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Trial Run
At the crack of dawn, the housing facility was already filled with a tense atmosphere.
Breakfast was also being served earlier than usual. There was no time.
As usual, we would not make it in time if we didn’t leave early in the morning to get to the city where the market is being held. We arrived by nightfall when the castle gate was closed and spent the night inside. We were planned to be handed over to the employees in charge and leave Myluc and Jusa’s side for a while. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
We did not have time after that. We will have an interview with the person in charge on the same day. It is so that the organization managing the slave market can convey the information in writing to the auction participants from neutral positions. On the appointed day, we will simply wear clean clothes and stand on a platform so that interested buyers will only be able to see our outward appearance. Important information, such as whether they can respond properly, whether they can read or write...they are told first thing in the morning.
So, we didn’t have time to waste. Once I finished my breakfast, I made my way around to the punishment cell without asking for Jusa’s permission every time.
Motus was crouching listlessly inside the cell. That’s obvious. Their original plan should have been for them to escape from here long ago. Iric should have broke through the wall with his superhuman strength and saved him. But, in the end there was no action or movement even at the appointed day of the auction.
「Motus-san, it’s breakfast time」
He didn't even move when I called out to him. Oh well, I’m not interested in his attitude. I only came here for one thing. It is only for the Staff Technique experience, presumably gained from long years of activity at various crime scenes.
「I will leave this here, alright, you won’t have time anymore if you don’t eat it soon, you know?」
If possible, I would like to take the Ruin language from Iric, but I gave up on that idea. I mean, Iric will realize that something is wrong if he suddenly can not speak his mother tongue. I still have one chance tomorrow, so there’s no need to have a big fuss just yet.
Next is bath time. In the end, we don’t have time. I had finished organizing my luggage yesterday, so there is not much to do. After taking a quick bath, I took my backpack and went out to the courtyard.
I’m about to leave this place soon. Somehow, it doesn’t feel real.
「Hey, Noor」
A gentle, old voice came from behind.
「Oh, sensei. Thank you for taking care of me」
「Haha……sensei, huh. Then, Noor was also a sensei here, right」
When I first arrived here, sensei really helped me a lot. I had frequent nightmares and cried out in my sleep about the tragic event that had happened in Linga village. At that time, he was the person who came running to help me.
But once I had gotten used to life in the housing facility, I no longer had that much contact with him. He was busy dealing with more troublesome children. In addition, he also had the role of teaching children who had not been taken in by someone by the age of 7, teaching skills like woodworking and sewing.
「The last auction was regrettable but it looks like the auction this time is promising. Don’t worry, Noor will find a good person to take you in」
「Thank you very much」
I came here 3,5 years ago, and he has aged even more compared since that time. A capable person like him is indispensable in a facility to raise children like the one Myluc is working hard on. I wonder how many more years he will be able to continue working in this job?
「It will be lonely here but.....do your bes,t alright」
「Yes」
He gently placed his big hand on my head and softly stroked it.
Then he left, but another person was already waiting.
「Ah, Noor」
It’s Tamaria.
「……you’re going, huh」
Of course. I am a slave, so I am going to be sold off. And that is not something I can change of my will. It is nothing more than formality, though.
「If, I sell」
「I think you’re going to be sold off quickly」
「It is said that the economy has recovered this time.....so maybe things will suddenly get lonely」
When I stated the fact, Tamaria made a terribly sad face for a moment.
Seeing such an expression makes it really clear why Myluc’s cold outward appearance is a necessity. The more you grow attached to them the deeper the sadness. And then everyone will not be able to move forward. Life is lonely. So, even if you feel lonely now, 10, 20 years later, you will only remember it occasionally. However, he still purposely chooses to live here while knowing that.
「I see.....but, everyone is being bought by good places, it’s a good thing」
「Umm, what about Tamaria.....?」
It’s hard to ask about it, but her fate might be coming soon.
「Un, me too, I will be leaving this place before summer. Looks like someone has already agreed to take her in」
「So, there will be a complete change in generation」
「I, I’ve been here for 6 years」
She looked up at the square blue sky visible from the housing facility’s courtyard.
「I have spent half of my life since I was born here」
「If you say it like that, then I’m the same」
「Somehow.....I really don’t know what to say」
She suddenly took my hand and hugged it tightly to her chest.
「I was living with a special person. I guess that’s how it feels」
「Um, that’s something too early to say toward someone who just turned 6」
「That’s not what I meant」
Saying that, she mischievously smiled and brought her lips close to my ear.
「……you know Noor, actually, you could always leave this place, right?」
「Eh?」
「I saw it」
What? Did she, see me transform?
「Ah, you’re surprised! .....fufu, you see, there were flower petals on your clothes」
After thinking about it for 2, 3 seconds, it suddenly hit me. I turned into a bird when I delivered the flowers to Dona. It was the night before her birthday.
「I don’t know how you do it, though」
「Ah, u, un」
「Your bangle also came off」
I was being watched. That’s natural. It might not be noticed unless you look closely at the hem of my clothes if it was just the bangle, but if the flower petals were seen even before that. It attracted attention. No, to begin with, I gave flowers the year before that, too. So maybe she was being careful.....just in case someone tried to give Dona flowers again this year.
I thought I was doing everything well, but surprisingly, I had to realize I made a lot of mistakes.
「……remember well, if you can, okay」
「Eh?」
She sulked a little when I asked again.
「I’m not Dona-chan! But in 2 more years, I will have to start taking customers! Okay?」
Well then, allow me to respond with a joke.
「Then, I will visit your store as a guest 10 years later if I have money」
「Hey! That’s not what I meant」
「I’ll go and visit you, someday」
「Really!?」
She suddenly broke out into a smile. And immediately after that, she started talking in that familiar joking tone.
「Noor doesn’t need money to visit, I’ll be waiting, alright!」
I give her the most intense glare I can muster. This will most likely our last time we can have this kind of exchange.
Would she - after taking in dozens or hundreds of guests to support her living - be able to remember the heart she had as a child after this? My previous life was filled only with sadness and pain. So that’s why, from that experience, I know she will probably completely forget about me too. This smile, too, will only last for now.
And unintentionally, my eyes caught the figure of Jusa packing luggage into the wagon in the middle of the courtyard. Kovol and Dee were standing near him.
Something is weird with Kovol. He wants to call out to Jusa but he can’t. For nearly 6 months, he had been training his body silently. He wants to show him the result. In other words, he probably wants to challenge him again.
But, I came up with an idea. Rather than that, I became aware of an important problem.
The current me, has this kind of ability.
------------------------------------------------------
(Self) (7)
・Ultimate Ability
Piercing Hand
・Material Human Form
(Rank 7, Male, 6 years old Active)
・Material Bird Form
(Rank 6, Male, 8 years old)
・Skill Fores Language Level 3
・Skill Business Dealing Level 4
・Skill Drug Compounding Level 4
・Skill Physical Enhancement Magic Level 5
・Skill Staff Technique Level 4
Empty (0)
------------------------------------------------------
Physical Enhancement Magic and Boujutsu. Each of them has reached an intermediate level, almost stepping into the advanced level. However, the important thing is that, this body is that of a child.
……if I were to use all my ability, I wonder how far I could go?
I would like to check it if possible. The ability I took from Iric the other day will probably work, I’m sure of it. But still, I have not tried the effect of that secret medicine.
Especially the superhuman strength secret medicine, I should run it through my body system once. To what extent are the benefits and to what extent are the side effects? They are limited and if I were to use it then I’m sure it would be in serious situations. It’s an important trump card before relying on the ultimate weapon, Piercing Hand.
Dee is cursing in front of me.
「Kovol is an idiot」
「Why!?」
「You got completely beaten previously. It will be the same even if you do it again」
「How would you know something like that!?」
Quietly slipping past the quarrelling two, I took out a long staff from the weapon storage in the training area.
「Umm……」
Just stops his hands when I call out to him. He is a little surprised. I’m sure he did not think I’d do something like this.
It’s the same with Dee and Kovol, they are wide-eyed in shock.
「……my goodness! Kovol idiocy has infected even Noor!」
「You’re the idiot, this is not idiocy! This is a man’s dream!」
The small incident was starting to attract attention. Before I knew it, even Wyst appeared and is watching here with great interest. The same with Dona, she was at a loss for the sudden outbreak of violence.
「No way, Noor. I thought you were more of a well-behaved kid」
「Just so-so. This is also a memory」
’Can’t be helped then’ Jusa must have thought, he stopped his work and took a wooden sword from the training area. But I pretended not to notice even when he took a stance.
「Oi, are you really going to do this?」
「You don’t have a shield」
I understand Jusa’s abilities.
------------------------------------------------------
Jusa Trikroma (42)
・Material Human Form
(Rank 4, Human, 42 years old)
・Skill Fores Language Level 6
・Skill Saharia Language Level 2
・Skill Business Dealing Level 5
・Skill Swordsmanship Level 4
・Skill Shield Technique Level 3
・Skill Cooking Level 2
・Skill Sewing Level 2
・Skill Farming Level 4
Empty (34)
------------------------------------------------------
Sadly, the only things improving in these 2, 3 years are cooking and sewing. But if you think about life in this place, that’s reasonable.
In any case, he can not show his real ability with just a one-handed sword. Well, it seems that his left arm was injured from the magical beast’s attack in the past, so he probably can not move it as he would like.
At my urging, Jusa took a small shield and slipped one of the leather straps over his arm, grabbed the other with his left arm, and took a firm stance.
「Yoosh. Come at me if you want me to do this seriously」
I also pointed the staff straight toward Jusa. Seeing that stance, Jusa’s expression changes.
As expected from a veteran adventurer. It looked like he could somehow guess my ability.
I moved my leg forward, approaching him. I close our distance bit by bit. Although I’m a kid with short limbs, this staff that I hold with both of my hands has a longer reach. So, Jusa has to move somewhere.
However, he stays still. He’s already within striking range.
Yosh.
Bracing myself, I unleashed a full-force thrust at his face. But, he evaded the first attack and deflected the next one with his shield. And instead of just defending, he redirected my strength to the side. I almost lost my posture due to the difference in our height. And he did not miss that.
He put his strength into his shield and push it forward. I won’t say it is childish to use brute force on a kid as the opponent. Use everything if you can use them. That is what a fight is.
I take a step back and adjust my posture. During that time, Jusa shortened our distance and swung the sword in his right hand, and struck down. I jumped back by a hair.
I can’t win.
The difference in our reach was covered by his shield. And I am not his match even in terms of making quick judgments in a fight. Plus, there is a difference in our physiques.
「How is it? Do you still want to do it?」
Jusa asks. Since he can not hurt me before the auction. It’s as if he telling me that I should have known the difference between our abilities.
But, I still have something I have to try.
「Just a little more.....please」
I covered my mouth with my hand while saying that. I swallow the superhuman strength secret medicine without water.
As for the result.....
Jusa readjusted his sword, put his shield forward, and charged in again. The difference in our physiques can not be overcome in a short time. So, even a tactic that was used once will definitely work again. Normally, this decision is correct. But that is only, ‘normally’.
I responded with a strike of my own. He tried to dodge but the attack was unexpectedly sharp and lightly grazed his head. Surprised by this, he briefly jumped back.
That’s a correct judgement. If he had not jumped back just now, the next attack would have struck his chin.
Jusa’s eyes finally become serious. It seemed like he finally regarded me as a worthy opponent to fight seriously.
My body feels light. My body is slowly bursting with strength. Moreover, the world look awfully clear to me now. The airflow, the difference in temperature, the color of things, the movements, smells. Everything is so vivid.
I can do this.
I stepped forward lightly - almost as if dancing - and followed up with wide sweeping strike, first to the right and then left, repeatedly. There are no forms or anything like that, just hitting my opponent.
However, Just only defended himself against this brute force method. A terrific sound echoes from the wooden sword and shield as they block the blow.
This is the natural result. I have a longer reach. It is an attack after an attack. For Jusa, who needs to break my posture first or take the initiative in response to close in within my range, actions like this should be most troublesome for him.
And yet, he is not confused. Such a fierce attack can not continue forever. I need to maintain my concentration and avoid getting hit. He will surely exhaust his stamina. I will launch a sudden counterattack using that gap.
……that’s what he is probably thinking. However, unfortunately for him the stamina from the pill’s effect will probably continue for another hour until it wear off. Even though I’ve been rampaging like this nonstop, there is no feeling of exhaustion. If the stalemate continues like this, probably Jusa will be the one exhausted first.
But, I can’t afford to fight like that. I won’t be able to leave unless this match is over. So I need to settle this quickly.
I suddenly stop attacking at a certain point and readjust my posture, and try to take a step back.
This was the situation Jusa was waiting for. Deciding to settle the match now, he stepped forward.
And his foot got tangled in a strange direction.
「Gahh.....!?」
The action-inhibition spell I softly muttered under my breath stopped Jusa’s movement. Now.
I leaped out front and swung the staff down with all my strength. Jusa immediately raised his shield. However, he was still off-balance.
And when I thought there was a particularly loud noise, his wooden shield had shattered. He let go of the leather strap he had been barely holding on with his left hand, which still bore an old wound. This was the result of not being able to deflect my attack properly.
I jumped toward Jusa, who was falling on his backside. One more hit. Jusa hurriedly gets up and take the hit with his sword.
With a dull thud, Jusa was sent flying backwards with great force. The wooden sword held was completely smashed up.
Jusa - who had been on all fours far in the back - finally managed to get up and raised his hand.
「Wa, wait.....! I lost, Noor, I lost….!」
Looking closely, he is breathing heavily.
But as expected from a former adventurer. Even though I unleashed such a fierce attack with full momentum just a moment ago, it looks like he did not get injured at all. Also, he jumped back while receiving the blow. Indeed, I might be the winner if we think of this in terms of victory or defeat, but Jusa would have immediately fled if this were a real fight.
「Hohou」
Myluc was watching the fight unnoticed and let out a cheerful laugh while stroking his beard.
「You’re starting to look more and more like a monster, huh? Noor?」
Next to him are Jill and the 2 guards, with pale faces and looking shocked.
「If you can do that much, even I will be in danger if you get close. Although I may still have a chance if I shoot with a bow from a distance」
In the courtyard that has become silent, only Myluc’s voice can be heard.
「Wipe off the sand, Jusa」
「Ah...yes」
「Now then」
When I turn around, Myluc says it again as if to make sure.
「This wagon is going to the auction market.....so, what are you going to do? Noor, are you going to get inside the wagon?」
「I will」
「Yosh!」
He clapped his hands to attract the children’s attention.
「It’s time to leave! Everyone, get into the wagon!」
And once again, the courtyard became noisy all of a sudden.
Jusa is going to be the coachman taking the wagon carrying the slave children. Since we have criminal slaves with us this time, Myluc and Jill cram them into another wagon and take the lead.
I am sitting on the back seat of the wagon so I wave my hand at Tamaria and sensei who see us off, leaving the housing facility in high spirits.
But, my strength didn’t last beyond that.
As the solitary housing facility built on the grassland disappeared from view and the wagon rolled along the coastal road, I was suddenly overcome by a wave of exhaustion. This is awful. My body feels heavy to the point that I don’t even feel like moving a finger. It’s like the feeling of recovering from illness, no, in some way, this feels even worse.
「……something is wrong with Noor again」
Dona worriedly say.
「Ah, un, just a bit. I just got, a little too excited earlier」
I somehow manage to smile to reassure Dona.
「You, amazing」
Kovol mutters.
「I, I was just lucky, and happened to win」
Logically speaking, it is impossible for a 6-year-old kid to defeat an adult soldier with such brute force. Amazing, indeed, but that’s rather unnatural.
Perhaps he sensed that as Wyst did not say anything.
「……Noor is not an idiot.....but just ridiculous」
Dee concluded as if amazed by me.
Bright morning light shines from the back of the wagon. The fresh air of the plains, something we can never find in the housing facility. But I was too exhausted to appreciate any of it and fell asleep, completely worn out. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
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