Dreams of Laziness
The sunlight streaming through the hole in the ceiling was dazzling.
I was staring blankly at the clouds drifting across the sky when someone called my name.
I knew exactly who it was, so I didn't bother turning my head. The girl with a massive book resting on her lap asked me gently,
"Jeanie? Aren't you going to read?"
Only then did I slowly shift my gaze.
Her brilliant golden hair swayed in the sunlight, and her eyes were a pale jade blue. She had the milky skin typical of children and delicate, adorable features. People around us often made a fuss, saying we looked like twins.
It wasn't that we actually resembled each other so much as the fact that two little girls of similar age were always together that probably sparked the comment. We both had the classic noble young lady look, so side by side we made a pleasant enough picture.
Still, there were a few ways we didn't resemble each other at all. The most obvious was our eyes. Mine slanted upward, giving me a sharp, often described as "rude" impression, while hers drooped slightly at the corners, making her look gentle.
And most decisively, unlike this girl, I wasn't a true genius. I was more like a seventeen-year-old mind trapped in a seven-year-old body.
"Nah, I hate reading."
I'd already learned the hard way in my past life that studying wasn't my strong suit. So waking up to find myself enrolled in a prestigious boarding school was just my rotten luck. The more unlucky I was, the quieter I needed to stay if I wanted a peaceful life.
"Then why come to the library?"
"It's quiet. Perfect for naps."
That really was the only reason I, who despised books, frequented the library. Especially the central hall—it was incredibly comfortable and ideal for sleeping.
This place was always peaceful. Lying between the chairs, watching clouds drift past the hole in the ceiling until I dozed off was my second favorite thing. My absolute favorite was skipping class.
Today Mia had tagged along and ruined my nap.
"I thought you came here to read."
"Not a chance. I can fall asleep just fine without books."
This innocent, adorable girl—Kamia Drilla, nicknamed Mia—was my little friend. She flipped through the thick book nearing its end and gave me a completely baffled look.
"I don't get it! How can you sleep when something this fun is right in front of you?"
"Heh, really? What's so fun about it?"
Ah, the title alone was magnificent.
A Brief Contemplation on Alchemy
It was as thick as an average person's head, which genuinely terrified me just looking at it. At that point, they really should have called it A Long and Tedious Contemplation instead.
Besides, the book wasn't even written in the continental common tongue—it was in the ancient language. If the girl reading that wasn't a genius, then who was?
Of course I could read it too, but since my mental age was seventeen, I'll give myself a pass. Add another seven years and that makes me twenty-four, right?
"Well, first of all, the author, Dona Berse, was an incredibly great alchemist. They say he succeeded in turning gold into copper. Which means turning copper into gold should also be possible, right? His thoughts on that are so systematic and logical..."
That was exactly what made it boring. The whole gold-into-copper story was idiotic.
Regardless of my expression, Mia launched into a passionate explanation of the difficult topic. True to her genius nature, studying seemed like the most enjoyable thing in the world to her.
Before long, I started dozing off.
Just as I was about to close my eyes, Mia's shrill voice cut through.
"Jeanie! Are you even listening to me?"
"Ugh, yeah. I'm listening. Sounds fascinating."
I quickly wiped the drool threatening to escape and nodded at Mia. She got sulky so easily. She liked me so much that she followed me everywhere, but she couldn't stand it when I listened half-heartedly.
"Jeanie, you're the worst! Why do you always fall asleep when I talk? It's not like I'm using sleep magic!"
"Oh my, you can use that?"
She really couldn't take a joke.
Watching Mia's eyes well up with tears, I clicked my tongue. Even a genius was still a child, and Mia got upset over the smallest things.
"Mia? Look, I'm not majoring in alchemy. I don't know anything about it. Even if I listened, I'd have no interest. Besides, it's rare for someone under ten to pick a major like you did. How am I supposed to keep up with your knowledge?"
At Drike Academy, students were expected to choose a major before turning ten. Those with obvious talents had their paths decided from the start, but for kids like Mia and me—brought in early because of our exceptional minds for gifted education—it was different.
Still, I had a feeling I wouldn't choose a major even by ten.
I'd always been the type with no particular ambitions. That part of me hadn't changed between lives.
"But Jeanie, you're good at everything. Why won't you pick a major?"
"I don't know. I still can't decide."
"Then do alchemy with me! It's so much fun!"
Mia's standards for fun were always unique. Alchemy was one of the most headache-inducing fields, and it definitely wasn't my taste. One wrong mix of reagents and—boom!—your hair could catch fire. In the worst cases, it could even blow up a building. That was too much for a law-abiding citizen like me.
I wanted something safer. Like breathing exercises, for example.
"Sorry, but alchemy suits someone calm like you more than a klutz like me. So why don't you work hard enough for both of us?"
At my flattery, Mia immediately beamed with a silly grin. She was a good kid—honest, no secrets, and though she could be oddly four-dimensional at times, being around her was usually enjoyable. As someone with an old soul, I couldn't help but see her as a child sometimes.
Mia seemed to sense that too, which made her quite dependent on me.
"Okay! I'll work hard enough for both of us!"
"When you become the continent's greatest alchemist and can turn copper into gold, make sure to give me a cut."
"Yeah! I will!"
"Promise? I'll be counting on you to live a long life."
"Then will you learn magic for me? I can't feel mana, so magic is impossible for me! The teacher said it's something you're born with. And they said your mana sensitivity is the best among our peers. With just a little effort, you'd definitely become an amazing mage!"
Well, well. She was already negotiating. For such a little kid, she sure knew some advanced techniques. Who taught her that? We were always together, after all... I twitched at the praise but didn't fall for it.
My specialties were shaking my head and lying down to breathe.
"Impossible, Mia. I'm terrible at calculations. You know that, right? I'm bad at mental math. Magic is for the smart kids."
I was clearly above average for a seven-year-old, but in a place swarming with geniuses, I was barely average. The real prodigies could multiply four-digit numbers in the blink of an eye. I could barely manage three digits before giving up mid-blink.
"Hngh, then will you become a priest for me? I want to be a priest who helps the hero! Isn't that so cool?"
"Priests are for good kids. Look at my personality."
"That's true."
"...Why do I feel offended?"
"Why? You said it yourself—you're clumsy, bad at math, not very smart, and have a nasty personality."
Mia's complete lack of malice was her most terrifying trait. I occasionally fell into her traps like this, and every time I was reminded anew that this tiny girl was a genius.
"Aren't you in a hurry, Jeanie? If you don't pick a path by ten, they say you'll become a squire. Do you want to be a squire?"
"Ugh, absolutely not. Moving my body is the worst."
The rumor that kids who didn't choose a career by ten would become squires was widespread at the academy. "Squire" meant a young attendant, and it was basically a death sentence. But I thought it was just nonsense—probably adults trying to scare children with cheap tricks. Why would they waste gathered geniuses on squire work?
"Then what do you actually want to do?"
"Nothing."
"Huh?"
"I want to do nothing at all! I decided that a long time ago!"
"...But you can't do that, can you?"
Mia's words sometimes hit right where it hurt.
"Well, I'll have to do something."
I held up my fingers and listed my conditions.
"Something that's not hard to study, doesn't require moving my body, isn't dangerous, and makes a lot of money. If it meets those four requirements, anything's fine."
"Whoa, does something like that even exist? I want to do that too!"
As if. I was just hoping it did.
"Do you know where it is?"
"Where?"
"In my dreams."
Which meant I needed to go back to sleep. For a lovely little child like me, naps were a very important part of the daily schedule.