Grasp the hilt of the sword and swing it without disrupting your posture.
That simple motion, repeated over and over.
At first glance, it seems easy, but when done seriously, it’s quite difficult.
The only sounds in the training ground were the whoosh of the sword cutting through the air and the scuffing of feet on the ground.
“Phew…”
My long focus broke, and I stopped both my feet and arms.
Before I knew it, sweat was pouring from my forehead and neck, dripping down onto the ground.
I brushed aside my slightly long bangs and sheathed my sword.
Suddenly, I glanced at the clock installed in the training ground.
“Oh, that was close.”
The clock’s hands were pointing to the top.
I was almost late to meet Arcelia at the Adventurer’s Guild.
She had already left in a bad mood.
If I had kept training, she’d probably be even more upset.
No, more than just upset—she might hurl a spell at me as soon as we met.
I didn’t want that, so I quickly left the training ground.
“Now, where’s Arcelia…”
I arrived at the meeting spot and scanned the area.
But… she was nowhere to be seen.
It was just a little past our meeting time, but there was no sign of her being late either.
Should I wait a bit longer?
Or go fetch her?
I hesitated for a moment but then remembered this wasn’t just anyone—it was Arcelia. So, I headed toward the library.
I walked through the corridors of the massive academy building, and soon the library came into view.
My footsteps echoed in the hallway, and the air felt slightly crisper.
I changed my walk to one that didn’t make any sound.
Apparently, since it’s a place for reading, I had to be quiet in the library.
As a bonus, walking without making noise is also part of stealth training.
I found something to practice even in daily life.
If you’re mindful of it, you can find opportunities like this.
“Alright.”
I mumbled to myself as I opened the door.
As soon as I did, a familiar smell, like that of the manor’s archives, or perhaps even stronger, rushed into my nose.
It wasn’t an unpleasant smell.
But it wasn’t a good smell either.
It was… calming, in a way.
As I ventured deeper, I stopped in my tracks.
A spacious atrium with a high ceiling… warm lighting from magic tools… rows upon rows of bookshelves.
It felt like stepping into another world.
It really lived up to being the academy’s library.
No wonder Arcelia chose to enroll here.
But where was she?
From what I could see, the library had three floors of open space.
She didn’t seem to be on the first floor, so I decided to head up to the second.
Crossing the staircase that led to the third floor, I stepped into the second.
Just like the first floor, it was lined with bookshelves.
The difference was that it was even dimmer.
It’s going to be tough to search through all this, I thought as I began looking shelf by shelf.
…She wasn’t here either.
Maybe she’s on the third floor, I thought, as I ascended the stairs.
The third floor was a bit more spacious than the second.
Thinking it would be easier to search here, I spotted a glimpse of blonde hair.
The length of the hair, the build, and the outfit all matched.
Without a doubt, it was Arcelia.
From a distance, it was hard to be sure, but she was absorbed in a book.
Her concentration was incredible.
That must be why she didn’t notice the time.
I couldn’t blame her for that, so I approached her.
What surprised me was the number of books stacked in front of her.
Her speed in flipping through the pages was also astonishing.
I almost doubted whether she was truly reading them.
“Arcelia.”
Since there was no one else around, I called her name and lightly tapped her shoulder.
Immediately, her hand froze mid-turn, and she looked over at me, her blonde hair swaying.
She raised an eyebrow slightly before twirling her finger in a circle.
“…What do you want?”
“We’re in the library, so speaking—”
“I used magic, so it’s fine.”
Did she cast a spell when she twirled her finger earlier?
I had no idea.
“Well, fine. I just came to get you since you didn’t show up.”
“I didn’t show up yet? But it’s still—”
Arcelia looked puzzled as she glanced at the clock.
“…That clock isn’t broken, is it?”
“Don’t worry, it’s working perfectly.”
When I answered, Arcelia stood up, grabbed the books she had piled up, and muttered a quick apology.
“…Sorry.”
“Well, well?”
Watching her back as she went to return the books, I was surprised.
Despite her bluntness, Arcelia had actually apologized.
We might have a storm coming today.
“Let’s go.”
“Why are you taking the lead when you were the one who was late?”
“…Shut up.”
We left the library and exited the academy grounds, heading toward the Adventurer’s Guild.
Perhaps she was feeling guilty for being late, as her usual sharpness was slightly subdued.
Being a self-proclaimed genius, maybe she couldn’t forgive herself for messing up.
“Arcelia, don’t worry about it.”
“Huh? What, did you eat something weird?”
“Oh, there’s the usual you.”
Yes, this was her.
A meek and apologetic Arcelia wasn’t Arcelia at all.
Feeling relieved, I noticed the Adventurer’s Guild building coming into view.
“Have you ever been inside the Adventurer’s Guild?”
“No.”
“Then just follow me.”
“Fine, I’ll let you lead.”
Having been an adventurer in my past life, I was familiar with the layout and procedures.
At this hour, there should be fewer adventurers, so it shouldn’t take long.
I opened the door to the Adventurer’s Guild and stepped inside.
Though I hadn’t been to this specific guild in my previous life, it wasn’t an issue.
“I’d like to register as an adventurer.”
I spoke to the receptionist.
“Understood. Please fill out the required information here. And for your companion?”
“Oh, she’s with me.”
“Then I’ll give you two forms. Once you’re done, please return them to me.”
I took the two forms and grabbed the nearby quill.
There were chairs and tables nearby, so I sat down to fill them out.
“Here, you too.”
I handed the form and quill to Arcelia.
“…Why did you, a noble, speak so politely to the receptionist?”
She muttered while filling out the form.
I see.
It was true; as a noble, I could have spoken down to the receptionist, a commoner.
“Well… to avoid unnecessary trouble.”
“Is that all?”
“Also, it’s just smarter to leave a good impression on the staff. It’ll work in your favor if anything happens.”
“That’s the real reason, huh?”
“Bingo.”
Generally, the staff treat adventurers equally as long as they follow the rules.
But staff are human too.
If there’s ever a dispute between an arrogant adventurer and a polite one, they’ll trust the polite one.
“So basically, it’s about getting by smoothly.”
“…I see.”
There’s no point in causing unnecessary hassle.
My goal is to face monsters with nothing but my sword.
Wasting time on anything else is just ridiculous.
“But some staff are jerks, so be sure to judge carefully.”
“Should I use magic on them then—”
“Nope, don’t do that.”
“Hmph…”
Close one.
I almost witnessed the future demise of an unfortunate staff member.
