How Do I Meet My Disciples?
They say ten years can change mountains and rivers. Clutching the thrill of reuniting with my disciples, I arrived at the heart of the Lumerne Empire.
But the city I remembered from my brief visit in my youth was gone—utterly vanished, not a single trace left behind.
"Heh…."
Horse-drawn carriages, once the most common mode of transport, had all but disappeared. In their place, strange tram-like contraptions straight out of my past life raced along the streets. Rickety old wooden houses had been demolished, replaced by grand, ornate buildings towering overhead.
I figured it would have developed, but… not to this extent. It's changed so much….
My awe at the dazzling, transformed city was short-lived. My main goal was to find the disciples I'd sent off into the world, and suddenly, I was at a loss.
My original plan had been simple: hit up the taverns or the Adventurer's Guild for info, track down my disciples thriving somewhere in this vast capital. But…
"Hey, you creepy-looking punk. Who the hell asks around taverns for personal info these days?"
"…People don't do that anymore? I'm a bit out of touch, you see."
"Maybe thirty years ago. Nowadays, you blab in a tavern, you're in deep shit."
"I see. My thanks for the kind explanation, young one."
"Wait, why do you talk like that anyway?"
"Heh heh heh. I'm a tad older than I look."
Apparently, sleuthing for disciple intel in taverns like the old days was a no-go.
"I'm truly sorry… Without some way to verify your identity, there's not much we can do…."
"…Understood. Sorry to bother you during your busy time."
"N-no, it's fine!! Um, by the way… do you have a girlfriend? If you leave your magic orb number, I could… contact you personally later…."
"I'll gratefully accept your kind intentions. I just don't know what a magic orb is."
"W-wait, you don't know what a magic orb is…? Ugh… Just say no next time…."
Even at the so-called Central Guild I tracked down after asking directions, they required some form of ID to share anyone else's info.
The world's… changed so much.
Is this what it feels like to be left behind by the times? My body was young and spry again, but my sense of time was still frozen in the distant past. It hit me hard.
But I couldn't just sit there moping. With the humility to learn what I didn't know, the will to adapt and catch up—plus infinite stamina and youth—what couldn't I overcome?
It's been three years since I last saw my disciples. I can't meet them looking this pathetic and outdated. As their master, I have to try.
With that positive resolve to push through, I steeled myself and stepped back into the bustling streets.
Alright, let's sort this out.
First things first: to search for my disciples in this massive capital, I needed official proof of my identity in the empire.
Back at the Central Guild for more details, it turned out an adventurer qualification exam for folks like me—unregistered—was happening nearby.
Forget the old days. Start from scratch.
Solve the ID issue step by step, and reuniting with my disciples should get easier. With that in mind, I headed to the exam site on the map.
"Alright!! Register over here, and hand over any personal weapons here for now!!"
At the Baekya Knights' Training Ground in the empire's heart—an unnamed knight order's sparring arena—amid fresh-faced youths dreaming of becoming mighty adventurers, I felt a bit embarrassed, like a doddering old geezer crashing the party.
Ahem… this is a little awkward….
I shyly pulled my robe over my face and crept toward the registration tent.
"Ahem… I'd like to register for the adventurer exam."
"Sure, just fill out your name and details on this form."
"Got it."
[Name: Leban.]
[Age: 60]
I first wrote my pre-rejuvenation age, but on second thought, it might cause confusion later. So I changed it to match my rejuvenated appearance.
[Name: Leban.]
[Age: 20]
"All done?"
"Here you go."
"Leban… that's a unique name."
"Hm? My name?"
"Well… it sounds kinda like a famous figure in the empire."
The attendant tilted her head at my name, then shook it off and pointed to a box under the opposite desk.
"Deposit your weapon there and pick it up later."
"My sword? Then what do we use for the exam?"
"We provide weapons to prevent cheating. Use those."
"Hmm… I see. Very well."
It stung a bit not to use my sword of forty years, but their fair process with standardized gear appealed to me. I nodded and deposited it without fuss.
…This is more nerve-wracking than I thought.
Letting go of my beloved blade left me a touch tense. Just a frog in a well, a self-taught wanderer swordsman swinging wildly without proper guidance—could I show the examiners something worthy amid these talented youths?
Yeah. I'll give it my all, enough not to shame my disciples.
Even in this spot, the drive came solely from reuniting with my precious disciples. Vowing to work hard so I wouldn't embarrass myself before them, I slowly headed deeper into the training ground where the exam would begin.
Once all examinees had moved to the training ground, the weary clerks finished registrations, stretching and rising.
"Ugh… beat. Why so many for this exam?"
"Probably to see her. The overseer is the captain of the Baekya Knights."
"What? For real? I wanna meet her too…."
"Dream on. If Central Guild hands it to her… this exam's brutal."
"Oh…?"
"Us grunts? Dead in thirty minutes."
"…Scary."
"Anyway, pack gear right. Lose stuff like last time, complaints to Central Guild—and that's scarier."
The two stretched and chatted idly, gathering weapon deposit boxes.
After hauling countless boxes inside, only one remained under the desk—a rusty sword alone.
"Last one?"
"Yeah."
"Just one old sword? Skip the box, grab it."
"Yeah, easier—"
Creak….
"Hurry up, move the sword. I wanna clock out."
"…It won't budge."
"Bull. Not falling for it again—"
"No, really! Sword's stuck!!"
"Fine, move. For your effort—"
Creak….
"…What the? It really won't move?"
"Need both of us…?"
"Yeah. Grab that side. One… two…!!"
Even with two Central Guild staff channeling mana for enhancement, the box with the old longsword didn't budge—like stone.
"Who owns this? Carried barehanded?!"
"Can't move it, we'll get complaints and docked pay… sigh…."
The two gaped and sighed for different reasons.
Deeper in for the main exam, the youths stared at one spot, waiting.
Waiting for the start?
No, not quite. Less exam anticipation, more like students awaiting a revered idol.
Who's coming that has them so eager…?
Crowd mentality, I guess. I glanced at the platform too.
"Everyone's gathered on time."
"…!!"
The next instant, beholding the owner of that noble voice echoing across the grounds, I was more shocked than anyone there.
Platinum-white long hair, whiter and more beautiful than fine silver. Eyes bluer than the endless sea—so adorably lovable, my disciple.
"I am Ceres, captain of the Baekya Knights, overseeing this exam."