4. Reunion With Sara

Reet had arrived at the royal capital.

His goal was to participate in the knight recruitment exam scheduled for two days hence.

With little money to spare, he found the cheapest inn the city had to offer and made it his base of operations.

From there, he headed straight to the government office to register.

When he asked the receptionist about the exam, she handed him an application form. “The exam will be held at the plaza over there the day after tomorrow. Just bring this application form when you show up, and you’ll be fine,” she said.

“Thank you.”

Well, that leaves me with some free time until then.

The knight exam was practical combat-based, so there was no need for typical test preparation or cramming knowledge.

Reet turned on his heel to leave the government office.

Then—

“…Reet!?”

A familiar voice called out from beside him.

When he looked, there stood his childhood friend, Sara.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and after a moment’s pause, she sprinted toward him at incredible speed.

Reet was swept up by her momentum and pulled into an embrace.

Even through her hemp-colored clothes, he could feel her modest chest against him. It wasn’t obvious from the outside, but there was definite firmness to it.

It had only been a week, yet her reaction was as if they’d been reunited after a decade apart.

Reet didn’t know how to respond.

“I’m so glad…!!”

“Ah, yeah…”

A mixture of joy and awkwardness swirled through Reet’s mind.

It was true that he’d left town without a word to the childhood friend who had always been by his side. If their positions were reversed, worrying would be natural.

After a moment, Reet was finally released from Sara’s embrace.

“Your father told me he’d kicked you out of the house. When he said you weren’t in town anymore, I was so worried,” Sara said.

“Ah, sorry, sorry.”

Reet recounted what had happened over the past week.

Though in just one week, there wasn’t really that much to tell.

After being kicked out of the house, he’d done work carrying cargo.

Then he was attacked by bandits, and when he punched one of them, he was able to acquire that bandit’s Skill.

When he consulted with a Priest, apparently he had the ability to acquire Skills from his opponents.

“You have an ability like that? That’s incredible!”

“I’m still not entirely convinced about it…”

“But you got a Skill, so you’re taking the knight exam, right?”

“Yeah, that’s the plan.”

“That’s great. If you pass, we can be together again.”

Sara, who possessed the Holy Knight Class, had been exempted from the knight exam and had already been recruited as a knight.

She was one step ahead, but if Reet passed this exam, he could catch up with her.

“I have to head out for a mission starting now, so I can’t watch the exam… but do your best, okay?” Sara said.

“Yeah.”

“Then… I’ll be waiting for you at the knight order.”

Sara took his hand and squeezed it before turning on her heel to leave.

But then, as if she’d suddenly remembered something, she spun back around.

“Hey. If you can copy Skills just by punching…”

With that, Sara held out her fist to Reet.

“Go ahead,” she said.

Sara was suggesting they “bump fists.”

“Maybe you can copy my Holy Knight Skills too.”

At her suggestion, Reet hesitated.

“But… is that really okay? I’d be stealing your Skills. They’re so rare…”

“Of course it’s okay. It’s not like I’ll lose them. If they help you pass the exam, I’ll be happy.”

Hearing that, Reet gently bumped his fist against hers.

The next moment, the goddess’s voice echoed in Reet’s mind.

[You have acquired the Skill “Sacred Fortification”]

[You have acquired the Skill “Sacred Blade”]

Just as when he’d punched the bandit, the goddess’s voice resonated in his mind.

“I got the Skills!!”

Reet exclaimed with excitement.

“That’s wonderful,” Sara said with a beaming smile.

“Sorry. I only have two Skills so far.”

“No, really, thank you so much. These will definitely help.”