Seeing a familiar face, Neia could not hide her surprise.
The Sorcerer Kingdom was so vast that the odds of running into someone she knew after randomly entering a tavern were remarkably slim.
Still, she did not dwell on the coincidence. She simply led Nemu toward him.
In fact, Neia had planned to find a seat in the main hall from the start.
The seats upstairs might have been more comfortable, but she had come here to listen to the Adventurers talking. Their chatter would help distract her and allow her to relax.
That made the main hall the obvious choice.
"I never thought I'd run into you here, Senpai. What a coincidence!"
Neia sat down and smiled at the young man beside her.
Uehara Naraku. That was his name.
Naraku was a fifth-year student at the Magic Academy who had enrolled roughly a year after Neia.
Normally, that would have made him her junior.
However, the study of magic did not always follow a fixed progression. Exceptionally talented students could skip certain stages and advance directly.
And this young man was clearly a true genius, blessed with remarkable talent and ability.
As everyone knew, the Magic Academy's curriculum was divided into two main fields, magic and Martial Arts.
The magic major was further divided into four main categories, each of which branched into several specialized disciplines.
Neia and Nemu, for example, both belonged to the [Alternative System] branch of the magic major, specifically the [Blessing Division].
The young man before them, however, was different.
He had no particular specialty. Or rather, he had mastered them all.
A genius.
The word was not an exaggeration. It was the most accurate description of him.
Naraku possessed the rare [Genius] profession, an exceptionally unusual profession.
Among the thousands of professions catalogued by the Sorcerer Kingdom, [Genius] might not have been the most powerful, but it was undoubtedly one of the most distinctive.
It was said that this profession could transform into any Base Class or general profession.
In other words, as long as Naraku wished it, he could freely switch between a wide variety of professions.
Neia's first meeting with him had been rather ordinary.
It had happened on a bright, sunny afternoon. As usual, Neia had gone to the school library, determined to outstudy every other student.
While wandering between the shelves, her gaze had accidentally met a pair of clear eyes.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still, and the faint scent of books lingered in the air.
The young man had been standing beside a nearby shelf, absorbed in a book.
That was their first encounter.
Afterward, they began seeing each other in the library almost every day.
Sometimes they merely exchanged smiles. At other times, they quietly greeted one another.
Perhaps it was their shared pursuit of knowledge, or perhaps they simply both loved reading. Whatever the reason, the distance between them gradually narrowed.
Maybe that was the natural understanding shared by top students.
Neia had a very favorable impression of this senpai.
He always sat quietly in a corner, reading with complete focus. Whenever he looked up, his eyes held a deep, tranquil light.
His smile was gentle and made him seem especially approachable.
He also appeared to have very few friends. He was almost always alone, immersed in the world of books.
That reminded Neia of her former self, so she began approaching him of her own accord.
Whenever they met, Neia would greet him warmly and find something to talk about.
Sometimes they discussed ideas from the books they had read.
At other times, they shared small details from their daily lives.
They did not speak much each day, but every conversation left Neia in a pleasant mood.
"I suppose this is what people call fate."
"How did the World Boss raid go? Judging by your expression, I assume you succeeded."
Naraku replied with a faint smile.
His voice was soft and possessed a uniquely magnetic quality that naturally drew people to him.
Someone like him should have been extremely popular, yet the truth was exactly the opposite.
Perhaps he seemed too perfect, making the other students feel inadequate and uncomfortable. As a result, few dared to approach him.
"I'd say it went neither well nor badly. Listen to this..."
Neia eagerly began recounting her adventure, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Sharing her adventures with a friend, discussing the details, and complaining together about the difficulties she had faced made her genuinely happy.
Perhaps she became too engrossed in her conversation with Naraku, because Neia completely forgot that Nemu was still sitting beside her.
Nemu remained quietly off to the side, watching them with a strange expression.
For some reason, she suddenly felt unnecessary.
She had met Neia first. She had been Neia's friend longer. She had even begun studying the Paladin profession with her first.
Tsk. This is so annoying.
Nemu felt rather irritated, though at least the exchange successfully pushed her earlier thoughts about the Theocracy from her mind.
"Oh? So that's what happened. You were attacked by a Hidden Boss? That's incredibly unlucky. Still, at least you kept the credit reward. Your efforts weren't completely wasted, so it wasn't too much of a loss."
"It was a huge loss!"
"We only managed to defeat it through luck and a clever trick. There's almost no chance we could do it again."
As the saying went, once bitten by a snake, one feared even a rope for ten years.
The Lava Lord, La-Angler, was a high-level magical beast. It might not have been exceptionally intelligent, but it was certainly no fool.
The next time they met, it would undoubtedly be more cautious and prepared.
That left Neia feeling helpless. She had originally planned to farm credits relentlessly, but now that plan was more or less ruined.
Unless...
Neia gave Naraku beside her a meaningful look.
"Don't even think about it. You know my circumstances. I'm not short on credits, and this isn't how you usually handle things."
"You should take care of your own problems. You're the one who told me that."
Naraku lightly tapped her forehead with a finger as he admonished her.
"Aren't we friends? Friends aren't outsiders, right? What's wrong with asking you for a little help?"
Neia did not seem bothered by the tap. Instead, she caught Naraku's hand and shook it gently.
"But..."
"No buts. If you're my friend, you have to help me!"
"Fine."
The more Nemu watched, the stranger the exchange seemed.
Why did their conversation sound as though Neia was acting spoiled?
More than that, something about Naraku's personality and way of speaking felt inexplicably familiar.
"This is so annoying. I feel like I'm about to grow a brain."
Nemu muttered as she rubbed her temples, trying to drive the strange feeling from her mind.
"By the way, what are you doing in a tavern? Shouldn't you be in the library at this hour?"
Although the [Genius] profession could transform into any Base Class or general profession, that did not mean it could do so without restriction.
To complete a transformation successfully, the user first needed to acquire the relevant knowledge.
A chef who wished to prepare a delicious meal needed more than cooking skill. They also had to understand the qualities of different ingredients and how various seasonings complemented one another.
The same principle applied to the [Genius] profession. If the user knew nothing about the target profession, the transformation could not be completed.
Such a transformation could not come from nothing. It required a proper foundation.
Naraku shrugged.
"I'm not a machine. I need to balance work and rest occasionally. But I can't relax too much either, so I came here for a drink while taking the opportunity to observe the quality of life among the Sorcerer Kingdom's citizens."
As he spoke, Naraku pointed in a particular direction.
He had chosen a seat in a secluded corner of the tavern, allowing him to observe the crowd more easily.
His hearing was not a concern. With ears as sharp as his, he could catch every sound around him regardless of where he sat.
"This drink is dedicated to the great Three Majesties."
"Hahaha!"
This was an Adventurers' tavern, not a church. Unless those people sincerely respected the Three Majesties, there was no reason for them to bring up such a subject.
Neia could not help becoming curious about the Adventurers.
She directed part of her attention toward their conversation.
"It wasn't easy, but we can finally live in peace."
"Yeah. We've struggled for so long. It's about time we settled down for good."
"And the people here actually bless our relationship. We knew what to expect, but it still feels a little unbelievable."
"This is the Sorcerer Kingdom, after all. To the people living here, relationships between humans and Half-Elves, or humans and other Demihumans, are probably nothing unusual."
The speakers were a man and a woman, both wearing Platinum-rank Adventurer badges.
To Neia's surprise, the woman was a Half-Elf.
It was obvious from her ears, which were only half the length of a full Elf's.
Generally speaking, Half-Elves found it easier than full-blooded Elves to establish themselves in human society.
However, because of the Theocracy's propaganda, most Elves and Half-Elves who were captured ended up as slaves.
For that reason, seeing a Half-Elf openly form a party with humans was extremely rare.
Still, that was mainly true within the Theocracy.
At present, the Sorcerer Kingdom treated Elves quite leniently.
"The benefits offered by the Adventurer's Guild are excellent. As long as we earn enough points, we can exchange them for magic, Martial Arts, and even rare items."
"We can even apply to have our lifespans extended."
"The prices are a little higher than at the Magic Academy, but as long as we keep working hard, we'll reach our goal one day."
"We're already Platinum-ranked Adventurers. Once we reach Mithril rank, we'll receive additional rewards."
"On top of that, Arche's Talent earns her a monthly allowance of three gold coins, while Imina's Talent earns her one gold coin."
"Arche is also a day student at the Magic Academy, and Ninya is an instructor there, so she can look out for us. After subtracting the party's regular expenses, let me work out how much we can save..."
Hekkeran took a large drink and smiled in satisfaction before beginning to calculate every detail.
Calculating savings was one of his hobbies.
He had originally been the fourth son of a merchant family in the Empire. His family wanted him to inherit the family business and live a comfortable, wealthy life.
He found such a life meaningless, however, so he chose to become an Adventurer and set out in search of adventure.
His career had not gone entirely smoothly, but it had not been terrible either. At the very least, he enjoyed the journey.
"To take in orphans without asking for anything in return. The Three Majesties truly are generous."
This time, the speaker was a man in the party named Roberdyck.
He had once been a priest at a temple, but he left after objecting to its rule forbidding priests from treating residents for free.
He could understand their reasoning, but he could not agree with it.
In the Sorcerer Kingdom, however, things were entirely different.
The priests here not only treated residents in need without charge, but also actively sought out children who had lost their parents and raised them.
To Roberdyck, this was precisely the life he had always wanted.
"Sigh... Life is better now, but it's expensive too!"
The party's final member, a girl with short golden hair, slumped over the table and spoke dejectedly.
"I'm so jealous of Ninya. She gets to study magic for free and even receives a salary..."
The girl was named Arche Eeb Rile Furt, and she was the youngest member of the party.
"I'm jealous too."
"When the Magic Academy was first established, the minimum requirement for instructors was the Realm of Heroes. According to the Sorcerer Kingdom's official standards, that means Level 29. Not one of us qualified."
Imina sounded somewhat regretful.
Being an Adventurer was not a bad profession, but it was ultimately unstable. Securing a formal position in the Sorcerer Kingdom would have been far better.
"By the way, Arche, your two younger sisters are starting school next year, aren't they? Take this, unless you have a reason not to."
As though she had suddenly remembered something, Imina removed a purse from her waist.
"I can't accept that. I'll find a way to take care of my sisters myself. Ninya also said she could help me apply for financial aid or something, so I..."
Arche hurriedly waved her hands in refusal.
She did not want to burden anyone because of her problems, especially those who had treated her so kindly.
Imina gently took her hand.
"It's all right. You're their older sister, so you'd rather endure hardship yourself if it means giving them a better life. But don't forget, to us, you're our little sister too."
The other two smiled and nodded, showing their agreement with Imina's words.
"Everyone...!"
Arche could no longer hold back her tears. Her heart overflowed with warmth and gratitude.
"Then let's have one last drink. Cheers."
Imina raised her glass, laughter shining in her eyes.
"Cheers!"
The others responded together, their glasses meeting with a clear clink.
Arche drained her drink in a single gulp, her heart filled with hope for the future.
She believed that with her friends supporting her, she could face any hardship without giving in.
...
"That was touching."
Neia could not help saying it aloud.
Their words had deeply moved her. Everyone was struggling to live in their own way.
Judging by what they had said, they were probably Adventurer friends of Instructor Ninya.
The girl named Arche also appeared to be a student at the Magic Academy. Perhaps Neia could try befriending her.
"Do you know that girl? You seem rather interested in her."
Neia asked the question as casually as she could.
"It was about three years ago, I believe. We met briefly in the Imperial Capital."
"Family is the most important thing. For that reason, I personally admire her."
Naraku spoke quietly.
I see...
Neia nodded, though she did not know why she had asked in the first place.
"Sorry to interrupt. Would you two like something to drink?"
A voice came from beside her. Neia turned and saw Nemu placing two glasses of fruit wine on the bar before them.
"Ah... I..."
Why are you here?
The thought had barely entered Neia's mind before she realized that she might have, perhaps, completely forgotten about Nemu.
"You can spare me the apology."
Watching Neia stumble over her words, Nemu rolled her eyes.
So she really did forget about me.
What a fragile sisterhood.
"I'm sorry."
In the end, Neia meekly apologized.
She had never expected to make such a basic mistake with a friend.
"If you're truly sorry, have this good friend of yours tell us something interesting. As an honor student, he must know plenty of things we don't."
Nemu stared intently at Naraku, emphasizing every word.
There it was again, that feeling of familiarity mixed with strangeness.
There was definitely something suspicious about this guy.
"I'm not as impressive as you think, but I do have a few channels for gathering rumors."
Naraku glanced at Neia. After considering it for a moment, he did not refuse.
"You should both be familiar with the Holy Kingdom."
"I've heard that the Holy Queen of the Holy Kingdom arrived incognito in the Sorcerer Kingdom early this morning. Apparently, she intends to discuss cooperation between the two nations."
"One member of her entourage is said to be the Commander of the Paladin Order, another is the Head of the Clergy, and apparently the Black, one of the Nine Colors, came as well."
After speaking, Naraku gave them a meaningful smile.
The Holy Queen's visit was far from the only thing he knew.
For example, someone had gone beneath the Sorcerer King's statue and prayed to the God of Death, provoking a sizable disturbance.
"What?"
Neia froze upon hearing the news. She had not expected it to involve her personally.
The Black, one of the Nine Colors. Was that not her father?
Her Majesty Calca and the two commanders had come as well, which was highly unusual.
In the past, His Highness Caspond had always handled matters like this. Why had the Holy Queen come in person this time?
A sense of foreboding rose within Neia.
She felt as though something major was about to happen.
...
Meanwhile, in a square of the Sorcerer Kingdom.
The sunlight fell like countless scorching blades, mercilessly cutting across every inch of land and baking the ground beneath it.
A massive iron cauldron stood at the center of the square, immediately drawing the eye.
Eerie black flames blazed within it, mysterious and unnatural, like messengers summoned from the depths of hell. They seemed as though they would never go out.
The flames leapt and twisted, extending long tongues of fire as though mocking the helplessness and insignificance of the woman pinned to the ground.
A sharp, icy light shone in the woman's eyes. Her features were well proportioned, and her tea-colored hair gleamed beneath the sun.
At that moment, however, several Quagoa soldiers had her firmly pressed against the ground, leaving her unable to move.
The surrounding believers gathered around the iron cauldron, their eyes blazing with fanatical fervor.
They glared at the woman pinned beneath the soldiers and shouted furiously.
"It's her! She dared to disrespect our great Majesty!"
"Burn her! Burn her!"
"Make her suffer the consequences of blaspheming His Majesty!"
***
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