There was a dream. Some sort of dream in a world basking in light.
A hand was stretched out. Within the golden meadow with tall grasses, a figure paced through it, searching for something. For someone.
And there they were. Three persons. A person who was facing the dawn. A person who was playing a leaf reed. A person who held a great sword with a pole arm-length hilt.
‘I found you…’
Came a whisper. Too feeble to be heard, but noticed by the man holding a weapon larger than his body. He turned around, a gentle smile soon spread on his face as a pair of bright blue eyes gazed down.
“You’re here.” Another whisper.
“You have arrived.” Another whisper.
But the focus remained on the smiling man. Even when the song of reed vanished. Even when the person gazing at the dawn turned around.
All because it was him. It was him. Someone important…
To who? To whom?
“Come here.”
A hand was stretched out. That gentle and warm hand was accepted. The two hands clasped together, drawn closer to be able to see him from up close.
But…
“Welcome home…”
The name that was whispered. That profound resonance in the beating wind.
Whose… name was it?
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“Fuaah~” I yawned and stretched my arms, the sunlight streaking through the windows to warm up the room I was in.
“Well, well. Have you woken up, Charl?” Looking to the right… and there was mother in the middle of changing.
Eh. Not like I’m surprised. I slept with her last night. Somehow, a weird dream forced me to stay awake and even after taking it out at Takeru-sensei, I’m still sleep deprived.
And yeah… I decided to call that Hermit that. I think he deserved at least some decent title. Anyone would question you as socially inept if you called yourself ‘Hermit in Seclusion’.
“Un… Good morning, mother.” I rubbed my eyes lazily.
“Ufufufu… I can see that you have not slept on a decent bed. Was the training that rough?” She asked with a chuckle that soothed me.
Well… considering I met Grim Reaper only to be pulled back at the last second for a dozen times… I think ‘rough’ isn’t enough to cut it.
“Mother will make breakfast soon so you can wash your face first. Change your clothes after that.”
“Okay~”
I trudged out of the room like a drunken man. As I passed through the hallway, sometimes, the sunlight peeking through the leaves and windows hit me diagonally. Ow, so bright…
*clink* I heard a sound coming from below me. Looking down on my one-piece dress… which served as a nightgown, there was a necklace with a rusted locket attached to it. I held the locket with one hand…
“Un. I guess it’s pretty, at least. I didn’t know he has a fine taste in jewelry.” I nodded down as I inserted the locket under the fabric and patted the area it resided under. “Well, today is a fine clear day!”
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“Where’s Takeru?” I asked.
“He’s off doing his own things. Let’s be on our way.” Father said with a smile.
I watched him passing by me. “But…” I muttered as I trotted behind him, yet earning a pat on the head.
“It’s okay, sweetie. That idi—I mean, inconsiderate person just don’t like bidding farewell.”
…uh, yeah. I see.
Well, guess I can just return here once in a while. It’s not like he has anything to do anyway, and I’m worried he would make another apocalypse in his house.
After we left the forest, I discovered that there was a thick wall of mist despite having nothing in relations to height or geographical layout.
“What is with this mist?” Leon inquired. Doesn’t he know it? I thought he’s been living here for years…
“Spirit Veil. A type of Magical Ward that is set to confuse and turn away those trespassing into the forest.” Father said curtly as he grabbed my hand. Mother did the same to Leon and we walked together with linking hands.
Oooh… no wonder I haven’t seen anyone except Leon and Takeru-sensei for five years. Had there been no one else but me I would have gone crazy for spending five years in this god forsaken place. I am thankful, honestly, but involving myself with that Hermit is still out of the equation.
After passing through the mist by holding hands together, we arrived right in front of a forked road, one which was carved by animal trails and carriages. What surprised me was a small encampment of carriages in circular formation there.
Apparently, this was the crossroad people from the southeast gathered together, banding against bandits and monsters by increasing the eyes and fangs to retaliate. This also allowed more people to cross the country and I’m guessing there’s a PMC-thingy since there are burly men with not-knightly vibe over there. Adventurers were one thing but at least they normally had the friendly atmosphere surrounding them unlike these guys.
“Hmm… is it because of my constant training?”
Currently, I am capable of seeing the mana projected as aura wrapping a person’s body. The thickness of the aura shown was an indicator of how experienced they were in combat and I could see a quarter if not half the guards possessing auras with the thickness two inches lesser than Leon’s. Pretty much the same as small fries but still seasoned and well-trained.
Well… some experts are capable of hiding their strength so I can’t say I’ve done a good job in sensing their aura.
Once we arrived mother and father talked to some merchants with gaudy clothing and strong guards. They glanced at me and Leon before looking back at my father. After a while a nod was shown by the strongest guard who had imposing aura. He must be the leader of the guards…
“Good… there seems to be a space enough for us to fit in. This way, Charlotte, Leonhardt!!”
“Alright…! Let’s hurry Leon!”
“Yeah…”
Hm…? The response is feeble. Is he afraid of the humans? Well, we’re pretty much quite discriminating in a way but I fended such thought off my head. Grabbing my little brother’s hand, I dragged him to our parents with a cheerful smile.
“Ah—“
“Come on~! It’s better if you stop mulling for a while!”
Just like that—the trip to Raumia began.
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The travel was surprisingly pleasant. As we were given the last carriage which held less passengers than the rest, there were empty spaces to stretch legs out. It’s also the simplest looking and it was similar to that of old western carriage for goods and journey.
In fact, the pleasantness kept on rising as I talked with my family about a whole lot of things.
About what happened before I was transported to Takeru’s cabin. About the content of training and what kind of lifestyle I had till it ended. And then about Leon though not so specific due to us being close with strangers in one place.
Their reactions varied from surprised to horrified and then to surprised again. It’s funny really, but I only got a weirded out response when I mentioned about Fei. That came from Father while mother nodded in understanding. Hmm…?
“Speaking of which, where’s Melinda? Did she not come along, mother?”
The atmosphere instantly cracked.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Wh… what’s this? It felt as if had just stepped on a landmine…… Mother was portraying a petrified smile and father was gazing away with an extremely pale complexion no different than a drowned corpse’s! I hurriedly turned and whispered to Leon.
“What—what’s going on here, Leon!?”
“Don’t ask me… rather, who’s this Melinda person…?”
I explained to him briefly about who she was. A busty exhibitionist, a powerful mage and my personal doctor. After hearing there was a relation between her and father, my little brother answered.
“Your father might have cheated.” Mr. Holmes nodded down as if he had resolved the case.
“Say what!?” My yell rattled the whole carriage, bringing unnecessary attentions as I hurriedly stared at my parents. More specifically, at my father!
“E-err! A-about that…! It’s wrong, Charlotte!! There’s something—“
“That’s right, Charl~ Daddy hasn’t cheated yet. In fact, we have gotten along so well that Melinda is now guarding the Manor you know~~”
…….Um… mother, I don’t think your words have any power when you elbowed father with a blinding speed. Most wouldn’t notice but I have improved a lot to at least discern your afterimage you know……?
So something really did happen…! But if I asked, the river styx would appear in front of me! I’m sure there’s a taboo word in our family now!!
Ugh. To think I would ruin the mood was really uncool. Maybe I should really reflect and so I decided to be a little… less hyped. I had enough of inviting bad lucks just because of complaining. As if I wanted more of them sneaking up on me.
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Then it happened.
Whether it was deliberate or not, I couldn’t make sure of it other than fate trying to lure me into a vortex of troubles. In fact, I was sure that something had gone wrong after half a month of travel to Raumia.
Why was I sure of it? Well, living a life constantly chased by misfortune and conflicts would sharpen one’s instinct whether they wanted it or not. As a former normal person who had gone through battles be it against good people, bad people or even freaks who happened to pass by, I could assure everyone that was present by declaring “Fukou da…..!” like a certain magical-series’ protagonist.
After all—
“Why are there so many Tartargas chasing after us!?” The merchant who drove the carriage with my family as its passengers cursed.
YES! There’s a bunch of tortoise at the size of 10 meters in height and width with ominous skull designed shells pursuing the carriage! They looked amazing but it’s not from the pursued view!
More like, aren’t we going to die here!!?
“Th-th-th-this is bad! This is bad! What do we do, Leon!?”
“Don’t ask me! They’re damn monsters not demons!! As if I could understand their language and stop shaking me around!!”
“But there are so many of them chasing us!! I nearly died three times from fighting one of them and there’s hella bunch of them in a stampede!!”
“You defeated Bravzgaim! Use that damn Limited Blade-whatever you called so proudly!!”
“Do you think I AM BRINGING A THOUSAND SWORDS WITH ME AROUND!?”
Everyone was in panic! Well, who wouldn’t when monsters as big as those things were trying to crush us!? Though they’re big and strong and durable they had no brain so it was easy to defeat them unlike Bravzgaim… BUT if the numbers increased it’s impossible to deal with them!!
“What do we do!? What should we do, Alia!?”
“Ugh… I suppose this is inevitable…… don’t worry, Anise. I think if we died here then at least we’ll meet up in the afterlife.”
“You already resigned yourself?! I don’t wanna die you know!!?”
See! Even those two girls over there with the getup of Adventurers were trembling!! Though they hugged each other and were frightened, the scene was quite entertaining as those two bouncy hills were rubbing each other…
“Eh—that’s not the damn point here!!”
*Zuban!* I accidentally self-retorted and slapped at Leon. He spat out and fell as he muttered “Why… me…” like an unfortunate victim of a crime he was.
But in the middle of all the ruckus and even when the other carriages already fled without minding ours…
“Oh my… Honey, it seems problems often brewed up.” Mother said as if cooing.
“That’s right… As responsible parents, it is our duty to protect our children.” Father replied.
Eh?!
“Ufufufu~! That is exactly what I love about you, dear. Now then… let’s wipe out those puny creatures!”
Eeeeeeh!? Wait, are you two insane or what!? Wait, why are you jumping off the carriage, you idiotic pareeeeeeennttsss!!
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“Such amazing skills!! I truly want the two of you to be my guards even if I have to expend most of my fortune!!”
“No, no… we just did what we must do. And we apologize for we still have a destination to reach. So… we must turn down your kind offer, sir.”
Once we reached the rest stop for today, I immediately rushed out of the carriage. Once I stepped on the ground, I felt absurd amount of relief and joy gushed out!
“We’re still alive!! Thank the Gods above for letting us survive!!”
“You’re being too dramatic, big sis…… also, where’s the apology for hitting me?”
“Well, that wasn’t under my control. I haven’t done anything bad and shall I treat you for a plate of meal, Leon?”
“That’s a damn bribery… where did you learn it?”
“Takeru said he would shut up if I made a luxurious dinner once! Then he did!! And Fei stopped complaining if I were to shove his mouth with my cooking!!”
The Half-Demon little brother of mine rolled his pupils around as if giving up. But I was certain he didn’t want to argue anymore… One point for me in this Second Life Sibling Rivalry! Yosh, I got a head start unlike in my previous record!
But before I could flail my hands for a victory celebration, two persons approached us and talked like this.
“Um… excuse me, but can I ask you something…?”
Hm…? Turning around, I found two persons and they—
“The cowardly clingy girls from before. What do you want?” Leon questioned with a half-lidded glare.
“Augh!”
“Well, we were scared back then—eh, Anise…? You alright?”
Arara, he just broke the girls’ hearts so much the pink maroon haired girl was on all fours. Meanwhile, the other girl who was practically the same age but with aloof expression and trimmed blue hair tried to console her friend. Hm… doesn’t look like they will be okay for a while.
Geez, Leon… You’re such a Lady Killer… in a literal sense. Ha! Oh well, this isn’t the correct place to talk so let’s find somewhere else to sit down before a commotion appeared.
Also—why am I feeling uncomfortable gazes from the people around us? Why the heck are one of them panting for? And isn’t that a guy? My body shuddered and I quickly dragged Leon along with the two girls away before telling my parents.
“Father, mother! We’re going to play for a bit~!” I shouted to tell my parents.
“Alright sweetie! Don’t forget to return before dusk and to the inn!! Do you remember the name?” Mother replied in the same manner.
“Yes yes, understood! We’re going off then…!!”