Chapter 7
The far outskirts of the Floren Empire.
In a small rural village where gentle winds blew all year round and nameless wildflowers filled the roadsides, there lived a girl with cherry-blossom-colored hair.
Her name was Isabel.
She was a commoner from the countryside, an utterly ordinary rural girl.
Her father was a commoner, and so was she.
Her mother had passed away when she was very young, and Isabel could barely remember her face.
That ordinary life continued until one rainy day, when she found a small child in the forest.
A child with brilliant black hair, unnaturally flawless features, and a gaze unlike that of any ordinary child.
When she first saw him, she honestly thought:
'...Is he really a commoner?'
He looked enough like a young master who had gone missing from some noble household that she would have believed it.
……Isabel had had such thoughts once, too.
No? Absolutely not!
A noble young master wouldn't sneak away while working in a potato field!!
A noble young master wouldn't stuff three potatoes into his mouth at mealtime without chewing!!
And above all.
"I told you never to go near the forest."
"I told you, I really didn't go."
"Then."
Isabel narrowed her eyes and pointed at Rowoon's head.
"What's this leaf stuck to your head?"
"..."
"...The wind kindly put it there."
"The wind?"
"Yeah. Wind service has gotten pretty good lately."
"..."
Isabel quietly sighed.
"And."
Her gaze moved downward.
"What's this boar's footprint on your shoe?"
"..."
"Was this the wind too?"
"...The wind was a little rough today."
"Rowoon."
"Yeah."
"You're making fun of me right now, aren't you?"
"...A little?"
Of course I would never be cheeky toward my heavenly big sister.
When she'd first brought him home, he hadn't been like this.
He would flinch whenever someone approached, and he reacted far too sensitively even to the slightest sound.
There were also many nights when he woke up from nightmares.
So Isabel thought,
‘This child must have been through a lot.’
‘Let's take care of him slowly, together with Father.’
She would feed him, spend time with him, and teach him how to smile little by little.
That was what she had thought.
But he adapted far too well.
Really, far too well!
When told not to go into the forest, he would come out of the forest.
When told not to go to the stream, he would come back with fish…….
How did he always manage to pick exactly the things he had been told not to do?
And whenever she tried to scold him.
"Sis."
"What."
"There's a beautiful word called forgiveness in this world, you know?"
“……”
"Families are supposed to understand each other."
"……."
"You have to embrace each other with love—"
"Rowoon."
"Hm?"
"Be quiet."
"……Yes."
How could words like that come from a ten-year-old's mouth?
Isabel truly couldn't understand.
"…Ha."
Isabel hung the laundry with a sigh mixed with laughter.
The warm sunlight would dry it in no time.
It was an ordinary day in a peaceful village.
Children could be heard playing in the distance, while the woman next door waved over the fence—a day like any other.
"Isabel!"
"Yes?"
"Did Rowoon not cause any trouble today either?"
"Not yet."
"Why 'not yet'?"
"...Because I think he will soon."
"Pfft!"
The woman finally burst out laughing.
"That boy never has a quiet day, does he?"
"...I suppose not."
Isabel laughed softly too.
Honestly, she couldn't deny it.
Rowoon really was a troublemaker.
But strangely…
Isabel found it better if he caused trouble than stayed quiet all day.
"...Has it already been a year?"
It had already been a year since she brought in the child who had collapsed in the forest on that rainy day.
She had turned fifteen, and Rowoon had turned ten.
Time really flew.
It was then.
-Kya-ha-ha-ha!
-Kyarururuk!
"...?"
An unfamiliar laugh reached her.
Isabel lifted her head.
But there was no one around.
"…"
After a brief silence.
"Ha..."
She pressed a hand to her forehead.
"Is Rowoon making me hear things now?"
As she muttered and absently glanced toward the potato field.
"…Huh?"
Rowoon was gone.
Instead, two small droplets were bobbing in midair.
-Kya-ha-ha!
-Look at us! She's looking at us!
-Interesting human! Energetic human!
And below them, a man was sitting on the dirt.
The panting man was wearing a robe like the ones wizards wore in the books she'd once read.
***
Spirits.
What exactly were spirits?
Were they not transcendent lifeforms that were nature itself, beings that had existed alongside the world for far longer than humans?
That was why countless mages studied spirits and devoted their entire lives to obtaining their power.
And among them was a man who was more obsessed with spirits than anyone else.
Oswald Cression.
He was a professor at Astell Imperial Academy and the greatest authority on spirits in the empire.
He had studied nothing but spirits for decades, ever since his youth.
He had memorized not only the achievements of the great spirit mages recorded in history, but even which spirits they had formed contracts with.
There was one fact Oswald was more certain of than anything else.
Spirits did not like humans.
Even in the case of an exceptionally talented spirit mage, it was exceedingly rare for a spirit to approach them first.
They had to ask first, flatter them, and……
Sometimes, they had to wait for years before a spirit would finally open its heart.
That was common sense, yet……
"...This is impossible."
Oswald muttered without realizing it.
Cold sweat trickled down his smooth, bald head.
He simply couldn't comprehend the scene unfolding before his eyes.
-Kyaruruk!
-Human with good energy!
-Let's play!
They were unmistakably water spirits.
Creatures that normally did not even reveal themselves to humans were circling around a young girl, laughing happily.
"……"
Oswald couldn't close his mouth.
The spirits had approached first… The spirits had spoken first?
‘They’re even clinging to her.’
The spirits were clinging to the girl.
They did not look as though they were treating her like a contractor.
It was more like they were looking at a longtime friend—
No, like they were looking at someone even closer than that.
This was almost……
Like courtship…!!!
A talent for being loved by spirits, something far beyond mere natural affinity with them.
Oswald had spent his entire life studying spirits, but he had never once seen a sight like this.
"..."
His hands trembled.
He had come all the way to this remote village for the investigation, but he had not expected much at first.
He had only come to confirm the small possibility that water spirits were present here.
If his guess was correct, this child was not merely a talent who could change the history of Astell Imperial Academy; she was someone the entire empire would have to take notice of.
‘I can’t leave a child like this in a tiny village.’
Oswald's gaze changed.
"I must take her with me."
Even the phrase 'take her' was insufficient.
No matter what it took, he absolutely had to! He had to escort her there himself.
Oswald hurriedly searched inside his robes.
Then he pulled out a small, bead-shaped magical device.
It was a direct communication orb connected straight to the dean.
As mana flowed through his trembling fingertips, the communication orb began to glow faintly.
A moment later, the connection went through…
Without even having time to catch his breath, Oswald opened his mouth.
"Dean."
His voice was brimming with excitement he could not hide.
"I've found her."
Oswald lifted his head and looked straight ahead.
He could see a small girl laughing with the water spirits.
And as he watched that sight, he became certain.
"The child who will change history."
After ending the call, Oswald immediately approached the girl.
"Y-You there! What might your name be...?"
***
“……so I decided to go. The academy said they'd even send a carriage themselves, and they'd provide all the money, food, lodging, and other necessities I'll need there.”
Isabel continued hesitantly and carefully.
She normally would have spoken with a bright, confident smile, but today was a little different.
“I see……”
Lawrence answered quietly.
Her mother had passed away the moment she was born.
Because of that, she had been alone from a young age.
Lawrence had been an awkward father, but he wanted to raise his daughter without letting her lack for anything.
The daughter he had held in his arms all his life was now preparing to go out into the world.
“Isabel……”
Lawrence forced a smile.
“You've grown up so much.”
At those words, Isabel's eyes reddened.
“Why are you crying, Dad……”
In the end, she could not hold back her own tears and wiped them away.
“You're making me cry too……”
“No, this is…… tears of joy.”
Lawrence smiled and shook his head.
“Because you've finally found your own path.”
But the end of his voice trembled slightly.
He was happy.
Truly happy.
He was happy that his daughter would be entering the finest educational institution in the empire. But at the same time, the thought of losing the face he saw every morning, the meals they shared, and her laughter that filled the house left an empty corner in his heart.
“……Still.”
Lawrence stroked Isabel's hair.
“Take good care of yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Make sure you eat properly.”
“Yes.”
“If something is difficult, don't keep it to yourself.”
“……Yes.”
“And.”
Lawrence paused for a moment.
“Send your father a letter from time to time, too.”
“…….”
In the end, Isabel burst into tears.
“Dad……”
***
Isabel could not pull away from Lawrence's embrace for quite some time.
Watching them, I quietly turned my head away.
A touching family moment?
Sure, that's great.
But how long are you going to keep this up?
Aren't you even going to say goodbye to me?
Just then.
“Rowoon.”
Isabel called me.
“Hm?”
“Come here.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think?”
Isabel said it as though it were obvious.
“Because I have to nag you one last time.”
“……”
Wasn't this supposed to be a farewell?
Why was I getting nagged right until the end?
I sighed, but still walked over to Isabel.
“Don't go into the forest alone.”
“Yes.”
“Don't bring home anything dangerous.”
“Yes.”
“Don't follow strangers.”
“I'm not a little kid.”
“Sometimes, you really do seem like one.”
“……”
I had no way to refute that.
Isabel snickered.
“And.”
A moment later, she spoke with a slightly serious expression.
“Rowoon.”
“Hm?”
“You're not alone anymore.”
At those words, I paused for a moment.
And then.
“……Sis.”
“Hm?”
“Did you eat an entire jar of butter too?”
“……”
“You little brat.”
Isabel raised her hand.
“Still.”
I smiled faintly and said,
“Have a safe trip, Sis.”
I was going to follow right after her anyway, but still.
Isabel blinked for a moment.
Then she smiled warmly.
“Yes.”
“You take care too, Rowoon.”
“Yes.”
“Lee Rowoon.”
“What now?”
“Don't go into the forest.”
“……”
“I'm serious this time.”
“Don't you ever get tired of saying that?”
“Rowoon.”
“Just kidding.”
***
Great!
It's just like the original.
I quietly clenched my fist in my mind.
I had been a little worried that the professor might fail to notice Sis's talent, but fortunately, the story was proceeding along exactly the same path I remembered.
Great. Delete all 120 variable-response protocols.
I tossed all the countless plans I'd piled up in my head straight into the trash.
Now all that remained was for me to enter the academy too.
“Then…… when is Isabel leaving?”
Lawrence asked carefully.
“Ah, well……”
Isabel thought for a moment before opening her mouth.
“I think I have to leave the day after tomorrow.”
“The day after tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
She wore a slightly apologetic expression.
“They said the academy conducts basic education before the entrance ceremony.”
“Basic education?”
“Yes. Since I'm a commoner…… they said I need to learn things like etiquette and history beforehand, things noble students already know by default.”
Lawrence nodded.
“I see.”
He was a little disappointed, but he could understand.
The academy was the finest educational institution in the empire, so she would need to prepare if she wanted to survive there.
“Make sure you study hard.”
“Yes.”
“And don't ever push yourself too hard.”
“Yes, Dad.”
As I quietly listened to their conversation, I thought to myself.
'Good.'
The date of Isabel's departure had been confirmed.
Now I just had to make my move too.
'The Extreme King said I could at least take the entrance exam, right?‘
The entrance exam for Astell Imperial Academy?
Honestly, I wasn't too worried about the exam itself.
It was just a children's exam.
Compared to the survival tests I'd faced in the tower…… wouldn't it be little more than a picnic…?
In the tower, failing a test meant being marked dead on the spot!
Besides, I knew the original story.
The problem lay elsewhere.
'How well should I do to make it look natural?'
Should I rank near the top? Or come in first?
If I hid my strength too much, I might not even get admitted.
But what if I stood out too much?
That would be troublesome in its own way….
Hmm, what a dilemma.
……Wait.
First place?
If I entered as the top-ranked student, wouldn't I have to give something like the freshman representative speech?
A scene suddenly appeared in my mind.
Hundreds of new students and professors. And Isabel looking at me from the very front row?
'……Huh?
Rowoon is here?'
Sis frozen with that expression on her face.
And me standing proudly on the podium?
‘That concludes the speech by Lee Rowoon, representative of the freshman class.’
Wow.
That sounds freaking deliciously fun. I can't resist this!!!