Chapter 42

The chill of the early morning air swept past.

As the faint sky gradually brightened the forest, I quietly headed towards the back mountain with a bow slung across my back.

My father’s old bow hung with its familiar weight on my back.

‘Today, I will surely catch a deer!’

A different voice echoed in the back of my mind.

‘Someday, I’ll go beyond this forest… to a wider world…’

I recalled my grandfather’s stories.

The elves I met at the world tree that seemed to touch the sky.

The merfolk merchants I encountered at the oasis after crossing the endless desert.

The dwarves running a forge in the deep cave city.

Even the mysterious mermaids seen while sailing across the golden-hued sea.

My grandfather was an A-rank adventurer.

The tales I had listened to as a child while sitting on his lap sparked a small flame in my heart.

“Grandfather, I want to become an adventurer when I grow up!”

“Good, if Lewi spreads its wings and flies to a broader world, that would be splendid.”

I still vividly remember the smile he gave back then.

But after saying that, Grandfather left for his next adventure…

And never returned.

The sound of leaves crunching underfoot echoed silently in the forest.

I walked against the wind as father had taught me, carefully observing the surroundings.

I had to look out for any tracks, such as hoofprints, broken branches, or gnawed bark.

My brown hair stuck to my forehead.

People said I took after father with my hair color, but I also inherited mother’s slim build.

The folks in the village said I grew up with only the best qualities from my parents — a multitasking housewife mother and a seasoned hunter father.

Father wanted me to become a great hunter like him.

But that was his second life.

I accidentally discovered that Father had been an adventurer once.

One night, while he was drunk and chatting with mother, I overheard their conversation.

After losing a comrade in the Demon Realm and barely surviving countless brushes with d*ath, he eventually gave up on the adventurer lifestyle.

And he settled down in his hometown and met mother.

That’s why?

While father wished for me to become a hunter, when he taught me archery, it felt like he was teaching me to be an adventurer.

Of course, that was probably unconscious on his part.

“Chirp chirp chirp…”

A sparrow twittered as it flew past my head.

Because it was still before dawn, the birds seemed half-asleep as they chirped.

Father said one could tell if there were large animals nearby just by these birds’ sounds, but I couldn’t yet discern such subtle differences.

After walking around the mountain for a couple of hours, I sensed something moving a little way off.

I cautiously raised my bow.

I drew an arrow and tautly pulled it back.

At that moment, a rabbit darted out of the bushes with a rustle.

I quickly shot an arrow, but the rabbit disappeared into another thicket in an instant.

“Clang!”

“Ahh…”

A sigh involuntarily escaped me.

As I searched the bushes, I eventually managed to find the rabbit again.

‘This time for sure…’

“Clang!”

I shot another arrow and caught the rabbit, yet I could sense my skills were still lacking.

“I’m not there yet…”

As I was heading home, I heard a familiar voice.

“Sis! Sis!”

With her red hair fluttering, my younger sister Lea came running toward me. She looked just like mother when she was little, complete with adorable dimples — it felt like looking at a miniature version of my mother from her childhood. Her neatly tied up hair was on the verge of coming undone.

“Lea, be careful as you run!”

“Wow! You caught a rabbit!”

Lea looked at the rabbit in my hand, her eyes filled with amazement.

“Yup, only this much though…”

“Great! I can’t even draw the bow properly yet!”

Lea looked at the rabbit with sparkling eyes.

“Sis, I want to sh**t a bow like sis!”

“You’re still too young…”

“Huh, but sis was already learning the bow when you were my age!”

Her comment brought a smirk to my face.

Lea seemed just like me when I was younger.

“Well, I’ll ask dad next time.”

“Really? Yay!”

Lea jumped around excitedly.

“By the way, Lea, why did you come out so early?”

“Oh! That’s right! Mom sent me on an errand to find sis!”

By the time I got home, father had already gone out hunting.

I headed towards the kitchen with the rabbit.

“Mom, I’m back.”

“Our daughter has worked hard, eh.”

Mom welcomed me with her usual kind voice, her red hair neatly tied back. The morning sunlight illuminated her hair through the kitchen window, making it shine like a blazing flame. The faint aroma of herbs wafted through the small kitchen.

“Today, I only got the rabbit…”

I shyly held out the rabbit.

“Still, you caught something. Father mentioned he was the same when he started. You’re doing well.”

Mother patted my head.

Her touch carried the familiar scent of herbs.

“Lewi, can you go to the village and pick up a few things for me?”

Mother handed me a piece of parchment.

On it were listed honey and a few spices.

“Okay, I’ll be right back!”

The path leading to the village through the mountain always felt exciting.

The sunlight filtering through the towering trees seemed to dance. Wild violets bloomed by the trail, and the creek sparkled as it flowed. The distant sounds of the village seemed pleasant.

As I rested by the river for a moment, a merchant’s cart passed by.

“So, have you heard how great Hetshet Empire Academy is?”

“Hmph, it’s a place for nobles only.”

“Not true, I hear commoners can attend if they have the skill! Though the tuition is exorbitantly expensive…”

The merchants’ conversation caught my ear.

“Academy…”

‘You can only enter at the age of 16, right?’

I calculated my age. In four years, I would reach the age where I could enroll.

It was a place I never thought about before.

Of course, it would be impossible due to the tuition.

…

When I arrived at the village, the atmosphere felt different from usual.

The normally quiet streets were bustling with people, and shops had more items on display than usual.

The streets had been swept clean, and the air buzzed with excitement.

“What’s going on…”

As I stood bewildered, hoofbeats came from afar.

“The Third Prince!”

Someone shouted, and the crowd quickly moved aside.

Without realizing it, I had stepped back into a corner.

And…

It felt as if time had stopped at that moment.

The youth who emerged from the magnificent royal carriage was like a prince from a fairytale.

His golden hair shone brilliantly in the morning sunlight, and his sky-blue eyes were deep like a clear lake.

He looked so dignified it was hard to believe he was only 13.

“Ah…”

Something fluttered in my chest.

It was a feeling I had never experienced before.

The Third Prince slowly dismounted.

Up close, he was even more dazzling.

Although he wasn’t very tall, his upright posture left a strong impression.

At that moment, the Third Prince’s gaze met mine.

It felt like my breath was momentarily taken away.

The warm smile that came when our eyes met…

Was like the sunlight of spring.

“Ah… this must be fate…”

My heart began to race.

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks.

Talking with the merchants, his appearance was picture-perfect.

At an old woman’s fruit stand, he kindly bought and tasted the fruit while complimenting it, showing no arrogance at all.

My heart raced.

This was a feeling I had never experienced before.

Different from the excitement of hearing my grandfather’s adventure stories, different from the joy of a successful hunt, this feeling was like the mysterious sensation of the first sprout budding in spring.

I remained there, gazing after the Third Prince as he left.

How much time had passed?

‘Right… the errand…’

I came to my senses and pulled out the errand list.

Honey and spices…

“Lewi? How about this honey? It’s freshly arrived…”

“Huh? Oh, sure…”

The shopkeeper’s words barely registered in my ears.

The Prince’s image kept flashing before my eyes, especially that warm smile that continued to linger in my mind.

“Lewi? It’s a bit expensive, but…”

“Oh, sure! I’ll take this.”

I left the spot absentmindedly.

It was the same with the spices.

I didn’t even haggle or check the price properly.

“Lewi! Is that really Lewi?”

A familiar voice turned my head.

It was Sister Sophie, an old friend from childhood.

“Sophie Sister! Long time no see!”

“It truly has been a long time! They said you spent your time in the mountains, so it was hard to see you.”

Sister Sophie greeted me warmly with a hug.

“It’s because I’ve been busy learning hunting with dad.”

“But… your face is really red. Did you see the Third Prince earlier?”

Sophie gave me a teasing look.

“A… no! I was just on an errand…”

My flustered response made Sophie giggle.

“Come on, your face is so red~ I saw him too! He was really cool, wasn’t he?”

“Yeah… he truly was amazing…”

An involuntary sigh escaped my lips.

“Hey, listen. They say the Third Prince will enter Hetshet Empire Academy in three years. By that time, you’ll be around the right age too, right?”

Sophie’s words were probably a joke, but a new dream was already budding in my heart.

If I were 16 and could enter the academy, the Third Prince would already be in his second year…

Could I meet him again there?

The path to the wider world showcased by my grandfather.

If I could meet the Third Prince again on that journey…

‘I must become an adventurer right away and earn some money for tuition…’

…

As I returned home, I saw father coming back from hunting.

He looked impressive carrying a large deer, the sweat on his brown hair gleaming in the sunlight.

“Amazing… I could barely catch a rabbit today…”

“Ah, Lewi. On your way back from the errand?”

“Yeah! And dad?”

“Meh.”

Though he seemed modest, that deer was not an easy catch with average skills.

Father and I arrived home just as mother was preparing dinner.

“Lewi, come help me a bit.”

“Okay!”

As I helped mother prepare dinner, my mind was preoccupied.

How should I bring up the topic of the academy?

And the subject of becoming an adventurer…

During dinner when the entire family was gathered, I carefully began.

“Dad, mom… I have something to say.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

Father put down his chopsticks.

“I… want to go to the academy.”

The table fell silent instantly.

“To study… and to learn more.”

“Lewi…”

Father’s eyes looked complicated.

“I’m sorry… if I had earned more money, you would have…”

“Not at all! I’ll earn the money! In fact, I’ve always wanted to become an adventurer!”

The table suddenly froze.

Leah looked worriedly between me and our parents.

“An adventurer?”

Father shouted loudly.

That moment, his eyes looked different from before, as if recalling something old.

“No way! That’s far too dangerous!”

Mother was startled and waved her hands frantically.

Her red hair swayed, a trace of sorrow flickering in her eyes.

“Dad… I know. That you were once an adventurer…”

The table was quiet again.

Father’s expression hardened.

“At the Demon Realm… losing comrades also…”

“Who… who told you such stories…”

“Accidentally… heard it one night…”

Mother quietly grasped father’s hand.

Leah looked bewildered, silently looking at us.

“But I can do it! I can use the archery skills I’ve learned from dad and more…”

“You want to be like your grandfather, don’t you.”

Mother’s quiet voice broke through.

“Mom…”

“My father… always told you those adventure stories. But eventually…”

Mother’s voice trembled.

“Still, I can do it! I’ll become an S-rank adventurer!”

“Do you even know what you’re talking about yet!”

Father slammed the table.

Leah startled at the sound.

“Please trust me, dad. The archery I’ve learned from you… and your teachings on being thorough and observant of my surroundings…”

Silence ensued for a while.

Father’s stern expression seemed to soften slightly.

“I don’t mind the academy… If that’s your wish, I’ll figure out a way to send you there. But absolutely no way in becoming an adventurer.”

Father’s voice was firm, but a trembling hint could be sensed under it.

“Then… then, I’ll train until dad approves. When dad recognizes that I’ve become strong enough… please allow me to become an adventurer then.”

“Lewi…”

Mother gave me a worried look.

“Please. I… I also know that the life of an adventurer is dangerous. But it’s what I’ve been dreaming of. While listening to grandfather’s stories… while being taught by dad…”

Leah quietly grasped my hand.

Warmth passed through her little hand.

Silence stretched for a moment more.

Father and mother looked at each other.

“Hmm… alright.”

Finally, father spoke.

“I’ll train you myself. If you don’t meet my standards, it’s absolutely not allowed.”

Father’s gaze was still resolute, but there was a hint of pride lurking in it.

“Really? Thank you, dad!”

“Lewi… be careful.”

Mother hugged me tightly.

“Yes! Thank you, mom.”

Leah jumped and cheered happily.

“Sis! Let me learn too!”

From the next day, my special training began.

No longer just the daughter of a hunter, but as a girl dreaming to become an S-rank adventurer…

And…

Awaiting the day to meet the Third Prince again.