I tried to pick a place that could help gain favors and impressions from these two girls. But in a small village like this, there’s nothing unusual so I decided to go to the tavern dragging three kids with me.
After choosing the table at the corner of the tavern, we sat down and then ordered for meals and drinks. Oh, no alcohol (it is not healthy to drink when in puberty) okay, waitress-san!!
“And so… let’s start from introduction. My name is Charlotte Augmund. 12 years old and my hobby is cooking sweets. My specialty is to knock some senses to undisciplined bunches. Over here is my little brother, Leon Augmund. He always tried to act as a cool mature adult though he’s a crybaby inside.”
“……did I just hear my name being summed in two words? And did you blatantly insulted me, Big Sister…?”
Ahahaha! What are you talking about, Leon? No matter how cowardly and a chicken you became, there’s no reason for me to not dote on my younger sibling right? Setting that aside—
“Ah, righto! My name’s Anise! A commoner and a beginner Adventurer!!” The pinkhaired girl introduced herself. “My specialty is bare-handed combat and I love to nap!! And this one is—“
“…Alia. An Adventurer. I’m an Aqua Mage.” Said the bluehaired girl.
“We’re childhood friends by the way! Pleased to get along with you two, Charlotte and Leon!”
Oooh! What a refreshing way for introducing yourself. The same went for us too but I just heard something interesting!!
“’Aqua Mage’? What is that?” When my question was thrown out, Leon instantly glanced at me and glared condescendingly.
“Sis… I thought that Hermit taught you about it already?”
Ugh…! W-well… about that…… It’s better to not pry on adult’s stuff, Leon!! There are something you shouldn’t know and it’s not like I forgot whatever BS that guy said! I’m quite serious here!!
“Hm… then, would you like to know?”
Seeing the chance, the girl with light blue hair voiced an explanation. Though I didn’t have a proper opinion but she went on as if the world was only her own.
“As one can see, all living beings have mana running in their veins. In particular, those with large mana capacity blessed from birth are already destined to become users of magic. Otherwise known as Mages in general. The mana capacity of a person does not differ even if they grows old, hence the reason why mages bloodline are very treasured by the kingdoms. But—”
“—Did you know, Charlotte? Alia, despite being a commoner born in common family line… is capable of using magic! And her mana capacity also differed than even regular nobles’!!”
Eh…? Is that true……? I looked at the Aqua Mage who grunted for having her explanation interrupted. But she quickly readjusted her composure by coughing once.
“It’s nothing special. I just had an idea where ‘if I could use magic even though it’s a little, what will happen if I expended it daily’ crossed my mind. What was surprising was that after I emptied my mana supply, in the next day, the mana capacity increased slightly.”
“Whoa, isn’t that a groundbreaking discovery?”
“But you must have enough capacity to at least cast a fireball otherwise you’re no different than ordinary commoner. Although for me, my elemental affinity leaned to water more than other elements. And a special circumstance occurred that enabled me to have the necessary mana capacity to cast a basic spell.”
Ah, I see… it just happened that she was blessed with a rare talent which appeared once every one hundred generations. That certainly helped her to use it for her purposes. She did said that her mana capacity was very low from the beginning so this phenomenon might have not been considered seriously by the kingdoms due to its small frequency.
That raised a question for why am I growing so fast and why my health is increasingly well.
After all, my mana reserve was larger than average but disabled because of my illness. Looking at it this way, Alia might become a formidable person in the future.
Still… Elemental affinity…? Now what is this thing that doesn’t even appear in my memory?
“Your expression asked me what Elemental Affinity is. That’s a good point, in fact. Charlotte is surprisingly perceptive.”
“Ah-ahahahaa~ Thank you—eh! Wait a second! Are you telling me I don’t look like a perceptive person!?”
“You can ask your little brother if you want confirmation.”
Seriously!? I turned to Leon who was shoving grilled meat into his mouth and when he glanced at me—he instantly nodded down.
“How could this be possible!!?” I shouted as if cursing the world.
“*gulp* Well, you have always been called as an Airhead by the Hermit, sis. And you are surprisingly living up to the title.”
No waaaaayy!!? I despaired over the cruel reality but unlike the two (Leon and Anise) who were still wolfing down their meals, Alia simply shrugged as if not bothered by the commotion.
“Don’t worry too much. I believe that boys would rather fawn on those kind of girls.”
“That doesn’t make me happy at all!! And I don’t want to be fawned by some creeps I don’t even know of!!”
“Oh, Charlotte, are you saying that it is fine being fawned by people you know?”
Buh!? How did you reach such conclusion!!? Had I drunk my juice then I would have sprayed it all out like a firefighter’s water hose! Ugghh… this is bad, I’m getting sidetracked.
It felt as if I was being toyed with… just where did I feel such similarity from?
“At any rate, thanked to this discovery, I have been living a life full of constant magic training. Of course, once my mana is expended I would pass out but gradually I got used to it. And about Elemental Affinity… that is what a mage candidate required to know when they wanted to become a mage. That kind of test only happened when one goes to the Magic Guild after the confirmation of magic capacity. It basically showed which type of elemental magic you fall under.”
“And,,, Alia’s Elemental Affinity is water element…?” I suspected sheepishly.
“Yes. This allowed me to learn water elemental magic, including several healing and detoxification spells which relied on the blessing of water. However, the more proficient I have become at wielding water elemental magic, my affinity with other elements decreased and I have a very bad affinity with fire element.”
Hoo… just like how oil and water doesn’t mix together no matter what you do. The concept of this affinity seemed to be related with the personality of the person too… if not, as if an aloof girl with swinging mood like Alia could get her title…
“Oh my, did you think I haven’t expected you thinking ill of me, Charlotte?” Alia questioned with a sly smile.
“Geh! You can read my mind!?” I nearly jumped from my seat.
“No, you are simply being too easy to read. I’m sure such person should be called as ‘simpleton’……” Alia replied, then chuckled.
Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh! Now she just added more and more salts over my wounds! Stop it!! I don’t want to hear that word again!! Not in my second life! Stop trying to mimic Haru—Ah!!? So that’s how it is!!
“…ugh… so no matter which world I go to, there will always be people that acted in a similar way…” Heaving out a tired sigh, I did face-palm and concealed my depression.
It’s already hard to maintain my composure but someone here just knew what she should do to shatter the confidence of someone else… Really, to think that there would be a Second Haru in Magnis… has fate forsaken me?
“Well, shall we move on? I’m quite certain Charlotte wishes to know why I am called as Aqua Mage… correct?” She recommended but I raised a hand signal to stop her.
“Before that, let me guess why. You achieved amazing accomplishments by utilizing water element in an unexpected way and this caused you to be granted with a unique calling by your mentor in mage guild… am I wrong?” When I rolled my gaze to Alia who was sitting across me, her eyes widened in surprise. She even dropped her fork as it made cluttering noise.
“…oh my. To think that Charlotte is actually a smart person……”
“Now you’re saying I am stupid!? Do I look like an idiot to you!!?”
“And she is even conscious of herself…… I see. I might’ve underestimated you, Charlotte. My deepest apology.”
Damn it! Even though I was right why I am feeling so humiliated!!? As I thought, nothing would come out good by involving myself with people having similar personalities to my friends!!
That’s it! I had enough! I will just finish my meal right now—a-are!?
“Wait a moment… why is my plate empty…!? Where has my meal gone off to!!?”
I stood up from my seat and I looked around frantically. The tavern was filled with noises drowning my voice and I was incapable of differentiating the people with their auras mixed together in an enclosed space like this!!
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
However—when a gasp came out from below, I lowered my head… only to find that Leon and Anise were holding a piece of fried cockatrice…… which should have been in my plate!!
“…………………..ah.” Was what the Half-Demon said, now realizing he had made a grave mistake.
“You… ungrateful bunches…… did you even know whose pocket the coins for these meals came from……?”
White mist spewed from my mouth. As the shades of my front bangs dyed half of my face in darkness, a glimmer of eerie green orbs appeared from within it. Meanwhile, Alia already clasped her hands together as if praying for a peaceful slumber as she shielded herself with a veil of nearly invisible layer of water.
“Fucking hungry mongrels…..” I uttered with immense bloodlust. Drawing my sword and holding the hilt with two hands, I finished with a shout. “I’ll turn you all into mincemeat for my dinner!!!”
That day, a tavern was cut in pieces and the people who were caught up in the incident had their clothes and equipment and pennies sliced like shreds of papers. Worst of all, a threat which became a legend of its own appeared with the title ‘Golden Darkness’ shortly after.
An elusive chaos incarnate which had the figure of a terrifyingly beautiful girl. And it was said that those who crossed her would become her dinner for certain. This legend was then recorded by a certain bard and in the future, it would become a bedtime story to not keep children stay awake so late.
But that is another story for another time.
-
-
-
-
“Haiz… I never thought it would become such a ruckus.”
“…maybe it’s already in your blood to cause commotion. It was Big Sister that started it all, right?”
Guh… why do I feel like I can’t reject that notion? Besides… this guy wasn’t struck too hard even though I was half-serious. Demons are really durable huh? Other than that—
“Heeey, Anise? You still alive?”
……over there was a fighter cooked at very well-done rate. She’s burnt with golden brown color so I’d like to say the meat is now ready to be eaten! Hahah, revenge tasted sweet as they said and I was sure I would have more pleasurable sweetness if Fei was in her shoe. Well, the revenge would have tripled if not quadrupled.
“Oh yeah… now that I think about it… Where are the two of you going to?”
“Huh—?”
“Are you simply traveling all over the continent, or are you going to a specific location to be in the same carriage with us? More like, just why did you even approach me?”
……………
Before all the daily life of the people surrounding us resumed, Anise finally moved (only her head) and she gazed upward. Right at me with a dumb face.
“Eh? Did we not tell you?”
“I see. So you want to get free meals after all. Lend me your neck for a second. I’ll make sure to stuff your throat with a hella bunch of food you will choke.”
“Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiittttt!! I would die before I could even swallow them! And aren’t they not in sizable shapes to enter the throat!?”
“Don’t worry, human’s body has so many wonders and mysteries inside it. I’m sure you’ll get full in no time~”
“No! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
In the end, my parents overheard the commotion. Once they found us not far from the sliced tavern, I received a smack on the head and a harsh scolding by my mother. Of course I didn’t allow Leon to escape so I framed him while I was scolded at.
As if I will go down alone! Siblings will always get caught together when exposed of their crimes!!
-
-
-
-
At night we decided to retire early. Well, mainly me, Leon, Anise and Alia as we were still kids. Father was with mother in their room and they seemed to already go down with their ‘date’ if you knew what I meant.
They’re still young married couple so it’s not too strange that their youthful indiscretion was at full-blown.
Not that I could care as I am now a girl. I didn’t even want to think what kind adult I would become in the future but at least I ought to aim for a safe and secure path without Bad Ending or even Death Flag.
Then again, what should I do if my parents wanted to see a grandchildren…? Ugh, thinking about it now is useless. It’s better to not indulge in relationships so carelessly and it’s a topic too early for this 12 years old body.
Although I’m starting to question why I’m having these abnormal thoughts and still not freaking out. Now then—
“Today’s quite an exhausting day, isn’t it…?” I asked my little brother who was already lying his back on the bed across mine.
The inn in this village was not too shabby for its services and facilities. There were two type bedrooms: Single for a bed, a wardrobe, a chest for items with lock and Double for two persons with the aforementioned facilities doubled.
Sadly, with the current age akin to medieval age, commoners could only bath in the river unlike nobles who got their houses with large bathroom installed. The size of the river here paled in comparison to Bluesnake’s though.
“…guess that humans are very… colorful in terms of personalities.” Leon blurted out as he heaved a deep sigh.
Almost like an old man who could not adapt with city life.
“Well, humans are quite emotional in nature. But don’t get too trustful when a stranger talked to you, alright? Humans can be a little… aggressive when dealing with something they don’t like.”
“Hm… so they’re not too different than what the pureblood do.”
You could say that was the case. I sighed as it was hard to avoid the topic of ‘suspicions,’ ‘discrimination,’ ‘accusations,’ ‘persecutions,’ and ‘executions’ whenever we came to a conversation with the topic of personality and treatment of other races. I didn’t intend to put sarcasms nor did I wanted to throw salts on Leon’s wounds.
I too didn’t want to step further but the more I looked at the current humanity, the more I had bad feelings about them. I just hope that no one will stick their noses in other’s business and I wish that those two girls aren’t aware of Leon’s true identity.
Speaking of which, this little brother of mine didn’t look any different even though five years had passed. Still a runt, still a kid, and still childish to a fine degree. He also had his horns and tail not growing even for a centimeter.
“Leon, is your body maturing quite slow compared to humans?”
“Well… when demons’ age reached fifteen they would enter a sudden growth spurt to complement our magic which already boosted before childhood. However, for a Half-Demon like me the growth spurt is still undetermined. I’m quite unstable when it came to magic ability too and I have no ‘Mark’ to secure a trump card.”
Hm… looks like demons has it rough as well. I wondered if this growth spurt was piqued by some sort of stimulation…… maybe puberty. Hormones? Life-death situations? Super Saiyan Awakening??
Whatever it was, it seemed I could still be proud of my height for now. But I also have quite a quick growth spurt and rather than looking like a twelve years old girl, I was looking like a fifteen years old if not sixteen.
Mh… when Leon said the male villagers had the ‘hots’ on me, I bolted away from the vicinity in panic. No wonder I shuddered.
“Let’s just sleep. I wish we can relax around but tomorrow we will depart to switch carriage.”
“Have to agree… but those two will also tagging in… huh?”
“Oh? Has my little brother’s heart been smitten by one of those girls? Is it Anise? Or is it Alia?”
“Wrong. I don’t have any interest in building love relationship when I still haven’t even done anything yet to topple the Bastard’s reign.”
Yes yes. Let’s leave it at that for tonight. I wanted to sleep quickly so let’s turn off the mana crystal acting as a lamp above. Snuggling into my bed, I quickly fell into slumber rather quickly. It was nice, and it was warm for me who had been living in the wilderness for five years straight.
I didn’t even have the luxury to take a bath properly so it was as if I was in heaven. Mufufufu…… How enjoyably fluffy……….
……
………………
……………………………
Late at night. Unbeknownst to anyone, a whisper almost too faint to be heard appeared in the darkness.
”………I was pretty sure I felt uncomfortable gaze coming from one of them. But why…?”