Alright, there’s no way to explain this now, even if I tried.
Saying something like, “Actually, I got this equipment by summoning it through ‘Wishing’” just sounds like a dream—whether or not it sounds believable doesn’t matter anymore. If the knight before me actually bought that story, wouldn’t she just be even more shocked?
Instead of making things messier, Weiss simply chose not to argue any further. Let her think whatever she likes.
“So even if you say that… What’s your point? Why do you have to follow me, of all people? With your skills, you could make a name for yourself anywhere else, right?”
“To receive such praise from Lord Weiss, Fiya is deeply honored. But just as a fish must eventually swim free, from the river to the sea, all paths ultimately lead to the same end—since fate has allowed me to see the signposts ahead of time, why bother taking the long way around?”
Fiya made no attempt to hide her feelings, her tone earnest and heartfelt.
Weiss, of course, could understand what she meant.
Once you leave the fast track of the army, if you want to rise above the rest in this world, the paths you can choose are actually quite limited.
If you want to earn a status by showing your personal strength, achievements matter a great deal. Becoming a “hero” is a shortcut.
Which, inevitably, means you can’t avoid the “Calamities.”
Subjugating Aberrations and fending off the Tides of Calamity—disasters that both high-ranking nobles and common folk alike wish to avoid at all costs—are, ironically, the very opportunities for someone with this sort of ambition to stand out.
It’s a gamble: stake your strength and your life—either you end up as ashes in a silent field, or return triumphant as a hero.
Although in truth, Weiss’s true goals and what Fiya imagined couldn’t be further apart,
But to earn more Wishing Power by taking dangerous commissions, you more or less have to deal with Aberrations.
All in all, that’s where their paths cross. Even if they part ways now, it wouldn’t be strange if they crossed paths again in the future.
(So rather than go it alone, it’s better to find a dependable backer—no, I should say… a senior to follow would be more convenient… It’s like the saying, “A wise bird chooses a good tree,” isn’t it?)
Weiss let out a sigh.
“I’m sorry, I’m really not as impressive as you think. You’ll only end up disappointed—”
“No, please don’t say that.”
Fiya clasped her hands together, as if something had inspired her.
It felt as if the impression she had of the man before her wasn’t just based on what she had seen and felt herself, but relied more on some other, more authoritative judgment.
“Even if my experience is limited and my understanding of Lord Weiss is only partial, and my judgment may be off. But—Captain Lortisya can’t be wrong!”
“Eh?”
Weiss blinked in confusion.
What’s this got to do with Tisya?
A look of near-reverence flickered in Fiya’s eyes. She leaned forward, her voice trembling slightly with excitement.
“The Kingdom’s strongest Captain holds you in very high regard, treats you with exceptional consideration, Lord Weiss. She must have seen your potential.”
Potential? What kind of marketplace potential is that? Weiss felt his face grow hot at the compliment.
Others might judge him based on results,
But he knew all too well—someone as skilled as the young Captain could see right through him in a second.
Maybe he could bluff a little with the equipment and tools he got from Wishing, but in the end, he couldn’t hide his lack of talent. In terms of magic and physical ability, he was still just average.
And yet, that was exactly what made it strange for Weiss.
(That’s right—why is Tisya so friendly with me… No, it’s more than friendly—why so close?)
Weiss had met people who were kind to him before.
The good-hearted inn receptionist, the opportunistic merchant boss, or those with hidden motives trying to cozy up—he’d seen all kinds.
The difference was, someone with a good heart would treat everyone kindly, while those with ulterior motives always had a certain slyness to their act.
But Lortisya was different.
After spending the past few days with her, Weiss had noticed that she seemed to treat everyone else in a completely different way.
Cold and aloof, like a flower named Lortisya blooming on a high cliff, but also accompanied by a sword hanging sharply at the edge, keeping others at a respectful distance and in awe.
If it was because she wanted something—well, she definitely wasn’t that kind of person.
More importantly, from the moment he was first brought back to the camp by the young Captain—even before he’d demonstrated the power of his tools and equipment—she’d already shown him special care.
She’d arranged for people to carefully treat his wounds, checked up on him as soon as he woke, and even had his gear repaired and cleaned…
All those little details—Weiss remembered every single one of them.
If this was just how she treated mercenaries in general,
Well, she couldn’t possibly invite every mercenary into the bathhouse, treating them with such frankness and without the slightest barrier, right?
If he had once thought the young Captain was simply that forthright and uninhibited, now Weiss couldn’t help but find it puzzling.
(It can’t be… she’s interested in my body, right? As if. I’m no Yan Zu, Li Ming, or Peng Yu Yan…)
At this point, Weiss nearly couldn’t keep a straight face himself.
If we’re talking about looks, this world is certainly not lacking in handsome men and beautiful women.
Even if he wasn’t ugly, after crossing over he was still just average—just another face in the crowd.
Low power, low looks, low value—he really couldn’t imagine what about him could possibly catch the eye of the Kingdom’s strongest Captain.
So—
“It’s probably… just my imagination…”
After holding it in for a long while, Weiss could only mumble that conclusion, even he felt it was just an excuse.
But Fiya straightened up, unconsciously putting on a look that brooked no argument:
“Lord Weiss, it’s not your imagination. Of this much, I am certain. Based on what we know about Lady Lortisya, and—woman’s intuition!”
“Huh?”
This time, Weiss truly had nothing to say.
But before he could think further, as if called into being, the curtain at the door suddenly lifted—
A familiar, cool voice rang out:
“—Mopheana?”
The quiet murmur of conversation instantly ceased, leaving only a heavy silence in the room.
Speaking of someone behind their back only for that person to show up unexpectedly—Weiss was caught completely off guard and had no idea what to say.
Fiya bowed her head deeply, turning around to salute the young Captain.
“My deepest apologies for intruding upon your camp’s main tent without permission, Lady Lortisya. And, forgive my boldness in reporting to you: Lord Weiss has bestowed a new name upon me. Mopheana is no more—the one standing before you now is Fiya.”
“Fiya?”
It was clear from the woman’s cautious respect that there was also a hint of quiet pride, but Lortisya only swept a cool glance across her, giving nothing away, and turned her gaze back to Weiss.
“What were you two talking about just now?”
Weiss felt as though his heart had been seized.
“To be honest, we were talking about why you’re so good to me”—there was no way he could say that to her face, no matter how thick-skinned he was.
He hesitated, but Fiya stepped forward and answered on his behalf:
“Reporting to Lady Lortisya, we were waiting for Lord Weiss to decide on the path my future should take.”