After hugging and crying into Cecil's arms, Sarasa finally regained her composure.
　She brushed away the tears from her red, swollen eyes and held out her hand towards me.

'Cecil-chan, this man saved me.

'What?　He's just like us...

She's our age. She's the same age as us and she's going to take the test at the Adventurer's School. What a coincidence.

"The same student...

　For a moment, Cecil stared at the bodies of the thieves lying around him.
　Their entire bodies were blackened and most of them were extinct.

''Yes......... Thank you. My name is Cecil Ribom.

Lacelle Singh Stark. Good for you. Don't make her cry too much, coloured man (I wish I could).

　I lightly slapped Cecil's chest.

　Mu Muu.........

　Nunu?

　Something is wrong.
　How can I feel a strange, soft feeling in the precipice....

　Haha I look up.
　Cecil's face had turned bright red.

''What are you doing!

　The relentless hooks flew at me.
　I hurriedly dodge it with a sway.

'Oh, you......... You were a woman!''

Of course!　What are you looking at?

　I apologize for the mistake, but you look like a man.
　Her breasts are also, well........not enough.
　Sarasa beside me is more.........

''You just compared them to Sarasa's breasts.

"Crap!

　Sarasa hurriedly hides it.
　Looking up, she looks at me.
　Her cheeks redden as she gives me a troubled look like a small animal.

　Hey, hey.
　I'm the bad guy in this situation.
　I just saved you.

Well, that's fine. The fact that you helped me out is a fact of life. I mean, this makes us even.

　Nah!　Just by touching the cliff?

　.... well, okay.
　I didn't want to be a burden on you.

Okay. Anyway, I'm going to say goodbye. I'll have to wait for my carriage downstairs. If you're a student of the examinations, you might see each other again sooner or later. See you later.

Wait. You're going to leave the bandits out in the open?　I'm sure they're still around.

'I suppose. But it's none of my business. ...You don't think so, do you? After what happened to you, you're not going to say that you're going to exterminate the bandits now, are you?

Yes.

　Seriously!

　I winced.

'It's not like I'm going to overlook that after what happened to me!　We have to take down the bandit hideout so that there are no other victims!

　I'm serious.
　This woman, Cecil.
　She's serious about killing the bandits.

"Be cool. We're not adventurers, okay? We're just students who haven't even been accepted as apprentices. It's fine to feel a sense of justice, but if that's the case, it's only fair to go to the nearest guild and report it first.

You're pretty cold for a guy your age, aren't you?

'Don't give me that pitiful look. I'm not interested in it in the first place. Defeating the bandits doesn't give you any skill points, either.

　If I could do that, I would blow up the hiding place in a heartbeat and wipe out all the bandits in this area.

　He didn't want to waste too much time trying to be strong.

　Then, Cecil smiled, wondering what he thought, and smiled.

''Skill points, right. ........I see. So that's the type of person you are.''

What?

You want to be strong, don't you?　I've been chanting awesome magic and collecting skill points to death. Isn't it?

　This woman..... What are you trying to say?

'Then it wouldn't work if there was a different reward than skill points. For example........yes. Like the treasure the bandits are holding...

'I don't think a bunch of country bandits have quite a bit of treasure.

　The fallen bandits will be inspected again.
　Quite frankly, the equipment is terrible.
　It's not well maintained.
　It's not as if they have any treasures.

''Think about it. This is the largest forest area in Galvale. There are still a lot of unearthed ruins lying around.

　I see. So that's your reward.

　Unidentified ruins, in the great forest, are certainly scattered about.
　It is highly likely that a bandit group is surrounding those treasures.
　Perhaps they might know of some ruins that the guild hasn't even confirmed yet.

　Some of the ruins would be dungeons and home to demonic beasts.

　Only adventurers approved by the guild would be allowed to enter the dungeon.
　However, if the ruins and dungeons are not confirmed by the guild, it's a different story.
　There, you might be able to hunt demonic beasts.

　There's still a day or two to go before the test.
　It won't matter if we're a day or two late in arriving.

"What do you think, Sarasa?

Even if I say I'm not going, I'm sure Cecil-chan will be there.

　Yeah.
　It's tough, man.

　Oh.
　It's not good to be swayed by the opinions of others.
　But you do have a point.

　I let out a deep sigh and then said, "All right.

"All right. I'll go along with you.

Yes!

　Cecil clasped his hands together with the bread.

'However--'

What... What's more?

I'm not taking you. I'm the only one who's going.

'Hah!

'I can't work with a bandit of this caliber who's dying, you know.

Oh, that was just a bit of a slippery slope.

You almost got your best friend killed for being so careless.

Uh--!

　Finally, the chattering Cecil's mouth closes.

　This kind of handiwork is limited to mixing your people into your words.
　Having a strong sense of justice is one thing that one needs to have in one's arsenal.
　I'm not entirely without it either.
　That's why I listened to Cecil.
　Because there is no doubt that these bandits are dangerous.

　But risking your own life for the sake of justice is another matter.
　And if it's someone else's life........

　That's why I'm strong.

　That's what makes me the strongest.

　We've discussed it all.
　I thought so, but I was hit back from an unexpected place.
　Instead, Sarasa opened her mouth.

'Wait. Even if I can't fight, can I help you in any way?

Help?　........ho. How can you help me?

'Excuse me, but I'm going to ask you the opposite. Do you know where the bandits' hideout is, Mr. Lacelle?

'No..... Does Salasa know about this?

　Sarasa inhaled once.
　Her eyes, glowing through her glasses, held something strong and determined.

'I know I can find it!

Power?

　I nodded my head.
　It was Cecil who explained on Sarasa's behalf.

''Sarasa's initial magic is [Future Vision],''

　Nonsense!　[Future vision]

　As expected, I was surprised too.
　It's a magic that ranks at the top of the list of 【Scholars(Professor)】.
　As the name suggests, it can see the future.
　I used to have this when I was a professor.
　If you train it, it has the ability to see several years into the future.
　This ability to reliably predict the future was also extremely effective in battle.

　There was even a time when I was convinced that this was the most powerful profession.

　The required skill points lightly exceed 50,000.
　Naturally, it's a rare magic that even I don't hold on to now.
　I can say I'm quite lucky that I hold it as my initial magic.

　The initial magic is the magic that you hold on to from the moment you are born.
　It's usually equipped with magic that consumes low magic power.
　If you're a [Warrior (Warrior)], then [Strengthen Muscle Mass]. If you're a blacksmith, you'll be born with [Sharpness].

　Scholars (Professors) are also originally granted 【Appraise】, but very rarely, there are people who are born with a high level skill.

　However, this is the first time I've heard of a child born with 【Future Vision】 in their possession.

''How far into the future can you see?''

'What?　It is.......... I don't know for sure, but...

　I knew it.
　Probably, the amount of magic power released is not enough to use 【Future Vision】.
　In his current state, he shouldn't be able to use even 1/20th of his ability.

　Even if that's the case, there's no reason to look for the bandit group's hideout in the forest.

'Let me ask you one thing. If you have such abilities, why did you choose to go this way?

It's.............................. I'm going to have a wonderful encounter with.........

　My eyes meet with Sarasa's.
　Then, Sarasa, shaking her blonde hair, looked away.
　For some reason, her ears, characteristic of long elves, are bright red.

　I'm not going to be able to get rid of it. What's that reaction!
　And, I mean, is it me, or is it me, a wonderful meeting?
　I mean, what's nice about it?
　For me, it's a super annoying encounter....

'Hey!　So what do you think!　Do you want us to come along for the ride?

"Nuisance (Cecil) spoke...

What did you say?

　Cecil glares at him with half a glance.

'It's this way.' --okay. All right.

Yes!

But...

What's more?

　Cecil makes a blatantly uncomfortable face.
　I'm the one who wants to look like that, though.

　I held out my hand in a hefty way.

"Show me your weapons.


　◆◇◇◇◇◇


　Cecil and Sarasa held out their weapons.

　I take up Cecil's longsword first.
　It's a good blade.
　Since she is the daughter of a blacksmith, she seems to be well versed in handling weapons.
　It was neatly maintained.
　It's a far cry from the weapons of thieves lying around.

　I'm going to give it a light shake.
　There is no subtle bending of the blade.
　I've heard that Cecil's father made it, and he seems to be a pretty good hand at it.

　However, it is heavy.

　A heavy weapon has destructive power, but it is difficult to handle.
　If it's a single individual demonic beast, this is fine, but when you have some wisdom and are dealing with more than one, like a bandit, you're at a disadvantage.
　His injured back is a good example.
　Even if I can mow down the enemies in front of me, it will be difficult to take care of the enemies in the rear.

　I use 【Blacksmith (Blacksmith)】 magic.

　I granted the magic and handed it to Cecil.

''Shake it out.''

　As he was told, Cecil gave it a try and shook it.

''Light!''

　The dwarven girl snorted.

　She flailed around like a child.
　She slashed the sky in succession.
　I see. I'm confident in my sword skills, that's all.
　The way he carried his feet. The sharpness of the waist. The grip at the moment of cutting.
　Everything was above a certain level.
　Most importantly, he has a beautiful mold.
　He must have been swinging it for a long time.

'Wow!　What the hell!

'Could it be the [Lightweight] magic of the [Blacksmith]?

Yes.

Who the hell are you really?　Wizard, Cleric, and now Blacksmith's magic!

I told you. I'm a [villager].

''Hahaha........ No way!　There's no way [villagers] can do this!

　I can do it, this........

　Even if I explained it, the two of them wouldn't understand it.
　At least not to Cecil, who wields his sword in a brainy manner.