Seneca had decided to hunt kobolds.

  Kobolds were constantly increasing in number, making the task a permanent assignment.

  When one thought of Copper-rank adventurers, kobold hunting was the standard.

  Given that she was familiar with the forests, it was a task well suited to Seneca, who preferred to operate alone.

  As she left the town gate, the guards tried to stop her, but when they realised it was Seneca, they allowed her to pass. Though it would normally be unthinkable for a ten-year-old girl to venture into the woods alone, Seneca’s abilities were well-known, so they let her go without protest.

  She walked cheerfully, soon reaching the forest.

  With her current skills, dealing with a few kobolds was no trouble at all. However, should she encounter a rger group, she would struggle. Her goal was to eliminate any solitary kobolds swiftly, should the opportunity arise.

  The young girl, a true wild child at heart, began walking with great stealth, her presence barely perceptible.

  Tracking the trail, Seneca spotted two kobolds nearby. They appeared to be picking up food of some sort.

  She climbed a leafy tree at a distance, concealing herself from their view.

  Carefully observing the kobolds, she retrieved a small stone from her pouch.

  Without alerting the creatures, she tossed the stone to the opposite side, deliberately provoking their caution.

  She threw several more stones in rhythm, and the kobolds began to move in her direction.

  This method of throwing made it sound like a wild animal had passed by, and the kobolds, being of lesser intelligence, instinctively moved away from the noise.

  The kobolds, distracted by the stones, left themselves vulnerable.

  Seizing the opportunity, Seneca dropped from the tree, swiftly drawing her bde and severing the first kobold's head.

  She quickly circled behind the second, and with another swift strike, its head too fell to the ground.

  Kobolds were formidable when faced head-on, but once one grew accustomed to their movements, they could be easily outmanoeuvred.

  Seneca then summoned her magical energy to create a needle and thread.

  Kneeling beside one of the kobolds, she began to stitch its mouth shut.

  The kobold's bite was troublesome, so she was attempting to find a way to neutralise it.

  From a distance, it might have looked as though the young girl was preparing some form of dark magic.

  Even with a small amount of magical power, it was easy enough to stitch the kobold’s mouth shut. However, doing so in the midst of combat would likely prove difficult.

  As she continued, ideas began to form. She could sew up the kobold’s legs and torso to hinder its movements, or perhaps seal its nostrils to prevent it from breathing.

  The possibilities were endless.

  But despite the creative thoughts, there was one gring issue: time.

  She realised that she would need to become much quicker if she were to make this method feasible in battle.

  The solution became clear: she needed to increase her proficiency and grow stronger.

  The path, though still somewhat unclear, was now evident.

  Whether it was for deying or disorienting her enemies, she would use her skills to their fullest.

  With that resolve, Seneca took out a skinning knife and began to peel the kobold’s hide. She pnned to bring it back and use it for further practice.

  Her goal was to become more adept at using her magical needles to stitch monsters.

  After retrieving the kobold’s fangs for certification purposes and burying the meat, Seneca headed back toward the town.

  ...

  Upon arriving at the guild, Seneca was greeted by Turia, who was at the reception.

  Seneca and Lucius had begun their hunting adventures when they moved to the town, often selling excess materials and proofs of subjugation to the guild. It was Turia who had first handled their transactions.

  At first, Turia had found it hard to believe that young children could defeat monsters, but the two had proven themselves, steadily completing tasks.

  Moreover, the materials they processed were of such high quality that they had become popur among the town’s craftsmen.

  Seneca eagerly ran over to Turia.

  “Miss Turia!”

  “Little Seneca! I heard about it! That must have been tough, huh?”

  “Did you hear about Lucius?”

  “Yes, and I also heard about your skills! They’ve been mentioned to me too.”

  “Really? I’ve been given a skill that’s neither swordsmanship nor magic,” Seneca expined.

  Turia raised an eyebrow in concern. Her worried expression was endearing, making her quite popur among the men in the guild.

  “I heard you’ve been working alone now. Is everything okay?”

  “I’m managing,” Seneca replied.

  “Well, as long as it’s in the shallow parts of the forest, it should be fine. But don’t venture too far into the deeper parts on your own. Things can be very different when you’re alone.”

  “Got it!” Seneca responded, raising her hand in a cheerful salute.

  The other receptionists nearby quietly smiled at the exchange.

  “When you have time, let’s chat properly. I’d love to hear about Lucius too,” Turia said with a warm smile.

  “Sure, here’s the proof of my subjugation today,” Seneca said, handing over four kobold fangs.

  Turia took them and processed the transaction with ease.

  After completing the formalities, Seneca seemed lost in thought for a moment before turning to Turia with a serious expression.

  “Miss Turia, I’ve made up my mind. I’ve decided to become an adventurer with this skill, no matter what. So, I’ll need your support from now on.”

  “Of course! I’m really looking forward to seeing all your achievements!” Turia said, her face brightening with a radiant smile.

  “Thank you! I’ll see you again, Miss Turia!”

  “Take care!”

  With that, Seneca left the guild, her back disappearing from view. Turia, watching her leave, silently vowed to help her whenever she could.

  From that point onwards, Seneca made a daily habit of venturing into the forest each morning to hunt down several kobolds. She refrained from delving too deep into the woods, instead focusing her efforts on the more easily accessible areas, where she would sy the creatures and utilise their corpses to continue her experimentation with the art of [Sewing].

  The kobold hunts were typically concluded by midday, leaving Seneca ample time to gather herbs, which she would then deliver to Yulia, and to hunt weaker monsters and beasts, the spoils of which she would take to the Guild and the orphanage.

  Though hunting a few kobolds each day might not seem like a significant achievement, no other Copper-ranked adventurer could boast of such consistent success. As a result, a number of those observing her in the Guild began to regard Seneca with newfound respect. However, Turia was careful to ensure that no one spread word of Seneca’s deeds too widely.

  ...

  Lately, the adventurers in Baetica had begun to hear strange rumours.

  There were whispers of a silver-haired sorceress.

  This mysterious sorceress was said to be found clutching the severed heads of kobolds, her hands stitching their mouths and eyelids shut as she prepared for a grand, sinister ritual.

  As the tale spread, wild exaggerations emerged—some cimed that she appeared to be a young girl, but was, in reality, four hundred years old, while others concocted absurd stories. According to some, the sorceress could be heard ughing as she stitched the kobolds, as if thoroughly enjoying the process.

  There were, of course, those who found the rumours unsettling. However, those who had witnessed the scene first-hand were unanimous in their descriptions: they found it mystical.

  "To see the most beautiful girl in the world, cradling a severed head while weaving threads, was a sight that felt both enigmatic and strangely alluring."

  Some, it seemed, could not help but romanticise the event.

  Soon, the tales grew even more outndish—rumours began to circute that the sorceress was summoning vengeful spirits from the kobolds to destroy the town, or plotting the overthrow of the kingdom itself. The story had evolved to an absurd degree.

  It wasn’t long before these rumours reached Turia’s ears.

  Turia, knowing full well that Seneca’s hair glinted silver when exposed to the sunlight, had been anticipating her arrival.

  Seneca, having completed her usual monster-hunting for the day, entered the Guild with her usual intentions of collecting the rewards for her efforts. But as soon as she stepped through the door, Turia beckoned her, ushering her into a private room.

  Seneca, uncertain of the reason but suspecting a reprimand, silently followed.

  Turia inquired into the matter and, after hearing the details, swiftly deduced that the sorceress being spoken of was undoubtedly Seneca herself. She proceeded to inform Seneca of the rumours circuting about her.

  At first, Seneca was taken aback, as she had never anticipated that her actions might be perceived in such a light. Upon hearing the rumours, her complexion drained, and she felt a chill spread through her body. Now, with her face pale, she might well have looked like someone ready to practice dark sorcery.

  Turia, pondering the situation, believed that the true identity of the sorceress had yet to be discovered. She decided that the most pressing matter was to put an end to this situation before it escated further.

  Most of the witnesses were newcomers, and had little familiarity with Seneca, who worked solo and typically only in the mornings. Furthermore, it appeared that Seneca had been keeping her head down while working, which meant it was possible to mislead others for the time being.

  Thus, Turia suggested that Seneca change her hairstyle, and she advised her to proceed cautiously, keeping a low profile for the time being.

  Seneca, whose hair fell to her shoulders, agreed to tie it back. She had plenty of thread avaible to fashion a simple tie, and though it was not strictly necessary to stitch it, she did so with care. For extra precaution, she also altered her appearance as much as possible, changing her clothing and gear to avoid drawing attention.

  After these adjustments, sightings of the sorceress in the forest ceased entirely.

  Instead, a different young girl was seen stitching the bellies of sin monsters back together—yet that, as they say, is another story entirely.