-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: A Genius Among the Northern Guardians
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hey? They say I'm a genius.
Chalpak-.
Chalpak-.
The sound of something trampling through water echoed.
The location was a church. A place that existed in this northern region.
But it was far too dark and murky to be a house of worship for any god.
And the fishy stench filling the interior carried a profoundly unpleasant odor.
Over that...
"Heh heh hum. Hng~."
One woman waded through the water, stepping carelessly.
The faint moonlight filtering in from outside revealed the nature of the pooled water on the floor.
It was blood.
All of it was blood.
The narrow church floor was filled with bloody water.
And the woman passed through it without a care.
"Wh... why..."
Someone clung to the wall. Their white robes stained red with blood.
A person who should have been peacefully serving as a priest of the Holy Kingdom trembled in terror.
"Why are you here...!"
"Why?"
The woman responded to the question.
"I came because I had business here."
Her voice dripped with annoyance.
"You... you shouldn't be here...! What about the World Tree? Why come here!"
"That's what I'm saying."
Pfshuk-!
"Gaaahhh!!!"
The man's arm was torn off.
Blood sprayed like a fountain from the socket where it had been ripped clean away.
A scream of agony burst forth.
"See? Why'd you have to go and do something pointless?"
The woman merely stared with utterly impassive eyes.
"If you lot hadn't crossed the line, I wouldn't have had to step in."
"Hic... guh..."
A face twisted in fear. Then the priest laughed.
"...Heh... heh heh heh."
"Oh? You're laughing? Have you lost your mind?"
"...It's already... too late. The Saintess isn't here...!"
There was no one left to protect. Dying here? It didn't matter.
With that resolve, the priest spoke.
"I know."
"...What?"
"I know. The Saintess isn't here."
"...What...!"
"Normally, I would've already lopped off her head... and sent it to that Pope you revere so much. But I had some business come up."
Business. Her voice carried a spark of genuine interest unlike before.
"I found something far more impressive than your little Saintess."
"What do you...?"
"So keep that 'heart' safe. I'll come pick it up whenever I need it. Consider this a warning."
A paper airplane. It floated from the woman's hand through the air.
It landed on the man's stomach.
"Deliver it safely."
With that, the woman turned her back.
At the same moment, the blood water filling the church floor surged upward.
Sssshhhh-!!! The rising blood evaporated entirely.
And all the corpses inside burned away to nothing.
The only survivor was the one-armed priest.
"Ah... aaah..."
He let out a groan amid the dreamlike scene.
Like a madman.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Hng~."
The woman who stepped outside hummed a tune again.
Normally, her mood would have been utterly foul.
And so—
'I might've burned this whole town to the ground.'
She hated the night. She might've torched the entire city.
That's how it went when she snapped. Utterly bored and utterly pissed.
Any other woman might've lost it and done just that.
But fortunately, not this time.
'I found something fun.'
Pushing aside the heart harvested for the Saintess.
Something far more intriguing.
Recalling the brat who had begged her to save him, the woman smiled.
"Ahh."
Nice. Good thing I came.
'Broke through my mana barrier and grabbed me.'
No less than a 6th Circle mage.
Anyone short of a high mage with 6 Circles couldn't even touch her.
'And saw the stars.'
The rings around the heart and the galaxy. Things no one should ever see.
She'd even mentioned "eight and a half."
'She saw my Circles clearly.'
The fact that there were eight full rings and half of another was unknown across the entire continent.
Yet a mere kid of twelve or thirteen had seen it?
"Hahaha."
Was that even possible? The woman didn't believe it.
But reality said otherwise.
And moreover.
'Mana Sickness for a whole month?'
The pain and duration of Mana Sickness depended on one's mana capacity and vessel.
Even she herself had only suffered for half a month.
Bedridden, too ill to move.
'On the verge of death.'
A month.
And nearly fatal at that.
Could anything be more absurd?
'Indeed.'
How far could she grow if raised properly?
'Such a shame.'
If only she weren't so busy. She'd have taken the kid along and run all sorts of experiments.
But she couldn't.
'So, as consolation...'
She'd park her somewhere visible and raise her.
The woman steeled her resolve.
'I wonder what she's up to.'
She returned to the room. The business had wrapped up quicker than expected.
Still hours until morning.
'I could lend a little hand.'
She'd left instructions on forming Circles, but the kid was illiterate.
Probably tearing her hair out right now.
'Even with writing, it'd take a day.'
She was probably struggling.
Might as well help as a service. She opened the door.
Kiiik.
Woooong-!
"..."
The kid was visible as soon as the door opened.
"Oh, you're back?"
"...You."
In her eyes, she saw one ring embedded in the boy's heart.
"Did it. Homework."
The boy said casually.
"Ha!"
The woman burst into laughter, her mouth splitting wide.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The night the Circle was completed. The woman looked at me and smiled.
I don't know if it was because I'd finished my homework well, but her grin was creepier than expected.
"Ru, Ruin...! You're really leaving...!? Just like this... just going away...?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
The next task was heading to the orphanage to grab my stuff.
Elaine teared up, watching me—who'd suddenly bolted out and come back with parents.
Sorry, orphanage buddy.
I'm not an orphan anymore.
"Take care. You'll find good parents soon too. Hope you get lucky with the parent gacha."
"Gacha?"
"It exists. That kind of thing."
"D-don't go...! Ruin... I don't need parents...! I just need you...!"
What was with this attachment? The grip on my wrist was seriously strong.
Ow, that actually hurts.
"Ow."
"Ah, s-sorry..."
Elaine let go.
I scratched my cheek watching her. In Ruin's memories, we were close.
She seemed reluctant to part like this. So I patted her hair.
"It's not like we'll never see each other again. We'll meet when the time comes."
I had no intention of meeting her.
"...But..."
"Take care. Eat well. Let's meet again when we're successful?"
"Ruin...!! Ruin!"
The other orphanage staff held back Elaine as she tried to grab me.
They stared at me in amazement too.
A dying kid not only survived but brought back adoptive parents.
"Let's go, Mom."
"...Sharp tongue."
"Ma'am?"
"Never mind."
Mom shook her head.
"Got everything?"
"Yes. Nothing much."
"What about her?"
"She doesn't need packing."
Elaine wasn't luggage. Just a fellow orphan buddy.
But me, Ruin, age 13. Now an orphan-escapee with odd parents.
No need to tangle with that anymore.
"Let's go. Toward new dreams and hopes."
"..."
The woman looked at me like I was insane. A mother's gaze, but it stung.
Guess I'll have to be properly unfilial sometime.
'Stuff, whatever.'
A few clothes and Ruin's original items. That was it.
I packed it all and left the orphanage.
It couldn't have been a brighter day.
Farewell!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Ruin... Ruin..."
Elaine chased the back of the departing boy.
The boy's figure gradually shrank to a dot and vanished.
The one who'd spent a lifetime with her, always by her side saving her, was gone.
"N-no... no..."
Why?
You promised to stay with me forever.
"Why... why take him away."
Velia unnie too.
Payto oppa too.
All the unnies and oppas from the orphanage disappeared one by one.
She'd endured it.
As long as she had Ruin.
But.
"Even Ruin... even Ruin... why?"
-Let's meet again when we're successful.
"..."
Ruin's parting words echoed.
Success.
Because she couldn't succeed? Because she wasn't strong? Was that why he was taken?
"Ah... aaah..."
I see.
The light faded from Elaine's eyes.
"...Power... I need power."
So no one gets taken away.
Elaine murmured.
"...I need power."
Elaine's heart throbbed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[◆ A divergence occurs in the world line.] [◆ You saved the village from the witch's grasp.] [◆ An anomaly arises, and the Saintess survives.] [◆ The last of the Four Great Sins that should not have existed, 'Greed,' opens its eyes.] [◆ Congratulations.] [◆ The world line has been completely distorted.]◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Another day passed since leaving the orphanage.
What should I do now?
I'd escaped orphanage life in a month and even formed my Circle. Time for the next step.
So I asked the mom who'd birthed me for cash.
-What do I do now?
What now? She said:
-Live on your own for a bit first.
-Pardon?
What the hell? Live alone? Suddenly?
Before I could even freak out at the nonsense.
-Take care.
The crazy bitch straight-up vanished.
Psycho?
Ah, calling Mom a psycho. Such an ungrateful bastard.
"Psycho bitch."
Couldn't hold it in.
Fuck, does it even make sense that she left? Unreal.
No, she really did. Said she'd pick me up in a few years and poof—gone.
If not crazy, what is it?
"Ha."
I exhaled a frosty breath with a sigh.
Day two of orphan escape. Felt like an orphan again.
Mom gone already.
Pad lip immunity kicking back in.
"Life."
I chuckled hollowly and looked up.
At least I wasn't crashing at the orphanage. I could stay somewhere else.
Crazy bitch.
No, new mom had set me up with a place before leaving.
But.
"But why here of all places."
I gnawed my lip staring at the towering walls.
The walls were none other than the northernmost frontline.
"...Heilron Count House."
Home of the winter knights guarding this land.
The lords of the North.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The Heilron Count House of the North were the guardians of the Lehart Empire's frontier.
A barren, frigid land.
Moreover, close to the old demon realm where the Demon King once lurked, it swarmed with magic beasts constantly.
Magic beasts appearing from who-knows-where battered the walls daily, howling to invade the Empire.
They fought those beasts every day, walking the line between life and death to protect the Empire.
'Fuck. Novels never mention that stuff.'
The fluffy romance original stuck to happy happy happy days, barely touching the North.
Just capital drama with soft mochi girls going "Hmph! I have no interest in the likes of you!"
or
'This rude sub-male lead! Handsome but with that personality? My heart might waver a bit?'
Crappy clichés like that.
Never delved into the harsh lives of northerners or others.
Let alone the Heilron Count House?
While the Empire partied and held balls endlessly, they couldn't even join, stuck fending off beasts. Pitiful.
And so.
"A mage?"
"Yes."
I'd been dragged here by our dear master's paw.
The North needed mages.
Beasts outnumbered everything. Mages delivered overwhelming performance there.
Knights might excel one-on-one, but for 'magic beast hunting,' mages were superior.
In a world where even 1st Circle mages were rare.
With those haughty elites shunning this barren land.
"...A mage, you say?"
"Yes."
That badass mage.
(Former) orphan (current) odd-parent kid. Me.
"You?"
"Yes. I'm the mage. Impressive, right?"
"..."
The guard eyed me dubiously no matter how you sliced it.
Brat. Don't believe me? I'm a legit...
'1st Circle mage.'
Amazing 1st Circle mage sir (day 2).
'Should be grateful I came.'
Mages were usually nobles.
Even commoners could gain noble status upon awakening mana and forming a Circle.
Time to leverage that for super social climb.
'...Life, fuck.'
Why am I here?
Could be living lavish as a baron already.
Why join beast subjugation on this freezing hellhole?
Absolutely bullshit.
Almost teary-eyed. Held it in. Transmigrated at 13 with a dick—can't cry here.
Finally, after a staring contest, the guard sighed.
"Kid. If you're pranking, go elsewhere. You could get in deep shit—."
"Here's my letter of recommendation."
"...Huh?"
I knew he wouldn't buy it.
A ragged kid of twelve begging to be a mage? Meaningless.
So I'd prepared.
-Take this to the Count House.
She'd handed me something. Illiterate me still couldn't read.
Saw the seal—figured it was a recommendation letter.
-It'll get you in.
Mommy dearest said.
-Bit of a shit place, but the Count's trustworthy. Stay a few years. I'll pick you up when done.
Straight-up abandonment.
Then why the collar?
-A gift. Read it yourself.
Tiny bag with a few books.
Told her I couldn't read.
She just said learn there.
'Should've bolted.'
When she said go alone to the Count House, I should've ditched. Seemed better.
'Probably couldn't.'
I knew it was a joke.
Whoever Mom was, not normal.
Talked of Counts like buddies. Called Holy Kingdom trash.
Even dismissed the Empire. Who the hell?
She'd predict me bolting.
Probably rigged something to stop it.
'Even if I ran, she'd catch me.'
Totally her style.
'What's her deal?'
Asked, curious.
-I'll tell you when you're ready.
Just smiled and dodged. Ah, shit. Totally hooked up with a weirdo woman.
Held back a sigh.
Then the guard spoke.
"Th-this script... Wait here. N-no, please wait, sir."
Wide-eyed, he dashed inside. Speech changed too.
Minutes later, back.
"I'll escort you in."
Attitude flipped.
"Yeah yeah. Inside, right?"
"...?"
"Ah, not that?"
Matched his tone, but weird look.
What? Wrong?
Awkwardly scratched head. Whatever.
Followed the guide in.
The mansion was massive. Solid.
Northern guardians.
Slaughtering beasts to protect the land.
Heilron Count House. Felt their fame firsthand.
'...A place I'd never enter, even in death.'
Back as bottom-tier orphan, couldn't even glance.
Just bowed in thanks from afar. Now waltzing in easy.
'That auntie—.'
All thanks to the letter.
Said I'd learn her identity someday?
Wonder when.
Thought it'd take ages.
"You're... the adopted son of the 8th Circle Archmage, Elise Sessris—the great mage whom even His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and the Pope of the Holy Kingdom fear, the one no one dares keep close, said to be one of only two on the continent?"
"...What the hell's with this pacing?"
Took ages my ass.
Five minutes.