"Next stop: City Center."
The mechanical voice in charge of making announcements in the train resonates once more.
I'm standing near one of the doors, holding a small bag in my hands. At my feet is a large suitcase, containing everything I expect I'll need for my life in a university dormitory. I can see the other travelers looking at me with worried looks on their faces. It's probably because of the sword currently strapped to my back.
I have my adventurer's license, so I'm allowed to carry weapons in public. However, most adventurers still prefer to conceal their weapons as much as possible when traveling, so ordinary people aren't used to this yet. I didn't have a bag large enough to hide my sword in, so I'm attracting some unwanted attention, but it doesn't bother me.
I look outside through the window next to me. The train is moving at a high speed between the skyscrapers and other buildings that form the City's downtown. In the distance, I spot a dark-blue pocket, a clear indication that a dungeon has taken over that area. I grab my phone, open the dungeon-tracking app, and find the dungeon in question.
Level 41, and the Crimson Company is scheduled to take care of it this afternoon. No point in trying to join that party, my own level is way too low.
With a sigh, I put my phone away. When I look back outside, the dungeon is out of sight.
"Matt, is that you?"
Hearing my name, I turn towards the voice that just called to me. I immediately recognize its owner, a gentle giant with blonde hair I used to clear dungeons with.
"Francis! What are you doing here?"
"I'm going back to university, now that the summer vacations are over. Considering everything you're carrying, am I right to assume that you're moving into the dormitory?"
"That's right! But I didn't know you were a student there, I assumed you'd just keep going as an adventurer since you seemed to enjoy it so much."
Francis lets out a nervous laugh and scratches his head before answering:
"My parents think that it's unwise for me to focus on adventuring without getting any higher education, so they forced me to pick and complete a degree. My mom says I'll be glad to have it when I decide to retire and go back to being an ordinary civilian."
It's common for adventurers to retire due to trauma or injury, and a lot of them have a hard time reintegrating society. Sounds like his parents wanted him to have something to fall back on if he ever found himself in a similar situation.
After a short pause, he continues:
"But honestly, I don't see myself doing anything else. I started doing dungeons younger than most, and while it's hard at times, I think it's just what I'm best at. According to my aetherologist, if I keep going, I can cap my level around 80 or 85. I could become one of the top adventurers in the world! Isn't that exciting!"
"That high? That's great! I hope you make it."
"Eh eh, thanks. Speaking of, we stopped doing dungeons together when my level got too high and I started joining stronger groups, so where are you at now?"
"Ah, I'm level 8."
"Just that? After all this time, you should be closing in on a level 20 at least."
"Yeah, the aetherologist is stumped too. This might be the first case of someone's level capping around 10."
I can tell from his expression that he's embarrassed for me. It came as quite a shock that my potential was this low, and I've been thinking about my future ever since. Like Francis, I was thinking of making adventuring my career, but I can't get a decent salary if my level caps at 10. It's so low that the vast majority of adventurers are well past it by the time they complete their training and get their license.
However... For a while now I've been bothered by this feeling that I do have access to more strength, but it's just out of reach, as if my real potential is hidden within me. That was my primary motivation for entering this university's Aetherology program: I want to figure out why I feel this way. Search as I may, I can't find anyone online who seems to struggle with a similar issue.
"Well, I hope they're wrong, it'd be pretty embarrassing to be the person with the lowest level cap known."
"Yeah, sometimes people struggle to gain more power for a bit and then go back to normal, so hopefully it's just that."
I don't actually believe that. The feeling that I'm missing something about myself is too strong. I'm determined to solve this mystery.
The mechanical voice is heard once more:
"We're now arriving to the City Center Station. Doors will open on the left."
"Looks like we're here. I'm going to go see my girlfriend first. You know where the uni's dormitories are, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, I have the map on my phone. Don't worry about me."
With a smile and a wave, Francis jumps out of the train and leaves in a hurry. He must not have seen her in a while.
I grab my bags and follow the crowd walking towards the university.
