The Sage's Signpost

A rainbow-colored light exploded from the EX-grade growth skill box. Then it vanished.

"Huh...?"

I stared blankly ahead for a moment. Not even a single mana stone appeared, let alone anything black or noteworthy.

"...Ha."

A hollow chuckle escaped my lips. Expectations set you up for the biggest letdowns, right? For all that flashy rainbow show, the result was pathetically underwhelming. The empty box bottom didn't even have dust left on it.

Was it a scam after all?

Gates sometimes pulled tricks like this—luring you in with the promise of epic rewards, only to screw you over. No wonder I'd never seen that rainbow light before. It was basically saying, "Eat shit."

My shitty luck strikes again...

"...An EX-grade skill?"

I swallowed hard and slowly read through the description. The name was "Sage's Signpost." Fitting for an EX-grade—nothing ordinary about it. Unfortunately, it wasn't a direct combat skill. Strictly a "growth support" ability that pinpointed the perfect training path. And if they succeeded, I got a stat boost too.

An attack skill—or even a buff—would've been jackpot. Kinda disappointing.

EX-grade attack skills had infinite potential. In my past life, just one could've made you an S-rank hunter. Still, no complaints—it was an EX skill, period. Huge win.

A skill that grows others and powers me up in tandem. Used right, I could keep getting stronger forever.

As I marveled at this absurd stroke of luck, a voice piped up.

"Ahem! Ahem! Hey~"

Iana called out, sneaking glances at me, her lips twitching like she could barely hold back a grin.

"Don't feel too bad."

"...What?"

"Not everyone can be lucky all the time~ Sometimes you pull a dud. But hey, next one's gotta be a winner, right?"

"......"

"Of course! Mine's obviously a jackpot sword! Came out in one shot!"

I got the picture instantly. She thought I'd bombed out with nothing, and now she was smug about it.

Yeah, she had that childish side even in the novel.

Unlike my empty haul, she'd scored an insanely good sword at a glance. In reality, it was trash she'd ditch later—but my EX skill was worth a hundred times more. Whatever.

No need to correct her.

Hunter common sense: keep skill info under wraps. Even with Iana's tight lips, better safe.

"Aw~ What do we do? Did I steal all your luck, my lord? Want me to clear a commission for free later?"

Her shoulder pats and gloating grated, though.

"Cut it out. Hurts."

"Huh? Oh, sorry! Did you get hurt fighting earlier?"

"Not worth worrying over."

No breaks or blood. Just sore muscles.

"Still, can't leave it! Injuries are dangerous. Come here!"

Iana yanked my wrist and rummaged in her pouch—herbs and small potion vials.

"You carry this stuff?"

"Adventurers need it. Hemostatics and antidotes are basics."

She rubbed herbs on my wrist and arm. Pain faded shockingly fast.

"Better? See, way better, right?"

"Works great. Hurt's mostly gone, thanks."

"Hehe! Told ya. Adventurer know-how's handy sometimes."

I was honestly surprised. No clue how, but it kicked in quick. Barely mentioned in the novel.

"Thanks."

"Huh?"

"For caring."

"Oh, uh... no biggie. Really."

Iana fidgeted.

"...Might as well do more. Luna does this for me sometimes. Feels better fast."

"No need to go that far."

"Think of it as pity for the lord who beat the monster but got no reward."

Ignoring me, she kneaded my arm. Strong grip—felt good.

Wait, am I just weak now?

Nothing like my old battle-hardened body. This arm yielded like under-kneaded dough.

"Hmm, you really need to train, my lord. Sword skills are great, but zero muscle."

"...No time for that."

"Don't you get stronger naturally learning swordplay?"

"Complicated circumstances."

"Some wasting-away disease?"

"Something like that."

No easy explanation. How do you say, "I was a hunter in my past life, soul-slid into this noble kid—sword skills don't match the body"?

"Ah... explains the attitude."

Iana nodded, convinced.

"Mastered that swordplay but weak body holds you back. I'd resent the world too."

"What bullshit is that?"

"Doesn't mean trash your life! I know ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you're good deep down from everything lately!"

"......?"

Beats me what delusion she'd cooked up. I live meticulously planned.

This damn romance-fantasy world just won't play along.

But that's over now. Cleared the gate, doused the fire. Clean up, dump the territory on someone, bolt.

"Rewards checked. Time to head out."

"Right, cleared—so we can exit the gate."

"Gotta hurry. Outside's probably chaos by now."

Knights realizing the lord vanished from the gate entrance? Their minds'd be blown.

****

"Are you insane?! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠That's not some backyard hill! What made you crawl in alone?!"

Tavi's sharp voice pierced the office ceiling. Ears ringing from the volume, I slyly looked away.

"Not alone—Iana the adventurer was with me..."

"Shut it! Is that your excuse?!"

Screwed wasn't the knights—it was me. Back home, facing Tavi's scolding carpet-bomb.

Me, the lord? Seriously?

"I've thought this before, but you're way too reckless! Think about your safety!"

Her momentum had me on my knees. My past-life buddies would've rolled laughing.

"Sigh! If something happened to you amid the chaos... Please, act with some self-awareness."

"It worked out. Gate's closed."

"Result doesn't justify! Win a gamble, suddenly a sage-king?"

I scratched my head, changing subjects.

"Anyway, other gates? All good?"

"...Yes. All started shrinking from monster emergence, now fully gone."

Gates don't last till surge without energy—they spit monsters and vanish.

"Phew, breather. Knights can rest."

"I'll tell the order to stand down."

And boom—she looped back.

"Why'd you enter alone?"

"Told you, with Iana."

"That Iana again. The mysterious lady adventurer you value over your life."

Tavi narrowed her eyes suspiciously—like a wife grilling a cheating husband, or a helicopter parent with a delinquent kid.

"Why sideline the knights for a 'solo' run? With some unverified woman."

"Wasn't planned. She tagged along."

"You always refused her dangerous jobs, even leaving gates unchecked. Now a 'private' gate date?"

No such romance. Heroine ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Iana and extra me? Worlds apart.

"...W-well, nothing weird happened alone in there, right?"

Tavi flushed beet-red. Her tigress roar gone, she fidgeted, twisting like a shy girl.

"Something weird did happen."

"W-what?! It did?!"

"Iana lucked into a sword reward. Unlike me."

"Oh... that."

She deflated with relief. I tilted my head.

"What'd you mean by 'weird'?"

"N-nothing!"

Tavi squeaked. Push more, paperwork'd fly. Zipped it.

"Ahem! Anyway, rewards?"

I explained the gate happenings, mixing in prior knowledge.

"Beating monsters inside gives rewards? Wild."

"Gate's still there, by the way. Send soldiers for wolf pelts and mana stones."

"Hmm, got it."

Tavi still looked pained.

"So gates spawn monsters, more inside, uncleared they surge and flood out."

"Beat the boss, clear it—huge rewards."

To normals, gates are apocalypse. To the strong, growth opps. Earth leaped forward thanks to them.

"Spread gate intel to knights and territory folk."

"Even residents?"

"They need to know to stay safe. Fear comes from ignorance."

"Ah... right. On it!"

Tavi broadcasted fast—including my solo monster-slaying.

"Lord went in alone and smashed 'em?"

"No way! He's that strong?"

"Missed the monster wave? One sword swing shredded dozens of wolves."

"Not like those runaway noble scum. Real deal!"

My name blew up unintended.

Just nipped trouble before it snowballed.

Gate surge? Even lord-me wouldn't survive. Academy escape dream? Dead forever.

"Anyway, Iana's stronger now, gate solved. Prep and bail to the city."

Prep: slush funds, training. Especially me—gates mean unknown threats. Need self-defense at least.

"An attack skill would've been perfect for that."

Got a talent-nurturing growth aid instead. Useless for a soon-departing lord like me.

"EX-grade waste. Can't use it elsewhere?"

Muttering, I stood before the mirror. A translucent window popped up.

"Wha...?"

A waterfall of info flooded my mind. Intricate, vast energy flows—leagues beyond my past-life mana control. Inner Power Heart Method. Principles and foundations clicked instantly.

"...Wait, it works on me too?"

Duh, who knows me better than myself? Optimal strengthening path served up. This skill was a bigger jackpot than I thought.