The next day.
I immediately set about preparing to operate as an adventurer.
Leaving the old man's sword behind at the inn, I carried only the staff at my waist. What I needed first was a robe to conceal my face and a knife to use in place of a sword. In a metropolis as large as the royal capital, I was bound to find a decent shop or two if I looked around.
With that in mind, I wandered through the city until a quiet, tucked-away shop in an alley off the main street caught my eye. It had a narrow storefront, and the worn sign bore the emblem of a staff, marking it as a magic tool shop.
"Guess I'll try this place."
Sensing something intriguing about it, I pushed open the creaking door. The moment I did, a faint fluctuation of magical power brushed against my fingertips.
"...A barrier?"
Focusing my vision, I noticed complex spell formulae woven to encompass the entire shop. What's more, it was so exquisitely constructed that anyone not searching carefully wouldn't even notice its existence. Why would an ordinary magic tool shop have such a formidable barrier...?
"Well, now... It's been quite a while since I had a customer..."
A raspy voice drifted from the dim depths of the shop. Before long, an old woman emerged into view.
"What's your name, kid?"
"Leon."
"Leon... Well now, you did well to find this place. Seems you're no ordinary mage."
"This barrier has spell formulae woven into it to disrupt perception, doesn't it? Are you deliberately hiding the shop's existence?"
"Every one of my magic tools is top-notch, you see. It'd be troublesome if the buyer didn't have an eye sharp enough to recognize that. Anyone who can't even see through a barrier of this level isn't a customer in the first place... Hehehe."
She chuckled eerily from the back of her throat. It seemed my choice of shop had been the right one in a sense.
"So, what do you want?"
"A robe and a knife. For the robe, I'd like one woven with an enchantment that conceals my presence. But nothing too flashy. Just keep it within a natural range."
"You ask for a lot. As if I'd have something like that in—"
The old woman retreated to the back of the shop and returned a moment later carrying a robe.
"Here you go."
"You actually have it!"
"Of course I do. Where do you think you are? This is my shop... Hehehe."
"...Hah."
Why were all the elderly people I knew so eccentric without exception?
"Go on, try it on. I can make fine adjustments if needed."
"Thanks."
Putting on the robe as told, I channeled magical power through the fabric to test its effect.
"...My, you have quite the magnificent control over your magic. The way you channel it... is the spitting image of that Irena."
"Irena? You know Old Lady Irena?"
"Of course I do. We're old friends."
To think I would run into an old friend of hers in a place like this.
"Friends... In that case, there's one thing I'd like to ask."
"What is it?"
"Who on earth is Old Lady Irena? She taught me magic, but I have no idea who she actually is."
When I asked, the old woman's eyes went wide for a moment.
Then, she began to laugh from the back of her throat.
"Hehe... Hahaha! Leon! You learned magic from that Irena, yet you don't even know her title?!"
"Y-Yeah... She never told me anything. So if you know, I'd appreciate it if you could tell me."
"Not a chance."
"Huh?"
"If you want to know, ask Irena yourself. Where's the fun in me spoiling the secret?"
"..."
Her smirk as she chuckled merrily bore an uncanny resemblance to Old Lady Irena. Damn it... Did long-time friends even pick up each other's troublesome traits? It didn't seem like she had any intention of talking, no matter how much more I pressed. Oh well. I had only come here to buy magic tools in the first place.
"Haaah... The robe is fine as is. Now I just need a knife. This one doesn't need any enchantments. As long as it has decent sharpness, that's enough."
"I have a cursed knife, if you'd like?"
"I don't want that!"
"Hehehe... Just a joke. This one should be just right for you."
Taking the knife from the old woman, I slid it from its sheath. Twirling it in my right hand, I gave it a light swing to test its weight and balance.
"That handling... Don't tell me you learned swordsmanship from Gard?"
"Good guess. I learned swordsmanship from Old Man Gard, and magic from Old Lady Irena."
"Is that so? By the way, the Knight Examination and Mage Examination took place recently, didn't they?"
"...Yeah."
The topic changed abruptly. I had a bad feeling about this... Could this old lady be—
"Leon. You passed both, didn't you?"
"..."
"I'll take your silence as a yes."
The old woman's gaze drifted from the robe I was wearing down to the staff at my waist and the knife in my hand.
"I see, I see. That's why you wanted a robe to hide your identity and a knife to substitute for a sword. You plan to act as a mage for a while and keep the knight part hidden, don't you? From the way you've talked, it sounds like you only just learned about the feud between the staff and the sword..."
"Urgh..."
She had seen right through me.
"To think that old couple was raising such an apprentice... Living a long life really does have its perks."
With that, the old woman narrowed her eyes and murmured as if reminiscing about distant memories.
"Those two... they still haven't given up on that dream, have they...?"
Her face was devoid of the teasing grin from before. She looked nostalgic—and genuinely happy from the bottom of her heart. The atmosphere didn't invite further prying, so I moved the conversation along.
"Old lady. So, how much for all this?"
"You can have it for free."
"Huh?! I can't just take it for nothing!"
"I practically run this shop as a hobby anyway. Just take it. I've taken a liking to you."
"...I see. Then next time, I'll come back and properly pay for some magic tools. Once I'm able to earn a living as an adventurer, that is."
Deciding to gratefully accept her kindness, I turned on my heel to leave the shop.
To think I would meet an old friend of the old man and old lady here in the capital. You really never knew what life had in store.
"Leon."
Called from behind, I stopped in my tracks.
The playful tone from earlier was gone from her voice.
"Many hardships surely await you on the path ahead. No matter how extraordinary a talent may be, when it's too immense, it can sometimes become a curse that binds its bearer, manipulating and driving those around them mad."
The old woman looked straight at me with a gentle gaze.
"Even so, I hope that talent becomes a blessing for you, not a curse. I believe that a genius like you will carve out a new path in this world divided in two—the staff and the sword."
"...You're exaggerating. It's not that big of a deal."
"Heh. True geniuses are the least likely to notice their own abnormality. After all, to them, it's only natural that they can do it."
Was that how it worked?
It was true that I might not be fully aware of it, but...
"Well, all I can offer you are commonplace words. Do your best, Leon."
"Yeah. Thanks. Uh... come to think of it, I still haven't gotten your name."
"It's Sasha. Give my regards to Irena when you see her."
"Got it. See you, Old Lady Sasha."
With that, I finally left the shop.
That was a good encounter. I found myself thinking once again how glad I was to have come to the royal capital.
Afterward, I arrived safely at the Adventurer Guild. Spotting Sara at the reception counter, I called out to her right away.
"...Sara."
"Yes? How may I help you?"
"It's me. Leon."
"Ah, Leon! I'm sorry. Your presence was so faint that I didn't recognize you right away."
Hmm. The effect of Old Lady Sasha's robe was unmistakable. With this, I should be able to operate while keeping my identity hidden.
"You wished to register as an adventurer, correct? In that case, may I see your license card? If your qualifications can be verified, you can start as an A-rank adventurer as a special exception."
"Yeah."
Reaching into the breast of my robe, I tried to pull out only the mage card. However, the other card caught against my fingertips and slipped out along with it.
Clatter.
Two cards landed side by side on the reception counter.
Sara's gaze slowly shifted from the first card to the second.
On one was the crest of the staff.
On the other was—the crest of the sword.
Mage and knight.
Two license cards that normally should never be held simultaneously by a single person lay side by side.
"Huh?"
Sara's gaze darted back and forth between the two cards repeatedly. Eventually, as if unable to process the reality before her eyes, she stiffly looked up.
"Eh...?"
"Ah..."