Chapter 89, That Time of Life

Translator: Barnnn

 

Having exchanged all the information they needed that day, Ize’s group parted ways with the others, who had chosen to spend the night on the forty-ninth floor, and returned to their inn.

 

They claimed it was because they’d only planned for a five-day campaign — but the real reason was more personal. Spending the night together would make it harder to keep up appearances, and certain things were bound to slip. Even though they’d already shared the secret of the Sugar Mandragoras, sowing distrust now would only unravel the bond they’d built.

 

After weighing their options, it was Fieda who made the call to return.

 

“Three days from now, we’ll meet them at the Guild again,” he said. “Though… only Duris and Wardon will be there.”

“So they’re keeping Miss Sharoella and Mister Ivern out of the spotlight,” Hal wondered aloud.

“Probably,” Fieda replied with a nod.

“We can’t just drop in on Miss Sharoella’s place without a good reason, either…” Ize sighed. “That’s a little disappointing.”

Fieda offered a helpless shrug. “Not much we can do about that.”

 

Ize gave another sigh. Just when she’d finally met a light-elemental magic user, too…

Fieda reached over and ruffled her hair in consolation. It was getting too long now — tangling easily and no longer manageable with a quick comb-through. Ize pouted, lifting her eyes to Fieda as she tried to smooth her bangs with both hands.

 

“Should we ask Wardon to see if Odelya would cut your hair?” Fieda offered.

“…Really? You’d be okay with that?”

“Can’t we just ask her directly?”

“If you miss this chance, it might be a long time before you meet someone you can trust with that kind of thing. If we go through Wardon, she’ll probably get the hint that there’s a reason behind it.”

“You mean… like asking Wardon to call her over to his inn or something?”

“Exactly, Hal. That’s how I’ll phrase it,” Fieda nodded. “And you know… you should get a trim too.”

“Got it. If you say so.”

“Thank you,” Ize said with a bright smile. “I really appreciate it.”

 

It had been almost ten months since her last haircut — right before the basketball club’s final roster was announced. Her short hair had since grown out in uneven layers. If she could just get the ends cleaned up, it wouldn’t look so awkward, even if she didn’t cut it again for a while.

 

“I’m actually… kinda looking forward to it.”

“If you can, prep a thank-you gift for Odelya beforehand,” Fieda suggested.

“Wait… does that mean we’re leaving town right after the haircut?”

“Depends on how she reacts. If things feel off, people might start getting suspicious. Especially Elene, since she’s in the same party. So let’s at least be ready to move out.”

“…Okay.”

“I’m not too worried, though,” Fieda added with a small grin. “You’ll be fine. Just shout ‘Stand up!’ again if you have to.”

“What!?” Ize’s eyes widened. “You’re really bringing that up!?”

“Hahaha!” Fieda burst out laughing. “It was cool, I’ll give you that.”

Hal laughed along. “Yeah, totally badass.”

“Grr…! You two!”

“Kepyoo!? Kepyooo!”

 

As Ize smacked the bed in frustration, Sato — who had been napping on the blanket — bounced and tumbled off. She scrambled to catch it, pulling the little plant creature into her arms and burying her face in its leafy top, just like Hal had once done.

 

“Hey, Fieda?”

“Hmm?”

“Back when we first met… weren’t you kind of a rude old man?”

“A rude old man…?” he parroted, raising an eyebrow.

Hal chuckled. “He did hover over that rare Beast for way too long.”

“‘Rare Beast’…?”

“I dunno what that is,” Ize murmured, “but… something about you feels different now. Like you’re holding back a little. Maybe because you know we’re Sage Candidates?”

“That all?” Fieda said, ruffling Ize’s hair again before lightly tapping her on the head.

 

Ize’s head jerked back from the gentle impact, startled.

 

“Wh-what was that for!?”

“Light as your head is, it must be full of nonsense.”

 

Ize shot Fieda a glare, but he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees to meet her gaze.

 

“Can you undo your Camouflage?”

“Huh?”

“Turn your hair back, just for a bit?”

“Oh… yeah, sure.”

 

In an instant, Ize’s hair reverted to its natural black, and her eyes darkened to a deep brown.

 

“Still not quite used to it,” Fieda admitted. “Not as jarring as the first time, but still strange.”

“Have you seen black hair before?”

“Only from a distance. A few nobles in the Lazulseed capital. They usually wear it long, so it never occurred to me that a short-haired girl like you could be a Sage… hell, I didn’t even know you were a girl.”

 

Fieda reached out again, ruffling her hair with the same motion.

 

“Still feels the same.”

“Well, yeah. I’m only changing how it looks.”

“Right. You’re still you. Hair color, gender, personality — you might be hiding a lot, but that doesn’t change the core.”

 

Fieda’s words struck a nerve. More than she’d realized, Ize had been deceiving those around her. She began to look away, but before she could drop her gaze, his voice came again — soft and steady.

 

“But everyone does that, in one way or another. Now, as a C-rank adventurer, I act differently with my Union superiors, with guard duty clients, with you guys. Doesn’t mean I was lying. Just… adjusting.”

“Yeah. I do that too,” Hal added. “I talk one way with my family, another with coworkers, another with friends.”

“Really?” Ize asked.

“Of course. No way I’d let my family see me acting all high and mighty in front of the newbies. But it’s still me. Just… a part of me.”

“A part…”

 

She mulled over Hal’s words, turning over his past behavior in her mind. The way he straightened up and spoke politely around Guild staff or senior adventurers wasn’t fake — it was just another layer, another face, meant to keep things running smoothly.

Just like how Ize herself got a bit rowdy around Poe, caught up in his boisterous energy. Or how she played the little sister around Elene and Odelya, letting herself relax in the warmth of their presence.

If she and Hal both had different sides, then maybe Fieda did too.

 

“Then… you’re not acting distant because you’re trying to be polite?”

“Right,” Fieda said, smoothing out Ize’s messy hair with a gentler hand this time. His fingers lingered a moment, then slipped away. “Never thought I’d end up touching black hair. When I first learned your secret in Dukatten, I probably would’ve been too awed to believe it.”

“Are you okay with it now?” Ize asked quietly.

 

Fieda shrugged and flashed a grin that could’ve belonged to a villain in a play.

 

“You might be a black-haired otherworlder and a Sage Candidate — but deep down, you’re still Ize. Same goes for Hal. No way I’m revering you two. It’s just not happening.”

“That’s not reassuring at all!”

“Why am I being lumped in with her!?” Hal protested. “I’m innocent!”

“Nah, you’re kind of a disaster,” Ize said with a pout. “You’re an edgy old man with delusions of grandeur.”

“Hey! That’s harsh! And this conversation was supposed to be about you, not me!”

“This conversation proves you’re a disaster.”

 

Fieda clasped his hands dramatically and hung his head like a tragic actor, while Hal and Ize pounced on him.

 

“This is your responsibility as our mentor, Fieda!”

“Yeah! It’s a failure of guidance!”

“You two’ve only been at this for four months,” Fieda groaned. “Cut me some slack.”

“Don’t you want to raise us into proper Sages?”

“You don’t even want to be Sages…”

“Then how about Heroes?”

“Well, your combat strength is plenty. I won’t stop you from heading deeper into the Dungeon. Not that a C-rank like me can legally follow you down there.”

“Hmm. That’s the thing, isn’t it…?” Ize murmured. “We really need to get you ranked up somehow.”

 

The C-rank floors of the Jasted Dungeon were already behind them. They could still handle fights easily, but unless Fieda advanced, they’d hit a ceiling. If they ever hoped to dive deeper — or go Dungeon-crawling in another town — they’d have to find a way forward.

For Ize and Hal to keep their abilities under wraps, it was crucial that Fieda reach B-rank first. That way, their rise through the ranks wouldn’t draw as much attention.

 

“Easy for you to say,” Fieda grumbled. “Try saying that to a guy pushing forty.”

“But isn’t the only reason you’re still C-rank because you haven’t been an adventurer all that long?” Hal asked. “So what do you need to do to get promoted to B?”

“I’ll need to check with the Guild, but it’ll probably take a recommendation from a B-rank or higher, plus a few Guild missions completed.”

“I see. Think you can manage that in a few years?”

Fieda let out a sigh. “Don’t just toss that out like it’s nothing.”

“We’d really like it if you made it to B-rank before we’re up to C,” Hal said.

“Best of luck, Fieda,” Ize added brightly. “And please, try to turn Hal into a halfway decent human being while you’re at it.”

“Why am I the only one being singled out here?”

“For Hal’s sake!” she declared, clenching her fists with righteous zeal.

 

Hal gave her a look like she’d grown another head. This was supposed to be a serious discussion, but somehow it had dissolved into nonsense by the end. And Hal had no doubt that Ize was to blame.

 

[Still… not letting things get too heavy isn’t a bad thing either.]

 

He glanced sideways at Fieda, who caught his eye and gave a subtle shrug, as if echoing the same thought.

Ize might have been of age in this world, but she was still fifteen — a fragile, uncertain age. In battle, they were equals. Outside of it, it was up to the two older men to guide her.

At least, until the day she found her own happiness.

 

◆

 

Three days later, the trio entered the Guild together for a scheduled meeting with Wardon and Duris.

The two men were already waiting in the assigned room, and they rose with warm smiles as their guests entered.

 

“Welcome,” said Duris, gesturing toward the chairs. “Please, have a seat.”

“It’s been three days,” Wardon said as they sat. “We already covered most of the information last time, so this won’t take long.”

 

All things considered, today’s meeting should just be about the final price of the information provided.

Wardon looked genuinely pleased. Fieda gave a small nod and motioned to Duris to go ahead and begin.

 

“Sharoella made it back safely — with two Sugar Mandragoras in tow. Thank you, truly.”

 

Duris bowed low in gratitude.

Ize, not at all interested in the formality, leaned forward with a question that had clearly been on her mind.

 

“Did you decide on names for them?”

“We did!” Duris beamed. “One of them was a neat freak and a bit slender, so we gave it a feminine name — Jas. The other’s a bit clumsy but bold, so we named it Ted. Put them together, and they’re… wait for it… Jasted!”

 

Hal and Ize froze.

 

“Jas,” Ize said blankly.

“And Ted,” Hal echoed.

“”Together, Jasted…””

Ize turned to Hal, eyes wide. “Hal… I can see a stage in my head. There’s a mic, too.”

“Don’t say it,” Hal groaned. “I see it too. Two Mandragoras in bow ties standing beside a mic…”

“…Is something wrong?” Duris asked, puzzled by their whispering.

Ize quickly straightened up and smiled. “No, not at all! I think those are great names. I hope we get a chance to meet them again — maybe they can be friends with our Sato.”

“Ah, yes!” Duris lit up. “Sharoella mentioned you had your own Mandragora — I was so surprised! I’d be thrilled to keep in touch. It’s encouraging, knowing someone else out there is also raising a Sugar Mandragora.”

 

He was practically glowing with hope. Fieda, seeing that, spoke up with a more reserved tone.

 

“Actually, about that… We’re planning to leave for the next city soon. Probably in about two weeks.”

“Oh, really?” Wardon perked up. “Where to?”

“Still deciding on the route, but we’re aiming for the Adoghan Republic in the end.”

“Heading east, then?”

“Yeah.”

 

Wardon went quiet, wheels clearly turning in his head. Duris nudged his massive companion and whispered, “Save that for later.”

Fieda tilted his head slightly. Perhaps there was something concerning about the area they were headed to — though Wardon didn’t say, only looking away with a troubled expression.

Duris chose to move on.

 

“Anyway, let’s settle the compensation for the Mandragora information first.”

“Right,” Fieda said.

 

The discussion from there went about as poorly as expected.

Duris insisted they take half the profits from all future Detoxify Potions he made using the Mandragora secretions, but the trio immediately declined — it was far too much.

They were leaving Jasted soon anyway; they didn’t even need to know the quantities being produced. They proposed a one-time payment instead, regardless of how many Potions were made.

But Duris wasn’t comfortable with that either. He felt that underpaid them for their contribution, and refused to let it go.

 

“This has to be the weirdest negotiation I’ve ever seen,” Wardon muttered. “You’re all trying to give each other money.”

 

Eventually, after much back and forth, they agreed that for the next five years, half the profits from Detoxify Potion sales would go to the trio.

After that, Duris and Sharoella would be on their own. If any complications arose, it would be their responsibility to resolve them. After five years, the original contribution would be considered repaid in full.

Duris reluctantly signed the contract with a sigh.

 

“Well, that wraps up the Mandragora matter…” With a sharp slap of his hands on his knees, Wardon leaned forward with a grin that could only mean trouble. “Now then, Fieda — just so you know, Ivern and I already put in a recommendation to bump you up to B-rank!”

Duris chimed in with a polite smile. “I took the liberty of writing one as well.”

“…Wait, what?”

“Whoa!” Ize cried.

“Perfect timing!” Hal added.

 

Fieda just stared at them, jaw slightly agape, as his two younger companions beamed beside him.