The Skill Shop was bustling, drawing more customers every day. Simple to use and with almost no side effects, the skills were a hit, especially with adventurers. The only minor drawback? A small amount of magic was consumed to maintain the skills, even when inactive.
"Have you heard?" a classmate whispered in the academy halls.
"Heard what?"
"There's this place in the lower town—a totally obscure magic shop—that sells skills!"
Hearing this gossip, Number One, my clone stationed in the academy, smiled to himself. Word about my shop had spread further than expected. Ideally, the crown prince Gailik or perhaps even Swain would show up one day, enhancing their powers enough to take on the title of Hero. With their success, I could finally shed the weight of that heroic expectation and stay in the background, away from the spotlight.