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Previous Chapter - TOC - Next Chapter
Once we are done with our lunch, everyone lies down in a sunny place and starts to take a nap. But after that, things were a little different. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
I may have been the first to wake up. Looking around, everyone is still asleep. What to do, should I just read the air and stay with them here, then Dee sat up when I was thinking about it.
Perhaps she thought she woke everyone up as she looked around, and after checking that everyone is still sleeping, she started walking away by herself.
I wonder where she is going alone? Just as I was wondering about that, I could hear the sound of grass being brushed away behind me. Judging from the location of the sound, it was Wyst. I didn’t see it with my own eyes, but probably, he stretched and then started walking away alone.
What’s the matter? These guys, what do these guys want to do?
As I was wondering about it, this time it is Tamaria. She is just like the previous 2. She stood up and started walking toward the forest by herself.
Yosh, then I would be the next to wake up.
I would follow the direction that Tamaria walked away. She was sitting on top of a fallen tree, on the opposite side of the place where we were fishing earlier, on the lake inside the forest. She was not doing anything there, just looking up idly at the sky.
There was a difficult-to-talk-to atmosphere around her. She had a quiet smile on her face. Meaning, she was probably not in a gloomy mood. But, it was easy to imagine she was probably trying to spend an extremely personal time by herself.
I tried to quietly walk away, but at that moment, my foot stepped on a twig.
「……who is it?」
Our eyes met.
「So it’s you, I see, I see」
She answered my doubt while having a transparent smile on her face.
「Come on, we only have one day, you know? So, we have to stuff a lot of things today. As expected, I want to play like children, eat delicious food, and take a relaxing nap. But, in the end, it’s difficult to come to terms with my feelings, you know」
She added another explanation when I was still in the middle of processing her words.
「For example, my name is set as Tamaria, right? But I’m sure that I will be called by a different name after I've been sold. Although I might still be called Tamaria. But, actually, it was neither of those, I even had a name of my own. I never thought I’m going to be sold, not even in my dreams」
Is that so? www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
Even if she ended up like this. No, it was precisely because of that, she wanted a place to face her past and face it. A final time where she could feel nostalgic about her home and let herself become vulnerable only in her heart. And at the same time, it was a moment of farewell from her childlike self.
「I won’t be able to feel alone, once I’m back, right?」
「Is that so… sorry, looks like I disturbed you」
「It’s fine」
She said while brushing her long, golden hair.
「Noor has helped me a lot. Like just now」
A dark shadow could no longer be seen as she said that with a smile. It may take some time and I think it will bring a lot of pain but.....the rest depends on her I guess.
「But, this is a rare chance to be alone, y’know? Don’t you also have something to do, Noor?」
「Hmーm.....you’re right, now that you mention it. I’ll also take a walk」
This kind of time, and today, it was very previous. Even if it was not so for me, for the others it was an important moment in their lives. So, I decided to quickly leave in front of her.
I tried walking through the other side of the forest. Furthermore, there was a small hill. I try climbing to the top of the small hill. Another forest spreads out on the other side of the hill, and a beautiful stream flows in front of it. Perhaps this was a tributary of the Ekisee (エキセー) River that nourishes this region.
Come to think of it, even when I escaped from the Linga village, too, I escaped danger by being swept away by the river. I felt a little nostalgic. The shrine of the Goddess in the forest near the village. I wonder if the beautiful valley beyond that still remains the same?
I went down to the streambank. I crossed over to the other side by stepping over the stones peeking out of the water's surface. I looked around and took a step into the forest. I concentrated with my back against a tree. With a thud, a lukewarm piece of cloth covered my face.
Spreading my wings, I soared up to the skies in one breath.
As expected, it feels good to fly in the sky. If it is just standing on high places, then I have experienced it a lot by standing on high-rise buildings. Of course, that alone was enough to get you to enjoy a magnificent view, but when it comes to being able to fly freely in the skies, it changes everything.
Besides, I could definitely be alone here. I can think my true thoughts precisely since I am alone.
Should I say this was a blessing in disguise? I, was lucky. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
Although I escaped because of a great danger that hit me, suppose that there was no famine, what would happen if I were to keep staying in Linga village? There may not even be the opportunity for me to realize the ability of Percing Hand. Even setting that aside, I would not have received a decent education if I were to continue living there. That’s not the point. I received abuse daily, and there was no guarantee I could eat every day.
These 3 and a half years in the housing facility were by no means a waste. Jusa taught me reading and writing, Myluc taught me the basics of being a merchant. Even though I could not afford luxury, I was glad I was blessed with a healthy diet.
I think I have made the best of the situation myself. I tried to learn what I could. Even if I was not that interested in it.
But honestly, I had no plans to set my life goals as being a successful merchant. I could become anything. I could instantly steal the skills that others have built up over many years. If anything, it was not even an impossibility to pretend to be someone else since I could steal others’ bodies.
I would soon be sold as a slave at an auction where nobles and wealthy merchants gather. This was also not bad. If that person were an influential person, they would be surrounded by outstanding people, and people of noble status would surely gather around them. In other words, it is the perfect feeding ground for me.
But my goal was not that small. Even if Piercing Hand could get me immense wealth, those will bring nothing more than momentary pleasure. But, as time passed, people would grow old and eventually die.
As for what happens when you die. I happen to know about it.
I should probably also point out areas for reflection. I am getting a little too familiar with the people here. It’s a bad habit from my previous life. At first, I was just trying to be a good kid to please the adults, but before I knew it, I was trying really hard in everything. It would have been fine if I just helped with the merchant work, but when I let my guard down, I ended up thoughtlessly behaving as a 「good natured person」 in various places.
Just like what happened with Tamaria’s case earlier. She may be grateful for me even now. But no one knows what kind of life she will lead from now on. If, she led a happy life, it is unclear whether she will still remember me or not. If she remembers it, then it would surely just that. It is not like anything will come back.
It was pointless to try hard to do something for others. It was pointless. If anything, it may even be harmful. Hadn’t I learned that lesson severely in my previous life?
That’s why I must not stray from my path.
I have 2 goals in this world. The first, was low in priority, but...to obtain happiness as much as possible. The other one is important. To realize immortality.
There was no meaning if I died and everything got reset, no matter how great the happiness I obtained. It was not the end, but a reset. That means, a life full of suffering may well be ahead of me. But I won’t let that happen. If I could obtain the means to continuously gain infinite pleasure, and eternal life.....I could acquire happiness for as long as I desire.
Perhaps, immortality may already be being realized. As long as I have Piercing Hand, I could switch to other bodies even if this body ages. But, I’m curious about the age that has been carved into my soul. Whether there was an upper limit to the age or not needs to be investigated from now on.
Thinking back, I have become quite skilled in using this ability over the past 3 years. Now, I won’t suddenly lose my consciousness even if I were to become this bird. I could fly in the sky while thinking about things properly. Only, as expected, it is probably dangerous for a long period of time. Even so, I have gotten quite good in control. If things continue at this rate.....
……oh? www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
A girl’s figure entered my vision on the small hill I had climbed previously. There was no hesitation in her steps. Her pace was also fast. She was looking at me right now. Definitely looking at me.
And I also would not mistake it. Who else could it be if not a girl with black hair?
It was bad at this rate. I have to return to my body for now.
I swooped down to the place from before.
「……Noor-kun?」
「Not yet! Wait a minute」
That was dangerous. Just now, I plunged into the water in my bird’s form. I quickly returned to my human form after, but Dona arrived at the top of the hill almost at the same time. As I emerged from the water, my eyes met with her - who had just arrived there. And I hurriedly withdrew to the forest. She had come running down the hill.
「What were you doing?」
「I was swimming, wait until I got dressed」
It was just an excuse since it is embarrassing to be seen naked. The biggest problem is that my slave bracelet has come off. I have to secretly put it on in the shade of the trees.
「It has just turned spring, hasn’t it? Even though it’s cold」
「Ah.....I mean, you can’t take a bath every day in the housing facility, right? And you will be taking a bath together with everyone. I just felt like refreshing myself」
Frankly, the water was too cold, and my teeth were chattering. It’s natural. It was currently the equivalent of the end of March or around April in Japan. Although I didn’t have a thermometer, the water temperature was probably around 15-16 degrees. The water was so cold that my ears also started to hurt. Get a hold of yourself, me. Didn’t you survive in a freezing river in late autumn? But, I am wearing clothes while being soaking wet, so it is sticky and my body is getting cold….
「Say, Noor-kun」
「What is it?」
「Just now, did you see that big bird?」
Shoot, I knew she saw it.
「I don’t know? I was diving in the water before, so I didn’t really pay attention to my surroundings」
「Is that so」
Dona didn’t press further. I sigh in relief at that.
5 minutes later, Dona and I lay down on a sunny slope. As expected, I guess she realized I looked cold. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
Even so, I wonder what the matter was with her? Ever since I presented the flowers to her for the second time, I felt like she had become awfully attached to me. Of course, she was fundamentally a shy kid and not good at talking with others, and even the person herself is self-conscious of it.....so it was not often she approached people on her own accord like this.
This was only the second time she received permission to go outside, but still, the fact that this time was precious must be no different from the others. Moreover, Forestia’s economy was recovering. I’m sure she would sell at the next auction.
「Hey, Noor-kun」
「What?」
She got up and sat there.
「What you talked about before」
Before?
Was it the reason I took a bath?
「About what we like or what we want to do」
「Aah」
She leaned her body and turned her beautiful face toward me.
「Thank you」
Huh?
I was speaking for Tamaria.
Aah, I see. She thanked me since Tamaria has gotten better now.
「I’m glad Tamaria has also gotten better」
「Un, but, that’s not it」
She said, while looking up at the early afternoon sky.
「I too, have something I want to do」
I see, so it’s about her dream.
Dona’s life was pretty much set. Even when she was still 6 years old, she’s so beautiful I had the chills. She was going to be bought by a noble or a wealthy merchant at a high price after this. Of course, thinking sensibly, she would probably not be summoned to the bedroom immediately. Since she was bought from Myluc, there was no problem with basic training. Even so, if there were etiquettes that would be acceptable among the upper class, she would be taught about them again.
And 10 years later, the master would finally fulfill his desire. In other words, plucking the ripe fruit. At that time, she would surely have grown into a stunningly beautiful girl. In short, she would become the favorite concubine of a wealthy merchant at worst and the concubine of a noble at best. Furthermore, if she were luckier.....meaning, if the noble’s legal wife was unable to give birth to a boy and she gave birth to a son first, truly becoming part of the upper class is a real possibility.
To put it simply, it was Cinderella’s future. Well, it would be a sad thing if the master looked like a pig.....but other than that, there would be no particular problem. A 21st-century Japanese would probably complain about the lack of freedom, but this was a feudal society, so having a class system is the common sense here. If you were given a comfortable and enough to live on, it is unreasonable to complain. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「So, what is it?」
「……I」
At that, she swallowed her words.
It’s like, it took some courage for her to say it.
「……I want to be a housewife」
I see. It might not be as easy as it seems.
In the end, she would be purchased to be a mistress or a concubine candidate. Becoming a proper wife was a dream with quite a high hurdle to overcome. Well, I guess the woman in the shadow. I could somewhat understand that.
「Un....maybe it might be possible」
What if the legal wife died? Of course, that alone was impossible. Usually, the second wife was chosen from the daughter of a noble or an influential person. But by that point, what if she had already given birth to the eldest son? Although I really didn’t want to imagine it, the image ended up appearing in my mind. Dona - who gave birth to her first child - orders her waiting maid to poison the legal wife.....
Hearing my answer, Dona’s face lit up for a moment. But quickly faded away immediately after. All that is left is a fleeting smile.
「Hmm, that’s not it. Not like that」
She didn’t read my mind, right? Dona does not have such a unique ability when I detected her with Piercing Hand.
「I」
She took a deep breath.
Then, she looked at me straight in my eyes.
「I want to be Noor-kun’s wife」
Ehh?
……why?
What to do?
……no no, calm down.
That’s right. This is, right. It must be ‘that’.
I had forgotten she was still a 6-year-old child. And most of her time was spent in this housing facility. And who looked cool among the people here? Besides Myluc, from all the people her age, the first is probably me. In any case, despite being a slave, I was given the key to the office by the master. I also taught the class for the children. So to speak, an outstanding elite.
I see, if I were Dona and if I were to choose a husband among the people in the housing facility, I would probably choose myself too. But that was only a thought that appears when one only knows a small world. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「Dona. I’m also going to be sold, you know?」
So, it was better to have some kind of cushion for her and gently return her to reality.
Of course, it is not that I don’t want such a beautiful girl. But, if I could get my hands on an infinite lifespan, I would surely find plenty of beautiful women that I would get sick of. There is no reason to be overly concerned with that. Other than that, it would be far more troublesome to carry such a burden for a long time. And don’t forget, I am a 「Good-natured person」. That was why.
「Un. I know」
「So you see, right now, I might look a little smarter to Dona. But, Dona will surely, be bought by a wealthy merchant or a noble」
「Right」
「Of course, the nobles have noble sons. And unlike me, they will have received a proper education and are smart, have been taught swordsmanship, and their bodies are well-trained. Young noble who is perfect in everything, from manners to fashion」
「Un」
Surprisingly, Dona obediently listened to what I was saying. No, did she really understand? I was starting to get a little worried.
「But you know, Dona is much better-looking than me, and you also have an obedient personality. That noble’s son may take a liking to you at first sight. No, I’m sure he will be crazy about you」
「……is that so?」
「It is so. It will definitely be like that. I can say that with confidence」
Right, right.
She would forget about being obsessed with the child slave in front of her in no time.
Women are, that kind of creature. I could say that from my experience in my previous life.
「But, I like Noor」
……huh?
I correct my previous statement. It might be a mistake to call her ‘obedient’. That’s right. Although Dona is usually obedient, but sometimes, for whatever reason, she got surprisingly stubborn.
「Huh? Umm? But, I’m a slave, you know that?」
「Un」
「You won’t be able to be with another person besides the person chosen by your master if you are not released from your status, you know that, right?」
「Un」
「In the first place, we will probably be taken to a place far away if we are sold to different masters, and we won’t be able to see each other again, you know?」
「Un」
Did she really understand? www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「So, don’t you think that’s impossible?」
「Even so, I chose Noor」
This had turned into something serious.
If, she were to say that to her master after being sold.....it could seriously ruin Myluc’s reputation.
「Earlier, Noor said it. What do you like, what do you want to be」
「U, un, I said that」
「I, I’ve been thinking about it for months. But, earlier, it became clear to me」
What the hell.
I planned to cheer up the depressed Tamaria because of my good-naturedness, but it looks like I ended up setting off a whole other problem instead.
This is why I was not good at this.
No, don’t give up. Since it has come to this, I need to thoroughly refute her.
「……Dona, why did you like me?」
If she said I’m smart or I have a good-looking face, I’m going to smash them all up. Disparaging myself is something I have been doing since my previous life. Although it is immature, I am going to smash Dona’s dream to pieces using my logical thinking.
「Like how I’m smart……」
「Un」
Right right.
「And I have good looks....」
「Un」
Yosh, just as planned. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「All of that, I don’t really care」
Ehh?
Did I get outsmarted?
「Noor is, you know」
Again, she looked up at the blue sky above.
「How to say.....I don’t really understand, but I think you have something really big」
Something big? Don’t tell me, did the fact I could turn into a bird get completely seen? Did she realize I have a special ability or something?
「Maybe, something like kindness」
I was wondering what she was talking about so suddenly. Kindness? Me? How absurd. I’m just an idiotic, good-natured guy, that’s all.
If I were a really kind person, I wouldn’t let a girl about to be sold alone. If I want to, it would be simple to just let Dona escape. Incidentally, I could easily also take over the body of someone wealthy and let her live in luxury using their assets.
But, I won’t do that. It’s not that I can’t. Nor do I want to. I just decided not to do it. I have decided to live for myself, and only myself. I do not have the thought of selling pieces of myself, fawning over someone, and hoping to get affection in return. I have decided.
I was just being a little kind while in this housing facility. That’s all. That’s enough, right? People would quickly forget about shallow goodwill. In any case, if Dona were to be treated well by a wealthy merchant or noble, she would soon be swayed by them. We just passed each other’s path.
I said in as light a tone as possible while getting up.
「It’s just a feeling, right?」
「No, there really is」
「I don’t have anything like that」
「You have」
Before I knew it, she had already turned towards me. Her face is close.
「Noor」
I was drawn to her eyes, filled with a strong will. And I realized it too late. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
The feeling of her lips touching mine. I wondered what had happened, but soon understood.
「I, I will never give up. I will protect Noor」
……just now, what did she say?
Dona, going to protect me?
「I will definitely stay by Noor’s side」
After asserting that, she forcefully stood up.
「Let’s go. It’s getting late already」
I was dumbfounded and could only stand up as I was told.
By the time we returned to the carriage, the sun was starting to be dyed crimson.
In the end, Kovol was the only one left at the place where we took a nap. Apparently, it felt so good, and he was sound asleep. He finally woke up after Wyst kicked his head.
Jusa confirmed that everyone is present. Once he is done confirming, he looked around restlessly. He has a stiff smile on his face.
「Yosh, everyone is here! No....let’s go back! Get in the carriage properly, alright?」
It seemed really hard for him to say.
Since he understood how important this day was to the children. Even if for a minute or a second, we wanted to extend the time here a little longer. And while having that thought, he had to deliberately give the order to return.
……see, Dona, look closely. A kind man, was someone who said the sort of thing as Jusa.
Everyone did as they were told and boarded the carriage. The time until now was meant for everyone to prepare themselves. And perhaps because of that, the children took it calmly. Although it was all only on the surface.
I looked back one last time.
The red sun was setting in the west. The hill before me has its outline covered by the wind-blown grass and was gradually being dyed in a murky blend of red and green. The trees in the forest beyond that had become pitch black already. The water surface of the lake seen from the gaps has changed to a terrible indigo color, the complete opposite of the gentle appearance during the day.
The day felt like it had gone by in a flash, and yet it felt incredibly long at the same time.
It was a day of farewell. And, in less than a month, I will be leaving this place - a place I have been in for 3,5 years - to somewhere far away. I also do not know who will choose me. The reality of it all, begin to sink into my chest along with the unease only now.
The grace period was over. In the end, I would also become like the other children.
I turned away and looked forward. Under the blend of gray and indigo sky, an unassuming carriage stood there alone. I must start walking towards my goal from now on. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
Author Note :
Sorry to keep you waiting.
The life in the housing facility is almost finished.
There is one auction left.
Then it is sunny from that…..
And then begins the life of a slave (huh?).
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