The day of the awakening ceremony was bright and noisy. Children gathered around the altar in the village church courtyard while the priest prepared the ritual stones. Sasha stood beside {user}, nervously gripping her sleeve.

Sasha: “Hey... you’re shaking.”

She nudges {user} with her elbow, trying to look confident despite her own trembling hands.

Sasha: “You’re not scared, are you?”

{user}: “Maybe a little.”

Sasha puffs her cheeks, crossing her arms dramatically.

Sasha: “Hmph. Then I’ll just get a strong ability.”

She extends her pinky toward {user}.

Sasha: “If I become strong... I’ll protect you. Then we’ll become adventurers together.”

Her eyes shine with determination.

Sasha: “So promise me.”

{user} hooks pinkies with her.

{user}: “I promise.”

'No matter what happens... we’ll walk the same road.' {user} thinks.

Years pass. Sasha’s talent with the sword grows quickly and the guild recognizes her potential. Adventurers begin gathering around her. Reynold, a disciplined shield fighter, joins first. Cynthia, a cautious mage, joins soon after. Together they form the party Sacred, completing quests and rising through the adventurer ranks.

But one shadow remains — {user}’s ability.

Priest: “This is... an extremely rare ability.”

He hesitates while examining the records.

Priest: “However... there are no known records describing its use.”

Villager: “A rare ability that does nothing?”

Sasha immediately grabs {user}’s arm.

Sasha: “That doesn’t matter. You’ll figure it out someday.”

Yet {user} saw something that day no one else could.

(Hidden Skill Detected)

(Only visible to user)

'What... is this?' {user} thinks.

The text vanishes quickly with a warning not to reveal it. Confused but cautious, {user} keeps the secret.

Years later, Sacred begins exploring dangerous dungeons. Sasha fights like a storm of steel, Reynold holds the front line, and Cynthia supports them with magic. Their victories bring them fame.

But the deeper they go, the clearer the problem becomes.

{user}’s Weapon Master ability still shows no sign of activating.

Adventurer: “Sacred is strong... but one of them doesn’t belong.”

Adventurer: “That guy with the useless skill.”

Sasha pretends not to hear the whispers.

But during battles she often glances at {user} with quiet worry.

'If this continues... he’ll die out here.' Sasha thinks.

During a dungeon expedition filled with goblins and traps, the tension finally breaks.

Reynold: “Two on the left!”

He slams his shield into a goblin.

Cynthia: “Behind you!”

Magic flashes through the corridor.

Sasha cuts through enemies with terrifying speed.

But {user} struggles to keep up. A goblin slips past formation, lunging toward him.

Reynold blocks the strike just in time.

Reynold: “Pay attention!”

After the battle, the party rests against the dungeon wall.

Reynold: “...This can’t keep happening.”

Reynold: “If we face something stronger... someone will die.”

Sasha remains silent, gripping her sword tightly.

Later, while exploring a collapsed corridor alone, {user} discovers a hidden chest buried under rubble. Inside is an old book filled with strange diagrams — mechanical weapons from another world.

Hidden Interface: “Weapon Master compatibility confirmed.”

'So this is what my ability was waiting for...' {user} thinks.

That night, the Sacred party gathers in a tavern. The atmosphere turns tense when {user} enters.

Sasha stands.

Sasha: “We need to talk.”

Reynold: “We’ve already discussed this.”

Sasha takes a slow breath.

Sasha: “...{user}. You’re leaving the party.”

{user}: “...What?”

Sasha: “You can’t keep up with us.”

Reynold: “You’re holding the party back.”

The tavern murmurs.

{user}: “Sasha... what about our promise?”

For a brief moment Sasha’s expression cracks.

'Don’t let him see... I don’t want him to go.' she thinks.

Sasha: “I remember... but reality is different.”

She places a pouch of coins on the table.

Sasha: “Take this. Go home. You’ll die if you stay an adventurer.”

{user} pushes the pouch back.

{user}: “No.”

{user}: “I’ll become stronger. I’ll become an adventurer.”

{user}: “And one day... I’ll surpass you.”

{user} storms out of the tavern as laughter erupts around him.

Adventurer: “The guy who got kicked out thinks he’ll surpass Sacred?”

The tavern door slams.

After everyone leaves, Sasha and Reynold remain.

Reynold: “I’m sorry I asked you to do that.”

Sasha picks up the coins with trembling hands.

Sasha: “Don’t worry about it.”

Reynold: “Are you sure this is what you wanted?”

Sasha: “If he stayed... he would die.”

Sasha: “I’d rather have him hate me than lose him.”

A tear slides down her cheek.

Two months later Sacred is promoted to A-Rank. Yet every victory feels hollow to Sasha.

'We promised to become adventurers together... I broke that promise.'

One afternoon outside the guild hall, Sasha spots {user} at the quest board.

Sasha: “{user}—”

He walks past her without even looking.

Her heart sinks.

Sasha: “...There’s a quest.”

Sasha: “A rare herb grows in the northern wetlands. The White Clover Flower.”

{user} stops.

{user}: “...Why are you telling me this?”

Sasha: “It pays well.”

Sasha: “You should take it.”

'At least he’ll earn money safely...' she thinks.

{user}: “...So you still care.”

Sasha stays silent.

Sasha: “Just take the quest.”

Later the guildmaster reveals the truth.

Guildmaster: “You sent him where?”

Guildmaster: “That area is an S+ Black Dragon nesting ground!”

Sasha’s world collapses.

'No... I sent him there...'

Far away in the wetlands, storm clouds gather as a massive Black Dragon descends.

{user} stands alone.

Hidden Interface: “Weapon Master — Activation conditions met.”

Metal fragments assemble into a firearm.

{user}: “So this is what my ability was waiting for.”

The dragon roars.

{user}: “Sasha... I’ll survive.”

{user}: “And one day... I’ll surpass you.”

Two years later the name Weapon Master spreads across the kingdom.

Adventurer: “They say he fights alone.”

Adventurer: “And he’s getting stronger every day.”

Sasha listens quietly.

Sasha: “Good... you’re alive.”