01

After finishing breakfast, Sophia returned to the guest room to prepare herself.

Wondering what kind of preparations she could possibly need when she had already eaten breakfast looking so well put together, Ains watched the direction Sophia had exited. At that moment, Laika—sipping the tea Riste had poured for her—curved her lips into a knowing smile.

“Hehe. Ains, I think you’re going to be surprised later.”

“Yes. When the base is good, even a small touch-up can make an astonishing difference.”

Riste agreed as she moved the empty dishes from the table onto a cart.

“I’m… going to be surprised?”

Ains, completely in the dark about their exchange, only felt the mystery deepen.

“Well then, I should get ready and head over to see Kirishiya.”

Laika wiped her mouth with a napkin and left the dining room. As Riste followed after her, she quietly bowed to Ains before exiting.

“…Do you have any idea what this is about?”

“……”

He tried asking the maid standing behind him, but as expected there was no reply. She remained standing straight, posture unbroken.

After finishing his coffee, Ains waited near the entrance hall. That was when a nervous voice called out to him.

“A-Ains-sama. Thank you for waiting.”

“Hm? You’re already done getting ready…?”

When Ains turned around, a lady stood there—her upper body wrapped in a V-neck blouse, a flared skirt below revealing slender, toned ankles.

“…S-Sophia? Is that you?”

“I-Is it strange? I knew it… this kind of outfit d-doesn’t suit me, does it?”

Her long brown hair, usually tied back, was let down now.

Though her hair hid them from view, Ains could tell her ears must have been bright red from embarrassment.

So this was what Laika and Riste had meant. Seeing Sophia without her usual sword at her waist, Ains finally understood.

“You look amazing, Sophia! It suits you perfectly—honestly, you look more refined than Laika. I thought you were some noble lady at first.”

“Thank you… That’s embarrassing.”

Sophia replied. Though still shy, she clearly wasn’t unhappy about the praise. Her blushing face showed a light touch of makeup as well.

“Where did you get those clothes?”

They were brand new and unwrinkled—definitely not something she had brought when leaving the Ains Domain.

“Riste-san took me into town yesterday and bought them for me. Apparently my usual clothes are hard to look at—they make people feel tense…”

After Ains and Laika had left for the Sorcery Academy, Riste had apparently caught Sophia just as she was about to begin her morning training and dragged her to a clothing shop.

“I originally intended to accompany you today as your guard, Ains-sama, but… not wearing a sword at my waist makes me feel a bit uncomfortable…”

Sophia lowered her gaze toward her waist. Her loose hair spilled forward over her shoulder.

That small gesture carried a mature charm.

“It’s fine. We’re just strolling around Kirk. Going out with a dressed-up, feminine Sophia is way more enjoyable than walking with you all tense and guarded.”

Ains stepped past Sophia and headed toward the door.

“Come on, let’s go. Today, forget about being a knight or anything like that—let’s just enjoy ourselves.”

“…If you don’t mind.”

Usually dignified and composed, Sophia seemed different without her sword. Her reserved demeanor now felt gently graceful.

“Have a pleasant outing,” the maid said.

With that send-off, Ains and Sophia departed the estate.

They traveled from the residential district in the eastern part of the royal capital Kirk, passed through the always-crowded common district, and continued westward.

The western area was the commercial district, where many merchants lived and trading companies operated.

Compared to the residential district, a few buildings had more lavish exteriors, but most trading houses were simple wooden structures with signboards displaying their company names.

The business model of trading companies was simple: acquire goods and distribute them. As a result, countless products flowed in and out every day—multiplied by the number of companies.

Carts loaded with goods and horse-drawn wagons moved constantly through the commercial streets, which were wider than those of the residential district.

Thanks to the broad roads, even rows of mid-rise apartment buildings didn’t feel overly oppressive.

“The common district makes me feel dizzy every time I walk through it…”

Ains muttered, trudging along with a drained expression.

“Indeed. If one isn’t prepared, it feels like your stamina gets drained all at once.”

Even Sophia, who spent her days in rigorous training, felt relieved after passing through the common district. Still, she maintained a beautiful posture as she walked—enough to make passing men turn around for a second look.

“By the way, Ains-sama. What made you decide to head west?”

Matching her stride to Ains’s slightly hunched, leisurely pace, Sophia walked beside him.

“Well, we went to the Sorcery Academy, right? I noticed quite a few students there who weren’t nobles like Laika or Kirishiya-san. That struck me as odd.”

“Odd… in what way?”

“If you’re wealthy, you can hire private tutors, right? That should give you an advantage in the entrance exam. But there were commoners with magical skill no different from noble children.”

“In other words, you’re wondering how they acquired that knowledge and ability. Whether there’s someone who teaches magic to children like a noble’s tutor—or perhaps a place like a school.”

“Exactly. That’s what caught my attention.”

Ains let out a deep sigh, then straightened his back and lifted his gaze forward as he walked.

At that moment, a wagon piled high with cargo rattled past beside them. The vibration of the heavy load rolling over the stone pavement traveled up into Ains’s legs.

With carts passing this frequently, it almost felt as though the ground itself was constantly trembling.

“Still, we don’t have any idea where such a person might be, or where a school like that would be. This could end up being a wasted effort.”

“That’s fine. I’ve got plenty of time anyway. Let’s check things out one by one.”

“…That’s true.”

Hanging from Sophia’s shoulder was a small pouch filled with coins—money Kansas had given her the day before, suggesting they stop by a teahouse or restaurant if they wished.