Who Says I'm Not a Proper Adventurer?

"Nia came over to my place last time and forgot something. I'm here specifically to return it to her."

As he spoke, Lance pulled the Starlight Journey Scrapbook from inside his coat.

The scrapbook was beautifully decorated; from the outside, it certainly looked like a personal item belonging to a girl.

If Lance hadn't come up with a suitable excuse, Homman would have thrown anything he brought straight into the trash.

'That annoying old coot is always watching me like I'm a thief.'

'But he did have one good quality.'

'He respected Nia's privacy.'

'As long as he believed it was Nia's, the man would never open it himself to see what was inside.'

Lance sighed inwardly.

'It's a battle of wits just to give a gift.'

Homman stared suspiciously at Lance through the iron gate for a few long moments before finally reaching out and taking the scrapbook.

"I'll take it. You can go now. I'll give it to Nia."

"Okay, Uncle."

Lance replied obediently, then immediately turned and bolted.

Homman's furious roar immediately erupted behind him.

"You little brat! What did you just call me? Get back here! Explain yourself!"

Lance's brazen laughter echoed down the quiet street.

'Getting a rise out of the old man was just too easy.'

...

Meanwhile.

Up in her room on the second floor, Nia had apparently heard the commotion from the front yard.

She was sprawled lazily on her large, soft bed.

She wore a loose, white silk nightdress, her two fair legs dangling and swinging gently in the air.

By the light of her bedside lamp, she was intently studying a mysterious symbol on her wrist.

It was a strange insignia: a star wreathed in flames.

Hearing her uncle's booming voice from outside, Nia quickly pulled down her sleeve to cover the mark.

She slipped on a pair of fluffy slippers and hurried to the top of the stairs.

"Uncle, Auntie, what's going on outside?"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Homman pushed the door open, grumbling to himself as he entered.

Hearing his niece's voice, Homman looked up.

His furious expression instantly vanished, replaced by a doting smile.

"It's nothing, nothing at all."

Homman headed up the stairs, his tone gentle.

"It was just that brat, Lance. He said you left something at his place and made a special trip to bring it back."

Hearing this, Nia understood immediately.

Of course, she knew she hadn't left anything behind. It was obviously a story Lance had concocted to get past her uncle.

But she decided not to expose him.

"Oh, right..." Nia nodded, playing along. "I've been looking for it everywhere. I can't believe I left it there."

She said this as she hurried down the stairs.

She took the Starlight Journey Scrapbook from Homman's hands.

"Thank you, Uncle."

Nia looked up and gave Homman a sweet smile.

Seeing his niece's happy face, Homman felt all his earlier anger instantly melt away.

He felt completely soothed.

He was, after all, hopelessly devoted to the girl he saw as a daughter.

His sister-in-law had sent Nia to live with them when she was very young.

Childless himself, Homman had always doted on Nia, raising her as if she were his own flesh and blood.

That was why every time he saw Lance getting close to Nia, he felt like his own precious, perfect cabbage was being rooted up by a wild boar.

He gave Lance a hard time about everything.

It was all born from the fierce reluctance of a father figure to let go.

Nia scampered back to her room.

She threw herself onto her soft bed.

After burying her face and nuzzling her pillow for a moment, she rolled over to look at the beautifully decorated gift in her hands.

'This looks incredibly expensive.'

'It must have cost Lance a fortune.'

To be honest, any resentment she'd felt had long since vanished.

She had run off to White River City in a fit of anger a while back, largely because she'd felt so embarrassed after crying that night.

She felt she shouldn't have taken her negative feelings out on her best friend, and felt terribly guilty thinking back on it.

During her time with Amber, she'd finally understood the real reason for her emotional breakdown that day.

She was afraid.

Afraid that distance and time would erode their precious friendship.

While her friends were all about to go out and see the magnificent sights of the world, she could only sit at the Guild's front desk, day after day, stamping mission requests.

She felt that their life paths were about to diverge, and she alone would be left far behind.

Flora was heading to the Holy Land Veridia to pursue her dream of Alchemy.

Amber was joining an Adventurer's Guild to protect her family.

And Lance... he had always been preparing to venture out into the wider world too.

In their small group of four, everyone had their own journey ahead of them. Only she couldn't see a path for her own future.

That was why she had resolved to leave Gray Rock Town for the first time a few days ago, to go to White River City and see the world outside.

And that brief trip had turned out to be quite the fantastical experience.

Nia rolled over and lay on her back.

'For now, I should see what this scrapbook Lance prepared for me is all about.'

She carefully opened the cover.

SLIP.

A neatly folded letter slid from between the pages.

Nia paused for a second, then picked up the letter and slowly unfolded it.

I'm sorry, Nia. I should have come after you to comfort you on the night of the housewarming party.

The future you described that day... it's the most wonderful future I've ever heard of, too.

But unfortunately, in this unpredictable world, it seems we're all holding tickets for different destinations.

Flora has her Truth to pursue, Amber has her family to protect, and I want to see the inscrutable Underground City and the wider continent for myself.

But Nia, leaving Gray Rock Town doesn't mean we're leaving you.

The Starlight Journey Scrapbook included with this letter is a Magic Item I came across by chance. If you insert the crystal slides, it can project the scenery they've recorded right into your room, as if it were real.

How about the four of us make a pact?

Since you love the vanilla bread and the clock tower in Gray Rock Town so much, you can stay here, safe and sound.

No matter where we go, we'll record the sights on these crystals and send them back to you in Gray Rock Town, to put inside this scrapbook.

You're not being left behind. You're our anchor.

You can just sit comfortably at home, eating freshly baked sweets, and travel the entire continent with us through this scrapbook.

And when this scrapbook is completely full, that's when we wandering fools will return to Gray Rock Town to tell you all our travel stories in person.

So, no more tears.

Your friend, forever sharing the view,

Lance.

When she saw the name signed at the bottom,

Nia's eyes instantly turned red, and hot tears began to fall like pearls from a broken string, streaming down her face uncontrollably.

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