It was the day after the Duke’s visit, and Kana and Suri were sitting side by side in the back of a carriage bound for town. This time, they weren’t traveling for harvest or errands—they were going shopping. Thanks to the bets placed during the duel, many of the villagers had extra coins to spend. Four carriages full of cheerful locals made the trip, buzzing with stories and excitement.

  By late morning, they arrived at the town gates. The scent of baked goods and spices drifted through the air, blending with the chatter of townsfolk and the clatter of merchant wagons.

  Kana’s mother immediately split off, heading toward her favorite bookstore. Suri’s mother, meanwhile, went to find a shop for new potion equipment.

  “You sure you know your way around?” the village chief asked as Kana looked around confidently.

  Kana nodded. “Yes. Boris showed me last time. I memorized it.”

  “Right, you’re smart—unlike that rascal.” The village chief snorted.

  Kana and Suri chuckled at the remark. Boris though was still grounded, hadn’t been allowed to come.

  Kana already had plans: she’d use some of the ten silver coins she’d earned from the village chief. She planned to buy a new set of arrows and a proper dagger. It was the most money she’d ever held at once.

  Suri, on the other hand, had no specific goal. She’d come along simply because she didn’t want to be left behind in the village. It was her first time in town, and her excitement showed in every wide-eyed stare.

  She had already spent a silver coin just on snacks from street vendors—and was currently nibbling on something fried and sweet as she strolled beside Kana, grinning at everything.

  ……

  “Ah, you again, young miss,” Ruff said with a welcoming smile as Kana stepped into the weapon shop.

  The store was quieter than usual. Only a few customers milled around—three men with slim builds and light armor, clearly [Thief] Class adventurers, browsing the collection of daggers displayed along the wall.

  Kana approached the counter and placed a bent, cracked dagger on it.

  “Do you have something better than this?” she asked.

  Ruff let out a low whistle. “Looks like you hit something a bit too solid for this poor thing.”

  One of the nearby thieves related class glanced over. “That’s in bad shape,” he said. “You’re supposed to use daggers on weak points, not chop down trees.”

  Another chimed in, nodding at the blade. “And always parry, don’t block. Daggers are fast and light but not made for clashing with brute force.”

  Kana gave a respectful nod. “Thanks for the advice. I’ll keep it in mind.”

  Ruff turned and reached under the counter. “I’ve got something that might suit you better. It’s light, fast, and tougher than it looks—but it’s not cheap.”

  She placed a sleek dagger on the counter. Its blade was slightly longer and thicker than Kana’s old one, with a dark, polished hilt made of some kind of blackened metal. It had a subtle, elegant curve and shimmered faintly under the light.

  Kana picked it up and gave it a few test swipes, spinning it in her hand and flicking it through the air in practiced movements. She could tell immediately—it was well-balanced, sturdy, and perfectly weighted.

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  “This is good,” Kana said. “I’ll take it.”

  “Seven silver coins,” Ruff said, was clearly surprised as soon as Kana got the coins from her pouch. “Didn’t expect the little lady to be walking around with coins like that.”

  She wrapped the weapon with care before handing it over. “Unlike the last one, this blade will last you. You could slash a thousand times and it’d stay just as sharp.”

  Then he gave Kana’s old dagger a final glance. “Just… try not to stab any rocks with it next time.”

  …………

  Kana had just finished restocking her arrows when she decided to treat Suri to lunch at a well-known inn—famous, at least according to Boris. Suri practically beamed after the meal, declaring it the best food she’d ever eaten. Boris was not lying?

  With some time left before their return, Suri suggested they visit the magic item street. The village chief had warned them that many shops were run by swindlers, but curiosity got the better of them.

  They wandered into one of the more peculiar stores. The shelves were filled with dusty tomes labeled as cursed items—clearly exaggerated. Trinkets, rings, and accessories claiming to boost health or mana regeneration glinted under weak candlelight.

  “Welcome, young ladies,” a raspy voice called from the back.

  An old woman emerged from the shadows, hunched and wrapped in layers of faded fabric.

  “Ah… I see one with great mana,” she said, her eyes falling on Suri.

  “What are you looking for?” she asked, tilting her head.

  “Something to help… survive in an emergency,” Kana said, surprising even herself with how honest she sounded.

  The old woman nodded slowly, beginning to shuffle through her wares.

  “Grandma,” Kana asked, “can you identify objects?”

  “Yes,” the woman replied with a grin. “My class is [Analyst]. No one ever believes me though. I charge less than the Adventurer’s Guild, if you need something appraised.”

  Kana frowned. “Isn’t the official class called [Appraiser]?”

  “Usually. But there are rarer variations. More… specialized. Like me. Like your friend, too.”

  Kana stiffened. Her eyes narrowed slightly, though she kept her voice level. “Do you have the [Appraisal] skill?”

  “No,” the woman said. “Mine is called [Analyze]. It’s deeper. I don’t just see items—I understand them. Even people. You, for example. A [Ranger]. And your friend here, she’s an [Illusionist], yes?”

  Suri, who’d been distracted by a glittery bracelet, turned in surprise. “Wow! How did you know that?”

  “It’s my skill, child.” The old woman chuckled. “I’ve seen thousands pass through this town. But I’ve never seen classes like yours.”

  She dug through an old wooden chest behind the counter, muttering to herself before lifting a small, weathered box. She set it on the counter.

  “This,” she said, “was sold to me by an adventurer over a decade ago. It contains the skill [Teleportation]. Open it in a life-or-death situation, and it will take you somewhere safe. I don’t know where—but you’ll survive.”

  Kana leaned closer. The box was plain wood, but it pulsed faintly with mana.

  “How much?”

  “A gold coin.”

  Kana’s jaw nearly dropped. “Granny, that’s a fortune.”

  “I know,” the woman said calmly. “But you don’t have to pay me now. Take it. If it works, you can pay me later—when you earn your first gold coin. If it doesn’t, then you owe me nothing.”

  Suri frowned. “We might not earn that much in our lifetime…”

  The woman laughed, a wheezy, warm sound. “Ah, don’t be so sure. Classes have colors—not exactly copper but similar to copper for the weakest, gold for the strongest. You girls… your colors are close to gold.”

  Kana and Suri looked at each other, eyes wide.

  “You’re going to go far,” the old woman whispered. “Farther than most. You’ll understand once you reach my age. I don’t even have to use my skill for that.”