Hi, Reader!I'll be calling the academy area Academy City, and the name of the academy itself will be revealed later when the MC reaches it.
---------
Cael walked toward the transport area, deep in thought.
The receptionist he met earlier—Clara…
She was the older sister of one of the heroines: Mia.
Mia was originally a warm-hearted and kind kid. But after a certain incident that took her sister Clara away from her, Mia slowly turned cold and distant.
This time, Cael promised himself something.
I'll save both Clara and Mia.
They both deserve a happy life.
When Cael reached the transport area, he saw the same driver from earlier.
Cael walked up to him and said, "One ticket back to Academy City."
The driver replied, "That'll be 15 bronze coins."
Cael's eyes widened.
"15?!" he snapped. "What do you mean? It was 10 in the morning—why are you charging 15 now?!"
In this world:
100 bronze coins = 1 silver coin
100 silver coins = 1 gold coin
100 gold coins = 1 platinum coin
A coin Cael was probably never going to see in his entire life.
The driver chuckled. "Kid, it's almost nighttime. People charge more because the roads are more dangerous than in the morning."
Cael cursed under his breath, but he couldn't deny the truth.
At night, bandits and monsters roamed much more freely.
"…Fine," Cael sighed. "15 bronze coins."
The driver extended his hand.
Cael clicked his tongue and took out the money.
The 15 bronze coins came from the small amount Sister Ammy had given him—50 bronze total.
And just like that, half of it was already gone.
Cael thought bitterly:
Looking at the orphanage's condition… I really need to start earning money myself.
Even the cheapest transport in this world drains my funds so fast… and the travel time isn't even forty minutes.
With that thought, Cael climbed into the cart.
A few other people were already sitting inside.
He found a spot where he could sit comfortably and settled down.
While sitting, he noticed the driver watching them strangely… but Cael didn't think too deeply about it.
Instead, he focused on what mattered.
To save Mia… I need to get stronger.
The villain in her arc… no matter what I do right now, I can't fight that monster yet.
Meanwhile… Claser Village
Inside the Adventurer's Guild…
A small, cute-looking girl with warm chestnut-brown hair around should length ran toward the receptionist desk.
The same receptionist Cael met earlier.
Clara sighed when she saw her.
"Mia, stop running around," Clara scolded gently. "You'll get hurt."
The girl—Mia—puffed her cheeks and replied proudly.
"Sister Clara, don't worry! Even if I look small, I'm strong enough to protect myself."
Clara chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah. I know."
"After all… you're a B-Rank adventurer at only sixteen."
Mia grinned.
The youngest B-Rank adventurer.
Then she suddenly leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"By the way, Sister… earlier I saw a guy with blue eyes and black hair talking to you."
"Then suddenly his face turned red… and yours turned red too."
"What were you two talking about?"
Clara froze.
"Ah—! H-He was just joking around, that's all!" she said quickly. "Nothing happened! Hahaha…"
She laughed awkwardly.
Mia narrowed her eyes and pouted.
"Sister… even if I look small, I'm not dumb."
"I know what was going through your mind."
Clara's face turned even redder.
"M-Mia! Go back to your room and get ready for dinner!"
Mia laughed loudly.
"Yes, yes, Sister!"
"I can't wait for the next time you two meet and share your love with each other."
Clara nearly choked.
"MIA! There's nothing like that!"
"He was just a kid who didn't know much about the guild, so I helped him. Nothing more, nothing less!"
Mia giggled.
"I know, Sister. I was only joking."
"There's no way you'd fall for a handsome guy after meeting him once…"
"…especially after what happened with Father."
Clara's eyes darkened.
Mia continued, her voice quieter now.
"Our father left us… because he found someone who liked him more because of his looks. He didn't even bother to care for our late mother or any of her children."
Clara's eyes turned red with anger.
"Tch… that useless dog-shit doesn't deserve to be called a father."
"I'm here for you, Mia. So don't worry about it."
Mia's chest warmed.
She smiled softly.
"Thank you, Sister…"
Clara cleared her throat and tried to change the topic.
"By the way… I think that guy was heading toward Academy City. I saw him Getting Dropped from the cart Which usually comes from Academy City."
"So he might become your senior next year."
Mia blinked.
"Oh really?"
Her smile turned sly.
"If he becomes my senior… then I'll make sure you two meet again."
Clara groaned.
"…Mia."
Mia laughed again.
"Okay, okay! I'll go change!"
Mia ran off to her room, jumping happily.
Neither of them knew…
That this peaceful moment would soon end.
Back to the Cart…
Cael was traveling toward Academy City when the cart suddenly slowed down in the middle of a forest.
Cael frowned.
"Hey," he called out. "What are you doing?"
The driver turned around.
His face looked pale.
"Sorry," the man muttered. "I have a family at home."
And then—
He jumped off the cart and ran into the forest.
Cael's eyes widened.
His instincts screamed danger.
…Bandits.
Cael immediately went into full alert mode, cursing inside his mind.
Day can't get any better…
First, I forgot to buy a sword.
Now bandits are waiting to kill me.
Fck my life.*
The other people in the cart panicked, too.
They started shouting at the driver.
"HEY, YOU F*CKER! WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVE A FAMILY?!"
"WE ALL HAVE A FAMILY TOO!"
Cael almost corrected them.
I don't.
But he swallowed those words.
This wasn't the time to make enemies… especially when frightened people might sacrifice someone who had nobody to protect them.
As Cael stayed tense—
A tall, bulky man stepped out from the forest.
And behind him were five bandits, walking slowly toward the cart.