Chapter 33 + 34, Side Story: The Duo Full of Mysteries + Recap: Book 1 Character Bios 

Translator: Barnnn

 

Chapter 33 – Side Story: The Duo Full of Mysteries

 

Perspective: Fieda

 

It’s just before my reassignment from the northern route I’ve handled for a decade to a slightly shorter one. On what I thought would be a routine final trip to Dukatten, two peculiar passengers caught my eye.

 

The pair, who appeared to be brothers, stood out the moment they arrived at the Union’s boarding point.

Their clean, well-proportioned faces were complemented by matching, lustrous bracelets. Though they wore commoners’ clothes, the garments were immaculately maintained, and tailored to fit them perfectly.

Typically, siblings end up with hand-me-downs or mismatched outfits patched together from whatever’s available. But even the younger brother was dressed in clothes that had clearly been made to measure.

It struck me: maybe they’re noble children disguised as commoners, trying to run away from home.

If that’s the case, there’s a chance their pursuers might chase the horsebus, endangering the other passengers.

With that concern in mind, I approached them to ask some questions — and noticed their oddities extended far beyond their appearance.

 

Though they wore clothes reminiscent of children from the slums, they carried no hint of roughness.

They were registered adventurers but lacked the coarseness or wild energy one might expect.

Their hands were as refined as a noble’s, yet they didn’t display even a trace of arrogance.

 

When I inquired about their journey, they explained they were heading to Tajellia to find their father there.

The explanation made me wonder if their deceased mother might have been from a noble family and they’d been cast out after her death. The thought sparked a small pang of sympathy.

 

As our journey began, my impression of them continued to evolve.

They had an unusual set of knowledge and skills. For instance, they knew nothing of Heroes or Sages — unbelievable, considering how prominent those figures are in our world.

They were proficient in mathematics and commerce but completely ignorant about Mystic Beasts and their habits.

The older brother claimed he had just undergone his Coming-of-Age Ceremony the day before. And yet, he was capable of producing enough water to sustain three whole horsebuses’ worth of passengers. Normally, someone freshly gifted with magic would be lucky to fill a single bucket before collapsing from magical energy exhaustion.

The younger brother, though small in stature, was sharp and eloquent. At first glance, I’d have guessed he was ten years old, but he told me he was already fourteen and registered as an adventurer.

 

[The Adventurers’ Guild registration system must be broken.]

 

And then there was the way they reacted to Mystic Beasts. I possess an Overview skill that allows me to detect them early, but both brothers consistently sensed their presence at the same time I did.

The younger one, in particular, displayed abilities akin to a skill despite being too young to have undergone the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

 

The older brother’s excessive magical aptitude, the younger brother’s premature skill-like abilities…

 

[Could they be direct descendants of an Archmage?]

 

On the third day, my suspicions solidified.

They casually pulled fresh food from Magic Bags.

 

By the third day of a journey, most travelers are down to eating dry rations or stews made from whatever they can scrape together.

But these two? They were enjoying freshly cooked meat dishes.

 

[You’re far too careless, kids.]

 

Whenever I found an opportunity, I gave them advice, and they absorbed everything with astonishing speed, like dry soil greedily drinking water. It was satisfying, even fun, to see their progress.

I found myself wanting to teach the older brother, the budding water mage, more of the essential knowledge an adventurer needs.

 

I wanted to tell the younger one, who always listened with shining eyes, the tales of Sages, the legends of the kingdom, and the epic stories of Heroes.

 

Looking back, I realize it now: I was already captivated by them.

 

The day after we reached Dukatten, I found the two of them causing a commotion outside a shop. Drawn into their whirlwind conversation, I followed them to a nearby restaurant — and that’s when the truth hit me like a lightning bolt.

 

[They’re from another world!]

 

These two, sitting right in front of me, were Sage Candidates!

The moment I understood, I sprang from my chair as if launched from a cannon, dropping down and pressing my forehead against the floor.

 

What had I done?

Meeting Sages — not just one, but two — was nothing short of a miracle.

What had I said?

A lowly man like me had no right even to look upon their faces.

What kind of fool had I been, thinking I could teach them anything?

 

Shame, confusion, awe, gratitude, reverence — every emotion imaginable boiled together into a chaotic stew, spilling over like soup from an overfull pot.

 

I pressed my forehead harder into the floor, as though trying to burrow away from the divine beings above me.

 

It was Ize who stopped me.

Standing directly in front of me, his small figure seemed even smaller than usual.

His face, flushed and tear-streaked, trembled as he reached out his hands.

 

A moon illuminating the night. A star pointing the way for lost travelers.

 

If I could keep chasing that light forever…

If I could hold onto this moment until my last breath, until my heart stopped beating and my eyes ceased blinking…

I would protect that light from anything that might obscure it, tarnish it, or steal it away.

 

And so–

 

“I’ll get to the point. Hal, Ize — let me join you on your journey.”

 

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Chapter 34 – Recap: Book 1 Character Bios

 

◆Characters◆

 

[Main Characters]

Name: Ichikawa Izumi / Ize

Age: 14

Characteristics:

– Second-year junior high school student (at the time of summoning)

– Member of the basketball club

– Short stature (around 150 cm)

– Left knee meniscus injury (fully healed after the summoning)

Initial Skills:

– Stealth (∞)

∟Erases the presence of oneself and targets, including scent, sound, and aura.

∟Derivatives: Concealment, Camouflage

– Perception

∟Detects living beings, inanimate objects, and identifies allies and enemies in the vicinity.

– Fleet Foot

∟Allows running at speeds up to 100 times maximum HP without consuming MP.

Possessions (at the time of summoning):

– Magic Bag: A backpack shape-shifted into a ring.

– A complete set of training clothes

– Smartphone

– Medicines:

∟Painkillers → Transformed into Healing Potions

∟Antibiotics → Transformed into Curing Potions

– Potato sticks

– Mizu manju, various mini yokan

– Assorted fried chicken (yangnyeom chicken, garlic salt, chili-flavored)

– Instant ramen

– Pickled cucumber with kimchi seasoning

– Drinks (barley tea, lightly sweetened black tea, jasmine tea, water)

– Staff:

∟A crutch shape-shifted into a bangle

∟Also serves as a magical catalyst (Magic Effect Multiplier: 1–∞)

Name: Takada Haruka / Hal

Age: 32 → 14 → 15

Characteristics:

– Former supply manager for a major corporation

– Tall (initially around 180 cm, reduced to approximately 170 cm after de-aging)

– Lanky build

– Has a flair for “nerdy edgelord” tendencies

Initial Skills:

Eye of Appraisal (∞)

∟Grants the ability to discern the true form of the target. Applies to both tangible and intangible targets.

∟Derivatives: Eye of Truth, Eye of Insight

Art of Negotiation

∟Guides conversations toward the intended outcome.

Additional Skills:

– Water Magic (∞)

– Wind Magic (∞)

Possessions (at the time of summoning):

– Magic Bag: A suitcase shape-shifted into a bangle.

– A complete set of travel clothes

– Smartphone and tablet

– Solar charger

– Bathing set, including shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and moisturizer

– Famous pink-packaged ankoro mochi from a certain region

– Red miso soup

– Rare regional sake

– Grilled shumai (with soy sauce)

– Famous chicken wings from a certain region

– Sweet pastries and boxed station lunches

– Scientific calculator → Cash Converter

– Drinks (water, coffee)

Name: Fieda

Age: Late 30s

Characteristics:

– Former guard for a Union-run horsebus service (resigning)

– Tall (near 190 cm)

– Gruff voice

Skills:

– Overview

∟Provides a bird’s-eye view from arbitrary distances.

∟Note: Ize’s Perception centers on herself within a few kilometers, while Overview allows the relocating of the viewpoint itself.

– Sword Mastery

∟Enhances sword combat capabilities, including improved physical abilities when the skill is active.

Possessions (after resignation):

– Full travel gear

– Several volumes of the Sage Encyclopedia series

– Adventurer’s gear

– Sword

 

[Summoned High School Students] (Exact skills unknown)

Male Student 1: Leader, swordsman

Male Student 2: Slightly nerdy, wields fire magic

Female Student 1: Responsible, wields wind magic

Female Student 2: Easygoing, wields support magic

 

[People Met Along the Journey]

 

★Lazulesia: Royal Capital

Angeena: Shopkeeper mistaking Ize for a 10-year-old, much to her dismay.

Latten: Blacksmith with blunt speech. Delivered critical remarks to Ize regarding her height.

Receptionist: Staff member of the Royal Capital Adventurers’ Guild. Possesses an effect-weakening skill. Briefly sensed Ize’s killing intent when she suspected Hal’s intentions.

 

★Rinzuda: Small town hindered by Mystic Beasts. Located near a Rank 4 Dungeon with bad loot

Appraiser: Overworked staff member of the local Adventurers’ Guild. Considered Hal a godsend for his assistance.

Pharmacist Granny: Gave Ize a pink candy.

 

★Journey from Rinzuda to Abrol

Ellie & Husband: Horsebus passengers who have taken a liking to Ize, sharing various information with her.

Horsebus Driver: Veteran driver clinging to his route due to his love of Abrol’s liquor.

Unnamed Guards (1): A trio of horsebus guards. Inspired by Ize, whom they mistakenly believe to be ten years old.

Unnamed Guards (2): Two guards who stayed to defend their horsebus during the Mystic Beast attack. Somehow overshadowed by their third member, a deserter.

Hekirt: A horsebus guard usually assigned to routes near the border. Hit with a criminal record due to abandoning his escort mission.

★Abrol: Lazulseed Kingdom’s border city

Iserdo: Deputy Guild Master of the Abrol Adventurers’ Guild. Noble with a soft spot for cats and small animals. Gifts Ize with a staggering supply of polpetta.

Captain: City Guard leader. Struggled under Iserdo’s whims during an investigation.

Guild Master: Bear-like physique and demeanor.

Samphis: Horsebus Union branch head who feels indebted to Hal and Ize, awarding them each a medal. Also later aided Fieda with information.

Liquor Store Owner: Devotes himself to crafting new brews together with his son after tasting Hal’s exquisite sake.

 

[Divine]

Goddess Norkelesia: Overseer of the world of Diocerne. Appearance likened to an ‘ultimate edition sumo wrestler, inflated to three times the size with helium.’ Often puzzled by the disparity between her actual appearance and the statues people build in her honor.

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