Alfred, a seasoned mage and crucial member of the Hero Cruz's party, plays a pivotal role in the final battle against the Demon Lord. While Cruz, a powerful yet somewhat naive 15-year-old chosen by the Holy God, delivers the decisive blow, the dying Demon Lord unleashes a curse, striking Alfred's knee with an "immortality-killing" arrow. This wound proves resistant to even the formidable healing magic of Yurina, the 15-year-old "Saintess," leaving Alfred in constant, debilitating pain, as explained by the observant 17-year-old warrior-scholar, Luca. Though Yurina expends all her mana to stabilize the wound and alleviate some pain, the curse remains, preventing full recovery.
Following the Demon Lord's defeat, the Royal Capital erupts in celebration. Alfred, nearing forty and weary from his long adventuring career, receives an S-rank adventurer title (revived after 200 years) and a Viscount title, along with the other party members. However, these honors come with immediate, demanding obligations. Pressured by the Military Minister to lead a new Magic Knight Order and by the Guild Grand Master to become a Guild Master or lead dangerous subjugation missions, Alfred realizes his injured knee cannot sustain such a life. Seeking a peaceful retirement, he devises a plan to "slack off" by accepting a low-rank, long-term guard quest in the remote Murugu Village, enticed by the promise of hot springs for his recovery.
On his journey, Alfred encounters Millet, a brave 14-15 year old elf pharmacist, desperately searching for rare medicinal herbs to save her younger sister, Colette, from a dangerous fever. Despite his desire for solitude, Alfred's inherent kindness compels him to help. He effortlessly dispatches a demon wolf threatening Millet and, learning of a basilisk-infested cave containing the needed herbs, confidently defeats the B-rank monster, showcasing his immense magical prowess. A fortunate coincidence reveals Murugu Village is Millet's home.
Upon arrival, Alfred is welcomed as the new village guard. That night, he confronts a pack of demon wolves led by Fem, an intelligent, telepathic Demon Wolf King. Alfred, impressed by Fem's strength and reason, negotiates a truce, promising protection for the village in exchange for the wolves' peaceful coexistence. Fem, an emaciated descendant of a legendary Demon Wolf King, then reveals its pack is struggling against an abnormally large and numerous population of demon boars. Alfred agrees to help, solidifying his unexpected alliance with the Demon Wolf King.
Riding Fem (who can shapeshift into a smaller, dog-like form), Alfred confronts a colossal, poisonous demon boar, a mountain-sized beast that has devastated the local environment. Alfred swiftly defeats it with a powerful explosion magic, securing the village's safety and providing much-needed meat for both villagers and wolves. Colette, now recovering, playfully attempts to matchmake Alfred and Millet, much to Alfred's fluster. While the immediate threats are resolved and Alfred looks forward to his well-deserved rest in the village's hot springs, the unnatural scale of the demon boar leaves him with a lingering sense of unease, hinting at deeper mysteries yet to unfold.
