Main Quest
The bald man flew across the empty air with graceful ease.
After floating nearly five meters into the air, he slid across the wooden floor of the pier with a clatter!!
“......U, Uwaaaaaah?!”
The subordinates who had been following him were startled, their eyes wide open.
The big man who had been standing arrogantly moments ago had flown away like a sheet of paper and tumbled.
The man rolled several times on the floor before barely stopping.
His shoulder burned.
It wasn't broken, but the shock felt like being hit by a tank sweeping through his entire body.
“......?”
What the hell is this?
I definitely pushed him.
Why did my body fly away?
He tried to put his hand on the ground and stand up.
But,
“......Ugh.”
For some reason, his body didn't obey.
Sweat flowed down his back.
A light trembling was felt from his fingertips.
It was clearly fear.
Without him realizing, his body was sending a warning that 'danger' was approaching.
It was just a shoulder bump.
Just a simple bump.
But why.
Somehow, the wind felt heavy.
His gaze turned involuntarily.
There, a small being was still standing quietly.
White hair gently fluttered.
Blue eyes stared blankly at this side.
A gaze without any emotion.
A calm expression as if looking at a speck of dust.
That was even more terrifying.
“......Boss?”
The subordinates approached.
They too had faces that didn't understand what had just happened.
“W, are you okay?”
The moment he saw the subordinates, the bald man clenched his teeth in surging anger.
The fear that had been eating away at his body gradually turned into anger and humiliation.
Impossible.
He had pushed away his heavy body with that little brat?
It was impossible logically.
Her height was extremely small, and she had been bounced away by a little kid who barely reached her waist.
The man forced himself to stand up and glared at Rumiel again.
And gritted his teeth.
“You girl, what the hell did you do just now?”
You must have used some trick.
Magic or some despicable thing.
Otherwise, how could that frail body push away his bulk.
He clenched his fist and approached Rumiel again.
“Have the guts to push my body? The little brat has guts.”
Threatening footsteps.
From behind, his subordinates said with worried expressions.
“Boss, but just now...”
“Shut up! I need to check what that little brat did!”
The subordinates flinched and stepped back.
Phew.
Rumiel let out a small sigh and secretly raised his hand.
Small amounts of magic began to gather in his delicate white hand.
However,
“Stop.”
The magic was naturally dispersed by an unfamiliar voice from somewhere.
The man's footsteps stopped.
Not only that.
The subordinates, the passersby watching around, all looked there.
There stood a woman.
Her clear purple hair gently fluttered in the wind.
A figure with an atmosphere of beauty and calmness.
In her red eyes, intelligence and elegance were hidden.
And wearing a long cloak on her shoulder, dressed in black refined uniform.
She didn't look like a simple adventurer.
She slowly approached, alternating her gaze between Rumiel and the man.
And tilted her head slightly and spoke to Rumiel.
“Are you okay?”
Rumiel looked up at her.
And at that moment.
Rumiel's blue eyes widened slightly.
This person, I remember.
So familiar face.
The being I've seen countless times in the game.
Her name is,
Arin.
The sign character that signals the start of the main story.
Rumiel was amazed for a short moment.
This could happen like this.
Originally,
It was the standard that the player would accidentally meet Arin while passing by, and the quest would start from that encounter.
But now, the story has changed.
It has changed to a development where the player in crisis is saved, rather than a dry accidental meeting.
Rumiel looked at Arin again.
She still had a gentle expression.
However, within that gentleness, there was firmness.
Her gaze turned to the bald man.
“It would be good to refrain from rude actions.”
Purple hair fluttered in the wind.
Red eyes shone sharply.
A calm yet firm voice lingered in the man's ear.
The man chewed his lips.
His pride was not fine.
Trying to threaten a girl who looked weak on the street, and instead being intimidated himself.
But, if I fight, I lose.
I could be sure of this.
This woman is the runner-up of the magic school, and according to rumors, she's an overwhelming strong person with level 40.
“Tsk...”
The man eventually clicked his tongue and stepped back.
And pretending to be tough, he took an exaggerated gesture.
“H, guys who are not even a fist's worth...! Well, good! Since I'm not in a bad mood, I'll just let this slide!”
It sounded like he was showing mercy, but
Already sweat was dripping on his forehead.
The subordinates didn't miss the chance.
“B, Boss, you said you had an important schedule today, right?”
“Y, right! And there, it's better not to make troublesome things!”
They hurriedly pushed the bald man away and avoided the place.
So, the delinquents literally took to their heels.
Rumiel slowly watched the scene.
Then, looked at Arin again.
Arin.
First-year student of the Magic Academy.
The main character who first appears in the game.
She was bright and lively, and had a personality that couldn't stand seeing injustice.
Although she got involved in many events because of that personality, she was still a character with a just and warm heart.
Rumiel also liked Arin when he played this game before.
Her personality was lively yet strong, and sometimes cute.
Plus, she was evaluated as a top-tier beautiful model.
She was the sign NPC that opens the first main quest.
While Rumiel was staring at Arin's face and thinking,
Arin was also looking at Rumiel and smiling gently.
“Central Continent is my first time?”
Her voice was warm yet curious.
It wasn't the first time.
Because he knew all the geography here.
It's a place he's gone to and fro countless times while doing quests.
The positions of NPCs, the layout of major stores, even which monsters appear at which crossroads.
But if he answers that here, it's hard to continue the connection with Arin.
Because there are places you can only enter with Arin accompanying you.
For now, calling it a first visit is better.
Rumiel nodded slowly while thinking that.
“Yeah. If it's the first time, it must be quite unfamiliar. The Central Continent has a very different atmosphere from other regions.”
Then she looked at Rumiel carefully again.
“But, perhaps...”
She trailed off and looked at Rumiel hesitantly.
White glowing hair and blue eyes.
Neat outfit and an oddly dignified atmosphere.
Arin seemed to recall something and cautiously opened her mouth.
“Are you a child of some noble family?”
Rumiel blinked for a moment.
A child of a noble family.
It was an unexpected question.
After all, in this game, nobles generally had luxurious outfits and refined speech.
On the other hand, Rumiel was just dressed as a light traveler.
He wasn't wearing any particularly flashy accessories, nor did he use speech with noble etiquette.
Rumiel quietly tilted his head.
And slowly shook his head.
“No.”
Arin flinched for a moment when she heard that.
Then, hurriedly waving both hands, she said urgently.
“Yeah...! Ah! Sorry! You can't just ask about someone else's personal information...”
She looked panicked, as if realizing her mistake.
Her face slightly reddened and avoiding the gaze was quite cute.
Rumiel quietly watched her reaction, then tilted his head again and answered.
“It’s fine.”
A short and concise answer.
But that was enough.
Arin let out a sigh of relief and smiled.
“Then, it’s good. I must have been too curious without realizing.”
She looked at Rumiel again.
And extended one hand lightly.
“Anyway, I’m Arin. A first-year student at the Magic Academy, and I’m dreaming of becoming the world’s strongest mage!”
She added with a grin.
“By the way, can I ask why you came to the Central Continent?”
Her red eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Rumiel quietly looked at her and answered shortly.
“Traveling.”
Arin blinked slightly.
“Traveling?”
“Yeah, just wandering around.”
Arin scanned Rumiel up and down.
Long white hair, small and frail body, blue eyes.
At first glance, a fragile girl who would fall over with just a gust of wind.
Arin’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“Really?”
Rumiel stared at her without saying anything.
Arin finally realized she had said something rude and hurriedly waved her hand.
“Ah, sorry! I mean, not that...”
But Rumiel just nodded.
“Yeah.”
To that short answer, Arin was momentarily surprised, then burst into a light laugh.
“Um... you, really interesting person.”
She looked at Rumiel with curious eyes.
Usually, people who travel alone are mostly adventurers or strong warriors.
But Rumiel was so small and had such a calm atmosphere.
Could it be dangerous?
Is there a guardian?
Various thoughts crossed her mind, but Rumiel’s blue eyes showed no wavering.
A gaze that was unfamiliar yet deep, as if knowing everything.
Arin smiled again and shrugged her shoulders.
“Yeah, traveling... nice.”
Soon, Arin looked at Rumiel with an expectant face and continued.
“By the way, earlier, gathering magic power didn’t seem like an ordinary skill. Maybe you haven’t been to the Magic Academy yet?”
Her red eyes sparkled.
There was also a somewhat excited tone.
“Ah, the Magic Academy is the largest academy in the Central Continent, founded by the great mage Oz, who was a member of the hero party! It’s a place where you can learn all knowledge about magic.”
From her proud explanation, pride in the Magic Academy was evident.
And she slightly straightened her waist and shrugged her shoulders.
“Although the entrance exam is difficult, with your skills, admission shouldn’t be hard. Plus, I can write you a recommendation letter! Even though I’m the runner-up!”
A full of pride speech.
It wasn’t exaggeration; it was fact.
In the game too, Arin was a character with the setting of being the academy’s runner-up, and she proved her talent many times while progressing the story.
“If you become a member of the Magic Academy, you can travel to any place you want!”
She looked at Rumiel with expectant eyes.
However, at that moment.
Rumiel flinched and shook his head.
Not just shook; he shook it wildly.
The reason was simple.
In this game, the Magic Academy was like a school.
School is a place to study.
And Rumiel hated studying.
He didn’t want to go to school again.