Chapter 1

Volume 1: Riene Arc
The Coming-of-Age Ceremony
My name is Hina.

I'm an orphan, raised at an orphanage in a borderland village far from the royal capital, until today.

In this world, you're treated as an adult the day you turn fifteen, and the rule is that you must leave the orphanage.

And today, I turned fifteen.

"Haah..."

I let out a small breath and walked along the road leading to the church at the center of the village.

The wind, which had just welcomed spring, was still a little cold.

As the passing wind ruffled my brown hair, I hugged the old bag hanging from my shoulder a little tighter.

Inside were two changes of clothes and a bit of dried meat. And then, just a few copper coins the director of the orphanage had given me.

That was my entire fortune.

When I left the orphanage that morning, the director smiled her usual smile.

"If anything troubles you, you may come back anytime."

She said that, but I couldn't really go back.

There were many children at the orphanage younger than me.

Even meals weren't something we could eat our fill of every day. If I, now an adult, stayed in a place like that forever, the younger children's food would shrink by exactly that much.

So from today, I had to live on my own strength.

I'd known that for a long time.

I'd known it, and yet walking alone like this, something deep in my chest tightened.

"Hina Oneechan, do your best!"

"Bring back an amazing skill!"

When I left the orphanage, the children came to see me off at the gate.

Little Mimi, the youngest, grabbed my skirt and wouldn't let go as she cried.

I promised to visit again and managed to get her to let go, though I wasn't sure I'd kept a smile on my face the whole time.

"... I have to find a proper job."

I murmured softly, not addressing anyone in particular.

Along the dirt road leading to the village center, people were already at work in the early morning.

Farmers heading to their fields.

An aunt arranging vegetables in front of her shop.

A young man carrying a heavy-looking wooden crate.

It was a village morning like any other.

But today, that scene looked different to me.

From now on, I'd be on the working side too.

I had to find my own job, buy my own food, and find my own place to sleep.

What I needed for that was the skill I'd receive at today's Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

Those who turn fifteen receive the Coming-of-Age Ceremony at the church, where Goddess-sama grants them a single skill.

Your life afterward changes greatly depending on what skill you receive.

With a skill like [Swordsmanship], for example, you can aim to become a knight or an adventurer.

With a magic-related skill, becoming a court mage isn't out of reach if you work hard enough.

With a skill useful for trade, you might be hired at a merchant's shop, and with a cooking-related skill, you might work at a diner or an inn.

The village blacksmith uncle received [Smithing], and the farmer Loid-san holds [Bountiful Harvest].

Everyone made a living using their own skills.

On the other hand, if you receive a skill thought to be useless, even finding a job is difficult.

In other words, the skill you receive today is your very life.

I had no family.

No relatives to rely on.

I didn't even have a place to live figured out after leaving the orphanage.

For someone like me, today's Coming-of-Age Ceremony was a crucial chance to decide the course of my life from here on.

"I wonder what skill I'll get..."

If possible, I wanted a skill that would lead straight to a job.

I didn't intend to be greedy.

It didn't need to be a grand skill like a swordsman's or a mage's.

Cooking, sewing, cleaning, farmwork, any of them was fine.

As long as I could earn enough to feed myself, that was plenty.

But deep in my heart, I held a little hope.

Maybe I'd receive a rare skill that would astonish everyone.

With that skill, I could earn lots of money, and someday the day might come when everyone at the orphanage could eat their fill.

I might be able to buy them new blankets so they wouldn't be cold in winter.

I might even be able to fix the orphanage's crumbling roof.

"... Well, that's probably too greedy."

A little embarrassed by my own thoughts, I scratched my cheek.

I shouldn't hope too much.

Only a handful of people ever received amazing skills.

Even so, I couldn't help hoping.

All I had was the skill I'd receive today.

My unease outweighed my hope, and sweat was slowly seeping into my clenched palms.

As I drew closer to the village center, the church's white roof came into view beyond the houses.

It was a small stone church.

It wasn't a particularly large building, but to me now, it seemed more splendid than the royal castle.

Several boys and girls had already gathered in front of the church.

Like me, they were all village children turning fifteen today.

Some chatted happily with their parents, while others looked up at the church with tense expressions.

Seeing them surrounded by family, something deep in my chest ached a little.

But I shook the feeling off right away.

There was no point feeling lonely now.

I had everyone at the orphanage.

Besides, from today I'd walk on my own two feet.

"It's alright. It'll surely work out somehow."

Muttering as if to convince myself, I clasped my hands in front of my chest.

Then the church bell rang out loudly.

The heavy toll of the bell, doong, doong, spread across the village.

The chatter of the gathered children fell silent, and the church's great door slowly opened.

From within the doorway, a Priest-sama clad in white vestments appeared.

"You who have come of age today. Enter the church."

At those words, my heart leaped.

At last, the Coming-of-Age Ceremony was beginning.

The important ceremony that would decide the rest of my life.

"Whatever skill I get, I'll do my best."

I told myself once more.

Then I slowly stepped forward, toward the church bathed in the morning sun.