Vol3 Chapter 29 Conveniently timed holiday

The following morning, Class A was unusually relaxed.

The students had barely settled into their seats when Professor Selene walked into the classroom, carrying a small stack of papers. She placed them on the desk and looked over the room.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Professor."

Selene nodded.

"Before we begin today's lesson, I have an announcement."

The room immediately quieted.

Several students exchanged glances. Amos, sitting near the window, lazily rested his cheek against one hand.

Selene picked up one of the papers.

"Starting tomorrow, all first-year students will be given a one-week holiday."

The classroom went silent.

Then—

"What?"

"Seriously?"

"A whole week?!"

Several students immediately began whispering excitedly. Even some of the usually composed students looked surprised.

Selene raised a hand.

"Please, let me finish."

The room gradually quieted.

"This holiday has been arranged to give you time to yourselves after completing the entrance examinations and beginning your studies here at Arianne Academy."

She glanced across the class.

"For those of you whose families live nearby, you may return home if you wish. Those who live farther away may remain at the academy. The dormitories and essential academy facilities will remain available throughout the week."

A few students immediately started discussing travel plans.

"I can finally go home!"

"My mother is going to force me to tell her everything about the academy."

"I wonder if my siblings have missed me."

Selene continued.

"Consider this a period of rest. Your admission examination was demanding, and your first days here have been equally hectic. Use the week however you see fit."

Amos listened quietly.

He slowly sat upright.

...A week off?

His eyes narrowed slightly.

How convenient.

He looked toward the window.

The timing was almost suspicious.

Almost too convenient.

Amos's expression became increasingly thoughtful.

One week off immediately after I started at the academy...

A pause.

One week where I have absolutely nothing scheduled.

His eyes slowly narrowed.

And coincidentally, I still have an adventurer identity that I've barely had time to deal with.

He stared blankly ahead.

What a perfectly convenient holiday.

A strange feeling came over him.

It's almost as if some shitty author deliberately created a one-week break so I could finally deal with my adventurer persona.

Amos paused.

...

He blinked.

Wait.

He looked around the classroom. He quietly returned his gaze to the front.

Fourth-wall jokes aside...

His expression became serious.

I really should deal with that.

His adventurer identity had been sitting in the back of his mind ever since Karos send that letter.

"One more thing."

The class quieted again.

"Although this is a holiday, remember that you are now students of Arianne Academy. Don't cause trouble that forces the academy to receive complaints from your families."

Selene sighed.

"I am looking at certain people in this room."

Amos glanced around.

She's not looking at me, right?

Selene's eyes briefly settled on him.

Amos immediately looked out the window.

Definitely not me.

Selene continued.

"You are dismissed once today's lessons conclude. The holiday officially begins tomorrow morning."

A wave of excitement swept through the classroom again.

Amos leaned back in his chair.

One week.

At last, he could take care of his adventurer business.

A faint smile crossed his face.

This might actually be peaceful.

From the seat nearby, someone suddenly spoke.

"Amos."

He looked over.

"What?"

Estelle smiled.

"What are you doing during the holiday?"

Amos stared at her.

"...Nothing."

Outside the window, the peaceful afternoon sky stretched endlessly above Arianne Academy.

***

The moment the holiday officially began, Amos didn't waste any time.

He left the academy grounds, changed into something less recognizable, and headed straight toward his Adventurer's Guild.

Unlike his usual academy attire, there was nothing particularly noble about his appearance now. He kept his movements casual, his expression relaxed, and his presence deliberately subdued.

Amos pushed open the guild doors.

The familiar buzz welcomed him at once. The main hall bustled with adventurers—some sipping drinks, others deep in talk about quests—while receptionists managed the steady flow of requests and paperwork. Amos took a moment to scan the room.

He knew Karos was currently going by the name Eoghan, and this was the base where that persona stayed. Amos found a quiet spot off to the side of the hall, took a seat, and crossed his arms.

Now I wait.

A few adventurers shot him curious looks, but Amos paid them no mind. He wasn’t too worried about being recognized—so long as no one linked this look to the Kyros heir studying at Arianne Academy, everything would be fine. Leaning back, he settled in comfortably.

One week.

He had finally found the time to deal with this.

Karos.

Amos glanced at the guild entrance. Nothing. He waited. Minutes slipped by—first a few, then ten, then twenty. His face gradually settled into a blank expression.

"..."

He rested his chin against his hand.

She's late.

Another ten minutes.

Still nothing.

Amos sighed.

"Where is she?"

The receptionist behind the counter glanced at him.

"Excuse me?"

Amos immediately shook his head.

"Nothing."

He looked back toward the entrance.

Karos.

A faint smile appeared.

I'm giving you one week.

His smile disappeared.

Don't make me spend it on waiting.

***

The guild's main doors opened.

The conversations throughout the hall gradually quieted.

Amos lifted his head.

A silver-armored adventurer stepped through the doorway, a dark cloak falling behind him as he entered, a weapon secured at his side. His posture was relaxed, yet there was something about his presence that immediately drew attention.

Eoghan Rise.

"Eoghan's back."

"He just returned from another A-rank request."

"Already?"

"Of course. It's Eoghan."

It had been five years since Eoghan and Selena started their lives as adventurers, three of those spent together. After Selena supposedly returned to their hometown, Eoghan chose to remain behind and continue adventuring alone. That was the story, and by now it seemed convincing enough that no one bothered to question it.

Eoghan strolled up to the reception counter. The adventurers stepped aside without hesitation—not from fear, but from respect. A young adventurer leaned toward his companion and whispered.

"He's A-rank, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then why does he keep taking those low-rank requests?"

His companion shrugged.

"You mean the ones nobody wants?"

"Yeah."

"Those aren't profitable."

"I know."

"Sometimes there's barely any reward at all."

The veteran adventurer glanced toward Eoghan.

"That's exactly why he takes them."

The younger adventurer frowned.

"What?"

"Remember that village request from last month?"

"The one where the reward was almost nothing?"

"That one."

"No one wanted it."

"Because the place was too far away and the job itself wasn't worth the travel."

The veteran smiled faintly.

"Eoghan went anyway."

Another adventurer joined the conversation.

"Same with that old couple's request."

"And the missing livestock?"

"Eoghan handled that too."

"Those weren't even A-rank jobs."

"They didn't need an A-rank adventurer."

The veteran shrugged.

"But someone needed to do them."

Eoghan’s reputation wasn’t just about his strength—it came from the way he helped people. He took on tasks with no pay, jobs far below his rank, and work others found too much trouble to bother with. The younger adventurer couldn’t help but look at him with admiration.

"That's why people like him."

"Not just that."

The veteran shook his head.

"He's strong enough to take A-rank requests alone, but he doesn't act like he's above everyone else."

He paused.

"That's rare."

Amos quietly smiled.

She's doing a good job.

At the counter, Karos handed several completed documents to the receptionist.

The receptionist looked through them.

"Another A-rank?"

"Yes."

"Completed already?"

"Yes."

The receptionist sighed.

"You really make our paperwork difficult."

Karos tilted her head.

"Why?"

"Because we keep expecting you to take longer."

"I apologize."

The receptionist stared at her.

"...You don't sound sorry."

"I am not."

The receptionist sighed.

A few adventurers laughed.

She's getting too comfortable with that identity.

Then someone near the request board spoke.

"Eoghan."

Karos turned.

A middle-aged adventurer approached.

"There's another request."

Karos waited.

"It's only C-rank."

"I see."

"The reward is terrible."

"I see."

"And nobody wants it."

Karos looked toward the request board.

"Why?"

"The people requesting it live outside the city. It's not dangerous, but it's troublesome. Takes too long for the reward."

Karos considered it for a moment.

"Where?"

The adventurer gave her the location.

Karos nodded.

"I'll take it."

The man blinked.

"You're serious?"

"Yes."

"But you're A-rank."

"I know."

"You could take an A-rank request instead."

Karos calmly shrugged.

"They need help."

The adventurer stared at her.

Then smiled.

"That's Eoghan for you."

The surrounding adventurers nodded. Amos leaned back in his chair.

Yep.

Definitely Karos.

He watched as she accepted the request without hesitation.

Then he noticed someone else approaching.

A large man with a confident posture walked through the guild.

Several adventurers immediately recognized him.

"Ludvig."

"The leader of High Lance."

Ludvig was an experienced adventurer and the leader of the renowned team.

He glanced toward the request board before his eyes settled on Eoghan.

A faint smile appeared.

"Eoghan."

Karos turned.

"Ludvig."

Ludvig walked closer.

"I heard you cleared another A-rank request solo again."

"Yes."

"You're making the rest of us look bad."

Karos tilted her head.

"I did not intend to."

Ludvig laughed.

"I know."

He glanced toward the low-rank request in Karos's hand.

"You're taking that one too?"

"Yes."

"It's barely worth anything."

"I know."

"Why?"

Karos looked at the request.

"They need help."

Ludvig stared at her for a moment.

Then shook his head with a smile.

"You're going to become S-rank any day now."

A few nearby adventurers immediately looked over.

Someone whispered.

"S-rank..."

Another nodded.

"He's already A-rank."

"At this rate, you'll be knocking on the door of S-rank soon."

Ludvig folded his arms.

"Your ability is already there. Whether the guild gives you the rank is another matter, but if it were up to me, you'd already be one."

Karos simply answered:

"I have no problem with A-rank."

Ludvig laughed.

"Of course you don't."

He looked toward the other adventurers.

"That's probably why everyone respects you."

Karos said nothing.

Ludvig walked away.

Amos watched the entire exchange.

Eligible for S-rank...

He glanced toward the adventurer.

He created identity of Eoghan Rise five years ago.

Back then, it was just a handy adventurer persona. Now that identity had become an A-rank with a reputation for helping others, strong enough to be eyed for S-rank, and someone people truly admired.

As if sensing something, Eoghan suddenly turned her head, her eyes locking onto him. Amos froze, and for a moment, neither of them moved. Then Karos began walking toward him. The nearby adventurers looked on with interest as their esteemed A-rank comrade approached an unfamiliar young man. Karos came to a stop right in front of Amos.

In her Eoghan voice, she said calmly:

"You are late."

Amos stared at her.

"I've been waiting for you."

Karos considered that.

"...Then I am late."

"Yes."

"Understood."

Amos sighed.

"Let's find somewhere private."

Karos nodded.

"Agreed."

The two walked away from the main hall.

Behind them, the adventurers began whispering again.

"Who was that?"

"I don't know."

"Someone Eoghan knows?"

"Probably."