Chapter 7: Disinfection
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 7: Disinfection
After breakfast and washing the dishes, I quickly hoisted the water bucket onto my back and left the cabin.
“I’m heading out, Teacher.”
“……Be careful.”
“Hey, I’ve got this, don’t I?”
I held up the necklace she had made for me and bolted outside. Even with a water bucket weighing several kilograms on my back, my steps felt as light as a feather.
It was all thanks to awakening my magic power. While I couldn't cast any decent spells with it, I had become proficient in various minor techniques.
Body enhancement was one of them.
‘If I went back to Earth, I could probably win an Olympic gold medal….’
With that thought, I ran to the river. It was a fair distance that would have taken dozens of minutes to walk, but running like this, it took less than five.
Arriving at the river without even being slightly out of breath, I immediately threw the bucket in. Then, I pulled on the rope tied to it to haul it back.
“Hnngh—! Ah, nothing.”
After pulling the bucket out, I realized there wasn't a single fish inside and tipped it over.
This was something I couldn't have done before, when just lifting the bucket was a struggle. But now that I had awakened my magic, it was different. The bucket, which weighed dozens of kilograms, felt as light as a dumbbell of only a few kilos.
I threw the bucket deep into the water again and finally managed to catch three fish. Heaving the bucket full of fish onto my back, I ran straight back toward the cabin.
‘Gather herbs on the way, pick some fruit… damn, I’ve got a lot to do.’
But a smile spread across my face. In truth, even with so much to do, it would all be finished by noon. Compared to the month I’d spent living like a slave in the village, this labor was a drop in the bucket.
I couldn't help but grin. As I was smiling to myself and gathering herbs, a scream echoed from the distance.
─Kyaaaaaaah-!
“……A scream?”
Normally, I wouldn't have even thought of getting closer.
But who was I? A munchkin who had awakened his magic! The star disciple of the great witch!
If someone was in danger, it’s only human nature to help!
With that in mind, I quickly ran in the direction of the scream. The water in the bucket on my back sloshed around wildly.
“It came from around here…”
Arriving at the location of the scream, I looked around, searching for someone. But this was the middle of the forest, without a single soul in sight.
Just as I was thinking I’d misheard and was about to turn back, another scream came from above my head.
─Kyaaaaaaah-!
I snapped my head up just in time to see a monkey-like monster leap down from a tree to attack me. Caught by surprise, I fell backward, and the water bucket on my back shattered with a loud crack.
“Ugh-!?”
─Kiyaaaaaaaak!
The monkey creature opened its mouth wide and let out a deafening roar. Only then did I realize that the scream I’d heard from the forest had come from this thing.
‘Fuck, what kind of animal screams like that?’
I blocked the creature’s arm as it swiped at me with its claws, then pushed off the ground and kicked it hard in the abdomen.
The monkey, struck by a magic-infused kick, flew several meters and crashed into a tree, but it got up as if nothing had happened and charged at me again.
─Kieeeeeeeek!
“Oh, for fuck’s sake!”
How could a mere monkey from the forest's edge be this strong? I was more than twice its size and weight, yet its physical strength seemed to be more than double mine.
It closed the distance with startling agility, instantly grabbing one of my legs to trip me before climbing on top of me again.
Showing some capacity for learning, it pinned my arms with its legs this time, preventing me from defending myself. As I stared helplessly at the claws flying toward my face, I anticipated the coming pain and squeezed my eyes shut.
“……?”
But no matter how much time passed, the pain never came. I cautiously opened my eyes. The creature that had been on top of me was gone, and in its place, a giant wolf was crunching on something.
[Be careful, human.]
“……Fenrir.”
[If you were to die, she would lose her mind, would she not?]
Evangeline’s familiar, Fenrir, said as he opened his massive jaws. Hard bones clattered out from between his teeth.
Finally understanding where the monkey monster that attacked me had gone, I quickly stood up and dusted myself off.
“Thank you for your help.”
[Think nothing of it. I am her familiar. Protecting you, her disciple, is also my duty.]
“……In that case, could you help me with one more thing?”
[What is it? Speak.]
“Do you happen to know how to use a hammer?”
I said, looking down at the completely shattered wooden bucket. It had been crushed under my body, smashed so thoroughly that it looked impossible to repair by simply fitting the pieces back together.
Hearing my words, Fenrir displayed a surprisingly rich expression for a wolf and lifted a forepaw.
[Look at my paw. Do you truly think such a thing is possible?]
“Ah, right… Teacher can’t fix this with her magic, can she?”
[As far as I know, probably not.]
“I’m fucked.”
My legs began to tremble as a grave expression crossed my face. The image of the village chief, who had beaten me every time I accidentally broke something or an item reached the end of its life, flashed through my mind.
Although I held the title of assistant, I was practically a slave. It was terrifying to even imagine what punishment she would inflict on me for breaking the water bucket.
Since she’s a witch, would she peel off my skin and boil me in a cauldron? Or maybe she’d place a curse on me. Either way, it was a thought I didn't want to entertain.
“Hey, can’t we just say you broke it, Fenrir?”
[And would that work? Besides, why are you so worried about breaking a single wooden bucket?]
“Well, because… I broke something, so of course I’ll be scolded, right?”
[It is merely an object, is it not?]
My conversation with Fenrir was going nowhere. I figured that, being an animal, he didn't quite grasp the concept of ownership.
After all, how could a beast that considers all of nature its own possibly understand the value of a single object? I sighed lightly and picked up the broken wooden planks.
“Agh, just my luck…”
Truly, I had the worst luck.
I started walking back to the cabin, trying my best to think of an excuse.
“……So?”
“I’m sorry….”
I placed the shattered planks on the floor and bowed my head before my teacher. She stared at me for a moment, then picked up a plank and asked.
“How did this happen?”
“Well, you see… I ran into a monster….”
“What!? A monster!?”
Startled by her shout, I snapped my head up. She began to feel me all over, asking if I was hurt anywhere.
After her soft hands had swept over my entire body, she spotted a small scratch and started to freak out.
“Wh-what’s this…! You’re scratched…!”
“Ah, yes… I am.”
“This won’t do. I’m going to go exterminate every last one of those monsters….”
“What? Teacher? Wait a minute. What did you just say—.”
“I’ll be right back. You can eat dinner by yourself.”
Smiling brightly, she turned toward the door. I threw my arms around her, holding her tight to stop her from leaving.
I wondered how I could possibly stop a great witch who could use magic, but thankfully, she remained perfectly still in my embrace.
Before she could slip from my grasp, I began to persuade her.
“Teacher! You can’t just talk about extermination over a little scratch! Do you want to destroy the ecosystem!?”
“Uh, uhm… well, that is….”
“Besides, this kind of thing heals if you just put some spit on it! It’s not even a serious injury!”
“I-It heals if you put spit on it…!?”
Surprised by my words, she stared at the back of my hand with a dumbfounded expression. It was a scratch from the monkey monster’s claw. It wasn't deep, so leaving it alone wouldn't have been a problem.
It didn't even need saliva. It was the kind of wound that would be gone by the time I woke up.
“Of course. In fact, it doesn’t even need that….”
“Y-You have to put it on! Yes! If spit makes it heal, is there any reason not to!?”
“……Teacher?”
She was acting strange. I cautiously loosened my grip on her, and she immediately grabbed my wrist and forced me into a chair.
She naturally pulled up a chair and sat down in front of me. Facing me, she took my hand.
“W-Well then, I’ll apply it?”
“Wait, why your spit….”
“I-It’s not like I wanted to do this, you know? But you said it needs to be applied to heal….”
I finally understood why she was acting this way. Unlike a witch who had lived for centuries, she was so pure that she had taken my words—that it would heal if you put saliva on it—literally.
She had no idea it was just an old wives’ tale that didn't even qualify as folk medicine. Feeling guilty for deceiving her, I was about to refuse, but I stopped when I heard a devil whisper in my mind.
[C’mooon—a beauty like her is offering to lick your hand. When will you ever get a chance like this again?]
‘…Point taken.’
After a consensus was reached in 0.1 seconds, I humbly accepted her offer to lick the back of my hand. As I waited, my heart pounding with anticipation at how soft her tongue would be, she stuck her tongue out.
“Bleeegh….”
Drip—drip—.
And, contrary to my expectations, her tongue never touched my hand. She was taking the phrase “put spit on it” literally, dripping her saliva onto the back of my hand.
A pool of saliva gathered on her long, snake-like tongue and trickled down onto my skin. Then she began to rub the saliva in with her finger.
As she rubbed, the smooth saliva on the back of my hand sent a slight sting and an inexplicable sense of depravity through my chest.
“H-How is it? Is it all better?”
“Y-Yeees. I think it’s all healed.”
“Really? That’s a relief, then….”
She gave a small smile and let go of my hand.
My hand now free, I unconsciously brought it to my nose and sniffed. Seeing this, Evangeline immediately grabbed my hand and shouted.
“A-Are you crazy!”
“Wh-What is it!?”
“Why are you smelling it!”
“I-I just did it without thinking….”
I chuckled, recalling the scent of her saliva from a moment ago.
It smelled of fresh mint.
But before I could savor the fragrance again, she quickly brought over some water and began to scrub the back of my hand.
“Wash it! Wash it now!”
“Ack-! Teacher! That’s where I was hurt!”
“Shut up! You said it was all better, didn’t you!?”
Before I knew it, she was completely distracted.
And the fact that I had shattered the water bucket was naturally forgotten.