“We almost… came all the way to the capital just to waste our time.”

  Rynel let his shoulders loosen and released a long breath.

  Relief sat at the end of his words, along with genuine gratitude.

  “Thank you, my lord.”

  Stailer gave a light smile and nodded.

  “It’s nothing.

  Adventurers sometimes… get distracted by other things.”

  “Especially in a new city.

  The capital is full of information, and full of temptations… it’s easy to miss small details.”

  With the same unhurried tone, he added,

  “While you remain in the capital, we’ll help with that sort of thing, so don’t worry.”

  “Yes… thank you again.”

  Rynel bowed, but his thoughts briefly tangled.

  How did the academy even know we’re here.

  The question tried to grow, but Urs spoke first, quietly.

  “Lord Stailer.

  May I take Mr. Rynel with me to the capital guild for a moment?”

  “Do so.”

  Stailer answered shortly, waving a hand.

  Urs turned his gaze to the side.

  “Mr. Rynel. Come with me for a bit.”

  “…Where to?”

  When Rynel asked, startled, Urs gave a short laugh and beckoned.

  “Just follow me.”

  “You don’t need to worry about your companions.

  My men will help with training in the meantime.”

  Rynel glanced back.

  Monero was slumped in a chair, nodding off, and Aira had already vanished into the dining room.

  “…All right. Understood.”

  He followed Urs out of the estate in silence.

  ◇

  Early morning, as sunlight began to spill over the city.

  The two of them walked side by side through the heart of the capital.

  With a little distance between them,

  an awkward silence settled into the gap.

  Rynel fidgeted with his fingertips for no reason and lowered his eyes.

  Then Urs spoke quietly.

  “The map I gave you yesterday had the guild marked as well.

  Did you… not go?”

  “I meant to…

  but I got dragged around by my companions, and I ended up forgetting the important part.”

  Urs let out a small laugh.

  “Haha. I figured.

  They’re a lively bunch. Forgetting isn’t exactly surprising.”

  Silence again, and then Urs asked softly,

  “The power you use… where did you learn it?”

  Rynel lowered his gaze.

  “…I don’t know. It’s not like I learned it somewhere…”

  His words trailed off.

  Urs didn’t press.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “If it’s uncomfortable, you don’t have to say.

  I think we’ll find out in time.”

  “……What do you mean by that?”

  Urs kept his eyes forward, voice steady.

  “Mr. Rynel.

  In the capital… using a ‘mysterious power’ alone can draw unwanted attention.”

  “…Mr. Pyrug said something similar.”

  Urs nodded.

  “Telekinesis. A power outside the current magic system.”

  “There are people who imitate something like it, but most of them are barely crawling.”

  “And more than anything, that sort of power burns through the caster’s mana.”

  “With an ordinary human’s mana reserves… it’s difficult to truly handle.”

  Urs glanced at Rynel.

  In that look, caution and concern overlapped.

  “I traveled the country as a mercenary.

  I’ve settled at Lord Stailer’s side now, but…”

  He looked up at the sky and continued evenly.

  “When we sparred… your power was remarkable.”

  Just then, far ahead, a massive stone building entered their view.

  The Capital Adventurers’ Guild.

  The closer they got, the more its presence pressed down.

  Sturdy pillars, a soaring ceiling, crests and reliefs covering the walls.

  It felt like the kingdom’s center was showing itself in plain sight.

  Rynel murmured without meaning to.

  “…Wow…”

  Urs smiled, pleased.

  “Come. Let’s go in.”

  The moment they crossed the entrance, everything changed.

  A roar of voices.

  Dozens of conversations layered together, surging like a single huge wave.

  Warriors checking their gear,

  mages arguing in front of the request board,

  apprentices who couldn’t hide that they were new.

  Different trades, different stories.

  All of it mixed into one space.

  “The academy side was filed on your behalf,

  but the adventurers’ guild requires you to register in person.”

  Rynel nodded at Urs’s explanation.

  They headed straight for the counter.

  The receptionist behind the counter rose at once when she saw Urs and greeted him politely.

  “Welcome, Mr. Urs.”

  It was the natural response of someone who knew him well.

  Urs gave a short bow.

  “I have someone to introduce.”

  “Ah, I see. And the gentleman beside you is…”

  Rynel bowed with proper courtesy.

  “Nice to meet you. I’m Rynel.”

  “Welcome, Mr. Rynel. Is this your first time in the capital?”

  “Yes. I arrived a few days ago.”

  “May I see your adventurer badge?”

  Rynel took out his C-rank badge and placed it carefully on the counter.

  The receptionist checked it and flipped through records quickly.

  “I see it was issued in Bobre Village.

  It must have been a long trip to the capital.”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “You also completed a C-rank request in Poen Village.

  But aside from that, I don’t see additional records…”

  Rynel hesitated, then nodded.

  “…A few things happened after Poen,

  but they weren’t official requests, so I suppose that’s why.”

  Then he added carefully,

  “Ah, the Poen request was canceled partway through…”

  The receptionist answered with a smile.

  “If the client canceled it, it’s processed as completed.

  No need to worry.”

  She kept writing and asked,

  “By the way, what is your team name?”

  “Ah… we haven’t decided yet.”

  Rynel smiled awkwardly.

  The receptionist nodded and explained kindly.

  “Then we’ll register you under a temporary name: ‘Bobre Adventurers.’

  Once you decide an official team name, you can change it anytime.”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  The receptionist handed him an envelope.

  “Here—these are guidance documents related to academy enrollment.

  They’re distributed in advance to those whose enrollment registration has been confirmed.”

  Rynel took the envelope and bowed.

  The guild’s rest area.

  The two of them sat facing each other across a table.

  After a brief silence, Rynel spoke cautiously.

  “Mr. Urs.”

  “Yes.”

  “You said… in the capital, I shouldn’t use my power carelessly.”

  “That’s right.”

  “…Then won’t that put me at a huge disadvantage during the academy test?”

  Urs thought for a moment, then answered calmly.

  “It could. But it’s not as if there’s no way around it.”

  “A way?”

  “You’re the type who manipulates objects at a distance,

  or compresses force and releases it in combat, correct?”

  “…Yes.”

  “Then it’s simple.”

  Urs folded a finger lightly as he spoke.

  “Use scrolls to instantly summon something with mass—stone, water, and the like—

  then manipulate that with telekinesis.”

  Rynel’s eyes brightened.

  “So you can disguise it…”

  “Yes.

  And if you retrieve and reuse what you summon, you can reduce scroll consumption as well.”

  “Wow… that might actually work.”

  Urs shrugged with a smile.

  “You’re pure, for someone with that kind of ability, Mr. Rynel.”

  “Uh… I don’t think anyone’s ever told me that before…”

  Urs stood and adjusted his clothes.

  “Then I’ll go purchase a few necessary scrolls.

  There’s a shop I frequent, but it’s a bit of a walk.”

  “Will you be all right finding your way back?”

  Rynel nodded slightly.

  “Yes. I let a little mana flow to leave a mark.

  If I follow that, I won’t get lost.”

  Urs gave a small smile at that.

  “Good.

  While you’re in the capital, getting acquainted with other adventurers will be a useful experience too.”

  With that, Urs left the guild building.

  Rynel looked around the busy hall one more time.

  Endless conversation, the smell of sweat, the competitiveness simmering beneath it.

  Heat, all in the name of adventure, filled the space.

  “…Haa.”

  He pressed lightly at his temple and started walking outside.

  “Yeah… this kind of noisy place really isn’t for me…”

  Alleys marked by his trace stretched in the distance.

  Rynel turned toward them.

  That was when he heard it.

  A song, from somewhere far off.

  “Oh~ pitiful boy~”

  “…?!”

  Rynel turned his head on reflex.

  A cloying, oddly slick voice.

  “Cast off the shackles of fate,

  and step one pace closer to a new light~!”

  A young man bowed with crisp, practiced movement.

  Silver hair caught the sunlight and glowed softly.

  In one hand, he held a small lute—more like a lyre.

  “Your name is~?”

  “Ah… I’m Rynel.”

  “Oh! Thank you for sharing that noble name!

  Mr. Roynel~!”

  “…Rynel.”

  He corrected him awkwardly, but the young man didn’t care.

  “Is this what they call destiny?”

  “…What do you mean?”

  “That strange aura I feel from you…

  does demon blood flow in your veins~?”

  “…….”

  A flash of confusion crossed Rynel’s face.

  The young man laughed loudly and waved his hand.

  “Hahaha! I’m joking~!

  You have such a lofty air, I couldn’t help imagining it.”

  Just then, a bright voice cut in.

  “Alright, alright, enough nonsense!”

  Two girls grabbed the young man by both arms and dragged him back.

  “Rivien, what are you doing, stopping random people on the street?”

  “I’m sorry. Our leader can be… a bit much…”

  One of the girls bowed to apologize.

  “Ah… it’s fine.”

  Rynel forced a smile and waved it off.

  The two girls looked strikingly similar, dressed in lively, light outfits.

  One of them hesitated, then spoke in a small voice.

  “Um… excuse me… please forgive the rudeness…”

  She couldn’t look him straight on and turned her gaze away.

  “…Pina, what’s wrong with you? Are you sick?”

  “Ah… no… it’s not that…”

  The girl called Pia answered even more quietly, her face red.

  The other girl spoke briskly, as if wrapping things up.

  “He’s a busy adventurer, so let’s not get in his way.

  Please don’t mind us.”

  In the meantime, Rivien plucked the strings again and launched into another verse.

  “Ahh, delicate maidens raise the wall of fate~

  Woe is me, a poor man~ woe is me~!”

  Rynel pressed a hand to his forehead.

  “…If I stay in the capital… I’ll die from exhaustion first…”

  He hurried his steps, determined not to get involved any further.

  A little later, in a more distant alley—

  Rivien lowered his voice to the two girls.

  “Pina, Pia. Well? Did you feel anything?”

  Pina, the girl with the blue ribbon, shrugged.

  “Mm… that ‘creepy aura’ you mentioned? Honestly, I didn’t really feel it.”

  “And you, Pia?”

  Pia kept her head down and said,

  “…He’s handsome.”

  “…What did you say?”

  “Handsome…”

  Pina sighed, drained.

  “That’s not the point.

  I asked if you felt anything from him.”

  Pia mumbled even smaller.

  “…I don’t know… just…”

  Rivien’s mouth curled up slowly.

  “O maiden~ do not be ashamed to fall in love~

  When you meet him again, the bitter cup of love—”

  “Shut up, Rivien!”

  Pina clamped a hand over Rivien’s mouth.

  “You said you felt something suspicious, so we came all the way here…

  and you’re sitting there reciting lousy poems…”

  Pia kept staring off somewhere until the very end, then whispered,

  “…I hope we meet again…”

  It was so quiet no one should’ve heard.

  But Rivien, beside her, was watching Pia in silence.

  A smile—curious and interested—lingered at the corner of his lips.