I reflexively reached out and snatched back my knight license card.
"Huh? Leon...? What was that just..."
"..."
I quietly averted my gaze.
She saw it, didn't she? She definitely saw it...!
"Could it be that what you mentioned the other day was—"
"Sara."
"Y-yes! What is it?"
"...If possible, I'd like to keep this between us. Can I count on you?"
"Y-yes, of course! I won't tell a soul!"
"That helps a lot. Well then, could you go ahead with the registration?"
"Right away...!"
Though she still couldn't entirely hide her agitation, Sara swiftly processed the paperwork. And just like that, I was officially registered as an adventurer.
Ostensibly as a mage, of course.
However, things were never going to end that simply...
"Leon."
"W-what is it...?"
"Will you come by the tavern tonight?"
"W-why...?"
"To hear the full story, of course. You're not allowed to run away, okay?"
"...Y-yeah."
A fierce resolve flashed in Sara's narrowed eyes, assuring me there was no escape.
S-scary...
Pulling myself together, I headed over to the quest board.
"As expected of A-rank, the rewards are pretty high."
The requests lined up on the board were all lucrative. It looked like there were even quests specifically for national license holders. The goal from my childhood—getting licensed just so I would never go hungry—had been fulfilled in a more than sufficient manner. I truly had nothing but gratitude for the old man and the old lady.
With that, I plunged into the dungeon alone. After delving for a while, a sound like an earthquake rumbled from up ahead.
"Oh crap, oh crap!"
"It's a Stampede!"
"Run! If we stay, we'll be wiped out!"
Several adventurers came sprinting around the corner at a breakneck pace. Seeing that every one of them carried a staff, it seemed to be a party composed entirely of mages. And behind them, a horde of monsters surged like a muddy torrent, completely packing the corridor.
"You run too, quick! We can't handle that many by ourselves—"
"No, it's fine."
I raised the staff in my left hand and gave it a light wave.
"—Frost."
In an instant, a faint pale-blue light radiated from beneath my feet.
White frost raced down the corridor, instantly engulfing the surging horde. Every single monster froze solid at once.
"Huh...?"
The mages' stunned voices echoed through the frozen corridor.
"H-hey... Who on earth are you?"
"...A national license holder."
I pulled my hood down deeper over my eyes, deliberately lowering my voice. I couldn't let my identity get out. But right then...
"GRAAAAAAAH!"
A lone monster burst out, using its frozen comrades as a shield. Its sharp claws lunged for my throat. At this range, rather than a staff—it was time for the knife.
I immediately shifted half a step aside to dodge the attack, drawing the blade with my right hand and slashing downward as we crossed paths. The knife pierced clean through its skull, and the monster collapsed at my feet. Behind me, I heard the mages gasp.
"You... Just what are..."
"...Head back quickly. See ya."
Leaving them with only that, I walked away before they could question me further.
I passed several other parties of adventurers afterward, but every single group was heavily skewed toward either swordsmen or mages. The mages, lacking a frontline, couldn't hold off swarms, while the swordsmen, lacking ranged attacks and healing, were covered in wounds.
The adventurers were also trapped in the feud between the staff and the sword.
"...It really is a waste, isn't it?"
Harboring mixed feelings, I successfully completed the quest. By the time I reported its completion at the guild and headed to the usual tavern, it had gotten a bit late.
"Leon! Welcome!"
"Sara, sorry. I'm a bit late."
"Not at all. Right this way, please."
"...Yeah."
Where she led me wasn't the usual counter seat, but a private room in the back of the tavern. The moment I stepped through the door, the hustle and bustle outside grew unnaturally distant. Scanning the walls, I noticed an elaborate spell formula encompassing the entire room.
"A soundproofing formula, huh? Impressive."
"You can tell?"
"Yeah. It's constructed with remarkable precision."
"Fufu. As expected of you, Leon."
After closing the door, Sara took a seat opposite me across a small table....It felt just like an interrogation was about to begin.
"So, about that..."
"...Yeah."
"Do you really... hold national licenses for both knight and mage, Leon?"
Sara asked hesitantly.
Now that it had come to this, I had no choice but to speak the truth. Resigned, I nodded.
"...That's right. Both belong to me."
Sara's eyes went wide. Frozen as if she had forgotten how to breathe, she stared at me for a long moment.
"R-really...?"
"Yeah."
"It's not a mistake, or a fake...?"
"They're both real. I got licensed in the recent examinations."
"...There are so many people who keep trying the Knight Examination and Mage Examination for years, only to give up without ever passing. The only ones who pass are a tiny handful of 'geniuses.'"
Pausing there, Sara looked at me once more.
"And to get both... at the same time..."
Her eyes wavered as though looking at something unbelievable.
"To be honest, I don't quite grasp the gravity of the situation myself. Ever since I was young, I just trained relentlessly, believing that as long as I got these two licenses, I'd never go hungry."
"S-sure, you'd never go hungry for the rest of your life, but... that's on a completely different level! Having just one makes you highly sought after across the entire kingdom. But having both... If this goes public, neither the Knight Order nor the Mage Order will ever leave you alone, you know?"
"Is that... so?"
I bowed my head deeply to Sara.
"Please, Sara. Keep this quiet."
"Of course I will. Please raise your head, Leon."
Prompted by her words, I looked up to see Sara lost in thought for a moment.
"...Do you plan to operate as a mage for the time being?"
"Yeah. I intend to refrain from acting as a knight for a while."
"Understood. In that case, please let me help you as much as I can!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! I owe you a debt of gratitude, Leon!"
Right now, Sara held my greatest secret. Even if she made unreasonable demands, I wouldn't have been able to refuse. Yet far from taking advantage of the secret, Sara offered to help with a carefree smile.
I really was... blessed with good people.
"Thank you. That's a huge help."
"Don't mention it. However!"
Sara snapped her index finger up, putting on a serious expression.
"You really need to be careful from now on, okay? It was fine this time because it was me, but if anyone else had seen it, it would have turned into a disaster."
"Y-yeah... This incident really drove that home. I'll be properly mindful from now on."
Having successfully finished our talk, I parted ways with Sara.
"T-thank goodness..."
Basking in relief, I left the tavern and was about to head back to the inn. That was when someone called out to me from behind.
"Leon? It is you, Leon!"
It was Leticia.
Her face instantly brightened as she jogged over. T-this was bad... I really didn't want to run into her right now...
"O-oh... Leticia. Just finishing up your work with the Knight Order?"
"Yes. Things are a bit hectic right now, so it got late. I've been quite busy."
"I see."
If she was busy, she wouldn't have the spare time to drop by the Adventurer Guild for a while. I breathed an inward sigh of relief.
"Didn't you just look blatantly relieved?"
"...Not at all."
"Hmm...?"
Leticia narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Why were women so sharp about the strangest things...?
"So, how are your adventurer activities going?"
"Well, so-so."
"Heh. Knowing you, I imagine you could climb to S-rank in no time."
"Ranking up isn't really my goal, anyway."
"You're as strange as ever."
She laughed, exasperated.
"Once things settle down, I'll drop by the Adventurer Guild too. Well then, see you later."
"Y-yeah... See you."
I silently watched Leticia's back as she walked away.
The only person currently at the Adventurer Guild was me, registered as a mage. The "Knight Leon" that Leticia knew didn't exist anywhere there. But there was no way I could tell her that honestly...
"Hm? Who's there?!"
—Bloodlust.
I darted into the alley where I felt the presence, but no one was there anymore. However, a faint gouge remained on the wall, and the air felt ever so slightly chilled.
"...That wasn't just my imagination, was it?"
Was an assassin targeting me already...?
I had no idea where the information had leaked, but maybe it would be best to live in my robe for a while.
Carrying a sliver of unease, I returned to the inn.