I Will Be Unrivaled With The Skill [Sewing]! They Said It Was A Bad Skill, But With Effort, I will Make It A Hit~ - Chapter 5

Tln: Tbh I don’t know if Kito is a girl or boy, I’ll settled it as girl for now

Episode 5: Hope

Seneca was at a loss.

Lucius, who would be reliable in such situations, was no longer around.

Thus, it was only natural for her to want to see Kito.

The next day, when Seneca visited Kito’s house, she found Kito just about to leave.

“Oh, Sene-chan. Perfect timing. I was just about to go call for you.”

Seneca was comforted by Kito’s cheerful smile.

It seemed that Kito had started working as an apprentice at an apothecary on the outskirts of town. The apothecary belonged to an elderly woman named Yuria, and though it wasn’t particularly bustling, it was reputed for producing high-quality medicine.

Once Kito realized her skill was 【Mixing】, she immediately gathered information about the town’s apothecaries and decided to take action, aiming to work at Yuria’s shop.

Initially, Yuria had refused, saying she wasn’t planning to take on any apprentices, but she changed her mind after recognizing Kito’s intelligence.

Seneca was amazed by Kito’s quick action. This girl, who appeared so gentle, had moments like this. She made decisions quickly.

Yuria, despite her age, had an air of elegance and was rumored to be of noble descent. Seneca thought that perhaps Kito was drawn to work under someone like Yuria because of those traits.

“So, why are you taking me to Yuria-san’s place?”

“I was hoping Sene-chan could help with gathering ingredients.”

Seneca had been running through fields and mountains pretending to be an adventurer since she was five years old, learning various skills from her silver-ranked adventurer parents. This familiarity made her adept at assessing medicinal ingredients, earning her high praise from the guild.

She often returned covered in mud from her collecting trips, which earned her the nickname “Muddy Seneca,” but her skills were useful both in the village and at the orphanage.

Of course, Kito knew this and proposed the idea to Yuria.

Kito couldn’t predict what Seneca would do from here on. However, she knew that Seneca would have to leave the orphanage by next year or the year after. It would be beneficial for Seneca to have a way to earn money as an adventurer. Yuria recognized and valued Kito’s balance of thoughtfulness for her friend and calculated planning for her apprenticeship.

“Yuria-san said she’d buy the ingredients for more than the guild would. It’s better for the shop too, since it’s cheaper than buying from the guild or trading companies.”

“Really?”

“Really. I heard that you can handle rare ingredients, and the quality of the herbs you bring is good, so it should provide a decent income.”

“Kito, thank you!”

With those words, Seneca hugged Kito tightly.

◆

Yuria’s apothecary was located on the outskirts of town.

As they walked, Seneca talked about everything that had been on her mind lately.

Kito listened attentively, responding with “Uh-huh” and “I see,” making sure to hear Seneca out.

Talking with Kito helped Seneca organize her thoughts. Kito’s habit of repeating back and confirming what Seneca said helped her reflect on her own ideas.

Kito knew this, so she only offered her own opinions when necessary.

“First, I really need to make sure I can earn money.”

Seneca said, beginning to brainstorm ideas again. Kito found her friend’s determination inspiring.

◆

The two arrived at the apothecary and met Yuria.

Just as Kito had said, although Yuria was elderly, her white hair was neatly styled, and she held herself upright. Her manner of speaking was gentle, but her composed presence made Seneca unconsciously straighten her posture.

After giving a proper greeting, Seneca listened to Yuria’s explanation about herb gathering.

“First, I’d like you to gather basic herbs and antidote plants. That way, I can check your skills in assessment.”

Seneca nodded repeatedly.

“Bring whatever you manage to gather once a week. After we do that a few times, we’ll move on to the next materials.”

“Understood! I just need to bring them here, right?”

“Yes. Either Kito or I will be here, so just come and hand them over.”

After the discussion about gathering materials, Yuria offered to serve tea and sweets, which made Seneca delightedly accept the invitation.

◆

The sweets Yuria brought out were scones. They seemed to have a bit of oats mixed in, giving them a wonderfully fragrant aroma. Seneca was overjoyed.

The tea was also delicious. It was a herbal tea filled with natural fragrances, specially blended by Yuria herself.

Seneca thought to herself, Yuria-san is a strong person.

Of course, it wasn’t physical strength she was referring to. It was the combination of inner strength, knowledge, and grace that made her think so.

The way Yuria responded to Kito was proper and kind, and Seneca found herself liking Yuria.

She began to understand why Kito had chosen this apothecary.

Seneca felt the urge to consult Yuria about her own situation. The boldness to act on such impulses was something she inherited from her mother.

“Yuria-san, you’ve met all kinds of people throughout your life, haven’t you? I want to be an adventurer, but my skill is 【Sewing】…”

“I’ve heard about it from Kito. Indeed, I’ve encountered all sorts of people. Some have succeeded in dreams that didn’t seem to match their skills, while others have failed.”

Both Seneca and Kito listened intently, their expressions serious.

“Skills are a mysterious thing. They tend to lead people astray, but that’s because they leave room for exploration and potential—at least, that’s how I see it.”

“Room for potential?” Kito asked, her mind spinning as she tried to grasp the idea.

“Yes. For example, Kito’s skill 【Mixing】 led her to pursue being an apothecary. That’s a straightforward path. However, 【Mixing】 isn’t limited to just making medicine.”

“Huh? Isn’t 【Mixing】 a skill for making medicine?” Seneca was also struggling to keep up with the conversation.

“No, it’s not. Anything that involves mixing can fall under the skill’s domain. For example, this herbal tea—it could be blended using the 【Mixing】 skill, and you could become a tea shop owner instead.”

“I see…”

“For now, I think it’s good for Kito to focus on learning the work of an apothecary. But as you grow older, consider paths beyond just being an apothecary. Sometimes, those alternate paths might suit you better, and even if you remain an apothecary, experiences from other work can still be valuable.”

“…I understand.” Kito nodded, her thoughts swirling as she considered Yuria’s advice.

“Seneca-chan. As I said earlier, I’ve seen many people in my time. There have been those who succeeded and those who didn’t. It may sound harsh, but if you want to achieve your dream, you’ll have to find a way to make it happen yourself.”

“You’re right,” Seneca replied, her spirits dampened.

Seeing her disheartened, Kito’s expression also grew gloomy.

“But there’s one thing I can say for certain.”

Both Seneca and Kito lifted their heads to look at Yuria’s refined face.

“No one who avoided confronting their skill has ever succeeded. First, figure out what you can do with your skill. As you continue to explore, the path that suits you best will reveal itself.”

“Can I become a strong adventurer, too?” Seneca jumped to her feet, her eyes sparkling with hope.

“That, I can’t say. But I’ll be rooting for you to achieve that.”

Yuria smiled, the fine wrinkles on her face enhancing her elegance.

Both Seneca and Kito found themselves captivated by her expression.

“Kito feels the same, right?”

“Y-Yeah! Sene-chan, I’m rooting for you too!”

Hearing that, Seneca’s heart swelled with joy, so much so that she felt like jumping again.

Although Kito had only met Yuria a handful of times, she was now convinced that choosing Yuria as her mentor had been the right decision.

Seneca’s eye for people was something Kito trusted more than her own.

Feeling that her many worries had been temporarily put to rest, Kito quietly placed her hand on her chest in relief.