Chapter 1

"Hold on. What are you doing here?"

The major kingdom of Baronia existed in the mountains on the east side of the continent. Hedestad, capital of the Mountain Base Dynasty, was commonly referred to as the Old City because of the great history and tradition sensed in its dignified appearance.

A fashionable little brick shop at one end of the main street sat below the beautiful sunset that made the western sky look like it was on fire.

That voice sounded threatening even in the chilly air and the boy looked back to find a girl glaring at him.

She was in her mid-teens. She looked small at first, but given her age, she was probably about average for a growing girl.

There was no apparent makeup on her small face and her slender nose, thin lips, and other delicate features did not look weak thanks to the strength in her large dark eyes.

Her fine skin was faintly tanned and the hair tied back in a ponytail using a large orange ribbon had probably started out black, but it had reddened somewhat from exposure to the sun.

Her long arms and legs were healthily fit and it was easy to imagine the athleticism hidden within. Despite her small size, she seemed to shine with life.

Her energetic and determined personality were evident at a glance.

The stomach of her sky blue robe was tightened with a belt and the long skirt had bold slits on either side for ease of movement. The slits exposed her thighs and she wore leather boots that came nearly up to her knees.

She also had a leather protector over her left chest and a curved sword at her left hip. She looked at home in it and her balance was good. Someone who knew what to look for would know she was fairly skilled with that sword.

She wore a leather pouch on her right hip that was small enough to not impede her movement and she looked more like a warrior in training than a travelling mercenary. But she did not seem rough around the edges. She was a little filthy from traveling, but her clothing was well tailored and she gave off a hint of refinement within her elegance.

The only flaws would be the displeased expression ruining her cute face and the flatness of her body. Simply put, her breasts were too small. Then again, she was still a growing girl and there was something refreshing about the almost genderless appearance of girls her age. There was a good chance she would transform into a head-turningly beautiful woman in a few years' time.

"Oh, Lady Elise. When did you get back?"

"Just now!"

When the boy casually greeted her, the swordswoman's cheeks flushed with anger and she pointed toward his nose while stomping toward him.

"More importantly, you are technically a knight, aren't you!?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then act like one! What is that hideous outfit!?"

He followed the grumpy girl's gaze down toward his own appearance.

He wore a sign over the front and back of his body and the brightly colored text on them said, "Lucky charms for snagging a hot guy. Rock bottom prices on magical miracle water for keeping the cutest boys focused only on you. Magical tools to get through those lonely nights. Buy them all here at Magical Star Princess☆" He also carried a stack of fliers saying the same thing.

He was handing those fliers out to young women from the late teens to the thirties.

When he handed one out, they tended to read the flier's text, look at him, blush a little, and either shove the flier in their pocket or enter the store.

"Well, I mean…this isn't a job. I'm just helping out Lady Irma. Ah ha ha ha."

The boy tried to laugh it off, but the girl kept approaching with her eyebrows raised. He had to lean back away from her.

"You somehow managed to use my father's connections to make yourself one of Baronia's knights, so your failures are my father's failures! Don't you understand that!?"

"I do. Of course I do."

"This might be Or's shop, but it would definitely be a problem if it gets out you're working at such an indecent place!"

As the girl scuffed, the boy smiled and followed her.