Ever heard of Reincarnation?

Simply put, it's a cycle of being born, living, dying then rebirth. And repeat the cycle. The twist was that every time one would be reborn in the next life, depending on the karma he or she has amassed in their previous life, they would become something else befitting those deeds.

Kind of unfair? It could be said as such.

After all, the system meant some higher being judged one's deeds and tossed the soul into another vessel without questions. Still, being able to live like a mortal was far better than lazing around in afterlife like some NEET.

In other words—me undergoing rebirth again am truly, very fortunate.

Why? Well... let me introduce myself again. My name ‘was’ Akamaru Toribe. A man amongst men, though maybe I looked a bit effeminate. A person that lived quite a fulfilling life despite suddenly being struck with a truck at the age of 17. However, I died because I protected someone important to someone else so I can't say I died unsatisfied.

Still, regrets might've remained. Even now, I still missed the days where I could fool around with my friends, especially with my little sister. But I can trust they will live well. I think, if the usual shenanigans don’t continue despite my absence.

After I died, my soul was given an audience with a Goddess. She said that I could live again though the real reason was because the Goddess in charge of the dead in my country was still sulking out of divorce with her husband.

What a petty reason to have a strike.

But anyway, it happened. I reincarnated with my memories intact and now—I have been living in this fantasy world called Magnis for a straight seven years. I saw so many different things, gazed at different skies and discovered things that nobody could know back in my previous world.

Unfortunately, there's a twist here. I...... was reincarnated as a girl.

Yeah, I got it coming. Suddenly having silky smooth golden hair, delicate like mannequin figure, wide emerald eyes and cute rosebuds lips nearly annihilated all of my SAN points. Whoops, did I mention that despite that all, I was favored by the Goddess of Temptation (I found it later after I asked about the name the person in my dream told to me)?

You've gotta be joking. This is the worst thing that could happen to me. Haiz... I want to cry now. Not to mention I—

"...Charlotte......" suddenly a boyish voice interrupted.

"What is it? I'm still in the middle of monologue here." I replied with a snarl.

"Mono... what? At any rate, is the food done now?" The voice asked in slight confusion.

Hm? I looked at the boiling soup in the pan.

"Oh, right. Right right, here you go. Carry this to the table, Fei."

I dumped the black haired boy with steel grey eyes a big bowl filled to the brim with hot soup. The content was basically a meat stew with potatoes and carrots. The wafting scent was already delicious to make one drool but I snapped Fei back to reality with a light knock at the head.

"Hey! Move your body, not your eyes. And don't stare at it too long else your portions will be cut down." I scolded him.

"Ugh. But this is... it really seems to be as delicious as you said." Fei looked at the soup like a cat staring at a shallow pond filled with goldfishes.

…what the heck? Why do I get the feeling he’d dig in with his mouth if left alone?

Sighing, I knocked his head again from the side. This time, I was a little softer. "Then don't get a head-start. It's the sanpaku-eyed man from earlier who provided the kitchen and ingredients so..."

"Okay okay. I got it, alright. What's this 'sa-n-paku' thing?" Fei turned on his heel and walked off.

"Ah, hey! Don't run while holding the pot!! Oh, honestly!"

I sighed as I placed a palm on my forehead. Following after that, a figure who was fiddling with the kitchen utensils behind me cackled.

"You sound like a mother." He gave a mean glance and sarcastic grin.

"And you, Takeru—shut up if you don't want to get your shares cut down." I glared with a knife pointed at him.

"Not like you can follow my movements at this stage, Chibikko." The man snorted.

"Don't call me 'Chibikko'! I'm not small!!"

The blue haired man with sanpaku (mean/villainous) eyes shrugged. He turned off the fire and tidied up the remains after the Cooking Collaboration we performed a little earlier before.

Heck, to think I would cook in a kitchen possessing Chinese cultures implemented in it was surprising. Not that I wanted to complain but it is out-of-place. Also, this suspicious Hermit looked to have different agendas while cooking.

"...unexpectedly, you seemed to know your stuffs well in cooking." He said as if judging me.

"Well, I spent some times in the kitchen to make sweets and cakes. I do seems to have the knack in this." I answered with a shrug.

Though I didn't feel proud of it as I only know the basics. At the very least, I knew what kind of thing that I could eat in this world so as to not cause a stupid mistake. Like food poisoning. I’m so glad a catalogue of herbs existed!

"Then why do you still want to become strong?" Takeru asked only to earn my sharpest glare.

"Are you saying I should just become a wife to someone?" I asked, my tone dropped a notch to match my current mood.

However, the Hermit said ‘Why can’t you?’ and left the kitchen. I stared hard at his back but I knew it’d do me nothing good.

I breathed out. As I placed back all the utensils into their rightful storage, I started to reminisce why I’m here while pacing toward the dining table.

Ever since the encounter with a Demon General three months prior, I learned that I was stuck in a dreadful situation. Then I recognized myself inside a Cabin located somewhere near the border between human territory and the Unexplored Southern Region. Someone saved us who were about to die being eaten by dire wolves and this person was......

A guy proclaiming as Hermit. His name was Takeru Roundtable.

It made him as if he was a Japanese person like me but he looked unlike one. While has the vibe and some resemblances they were too little to notice.

I didn't know who he was but apparently, he was the Lord of the burned town which we were supposed to go to. Other than that... well, nobody knows except him himself. At any rate, I was supposed to be trained by him but he blatantly said with dismissive gesture.

"No. Why should I even have a Disciple? It's just Alex's empty belief that I would take one."

I really wished I was wrong but again, he said the same thing. I decided that this man was of no use so I immediately practiced and trained all by myself whenever there was an opportunity for it.

Of course I was scolded by the men. Fei said I didn't need to train as I was still recovering but Takeru said weapons did not suit me.

......now that I think about it, isn't this discrimination? This is unfair! How could the society favor men above women!? Just who was it that thought women cannot gain any position in everything except being the wives?!

Hmph. Remembering why I was grumpy for a while really ticked me off.

"It's good!"

Eh? What is? I looked beside me and found that Fei, who was sitting next to me at the dining table, wolfed down the stew with rice.

Yes. We have rice! If only there's soy sauce here then it would be perfect but Takeru said he possessed not the ingredient involved to make one. So this world has fermentation system but I guess that's to be expected.

If there's wine and alcohol, why can’t there be any soy sauce? I'm such a fool to not consider it.

Maybe people like Takeru have the knowledge regarding to it. While I contemplated how to get my answer from the annoying man, I heard Fei wanting for second so I smiled wryly, taking the plate and put rice including soup on it before giving it back to Fei.

"Eat slowly else you will choke yourself."

"I won't be defeated by something ridiculous."

...one of the few tidbits I found shortly after I woke up. Fei has been behaving unlike himself for the past months. I didn't remember since when he became so open-hearted like this but it's still weird. He usually put on a poker face even when he accidentally witnessed me changing clothes but recently, he would always be flustered whenever I came to close contact with him.

This is indeed strange. He even let down his guards for half the pranks I pulled on him.

But anyway—I did what was right. I punished him for stealing my lips and forbade him NEVER to do that again. Any complaint fell to a deaf ear.

"So. Why can't I train under you?" I questioned Takeru who was eating across me. Beyond the table he used chopsticks to eat and he did so with finesse.

"I don't want to. Unless you want to die a hundred times over, that is."

Uh… what? Seriously?

"Just what kind of training will make one dying a hundred times...?" I asked, sweat dropping just by imagining some image of hellish tortures I ever knew.

"A brat like you have no reason to know. Therefore, once you finished recovering, I want you both to go back home." Takeru replied and made a shooing gesture with his hand.

Guh! Like hell I will agree!!

"I don't want to." "I have nothing like home."

While we, the children answered as such, I glanced at Fei who interjected with something that depressing. I didn't even expect that at all. Unfortunately, he looked away and resumed eating.

He's playing around right...? It's just my feeling that he has no home right...?

"......Why are you two over there anyway? You know that fighting a demon is unquestionably impossible unless you have a Saint with you." Takeru reasoned.

Well, I didn’t even know a demon can intrude into human’s territory so easily like that. I mean, seriously, one wrong step and the genre’d have changed into some vengeance tragedy. It didn’t help knowing demons are notorious for their insane strength and magical talent, as well as speedy regeneration.

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

How can they not conquer the world ages ago if each of them are already hard to kill without Advanced-Rank Magic? In any case, my answer would be this.

"Because that bitch dared to pick a fight with this guy." "Because that whore dared to harm Charlotte."

Once again I looked at Fei but he turned his head again. This guy…!

"......haa... What in Seven Chaos is wrong with you lots?" Takeru scratched his head lazily as if he found something bothersome.

What? Isn’t that obvious? Of course I have to do a payback for all the wasteful troubles and crises I did not deserve. Also, blame yourself for not wanting to lend a help to your friend’s daughter.

…hm? How did I write myself as a ‘daughter’ so easily? Normally, I’d feel as if I want to vomit blood whenever I tried to think of what I am now. How come I only feel slightly miffed about it…?

"Why can't you just play around as age befits you?” Takeru muttered almost as if he was telling that to himself. “The world isn't all about being number one in power and besides, some crippled fool can still reign as a king thanked to his cunning nature if anything else matter."

"I don't want to be a boring bastard like that. He sounds like an evil person." "That's right. The son of a bitch isn't a king but a shallow villain."

For the third time in a row, I glared at Fei but he’s using the same excuse. Again!!

"You two are in sync... why don't you just spend your time listlessly and get married already? Did you even realize the one you insulted is the king of the strongest kingdom in the Territory?"

"No!" "As if someone like that has the right to lead humanity as a whole!!"

Stop interrupting the conversation, Fei! I decided to elbow him from the side and he fell off the chair. Writhing like a bug sprayed with insect repellant. I then turned to stare at Takeru.

“Is it wrong that I want strength to fight?” I asked.

“And what will you do when you can fight?” Takeru replied with a smug grin.

“Isn’t that obvious? I…”

…I… couldn’t finish my words then. Somehow, it felt as if something stopped me from saying any further and I somehow glanced at Fei. The dark-haired boy was still in all fours but he noticed me staring, and I didn’t know why I broke the eye-contact and simply grunted.

“…What I do… is not your concern right?”

The Hermit was silent, then he snorted. “Suit yourself. I still won’t take you in as a disciple.”

----------------------------------------

Late night, that day…

“Are you alright, Charlotte?” Fei asked while setting the bed to sleep in.

I looked over my shoulders, staring at his moving back. Huh

“The same as always.” I replied. “It’s not like it’s the first time my request was shot down.”

“Is that so…? But you look a little strange today.”

Huh? I blinked and turned around, finding Fei flopping down and sitting at his bedside. And to who it may concern, yes, we sleep in the same room. Of course there were two single beds so I had nothing against with it.

Besides, I have a short sword for emergency use so my security is always at 100%.

“Really? I don’t feel anything wrong in particular. It must’ve been your imagination, Fei.”

I shrugged and lay down my back on the bed. I put the Ember Spirit torch off and the lights were out other than the moonlight peeking from the window.

“Well, let’s just retire for today. I’m beat cleaning up the whole yards.” I said then closed my eyes.

However…

“Charlotte.”

Hn…? I looked to the left. Although I wasn’t sure why, I felt as if that boy was gazing at me so I replied in the same manner. Even if I can’t see him… somehow, I knew Fei was there.

“I will never leave your side.”

I almost choked, my heart almost leaped off my chest. And I couldn’t push down the heat clouding on my cheeks as I jolted, sitting up only to see a pair of glowing obsidian grey eyes. No… what’s that color…? It looked paler… and… Glass-like?

“Wh-what do you…” I stuttered but the defined face of the boy caused my cheeks to heat up.

“It’s exactly that. I will protect you.”

But soon enough, he broke off my stare by turning around. Without minding what chaos was going on in my head, he simply reached for the blanket and whispered.

“Good night, Charlotte.”

----------------------------------------

The next two days, I was… in a slightly bad mood.

Why? Isn’t that obvious? It’s because of Fei! Seriously, I couldn’t understand how bad his jokes were!! In fact, that thing he spouted night before was the biggest stupidity he ever committed!

I mean, come on… as if some twelve years old kid would pledge loyalty to me, much less saying ‘I’m here for you’. I’m just a run-on-the-mill child of a low-rank noble house! Besides, what he said sounded like what Chuuni people always said…

Although I admit he was cool for a second there…

“…wait. Scratch that. Haru is probably the only one that will do something so embarrassing like that.” I muttered aloud with a finger pressed on my chin.

“Oh? And who is this ‘Haru’ you are talking about?”

Gyah!? Who goes there-

“Urgh… It’s you again…” I groaned as I arrived at the dining room where Takeru was at.

I’m getting tired to talk about it but he’s totally slacking off, what-with the abundant empty wine bottles on the table. Eh, one of them was a sake and special a cup for it. Also, this distinct smell… how did he brew it?

“This is my home after all.” Takeru said while twirling the sake bottle in his hand.

“You call a wooden cottage not cleaned for tens of years as home…?” I asked in blank amazement.

“At least there are more stuff than you could possibly have.” He bit back.

Oh shut up! Keep out my bust size from this, you lolicon!! Just as I argued with Takeru even more—there was a knocking sound coming from somewhere.

My eyes followed his lead and I certainly saw flock of orbs of light knocking on the window. Takeru walked to them and opened it and I heard giggles as well as childish voices.

‘Wai~! We can go in!!’ ‘Thank you, Takeru~~!’ ‘Hey! Let’s play together!!’ ‘Takeru-sama, please marry me~~!!’

Uh...? Right? Somehow or the other, these colorful orbs of lights were saying so many things and I could hear them. What about the last voice? I didn't want to comment on it.

“You guys really are Early Birds……Please don’t interrupt my breakfast……” Takeru complained.

But I think alcohols don’t count as breakfast…

‘Mu~! That’s not fun!!’ ‘Ain’t fun!!’ ‘Play with us!’ ‘Sleep with me!’ ‘Please toy me all you want!!’

WHAT!?

“Hey! You shouldn’t say such vulgar thing in the morning!!”

I ended up blurting words which caused the man to cringe and the fairies to scatter. Soon enough Takeru recomposed himself while I heard incoming footsteps from behind.

“Charlotte?! Did something happen?” Fei asked with bated breath and almost shouting… Hold on, why you came rushing here like a bull when all you’ve got is nothing but pants and a sword!?

“Hoo...... So you CAN hear the Spirit’s voices.”

Uweh?! The man with blue hair and mean eyes suddenly appeared in front of me and drilling a hole with an odd glare. I felt sudden chills so I turned away and Takeru—suddenly appeared right in front of me! Again!

How fast was he to move without leaving any sound like that?!! And if I looked up at him Takeru was really, really scary!!!

His smile went deeper than before. “That’s quite a feat. No ordinary human can ever have the chance to see Spirits without decades of experience in wielding magic. Much less those who can listen to their voices.”

I slowly retreated a step and he moved forward. Again, I pulled back and he approached me further. The process repeated until I realized my back was against the wall. I have no way to escape!? And it’s the first time that I saw someone who could show such evilness in their expressions!!

*BAM!* The man with darker than blue hair slammed his palm on the wall next to my head. My ears were ringing but I could hear a whisper like a slithering snake on my shoulder.

“Perfect. If the content of the letter is true then I have full five years to mold you into what I want.” Takeru said with a wide grin.

Hiih!? A full-blown villainous statement! And Fei, why aren’t you moving—eh!? He’s unconscious!!? How? Since when?! Was he knocked out!? Wait, this is the worst situation for me then!

“Y-you…! What–what are you trying to do? What do you want?!”

Takeru Roundtable laughed maniacally when he heard that. He looked like a predator. He looked like a hunter toying with his prey. He looked like a mad scientist staring at his favorite white rat for his researches. And with a lick over his lips, the man who proclaimed as a Hermit exclaimed.

“Well, I like researching something and what I like the most is using the best sample for my experiment in Training Methods to see what kind of results will happen. I will make you stronger, but in turn—you are MINE for the next five years! I am so going to make you vomit a lot of blood and forge your body into one that can repel even White Dragon’s Strongest Breath with an eyelid!!”

Hiiiiiiiiiiiii! The Devil is heeeeeerrreee!!

----------------------------------------

Again, somewhere beyond the mortal realm at undefined time—

"Heh... Heh he he he...! Th-this time, I will definitely succeed!!"

"O-onee-sama...! I think it's enough with the tampering... Helios nii-sama will be truly furious..."

"NO! As if I can give up now!! I—I won't be defeated by Vainticel!! Not after that little rascal escaped my long-awaited trap door!!"

*crackle*

"Hoo? Did you think I would not be aware of your action after your latest antic, my foolish, disobedient sworn sisters...?"

" "Hiiiiiii!!?" "