Episode 2-b. For Freedom and Adventure (4)
Days in the duchy flowed by endlessly. Whenever I had time, I wandered the streets searching for traces of Ain, using magic to glimpse illusions of the past. I preferred the quiet hours of night or early dawn over the bustling mornings and afternoons when crowds thronged the city. Of course. I wasn't some ordinary person who could roam freely. To keep my identity hidden, I had to move with utmost caution.
So Eileen would always dart ahead first, scouting with her hyperactive antics to check for anyone strong enough to sense who I was. I'd only step out after she peeked around the corner and flashed a quick thumbs-up from behind her back. That bizarre routine had become our everyday life.
In short, I found his traces everywhere—far more than I'd expected. Naturally, most weren't the kind of scenes that brought a smile. They were dominated by the footprints he'd left through his struggles, etched into every corner.
I saw his awkward early days: forming parties with total strangers for his first requests, his face tense and unpracticed as he flashed an embarrassed smile while chatting up the leader. There was Ain bowing his head in apology to a woman scolding him for some mistake. There was Ain pinching pennies, grabbing cheap street stall food for a quick meal as he walked on. There were times he was mocked by burly adventurers or flat-out rejected from parties because he "wasn't useful enough."
And yet. There was Ain stopping by a tavern for a cool mug of beer, shaking off the day with a shrug before getting right back up. There was Ain, head bowed after another rejection, but still joining others to tackle requests. Before long, the sneers and bullying started to fade, replaced by Ain striding forward with the corner of his mouth quirked up. It was the back of a boy who wore the label of "incompetent Ain" without shame, pushing onward through sheer effort.
He'd skimp on food for himself but buy hot meals for the abandoned kids in the alleys. Things were clearly changing. Those illusory scenes, flowing with the passage of time, were gradually reshaping his world—and him—into something better.
At some point, two kids who looked like twins stood at his side. At another, a gaunt man in a white robe appeared beside him. His smile emerged. The forced, awkward grimaces vanished, giving way to a natural curve lingering at the edges of his lips.
And I committed every one of those moments to my heart, determined never to forget. Those unknown facets of him were so precious; if they faded even a little more, they'd become sights I could never see again. I watched him with a smile tugging at my own lips.
Of course.
"So romantic...! This is..., the blue meadows and emerald shores I dreamed of...?"
"Shut it, Eileen."
"Yes, Lady Asha, the Romantic Mage."
"..."
We always viewed them together, with Eileen gazing at me with those sparkling eyes of hers.
It was a touch selfish, perhaps. But I wanted to retrace the path he'd walked. To savor just a bit of what he'd accomplished, the things he'd eaten and drunk.
In those past illusions, Ain would take adventurer requests, join parties, hustle all day—then cap it off with a beer at a tavern before crashing in some dingy inn.
So. Yeah. I wanted to try it myself, just once, before moving on. For one day, handle an adventurer request like he did, then head to the tavern late at night, sit in his usual spot, nurse a beer, and call it a day.
"Is this okay?"
"Doesn't seem like it'd cause any real issues."
"Mm, I think so too—no problems... Ah. If any, maybe flies swarming around Lady Asha's looks..."
"Not your concern. It's fine."
"In that case! Truth is, I wanna try adventurer life too! Even if I'm not one...!"
Eileen beamed and nodded, practically bouncing with anticipation.
And so we headed to the adventurer guild first to snag a suitable low-rank request. As always, Eileen poked her head out for recon and gave the thumbs-up before we stepped inside.
"Oh my, a lovely mage and an underage noble miss?"
"Hello. We'd like to try a simple request."
Greeting us was the same receptionist who'd handled my adventurer registration last time.
"Ah~ In that case, why not check that bulletin board over there? Beginner requests and party recruitments happen in that corner."
"Thank you."
"Sure thing. Mages are rare and super popular, so you should find a good one~"
She pointed to a wooden board tucked in the far corner. I nodded and made my way to the cluster of greenhorn adventurers.
Being morning, the guild buzzed with people—adventurers milling around the boards and elsewhere. I tugged my robe's hem tighter over my hood and approached.
The requests were plentiful. Trivial stuff for newbie adventurers, sure, but all sorts crammed together: city sewer cleaning, lost cat searches, Imperl kills and blood harvesting, farm-raiding beasts, Kobold nests dug near the city with pups inside, and more.
All manner of odd jobs posted up, and the rookies were ripping off papers one by one, waving them high and hollering.
"I'm recruiting for Kobold hunting...!"
"Scared of fighting?!! Join me for sewer duty and a steamy bath after!!"
"A-anyone to help with Imperl blood collection...? Anyone...?"
Frankly, I could've soloed every last one in a single day. But these awkward beginners hustled to find daily partners.
And the one getting hyped? Not me—Eileen.
"Lady Asha, Lady Asha, what do you wanna try? I pass on Imperls. Sewer cleaning'd ruin my clothes, so..."
"Then Imperls it is."
"Aaaah...!"
She kept whispering her preferences to me amid the waving request papers.
"Kidding. Kobold extermination looks the most decent of the bunch."
"Phew..., never even seen a Kobold! Kobold! Kobolds are great!"
Teasing her was too tempting with those big, expectant eyes staring up at me.
"Changed my mind. Hate it now."
"...Should I zip it?"
"Right answer, Eileen. Shut up and follow."
I toyed with her a few more times before quirking a smile and settling on the Kobold extermination she'd been hoping for.
I had no clue what a Kobold even was, but whatever.
"I'd like to join the Kobold extermination request."
"Uh, sure! You two? Then we just need one more...!"
"No, just me. She's not registered as an adventurer yet."
Eileen, hooked on the word "Kobold," tugged at my clothes in excitement.
"Ah..., shame. I'll grab two more quick! Any specialties...?"
"Magic."
"Whoa, magic...! That'll make recruiting the rest easy! Looking for two to hunt Kobolds...! Our party's got a mage!"
The huddled newbie in shabby leather armor, wooden shield, and chipped sword looked kinda pitiful, so I just nodded.
And sure enough, two more temporary comrades showed up fast. Eileen and I trailed the trio out of the guild.
Our party leader arranged a five-seater cart, haggling fiercely to cut the price—quite the pathetic sight, really.
"Romance...! Adventurer request! Romance!! So romantic, right Lady Asha? Adventurer requests are pure romance!"
"Ah, yes."
Eileen was more pumped than anyone, flailing wildly, so I nodded along.
Truth be told, I had no idea why this non-adventurer was so thrilled.
Clueless to my thoughts, she kept grinning ear-to-ear—even as the leader finally haggled down the fare, we all piled into the cart, and it lurched off.
"Romance~ Adventurer~ Request~"
"Haha..., your companion's got some energy..."
"..."
Embarrassing. Being seen as her groupie was mortifying.
So, Eileen. Please. Don't do anything. Just shut up and stay quiet by my side.