Chapter 67, The Main Event

Translator: Barnnn

 

“Once upon a time, there was a Sage known as the Phantom Mirage…”

 

The moment Fieda uttered those words, an uneasy weight settled in Hal and Ize’s chests. “Phantom Mirage” — just the name alone carried an air of mystery so deep it threatened to leave the tale’s listeners feeling hollow.

 

“This Sage wielded an illusion skill of unparalleled power,” he continued. “So potent was their craft that they could conjure Mystic Beasts spoken of only in ancient legends. Yet, what truly set them apart was not their illusions, but the enigma of their existence itself. Until the end of their days, not a single soul ever glimpsed their true form.”

“Not even their own family?” Hal asked, his brow furrowing.

Fieda hesitated, then shook his head. “It’s said they had no family. No one ever saw them unmasked. No one ever knew if they were man or woman, young or old.”

“That’s… a phantom, all right,” Ize murmured.

“And?” Hal’s gaze sharpened. “What does this have to do with Ize?”

For a brief moment, Fieda looked guilty before finally confessing, “I thought… maybe Ize was using her Camouflage skill to conceal more than just her hair and eyes.”

Hal let out a long-suffering sigh. “I knew it…”

“What!?” Ize’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re telling me — wait, not just that I was a girl dressing boyishly, but that I was actually some burly guy using illusions to masquerade as a scrawny kid!?”

“Not exactly a burly guy, but…” Fieda scratched his cheek awkwardly. “I did think there might be some… adjustments involved. But, hey, I don’t think that anymore!”

“Glad we cleared that up,” Ize muttered, shaking her head. “Still, that’s… unsettling.”

“To be fair,” Hal interjected, “her gender WAS hard to pin down at first, but Fieda… assuming she altered her entire body? That’s a bit much, even for you.”

Fieda sighed, rubbing his temple. “All right, all right, maybe I overthought it. But you two aren’t exactly blameless either.”

“How so?” Hal asked.

“For starters — this room arrangement.” Fieda gestured around them. “If Ize’s a girl, then she should’ve had the smaller room to herself while you and I shared this one.”

Ize tilted her head. “…?”

Hal, too, paused, then realization dawned on him. “…Oh. Right.” He frowned. “That actually would’ve made sense. But since we were posing as siblings, it didn’t seem weird to me at the time.”

“So here’s the thing, Fieda — I never outright told him, technically, and he never asked, either, so…”

“I see… You know, Ize, I did suspect you might be a girl at one point. But the more I thought about it, the more I convinced myself you weren’t.”

 

Ize and Hal exchanged a glance. Then, as if on cue, they bowed their heads in unison.

 

“”Sorry, Fieda.””

 

Fieda let out a sigh so deep it seemed to drain the last remnants of his will to live. These days, they had seen this reaction from him so many times that Ize was beginning to fear for his long-term health. His hairline, at the very least, seemed already a lost cause.

 

“Just for reference,” Hal asked after a beat, “what first made you doubt Ize was a guy?”

“The baths,” Fieda answered immediately. “No matter how much of a rush we were in, she always insisted on bathing separately. But then I remembered that some nobles — both men and women — are raised never to expose their skin to anyone, not even family. So, I wrote it off as a noble thing.”

“Huh. That’s going to keep being a problem, isn’t it…”

“Yup. The room sharing is fine by me,” Ize said firmly, “but the bath thing is non-negotiable.”

 

With that matter settled, Hal decided it was time to get things back on track. He lifted the tablet, tapping the screen to refocus the camera.

 

“All right, Fieda. Let’s try the photo again. This time, just relax and act natural.”

Fieda let out another heavy sigh. “I don’t even know what ‘natural’ looks like anymore.”

“You’re having an identity crisis over a picture?” Ize deadpanned.

“Don’t think too hard about it — just face forward,” Hal instructed.

“Fine, fine…” Fieda grumbled, straightening up, resting his fists on his knees like a samurai at attention.

 

The rigid formality of his posture made Ize frown in concern before she finally offered a suggestion.

 

“Fieda, move your left hand off your knee.”

“Like this?”

 

The moment he adjusted, Ize nonchalantly perched herself on his lap.

 

“Huh?”

“Oh, that’s perfect!” Hal grinned. “Now you really look like a family. Stay still now — eight, seven, six — ”

“Five, four, three — Fieda, smile!”

 

The rapid shutter clicks echoed through the room, capturing the moment in a series of crisp images. As soon as the final shot was taken, Ize hopped off Fieda’s lap and darted over to check the tablet screen. Her expression lit up in satisfaction.

 

Hal glanced over and gave an approving nod. “Good call taking these with your real hair color.”

“Yeah. This feels… more like me.”

 

He turned to Fieda, who was still frozen in place, his face an alarming shade of red.

 

“Well, well, someone’s blushing.”

“Shut up. That was a cheap shot. And… damn, this thing takes really clear pictures. Is that really my face?”

“You know, Fieda, your voice is what really defines you,” Ize said, tilting her head in thought. “We should try recording a video next time.”

“Ooh, good idea. I can’t wait to see your reaction, Fieda,” Hal chuckled.

“I don’t even know what a ‘video’ is, but fine, do whatever you want. Just hurry up and finish this already,” Fieda groaned, rubbing his temples.

 

They spent a while longer capturing more shots — redoing Ize’s solo portrait, then a handful of duo photos with Hal… taken by Fieda, with much difficulty.

 

“I’ve never taken this many pictures before,” Ize admitted once they finally wrapped up.

“Not even with your family?” Hal asked.

“Well…” Ize hesitated for a moment. “I don’t think I’ve had a photo with my dad in ten years. Even longer with my mom.”

Hal stayed silent, letting it sink in before giving her a reassuring smile. “Then we’ll just have to make up for lost time.”

“Yeah.”

 

Hal had long suspected that Ize was distant from her family, but hearing it confirmed left a bittersweet feeling in his chest.

Still, she wasn’t alone anymore. From now on, he and Fieda would be her family. Someday, when they found a place to settle down, they’d take a real family photo in front of their home. By then, maybe even Fieda would be used to being photographed. Maybe Ize would be the one striking ridiculous poses.

The thought made Hal smile as he snapped the tablet cover shut.

 

◆

 

The church, which stood just a short walk from the inn, was a place the three of them visited often for prayer. Ever since the Padre had mistaken them for devout believers, he had welcomed them with unwavering enthusiasm, greeting them each time as if they were cherished members of the flock. And today, knowing it was Ize’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony, he had no doubt prepared with extra care.

 

“I appreciate the celebration, truly, but my dignity is being chipped away piece by piece… Am I, the guest of honor, really supposed to feel this battered?”

“Hang in there.”

“Endure it.”

 

With those utterly unhelpful words from Hal and Fieda, Ize barely managed to swallow back a sigh — one that, if released, might have rivaled even Fieda’s most soul-weary exhales. She reminded herself that she needed to carry herself with pride — for Elene’s and Odelya’s sake, if nothing else. But just as she steeled herself–

 

“Oh! Ize, is that you!? Try not to get sent back by the Goddess, now!”

“Well, well, Ize! Such a lovely dress. You really could pull off dressing as a girl!”

 

Each word hurled her way struck hard, leaving her feeling utterly lifeless. And yet, by some miracle, her mouth remained fixed in a polite smile — a sight so unsettling that Hal and Fieda deliberately averted their eyes.

 

The townspeople’s reactions fell into two maddening categories: shock that Ize had come of age and outright disbelief regarding her actual gender. That they still couldn’t accept it, even with her standing before them in a dress, only made the ordeal more painful. Their remarks stabbed at her with the precision of a rogue’s dagger, leaving her feeling as though she had fallen victim to a relentless onslaught of Chestnut Bombers.

By the time they finally reached the doors of the church, the weight of it all had nearly crushed her. And then, with impeccable timing, the Padre — blissfully unaware of the morning’s trials — greeted them with a beaming smile.

 

“Ah, my dear brothers in faith! I have been expecting you!”

 

Instantly, the three of them straightened their postures. No matter what had transpired outside, this was the moment that truly mattered. They had to compose themselves, set aside their grievances, and approach the ceremony with the reverence it deserved.

Fieda took the lead, stepping forward as their representative. He offered a solemn bow before presenting the prepared donation.

 

“We have come to present this child before the Goddess on the day of her adulthood,” he declared. “Please guide us through the ceremony.”

“My, my. Such admirable young souls, always devoted to your prayers,” the Padre said warmly. His gaze flickered to Hal and Fieda, eyes twinkling with approval. “Will the family wait in the sanctuary as usual?”

“Yes, if it’s no trouble. We’d like to remain there until the ceremony concludes.”

“Not at all. It would be an honor to have you by the Goddess’s side.” The Padre then turned to Ize with a gentle smile. “Now then, shall we proceed?”

“Yes,” Ize said. “Please take care of me.”

 

Before following the Padre inside, she turned back to Hal and Fieda and bowed deeply.

 

“I’ll be right back.”

 

Then, straightening her posture, she faced forward and stepped into the sacred hall. As she disappeared into the golden light of the church’s interior, Hal and Fieda watched her go with warm smiles. This was it — her rite of passage. No matter how many trials she faced, they knew she would walk forward with her head held high.

 

◆

 

Before the ceremony began, the Padre took a moment to explain the process. There would be no elaborate rituals, no lengthy sermons filled with flowery words — just a simple, solemn affirmation that, from this day forward, Ize would be recognized as an adult. With that recognition would come a gift from the Goddess: a skill bestowed upon her, a power deemed most fitting for her path. And with it, the responsibility to wield it wisely.

 

“Now,” the Padre said as he gestured toward the inner chamber, “step forward and offer your prayer to the Goddess. She will grant you the power most suited to you.”

 

Ize inhaled deeply and gave a small, respectful nod. As she stepped past the threshold, the door closed gently behind her.

She bowed once toward the entrance before turning to take in the sacred space before her. The chamber was simple, with not much more than a narrow window that allowed a sliver of soft, golden light to filter in, and a lone statue of the Goddess standing in the center.

The tension in her shoulders eased as she took slow, measured steps forward. Before the statue, she knelt, lowering her head. The bouquet of flowers she had carried was placed delicately at the Goddess’s feet. For a moment, she simply gazed at them, then, drawing in a steady breath, she clasped her hands together and let her voice out in prayer.

 

“Goddess… today, I, Ize — Ichikawa Izumi — have reached adulthood in this world. I thank you for guiding me here.”

 

A brief silence stretched between her and the statue. Then, slowly, she lifted her gaze, her eyes meeting the unchanging yet ever-watchful face of the Goddess’s likeness.

 

“I do not ask for much,” she continued. “My only wish is for the happiness of my family — Hal and Fieda. Please, grant me the strength to protect them.”

 

For a moment, there was only stillness — then light burst forth around her.

 

“I hear you, my dear Ize!”

 

The voice rang out, warm and filled with laughter that was both kind and knowing. It resonated not in the air, but within her mind.

 

“I shall grant you the power of Darkness and Light magic — both at their highest level! Train them well, and in time, you will master Fusion Magic. Once you do, you will be able to combine it with your mapping ability to unlock Teleportation Magic! It won’t take you more than ten years, I promise — so do your best! Now go forth with my blessings. May the divine grace of Norkelesia, Goddess of Diocerne, be upon you!”

 

The brilliance dimmed. The warmth receded. And Ize was left kneeling in stunned silence, her breath caught in her throat.

She remained frozen in place, motionless, as time stretched on around her. Long enough that, eventually, the Padre — quite concerned — cracked open the door to check on her.

He found her still kneeling before the Goddess, eyes wide as though she had just been struck by divine revelation — or, perhaps more accurately, completely dumbfounded by it.