“N-no, I didn’t pick up anything.” “Now, hold on, don’t be so hasty. A woman’s intuition is not to be underestimated, good sir.” “Ah, I knew it: You’re from a good background. I could tell somehow.” “…! How’s this, then? Don’t underestimate my intuition!” Even though it was rather obvious from her clothes, I got the message that she didn’t want me probing into her background. Still, from the brief time we’d spent talking so far, it was clear that she’d had a sheltered upbringing. Honestly, it was so obvious that it kind of worried me. “You’re quite perceptive. As expected of the man who caught my eye.” “…I did? My name’s Might, by the way. And you are?” “I’m Lystie, a level-3 Swordfighter. From what I can tell, your vocation is…something magic-related?” “It makes me happy to hear you say that… I’m a Sage. Still only level 1, though.” “Hmm, I see. You just registered, I take it? I’ll have to show you the ropes, then.” “Yeah, I just finished registering.” The blue-haired adventurer—Lystie—produced her white card and showed it to me. I did the same, and she laughed excitedly. The way she was holding her card pinched between her index and middle fingers was probably her way of showing off, but it was just charming to me. For someone who had gotten numb to rubbing shoulders with the fiercest fighters in the world, her smug little smile seemed almost dazzling. “…I feel bad making a request of a newbie, but will you let us test the key you have? It looked the right size to fit the lock. It won’t take long.” “I can’t guarantee it’ll work, but I also want to give it a try,” I replied. “Even if it’s booby-trapped, I’m pretty confident I can avoid it, but I won’t hold you responsible if something does happen to me.” “Really? Sages must be good with their fingers, too. I guess they don’t call you people wise men for nothing.” “Nah, I’m just used to this stuff.” “I…see? Oh, is that why you were walking around holding a key? It’s a master key for treasure chests, isn’t it?” Lystie smiled confidently. “My intuition’s always right.” I don’t know if it’s something that convenient. Hold on, the key disappeared…but I guess I don’t have to tell her that right now. It appeared after the lock started glowing. I hope I can make it happen again. I would look pretty silly if I couldn’t. “In any case, follow me,” Lystie said. “If you can open it, you can have a share. Feel free to decide how much you want.” “As for whether or not I can open it, I’ll let the results speak for themselves.” “That’s fair. But I have a feeling you’ll be able to. After all, you’re a wise man.” “Um, can you just call me a Sage like normal people do?” Not all monsters dropped treasure chests when defeated, so I was glad for an opportunity to test out my skills. That said…this girl really worries me with how trusting she is of strangers. The asking rate for help with opening a chest was around a third of what was inside. But when the contents turned out to be something that couldn’t be split easily, the involved parties would sometimes get into a big argument. When starting out, the difference of a single silver coin could be a matter of life and death. I got the feeling that this was still the case when checking out the bulletin board, so I decided that for my share, I’d probably just ask for an amount that was reasonable for a tip. Part 6: My First Spell When we approached the entrance to the forest, out of sight from the town, the maniac chemist—I mean, the Apothecary—called Nanase and the red-haired knight from earlier came into view. “Sorry about this,” the knight said. “Thanks for coming all the way out here.” “Did you really pick up the chest key?” Nanase asked. “Isn’t that too much of a coincidence?” “Um, can you not stare at me like th—? Whoa, you’re getting a bit close.” “Ah. Sorry. I can’t see things well when they’re far away.” I recalled Sheska telling me that there was a spell to boost someone’s eyesight. She had apparently ruined her eyes spending too much time with her nose buried in books when she was young, and she said that the spell was a godsend. Could that spell help this girl, too? Could I learn it someday, being a Sage? I’m starting to get a little worried about the spells I can learn, though, if I can’t even cast Fireball. “Y-you don’t have to pull a face! I took a bath yesterday—even if it was only a quick one.” “Nanase!” Lystie cried. “You shouldn’t be saying that sort of thing in front of a man!” “Young man, I assure you we go to the public baths when we can afford it,” the red-haired knight said. “I take great care to clean my armor every day, so you don’t have to worry about me in that regard.” “Being an adventurer, I get where you’re coming from—Uh, I mean, I certainly understand that sometimes we have to go several days without taking a bath. Then when you finally do take one, it feels incredibly refreshing.” “Hm? Don’t feel like you have to be so polite. Either way, it’s up to you.” “I agree that a bath can be especially rejuvenating when you have gone without for a while,” said Lystie. “I wonder if this is something all beginner adventurers struggle with.” Unexpectedly, we really seemed to be getting along—chatting over the topic of bathing, of all things. I was a little surprised to learn that even they had to forgo bathing when money was tight. They probably took it pretty hard, being young girls and all. Lystie was looking to me for agreement, but she suddenly startled and, blushing furiously, quickly turned to the treasure chest. “This is the problematic chest. We’ve tried everything, but so far nothing has worked.” “The lock is tougher than we thought,” the knight said, pantomiming how she’d tried to force it open. “Turns out goblin treasure chests aren’t as shoddy as you’d think.” I thought I was a muscle-brain when I had no mana, but she’s even worse. “Oh… That reminds me, I haven’t introduced myself yet,” she continued. “My name is Platinum. When you hear people talking about Platinum the Silver Flash, that’d be me.” “ ‘Silver Flash’ is your alias? You’re with the Novices Guild, but you already have a nickname? That’s incredible.” “Well, it is self-styled,” Nanase chimed in. “It is not. Everyone already calls me that in my heart.” Looking at the red-haired knight’s proud expression, I wondered if I should address her as “Ms. Platinum.” There was probably no need, since we looked similar in age, but I made a mental note to ask later. Speaking of, I just naturally slipped into talking casually with this group. Considering that I’m only level 1, maybe I should be a bit more respectful. “That’s enough messing around,” Lystie said. “Monsters roam these parts. Might, are you ready?” If I couldn’t produce the key again, I was ready to open the lock manually—I could no longer use Thief skills, but I still had the techniques that I’d learned. However, the lock on the chest dutifully started glowing. The girls didn’t react, which told me that I was the only one who was seeing it. With a sudden wave of fatigue, I saw a small key appear in my hand. “Oooh,” Platinum exclaimed, sounding impressed. “You can use magic to create keys!” “I’ve never heard of magic that can do this,” Lystie commented. “There’s still so much we don’t know about the world.” “Very interesting,” Nanase murmured. “I wonder what would happen if you put this key in a concoction.” As the three girls expressed their interest in different ways, I felt a little overwhelmed by their combined enthusiasm. I couldn’t help getting nervous in the face of such high expectations. What even were the chances that the random key I’d just made would open a treasure chest dropped by goblins? “Well…here goes.” The three girls watched with bated breath as I inserted my key into the lock of the wooden chest. With a soft click, it unlocked with no resistance at all. I looked up, and for a split second, I saw the faces of my old party members. Falina, who usually didn’t show much expression, was smiling at me with relief, while Sheska clapped in delight. “Amazing… It actually opened.” “The key looks far too new for a chest like this, though…” “I agree; it’s even sparkling. Who’d have thought an old chest that a goblin was lugging around could be opened by a key like that?” After I opened the lock, the key disappeared, and the lock stopped glowing. Assuming that the faint sensation of fatigue was what it felt like to use magic, the very first spell that I’d cast as a Sage was to create a key using mana. I looked at Lystie. She nodded, indicating that she wanted me to open the chest. This is a treasure chest found in the vicinity of the First Town, so I doubt there’s anything that valuable inside. I shouldn’t get my hopes up. But as I lifted the lid, I let out a gasp. “This is…” Instead of the dull glint of bronze coins that I’d expected, a bright gleam spilled out, indicating that there was indeed something of value inside. Part 7: A Goddess Bathed in Moonlight and My First Battle Someone had been watching Might when he left the Novices Guild and was approached by Lystie. It was none other than the goddess who had arranged his change in vocation. Unlike when she had met Might here previously, her surroundings now reflected a night sky that was a blend of deep blue and black. The goddess floated beneath the light of the white moon, her attention fixed on the image playing before her eyes. Within the faint glow of the screen, Might was following the blue-haired girl. “What are you watching, Elder Sister Lunaris?” The space behind the goddess seemed to distort, and a woman who looked like her spitting image—albeit with blond hair and fiery red eyes—stepped through. “One of your adherents just approached Might.” “Did she? A level-3 human brazen enough to walk straight up to a hero? How very interesting.” “Didn’t you arrange for this to happen, Iris?” The blond goddess smiled. “I was occupied watching Falina, another one of the heroes. Have you been watching her since she returned home?” “That is not my jurisdiction.” “Of the four, why did you choose the Thief? Why go so far as to bend the natural order and change his vocation?” “You know that’s not something that I can do with my power alone. This world allowed the change.” “…I merely hope that this attachment of yours doesn’t bring you in opposition to our master’s will.” Iris gave the feed another quick glance, but she quickly lost interest. She was just about to turn and leave when Lunaris asked, “Did you inform Falina and the others of Might’s decision?” However, no answer was forthcoming. The distortion in space smoothed again, with Iris no longer anywhere to be seen, and Lunaris returned her attention to the screen. When Might created a key and opened a treasure chest, her eyes widened. “That chest cannot be opened by those of this area by normal means. If that key of his managed to open it… It’s just as I thought…” The screen playing in midair vanished. Lunaris hugged her shaking body. With a hint of delight in her voice, she murmured, “Might, you didn’t revert to level 1. No, you actually…” “Uh, Might? I mean, Mr. Might?” Lystie asked hesitantly. “Is it just me, or are the contents of this chest really incredible?” Opening the beat-up treasure chest had revealed over a hundred silver coins and a pouch of gold coins. There was also a round-bottom flask filled with a viscous liquid—some sort of slime, perhaps?—and a leather bracelet embedded with magic stones. “I’m going to have to start calling you ‘Sir Might’ from now on,” Platinum said. “That makes us sound materialistic!” Lystie protested. “Though it’s true that with all this money, our days of living off bread crusts and leaf soup are over.” “I-it’s not like we’re poor!” Nanase retorted. “We’ve just been frugal with our money, in case something happens!” The sight of the three girls suddenly getting restless made me sigh. I thought it was about time I voiced my true, unfiltered evaluation of them as adventurers. “To be honest, I can tell just by looking at you that you three struggle to complete jobs smoothly.” “Ngh! What did you just say…?!” exclaimed Lystie. “I—I can’t believe you…,” Nanase said with a gasp. “Even if it’s true, it still hurts!” “We let you help, and this is the thanks we get?!” Platinum growled. “Lystie told me I could decide what my cut would be when she asked me to open the chest.” I knew I was being mean, but I steeled myself. “Ugh! D-do your worst, then! Even if my body yields, you won’t have my heart!” “Your body?! Platinum, is that what we’re—? Nanase, do you think he wants me, too?” “Why’re you asking me?!” Platinum’s calm demeanor had dissolved into tears, and the other two were bright red. I guess it really stung to hear such criticism from a level-1 adventurer. After a pause, Lystie said, “I knew this was too convenient.” “I don’t know what you’re thinking,” I interrupted, “but I’m fine with just ten percent.” “Half! No, please just leave us with thirty per—Wait, what?” Nanase’s eyes went wide. I picked up three silver coins and showed them to the girls. “One silver from each of you. That’s my fair share, as I see it.” “But that’s even less than ten percent…,” Lystie said quietly. “You’re the ones who carried this heavy chest everywhere, and this is an opportunity I’m grateful for, too. If there’s ever anything else, feel free to ask me for help. Sorry if I was a bit harsh just now, and for scaring you.” “…Might.” Did I try too hard to look cool? I don’t want them to think I’m lecturing them, either, so it’s probably best that I leave soon. “D-don’t think for one second I’ll ever forgive you for saying that we can’t complete jobs—” Nanase stopped herself. “Actually, I guess it’s not that big a deal…” “O-okay,” Lystie said. “You’re sure one silver is enough? Though if you’re implying our chastity is only worth one silver, I’ll really get mad…” “I never said a word about that! In any case, I’m leaving!” The other contents of the treasure chest had piqued my interest, but the atmosphere had grown way too uncomfortable. Dealing with teenagers wasn’t a skill that I had developed. Just as I was about to turn away, however, I felt a prickling on the back of my neck. Apparently, I still retained the ability to sense hostility from monsters, even though I was no longer a Thief. “Ah, it’s come out of the forest. Let’s drive it back there again.” “Wait, wha—? Is that goblin holding a bow?! And it’s being followed by something huge…!” “Don’t worry; I will protect you! I’ll show you how the Silver Flash does it!” So her specialty is defense even though her alias makes it sound like she’s an attacker? All joking aside, I was now entering my first battle since changing vocations. I was only level 1, not to mention a Sage who couldn’t even cast Fireball. Normally, I would only be deadweight. However, I didn’t feel threatened at all facing the goblins and hobgoblin. I couldn’t see myself losing. Platinum took up position in front of me. “Might, stay behind me!” “Feel free to run while we fight!” Lystie drew her sword and rushed forward. The fact that they were level 3 meant that real-world fighting was still pretty new to them, too, but they were brave. I was impressed. “Um, not this one, or that… I have a drug that raises libido—which would probably backfire on us…” “You carry potions that are effective against enemies? That’s an interesting way to fight.” “Y-yes, I do. Sometimes, a drug works so well, you wouldn’t believe it. By the way, aren’t you way too calm for a level 1?” “I wouldn’t say that at all. This is my very first battle, so I’m really nervous.” It was my first battle…after my vocation change, of course. “I thought so. I don’t have that much experience myself. My heart’s pumping like cra—” “Yaaah!” The goblin at the front had swung its stone ax at Lystie, but she’d dodged it and swiftly delivered a counterattack. “Gyah…!!” It was a clean hit, but the goblin merely shook its head a few times and got right back up. “I gotta do my part, too!” Platinum said, rushing forward. I joined her charge, prompting Nanase to shout my name in alarm, but I raised a hand to tell her to stay back. She had her own part to play. “Guhe… Kuh, kuh, kuh…” The hobgoblin sounded like it was laughing. It was an opponent that could be a threat at a low level, so I had to work out a safe way to take it down without getting hurt. That, and arrange things so Lystie’s group could play a role, too, and walk away with a win under their belts. But even though I talked a good game, how was I actually supposed to do that with the power of a level 1? I was prepared to protect these three to the very end, even if I had to resort to fighting with my bare hands. Part 8: Coaching from a Sage There were four goblins under the hobgoblin’s command; the two in front were brandishing a knife and a club, and the two in the back were holding bows and looking for opportunities to attack. They had enough intelligence for such strategizing; some goblins could even use magic. I’d always felt weirdly self-conscious fighting them back when I had no mana. “Geh, geh, geh…” “Geh gah gah, gagah!” The goblins were saying something. Their language was simplistic and could only convey basic concepts, but I had enough experience to get the general gist. “Wh-what do you think they’re saying?” Lystie asked. “That one’s drooling an awful lot…” “Goblins like human females,” I replied. “…In more ways than one.” Platinum gasped. “You mean—?! If we get caught, we’ll be subjected to all sorts of depraved acts?!” “Geh gagagah, gagah!” “They’re saying that the woman wearing armor looks well muscled, so they prefer the ones who’re dressed more lightly.” “What?!” Platinum exclaimed. “How dare they mock muscles! I’ll have them know, I’m not all that muscular!” “Why’re you trying to get them to like you? There’s no way we’re letting them catch us, so get ready to fight.” My group had been keeping an eye on the goblin archers during our conversation, but they just stood there calmly, showing no sign of taking action. If they could gauge the difference in our levels, they would have fled already, but I apparently looked like a level 1 in their eyes. “Did you girls fight a hobgoblin when you got this treasure chest?” “Is that what the big one is called?” Nanase shook her head. “No, this is our first time seeing one.” “Thanks to Nanase’s concoction, driving back the other goblins was a piece of cake. Would the same thing be effective against the big goblin, too?” “Might, stand back! I’ll take them on, since my level’s higher. Come on, goblins! Fight me!” Hold on, was that…? Platinum gallantly charged forward and blocked the attacks of the two in the vanguard, firmly holding her ground. “Hngh…! This is why I can’t stop training my body!” “Gugu… Gugah…” “Gigigi…” “What’s wrong, Lystie?” “Platinum’s having an honest contest of strength with her opponents, so don’t you think it’d be rude of me to butt in and attack?” “O-okay…” “This is…nothing…I can’t handle myself…! RAAAH!” Just as Platinum succeeded in shoving the two goblins back, though, the hobgoblin stepped in. It was much, much stronger by comparison. I remembered Platinum saying that her vocation was Paladin, but I was pretty sure the skill she’d just used to draw the enemies’ attention didn’t belong to that role. Wasn’t that Sacrifice…a skill specific to Royal Order, the vocation that protects nobility? “ROAAAR!” “Bring it on! I can take everything you’ve got!” “Watch out they don’t take that the wrong way, Platinum!” shouted Nanase. There was no sense of crisis in the air, but the strength behind the hobgoblin’s punch was the real deal. I guess it’s about time… There’s no point if I take care of this all by myself, after all. Normally, a level-1 Sage would be physically weaker than Lystie’s group, and if they couldn’t even use magic, they would be nothing more than a burden. However— “Ngeh…?!” By just placing a hand behind the shield that Platinum was bracing with, I managed to completely stop the hobgoblin’s attack. The shock of the impact was so weak, it felt like I’d been bitten by a mosquito. “Yaaaaah!” With a shout, Platinum went further and pushed the hobgoblin back. The goblins all stared in shock, having trouble believing that we’d managed to stop the hobgoblin’s punch. “I almost didn’t feel that at all… Might, who are you?” “Consider it, uh, a form of Sage magic!” “I—I see…! Sages are amazing!” “Enough with the chatter, you two! Hyah!” Lystie joined us up front, sword flashing. Her strikes weren’t powerful enough to kill the goblins in one blow, but they were more than sufficient to make them back up. “GUGAAAH!!” Rubbing the fist that had hit Platinum’s shield, the hobgoblin turned to go after Lystie. However, its movements were slow and sluggish. Platinum and I managed to get between the two of them and stop its attack with her shield once again. “It feels so light!” Platinum exclaimed. “It’s like I’m stopping a feather! How are you doing that?!” “Guuuh…?” Even the hobgoblin looked puzzled. Honestly, I was surprised, too. This was my first time helping out with a party’s defense in this particular way. “Take this…! My secret weapon!” Nanase popped out from where she’d been hiding to avoid getting shot by the archers to throw a small sack at the hobgoblin. It exploded with a soft poof on impact, scattering powder everywhere. Just as I was wondering what it was supposed to do, the hobgoblin, still locked in a contest of strength with Platinum, started moving strangely, then let out a loud sneeze. “How do you like my pepper bomb?! Pepper isn’t cheap, you know?!” I had no idea how to react, having expected a more…Apothecary-like attack. However, the hobgoblin’s strength did weaken, leaving itself open to Lystie’s blade. “Gugah! …Gugah?” “Gah gah gah gah!” The goblins first reacted as if the hobgoblin had been hurt, but when they realized it had hardly been damaged at all, they all burst into laughter, despite being injured themselves. “S-stop laughing!” Lystie shouted. “Gih?!” “It’s disrespectful to laugh when we’re fighting as hard as we can!” “Gih, gigih.” The goblins seemed to respond to Lystie’s words, but not the hobgoblin. Wh-why is someone who can use that skill here, of all places? I had no idea if Lystie knew what she was doing, but she’d just used a skill: Dignity, a technique that could only be used by those of very noble birth or those with related vocations. Dignity lowered the enmity of those who were lower in level than the user. The hobgoblin had a higher level than Lystie, though, which is why it hadn’t worked on it. Who are these three? They keep using skills that don’t match the vocations they claim to be. That must mean… No, let’s focus on the battle for now and think later. “That was my last pepper bomb. So next, I’ll have to use my secret weapon…” “The big goblin must have a weak point somewhere… If we can just pierce it there…!” “Lystie! Nanase!” Platinum shouted in alarm. All three of them had forgotten about the two goblin archers, who had simultaneously loosed an arrow each. The girls were right, though: There was indeed an easy way to defeat hobgoblins, and they could very likely win the fight if they knew it. But they needed some help with this first. “How about I show you another ‘spell’ of mine?” To my eyes, the arrows flying toward Lystie and Nanase practically moved in slow motion. So I ran, caught their shafts between my fingers, and threw them back toward the archers, eliciting cries of pain and surprise. I wondered how well the girls’ eyes had caught up but suspected they’d probably seen nothing. Of course, the same likely went for the goblins. “Huh?! What just—?!” “N-no way… That was another one of your spells, Might?!” “Mr. Might, watch out!” “Gugoooh…!!” The hobgoblin was swinging its fist straight at me. “You’ve left yourself wide open, you know?” “Ngoooh?!” I flicked one of the silver coins I’d just received at the hobgoblin’s weak spot, which had just been exposed during the monster’s windup: its chin. “Gah… Gagah… Gack!” Its brain rattling in its skull, the hobgoblin fell forward and hit the ground hard. Its lackeys started panicking and raising a ruckus. Will they keep going? “Gihih?!” Having completely lost their will to fight, the goblins fled back into the forest, dragging the hobgoblin. After what had just happened, they weren’t going to approach another human settlement again anytime soon. The moment the battle ended, I came back to my senses. The way I had fought wasn’t like a Sage at all, and I’d arbitrarily decided to help the girls gain more experience. Suddenly, I was really scared of how they would react. And yet I couldn’t not turn around. However, Lystie immediately started heaping praise on me. “Might, have you been that strong this whole time?!” “That was truly incredible,” Platinum agreed. “You figured out the hobgoblin’s weak point so quickly! You were carefully watching our fight and observing the monster’s movements, weren’t you?” “No, uh, it just…felt right?” “Don’t put yourself down; learn to take a compliment!” Nanase chided. “Of course, if the fight had lasted just a little bit longer, I’d have thrown my secret ‘makes you feel hungry’ drug at the hobgoblin.” “Would that even work…? I—I mean, I’m sure that would’ve worked.” I was seriously regretting getting so carried away during the fight. However, at the same time, I was having trouble calming down because it had been a while since I’d gotten this worked up. The vocation of Thief was one that belonged in the shadows and was by no means strong. I’d never dreamed the day would come when I would be praised like this. “I was so surprised…,” said Lystie. “The moment we were in trouble, you immediately stepped up, and it was like you could do everything. Now I know that you can’t judge people based only on their level.” “And after Platinum said she’d protect us!’” added Nanase. “Ugh! My face is on fire,” Platinum said. “But it’s fine, because people grow stronger from embarrassing experiences!” “I’m not sure how strong you can really get that way,” Lystie said with a giggle. “But I was a mess, too. I need to train more with my sword.” “Your strikes are already quite powerful, so I think you have a pretty good chance against enemies who don’t hit as hard as a hobgoblin. Platinum, you did a great job drawing the enemy’s attention, and your defense was sturdy and reliable. Nanase, that was impressive how you summoned up the courage to throw that potion back th—Uh…” Uh-oh, it’s like I’m evaluating the three of them on their performance just now. “Out of all of us, you’re the one who watches us the most closely, Might.” “I can see it in your eyes when you’re relying on me. Your big sister’s magic is useful, isn’t it?” “Your advice always helps point out my weaknesses.” I’d always felt bad about doing it. Knowing what my party members could do and what their limits were had been crucial to surviving and defeating the Demonic Dragon. But even so, it had always made me feel self-serving to observe my companions like that. “If you taught us, Might, I’m sure we’d—” Lystie caught herself. “Sorry, you’ve already helped us out plenty with the treasure chest. It wouldn’t be right to ask any more of you. Please forget I said anything.” “Aww, but…” Nanase looked like she’d wanted to protest but thought better of it. “I guess Lystie’s right…” “I still can’t get over how strong you are as a level 1,” Platinum marveled. “Is that just what it’s like being a Sage?” Of course, it had been a nice surprise for me, too. Or rather, I guess I’d been misunderstanding. I’d assumed that I would be weak after reverting to level 1. And sure, I could no longer use any Thief skills—but that was it. I still had everything else, including my physical abilities. If I concentrated, everything appeared to be in slow motion, be it attacks from enemies or from Lystie’s group. I was confident I could seize the initiative anytime I wanted, even if I was the last to start moving. “What magic did you use to defeat the hobgoblin?” Lystie asked. “It was too fast for me to see.” “Um… That just now was Coin Flick.” “Coin—? I’ve never heard of such a spell. You can beat goblins just by flicking coins at them?” “I suppose it’s theoretically possible if you coat the coin with mana,” Nanase said thoughtfully. “How did you send it flying?” Apparently, what I’d done was seen as magic. It didn’t feel right to just tell her I had incredible physical strength, so I didn’t correct her. I pulled out another coin and imagined coating it with mana, then flicked it into the air and caught it. “Like that.” “I see, so that’s how you used a coin to accurately target the hobgoblin’s weak spot,” Platinum murmured. “What an incredible skill.” In short, I could defeat enemies of this level without using a vocation-specific skill. However, it wouldn’t be wise for me to carelessly flaunt my strength when I was supposed to be level 1, as doing so would make other adventurers suspicious. I made a mental note to be more low-key going forward and to learn a few spells so I could actually pass as a Sage. “Well, seeing as we succeeded in driving the goblins back, I guess it’s about time I went on my way…” But just as I was about to turn around and leave, I saw a half-transparent lock that gave off a faint glow floating in front of Lystie’s, Nanase’s, and Platinum’s chests. The moment I saw those locks, I instinctively knew what they were—not through my experience as a Thief, but as knowledge granted to me due to my vocation as Sage. Passive Skill “Lock Eye”: Enables the user to see the Lock of organic and inorganic targets when the requirements are met. Unique Skill “White Key”: Enables the user to create a key using mana that opens White Locks. “You don’t have to act like you’re running away from us,” Lystie said. “You’re the main reason we won!” “Being a Paladin, I thought it was my role to protect you, Might,” Platinum said. “But if it wasn’t for your timely instruction, I might have been hit with an arrow. I received your protection instead. You have my gratitude.” “Plus, you threw away one of your coins,” Nanase added. “I really think you should take a few more!” The three girls tried to convince me to stay, in their own particular ways, and honestly, I was conflicted. There was no longer any doubt in my mind that my ability to create keys stemmed from me being a Sage. I thought I’d be casting flashier spells, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, I was seeing locks in front of people’s chests. This had happened once, with the receptionist at the guild, but her lock had disappeared almost right away. With Lystie’s group, however, the locks only became invisible when I made a conscious effort not to see them. Otherwise, they showed no sign of vanishing. “Um… Is something the matter?” Lystie asked. “You’re zoning out. Is there something on our clothes?” “Oh, n-no. It’s nothing.” “Shall we continue our conversation back in town?” Platinum suggested. “If we stay here, we might get attacked again.” “Good idea,” Nanase agreed. “Might, will you come with us?” Why had I started seeing the girls’ locks? Could I open them with White Key? And what would happen if I did open them? I had so many questions. Thankfully, the three didn’t seem to mistrust me, so I could relax for the time being. I decided to return to town with them first, then think about what I’d do later.
Chapter 6
28 min read