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Jasper Season
「You are?」
I blankly asked.
A beautiful, black-haired girl. Although her hair was not particularly well cared for, it hung down with a soft weight, reaching about her chest. It’s just long and straight hair, but such a hair type was something she was born with.
On the other hand, her skin is as white as snow. Different from the brown skin of Saharian. A girl like her shouldn’t be in this housing facility.
「Dona (ドナ)」
She replied a little while later.
In the first place, she’s a girl with such well-defined features that it gave you the feeling of being cold, but I’m concerned with the shadow in her expression, so I stared at her.
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Nora Naeke (ノーラ・ネーク) (3)
・Material Human Form
(Rank 8, Female, 3 years old)
・Skill Fores Language Level 2
Empty (2)
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「……Nora?」
I said that without thinking. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「How do you know that name」
Crap.
Right, it was my first time meeting her. I had just woken up and was still feeling dazed. In any case, I have to talk my way out of this.
「From others……」
I started to say something,but then I stopped. That’s not it, right? I was sleeping until a while ago. There’s no chance someone told me about it.
「Ah, I mean, your hair is a beautiful black, isn’t it」
「My name, is Dona」
She said, suddenly in a bad mood.
But, the name shown by Piercing Hand remains as Nora.
Most likely, she still recognizes herself as Nora. Up until now, I had taken a peek at the children’s abilities in this housing facility, but they all had their slave names.
So, what happens to newborn babies? I wonder if the species will be displayed just like with the cockroaches?
As I was sinking into deep thoughts, she looked at me with a suspicious look.
「So, why were you crying?」
I realized it after she said that. There are traces of tears on my cheeks. I tried wiping it.
I had a dream of the past. A dream when my wholehearted sincerity was about to be thrown like garbage. But, I can think like this now. That sincerity was just my selfishness and dependence. In the first place, families will not necessarily want to eat pancakes when suddenly being offered immediately after coming home in the rain. Because it was my birthday, so what? That has nothing to do with them. I was the one who expected something on my own and the only one disappointed.
「Aaah, just something from the past, see...」
There’s no problem if I say that. I guess, she’s a newly arrived slave who was brought here. A child cries because they miss their families. That’s really a plausible story. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
I somehow kept staring at the back of my hand while making an excuse.
「……!?」
I almost stopped breathing.
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(Self) (4)
・Ultimate Ability
Piercing Hand
・Material Human Form
(Rank 7, Male, 3 years old, Active)
・Skill Fores Language Level 2
・Material Insect Form
(Rank 0, Female, 1 year old)
Empty (1)
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My age increased by one!
My physical age remains the same. But my soul’s age has increased by one. What does this mean?
「No-......Dona!」
I shouted, overcome with emotion. She flinched at the shout, her shoulders trembling.
「What month, what day is this? Please tell me!」
Despite being confused by my sudden change in attitude, she still thought about my question and gave me a proper answer.
「Jasper.....it’s the month of Jasper andthe thirteenth day, you know?」
「The year? What year in the Goddess calendar?」
「Eh……」
It can’t be helped if she can’t answer. She’s still 3 years old. Just being able to tell about the day and month alone is good enough. Let’s change the question. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「When did you arrive here? Yesterday? Or a year ago?」
「The day before yesterday」
「I see」
I organize the information in my head.
I can’t say it clearly, yet. But it looks like not that much time has passed.
The day I was attacked by Wicax was the seventh day of the Jasper month. I quickly snatched the form of that camel cricket-like insect, took over its body, and escaped the danger.
Unfortunately, my memories after that are fragmentary. I don’t want to remember it that much, but it was a valuable experience. It was a completely different body activity from what I have now. I had no idea there was such a gap. Visibility wasn’t great, but the sound came through clearly. Also, the antennae on my head, which I don’t have currently, could tell me everything from smell to vibrations.
But, what’s more important than all that, was the extreme decline in intelligence. It was hard to remember things, like who I was. It was only in the last moment, when I was about to be killed by the huntsman spider, that I could finally remember the rule I made before the transformation. Without that, I would have ended up being eaten by the spider just like that.
I can only vaguely remember, but at that time, I must have laid some eggs. But, I don’t remember mating with a male. That means, I guess, it’s natural to think that the insect had mated before I took over her body. Thinking like that, that means I had only been an insect for the past few days.
But in those few days, my soul grew older. I wonder what will happen if my soul gets older? First, the range of abilities I can store increases. Is that all?
...maybe, I’m going to die?
No, wait. People die regardless of the lifespan of their souls. If this body were harmed by Wicax, there would be no physical lifespan nor soul lifespan, just death. Also, the body of Punos I had taken over. Even back then, he was already 26 years old. What if, the body I took over at that time was the body of the village chief, who was nearly 60? He will die within a few years in the end.
I wonder what will happen. I wonder if I can continue living for eternity if I change bodies continuously or if I actually can’t do that?
If there is no upper limit to the age of my soul, then I could use a risky, yet attractive method of powering up. In just 5 or 6 days, my soul age increased by one. The number of abilities I can steal from others also increased. Perhaps faster aging will occur the shorter the lifespan of the body of the creature I took over. If that is the case, I can just take over the body of a creature with a very short lifespan and part with it at a suitable time. By simply taking over an insect for just 2 months, I can gain 10 years' worth of ability slots.
No, can’t do. The risk is not just a direct death. My mind was on the verge of collapse just from being a camel cricket for several days. I was suddenly returned to my human body, and my consciousness couldn’t keep up.
I can be something other than human. This is a very strong power. I can be a bird flying in the sky or a dolphin racing through the sea. Moreover, I can even dispose of the body. But, when I become that animal form for a long time, my mind will end up becoming more like that animal gradually.
That’s how it is. I am not 「Transforming」 myself into that animal. Until just now, I was a camel cricket. I had completely transformed into a camel cricket.
「……you are?」
Dona’s voice brought me back to reality. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
For the time being, I know that it’s been a few days. Probably so. Let’s just think it is so.
「You are, what?」
「Your name」
Right.
「Aah, my name is, Noor. Umm.....did you look after me? If so, thank you」
「Not really」
A girl with beautiful features. She is still 3 years old, but I can clearly see it even now. Myluc got himself a first-rate purchase. Unless something extraordinary happened, she will continue to grow up to be an unparalleled beauty.
But, the expression of this future beauty was not good.
「I was just told to watch over you」
Well, that’s understandable.
She had just been sold as a slave just the other day. It’s not like everyone else is an abused, starved child like me. In this situation, it would instead be weird if you were happy about becoming a slave.
The thin wooden door opens. Myluc stepped into the room.
「Oh….you woke up」
「I’m sorry for the trouble」
I bowed my head from the bed.
Myluc looked at Dona - who is standing nearby - with a stern glance.
「I thought I told you to tell me immediately if he wakes up, right?」
I interrupt him there.
「She realized it just now」
「Is that so……Dona, it’s fine now, return to your room」
Dona left the room with a wave of his hand.
「So strict」
Myluc responded with a serious look on his face.
「Good looks are.....they can be sold at a high price, but still. In the first place, they often will not be able be a ‘product’ if you spoil them. You understand, right?」
「Right」
A slave who boasts about their beauty. Even if I was a noble who own them, I would still want them to refrain from doing that a little. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「When did you return?」
「Two days ago. All the purchases are going according to plan. Things went just as we had discussed beforehand in several villages, so it was settled quickly with just the formalities」
Apparently, it has really been only a few days. If I were to disappear for a year or so, the reaction would probably not be like this.
「……so?」
Myluc asked me while raising one eyebrow.
「Why would you, in that kind of place?」
「Why……」
Now then, what should I do?
How should I answer so Myluc will be satisfied with the answer?
「Then, let me ask another question. How did you escape?」
「Escaped?」
「Don’t play dumb. Wicax tried to kill you, didn’t he?」
That was true.
I don’t plan on deceiving him or anything, but my mind just hadn’t caught up yet. For the most part, my mind is still in turmoil.
「Wicax, what happened with him?」
I was a bit curious about him, so I asked. Of course, it is also to buy some time.
「He’s in the punishment cell」
「What’s going to happen to him, after this?」
「It is a pity, but as expected, he can not be kept here anymore」
That’s obvious. He’s a boy who resorts to violence against other children. Hitting someone else with your hand is one thing, but he even brought a small knife with him. Myluc won’t be able to continue doing business if he were to stay here.
But, something just didn’t feel right to me.
「What’s the matter?」
「No」
「Don’t tell me you even feel sorry for Wicax?」
Is that really the case? It might be.
「I have heard about it. It looks like you said sensei to keep quiet about Wicax kicking you in the trash collection point. But, it backfired on you in the end」
「Yes」
「When you have multiple children in the same place like this, things like this are going to happen. No, not only children. Although these kinds of incidents are rare. It is how humans are, unfortunately」
This came from the person who is maintaining a psychological balance of this housing facility by manipulating human nature. I stared at him. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「……what will happen to him once he gets out of the punishment cell?」
「I told you he will not remain here, did I not?」
「I mean, after that」
After letting out a sigh, Myluc explained.
「I will leave him to a woodworker craftsman I know. That person have a workshop that can make things from furniture to weapons. Since he's ten years old, he can be taken in as an apprentice to do subordinate work. He will probably be sold at a low price. I am in the red right now」
「……is that so」
Myluc said as he rose from the chair.
「This is the kind of work I am doing」
He continues stroking his thin, glossy black beard.
「I strongly feel that no one is beyond redemption. All the children who came here are equal. They all started from the same place, and their final destination is being bought by a noble or wealthy merchant. Even so, no matter how we teach everyone in the same way and have expectations from them, these kinds of things inevitably happen 」
「So, you are going to cut him off」
「From a merchant’s perspective, yes」
My tone might have sounded slightly accusatory. But, Myluc didn’t look ashamed of it.
「But, that is not all that defines me, Noor」
He turned around and solemnly said.
Right. He is a somewhat mysterious person. Working in the downright vulgar business of being a slave trader, there are times when he showed extraordinary elegance and dignity. Even now, I still don’t understand what kind of person he is.
「Now, that aside」
Myluc sat down again.
「We digress, shall we return to our main topic」
Now, how should I solve this?
There is no way I can tell him everything about Piercing Hand. Would he even believe it if I told him? A normal person will probably think it was impossible. But, this is Myluc. He is flexible in thinking and smart. Since everything that has happened until now is consistent with what happened, he will probably accept my explanation. But, if that happens, well, that will be another problem. I will become a slave who can kill his master anytime. This is not just a big problem; it’s much worse. Such a person is not just unsellable but also dangerous to be left alone.
So should I try telling a bold lie? Nah. That is not something that will work for someone like him.
Then. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「……I became an insect」
「What?」
Let’s just tell a part of the truth.
「Who told you I was about to be killed by Wicax?」
「The guard who was left to guard the housing facility」
「Did the guard see it?」
「No, but, Tamaria saw you arguing with Wicax from the gap at the bottom of the stable. Then she reported it」
「So it was like that」
Myluc is making a puzzled look on his face.
「So, what do you mean by, ‘became an insect’?」
「Yes, I can’t remember it clearly, but I saw a small camel cricket on the other side when Wicax raised his small knife. And the next thing I knew, I was already jumping on the ground」
He frowns. That’s understandable. It’s an impossible conversation according to common sense.
「I can’t remember much after that, but I feel like I was doing all sorts of things. Only, I was attacked by a spider and got bitten on my back. And when I thought I died, I suddenly realized I was back inside the stable」
Myluc was in deep thought, with his hand on his chin.
「Though you might not believe it」
「No」
A little while later, I continued speaking.
「You.....can you use magic?」
「No」
「But, otherwise that explanation.....but, suddenly turning into an insect without a magic circle or catalyst, how could a child like you perform such a magic.....?」
He is staring intently at me. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「What did Wicax, and the guard who came to help say?」
Myluc kept staring at me, then opened his mouth after a moment of silence.
「They said you suddenly disappeared, leaving only your clothes behind. As for Wicax, he said he was on top of you, and then you suddenly disappeared. But the guard did not see it. Some sort of tool just happened to end up as a bar to block the stable’s door from being opened. By the time the guard burst into the stable, only Wicax was left there」
「Then, Wicax was telling the truth from the start, right?」
「Nope, he was confused at the start, but he tried to lie midway through his explanation. Saying, Noor was not there in the first place, or you escaped from the housing facility already. But, just before the guard barged in, he could hear the sound of fights from inside. In the end, he confessed.」
「I see」
「So after that」
Correcting his posture, Myluc said.
「It’s just you」
「I also confessed, right?」
「I see, so you do not plan on saying anything」
「Rather than not planning on saying anything, the part about the insect is the truth, you know」
「Then how did you become an insect? .....see, you can not say anything now, right?」
Myluc had a mischievous smile on his face.
「……I don’t know how, but it’s probably just like how I escaped from Linga village」
「Eh」
Linga village.
Come to think of it, what happened to that village, I wonder?
「Do you know something?」
Miluc just smiled even though I leaned forward and asked.
「You are not going to talk, so why should I be the only person talking?」
I had nothing to respond when he said it like that. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
However, a serious incident really did happen to that village, after all?
「Well, fine then.....Noor」
「Yes」
「Please do not let that kind of incident happen again」
「Umm, I was attacked by Wicax」
「I know. That was my oversight. But.....」
Folding his arms, he looked down at me.
「It has been at least a year since you were sold. Please be quiet for about a year. Otherwise, it will affect my trust in you」
「……yes」
「Then it is fine. Rest well and heal your body」
「Yes」
After saying that, Myluc turned around and left the room.
Soon, silence returned to the inside of the room. And as if it had just remembered itself, the sound of rain echoed loudly.
Jasper. Jasper. A fragile gem. It can sometimes be green, but brown is the most common color in business. It is a symbol of mud and earth. Weed. The hardship that comes with it. The persevering farmer. The first step. The month of Jasper is the season of rain and effort, just before the bright midsummer.
I escaped from the hopeless, death-filled Linga village. Currently, I am at the bottom of society. But, that is not ‘nothing’. I finally placed my foot on the first rung of the long, long ladder.
There is no need to hurry or be flustered. Let’s move forward, step by step. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
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