Genius Mage Chloe! (1)
"Ughhh..."
So bright. Sunlight's pouring in through the shattered ceiling, dazzling my eyes. I got completely drenched in the rain yesterday, but why do I feel so refreshed? Did I sleep that soundly? Must be 'cause I'm a kid now—my recovery power is insane.
But outside, it's super rowdy. I tiptoe out to the yard all careful-like.
The orphanage kids swarm me, hugging and cheering like crazy.
"Waaah! Granny's gone!"
"The worker uncles who always beat us are missing too! They ran away, I bet!"
"Yayyy!"
The director granny doing a midnight runner feels kinda sudden, but whatever. Let's think this through. I'm clearly an adult man—or was, anyway. Time to use my sharp adult common sense and logic for some smart deduction.
Hmm... Ah! That angel chick yesterday smashed the roof, did all that action-movie stuff, total chaos. They must've gotten scared and bolted.
Cowardly jerks! Working at an orphanage and ditching us kids like that. Bad guys are always chickens.
"Heehee."
Eh, good riddance is good riddance.
Right then, a blue window glitches and sparks in front of me.
The chat folks are yapping at each other again. Dog chewed stuff? What? Ughhh... Thinking about it makes my head throb again. Brain's fuzzy, so skip the complicated stuff.
But that glowing-text guy's word just now stuck: 'Money!'
Oh yeah! My silver coins and gold watch! I pedal my stubby legs as fast as they go—udada!
Target: Director granny's room. Might get caught and whacked, but empty-house looting chance!
Slip into the empty room, yank open the drawer. Tucked in the corner: a shabby leather pouch, all prim.
Could it be? Open it up—bingo.
Clink!
"Whoa! Found it!"
I shake the pouch empty. Sadly, just a few silver coins. Did that mean granny spend 'em all? Come to think of it, food portions suddenly got huge lately.
Guess she used it for 'orphanage operating costs'...
Clinking silvers and shiny gold watch. With my adult economic smarts... Uh... Hmm... No clue. I don't know this novel world's economy anyway.
Whatever, it's gotta be a ton of money. Market time: sweet fruits, candy, yummy stuff—pile it high and feast!
Slurp. Mouth's watering already.
I stuff the pouch securely in my bosom. Humming a little tune comes naturally.
But stepping out, my feet stick to something.
"Eww."
Corridor floor and walls covered in dark red stains. Fishy stench everywhere. Must be the fleeing workers knocking stuff over or spilling.
Spill it, clean it up! Running off and leaving a mess—so immature.
"Tsk tsk..."
"Buuuurp—"
Huh? End of the hall, a massive burp like a wild boar. Whip around—our cute Kkamang's sprawled there. Belly ballooned like a blimp. Tiny mouth rimmed with sticky crumbs from whatever he scavenged.
Gasp. He raided granny's secret kitchen pantry or something.
"Kek, kek!"
Kkamang coughs like something's stuck, then spits something out.
Roll roll.
I trot over quick to check.
"Huh?"
A shiny red gem ring rolls on the floor. Then it hits me—this was on director granny's finger.
"Whoa! Kkamang, you steal too? You're so smart!"
Our Kkamang's got sneaky talent, huh.
"I'll hold onto this for you, owner-style."
I wipe the drool off the ring and pocket it quick.
Orphanage is trashed—might have to hit the streets! Granny and all adults bolted. Left with Elia, me, other kids. Someone's gotta step up and care for 'em.
So valuables like this? Better in my hands.
Yeah! I'll take responsibility! Hang in there, and since it's a romance-fantasy world, some lucky break or encounter's bound to come.
"Huh?"
While I'm pondering all serious-like, Kkamang's still hungry, tugging something with his jaws. Under collapsed stone rubble: a long leg in a black boot sticking out.
Wait a sec. That outfit—same as the evil villains who busted in yesterday.
I rush over.
"Nooo! Kkamang!"
"Kkiing?"
No food so he mistakes a human body for chow! I grab him with both hands, pat his butt.
"Don't scavenge gross stuff! Spit! Spit it out now! Open wide!"
"Kkiiing...!"
Kkamang droops his tail all wronged. After a few butt smacks, he lets go.
Hands on hips.
Can't let this slide! I glare strict at Kkamang, eyes fierce.
Yeah, I've been too lax since turning kid. I'm an adult with work experience! Gotta train my pet dog's eating habits proper.
No such thing as a bad dog—just bad training. Time to fix that.
"Chloe? Whatcha doing?"
Perfect timing—Elia's pretty footsteps from behind.
"Elia! He keeps scavenging weird stuff!"
Elia listens, rolls up her ragged sleeves all determined.
"Kkamang, no! Sit! Stay!"
She spreads her tiny fingers firm and shouts.
Super bloated Kkamang flattens to the ground.
"Nng ng..."
Sneaks peeks at us. See? Owner takes charge, he listens.
Time for proper puppy manners training.
I'll raise a smart doggo!
Clop clop! Hooves brutally churn the slum mud.
Heresy inquisitors in holy robes clear the path; crimson-robed archbishop steps from the carriage. Local high mages, officials, knights enter the gruesome yard with stiff faces.
"Here it is, Your Eminence."
One trembling inquisitor points to the yard center.
Archbishop's gaze slides to the bloody horror.
First: huddled kids. Beyond, in the corner—black-robed men crumpled like beast carcasses. Foul dark magic swirls around the corpses: black mages for sure.
"Local slumfolk say a huge boom and flashing lights last night."
"Night raid, then."
Priests click tongues grimly. No adult shadows amid the bloodstains—caretakers dead or vanished without trace.
"We'll take these poor lambs to the cathedral."
"May the Radiant Mercy be with them."
Orphans' fate sealed in brief exchange.
Meanwhile, an inquisitor scanning the ground freezes.
"What in the...?"
His gaze: grotesquely scattered gray ashes, fused stuck. Last night's hellhound shreds from Chloe's invisible yarn at particle level—but human minds can't grasp that terror. Lucky or not.
Black magic traces?
Inquisitor shakes head uneasy—then, opposite side: rough gasp.
"Oh... Radiance of Heaven!"
"That aura!"
Amid slaughter remnants: intensely cozy, overwhelming holy light afterglow.
Thud.
Archbishop's knees hit the dirt.
"Radiance..."
His dim eyes fix on brown-haired girl Elia, sole bearer of dazzling light under morning sun.
"At last... at last, we've found the next Saintess!"
His cry sparks inquisitors and priests to pray in unison.
Sudden adult frenzy—Elia backs away.
"U-um, hey? Why's everyone...?"
"Fear not, noble lamb. The Holy Church comes to serve you."
All eyes and joy cascade on Elia alone—except the high mage from the prelacy, breath held, staring elsewhere.
What is that power?
His gaze: behind the saintess. Silver-haired girl blankly picking nose, petting black beast's belly. Mage's breath nearly stops.
Wh-what?
The girl was beautiful. Long, moonspun silver curls, mystical. But the real deal: bizarre void encircling her shakes the retina. Dense otherness vortex atop her head, contra mana flow.
"Wait. Hold."
Mage grates forward.
"That child too... she's no ordinary."
"What? No holy pulse from her at all."
"Not holy light. Abyss? Or some power beyond my ken... something overwhelming lurks."
Mage draws fist-sized clear crystal orb, hands shaking.
"Mana gauge? Why bring that?"
"In case we miss slum talent. Let's check."
Mage approaches Chloe, kneels carefully.
"Little one. Grip this stone?"
Chloe wipes nose-picking finger on her hem, eyes sparkle.
"Yup!"
Chubby fingers touch surface.
Then—ineffable, grotesque power floods the orb mercilessly.
Fwosh!
Abnormal blue explodes, searing retinas. Torrent of otherworldly force—orb cracks from core.
"No way!"
Crack!
Orb shatters midair.
"Gasp!"
Chloe jumps, hides hands behind back.
"I-I didn't break it! It blew up itself!"
But mage's eyes roll white, reason snapped.
"I-Immeasurable...! Mana stone collapsed under power density!"
"What?!"
Priest's question—mage spasms in shock.
"Infinite! That kid harbors immeasurable infinite mana!"
Other mages and knights gape.
"For real? That much mana? You sure?"
"Mana stones don't shatter like that! Only one case fits!"
"Heavens...!"
Unprecedented: Saintess descent and infinite-mana genius in one spot.
Fanatic joy—adults' gazes devour the girls like starving beasts.
"To the capital now! Escort both safely to Central Cathedral!"
"Report to Prelacy Duke at once!"
"Inform His Majesty too!"
Clueless, Chloe, Elia, and Kkamang get shoved into a huge carriage like luggage amid dozens of guards.
Thud.
Carriage lurches off.
"Elia! Look! Seat's all squishy like bread!"
Amid heavy escort kicking up dust, Chloe just bounces happily, savoring the cushion.