You’re Awfully Confident.

In this life, Kikori hadn’t really learned anything.

That was because he’d had no opportunity to learn. There was no way there would be books at home, and while there might have been some at the temple, it was a place he couldn’t easily approach.

Even if he had gone, would the priests really have let a filthy child touch their books?

…No, that was just an excuse. Even so, right now, Kikori was learning letters.

Little by little, but steadily, he was becoming able to read.

Maybe now he could even write his own name. Whether that was actually true or not aside, he was filled with a small sense of omnipotence.

“Kikori.”

“……”

“Heeey, Ki–ko–ri?”

Feeling a weight pressing down on him, Kikori cried out, “Wah!?” and bumped his head hard against something.

“Oww… hey, Kikori. Headbutting a maiden’s chin, really!”

“Ah—sorry!”

When he turned around, Aria was there, fresh from the bath, and Kikori instinctively stepped back.

“Heh, well, it’s fine. Looks like you were really absorbed in studying, huh?”

“Ah, um, yes. It’s really fun.”

“Oh? That’s good to hear. Then, may I give you a test?”

“Yes.”

Kikori answered without hesitation. If it were difficult words, he wouldn’t stand a chance, but simple ones he could read now. After all, he could even read the book’s title at this point.

“Oh? Feeling pretty confident, are we? Then… do you have the flyer you got first from the Adventurers’ Guild?”

“Huh? Um…”

Kikori pulled out a folded piece of paper from his bag and spread it open.

It was the Nibe herb gathering request he’d received from the receptionist on the day he registered as an adventurer.

Looking at it, Kikori gasped in surprise.

“Can you read that?”

“Y-yes. Um…”

“W-what does this mean…?”

“Simply put, even adventurers are residents of Nilgen. You understand that, right?”

“Yes.”

“But if people who have nothing but strength and empty heads gather together, it causes problems for public order.”

“Well… I guess so.”

He could understand that. He’d heard of something called the broken windows theory.

The idea that poor public order spreads, or something along those lines.

“Of course, there are smart idiots and street thugs with a bit of cunning too… but still, ‘being able to read’ is a very convenient minimum line to set.”

“So then, the reason the receptionists don’t tell you their names is—”

“Oh, even if someone can’t read, there are people with good character and ability. They’ll normally tell their names to people like that.”

“Eh…”

“Because those kinds of people naturally realize the necessity of reading early on and learn it. So in that sense, how do you think near-death Kikori looks to them…?”

“Someone without a future.”

“That’s about right. But I’m expecting great things from you, Kikori, you know?”

“…Thank you.”

As Kikori sank completely into gloom, Aria hugged him, saying, “Cheer up!” but… Kikori stayed dejected for quite a while longer.