Ren slept soundly on a simple bed in an inn in the city of Eks, while elsewhere, hundreds of kilometers away, Kiriya Asano was walking through the elegant courtyard of a noble’s estate in the Viscount Vermount region. The air there was cool, spring flowers blooming along the iron fence adorned with carved swans, and their footsteps muffled by the white coral stones lining the path.
Beside him, Wendy—the cheerful, light-brown-haired adventurer girl—was leading the way as usual. She still wore her adventuring outfit: a light leather jacket, knife belt, and a short skirt with protective leggings. Kiriya himself had opted for a dark casual outfit that made him look like a mid-tier assassin—a long coat, half-hood, and black gloves.
"So..." Kiriya muttered, eyeing the grandeur of the mansion they were approaching, "This Madam Elanor... she’s the sponsor for your pizza restaurant?"
Wendy nodded with a small smile. "Yeah. When I randomly had the idea to open a restaurant with Strom’s recipes, she was the first one who said yes—and even invested without hesitation. Even though at first, a lot of people said the food was weird and would never sell."
Kiriya snorted softly. (Pizza... Italian food first known around the 18th century. This world’s still in a medieval-era equivalent, around the 10th to 15th century... of course, they’d never know what pizza is. Ren... you’ve really gone overboard. Not just cooking—you’re spreading modern culinary culture, and you’re not even part of this thing!)
There was a tinge of amusement in his chest, but also a bit of envy. How could there not be? In his mind, if anyone deserved major backing, it should’ve been him—Ren’s closest friend. But in reality, Wendy’s main sponsor was a mysterious noblewoman.
"By the way, Wendy," Kiriya asked again, glancing sideways. "You know Madam Elanor pretty well, right? What kind of person is she, really?"
"Mm~." Wendy nodded, scratching her cheek. "The first time I met her was when I picked up a quest from the guild. Back then, I mostly took small jobs—cleaning irrigation canals, babysitting for a rich merchant, even volunteering at the Telos church. One of the clients who regularly asked for help... was her."
Kiriya raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"At first, I thought she was... odd," Wendy continued. "She had this mysterious aura, way too calm, like she knew things we didn’t. But the more I met her, I realized she wasn’t a bad person. In fact, she’s warm, commanding, and s a lot. Every month-end, she sends food to orphanages and poor homes in the lower districts."
"I see..." Kiriya nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the luxurious interior ahead. Something tugged subtly at his chest—a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Not many nobles like that..."
Wendy only smiled wide. "Just wait until you meet her. Madam Elanor’s aura is different. It feels... like standing in front of someone who knows more than she lets on."
The mansion’s grand doors opened slowly, accompanied by the soft creak of well-maintained old hinges. A servant in a black uniform and silver tie bowed respectfully. "Welcome. Madam Elanor has been expecting you."
As they stepped inside, the scent of lavender and cinnamon wafted faintly from the inner halls. A high ceiling, crystal chandeliers, and a deep red carpet stretched toward the parlor where a graceful woman sat. Her blonde hair fell in soft waves to her shoulders, and a luxurious sea-blue Baroque gown wrapped her slender frame. In her hands, she was delicately knitting a piece of fine fabric.
"Ah, Wendy," Elanor’s voice was soft yet authoritative, her eyes warm as she looked at the girl. "It’s a pleasure to see you again."
"Muu~, don’t talk is our last meeting, Madam!" Wendy puffed her cheeks, then moved in to give a warm hug like an old friend.
Elanor chuckled, then glanced at Kiriya, who stood somewhat awkwardly at the room’s edge. "And who is this young man who seems a bit dazed?"
"Ah—that’s Strom’s friend!" Wendy replied quickly. "His name’s Kiri Sano!"
Kiriya let out a long sigh. "Kiriya Asano... and yes, it’s nice to meet you, Madam. I’m a friend of Rentaro—or, well, ’Strom’ as you all know him here."
Elanor raised an eyebrow, her smile playful. "Hooh? So he’s in disguise?"
"Yeah, he’s really into role-play," Kiriya replied, half-serious. "Back in school he looked super nerdy and was such an otaku, so... yeah, this is his ’brave’ version."
"Role... play?" Elanor tilted her head, visibly puzzled by the unfamiliar term.
"Pretending to be a fictional character," Kiriya explained with a shrug. "Sometimes it’s easier to be confident when you’re acting as someone else..."
"Achoo!!" Ren suddenly sneezed hard, jolting awake from his afternoon nap. He rubbed his nose with the back of his hand, grumbling.
"...Someone’s talking about me again, huh?"
Back at Elanor’s mansion.
"Very well." Elanor set her teacup down, crossing her legs with graceful poise. "So, what brings you all the way out here, Mister Asano?"
Kiriya met her gaze directly. "I just want to confirm one thing... was it truly you who requested the Penal Plains tigers to be returned to their habitat?"
Elanor nodded slowly. "That’s correct. It was a personal request."
"Then... if I may ask frankly—how did you come to possess a Penal Plains tiger?" Kiriya’s tone remained polite, but carried a certain weight. "That region lies hundreds of kilometers from here. Beyond the elven forests, the Mandelay desert, and even the untamed borderlands of Eks. It’s not easy—nearly impossible—to bring a creature from there into Eldoria’s territory. Yet you... have one. How?"
For a moment, the room was steeped in thick silence. Elanor didn’t answer right away. Her gaze slowly shifted—from warm to sharp. Not angry, but like someone measuring the depth of the sea before stepping in. Yet she remained composed, elegant, and entirely unflinching.
"Are you... accusing me of something, Mister Asano?" Her voice was still soft, but a hidden pressure coiled beneath the curve of her smile.
Kiriya didn’t flinch. His stare wasn’t confrontational—but neither did it retreat. "Not accusing," he replied quietly, with care. "I’m just asking. Because something doesn’t add up."
He leaned forward slightly.
"And more importantly, my friend—Rentaro—is currently headed toward a place not everyone returns from in one piece. And he’s... doing it without magic, and without the system."
Wendy’s expression instantly changed. Her eyes widened.
"Eh? What do you mean, without the system?" she muttered, as if she couldn’t believe it. "But he... he looks like he has a Job."
The Job System—a mechanism of power granted by the god Telos, exclusive to those under the dominion of the Telos faith that ruled the western territories. A Job wasn’t merely a profession; it was a magical identity, a source of power, and a person’s "destiny." To the people of this world, a Job was like software installed in their bodies—a direct gift from gods who acted as cosmic administrators.
But not everyone received a Job.
And not everyone who had one could use magic.
Magic itself was a more ancient power—older than the Job System. It came from a natural energy called Mana, which flowed through air, earth, and living beings. But magic could only be wielded by those sensitive enough to feel it. And that was rare. Even in the blessed west under Telos, no more than two in ten people could awaken true magic.
Strangely, most of those were women. They were known as Witches—women who could attune themselves to mana without catalysts or spirit contracts. Male magic users were called Magicians, and while their capabilities weren’t lacking, in the social hierarchy of magic practitioners, Witches were still seen as superior. More "pure," they said.
That’s why, when Kiriya stated that Ren fought without a Job, without magic, and without any form of system blessing—it wasn’t just a declaration. It was a challenge to the logic of this world.
Kiriya leaned back, crossing his legs. His tone remained casual, but his eyes carried intent.
"Oh yeah, this is just... a dumb guess from someone who knows nothing." He smiled faintly. "But since I’m from the capital, I’ve heard a thing or two. Especially from inside the court."
Elanor remained silent, though her golden eyes narrowed slightly. Wendy, seated beside Kiriya, could feel the tension tightening like a bowstring stretched to its limit.
"Word is, there’s a court sorceress. Top graduate of Starford Academy—the most prestigious among the five major kingdoms. A Witch, rumored to be called the ’Golden Witch,’ highly respected by the independent magic community... or as they call themselves, The Witches of Oz."
Kiriya looked her straight in the eye.
"Just a rumor, of course. But if true, how fascinating it would be, right? To imagine a Golden Witch sitting in a humble drawing room ... disguised as a kind-hearted philanthropist."
He gave a small grin.
And Elanor... smiled. Not with anger, not with denial—just a subtle, knowing smile, like someone who knew exactly how to play chess.
"Please continue, Mister Asano," she said calmly. "I’m starting to enjoy this conversation."