In the original work, the capital was a hub for many plot points. Characters would move from one location to another in the blink of an eye, making it seem quite convenient.
However, for the current Cain, the capital was a very real city. He had no idea how long it would take just to explore the place.
Therefore, he decided to head to the Adventurers’ Association first.
In a world governed by swords and magic, an Adventurers’ Association almost certainly existed, and such a place was bound to have maps. For the current Cain, who was short on funds but eager to test his skills, it was the perfect destination.
The Adventurers’ Association in the capital was quite formal and impressive in appearance. Inside, there were no stereotypical lowlifes drinking themselves into a stupor in broad daylight, whistling at beautiful women, or mocking newcomers.
Everyone in the association, from the female receptionist at the front desk to the adventurers coming and going, exuded a sense of professional decorum.
This was not actually surprising. Although the setting of the original work appeared to be medieval, various details suggested it could pass for the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. In some aspects, one could even argue it approached the twenty-first century.
Since it was a fictional world to begin with, nothing was truly out of place.
Regardless, Cain approached the receptionist and explained his desire to borrow a map.
The receptionist was surprised that someone would come to the association just to look at a map, but she politely provided one for him.
After expressing his thanks, Cain took the map to a seat in a corner of the hall to study it in detail.
The royal palace library naturally had maps as well, and Cain had certainly looked at them, but he wanted to see the differences between the palace’s collection and civilian maps.
As it turned out, there were slight differences in the finer details, but they were largely the same. This allowed Cain to relax.
After confirming the map’s contents, Cain returned it to the receptionist and asked a few basic questions.
Because Cain was kind, well-mannered, and possessed a fairly handsome face, the receptionist was happy to chat with him.
Originally, Cain had been considering whether or not to establish an identity as an adventurer.
It would serve as a means of earning money.
However, just as he was contemplating this secondary identity, a familiar, cheerful voice rang out behind him.
“My, isn’t this Mr. Cain? What a coincidence — to think I would run into you here.”
The owner of the voice was, of course, Vita.
Cain was somewhat surprised to hear Vita’s voice in such a place.
Without thinking too much about it, he turned around.
The sight that met his eyes was even more startling.
In stark contrast to the Vita he had seen in the royal palace, her current appearance was completely different from head to toe.
It would have been understandable if she had simply swapped her ornate royal gown for the plain clothing of a common citizen.
But now, even Vita’s hair color and style had changed. She had originally possessed standard long, straight black hair, but now she sported a single brown braid draped over her shoulder.
Her outfit had been replaced with one resembling a mage’s attire, complete with a hat and a magic book in her hand.
She looked like a mage one might find anywhere.
If not for her voice and her face, Cain might not have recognized her.
“My, if it isn’t Miss Verity! It has been quite a while since I last saw you.”
While Cain was still processing his surprise, the receptionist he had been chatting with greeted her warmly using a name Cain didn’t recognize at all.
“That’s right. I’ve been busy elsewhere and only returned to the capital yesterday. I didn’t expect to meet Mr. Cain here. Tell me, do you have some time? I believe we have much to discuss.”
Using her disguised identity, Vita spoke with fluid naturalness. After smiling and chatting with the receptionist for a moment, she turned the conversation back to Cain, who was intentionally remaining silent.
Having no reason to refuse, Cain agreed. Under the watchful eyes of the receptionist, Cain returned the map and went back to the corner of the hall where he had sat before.
Only this time, a ‘lady mage’ who looked quite skilled in magic sat across from him.
“…A very impressive disguise. If you had intentionally masked your personality as well, I might not have dared to recognize you.”
After sitting down, Cain smiled and gave Vita’s disguise a high evaluation.
“Is that so? Actually, I occasionally use this identity to move around so that people won’t recognize me — “
True to her flighty character, Vita accepted Cain’s praise with great pride, her face beaming with smiles.
“…So, is there something you need, Vita? You came here specifically looking for me, didn’t you?”
However, Vita’s friendly smile did not make Cain relax. After the brief pleasantries, Cain cut straight to the point.
In Cain’s view, Vita’s appearance was far too convenient.
No matter how he looked at it, she had come looking for him on purpose.
Therefore, it was only reasonable to ask why she was there.
“Yes. Actually, as soon as I returned to the palace this morning, the head maid told me that you were looking for me yesterday. I figured you must have something urgent, so I put on this disguise and came after you.”
Seeing that her attempt to play at intimacy had failed and that Cain had once again maintained his distance, Vita was undoubtedly annoyed.
She hated how Cain didn’t seem to take her seriously, just like that woman did, treating her like an outsider.
But she certainly couldn’t show it. When it came to acting, she was quite confident.
She dropped her flighty demeanor, straightened her expression, and explained her reasoning.
Hearing Vita say this, Cain was momentarily stunned.
He immediately felt a bit ashamed.
He had subconsciously assumed that Vita had sought him out for some ulterior motive, like dragging him around to play because she was bored.
He hadn’t expected it to be such a sensible reason.
Come to think of it, he really had been looking for her yesterday afternoon, only to find she wasn’t there.
He truly hadn’t expected her to put on a disguise and come looking for him as soon as she returned this morning.
“…I’m sorry. I thought for sure you were here to tell me to go back.”
Realizing his mistake, Cain offered a slight, apologetic smile, feeling sorry for doubting Vita.
That was right; the Second Prince in the original work was a character who appeared flighty but was actually quite reliable. Why was he doubting Vita instead?
It was likely because he had been attacked two nights in a row, causing him to be subconsciously wary of any woman who approached him of her own accord.
It was uncalled for; he truly owed her an apology.
Cain’s blunt apology caught Vita off guard.
‘Huh? He apologized just like that? Even though he’s the same person as that woman? Could he be different? No, impossible! He’s definitely just saying it. He doesn’t feel sorry at all!’
Vita associated Cain with Corellia and hated them both equally, so Cain’s apology did not satisfy her.
If anything, it made her even more dissatisfied.
A trace of hatred and annoyance flashed in the depths of her blood-red pupils.
— Yet, even deeper within, there was a flicker of longing and fear that she herself didn’t seem to notice.
***
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Though it’s twenty minutes late, it still counts as the second update for today; after all, if I haven’t slept, it’s not the next day yet.
There are enough monthly tickets, so I’ll keep aiming for three or at least two updates tomorrow.
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