Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Elf Teaches the Heavenly Slaughter Star
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A week had already passed since Enoch came to Lione's house.
Enoch quickly adapted to the changed environment.
These days, he even trailed after Lione everywhere she went, and the elf was overjoyed at the sight.
"Undine! Look at this! Isn't he just too cute?"
[Hmph! What's cute about that ill-tempered little brat.]
Zap—!
Sparks flew from Enoch's eyes as they met Undine's.
Grrrr—, just as Enoch bared his teeth,
"Hey now."
Lione tapped Enoch's head lightly.
Enoch meekly accepted the touch, as if he had no idea what was going on.
[Th-that...! Already picking up nothing but bad habits!]
Ignoring the grumbling Undine, Lione straightened her back.
Now that Enoch had adjusted to the environment to some extent, it was time to start his education.
"Alright, Enoch. From today, we're starting your studies."
"Studies?"
"Yes, studies. They're essential if you want to blend into the world properly."
Lione stroked the head of the child staring up at her blankly.
"You get those sudden bursts of anger sometimes, right?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Like when electricity starts crackling from your body."
"Uh-huh."
"If you can't control that properly, it'll be a huge problem."
Waaah—! Lione spread her arms wide to startle the child.
But Enoch just gazed at her calmly.
[Idiot.]
"Ahem. Anyway, just know that we need to start your studies now."
"Okay!"
Enoch had no particular thoughts on the matter.
Lione is a good person.
Everything she did was good.
Lione smiled warmly at Enoch.
'First... I should start by helping him form his dantian, right?'
There was only one way to overcome the mandate of the Heavenly Slaughter Star.
To conquer it himself.
And to make that possible, Enoch had no choice but to surpass the limits of humanity on his own.
"Alright, Enoch. What did I tell you yesterday the Heavenly Slaughter Star is?"
After pondering Lione's question, Enoch answered.
"Something bad?"
"That's right! Like those nasty little dwarves."
The Heavenly Slaughter Star, which thrives on chaos, bestows its blessings only upon humans.
That blessing grants humans talents far beyond their worth, but in exchange, it lurks, waiting to erode their reason and incite mass slaughter.
According to ancient records from an era even Lione hadn't witnessed, it once nearly wiped out all life on the continent.
But conversely, there were those who overcame the Heavenly Slaughter's mandate and ascended to supreme realms.
It was thanks to him that humans of this era held vast territories on the continent.
'Hmm...'
Lione grimaced as his face briefly crossed her mind.
"Lione?"
"Hm?"
"Does it hurt?"
"Hee hee, it's nothing."
Lione ruffled Enoch's hair wildly and declared.
"Then, shall we get started?"
*
Lione sat Enoch down in the courtyard and stood behind him.
What she would teach him was the foundational breathing technique of House Estor.
Even calling it foundational, it was naturally a top secret that should never be shared with outsiders, but...
'Who cares.'
Lione snorted and spoke to the child in a gentle voice.
"Now, you can follow along, right?"
"Yes."
Having explained it to some extent, Lione promptly placed her hand on Enoch's back.
A considerable amount of mana was already scattered chaotically inside the child's body.
It was true that he was using mana even now, but its stability was lacking.
Lione recited the incantation softly, as if telling an old fairy tale.
"Mana flows like water, so become a great tree yourself and bloom flowers. Root yourself in the soil rich with nutrients..."
After repeating the incantation several times and guiding the child's mana, at some point, the child began to lead it on his own.
"Hee hee."
Lione smiled in satisfaction at the sight.
It was only natural for the Heavenly Slaughter Star, but Enoch was exceptionally talented.
Even though they'd only met a week ago, Lione felt as proud of him as if he were her own child.
"That's it. Now gather the mana below your navel, in your lower dantian."
Enoch complied with Lione's words.
He seized the mana by the scruff and confined it to his dantian, then drew out a thread from there and slowly circulated it along the path Lione had taught him.
'Huh?'
Then, at one point, lightning dwelled within the mana.
Rumble—!
The mana, now circulating even faster, urged Enoch on.
I can go further.
Let's head to even higher places like this.
Enoch smacked the mana to quiet it and glanced at Lione.
Lione was smiling contentedly without a word.
'Okay.'
It must be fine.
Enoch immediately released the reins on the mana.
Boom—!
Like a lightning bolt shooting upward, the mana surged from the dantian toward the heart.
Lione was shocked, her heart nearly stopping.
"E-Enoch...!"
The middle dantian was still too soon.
If a child who had just formed his lower dantian tried to open the middle one, his body could explode.
"Undine...! Hurry!"
The elf called for her friend's help.
Undine didn't like Enoch one bit, but she didn't want him to blow up either, so she rushed over.
[You fool! No idea of your own limits!]
Undine invoked her power and summoned water.
Water infused with healing enveloped Enoch, and Lione sweated profusely as she tried to soothe the mana.
"Enoch! Don't push yourself!"
Lione could have forcibly stopped the child's mana, but that risked irreversible injury.
Here, Enoch had to control it himself.
'Ah...'
Enoch realized something was wrong.
Honestly, it didn't seem like a big deal, but if this continued, Lione might get angry.
In his panic, Enoch struck the mana hard.
If this thing didn't listen, he'd be the one Lione hated.
Groooowl—!
But the mana, gaining momentum, ignored Enoch.
The whirlwind of lightning from Enoch's dantian finally shot toward the sky,
Flash─────!!
And it broke through the path from dantian to heart.
'Oh no...'
Enoch broke out in cold sweat.
Everything was over, and he could open his eyes, but if he did now, Lione would be mad.
The child squeezed his eyes shut and desperately pretended not to know.
But who was Lione?
The supremely capable elf quickly noticed Enoch's state.
"Haa... I really thought we were in trouble."
It was unprecedented.
He hadn't undergone complete transformation due to insufficient enlightenment, but for such a young child to force open the middle dantian—it would be dismissed as nonsense anywhere.
As if he were some dragon.
Calming her startled heart, Lione flicked Enoch's forehead.
"Ow..."
The startled Enoch's eyes snapped open.
His eyes shook wildly, as if there'd been an earthquake.
Instead of saying much, Lione pulled Enoch into a tight hug.
"Don't rush so much next time, okay? I was worried."
"Yes..."
[Lione, you idiot! You should scold him, not comfort him!]
Zap, Enoch's sharp glare turned toward Undine.
[What! What! What are you gonna do, glaring at me like that!]
Undine growled back.
"Undine, how could you say that to a child? Are you the child here?"
[Wh-what!? Hey! How dare you talk to me like that!]
Undine flew off, scattering tears of betrayal.
Lione sighed.
She'd be back in about five minutes anyway.
"Alright, Enoch. You worked hard today, so how about something tasty?"
"Yes!"
"Hee hee, let's head inside."
*
[Lione, you're too soft on that kid—it's a problem! Look! He's glaring again!]
Undine, back the moment food was being prepared, pointed accusingly at Enoch.
"Hm?"
Enoch instantly widened his eyes innocently as Lione turned.
His round, bulging eyes looked like any innocent child's.
[Aaaah! My neck!]
Ignoring the fussing Undine, Enoch and Lione finished their meal.
Lunch at last.
Instead of heading to the courtyard, Lione sat Enoch in the study.
"Enoch, do you know how to read?"
"Uh-uh..."
Enoch shook his head.
It was only natural, so Lione smiled brightly.
"Then shall we start with letters first?"
Last night, Lione had sneaked into a nearby city wearing a hood and laid out the books she'd secretly bought.
Most were children's picture books.
"This one is read as 'apple.' You know what an apple is, right?"
"Yes..."
Lione pointed alternately at the picture and the word.
Enoch nodded.
Or rather,
"Huh? Hee hee, you must be tired, huh?"
Not nodding—dozing off, nodding his head.
He hit a snag at the first word, but Lione didn't mind.
"You must be exhausted. Shall we take a nap?"
"...Yes."
Enoch stretched out his arms.
Lione familiarly scooped up the child and headed to the bed.
"We'll study more when you wake up?"
"Zzz..."
Enoch hated studying.
*
Lione took special measures.
After Enoch woke from his nap, she held him in her lap on the bed and opened the picture book.
"Alright, Enoch. What's this?"
"...Apple."
"This?"
"...Rabbit."
Enoch was smart.
He seemed to hate studying letters, but once taught, he memorized them quickly and made them his own.
Seeing Enoch's pouty lips, Lione's resolve weakened, and she closed the book.
"Shall we stop here for today?"
"Yes!"
Ten words.
That was plenty.
With 150 years left, there was no rush.
*
The next day.
Lione taught Enoch physical techniques.
Rumble—!
"N-No...!!!"