(Note: To celebrate my very first Patreon subscriber, I've added a special bonus chapter placed right before Chapter 1. Feel free to go back and enjoy it.)
Early in the morning, Tris woke up with a leg draped across his stomach.
'Still sleeping as disorderly as ever.' He thought as he tossed the leg aside.
Stretching his body in the dawn light streaming through the window, Tris felt the fatigue from yesterday's chaotic events melt away after a good night's sleep. He was ready for the long day ahead.
After his usual morning training and breakfast, Tris reminded Rin.
Tris: "Stay here and keep practicing on your own. I've got something to do outside."
Rin: "Yes, Master."
Leaving the inn, Tris headed to the adventurers' guild. He was searching for some information. Scanning the mission board, he found what he was looking for.
'Here it is.'
It was a notice from a merchant caravan seeking adventurers as escorts for a journey to Aldor. Aldor lay northeast of Dorn and was Tris's next destination.
Originally, Tris had planned to leave Dorn for Aldor much earlier, but unexpected events kept delaying him.
Now that the cultists' threat had been dealt with, he could finally move on.
Another reason for his urgency was the approaching winter, which would make travel difficult.
Merchants and caravans were rushing to complete their journeys before being forced to halt until spring. For Tris, this was the perfect time to depart.
???: "Hello, Tris."
From behind, someone approached and greeted him.
Turning around, Tris saw that the speaker was a lively girl with long brown hair.
Tris: "Hello, Coris."
Coris: "Looking for a quest?"
Tris: "No, just some information."
Coris: "Did you find what you needed?"
Tris: "Yes."
Coris: "That's good."
She leaned closer and whispered:
"Are you free now? Can we talk for a bit?"
Tris nodded, curious about her intentions.
They went to a tea shop, chose a quiet corner, and sat down.
Coris: "Order whatever you like, it's on me." She said proudly.
She puffed out her chest and spoke generously.
Glancing at Coris for a moment, Tris went ahead without hesitation and ordered food and drinks.
He ordered apple pie and herbal tea. Coris chose chocolate cake and coffee.
In this world, tea and pastries were considered luxuries, usually reserved for nobles and the wealthy.
Although the price was insignificant compared to magical items, this was still not something the average middle-class person could afford to enjoy daily. As for the poor, spending extravagantly on such a nonessential luxury was simply unimaginable.
As a successful adventurer, Coris could certainly be considered well-off. That was why being able to regularly enjoy tea and pastries was perfectly normal for her.
Still, dragging someone along first thing in the morning and treating them like that was certainly unusual. Tris already had a vague guess about the topic of today's conversation when he saw Coris suddenly insist on treating him.
After the food and drinks had been fully served and the waiter had left, Coris finally spoke up:
"Tris, thank you for what you did the other day."
Hearing that, Tris immediately realized his guess had been correct.
After all, it was no surprise that he had been exposed as the Mage who took part the day before.
Although he had intended to stay hidden within the puppet until the very end, the situation at that time didn't allow him to do so.
And once he stepped out, Tris's small figure made it easy for those who witnessed to trace his identity. This was even easier for someone who had known him for a while, like Coris.
Taking a bite of pie, Tris replied casually:
"You don't need to thank me. It was just my choice to join in."
Coris: "Of course, I have to say it. Without you, everyone would surely have died.
Besides, from the start, it wasn't even a mission you needed to take part in. The fact that a child had to join such a dangerous battle only showed the helplessness of the adults, and revealed just how desperate the situation was for everyone at that time."
She sipped her coffee and continued:
"It was terrifying. Most of us thought we wouldn't survive. A simple thank-you isn't enough.
My teammates also wanted to send their thanks to you. But since you always seem to avoid drawing too much attention, today I wanted to personally speak on their behalf."
Tris smiled faintly, not denying that he preferred to stay unnoticed both in the guild and around town.
Coris: "There's more. The guild's vice master, Erik, wants to meet you in person to thank you and give a reward. What do you think?"
Leaning back against the chair, Tris lifted his teacup, drinking as he pondered Erik's proposal to meet.
Given Erik's position, it wasn't difficult for him to figure out that Tris had been involved the previous day. Since his identity was already exposed, meeting once and talking posed no harm. Therefore, Tris agreed.
Tris: "Alright. When does he want to meet?"
Coris: "There's no fixed schedule. It mainly depends on when you're available. But I'm sure he'll want to meet you as soon as possible."
Tris: "How about this afternoon?"
Coris: "Perfect. I'll let him know."
Satisfied, Coris happily took a big bite of cake. Then, curiosity got the better of her.
Coris: "By the way, how are you so strong? And that strange puppet—tell me a little?"
Tris: "No."
Coris: "Oh, come on, just a bit?"
Tris: "No Mage would go around revealing their tricks."
Coris: "Haiz, boring."
Knowing she couldn't persuade him, Coris regretfully gave up, careful not to spoil his mood.
Coris: "So, do you have plans coming up?"
Tris: "Why?"
Coris: "I was hoping you might join us on some quests. It'd be fun."
Tris: "Unfortunately, I plan to leave Dorn soon."
Coris: "Leave? Why?"
Surprised and saddened, she asked.
Tris: "I want to travel, and later head to Lume."
Coris: "Ah, the Mage academy in the capital, right?"
Tris: "Yes."
Coris: "Because you're so mature, I forgot that you're still within the age to study there. It's a good choice—while you're young, take the chance to learn as much as you can. Maybe someday you could even become an A-rank adventurer."
Tris: "I'm not really interested in the adventurer's work. I'll probably only take quests occasionally, so reaching A-rank isn't something I need to think about."
Coris: "Ah, that's a pity. If you became an A-rank adventurer, I'd have the chance to brag about you to everyone."
The two of them continued eating and chatting happily.