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Hekkeran was, after all, the team leader, and the quickest to react. He immediately put on a bright yet polite smile, nodded to Ivy, then turned his attention to Illya. With a slight bow, he offered a textbook adventurer's greeting.
"Good day, milady. We are the 'Four Strategists.' I'm Hekkeran, the leader. Judging by your bearing, you must be a powerful adventurer from afar. It's an honor to meet you."
His tone was careful and respectful, placing her far above himself. Roberdyck hurriedly followed with a somewhat clumsy bow. Imina only gave a slight nod. As for Arche, she simply pressed her lips together and said nothing, still secretly preparing her ability.
Seeing Illya glance her way, Ivy quickly explained in a hushed voice, "Big sister, they're adventurers who often come to our street. They're really nice! Especially Miss Arche, she buys flowers a lot and always looks out for my business!"
There was clear fondness and gratitude in her tone, especially toward Arche.
Illya paused on Arche for half a second longer, then gave a soft, indifferent "Mm," offering no further reaction.
By now, both the onlookers and the rest of the Four Strategists were brimming with curiosity. Taking advantage of the relatively calm atmosphere, Hekkeran smiled and asked Ivy, "So, Ivy, where are you taking this… ah, this esteemed lady? Breakfast, perhaps?"
"Yep!" Ivy nodded eagerly, her excitement returning. "I'm taking big sister to Honeyed Whispers! They have the best desserts! She said we're starting with sweets!"
Desserts? First thing in the morning?
Hekkeran and the others exchanged glances. This mysterious powerhouse certainly had… unusual tastes.
Roberdyck couldn't help but grin. "Honeyed Whispers is nice, sure, but if we're talking about the best food in the imperial capital, we know quite a few better spots. Like the secret ribs at Dragon's Throat Grill, the freshest sashimi at Silverfin Market, or the stews at Spice Princess…"
He rattled them off like a seasoned foodie.
Ivy's eyes lit up even more, turning expectantly toward Illya.
That seemed to spark a bit of interest. Illya finally spoke, her voice cool and clear, carrying a casual sense of superiority.
"Is that so? Sounds like you know more than a little girl."
Hekkeran's heart tightened. This was his chance. Making even the slightest connection with someone this unfathomable could only benefit the team.
"If you don't mind, milady, we'd be honored to guide you," he said quickly, his tone growing even more respectful. "We know the capital well. The best places to eat, and the places best avoided."
At that moment, Arche, who had been silently preparing, finally completed her spell: Eye of True Knowledge.
She took a deep breath. Deep within her violet eyes, a flicker of arcane light passed, invisible to ordinary people. Then she raised her gaze and cast her ability upon the silver-haired woman before her.
And then—
"—!!"
Her pupils shrank to pinpoints.
It wasn't like looking at a person.
It was like staring straight into the sun… no, something far greater than the sun. Something vast, radiant, incomprehensible.
In her vision, Illya's "form" shattered, reassembled, and rose endlessly.
What she saw was no armored woman.
It was… a universe.
A realm.
An infinite expanse of sacred white, like a divine heaven. Countless golden chains, inscribed with flowing holy runes, crisscrossed the space, forming its very structure. Each one radiated a power so immense it made her soul tremble.
At the center stood not Illya as she appeared now, but a far more ultimate form.
A figure clad in a pure white, divinely elegant gown. Its design was bold yet sacred, tracing breathtaking curves. The slight opening at the chest revealed skin like jade, yet inspired only reverence, not desire.
Behind her was no cloak, but a slowly turning orbit of stars and light, as if she wore an entire galaxy across her back.
Her long hair flowed like moonlight.
Her eyes—
The left was absolute, immaculate white, capable of purifying all impurity.
The right was a blue infused with golden radiance, as though it contained wisdom and the secrets of time itself.
The "levels" in her vision didn't exist as numbers. They exploded into concepts: infinite, transcendent, error, unknowable.
Mana? It was an endless ocean… no, beyond even that. It felt like the very source of the world's magic.
HP, defense, attack… all the familiar attributes collapsed, replaced by symbols she couldn't understand, as though written by the laws of the world themselves.
"Ugh… ah…!"
A short, pained sound escaped Arche.
Her body swayed violently. Her face turned deathly pale.
Her eyes felt like they were being burned by searing holy light. Her mind was struck like a hammer blow. Her soul trembled before that boundless existence, overwhelmed by an instinctive terror, like an insect facing the sky.
Her stomach churned.
"—!"
She doubled over and vomited onto the stone street. Only water and bile came up; she hadn't eaten anything that morning. Bracing herself on the ground, she shook uncontrollably, cold sweat soaking her back. Her violet eyes were filled with terror, confusion, and utter disbelief.
The sudden turn of events stunned everyone.
"Arche?!"
"What's wrong?!"
Hekkeran, Imina, and Roberdyck rushed forward to support her. The surrounding crowd gasped in alarm.
Ivy covered her mouth, looking between Arche and Illya in panic.
Illya stopped.
She turned her head slightly, her now purely blue eyes calmly resting on Arche's trembling form. Deep within them flickered a trace of understanding… and interest.
She had felt it.
That brief moment—a faint but peculiar force trying to peer into her. It wasn't magic, nor mental sensing. It felt more like an innate ability, something that touched upon the level of laws themselves.
Interesting.
When that power collided with her own layered defenses—built from her Valkyrie class and numerous world items, something approaching a mythological concept—it had been effortlessly blocked. Worse, the backlash of information had nearly shattered the caster.
(A natural ability… something like a talent skill? But more inclined toward perception and essence… fascinating. So even native beings in this world can possess such anomalies.)
Watching Arche struggle, Illya's lips curved ever so slightly.
Then, under the uncertain gazes of Hekkeran and the murmuring crowd, she stepped forward.
Her silver-armored boots stopped in front of Arche.
The overwhelming, sacred presence drew closer. Arche trembled even harder, nearly collapsing.
Then a hand—cool in its silver gauntlet, yet unexpectedly gentle—rested on her shoulder. A soft but irresistible force lifted her upright.
Arche was forced to raise her head.
Their eyes met.
At such close distance, Illya's breathtaking beauty and those deep, star-filled eyes struck her again, stealing her breath.
Illya tilted her head slightly, studying her pale face and fearful eyes. Then, almost casually, she gestured between their heights. Arche was nearly a head shorter.
"Are you alright, little one?" Illya's voice softened just a touch, though it still carried a calm that saw through everything. "Some things aren't meant to be looked at. Especially… scenery far above you."
The meaning was clear.
Arche instantly understood. Illya knew exactly what she had done, and what little she had seen.
The "little one." The height comparison.
A quiet reminder of the unbridgeable gap between them.
"S-Sorry… m-my lady…" Arche's voice was hoarse, filled with fear and reverence. She lowered her head, still trembling. "I… I didn't mean to…"
Her thoughts churned wildly.
A god…? Does something like that really exist in this world…?
What did I just see…?
Heaven? A goddess?
Illya withdrew her hand, waving it off as if brushing away dust. "It's fine. Everyone is curious."
She paused, glancing at the tense and confused group, before returning her gaze to Ivy.
"Are we still going to Honeyed Whispers?"
Her tone shifted so naturally that it was as if nothing had happened.
Hekkeran and the others didn't see it that way.
They knew Arche's ability had never failed, never caused backlash like this. The only explanation was that Illya's very nature was too powerful, too abnormal to be perceived.
This wasn't something you could describe as "Legandry rank."
This was… legendary.
Perhaps even on the level of the Sorcerer King… or worse.
Alarm bells rang in Hekkeran's mind, but so did a powerful urge. This was an opportunity they couldn't afford to lose.
"Milady," he said quickly, bowing slightly, "Arche is… unwell. Please allow us to apologize on her behalf. As for guiding you, we would still be honored. We know a few private kitchens not open to the public. Their dishes surpass Honeyed Whispers by far."
His tone had grown even more humble.
Roberdyck nodded along, not fully understanding, but grasping the gravity of the situation. Imina silently lowered her stance as well.
Ivy looked between them, her mind racing. She might be naive, but she wasn't blind. These adventurers she admired were now treating Illya with utmost respect.
Just how important… was this "big sister"?
"Um… big sister… are you… really someone amazing?" she asked quietly.
Illya glanced at her, not answering directly.
"Does it matter? What matters now is breakfast."
Then she looked back at Hekkeran.
"The private chef you mentioned. Are they good with desserts?"
Hekkeran perked up immediately. "Of course! One of them used to be a royal pastry chef. He opened a small place afterward. His skills are exceptional, though reservations and introductions are required. Our team happens to have helped him before, so we can take you straight there."
Illya gave a small nod. "Lead the way."
"Right this way, milady!"
Hekkeran quickly stepped aside to guide her, signaling to Imina. She supported Arche, checking on her condition. Arche shook her head weakly. She could walk now, but the way she looked at Illya's back was filled with lingering awe… and a trace of fear.
Roberdyck scratched his head and hurried after them. Ivy skipped along beside Illya, still playing her role as guide, even if the Four Strategists had taken over.
Behind them, the crowd buzzed with speculation. They didn't know what had happened, but the reaction of the adventurers and the mage's collapse made one thing clear.
That silver-haired woman was someone extraordinary.
As they left the busy street, the atmosphere remained strange.
After a while, Arche finally steadied herself, though her face was still pale.
"So," Illya said, breaking the silence, "besides food, what else is interesting in the capital?"
She sounded genuinely curious, as if the earlier incident had never happened.
Ivy instantly brightened, chattering away. "There's the Grand Arena! They have gladiator matches every week, super exciting! And the North Market—lots of adventurers and workers set up stalls there. Magic items, monster materials, stuff from ruins… some of it looks like junk, but people say you can find treasures if you're lucky!"
Hekkeran nodded with a smile. "She's right. The arena reflects the empire's martial spirit. You'll see plenty of skilled fighters, sometimes even private matches involving powerful figures. As for the North Market, it's a mixed bag. Rare items do show up, but so do fakes. You need a good eye."
Illya's blue eyes gleamed faintly.
"The arena… the market…" she murmured. "I'd like to see both."
"..."
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