Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: As Expected, a Special Child
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The next morning, Grandma sent a messenger at five a.m.
I staggered into fresh pajamas and headed to the Duchess's chambers where she was staying.
And there, Leonhardt and I, both bewildered, found ourselves facing a new chapter in life.
He must have been startled to be suddenly summoned for training, but Leonhardt was my brilliant recruit and friend.
It meant keeping him by my side and improving together.
I giggled, hiding my ulterior motives.
Leonhardt tilted his head but seemed content not to question it.
The Duchess gazed sternly at the two of us standing side by side.
"I do not teach children who fall short of the standard."
Grandma's merciless test had begun.
Before imparting any lessons, she decided to briefly assess what abilities Leonhardt and I possessed.
Unlike the academy director's test, there was no need to downplay my skills in front of Grandma.
As a reincarnator, her test was a breeze for me.
Common sense test: perfect score.
Judgment test: perfect score.
And... finally, the most crucial mana test.
"Close your eyes and sense the mana within your body. Then I'll check the amount accumulated inside you."
Leonhardt and I nodded in unison.
Grandma approached Leonhardt first. I cracked my eyes open to observe them.
"You're different from your parents—from the vessel itself."
'My parents? Vessel? Is she talking about the parents who adopted Leonhardt?'
In fact, the novel never delved into Leonhardt's parents.
I wondered what she meant, but oddly, Leonhardt didn't respond.
"As I noticed before, with proper training, you'll make fine material."
I beamed proudly at Grandma's words.
My chest swelled at the fact that I'd recruited such a talented individual.
'Leonhardt really is capable!'
That was when Grandma eyed him with displeasure.
"But aren't you staying at Axel's estate?"
"......Ah."
"You could learn from that boy, so why maintain such a close relationship with Sien?"
As she said, Leonhardt was staying at Axel's estate because of his adoptive parents.
But depending on the situation, he was also a child who could easily switch to our side. In the world of villains, backstabbing was commonplace...
'Under one sky, there can't be two villains. I remember him eventually clashing with Axel.'
From Grandma's perspective, wary of Axel, teaching Leonhardt might feel off-putting, but she'd come to see Axel was a good kid once she got to know him. It would be fine.
How Leonhardt handled this situation now was another matter. If he showed any defiance...!
"Axel or whoever, I'll get along with Nighty."
"......Eek."
It was excessively defiant.
I blinked, watching them like a shrimp caught between whales. Grandma stared expressionlessly at Leonhardt for a long while, then quirked her lips upward.
"Well, if that's the case."
Strangely, Leonhardt's response seemed to hit the mark with Grandma.
As I observed them slyly with half-lidded eyes, pleased that the tension had eased.
"Let's see."
Duchess Lukela reached out to tilt the boy's chin up.
"Head up—"
Right then, Leonhardt roughly swatted her hand away.
I looked at him puzzled. The atmosphere sharpened like walking a knife's edge.
"Don't touch me."
"......"
"Mask."
Why was that?
It was rude to say to a superior.
Why did it look like a kitten hissing after someone invaded its territory?
He seemed lonely, as if erecting an unwanted shield.
I gently tugged at Leonhardt's sleeve beside me.
He bit his lip hard and said nothing.
Grandma glanced at him, then looked at me without pressing further.
"Now, honey, it's your turn."
'Honey jar, honey bun, bun, honey...? I've wondered since last time—is that me?'
I have a proper name, Sien!
But I couldn't argue with Grandma.
I replied briskly.
"Yes! I'll close my eyes tight!"
I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for Grandma.
But after seconds, minutes passed, and she said nothing.
'What?'
Wondering if something was wrong, I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"I can't fathom it."
"......Yes?"
"No mana."
No mana at all?
"I expected it to be faint, but to think it's completely empty."
I sighed in disappointment.
I'd suspected as much since I was sickly as a child, but zero?
'No way, was my body that weak? Can't even produce mana?'
"But......"
A voice full of curiosity reached my deeply dejected ears.
"Something feels like it's clashing inside you. Could this be possible?"
"Um......"
Thump thump. Whenever Grandma touched me, something inside rattled faintly, though weakly.
I said cautiously.
"I feel like balls are bouncing inside me."
"Strange."
I flinched at Grandma's words.
'Is it related to my "reincarnator penalty" by any chance?'
But I shook my head inwardly.
The "reincarnator penalty" the god mentioned had nothing to do with mana. It only restricted me when I tried to actively use this world's knowledge.
"This is a first for me too."
Leonhardt added quietly from beside me.
"Take off the fairy necklace, genius. It might be that."
But Grandma cut him off decisively.
"No. It's not the fairy necklace."
"Ah......"
I started to say something but stopped.
'My body's weird for some unknown reason. Plus, zero mana capacity.'
Nothing but mountains beyond mountains. With exactly one month until that guy who'll kill me and Dad arrives!
Even snatching the protagonists' artifacts might not help.
Intermediate or higher artifacts might require mana.
I gazed at the Duchess and nodded in agreement, though my heart was too heavy to tell if I nodded properly.
Her expression darkened along with my suddenly gloomy face.
"Disappointed?"
"No......"
Oh no, anyone could tell I was disappointed.
Grandma pondered briefly as she looked at me.
"Hm......"
"There must be another way to become as strong as you, right Grandma?"
"Yes, well. Being unable to handle mana means, ahem, you're special in that regard. Don't despair. I too was once like you..."
I wondered what would come after "I too was once like you."
I gazed at Grandma, waiting for her next words. But instead of the answer, Leonhardt beside me continued.
"A special child... as expected......"
I ignored Leonhardt's distant gaze and looked back at Grandma with sparkling eyes.
But she had no intention of finishing her earlier thought.
"Anyway, Sien. I'll have to teach you differently."
"......With a special method?"
Grandma nodded at Leonhardt's question.
"I'll think of a way to properly shape you after some time. You're smart enough to make a fine administrator."
I shook my head inwardly.
An administrator was too weak.
Sitting and scheming might get me slain by Axel in one stroke.
'I can't be just an administrator, and I don't have time to wait for power!'
I clenched my fist and stared at Grandma.
She flinched slightly.
"Why are your eyes so wide, baby?"
I unclenched my fist and gripped Grandma's hem tightly.
'If I can't get strong, I'll surround myself with the strong.'
In this world, "special people" weren't just mages. And I roughly knew this world's powerhouses.
"Grandma!"
"......What?"
"There's somewhere you can take me!"
I gripped Grandma's hem with renewed force.
'If I have no mana, I can just use my reincarnator knowledge!'
My request was to go to the Sinoa Temple, an affiliate of the Papal Court. Praying to the god for abilities served as the pretext.
At my out-of-the-blue request, Grandma rubbed her dry eyes a few times, then nodded. I overheard her muttering through gritted teeth about how pitiful it was that going to a temple was my wish.
"Grandma?"
"......I sent a gift for you before. Did you receive it?"
"Gift?"
I tilted my head, and she murmured.
"Not yet, huh. Nothing much, but it'll be useful."
Whether "nothing much" from a villainous grandma was "nothing much" for me, I didn't know. But importantly, she granted my request immediately.
'She seems to pity me, but it's fine. Getting into the temple is what matters.'
Thanks to Grandma's influence, I entered the temple right away. Even if she was shunned in the ducal house now, her past prestige still carried weight.
'I'll become a granddaughter who surpasses Grandma. Blue takes after green!'
Whether "blue takes after green" fit here didn't matter. I took a deep breath, facing the Papal Court's affiliate temple.
"Hoo, ha. Hoo, ha!"
Some idiots stared oddly at my vigorous breathing, but that was irrelevant. I had a mission to shake off the tension gripping my heart, eyes sparkling.
'Calm down, Sien. Don't get too nervous.'
I clenched my soft hands until they stiffened, blinked, and marched energetically into the temple.
I swung my tiny arms briskly, striding like a little soldier.
Yes, I was definitely matching the maids' steps diligently, one foot at a time.
Something felt off. Pitter-patter, I walked hard, but the temple door didn't appear after ages.
"Whew."
"Shall I carry you, little miss?"
"Yeah!"
Slung onto a maid's back like luggage, I thought: Good call bringing our muscle maids for safety!
This was a small suburban temple, but a temple was a temple, not friendly with villain families.
Someone who hated me might be here.
Grandma provided minimal protection for my solo trip, and Leonhardt held my hand tightly for a solid three seconds.
With just over a month until Axel Mirmod returned.
My options were limited.
Gather allies, disrupt Axel Mirmod's "war" to delay his return as much as possible, and build power to rival him in the meantime!
'Let's go in!'
No time to waste.
I wiggled my short, chubby legs furiously, snug in the maids' arms as we entered the temple.
Once inside, I scanned the interior and reviewed [Melodia's Life] once more.
The Saintess of God, Melodia.
She colored unbelievers with love, comforted wrongdoers with kindness.
Her divine power was immense, but backed by god-given holy relics and dignified holy knights, she opposed villains including the Mirmod family.
This temple, the Sinoa Temple blooming with irises, was where she first gained fame as a saintess.
My situation was urgent, but I couldn't steal all her relics and holy knights.
I only coveted one thing.
'Take the strongest holy knight Melodia has.'