"Mother, is this correct?"

"Oh my, did you write this, Charl?"

I nodded down as my mother, namely Agatha Augmund stared at the parchment where I wrote my name on. Well, the ones used here for writing stuff were parchments made from animal skins. If not, something similar to papyrus so yeah... classic and medieval technology indeed.

Watching mother's flaxen hair swaying, her sky blue eyes widened. She then put the parchment on the dining table and hugged me with full force! It hurts...!?

"My lovely daughter is a genius...! Yes yes, you did an excellent job, Charlotte!" Mother praised in high spirits and rubbed her cheek against mine multiple times.

Before long, I became a teddy bear plush doll and mother doted on me like heck. Even the level of cuddling was over 9000! I suffered until mother remembered she had to finish cooking dinner. Ah, the boiling vegetable soup is going to overflow at any time...!

Good job, dinner time! I will always respected your effort in helping me from getting killed by this beautiful lady who is my mother!

And so, while I waited by sitting in a chair at the dining room, I glanced and marveled at the majesty of the Manor. It was still unbelievable to know that this would be my home in my Second Life...

"Now that I think about it..."

Three years had passed ever since I was reborn. I had been trying to get used to my new body, and I learned various things like a toddler would. To sum it up, I'm growing up as a girl with a girlish name incredibly well. What? I know that I can't complain about my name but 'Charlotte Augmund' is a bit too much fto be my name...

Ugh. Anyway, I was reborn in a low-ranked Nobility Household at a backwater frontier village. It's located near the borderline of a kingdom named Aeinsland with the name 'Bluesnake'. Nothing much here except the wide blue river looking like a blue snake from afar. The name was from the river because it looked like scales of a serpent if morning sunlight shone upon it.

Next, I'm not a healthy child. Not that I lived an unhealthy lifestyle but my new body was inferior to my previous body. Of course sex has some parts but I wasn't immune to illnesses. In fact... I'm plagued with various them.

I exhaled once I remembered all the high fevers filling  most of my memories in this Manor. To be honest, I was in tight spots whenever my illness relapsed. Not even the village's best doctor succeeded in discerning my illness. Even more, the high-level Healing Magic mother boasted about was useless.

But yes, MAGIC...! I didn't believe it at first but magic exists in this world! I was super excited once I saw mother throwing a fireball into the fireplace without any tool or trick! She could even do chantless spells!

Not only that... my mother was a professional mage with years of experience! I heard she was a famous Adventurer before she married father! They sounded like super humans at times and I was their child! Can you imagine that? I couldn't help feeling excited as I thought of the day where I could make a storm with a wave of hands!!

Waiting was never in my dictionary so I sneaked into the library everyday to research about magic. Who knows if I could have my mana supply increased but when I realized I couldn't read the words... I decided to master the language for the recent couple of years first.

"Hm... since I can write my name now I guess it's an improvement," I put a hand under my chin. "I want to use magic and explore dungeons..."

As I imagined my futyre, I heard mother's voice from the kitchen. She asked me to help carrying the dishes. Needless to say, I replied with a resounding 'YES!' while trying to not strain myself.

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"Thus the man earned his title from the Ancient Dragons. He gained wealth, fame and glory he could ever hope to gain."

At night, I was listening to a fairytale told by mother. Of course I thought of it as childish but the fact that they can be the real thing made me very interested. It also allowed me to learn the language even faster.

As I thought, to learn foreign language I must be surrounded with it. I doubt I could learn English this fast too. Children are amazing when it came to absorbing information. But since the fairytale was done and I wasn't sleepy yet, I decided to pose a question.

"Mother, what is Adventurer?" I asked.

"Oh my. Do you want to be an Adventurer, Charl?" Mother replied.

Wrapped by the warm blanket, I nodded down twice. Mother grinned. She stroked my head then began telling me.

"Well, dear. Adventurers are what we call people working under an organization called 'Guild'. They take up Quests given by people in need of help and depending on the difficulties of the job... There will be an appropriatw reward." She explained.

"...ooh... so Adventurers are Mercenaries?" I asked further, my curiosity heightened by a notch.

"Not quite. Adventurers are people recognized as assets even by countries in Human Territory. Meanwhile, Mercenaries are... Well, they don't even care whether they work for good or bad people as long as they are paid. You should be careful around the sword sellers if you become an Adventurer, Charl." Mother warned with a finger raised.

Haa... it seems there's a complicated relationship between the Guild and the Mercenary. I should research why if I want to be safe later.

"Also, there are two general categories for Adventurers to choose. The Warrior and the Mage," Mother raised two fingers up. "Charl, you do remember what mana is right?"

Uhm... mother is a mage after all. I learned the term recently. Mana is the energy residing in all matters. Mages used mana to cast spell if not protecting themselves by wrapping their bodies with it. But to measure the strength of a Mage requires intricate knowledge in wielding mana.

"Unlike Mages, Warriors cannot harness mana. Most if not all Warriors possess unique bodies where they cannot channel mana the way it should. Thus, they make up the difference of strength by excelling in close combat."

Ooh... now that I think about it, I rarely saw men casting magic even in books. I wanted to know why but mother answered almost all mages are women. Why? Tracing back my memories... it went like this.

In the distant past, Midgard, the God of Wisdom granted knowledge to wield magic for everyone. Yet, greed consumed people's hearts catastrophes occurred. Because of that, Midgard took away the gift to wield magic from men and gave it only to the qualified few. Most were women though.

So there is a cheapskate god out there huh? Is he Weed's distant relative? Or is he a womanizer to favor them?

"Then, are Mages stronger than Warriors?" I tilted my head.

"Many things decide that but there's no real difference when it goes down to the basic. Your father doesn't have any talent yet he pulled a draw against a White Dragon, sweetie." Mother answered with a proud grin.

Wah... White Dragon! My father could pull a draw against such monster!? That creature was said as the strongest species even among all Dragonskin! I never saw a dragon in my lifetime, but the battle must have been epic! Uuu... Now I really want to grow up fast and go adventuring!

Should I learn both styles? I have the chance to be a Mage but my father is a Warrior, which meant my body may not be able to cast spells. But no rules ever said I can't become a Warrior even if I am a Mage. Ah... I can't wait!

There's nothing better than to travel around the world and discover new things! The smells of life where everything can go high and low without warning enticed me!

Also, in my previous life, I was good at combat so I could make use of my experience to protect myself. Being in a fantasy world is one thing but I'm a girl now. If I can't become strong quickly then my life will end with a premature [Bad End] if not [Game Over].

What's more, without my troublemaking little sister... I could live freer than ever!! Hurray...!

"Oops, it's time to sleep, Charl. If you don't sleep early then you won't even get taller, you know?" Mother clasped her hands.

"Eh? U-uu... okay..."

...come to think of it, there's height requirement to become an Adventurer. Why? Adventuring isn't for amusement, right...?

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Times passed. I continued to learn words, vocabulary and practiced magic. It's freaking hard for the last one since I had to turn my logic off to accept the reality-bending phenomenon mother often showed to me. In fact, I really did zone out just to control a drop of mana at my hand.

However… I found something strange.

Even though I did as mother told me to, I couldn't control mana properly. What's more, I became ill sometimes just because I expended my mana pool. Mother said it was because mana was a power of mind so it burdened my mental state. So when my mana pool was at red, my body would turn ill. This state was known with 'Mind Exhaustion.'

But because all that, I have to know my limits. I decided to carefully experiment under mother's watchful eyes. I didn't want her to worry like that one time where I collapsed in my room due to a session of self-learning. Not to mention I went down with terrible fevers for two weeks long, too...

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In a fine morning after my latest relapse, I was reading a book in my room when someone knocked the door and barged in.

"Hello sweetheart! Your father has finally returned...!" Shouted a man wearing dull uniform and armors in shambles.

...huh? My eyes opened wide, my eyebrows shot up like a rocket and my jaw dropped upon seeing the man with terrible sense for beard. I mean, seriously?

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In the next moment, a chop struck down his head.

"You! That's enough returning in a haggard state like that! Go clean up before you visited our daughter, Alex!" Behind the man, mother yelled with uncharacteristic anger.

...ah, I guess he is my father. Even his name and his personality matched mother's explanation. But once mother dragged off father, another person peeked out from the doorstep.

Hm...? A woman. She had a long yellowish hair which whitened at the ends and she possessed clear blue colored eyes. Ignoring her abnormal height, she had porcelain white skin and her pointy ears perked up and down. What the hell is that gimmick? Are they controlled or something—

"...eh? Pointy ears?" I blurted out.

"Yahoo~! You got it right, Lil' Charlotte! An elven doctor has come to visit you...!" The woman said.

...what did she say? Doctor...? Baffled by her claim, it took me a while to swallow her words. But, as I thought of various doubts about her, the woman approached me and stood beside my bed where I was in.

"No need to be alarmed. I'm your father's superior at his workplace and it's not like I've been here only for once."

"Is… that so...? But how did you know my name?"

"It's magic~! Jokes aside, your name is already decided way before you were born by us. My name is Melinda Clarentsky by the way."

Eh? Seriously? Then my parents knew their child would be a girl? Then again, 'Charlotte' is quite a common name if I remembered it right…

"Well, you seem to have an interesting circumstance. Do you mind if I ask some questions?" Melinda asked.

"Huh? Eh, sure..." I answered though a bit reluctant.

For some reasons... My spidey sense is tingling when she locked her gaze upon me!

As I watched the elf who's taking things out from her backpack, I realized I was already a step too deep in hell.

Before long, a hysterical death throes emerged in the Manor.

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Night arrived. Once the whole family gathered together with an addition of a guest, it was a banquet in my eyes.

Roasted cockatrice, deep kalbi soup, fresh salad and so on... Heck, this is too much since I have smaller mouth and my metabolism is inferior to male. Curse this body! How can I enjoy the cuisine if it's like this!?

"As I thought, you're a skilled one, Agatha...! Won't you work for me?" Melinda asked as she stabbed her fork at a slice of cockatrice meat cooked till perfection.

"I'm sorry but I will have to refuse your offer. I still have a daughter to take care of." Mother denied solemnly.

"But Lil' Charlotte is already three, no? In two years, she will already be at the age allowed to leave home." The elven pushed still.

Hmh… how persistent…

"No, Charlotte has her illness, Melinda..."

"She's right, Melinda. I don't think I can afford to work knowing my daughter's condition now."

...ah, they're arguing. I guess it's no wonder since I have this illness which caused me to suffer.

Then again... I moved my chair away from the one used by Melinda. The rectangle dining table was completely seated with my parents next to each other across and I was seated next to Melinda. Mother tilted her head as she asked me.

"What's wrong, sweetie? Why are you looking restless?" Mother wondered.

Ugh! I was found out! I peered at Melinda who's eating like a glutton then to mother. A series of past recollections caused me to whimper.

"I don't want to be near her..." I drooped down my shoulders.

"I know that feeling well." Father exhaled.

Ugh... I can't believe that this world—Magnis has the same type of people who enjoy inviting troubles and trolling others... I don't want to stay near this daredevil!

I lamented over my poor luck but as I finished half my shares of food in agony, Melinda raised her head up. Hey, why are you chewing the spoon? Are you a kid?

"Dat's right, Alex. The Royal Court wants a report about the situation around the western border." Melinda said.

"Ah, is it already time...? Even though I'm a Messenger Knight, those people really like to decide things for themselves..." Father shook his head in exhaustion, followed with Melinda's disappointed huffing.

"Can't be helped. Even I have to tutor some stupid horny brats 'just because' I'm the Court Mage over there."

Eeehh…? What are these two talking about? I glanced between father and Melinda but they just shrugged and laughed the topic off. Meanwhile, mother was eating while exuding an elegant impression.

…hm? I inclined my gaze to her after a moment of deliberation.

"Mother, how do you eat with so much finesse?"

"Oh my? Charl, where did you learn such word? I think it's still too early for you."

Eeeeeeeh… Why? What do you mean? Isn't that elegant enough to be call as admirable? I want to know how and where she learned it…

Fine then. Let's change the topic and thus I looked at father. Noticing my stare, his hazel brown eyes showed confused lights.

"Father, will you stay with us from now on?" I asked.

"Yeah? Is something wrong, Charlotte?" Father replied.

Father worked in Aeinsland's capital city as a knight after leaving behind his Adventurer career. Apparently, he gives advice in military and running errands for the king. Of course, that also meant he had some talent… which he waved off as simply him being lucky on a mission.

It seems because of his past job, efforts and participation in a civil war which happened ten years before I was born, he attained quite a high position among the orders of knights, but it forced father to work in the capital. He never showed up until today too.

That's why I thought this family gathering as a great chance.

"Can you teach me how to fight?"

At once, his gentle gaze stiffened. The man whose beard looked longer than what it looked like turned to mother. My parents exchanged gazes for a while, and as if they reached some sort of consensus, they nodded at the same time.

"Certainly! But you will have to be healthy enough so you must exercise first, Charlotte!"

"Ooh...! I will, father!"

Yes! To think it's so easy to get approval... maybe it's good that I never disobeyed my parents! Then again, that's just correct and I was born in a loving family. How could I disrespect them?

Mother always stayed at my side whenever I was ill and she still encouraged me to not give up in becoming a Mage. Not only that, she taught me how to write, speak and walk at my infancy period with patience.

Although she seems overprotective but isn't that how mothers are? I was reminded of my previous life's mother but… I guess all mothers are the same everywhere.

Really. I must be a lucky guy(?) To be born as these two's kid. I would like to repay them but before all that I have to be strong enough to carve my legend!

As I thought of my future course of actions, Melinda gasped and all eyes turned to her in an instance. The elven woman raised her fork with her left hand, twirling it then she said.

"That's right. I forgot to mention the result of examination about Lil' Charlotte here."

Though it was in a flimsy manner, the air froze as if a storm appeared when nothing happened five seconds ago. Eeehh... Talk about bad timing!

"E-hem, then allow me to start," Melinda coughed as she settled her back against the chair. "First of all, I can't identify what kind of illness Lil' Charlotte is suffering in."

"Huh?" I let out a dumb sound out of reflex.

"High fever, breathing difficulty, numbness, weakened senses, intense headache... Each one of them is happening at the same time, at the same duration and they're working together to make more symptoms. It's as if Charlotte received a Curse."

…eh? Curse? As in, those taboo spells mother often warned to me should I take the path of mage? Melinda knitted her eyebrows together as she tapped her temple with a finger.

"To be honest, I'm almost certain her illness is a new plague but there is this thing which piqued my reason to drop the possibility, which is... Mana Disruption."

Upon hearing the unfamiliar term, my parents exasperated. Mother was covering her opened mouth with her hands and even father's shoulders shook as he stood up.

"A-are you saying our daughter contacted that vile disease?!" He yelled.

"If she did then she would've died when she was born, Alex." Melinda answered.

Di-die!? Me!? When I am still at the beginning of my second life!?

But as if ignoring my shocked state, Melinda proceeded "That's why I whited it out. But the main problem is the fact that lil' Charlotte has the chance to contact that damn disease. If not, then she may be the only one in the entire Magnis ever to survive after receiving it."

"Ev-even so... can't you do something, Melinda...? Doesn't this mean Charl is..."

...Uh-oh. I don't like how this will go. I glanced around and the adults around me are showing the same expression. They were frowning and drops of sweat appeared on their foreheads. Also, mother was leaking beads of tears at the corner of her eyes.

There was a heavy silence which pressured me to be unable to talk and after what I thought as five minutes, the elf beside me opened her lips.

"Well... it's impossible for Charlotte to become a Mage. That, I can be certain."

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It had been several months after Melinda arrived in Augmund household. She welcomed herself as a guest and she was lent a room beside mine so that she can check on me. Well, I am a sick person so I guess it's just right...

Haa. I exhaled while dropping down my shoulders. I can't believe I won't be able to be a Mage. I gazed outside the window in my room with a melancholic gaze. The sleepless nights after that was the real 'hell' I even cried in my sleeps.

The grey clouds covering the sky gave a gloomy air as wind blew the wilted petals from the trees off. Although rarely, it still gave the chill which indicated the arrival of the last season of this year.

"The snow... it's really piling up." I muttered before remembering why I can't become a mage.

This Mana Disruption thing is something like a limiter. I have quite a large amount of mana capacity but this illness restricts me from using more than a fourth. If I tried to be reckless...

The possibility alone already caused me to shudder to the core of my existence. I don't want to be reckless enough to throw away my life again but I also don't want to stay the way I am. I mean... what can I do if I continue to be sick and weak?

When I saw my parents working hard in an era where anything could happen from the best to the worst, I decided not to trouble them further. Heck, they have done more than enough to raise me up. Even so... Why am I hated by lady luck...?

"Lil' Charlotte~! It's time for your medicine!"

Geh…! It's already time, huh…? I don't like that bitter and sticky liquid… Ugh. After surrendering myself to Melinda's medication, the High Elf perked her ears up as she asked me.

"Lil' charlotte, are you free today?"

I stifled an urge to throw up the medicine. "E-eh…? Un... well, today father is busy so... I guess?"

I tilted my head at her question. This woman likes to say random thing to throw off my pace. Not that it's a bad thing but her 'examination' is equal to 'public execution' in my opinion. I don't want to explain my shames so I refuse to remember this new trauma...

Also, though I'm not able to do a marathon, I at least warmed up every morning. If not, I would watch father practicing sword from the Manor.

Father is a hard worker with a busy schedule. He trained in the morning, then he worked behind the desk in the afternoon. Next, patrolling with fellow guards in the evening and he told me stories at night. He's a good storyteller and his days when he was an Adventurer sounded amazing. But…

Sometimes... he would flirt with mother and they're quite loud in the dead of night.

...While I know adult life can be like that, but I realized I might as well be the one on the receiving end this time. At that moment, intense coldness grasped my neck. No no no no! I can't allow that kind of [Bad End] happening to me! Not a chance!

"Well, now..." Melinda interrupted. Showing off a smile with a canine exposed, she clasped her hands and said, "Let's go out!"

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Somewhere beyond the mundane realm, far above the clouds where not even the constraints of time could degrade the perfection that existed here...

Briskly walking back to my temple, the familiars greeted me and I was welcomed by so many of my loyal servants and angels who served under me. I feel slightly entertained but I was still annoyed to the very end. I sat on my throne and let the servants offered me with what mortals have presented for me last moon phase.

"Ooohhh… Elder Sister… are you there…? Is the venerable Irnia here…?"

"Hmm? This voice… Linia? Why did you come and aren't you responsible in observing Magnis tonight?"

A disheveled, pale-skinned short woman approached my throne by leaving from the shadows of the pillars. Her complexion was so pale that I believed she's a drowned to death soul but of course, I knew exactly that she's my twin sister, the Twin Moon Linia.

"Yes… yes, my venerable sibling. However, I have gained a new insight after monitoring the Quest you have given to me millenias ago."

I tilted my head, wondering. Did I ever give her a favor that lasted for thousands of years? After a slight pondering I remembered as I clasped my hands altogether.

"Ah, that's right! Vainticel's movements have been silent for the past centuries so I nearly forgot! I gave you the role to observe her AND her followers! So... is there any news?"

"Yes…! I have found quite an interesting discovery!"

My twin sister then told me the whole story. After hearing what she had found, what she gathered and what she assumed of, I immediately stopped my swinging mood and thought very seriously.

After a while, a wide smile surfaced under my nose.

"Interesting. A human who blessed as Vainticel's Follower from her birth? A favoritism? Then all the more reasons to screw her plan up! Get me the tools I stored in the Ninth Chamber!"

"Oh, oh…? Ninth Chamber…? Is that fine, Venerable Sister? Won't someone catch a wind of your exploit if it's this flashy?"

"So what? I'm a Major God and my standing towered over the other of my peers! No one can stop me from dealing with my revenge! I will settle my grudges for that Whore who dared to steal my lover away!"