Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Words: Shackles or Salvation (9)
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Words can be shackles or salvation.
"......"
Rin Pacific.
If I wasn't hearing things, she was definitely the student from Hero Academy who was reported to have been possessed by a demon.
She was expelled from the academy and banished from the Pacific Kingdom, or so they said.
So why... was she suddenly here in the Aud Swamp?
Did she just wander in aimlessly by chance?
That expression, as if she'd given up on everything.
The gear that was worn out and tattered for days.
The demon possession rumor, and the media frenzy.
I could roughly guess what had happened up until now.
She'd probably been walking without any purpose, planning to die when the time came.
Hm, but even so, it would've taken days to get here from the capital.
As if she had some faint purpose drawing her this way...
"She looks like the son of a high noble. Should we take her back to base camp for now?"
Hans the captain's words snapped me out of my thoughts.
Ah, right.
For now, she looks exhausted, and she must be shocked, so let's take her back and let her rest.
That's the priority.
"R... Young Lady, can you move?"
I almost slipped and said her name.
Come to think of it, it'd be weird if I knew her name.
Anyway, she just stared at the hand I extended, without taking it.
Ah, was offering my hand out of nowhere rude, even so?
I hugged her earlier to save her, but... she's used to living as a princess, so maybe she thinks it's disrespectful.
Like, how dare you touch my body?! and slap my cheek...
As I thought that and tried to pull my hand back.
Grab─
She took my hand and pulled herself up.
Good, no sign of disgust.
No need to worry about getting slapped.
But her eyes, even after standing, were still blankly lifeless, and in her other hand, she clutched the hilt of her broken sword tightly.
That sword must be incredibly precious to her.
Hm, but a sword.
⚔ APTITUDE STATS ⚔ [Physical Skills Integration (3 Types) - B] [Body Tempering - B] [Blunt Technique - C] [Flexible Body - B] No aptitude for swordsmanship at all.
Body Tempering is basic for heroes or champions with Physical Skills Integration anyway.
Flexible Body means she was born with a supple physique, advantageous for evasion and quick movements.
What... calling it a martial skill, it's just Blunt Technique.
Meaning she'd be better off swinging that hilt like a hammer than using a sword.
Her magic aptitudes are much stronger, actually.
She has nearly all combat magic aptitudes, but the standouts are Water Magic S and Wind Magic A.
And most importantly, aptitude for 'Attribute Fusion'.
Attribute Fusion means literally combining magic attributes.
For example, fusing earth and fire for lava-type magic.
Or fusing earth, fire, and gravity magic to create a meteor—that's the most famous.
And the fusion she'd excel at most is water and wind.
In other words, she's specialized in large-scale fusion magic like ice magic, tornadoes, or cyclones.
No need for her to fight with a sword.
Maybe she thought swords looked cool, or there's some special story behind it?
For now, let's take her to base camp.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "......"
Rin blankly stared down at the bundle of clothes in her hand.
After being saved from the troll by someone, she was led by them to this place... called base camp.
And the man who brought her here... Kane, was it?
He said she looked malnourished, gave her food, and since her clothes were all torn, handed her these to change into.
'This is weird... I definitely wanted to die.'
She had wanted to die.
She was convinced she was useless now.
That she had no value, no reason to exist.
That's what she thought.
So why, how come.
'Why does this... feel so reassuring?'
She was saved.
She ate delicious food.
She received clean clothes.
Nothing special—before, she lived far more luxuriously.
Was it because she'd lost everything?
Or because for days, she'd wandered with an empty heart, not eating properly or caring for her body?
She didn't die.
Things didn't go as she wanted.
But it didn't feel bad at all.
It felt reassuring, like a relief—nothing else.
'I can't even die on my terms? Like this...'
If she let herself feel this relief, she could never go back.
Not to that moment when she'd resolved to die.
"Why... why did you save me..."
Tears she thought had dried up poured endlessly.
They soaked the new clothes, wetting them.
But she didn't care and cried.
As if vomiting out all the emotions she'd held back behind those hollow eyes.
Swish─
A bit damp from tears, but now fully changed, she cautiously stepped out of the tent.
Then she saw the outside.
There, people who weren't soldiers mixed among those who looked like soldiers, talking.
Occasionally, knight-like figures walked by.
Earlier, her mind was too foggy to notice, but this base camp seemed like an official investigation team from some territory.
And among them, she spotted the man who saved her.
A plainly dressed but neatly groomed man.
The old her—as princess and hero candidate—wouldn't have spared him a glance.
But recalling the earlier situation, her face flushed red.
'Even if it was urgent, to be held in a stranger's arms...!'
And she'd even gripped his offered hand tightly.
'Have I gone mad? Why did I do that?'
Before, she would've brushed it off and stood on her own.
Was it her desire to lean on someone manifesting?
She hurriedly shook her head.
'No, what am I thinking! I'm the princess of Pacific and a hero candidate! Leaning on someone...'
Then it hit her.
'...No, I'm nothing now, am I...?'
No longer princess of Pacific Kingdom, no longer hero candidate at Hero Academy.
Just Rin.
Just a girl named Rin with nothing.
"......"
She blankly gazed down at the Ice Break hilt still clutched in her hand.
'Yeah, I'm useless now... just like this hilt.'
It was a bit funny.
The sword given by her father—the king—who always called her useless, even disowned her as not his daughter, let alone princess.
The blade was shattered, yet why cling to it like a lifeline?
As she nearly tossed it carelessly to the ground.
"Oh, you're awake."
"...!"
The man who saved her, Kane, approached.
"Ah, yes."
Recalling being held in his arms and gripping his hand, her face heated up again.
She unwittingly averted her gaze and stepped back.
Then, Kane pointed at the hilt in her hand.
"Oh, that sword hilt..."
"Ah..."
A shabby hilt, blade gone and luster faded.
Of course he'd mock her for holding such a thing.
She thought.
But Kane's words were different from what she expected.
"Those gems embedded in it... they're pretty high quality."
"...Huh?"
Gems?
Oh right, they'd looked cloudy for a while, but this hilt had some expensive gems inlaid.
'Should I sell it instead of throwing it away and turn it into money?'
The thought crossed her mind.
But then disgust welled up at herself for thinking of scraping together money to survive again.
"Ruby, emerald, sapphire... Gems like these have good mana responsiveness. They slowly absorb the user's mana and transform into mana stones of matching attributes. Judging by the cloudiness, they're almost complete."
"...Yes?"
Then came utterly unexpected words.
She'd thought the gems looked cloudy because of her emotional state.
But they were turning into mana stones...?
As she stared in confusion, Kane smiled and continued.
"Looks like the emerald for wind attribute and sapphire for water have the highest purity. You must use those two magics the most. You've carried it close for quite a while, huh? For it to progress this far naturally, without artificial processes."
How does he know just by looking?
Is he some mana stone craftsman?
She was bewildered.
'I've heard of making mana stones from valuable gems... but just exposing them to mana does that?'
How does this man know that?
And how does he know about the intermediate clouding, or the purity by attribute?
"It looks like a sword hilt, but how about removing the gems and refashioning it into a mace or staff? It'd amplify your magic when you cast."
Why suggest mace or staff so naturally, as if he knows she can't handle swords well?
If talking to a swordsman, he'd suggest a new sword.
This man Kane said too many incomprehensible things.
One thing was clear.
"Even so, for the gems to change this much just from carrying and using it... that's tremendous talent. You'd succeed big as a mage."
He'd instantly grasped her traits.
And was advising her accordingly.
...Yes, like a 'teacher'.
"......"
She knew she was clumsy with swords.
She'd only used one to meet expectations, because her king and father bestowed it.
She knew her talents leaned toward magic.
But at the academy, and during sword or magic lessons in Pacific Kingdom.
No one explained her traits in such detail, tailored to her.
The teachers were always superior.
What they taught was right, and students had to learn it—that was the premise.
Yet this man Kane, after just seeing her today.
Had quickly assessed her traits.
And shown her a path fitting her abilities.
'If, if just one such person had been at the academy, or in Pacific Kingdom.'
If there had been an educator like this.
'I wouldn't have become this useless.'
At that thought, Jenny Harkur's words surfaced.
'If you go to Hassler, someone will guide you right.'
She looked at Kane, earnestly talking to her.
He looked happy.
Truly enjoying teaching and guiding someone.
'Maybe that person is...'
The one to guide her right?
She thought so.