Chapter 3 - Teacher's Secret

Part 1

I saw a dream.

A dream where angels were descending from the sky.

It was different from yesterday, I was certain it was a good dream.

But as I thought of that, there was mosaic covering over their crotch, and they were giggling with their repulsive faces with a [Fufufu].

It seemed like a nightmare.

As I became aware of that fact, I woke up.

[It's a dream...]

Recently I have been having bad dreams...

In front of me is a world filled with rocks and earth, extending endlessly towards the horizon.

The Magic Continent.

A fragment of the Gigantic Continent that had been split apart due to the Human-Demon war. It had once been the domain where the Demon God Laplace gathered the Magic races.

The area of this continent is about half the size of the Central Continent.

But there are almost no plants here. The earth is covered with lots of cracks, the highs and lows of the land have a huge height difference. There are incredibly big boulders that hinder visibility, making this place a natural maze.

Also, the Mana concentration in the Magic Continent is very dense, and there are a lot of strong Magical creatures. It had been said that if you go across the Magic Continent, you will take 3 times longer than crossing the Central Continent.

Part 2

It's going to be a long journey.

When I am thinking of explaining it to Eris, I find her to be very energetic. Her eyes seem to be filled with stars when she looks across the Magic Contintent's land.

[Eris, concerning this place, it is the Magic Continent...]

[Magic Continent! Then our journey is about to start!]

She's really happy.

Full of composure.

Anything I say now will not make her insecure.

Part 3

Eris and Ruijerd become very close together. It seems that when I'm asleep they are still chatting.

Well, it's better than quarreling.

Eris happily talks about the stories of her home, the stuff about Magic and sword lessons.

Even though Ruijerd talks very little, he always makes an agreeable reply when she's talking.

What happened to that frightened behavior at the beginning?

Eris has actually became unafraid of this frightening man.

Even though Eris occasionally says something dreadfully rude, which at times makes my back turn cold, Ruijerd doesn't particularly become angry.

No matter what she says, Ruijerd turns it aside without hesitation.

Who's the one who spread the rumors that the Supard race gets violent easily.

But even though I put it that way, the current Eris is more or less capable of reading the mood now.

Regarding this, I think Edona taught her properly not to mention things that might make people angry.

I hope that's the case.

But I don't know how much tolerance he has in regards to unfamiliar people, and I wish that Eris would be more prudent about it.

Of course, Eris's patience is also very low and I hope Ruijerd is careful too.

Just as I'm thinking about this, I can hear Eris's voice getting louder.

[Is Rudeus your brother?]

[No!]

[But, isn't Greyrat a family name?]

[Even though it's his name, he's not my brother!]

[Half-sibling from the mother's side? Half-sibling from the father side?]

[He doesn't belong to either side!]

[Even though I'm not very clear about the Human race, but you should treasure your family member.]

[I already said you're taking things the wrong way!]

[It's fine, just cherish him well.]

[Uuu..]

Eris falters and uses a strong tone.

[I, I'm cherishing him....]

Well, even though we're not real siblings.

Eris is older than me.

Part 4

The Magic Continent is nothing but rocks, and the land elevation is very steep. The ground is also very hard.

If you dig at the soil, it will splatter everywhere.

There's no nutrients in it at all.

The land is one step short of becoming a desert. If you keep living in this land, even the Magic races will fight amongst themselves.

There is almost no vegetation and occasionally I see rocks that are like cacti.

[Hmm. Wait a while. Absolutely do not move from here.]

Ruijerd will do that every 10 minutes, and runs to the direction in front of us. He jumps lightly over the hills that are full of rocks, and disappears within moments.

What incredible physical ability he has.

Even though Ghyslaine is also amazing, if you were to convert their agility into numbers, then Ruijerd's agility points might be even higher than Ghyslaine.

Ruijerd comes back within less than five minutes.

[Sorry for the long wait, let's go.]

Even though he didn't say anything there's a faint scent of blood on the tip of the trident. I guess he went ahead to clear the monsters blocking us from moving forward.

Indeed, in Roxy's dictionary, the ruby-colored stone on the Supard's race has the use of a radar. With this ability, they are able to quickly find their enemies.

Ruijerd preemptively kills the Magical creatures in an instant before they notice us.

[Hey! What have you been doing since the beginning?]

Eris rudely asks.

[I cleared the Magical creatures in front of us.]

Ruijerd tersely replies.

[How do you know where they are when you obviously can't see them!]

[If it's me I can see them.]

Ruijerd says that and moves his hair out of his face. His forehead is revealed and we can see the ruby-colored stone.

Even though Eris retreats slightly for an instant, she carefully looks at the stone, finding it pretty. She then shows an interested expression.

[That's really convenient!]

[It might be convenient, but I have thought of countless times where it's better that I don't have this.]

[Then I'll help you wear it! Here, take it out!]

[That's impossible.]

Ruijerd laughs wryly. Eris has started to learn how to joke......

It's a joke right?

They seem to be having a lot of fun, I'll participate too.

[On that subject, I have heard that the Magical creatures here are very powerful...]

[There aren't many powerful ones here. The numbers of the creatures here might be on the high side because it's far away from town.]

Indeed, there are a lot of them.

From the start, Ruijerd would clear the monsters every ten minutes. If it's in the Asura kingdom, you won't even meet a single Magical creature even if you ride in a horse carriage for hours.

For the Asura kingdom, the knights and adventurers will clear the Magical creatures at fixed intervals.

But even if it's here, the number of encounters for the Magic continent is just too high.

[From the beginning you have been fighting by yourself, are you really alright?]

[It's fine. I killed all of them with one strike.]

[I see... If you're tired please tell me. I can support you as I am able to use Healing Magic.]

[There is no need for children to worry too much.]

As he says that, Ruijerd places his hand on my head and strokes it timidly.

Perhaps this person really likes to stroke children's heads?

[You only need to stay beside your younger sister's side to protect her.]

[I already said! Who's his younger sister! I'm the older sister!]

[Hmm, is that so? My apologies.]

Ruijerd says that and strokes Eris's head, but the conclusion ends up in his hand being smacked away.

Poor Ruijerd.

Part 5

It has been almost 3 hours.

Because of the road's elevation difference, we stopped countless times. To cross the snake-like roads, we also spent a lot of time.

If you calculate it in a straight line, we probably have not even reached 1 kilometer.

I'm exhausted. I was like that yesterday as well.

I don't know why my body feels so tired. Is it because of the teleportation? Or simply because I don't have the stamina?

Under Ghyslaine's guidance, I should have been properly trained to raise my physical abilities...

[It's a village!]

Eris looks as if she's not tired at all, and looks at the place with great interest. I'm jealous of her stamina.

Even though Eris says it's a village, but this place feels more like a hamlet. A dozen houses gathered together and surrounded by roughly made fences. Beside the fence is a small cultivated field.

Even though I'm not sure what it's growing, I think it's probably barren.

With a place like this where there is no river water or something similar, it's probably a futile attempt.

[Halt!]

The entrance is being blocked. As I look closely, there seems to be a youth around the age of a middle schooler. His hair is blue, and reminds me of Roxy.

[Ruijerd, what's with all these people!]

He's speaking in the Magic God language. Looks like my listening ability for Magic God language is okay. I'm able to properly understand it, OK.

[It's the aforementioned shooting star]

[They are suspicious, you can't let these people into the village!]

[Why. Where do they look suspicious?]

Ruijerd's face tightens, and closes on him to press for an answer.

What an earth-shattering bloodlust.

If I saw him for the first time displaying that bloodlust, I would immediately run away without second thoughts.

[T, they look suspicious no matter how you look at it!]

[They were merely dragged into Asura's Mana calamity and teleported here.]

[B, but-]

[You bastard, are you forsaking these children......?]

Ruijerd's clenches his fist. I grab his hand by reflex.

[This is his job, please restrain yourself.]

[What......?]

[I mean, for an underling like him, he won't be able to solve the problem. Isn't it better to find someone who's position is higher?]

The youth's eyebrows knit together when he hears the word underling.

[You're right. Robin, call the chief.]

Ruijerd glares at the youth with his eyes stating, <Cut the damn crap out>.

[Ahh, I'm also thinking of the same thing.]

The youth called Robin closes his eyes, and keeps this appearance for over 10 seconds...

[......]

What's this guy doing? Start going already.

Closing your eyes or something, are you dozing off right here!

Or are you waiting for a kiss?

[Ruijerd-san, this is...?]

[The Migurd race can talk with one another even if they are not at the same location.]

[Ah, now that you mention it, I remember that my Shishou also taught me this.]

To be more accurate, it was written in Roxy's letter. The Migurd race can correspond with each other if they are close by.

Adding on to that, Roxy also wrote in order to get away from that ability, she left the village.

Poor Roxy....

That being said, this means this is the Migurd community.

It might be better if I said Roxy's name. Ah, no, I still don't know what's the relationship between Roxy and this village, it's a possibility that I'm bringing unneccessary trouble to myself.

[The chief should be coming soon.]

[It's okay if we can go ahead to find him too right?]

[How can I let you enter the village!]

[Is that so?]

Temporarily, the atmosphere turned uncomfortable. Eris softly pulls on my sleeves.

[Hey, what's happening?]

Eris doesn't understand the Magic God language.

[He says that we're very suspicious, so he's letting the chief check the situation.]

[What, where do we look suspicious...]

Eris frowns and look at her own clothes. It's the same clothes when she goes out to the town and attends sword lessons.

Even though it might seem to be a little light for dressing, but it's not strange at all.

At least I don't think she's very different from Ruijerd. If she's wearing a dress or something, that will actually be suspicious...

[It will be fine right?]

[What do you mean by fine?]

[If you ask me what it is, I also find it hard to explain clearly..... That is, you know....]

[It's fine.]

[Ye-s....?]

As expected, when we had the argument at the entrance, Eris seems to feel a little uneasy. But after I told her it will be fine she immediately turns meek.

[The chief seems to be coming now.]

There seems to be a boy-like adult walking with a cane coming out from the village. And there are two girls who look like they are from middle school holding on to him.

Everyone looks young.

Perhaps, even when a Migurd becomes an adult they still look like they are in middle school? Roxy's dictionary didn't mention something like that.

Oh wait, the drawings on the dictionary resembles middle schoolers.

I thought it's Roxy's self portrait, even her chest looks a bit fuller.... Perhaps that's actually the appearance of an adult Migurd Race?

As I keep thinking, the chief starts talking with Robin.

[These are the children right...?]

[Yes, it seems that one of them can speak the Magic God language, no matter how you look at it, it feels suspicious.]

[Language or whatever, anyone can speak it if they learn it right?]

[Why would a human at that age learn the Magic God language!]

Seriously.

The chief pats Robin's shoulders.

[Well, well. You should calm down a little.]

The chief walks slowly to my side. In any case, I lower my head.

Not the nobilities' etiquette, it's the Japanese ojigi^[5].

[It is my pleasure to meet you for the first time. My name is Rudeus Greyrat.]

[Oh, you're very polite. I'm the chief of this community, Rocks.]

I make an eye signal at Eris. He looks like he's the same age as her, but the chief's mannerisms is completely different to her, and she doesn't know what to do.

She crosses her arms and then places it down, and she looks like she's unable to calm down.

She's hesitating whether to cross her arms and take on an imposing stance.

[Eris, go ahead and make your greeting.]

[B, but, I don't know the Magic God language?]

[Just do the same thing that you're taught in etiquette class. I'll translate for you.]

[Uu- I, I'm pleased to meet you, I am Eris Boreas Greyrat.]

Eris follows what she had learned in the etiquette class to make a greeting. Rocks smiles after seeing that.

[The young lady over there, is she making a greeting?]

[Yes, this is our way of greeting in our hometown.]

[Hoh~ But it is different from you?]

[It is different from males and females.]

Rocks nods in a [I see, I see] manner, and and imitates my example and lowers his head to Eris.

[I'm the chief of this community, Rocks.]

Eris looks at me in a loss when she sees the chief suddenly lowering his head.

[Rudeus, what is he saying?]

[He says, "I'm the chief of this community, Rocks."]

[Is, is that so. Hm, Hmph. It's just like what Rudeus said, we can communicate with each other.]

Eris says with a smile on her.

Alright, it's fine with this right?

[So, can you let us go into the village?]

[Hmmmm...]

Rocks looks all my body as if he wants to lick me.

Please stop.

If you look at me with such passionate eyes, I'll feel like I need to strip...

Rocks's eyes stop in front of my chest.

[Where did you get this pendant?]

[Shishou gave it to me.]

[Who's your shishou?]

[Her name is Roxy.]

I honestly state her name. Thinking it over, this is my respected Shishou's name, why do I need to hide that fact?

[What!]

Robin yells loudly. He hurriedly grabs onto my shoulders.

Did I dig my own grave?

[Y, you, j-just said Roxy!?]

[Yes, she's my shishou...]

As I reply him, I see in the corners of my eyes that Ruijerd is raising his fist, and I immediately stop him.

Robin isn't showing anger but anxiety.

[W-where is Roxy now?!]

[I haven't seen her for a long time so I...]

[Tell me quickly! Roxy, Roxy is my daughter!!]

I'm sorry, what was that?

[My apologies, I didn't hear what you said just now.]

[Roxy is my daughter! Is she still alive?!]

Pardon? No, I heard it clearly.

Wait, I'm more concerned about this guy who looks like a middle schooler. Just looking at his appearance, you might say that he looks like Roxy's younger brother.

But, I see, hm----.

[Quickly tell me, she left this village 20 years ago, and there has been no word ever since!]

It looks like Roxy has secretly left her home. I didn't hear this matter from her. Sheesh. My shishou's explanations aren't detailed enough.

Erm, he said 20 years.

Huh? How old is Roxy now?

[I beg you, please stop being silent, quickly tell me something.]

Oh, please excuse me.

[Roxy is now...]

I just realize that my shoulders are still grabbed by Robin. It feels almost like I'm being threatened. Although it's somehow different from being threatened.

It's almost as if you're making me yield to violence right!

If you want me to crack under violence, you need to at least use a baseball bat to destroy my PC, smack me with karate, and break my heart with profanties!

If I don't show this firm attitude, I'll make Eris uneasy right?

[Before that, please answer my question. How old is Roxy now?]

[Age? No, compared to this...]

[This is a very important thing! And please tell me the life span of the Migurd race!]

This is something that I absolutely must hear.

[Ah, ahh... If it's Roxy... She should be 44 years old. The life span for a Migurd is around 200 years. Even though there are those who die due to sickness, but if they grow old they should live till around this age.]

She's the same age as me. I'm slightly happy.

[I see... Ah, please stop grabbing me.]

Robin finally releases his hands. Very good, very good, we can finally talk.

[Half a year ago, Roxy should still be at Shirone. Even though I never meet with her face to face, but I communicated with her by exchanging letters.]

[Letters...? That child knows how to write the Human race language?]

[At least from 7 years ago, she was able to perfectly write in that language.]

[I, is that so... Then she's alright?]

[If she hasn't run into any accidents or gotten sick, she should still be very healthy.]

As I say that, Robin kneels shakily on the floor. He shows a relieved expression with tears in his eyes.

[Is that so... She's safe... She's safe.... Haha.... That's great.]

That's great, Father-in-law.

But looking at him reminds me of my father Paul. If Paul knows that I'm safe, he will probably cry out too.

I feel like sending the letter out to Buina as soon as possible..

[Well then, will you allow us to enter the village?]

I look at the crying Robin with the corners of my eyes, while talking to chief Rocks.

[Of course. How can we be cold to the people who informed us of Roxy's safety.?]

The effect of Roxy's pendant is extraordinary. If I knew this would happen I would have shown it at the start.

Ah, no, based on the dialogue's progression, there's the possibility where they suspect me of killing Roxy and stealing the pendant.

The Magic race is really long lived, and there must be people whose appearances are different from their age.

If my real age of over 40 years old gets revealed, no matter how much I look like a 10 year old child, it will be suspicious right?

I need to check myself. Do more actions befitting of a child.

And with that, we enter the [Migurd race's hamlet.]

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 627