Smollett was a human. When he was young, he had stumbled upon extraordinary power by chance. By the usual classification, he should have been the mage type, though only at the most basic rank. Extraordinary power had not brought any great changes to his life.
He had been to many places: the dwarven empire, the orc tribes, the elven kingdoms deep in the forests. He had even gotten lost in the Elemental Realm once. That had truly been an experience of surviving nine deaths to find one life. If not for his luck in encountering the Truth Empire's Elemental Realm expedition team, he likely would have left his life there.
Smollett had married. His wife was a young noble lady, chosen by their fathers. Their relationship had been fairly good, and they had two children. Perhaps that was the life of an ordinary person: growing up, marrying, having children, then slowly growing old. But Smollett knew that he was absolutely not someone content with the present.
In the fifth year after his marriage, Smollett returned to his former life. His wife had not complained about his choice and had merely silently supported him. Once more, he became that merchant whose footprints spanned the kingdoms of Kolo World, traveling through landscapes everywhere.
Until the calamity erupted.
Smollett ultimately remained in Steel City and became the owner of an Alchemy Potion shop. Recently, he had begun considering going back. After drifting about for most of his life, he truly was tired. His wife and children were waiting for him to come home.
So when the young woman who called herself a wandering mage came to his door and expressed her desire to buy the shop, Smollett did not refuse.
He studied the two customers in the shop. Neither was particularly old, and