as workers could learn about their jobs.

Therefore the [fate tag] also served as their identity card. It lists their name, age and fate. When the holder dies, the [fate tag] will turn black. Some dungeon raider have two [fate tags] so that one can be held by his family or companion.

There was some controversy as to whether one could change their fate. There were people that had their [fate tag] change but didn’t know why, although those were rare cases. Only one out of a million experienced this so people kept believing in the [fate tag]. Afterall these artefact were an unknown object. They don’t know how it worked but most people believed that it was a prophecy from God. It was also one of the reasons Gerrard retired from his work. His [fate tag] changed from dungeon raider to farmer the moment he met Sandra. People believe if one tries to defy the [fate tag] only death awaits them.

Varn hurried to his room to find an gift wrapped like an envelope on top of his bed. He reached for it and quickly opened it which would reveal the [fate tags]. By now his parents were already watching him by the door.

“Dad! Mom! Can I open it?”

“Even without me telling you, you will open it anyway.”

His father nods and with eyes full of anticipation, Varn opened the gift. Inside it he found four sheets of [fate tags]. Two new and two used. The used one belonged to his father and mother.

---

————-

Name: Gerrard Redheart

Age: 33

Fate: Farmer

—————

Name: Sandra Redheart

Age: 29

Fate: Housewife

—————

---

“You can keep those tags. Now, let us see your fate.”

Gerrard was now recalling a scene in his mind. That day he walked into a branch Guild hall to register for a new dungeon pass. He took out his Guild hall pass and [fate tag] for confirmation. There he saw Sandra working as the receptionist, she returned the pass and Gerrard’s [fate tag] with a concerned look. He noticed it and realized that his fate had been changed to farmer.

Gerrard’s [fate tag] changed to farmer when he saw Sandra and fell in love at first sight. Sandra on the other hand had been waiting for this because her [fate tag] had been a housewife for as long as she knew. Therefore the both of them firmly believed in the [fate tag].

Varn took the new [fate tag] and wondered out loud.

“Dad, how do you use a [fate tag]?“

Gerrard forgot that it was the first time Varn saw a [fate tag].

“You just have to put a drop of blood on the [fate tag]. Here let me help you. Stretch out your finger.”

As a former C rank dungeon raider, Gerrard was a capable man. With a slicing gesture of his hand, Varn can feel that a small wind passed by his finger and a small painless wound appeared, out of which blood came out. He quickly drop the blood onto the two [fate tags] and waited for the effect.

Red streams of light came out from the [fate tag] and enveloped Varn’s body. It was a common sight for anyone using [fate tag] but it was amazing for Varn. He could feel the red stream of light sending warm feelings and his body felt comfortable. After a few seconds the lights went back to the [fate tag] and it glowed brightly. The process had been completed.

“Varn, let us see your fate.”

Sandra put up her hand and Varn gave her one of the [fate tags]. She took it and looked at it with Gerrard while Varn looked at the other one. Somehow their expression changed. Varn who was looking at his own [fate tag] asked his parent.

“Mom! Dad! What is the meaning of this?”

---

——————

Name: Varn Redheart

Age: 7

Fate: ???????

—————-

---

“Sandra, what is this?”

“I don’t know. Even when working at the Guild hall I have never seen such a strange fate.”

Gerrard and Sandra looked at each other than looked at Varn.

“Varn, we don’t know what is this but maybe it’s because you are special. Maybe you can decide your own fate.”

They tried to talk to Varn but he was confused.

“So Dad, Mom. What should I do next? Can I still be a farmer?”

Sandra and Gerrard both laughed. Varn didn’t really care about his strange fate and instead asked if he could still be a farmer.

“Don’t worry. As I said before you may be able to determine your own fate.”

“What your father said is true. Now let’s eat the food. Afterall it’s your birthday party.”

The three of them then went back and ate the food. After Varn went back to his room, Gerrard and Sandra had a private conversation.

“Sandra, don’t you think what happened to Varn’s [fate tag] is strange?”

“Yeah Gerrard. I never saw something like this before. Sure there were some weird fates such as becoming a clown, flag drawer, cave secluded monk, but I never saw ???? in any of fate tags.”

“If you don’t know about it then it’s fine. I just hope no harm will fall upon him.”

“Even if that happened, we have you here to protect us. A former C rank dugeon raider is not something to take lightly.”

Sandra put her hand on Gerrard shoulder and pat him gently.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you and Varn even if it cost my live.”

Gerrard smiled, drew his face closer to Sandra and kissed her lightly.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

After that the quiet and peaceful night returned to Bruit village.

…….

In his room Varn was looking at the three [fate tags]. He put his father’s and mother’s [fate tags] in his pocket and looked at his own.

What does the ???? mean. Does it mean I could decide my own fate just like Dad told me?

When he was lost in his thoughts he unconsciously fell asleep.

However it didn’t last long. A loud bell rang and loud voices could be heard.

*Ding* *Ding* *Ding*

“WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!”

The shout and the bell resounded without stop.

*drap* *drap* *drap*

Varn woke up and he heard footstep in front of his door.

*Bang*

The door opened and his father and mother already stood there panicked.

“Varn, come here quick!”

He never saw his father expression to be so serious like today so he nodded and followed his order.

“Varn are you okay?”

Sandra hugs him and checked his body, Varn only nodded to respond to her question earlier.

“Mother what happened?”

Just when Sandra sighed in relief and wanted to answer, Gerrard talked to her.

“There’s no time to explain. Sandra quick take the back door and bring Varn out of here.”

*Bam*

The Redheart’s front door was forced open and the door sent flying. Gerrard looked at the entrance and muttered.

“Not good! They already infiltrated the village. Quick Sandra take Vahn out of here. I’ll hold them off.”

Sandra nodded and hurriedly got out. She believed in her husband, afterall he was a former C rank adventurer. C rank adventurer had strength equivalent to a hundred men. She grab Varn by hand and got out of the back door. On the way out, Vahn took a quick glance at his father and saw him fighting with a couple monster that looked like a big wolf.

When Vahn shifted his gaze back, he realized he was already out from his house and saw a frightening scene.

The whole village was on fire. People were screaming here and there; fire was running rampant, burning down everything. What’s more, he saw the same big wolf earlier and there were a lot of them. More than a hundred wolves were killing villagers that tried to run away. His mother and him just stood there in shock.

“Sandra! What are you doing? Run!”

Gerrard came back after defeating a couple of big wolves and ran after them. Vahn can see that Gerrard’s right leg and left arm were bloody and on his chest was a big claw wound.

“Vahn, come!”

Sandra pulled on him again and the three of them ran away, heading to the forest with Gerrard taking the lead.