Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: You Can't Judge a Person by Their Appearance (1)
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[Morning Tranquility] The inn we arrived at, following the pamphlet's directions, wasn't particularly luxurious.
Nor was it rundown—it was just a perfectly ordinary-looking place.
A three-story building.
The first floor was a tavern and restaurant, while the upper floors housed the inn’s rooms, with windows evenly spaced along the facade.
Busybodies...
Yet it appeared to be a pretty popular eatery. The raucous clamor of dinnertime spilled out from the first-floor restaurant.
Well, considering the owner was the master of the guy who made those delicious chicken skewers, that made sense.
Stepping inside with high expectations for a tasty dinner...
"Wahaha! So that's why I..."
"...and now the guard captain's been..."
"Lately, the hunting's been pretty lackluster..."
The customers were chattering away animatedly, scarfing down their food without so much as glancing my way.
"Welcome!"
"Grab any empty seat!"
The bustling middle-aged woman—clearly the restaurant owner—greeted me warmly as she rushed plates to tables.
Ah, this vibe.
It's peculiar.
Back at Hero Academy, every time I walked into a dining hall, all eyes turned to me.
I was that famous—or infamous—among the students and staff.
Of course, not in a good way.
'Oh crap, that guy's eating here too?'
'Tch! Food's gonna taste like crap now. Let's bail.'
'A commoner daring to eat with us heroes?'
All those focused stares were sharp and hostile, laced with insults loud enough to make sure I heard.
I ignored it all and ate anyway.
That's why the students dubbed me the "Rice Bug Teacher" after "Pseudo Teacher"—the pest who scarfs food without a care.
Anyway, this utter indifference feels refreshing after so long.
Here, I'm nothing special.
Just another ordinary face in the crowd.
For a totally average guy like me—not some hero or big shot—that's exactly how it should be.
But until now, I'd only known a world that denied me that normalcy.
It feels like the tension I'd been holding onto so tightly is finally easing away.
"Ready to order?"
I plopped down at an empty spot after a quick scan, and a pretty young waitress—probably the main server—approached with a bright, professional smile.
"Chicken soup and a serving of bread, please."
"Got it~ Chicken soup and bread for one. No drink?"
She jotted it down on her notepad, still beaming, and turned to me.
A drink, huh.
Glancing around, everyone had massive oak mugs topped with frothy white foam on their tables.
Come to think of it, it's been ages since I had a beer.
Maybe treat myself to a cold one?
"One beer."
"Coming right up~ One beer."
Order done, I zoned out, watching a rowdy adventurer party nearby.
"Kuhahat! No way!"
"For real, I..."
They felt like total besties, no stiff formalities.
Nice, that carefree vibe.
Heroes and champions carry this heavy image of serving nation and world—super rigid atmosphere.
...Plus, over 90% are nobles.
Adventurers are different, though.
Free-spirited, rough around the edges, boisterous.
Not the best rep, either.
Image of a shady errand service: cleaning gigs to murder and robbery, cash up front.
Most don't go criminal, though.
They pick jobs they want, roam wherever.
True free souls.
"Kinda jealous."
For someone like me, who's only ever lived in the marquis's domain and the academy, it's enviable.
"...Huh?"
But one of them.
A woman in leather armor with fiery red hair stared right at me.
What? Did I stare too hard and piss her off?
Yeah, that was rude.
...But something's off.
That face... I swear I've seen it before.
Her burning red hair pulled into a neat ponytail, tied back without a stray strand.
Snow-white, flawless skin that made her hair pop even more.
Those pure, pitiful eyes that looked ready to spill tears, begging protection; slender, crimson lips.
And that bursting bust straining against her leather inner armor.
Familiar face, familiar aura.
She's gotta be...
"Scarlett, Young Lady! The second one!"
"Knew it! Big Brother Kane!!"
I shot to my feet, yelling before I knew it.
Got it! Scarlett Harkur!
Second daughter of Marquis Harkur!
Yeah, about 7 or 8 years ago, she stormed out to become an adventurer!
The moment it clicked for me, Scarlett clocked me too—and bellowed even louder, rattling the whole restaurant.
Ugh... that boisterousness is unchanged.
Personality's a dead ringer for her old man.
Scarlett Harkur.
Second child and eldest daughter of House Harkur.
Hair and temperament straight from Dad, but that pure, elegant beauty? All Mom.
True to Harkur blood, her aptitudes are hero-grade.
⚔ APTITUDE STATS ⚔ Name: Scarlett Harkur ✨ Physical Skills Integration (34 Types): S 💪 Enhancement Magic: C 🍀 Hero's Quality: S As a hero, she couldn't consolidate multiple aptitudes like Jenny, but her physical skills aptitude utterly dominates—even more than Jenny's.
Ten more physical aptitudes to boot.
Fewer than Marquis Harkur, the record-holder I'd seen, but she's a solid second.
Plus Enhancement Magic aptitude amps her already powerhouse body even further.
A pure physical specialist warrior through and through.
No academic aptitudes, all combat-focused—just like her dad, Marquis Harkur.
Despite that insane talent, she threw a fit and refused the academy, running off to be an adventurer.
Rumors from the marquisate said she'd hit S-rank adventurer faster than anyone and made a name for herself.
Never thought I'd run into her here.
"Scarlett...? That Blood Empress adventurer...?"
"The one who looks so pretty but swings a greatsword bigger than herself, spraying blood...!"
"I-It’s her for real..."
My shout and sudden stand drew every eye in the place, murmurs rippling out.
Familiar vibe, but this time aimed at her, not me.
Blood Empress Scarlett.
Yeah, picture that pure, delicate face wielding a man-sized greatsword—total impact, nickname earned.
...Still a mystery to me, honestly.
But I know why.
⚔ APTITUDE STATS ⚔ Name: Scarlett Harkur ✨ Physical Skills Integration (34 Types): S 💪 Enhancement Magic: C 🍀 Hero's Quality: S Out of her 34 physical skill aptitudes, one stands out as a total head-scratcher.
...
Destruction - S
Archery - S
Pure and Pitiable - S
Greatsword Mastery - S
...
"......"
What the hell is Pure and Pitiable?
Pure and Pitiable - S No matter how much you train your body, you maintain a beautiful and pitiful appearance. The description says no matter the training, she keeps that fragile, pure look on the outside.
...Is this an aptitude...?
Wondered it since first seeing her, still a mystery.
But clearly fully awakened now.
Far more stunning and delicate than the 15-year-old I knew 7 years back.
Adulthood added maturity—perfection.
Sorry, Jenny, but she's the most beautiful woman I've laid eyes on.
"But why're you here, Big Brother? Heard you got a job at the academy?"
Jenny must've told her.
No secrets to hide.
Truth it is.
"Ah, quit yesterday."
"Oho! Classic Kane bro! Uhahahat!"
Whack! Whack!
She slapped my back with booming laughs.
No joke—nearly snapped my spine.
But that gorgeous face paired with roughhousing and guffaws? Cognitive dissonance wipes the pain.
"......"
"......"
The Blood Empress fanboys reeled from the mismatch, faces hilariously conflicted.
"What, Scarlett! There's a bro?"
"Who's this! Introduce us!"
Her party members just chuckled casually, unfazed.
"Ooh yeah! Fate brought us together—let's eat, Kane bro!"
"...Sure."
Seven years apart, still jarring... but nostalgic, feels good.
She dragged me to her table with her crew.
"Real brother?"
"Academy in the capital—Hero Academy?!"
"You're a Hero Academy teacher?"
The three guys and gals grilled me with sparkling eyes.
Not rattled.
'Why're you here?'
'Don't commoners only eat potatoes? True?'
'Why do commoners smell?'
Academy drilled me with hundreds of glares and venomous barbs daily.
Three friendly questions? Piece of cake.
"Not blood-related. I was a servant in House Harkur. Grew up together, so we're tight."
"Did work at Hero Academy thanks to Marquis Harkur's rec—not my skills."
Handled smoothly; they blinked, then...
"Whoa! Recommended by Marquis Harkur? Badass!"
"Into Hero Academy on rec alone! Must be insanely skilled..."
They gushed praise, borderline overwhelming.
"Heh! Kane bro is pretty badass."
...Why're you puffing up?
"Why's Scarlett bragging?"
Same thought from the blonde in mage robes, giggling.
Hm? Her...
"Elf?"
"E-Eh...?"
"Huh?"
Party went dead quiet.
"...Ah."
Slipped out loud.
If she's a real elf, that was rude.
"H-How'd you know I'm an elf...?"
Yup.
She panicked hard.
Makes sense—polymorph plus concealment magic screams "hiding."
I blurted it out; gotta sting.
"Sorry. Slipped."
Elves are ultra-rare on this continent.
Near-immortal lifespans, spirit magic and archery mastery make the race OP.
But birthrate's zilch.
Single digits born yearly, trending down. They hole up in their lands—lifelong hunts yield nada.
Beauty + eternal youth? Weak young ones get snatched for slaves.
Extreme distrust of outsiders.
...Book smarts. Probably accurate.
Man, zero tact.
"Really sorry..."
"N-No, not mad. I morphed fully human, blocked mana to hide spirits and all. How...?"
...Vibe's weird.
Not 'How dare you spot me, elf?! Die!'
More 'Whoa, how? Magic!'
Party wasn't shocked she's elf—shocked I spotted it.
...They all knew.
Phew.
But how?
"...Earlier laugh, saw your ear peek from robe. Polymorph glitches worst at ears. That much conversion? Ears shaped way different from ours. And that ring gem—not a gem. 'Elbav' fruit, elf forest exclusive. Wearing it? Elf or deep ties only..."
"......"
"......"
...Uh, what.
Why the rare specimen stare?
Isn't that basic...?
Any book covers it...
Ah, creepy intense staring at a lady?
Yeah, could creep.
"Habit of people-watching... sorry."
"......"
"......"
Still weird vibe.
...Not it?
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