Vol3 chapter 30 Exchanging place

Karos led Amos away from the Adventurer's Guild without saying much.

The evening streets were beginning to grow busier as people made their way home. Shopkeepers called out to passing customers, carts rolled through the streets, and the smell of freshly prepared food drifted from nearby stalls.

Amos walked beside Karos, occasionally glancing at her.

"So where are we going?"

"My residence."

Amos raised an eyebrow.

"Your residence?"

"As Eoghan."

"Right."

He looked ahead.

"So you've been staying somewhere in the city this whole time?"

"Yes."

"Somewhere decent?"

Karos paused.

"Yes."

Amos shot her a glance. Her reply hadn’t cleared up anything. They kept walking, but hadn’t gone far before a small voice called out from the side of the street.

"Eoghan!"

Karos came to a halt, and Amos glanced his way. A middle-aged woman approached quickly, a small basket of fresh fruit in her hands. She beamed as she reached Karos.

"You came back!"

Karos nodded.

"Yes."

The woman looked at Amos, then back at Eoghan.

"Is this your friend?"

Karos was silent for a moment.

"Something like that."

Amos glanced at her.

Something like that?

The woman smiled warmly.

"Well, I wanted to thank you again."

She held out the basket.

"Please take these."

Karos looked down.

"You don't need to."

"I know."

The woman laughed.

"But you helped my family. We couldn't pay you properly for what you did, so at least let us give you some food."

Karos hesitated.

Then accepted the basket.

"Thank you."

"Please come by again sometime."

"I will."

The woman smiled before turning to walk back toward her home. Amos watched her go, then shifted his gaze to Karos.

"You've helped her before?"

"Yes."

"That's why she gave you that?"

"Yes."

Amos looked at the basket.

There were apples, pears, several oranges, and a few other pieces of fresh fruit.

"Nice going."

Karos continued walking.

A few minutes later, another person recognized her.

"Eoghan!"

An elderly man stepped out from a small shop. Karos stopped again.

"Good evening."

The man smiled.

"I heard you were back."

"Yes."

He disappeared into the shop for a moment before returning with a wrapped package.

"Here."

Karos looked at it.

"What is this?"

"Fresh bread. My wife made too much."

"You don't have to give me this."

"We know."

The old man smiled.

"That's why we're giving it to you."

Karos accepted it.

"Thank you."

"Keep helping people, Eoghan."

"I will."

The man gave a nod and went back inside. Amos watched him go, then glanced at Karos, and finally at the steadily growing pile of food in her hands.

"You have quite a reputation."

Karos looked at him.

"I simply helped them."

"They seem to remember."

So this is what Eoghan has become.

They kept walking until the streets grew quieter. The buildings shifted too—shops looked more upscale, the roads cleaner, and the architecture far more elegant. Amos took it all in, glanced ahead, and lifted an eyebrow.

"...Where exactly are you taking me?"

Karos didn't answer.

They turned onto a wide, beautifully maintained street.

At the end stood an impressive building.

It was several stories tall, with polished stone walls, large windows, ornate balconies, and a grand entrance illuminated by warm lanterns.

Amos stopped.

He stared at it.

"...That's an inn?"

"Yes."

He looked at Karos.

"You stay here?"

"Yes."

Amos looked back at the building.

Then at Karos.

Then back at the building.

"...As Eoghan?"

"Yes."

Amos was silent for several seconds.

He looked at the expensive-looking entrance, the elegant decorations, and the attendants standing outside.

Karos has nice taste.

He started walking again.

"Not bad."

Karos glanced at him.

"What?"

"Your choice of residence."

"It is convenient."

"Convenient?"

"Yes."

Amos looked at the luxurious building again.

Sure.

Very conveniently expensive.

They reached the entrance.

One of the attendants immediately recognized Karos.

"Welcome back, Sir Eoghan."

Karos nodded.

"Thank you."

The attendant glanced toward Amos but said nothing.

Karos stepped inside, with Amos right behind him. The moment they entered, they found themselves in an elegant lobby with polished floors, cozy seating, sparkling chandeliers, and several tables scattered around the spacious room. Amos glanced around and let out a quiet whistle.

"...Okay."

Karos turned toward him.

"What?"

Amos smiled.

"I take it back."

"What?"

"You have very nice taste."

Karos stared at him for a moment.

Then continued walking.

"I know."

Amos laughed softly and followed her deeper into the inn.

The door shut behind them, muting the bustle from the inn below. Amos took another look around. The room matched the rest of the place—elegantly decorated, roomy, and far more lavish than anything an average adventurer could ever expect.

He dropped into one of the chairs.

"So."

Karos sat across from him.

"So."

Amos leaned back.

"Your letter."

Karos nodded.

"I expected you to ask."

"You mentioned the Broken Crown, and then casually dropped the fact that Eoghan is being considered for S-rank."

"I did not consider it casual."

"It was pretty casual."

Karos ignored that.

"I found several leads."

Amos's expression became more serious.

"About the Broken Crown?"

"Yes."

She reached into a small bag and placed several folded papers on the table.

"I've been investigating information connected to their movements. Most of it was useless."

"Most?"

"A few pieces were not."

Amos leaned forward.

"What did you find?"

Karos looked at him.

"The Broken Crown appears to have been searching for something."

"The Crown, maybe?" Amos smiled as he said that.

"Not exactly."

"The Broken Crown.".

"You mean they're really looking for an actual object?"

"I don't know."

Karos tapped one of the papers.

"But several of the leads I found kept circling around the same name."

Amos's eyes narrowed.

"The Broken Crown."

"Yes."

He was silent for a moment.

"How reliable?"

"Not enough to act on yet."

"That's disappointing."

"I know."

Karos opened another document.

"However, I found something else."

Amos waited.

"The S-rank promotion."

His expression changed slightly.

"Right."

Karos nodded.

"Gareth has given you the opportunity to prove your ability."

Amos leaned back.

"So the promotion isn't automatic."

"No."

"What exactly do I have to do?"

"Complete the promotion quest."

Amos stared at her.

"That's it?"

"It is an S-rank promotion quest."

"Right."

He rubbed his chin.

"That makes it considerably less simple."

Karos nodded.

"Gareth is allowing you to prove that you are capable of operating at that level."

Amos looked down at the papers.

"So I complete the quest, and I qualify for S-rank."

"If you succeed."

"And this quest..."

Karos's silver eyes met his.

"May have something to do with the Broken Crown."

Silence filled the room.

Amos slowly looked up.

"You're serious."

"Yes."

"How?"

"I don't know yet."

Karos placed another sheet on the table.

"The information I found isn't enough to establish a direct connection. But the timing is suspicious."

Amos picked up the paper.

"The S-rank promotion comes up..."

He glanced at Karos.

"...and suddenly we have a possible lead involving the Broken Crown."

"Correct."

He stared at the document for several seconds.

Then sighed.

"So much for a peaceful holiday."

Karos tilted her head.

"You wanted to deal with your adventurer identity."

"I did."

"You are."

"Technically."

Amos leaned back and looked toward the ceiling.

"I was hoping for something like taking a few normal quests, checking on the guild, maybe getting some money along the way..."

His expression became increasingly resigned.

"...not hunting down a secret organization while completing an S-rank promotion."

Karos remained completely calm.

"That is still technically an adventurer's work."

Amos looked at her.

"You're enjoying this."

"No."

"You are."

"I am not."

"You absolutely are."

Karos said nothing.

Amos narrowed his eyes.

"...You are."

Then Karos calmly reached for another paper.

"I also found two more leads."

Amos sighed.

"Of course you did."

He leaned forward again.

"Tell me everything."

Karos nodded.

"First, I'll explain what I found about the Broken Crown."

She placed the papers between them.

"Then we'll discuss the promotion quest."

Amos looked down at the documents.

The holiday had barely begun.

And already, his carefully planned week of dealing with his adventurer identity was turning into something much more troublesome.

Yep.

Definitely a perfectly convenient holiday.

***

"...It's been a while."

Amos studied his reflection for a moment.

Behind him, Karos was making her own preparations. She had changed into something much closer to Amos’s usual academy attire. She glanced at herself in the mirror, then turned her gaze to Amos.

"How do I look?"

Amos turned around.

He stared for several seconds.

"Weird."

Karos blinked.

"Why?"

"You look exactly like me."

Karos had altered the color of her eyes and adjusted her features just enough to reproduce his appearance.

"That is the purpose."

"I know."

Amos walked around her once.

"The hair is nicely done."

"I copied your usual style."

"The clothes too."

"Yes."

Amos narrowed his eyes.

"You even copied how I stand."

Karos straightened slightly.

"I observed you."

"That's unsettling."

Karos ignored him.

"I should be able to pass as you."

"Probably."

She looked toward him.

"And you?"

Amos adjusted his cloak.

"I'll be fine."

He looked down at himself.

Eoghan’s identity felt oddly familiar. It was like slipping on an old mask. But this time, he wasn’t heading to the guild for routine adventurer work—he was taking on an S-rank promotion quest. There was even a chance it was tied to the Broken Crown. Amos’s expression grew more serious.

"If this takes longer than a week..."

"I'll remain at the academy."

Amos looked at Karos.

"Right."

She would be going to Arianne Academy in his place.

The plan was straightforward. Karos would continue attending Arianne Academy disguised as Amos, while Amos left the city under the identity of Eoghan Rise. If the promotion quest wrapped up in just a few days, Amos would be back before anyone suspected a thing. But if it dragged on, Karos would keep up the act until his return.

"Remember," Amos said, "don't do anything unnecessary."

Karos nodded.

"I know."

"Don't get involved in unnecessary fights."

"I know."

"No challenging or accepting challenge from anyone."

"I know."

"No revealing anything about weird about me."

"I know."

Amos stared at her.

"And don't reveal anything weird about me."

Karos looked at him calmly.

"You are the one going on an S-rank quest."

"Fair point."

He sighed.

Karos picked up his academy bag.

"I'll leave first."

Amos nodded.

"Good luck."

"You too."

She reached the door, then stopped.

"Amos."

"Hm?"

"If the promotion quest is connected to the Broken Crown..."

Her expression became serious.

"Do not take unnecessary risks."

Amos smiled faintly.

"I won't."

Karos opened the door.

"I'll see you at the academy."

"Yeah."

She left.

Amos remained alone in the room.

For a moment, he just stood still. Then he glanced at his reflection in the mirror, and a faint smile crossed his face.

"Time to get back to work."

He pulled his cloak over his shoulders and headed toward the door.