****(POV)

I nervously go inside the kitchen.

This single instant will determine my future.

First, I should state my official purpose.

"Hello, I'm coming to deliver the gold from the sale of the gems!"

[Hey there! I'm right here.]

I head deeper.

There he is.

Apparently in the process of baking.

[Are you here for a rematch?]

There is no way I would!

I instantly slide to the ground.

I adopt a perfect kneeling posture and plead.

"Please accept me as your student!"

He ponders for a few seconds.

What feels like the longest seconds of my entire existence.

[I can, but you will have to work extremely hard.]

He agreed! This is amazing!

This right here is the moment I change my destiny.

In the future, my name will resound across this continent.

Everyone will envy and look up to me!

I'm ecstatic but I keep my tone serious.

"Of course!"

[This is an old age art that you should also honor.]

Oh? Does this mean old secret knowledge?!

"Of course!"

[One that is easy to start, but extremely hard to master.]

If it was easy there would be appraisers everywhere.

"Of course."

[You will have to be here every day.]

Someone would have to kill me to prevent me from showing up.

This is a lifetime opportunity!

"Of course!"

[Alright, I'll accept you as a disciple!]

Hell yeah!

"Thank you! I won't let you down! I will become the best appraiser there is!"

[What?!"]

"What?!"

[I can only teach you how to bake you know.]

?!

This must be a joke!

"What about what you did back then?! How did you know two of my choices were duds?"

[Oh, just a small trick.]

If this is a small trick what does he consider real skill?!

"Then…!"

[One that I can't teach actually.]

"Why?!"

Is it because I'm unworthy?

[Let me see you would have to meet a god to understand it.]

0_0

Wait, it's just a matter of god incompatibility?!

One can change belief!

"Then what god should I worship to make that happen?!"

[Worship? No idea. I said meet not worship.]

What?

I can't help but think about his words.

[I can't explain how I do it. I just do it.]

Is he naturally talented?!

That much should be impossible, right?!

"Then, is there hope for me?!"

[Not if you only rely on others. What gives you the power to appraise? Are you truly satisfied with a 65% success rate?]

Ah! I have truly been complacent!

Being all proud of my puny achievements.

"I will go back and ponder on it. I'll be back when I have a 70% rate, no…75%!"

He smiles at me.

[Come back when it is 100%.]

This is impossible!

There is no way that…

[I believe you have the talent to maybe accomplish it…]

"Seriously?!"

He believes in me that much?!

[Only if you put the effort that is. Otherwise, you won't ever. Once your entire life revolves around appraising is when you will achieve success.]

He nods sagely.

I have been going at this the wrong way all along.

I always thought this was my best.

I always thought I had peaked.

After all, I spent most of my life studying this art.

Showing no improvement in the last 2 years.

Hence why I gave up.

But..!

If HE believes in me…

Then there is no way this is my limit!

"Thank you, teacher! I will never forgive this grace you have shown me!"

[What?! I didn't do anything!]

Ever so humble.

Pretending to be a baker.

Casually talking about a 100% rate.

He is a true master for sure.

Not even sparing a glance at the gold I brought.

I will toil until he can become proud of me.

I thank him silently one last time while retreating.

I'm so excited I almost just leave directly.

But then I remember my father's mentor.

The girl at the counter says he went to get something in storage.

She tells me I may as well help him.

I enter and…

I still remember the commander.

A glorious and valiant man.

One that was never the same after the death of his wife.

One that slowly faded away from the world.

I never knew what happened to him.

Many assume him to have died in a battle against magical beasts.

Yet here he is.

Except that the old man I see looks nothing like him.

The confident and ever so calm appearance is nowhere to be seen.

An appearance he was showing not long ago.

Here he is.

Shaking.

Out of breath.

Showing a pained expression.

Fresh blood on his hand and the corner of his mouth.

I can't help but gasp.

"Hey kid, so it's you."

"What's happening to you?! Let's get a healer and…"

He sighs.

"No need. There is not a single healer on this continent that can do anything for me."

"There must be a way! Somehow!"

He chuckles.

"Death comes to all, kid. It is but a natural thing."

"But how?! With your level of power you should still have some lifespan remaining! Even after the accident!"

"*Sigh* It is old history now. Just know there is nothing any mortal can do for me."

"Then we'll pray!"

"You think I didn't try that, kid? The gods are as selfish as we are. None would spend energy on a cripple like me."

"But…"

He just silently gazes at me.

I know it.

He is right.

As much as I hate it.

There is no way his disciples would have given up.

Not if there was any solution.

I can't help but ask.

"Does he know?"

"Who?"

"The one that calls himself a simple baker. He might be able to save you."

He giggles sending blood flying.

"You know what, kid? Strangely I do believe he could. But I do not wish it."

Does he simply want to die?

"Why?!"

He looks at me seriously.

"How many resources would saving an old man like me take?"

It should be an incredible figure.

"He has dreams, I'd rather he spends everything on it. I have lived a long life already."

I do not want to accept it.

I do understand, however.

It makes perfect sense.

Logically that is.

This man is the hero of this city.

Finally, I turn to leave.

But before I do, I bow to him one last time.

A bow of gratitude for all that he has done for us.

For this may be the very last time I see this legend.