Volume 5 Chapter 10 Reminiscence 🔟
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It has been ten years since I started living with my master. If I only count my age, I have turned 35.
…Though I look about 13.
Once, Mama Vintenica cast a magic that divided my life and drained future life from me.
The curse of the demon that violated her body must have been something extraordinary, looking back now.
Even though ten years have passed since then, my body has only grown about three years’ worth. I can’t even imagine how much life force was taken from me.
I haven’t used that life-dividing magic even once since then.
One reason, of course, is my master.
”That magic shouldn’t be used lightly,” she would repeatedly admonish me.
However, since it doesn’t allow me to recover myself, there is currently no one to use it on.
For example, my master — that person — is so strong I can’t even imagine her getting injured.
And in this forest, far from human settlements, it’s rare to see anyone other than myself.
—In the end, I couldn’t use it on those I thought would be the only targets.
The various animals, large and small, lazily grazing or sleeping before me — all creatures I had found and brought back to the forest over these ten years.
* * *
Back when I had just been taken in by my master:
While gathering medicinal herbs in the forest, I suddenly spotted a fawn crouching at the base of a tree.
The fawn tried to run when it saw me, but it couldn’t even stand. Its belly was stained dark red, wetting the ground.
It had probably been attacked by another animal or monster and barely escaped here.
Looking into the fawn’s small black eyes that gazed at me sadly, an indescribable sorrow welled up inside me.
I couldn’t help but think…
”…I wonder if I can heal it.”
I sat beside the deer, cut my finger slightly with a knife, and let my blood drip.
”Here. Take my life,” I said, looking intently into the fawn’s eyes as I placed my hand on its belly.
But the magic did not activate.
The fawn looked at me with eyes that seemed to blame me, weakened, and eventually breathed its last.
Feeling overwhelming emptiness in my heart, I fled from the spot.
That evening:
”Hmm… Perhaps it didn’t activate because the conditions weren’t met,” my master said suspiciously as she noticed my gloomy face and asked me to recount the day’s events.
”Conditions, you say?” I replied.
”Yes. That life-dividing magic, while exerting extraordinary power unlike normal magic, likely has many constraints for activation. I imagine you performed specific rituals every night before using it, didn’t you?”
”Now that you mention it…” I trailed off.
Indeed, Mama and I had performed the same actions every night when using that magic.
First, both Mama and I would strip naked.
Then, I would injure my palm with magic.
After that… Ah, the words.
Every time, Mama would say to me,
”Please, share your life with me?”
And when asked, I responded,
”Yes. Please take my life.”
Although slightly different in wording, we were essentially weaving the same words together.
”That’s it. To become naked. To use blood as a medium. And to pledge to each other. Without these three, the life-sharing probably won’t activate. That Vintenica had to impose such restrictions on it… no, it might even be fair to call this a curse. In any case, it’s magic that can’t be activated without going through all that. No wonder it couldn’t be used on someone with whom communication of intent was impossible. “By the way, Soyuz…”
My master’s eyes narrowed slightly — a habit of hers when displeased. In other words—
”I told you, didn’t I? ‘You must not use that magic lightly.’”
”Eek,” I muttered.
After this, I would be lectured until morning, exhausting my mind to the point I couldn’t use magic for a while.
Might have been easier if she had just hit me.
* * *
Realizing that I couldn’t use life-sharing on animals, I began researching medicines that would work on them, as if to pay the price.
I started bringing back those I found weakened in the forest.
Often, I wondered why I was doing this, but since I felt compelled, there was no helping it.
”Aren’t you growing not just physically but mentally? How many animals have you picked up just because ‘it’s sad’? Do you plan to keep playing the good person for the rest of your life?”
My master would scold me with a weary gaze, looking at the growing number of animals, but she never told me to stop.
She simply warned,
”Make sure to take responsibility for the animals you bring back and care for them until the end.”
Yet, she never approached the animals herself.
And when I cried for those that couldn’t be saved or had lived out their natural lives, she sent me a look that seemed to say, “I told you so.”
Looking back now, she might have done something similar long ago.
* * *
In this way, I had been living with my master in this forest, going through various things.
Recently, an unprecedented sense of crisis began to stir within me.
…My master is just too captivating.
From the moment we met, I thought she was a beautiful person. I’d heard elves were a beautiful race, but I had never seen anyone as stunning as her.
And she is strong.
As a swordswoman and magic user, she far surpasses ordinary people like me. On top of that, she wields that mysterious spirit magic—making her impossible to handle.
The only thing I can compete in is physical techniques, but even then, matching her—who is physically weaker than humans—shows just how limited I am.
If I truly wanted to win against her, I’d have to resort to underhanded tactics that would make even me recoil in disgust. Of course, I have no hope of winning at this point.
And yet, she’s surprisingly kind.
During practice, she’s the kind of old hag who makes me want to seriously kill her, but no matter how much she tortures me, she never lets me get injured in a way that lingers.
I’ve recently realized she always fights me at a level I can just barely manage.
It’s frustrating, but when she took me in, she said,
”I’ll make you an adventurer who won’t be embarrassed no matter where you go.”
I can see she’s putting those words into practice.
When she takes me on adventures, she’s so cautious it borders on overprotective. Just like with animals, as long as what I want to do isn’t wrong, she lets me do as I please.
I’ve never once felt inconvenience in life’s necessities.
Unlike Mama Vintenica, my master loves me very much.
My heart has grown to that extent.
It’s only natural I would be drawn to such a master, especially since I’ve only just hit puberty at 35.
No matter how twisted her personality is, no matter how unreasonable and short-tempered she may be, I can’t deny that she’s an attractive woman.
…Especially in that… feminine sense.
Unfortunately,
Recently, my master has noticed the sexual glances I keep giving her—and no, she’s deliberately provoking me.
When we bathe at the river, she strikes poses almost provocative. Inside the hut, she wanders around in underwear she claims is “too hot”—and it’s something like a string that barely covers anything.
She clearly enjoys my reactions, but for me, being the one shown, it’s unbearable.
Like a dog endlessly told to “wait” in front of its food, I spend my days in frustration.
”…sigh,” I muttered, letting out a big sigh as I shifted my gaze to the animals before me.
In the back, where some grazed or lay down, two rabbits were intertwined.
A smaller rabbit—presumed female—was being mounted by a male, moving its hips rhythmically.
…Mating, huh.
I know humans also mate to produce offspring. I also know it brings incredible pleasure.
Back when I was in the slave quarters, many female slaves were trained for that purpose. I was a child, so I never saw the specifics, but just imagining how lewd it must have been made my groin heat up.
…If only I could do something like that with my master.
Just from thinking about the rabbits mating, I was on the verge of getting hard when suddenly──
”Excuse me. I heard there’s a lost elf named Lucia here.”
A voice came from right next to my ear.
”!?”
I jumped forward in panic, instinctively grabbing the hilt of my sword. The animals scattered, startled by my sudden movement.
When I looked back, an elf man I’d never seen before stood there.
Naturally, he had a sword at his waist, and I sensed spirits around him—similar to those my master uses.
I had easily let him take my back.
…This elf could have easily killed me if he wanted to.
The cold truth pressed against my spine without a word, making my back chill involuntarily.
”Did you not hear me, human boy? I am looking for Lucia.”
The elf man’s gaze fixed on me.
In an instant, my body trembled as if gripped by fever, and unpleasant sweat burst from every pore.
This guy was an incredible monster. The killing intent he briefly revealed was far stronger than my master, who had never shown her true power.
”Hmm, it seems you’ve learned to gauge strength differences between opponents. Soyuz, you must not forget there are many stronger than you and me in this world.”
A light tap fell on my shoulder from behind.
Of course, I didn’t have to turn around—it was my master.
Yet I hadn’t even noticed her presence until then.
”It’s been a while, Volodya. Please don’t bully my disciple too much. He’s still in training.”
My master exchanged light banter with the elf man, but even so, she radiated a killing intent unlike anything before.
”Lucia… I had some acquaintance with you, but according to the village’s rules, I must carry out a purge.”
”Oh… that whiny brat has started talking big. Has he become somewhat useful? Let me see for myself.”
The two elves spoke as if chatting, yet sharp killing intents crackled between them—ready to snap at a touch.
”M-Master. I’ll assist you.”
I stood beside her, bracing myself against the overwhelming killing intent.
However, my master glanced at me and said simply,
”No need. You’re a hindrance.”
Her eyes held no mockery or disdain.
That meant the opponent was that skilled.
The unspoken message was clear: I don’t have the luxury to protect you while fighting.
”…Understood. Master… good luck.”
She gave a small nod in response.
”Shall we change locations, Volodya? You wouldn’t want to unnecessarily kill my disciple (ningen), would you?”
She directed her words to the opponent.
”Very well.”
The moment I nodded, the two figures vanished.
Struggling to follow their afterimages with my eyes, I saw them disappearing deeper into the forest, exchanging a flurry of sword strikes.
Notes:
• Vintenica – She is a tall, slender magic user, appeared as the new mistress buying six boys, wearing a deep purple robe with her right half face hidden by a white mask, half beautiful young woman and half eerie with blood-red lips, mysterious and slightly frightening.
• Volodya – A mysterious and powerful elf, never seen by Soyuz before, who seeks to purge Lucia. He exudes killing intent and is strong enough to intimidate Soyuz.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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