The Gentlemanly Specialist’s Perspective (1)

You know, I never knew there would be a day where I'd actually be flustered by a 'friendship request'.

This was a first for me. Who would have thought that some random Dark Mage girl I found in the Dark Forest would be so sweet towards me. After I wholeheartedly agreed with her 'request', I decided to bring her around the village with a smile.

"Say... Do you like Mapleberries?"

"Sure do. How did you know that?"

"I asked because it's my favourite fruit."

"That's great~!" What a kind and formal person this girl is. To think we'd have similar tastes~

With a bag of Goblin ears on my back, I took a detour in order to spend some more time with this new friend of mine. She wasn't a curious girl who asked many questions about the village, but the feeling it gave from talking to her was real nice.

It was more than her being able to predict my thoughts. No, the way our interactions bounced off each other would make others think we were either twins or romantic partners. Whatever the case may be, there's no denying that I liked her presence.

"What's your name anyway?"

"Harmony."

"...That's rare." Not to criticise here, but who names their child 'Harmony' of all things? She sounds more like a law of nature than a person. It must have been a hard childhood growing up and having to answer with that name every time they asked...

This is not even mentioning her specialisation!

"Okay, we need some 'real talk' right now."

"I'm up for anything you can ask." She casually replied after eating a mapleberry we bought on the way. Their taste was quite succulent and sour, yet also had a strange sweet aftertaste about them.

"Do you have an Adventurer's License?"

"...In truth, my village didn't let me have one. As my Dark Affinity had been identified at a young age."

How unfortunate...! I can only imagine the hardships she must have experienced throughout her life. As I'm someone who knows more than the average person about Dark Specialists, I find it surprising she managed to survive on her own.

There was a reason there wasn't any rogue Dark Specialists working independently. After all, people found it hard to put faith in Specialists who were known to have skills and techniques that were scheming in nature. It's what moulded public opinion to be so horrid... and also the reason why it was easy to misunderstand their intentions.

The famous Archmage of the Rainglow Lineage named Hilda once published an article regarding the resonance between magic and a person's own character. And though her claims said that not everyone is defined by their Affinity, it wasn't enough to change the mind of narrow-minded individuals who defined themselves this way.

Fire Users were expected to be temperamental while those with the Wind Affinity like myself were expected to be playful, it was to the point that someone's first impression mostly consisted of which of the five elemental affinities they were.

Those who were expected to act a certain way found themselves going with the flow to fit into society. Some people even dye their hair to reflect the kind of 'persona' they are expected to have.

You could say that popular opinion is what reflects on society. Even though black hair is the norm, it seems to be all the more sinister whenever it's paired with the words 'Dark User'. As they expect a bad personality from those with this affinity.

Keeping that in mind, how are Dark Users supposed to grow into upstanding members of society if that very social system casts them out this way? No matter how good-natured they are in the beginning, their treatment would end up changing them for the worse... Only those who join factions could exist without being discriminated.

Thinking up to here, I could only imagine the kind of treatment this beautiful girl went through before I found her. The sympathy I had for her situation made me feel like taking care of her now I'm here.

"I'll help you apply for one here."

"No need. I've figured out a way to hide my identity as a Dark Mage a long time ago. No worries." She spoke as if to calm my enthusiasm to help her while she was in need. To the point she said:

"I'm flattered." While twirling her hair. A smile formed on her face as she did a short bow to me.

Though her words had me thinking...

"Then why did you reveal your affinity to me...?"

If she could hide her Dark Affinity, then why would she reveal it to a stranger? If it wasn't for me being open-minded, who know how anyone else would have reacted upon seeing her magical abilities?

And to that question, she threw a mapleberry in my mouth and put her finger on my lips to shush me.

"I trust my saviour. As simple as that~" There was a mischievous look in her eyes as she spoke to me.

Even as she took her finger off and turned around to go about her business. My ears were still beat red as I realised that she was quite the 'dangerous' individual. Her modest clothes said one thing but her attitude spoke of a different personality.

She didn't look like someone who was holding in her negativity and looked genuinely happy while we were strolling around together, to the point I even purposely took more detours with her.

What a strong woman... I might not know anything about her past, but being able to keep her smile despite the gazes she must have gotten through her life was admirable. She was a cute person.

After taking our time, we finally reached the entrance of the Adventurer's Guild and walked into it. When the familiar people I've always worked with saw the girl by my side, gossip started to spread.

"That deadbeat got a girlfriend?"

"I thought he had... Ya know, problems going on in a certain place. If you know what I mean."

"Okay, who bet that he'd be forever single? Pay out. What? It wasn't me who did it... You did!"

"Even the poster face of misogyny can get a girl these days. I think I'm losing my mind now...!"

"He must have bought her with money~ Just look at that face and you'd see feigned innocence~"

Okay, that last one was uncalled for!

My face became dark: "Say that to my face!"

Forgetting that Harmony was next to me, I lost my temper as soon as I heard such brainless rambles.

With the speed of the wind, my body shot forward as I arrived in front of the guy who was shamelessly saying the most dumbest things about me when I was clearly right here to overhear him.

The drunkard was shocked as my Aura imbued body appeared in front of his table with a mean look on my face. Although normally I can pretend to ignore these comments, there's no way I'd be able to hold myself back after hearing his words.

"You've got some guts to come here. Are you thinking of starting a fight with us on your own?"

I started as them silently. There was three individuals on the table, two more than me, but that wasn't the worst part, as the other two weren't making an effort to hide their Wind Affinities.

Perhaps I can back down and avoid conflict like always, but as someone who'd experienced a lot as an Adventurer, if there was something I knew, then it would be that guys like these were 'predators'.

Once they labelled someone a pushover, not even the best of retaliations after the fact would get them to screw off. They'd just escalate the harassment until I paid them to leave me alone.

This wasn't exactly a common scenario, yet this scene was something that I heard would pop up at least once in every established Reception Hall built by the Adventurer's Guild. The promise of quick money sometimes draws in these! knob-heads.

Suddenly, I felt someone grip on my shoulder and looked behind me. Harmony made a expression to calm me down before I started a fight that couldn't be won. One Wind Specialist couldn't beat two others along with a Fire Specialist's assistance.

"Hehe, even your girl won't let y-" His words were interrupted by a five-finger slap on his face.

My eyes widened in surprise as I looked at Harmony, who looked like she was wiping off filth off that very same hand with a handkerchief. The look in her eyes was completely new to me as she leaned her head down to tell these hooligans:

"Better mind your words." There was a threatening atmosphere about her as she spoke these words.

Did she just want to hit them herself...?

In response to us, the hooligans grabbed onto their weapons and were ready to injure us severely.

Not to try killing us, of course. As murder wasn't something the Knight Order would allow to happen anywhere. However, that didn't mean that there weren't those who went as far as crippling others.

The pain they can give was enough...

"You guys better take your fight outside!" A voice could be heard from the reception desk as we stared each other down. I myself threw the knotted sack of Goblin ears to the receptionist before slowly making my way out with slow side steps.

I secretly glanced at Harmony, who didn't seem all that filled with tension as we were getting ready for battle. The white staff she normally held wasn't there anymore as she cracked her neck a little.

"Do you need a weapon?" I whispered to her as it was better for a 'Mage' to stay back in battles.

"I'm a good fighter, so there's no need." She shook her head before getting into a battle posture.

Before we even got out the door, the beefy Fire Specialist leading them took the opportunity when my eyes left them momentary to throw a front kick in my direction. My body couldn't react to such a dirty move fast enough as I blocked with my blade.

A tremendous force smashed into me and sent me flying backwards, causing the distance between me and Harmony to forcefully open up. There was a scummy smile on his face as this drunkard actually had enough clarity of mind to scheme.

Even though I instantly understood their plan, my body couldn't return back to where I was in time to save her. Rather than deal with us at once, this one kick split us up long enough for them to focus their assault on Harmony with reckless abandon...!

As it was a Fire Aura powered kick that was equal to an explosion of force, my body was just lucky to not get injured. How would I be able to used my Wind Aura to return back when my body was being thrown by the force of the attack moments ago?

Time seemed to have slowed down in my head as I was ready to roar and forcefully stop my body that was being dragged back. My eyes were red as I regretted bringing someone else into this.

I didn't want anyone to get badly injured because of me. My arm reached out as I was trying to push my body forward, but it was in vain. All I could do was watch as the two Wind Specialists were the first to slash their swords towards her body.

However...

It was at that moment that my jaw dropped.

[Skill Overlay- Combat Body!]

A myriad of colours released from her body as the sound of two punches resounded. The two Wind Specialists gasped in pain before the angle of their swords was forcefully shifted, their knuckles were bleeding as their momentum dragged them to her.

Then my eyes widened as another two punching sounds resounded after their heads both shook at the same angle. The Fire Specialist who was the last to attack didn't even have time to notice his comrades falling before she stepped towards him.

A fist planted firmly in his gut, then pushed on forwards until he was punched into the air with tremendous force...! The white of the three stooges showed as she wiped her hand again.

One hand beat three Specialists without a problem... and then I realised the mistake I made.

Why did I think she was just a 'Mage'? Did I get tricked by her appearance or by her bubbly personality? Obviously, she was a 'Magic Fighter' who was extremely experienced in battle!

Now I'm feeling embarrassed. Who could have predicted this? I never thought she was this awesome~! Would she write me an autograph? Or at least clarify if she's a Universal Specialist or not.

I can't believe I'd come across such an expert~

"Surprised?"

"Hehe..." Despite the trio groaning on the floor after being DESTROYED by her one-sidedly and independently, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed by the lack of help that I had actually given her.

My hand scratched my cheek as I wasn't sure what to say after seeing her 'cheating' level of power.

It was then we got back inside, only to get a totally different treatment from them than the first time.

Yeah, they better suck up!