Chapter 8 — Where Paths Intersect - (I)
POV: Hayato
(During the Academy Opening Ceremony)
The line at the city gate moved slowly.
Beyond the towering walls, Hayato could already hear distant echoes—bells ringing, faint music drifting on the wind, voices rising and falling in waves. The Academy's opening ceremony had begun.
Good.
That meant most attention was elsewhere.
He stood quietly among merchants, adventurers, and travelers, mask secured, aura suppressed until it was barely more than a whisper. To most people, he felt like nothing at all.
That was intentional.
That was when he noticed the guard.
A young one—barely past his training years. His uniform was neat, his spear polished, his posture stiff with the kind of confidence that came from having authority for the first time.
He had stopped a merchant near the front.
The inspection crystal had already dimmed.
Still, the guard hadn't stepped aside.
"Open it again," the guard said, tapping the merchant's pack with the shaft of his spear.
"Slowly."
"I already showed you—" the merchant began.
The guard's eyes narrowed.
"Do it."
Nearby, people looked away.
Some pretended not to see.Others had learned not to interfere.
Hayato exhaled quietly.
Everywhere, he thought. It's always the same.
The merchant complied. Nothing was found.
The guard clicked his tongue, disappointed.
Then his gaze shifted.
Straight to Hayato.
The mask.
The normal presence.
The guard's lips curled into a smile.
"You," he said, jerking his chin. "Step forward."
Hayato did.
"What's under the mask?" the guard asked.
"My face."
A few people nearby stiffened.
The guard's smile twitched.
"Remove it."
Hayato tilted his head slightly.
"Is there a regulation against masks?"
The guard hesitated.
"…No."
"Then why?"
Silence stretched.
The guard's voice hardened.
"Because I said so."
Hayato looked at him for a moment.
Then replied calmly,
"Ah. So it's not an inspection."
The guard frowned. "What?"
"It's boredom."
The guard's grip tightened on his spear.
"You—"
"That's enough."
An older guard stepped forward, his presence immediately different. His armor was worn rather than polished, his stance relaxed but ready. His eyes swept the scene in a single glance.
"Is there a problem?" the older guard asked.
The young guard straightened. "Sir! This one's being uncooperative."
The older guard looked at Hayato.
For a fraction of a second—
Their eyes met.
The older guard felt it.
Not the aura.
The weight behind it.
"…Identification," he said carefully. "For verification."
Hayato nodded and reached into his coat.
He produced a card.
The Adventurer Guild emblem gleamed faintly.
The older guard took it.
Then froze.
His pupils shrank.
A bead of sweat slid down his temple.
"Th-this… looks to be in order," he said quickly, handing it back with both hands."You may enter."
Hayato accepted the card and passed through without another word.
---
The moment Hayato disappeared into the city—
THUD.
The older guard smacked the younger one on the back of the head.
"Ow! What was that for?!" the young guard snapped.
The older guard glared at him.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"What? He was just some nobody in a mask!"
The older guard leaned in, voice low and furious.
"That 'nobody' was registered as an SSS-rank adventurer."
The color drained from the young guard's face.
"…W-what?"
"One step below Calamity-Class," the older guard continued coldly."And you thought poking him was a good idea?"
The younger guard swallowed hard.
"I—I didn't feel any aura—"
"And that," the older guard snapped,"is exactly why you should have shut your mouth."
---
Inside the city, Hayato blended into the crowd.
Festival noise washed over him—music, laughter, vendors shouting deals, adventurers boasting loudly or watching quietly. He adjusted his mask slightly and continued toward the market.
Same city.Different faces.
Above the rooftops, the Academy bells rang.
---
POV: Claire & Olivia
The Academy bells echoed across the grounds, signaling the end of the opening ceremony.
Students poured out of the assembly hall in clusters—some buzzing with excitement, others already complaining about the length of the speeches. Senior students guided traffic calmly, while instructors lingered nearby, making sure order didn't collapse the moment formality ended.
Claire stretched her arms as she stepped outside, letting out a long breath.
"…That was longer than I expected."
Olivia nodded beside her."Ceremonies are always longer when nobles are watching."
Claire puffed her cheeks."Still. I thought my legs were going to fall asleep."
They walked together toward the Academy gates, blending into the flow of students leaving the grounds.
"So," Olivia said after a moment, "what do you want to do now?"
Claire blinked. "Huh?"
"The trial tournament doesn't start for a while," Olivia continued."We could head back later and meet again at the central arena… or do something else first."
Claire hummed thoughtfully.
"Honestly," she said, "I don't feel like sitting around again right away."
Olivia smiled faintly. "I thought you'd say that."
"The market's still open, right?" Claire asked."With all the stalls and food?"
"It is," Olivia confirmed. "Probably even more crowded than usual."
"That's fine," Claire replied immediately. "I want to look around. Maybe eat something. Or just… walk."
Olivia studied her for a moment.
"You're in a good mood," she observed.
Claire looked away, trying—and failing—to hide her smile.
"Well… today is the first day," she said."Everyone's here today. It just feels… different."
Olivia glanced at her, then smiled faintly."Yeah. I get what you mean."
They passed through the Academy gates and into the city streets beyond.
The atmosphere was lively—banners stretched between buildings, vendors shouted cheerfully, adventurers moved through the crowd in all manner of gear. Knights and soldiers patrolled with visible vigilance, while students from the Academy filled the streets.
"It's like a festival," Claire said, eyes darting from stall to stall.
"It basically is," Olivia replied. "Every year, they use the Academy opening as an excuse to make money."
Claire laughed. "At least they're honest about it."
They slowed their pace, letting the crowd carry them forward.
"So," Olivia said casually, "market first, then arena?"
"Yeah," Claire nodded. "We still have time before the trials start."
She paused, then added, "And… I don't want to miss anything."
Olivia smiled, noticing the way Claire's gaze lingered on the bustling streets ahead.
"Alright," she said. "But if you buy another useless magic trinket, don't ask me to carry it."
Claire gasped. "They're not useless!"
Olivia raised an eyebrow.
"…Most of them are."
Claire huffed but laughed, quickening her steps.
They continued deeper into the market, unaware that somewhere nearby, another pair of eyes was already moving through the same crowd.