Mage? I don't want to!

Because everything appeared in black and white, Anyi couldn't see any actual details. So, with an air of indifference, he answered like that.

In truth, he wondered why the other party felt the urge to tease him at all.

When Karen finally withdrew the shared vision, a faint blush crept onto her face. Ariana and Miruku, meanwhile, looked utterly bewildered, unaware of what had just transpired.

"Explain. Why would you do that? I don't recall the Holy Maiden ever offending you," Anyi said, casting a cold gaze at Karen.

Ariana: "???"

"N-no! Not at all!" Karen stammered, shaking her head quickly.

Karen silently cursed herself; if she revealed Ariana's earlier words, it might lead to a disastrous roasting.

Ariana: "So… what actually happened?"

Anyi: "It's her…"

"I just thought… Sword Hero-sama is always so serious," Karen interrupted, eager to cover her tracks. "I wanted to tease him a little, see if he'd react."

Ariana stared, then burst out laughing. "Hahaha! I thought the same when we first met. But this guy doesn't let himself be taken lightly. Tease him, and he'll find a way to turn it right back!"

"I… um…" Karen pursed her lips, slightly flustered.

Anyi: "I didn't."

He definitely had. Could he really allow himself to be toyed with by these girls? No, he'd be the one teaching lessons here.

Soon, Karen began to demonstrate her abilities to Ariana and Miruku.

Ariana noticed something surprising. "Princess Karen, when you share vision, it doesn't seem to use up any mana?"

Karen hadn't yet allocated her points, meaning her Prana pool wasn't substantial. But she'd already activated the skill several times, and for a long duration each time. By all logic, her mana should have been drained significantly by now.

Yet, her mana bar remained untouched.

Karen nodded. "That's right. When [Star Pupils] shares vision with just one person, it doesn't consume any mana. But sharing with more than one person costs mana, decreasing by 1 point per second."

"So you could keep shared vision with someone active indefinitely. Not bad," Anyi remarked approvingly.

It was an incredibly powerful ability, granting an invaluable awareness of the surroundings. If a dozen monsters crept toward them, she'd sense them long before they arrived.

If monsters approached within range, the group would know about it in advance, learning their identities, attributes, and weaponry. When the enemies arrived, they'd already be prepared to counterattack or escape.

If Anyi had to summarize this skill's worth in one word, it would be:

Overpowered.

"Alright, I have a rough idea of your abilities now. Before allocating points, could you tell me your current stats?" Anyi asked.

"Just a moment…" Karen replied, checking her profile. "I'm level 1. Strength 1, Agility 0, Endurance 1, Durability 1, Prana 3, Intelligence 3, Technique 0."

"You seem to have some magical talent," Anyi said thoughtfully, considering how best to allocate her points.

Karen chuckled. "After losing my sight, my parents tried many ways to restore it. Studying magic was part of that effort, to help me navigate daily life. I can sense Earth to avoid obstacles and Water to locate sources."

"Wow…! I've never met anyone who actually knows magic!" Ariana exclaimed in admiration.

Anyi: "..."

Ariana was the most magically gifted person Anyi had ever encountered, and yet Karen's ability was still quite unique.

"Your ability is very special," he began thoughtfully. "My suggestion is to start with a balanced approach. Raise Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Durability to at least 8 points each. Prana can go up to 15, and you can save the remaining 7 points to allocate once you understand more about how your abilities will develop."

He continued, "It's possible that you'll gain offensive skills or additional support abilities later on. For now, your skill primarily supports others, and even with basic attributes, it already has significant potential. So, Prana doesn't need too many points yet. At this stage, what you have should be sufficient."

Karen examined the data board, her gaze hesitant. She didn't immediately follow Anyi's advice, instead lowering her head to contemplate what her role as a Hero might look like.

In her mind's eye, she pictured the five of them charging into a castle.

Layton would lead, absorbing attacks, while Anyi would unleash his sword, cutting down foes. Miruku would move like lightning through the shadows, and Ariana would wield her staff, casting spells. And herself…

Standing off to the side, monitoring everything with shared vision, untouched by the battle.

As the others fought, panting and pushing through, she'd stand pristine, clapping her hands and saying, "Good job, everyone."

If they left, she'd simply find another team, stand by during fights, and wait until they were done.

Was that what she'd dreamed of as a Hero?

Is that the adventure she had wanted, to be a mere spectator?

Her fantasy of the mage archetype faded as quickly as it had come. She could imagine herself instead becoming a swift, nimble warrior, allocating points to Strength and Agility, or maybe Agility and Endurance, gathering intelligence while navigating the battlefield with speed and precision. Heavy armor? No, she dismissed that thought quickly—armored warriors needed to block, not scout.

The more she weighed her options, the more Karen felt determined to be a warrior.

She didn't want to be merely an information provider. She wanted to fight at the front, slay monsters, and protect her team.

"Sword Hero…" she began, her voice rising with a resolve she'd only just realized.

"Anyi Carl," he corrected.

"Alright, Carl. The plan you suggested…" Karen paused, meeting his eyes with a fierce determination. "I don't think that's what I want. I don't want to be a mage. I want to use my ability to observe everything and become a warrior!"

In her excitement, she stepped forward, only to accidentally tread on her own skirt. She tumbled backward in a graceless heap.

Thud.

Karen cradled her head, slightly dazed, as Anyi watched in silence.

Anyi: "..."