Leading my guards, we pushed our way through the crowd and entered the shop.
The moment I stepped inside, I was struck by how different it felt compared to the outside. The interior was lined with rows of bows hanging neatly along the walls, each crafted with exquisite detail.
The shop had only one floor, but it was spacious and welcoming. Behind the counter sat a beautiful woman in a simple one-piece dress that covered her figure. A hood concealed part of her face, while her long violet hair cascaded down her back. She sat quietly, absorbed in the book she was reading.
Even with her face partially hidden, her phoenix-like eyes and the immortal aura surrounding her made it feel as though she didn't quite belong to this world.
Curious, I activated the [Scan] function.
Name: Aprilia Éclair
Gender: Female
Age: 130
Race: Human
Talent: 10/10
Power: Saint – Mid Stage
Title: Former Princess of War, Saint of the Bow
Affection: 0%
Description: Currently searching for a successor. Feeling slightly hopeless after failing to find one so far.
Difficulty: S+ (A woman whose power is beyond imagination. Frequently approached by countless men. If you wish to conquer her, you must work hard.)
My eyes widened for a moment.
Aprilia Éclair — better known as the Saint of the Bow — was one of the very few women in the world of Megicula to ever reach the Saint realm.
Once upon a time, bows were used only in large-scale warfare. No one considered them viable for individual combat due to their inefficiency in close battles.
But Aprilia changed everything.
Born into a prestigious family of swordmasters, she had no talent for the blade — a crushing blow to her noble lineage.
Yet, no one knew that from a young age, Aprilia's heart belonged not to the sword, but to the bow.
She devoted her life to mastering archery, becoming an adventurer and carving her legend into the world's history. She created her own path, redefining how people saw the bow forever.
I wandered around the shop like a child in a candy store, admiring each bow with sparkling eyes.
"Wow… this bow is amazing!" I exclaimed, pointing to a silver bow with an exquisite design.
Then I went from one bow to another, unable to resist touching them.
+10 Affection
+12 Affection
+10 Affection
Small affection notifications popped up repeatedly as I admired the bows. After a few minutes, the woman behind the counter finally spoke.
"Do you think that bow is strong?"
Her voice was soft and melodic — enough to make me stop what I was doing and look at her.
"Of course!!" I replied with a bright, innocent smile.
+20 Affection
"And why do you want a bow?" she asked.
"So I can protect my family," I answered, wearing an expression full of determination.
My response must have surprised her — she raised an eyebrow slightly, and another notification appeared.
+25 Affection
"Why the bow?" she asked again.
"It doesn't have to be a bow," I said, locking eyes with her. "As long as it makes me stronger… I'll use any weapon. I just want to protect and support my family."
The shop fell silent.
An adult woman stood there, absorbing the bold words of a ten-year-old boy.
After a moment, Aprilia put her book down and stared deeply into my eyes. The coldness in her expression melted away, replaced by something far more intense. Her eyes widened, and the aura around her began to fluctuate uncontrollably — as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
My guards immediately shifted into a defensive stance, surrounding me.
'What's going on…?'
I blinked at her in confusion, watching her reaction.
What I didn't realize was that I had done the impossible — not only had I awakened my Mana Foundation, but I had also already reached the Bronze – Mid Stage.
That shouldn't have been possible for someone my age.
Even geniuses who awakened their foundation didn't manifest strength immediately. Power was supposed to come gradually through training.
The reason I hadn't noticed was simple: I didn't know any better.
So when Aprilia looked at me, what she saw defied everything she believed possible — and no one could blame her reaction.
After a few moments, Aprilia calmed herself. She was, after all, a Saint. She had witnessed countless unimaginable things in her lifetime. It didn't take her long to regain her composure.
Taking a deep breath, she studied the boy before her — a boy of about ten years old, with crimson eyes and jet-black hair, staring back at her in confusion instead of fear.
'It seems… I've found my successor,' she thought, a sly grin tugging at her lips.
She was already imagining the faces of her friends — the ones who always boasted about their disciples — when she introduced them to hers.
"Boy," she asked, "would you like to learn how to use a bow?"
"Can you teach me how to become someone strong — someone who can protect my family?" I asked in return.
"I can teach you how to become strong — and great," she answered.
"Tuan muda, don't listen to this woman! We don't even know who she is!" Tania said, stepping in front of me as the guards unsheathed their swords, ready to fight.
"Ohhh… are you the son of Duchess Shopia?" Aprilia asked, tilting her head slightly.
I nodded.
"In that case, you may leave for now," she said with a knowing smile. "I will come to see you later."
Her words only made the guards angrier, and as they prepared to strike, I jumped in front of them, blocking their way.
"YOUNG MASTER!"
"Young master, step aside! This woman could be dangerous!"
'Idiots. I'm protecting you, not myself,' I cursed inwardly at my overly loyal guards.
"There's no need to fight. I don't think this lady is a bad person," I said innocently, then turned back to Aprilia and bowed slightly.
"I apologize for causing such a commotion."
Aprilia walked up to me and ruffled my hair gently.
"Don't worry," she said with a soft smile. "Big Sister isn't angry."
A strange warmth bloomed in my chest at those words.
Being called big sister by someone so powerful — it made me feel oddly safe.
After chatting for a while, my guards and I finally left the shop.
"Tuan muda, where would you like to go next?" Tania asked as we stepped back into the streets.
Looking toward a quieter part of the city, I smiled.
"Let's find somewhere to eat."
We wandered into one of the city's lesser-known districts.
Megicula's capital was enormous, and now we were in an area with fewer visitors and a calmer atmosphere.
"Young master, if you're hungry, we could go to a famous restaurant nearby," Tania suggested.