The Young Age
It is impossible to see stars in the city because humanity has fought to conquer the night.
Streetlights, billboards, and the glow from buildings scatter and scatter light across the sky due to dust and water vapor in the air.
As a result, the faint starlight that once reached from afar is hidden, and eventually the night sky becomes a solitary stage just for the moon.
But there was no need to be disappointed or sad about the sky without a single star.
The stars had not disappeared—they had simply become invisible.
The farther one got from the things humanity had built, the more the night sky would reveal itself once again, filled with the wondrous light of stars.
Because the sky is clear, the starlight really is beautiful.
It was late at night when I climbed to the summit of the mountain and lay down with a blanket spread out beneath me.
The night sky I looked up at held a massive galaxy drawn in starlight, making me feel like just a tiny being in this world.
I wonder if there are constellations in this world too.
While I idly linked stars to draw pictures, I muttered my thoughts to myself.
“I want to read a book.”
In the usual way, I would be snuggling a sleep aid book, snoring away.
Yet here I was, on the mountain summit.
No matter how hard I closed my eyes, sleep would not come.
So-called sleepless night, as they say.
There were many reasons, of course.
But the biggest one was that the desire to read a book had grown harder and harder to hold back.
At first, a single book was enough.
After ten years of living in this world, I had finally reunited with the book I missed so dearly.
That alone had been more than enough.
But the longing only grew stronger with time.
One book every three months, one book every two months…
Eventually, even a book once a month could no longer satisfy me.
Really, this is such a burden.
I’m going to die of remorse for my master…
Surprisingly, the entire burden fell on Hesti.
When my limit approached, she would leave the house for several days, hugging a whole pile of books.
I wondered where she had gotten those precious books.
When I heard the story, it seemed she had borrowed them after repeatedly asking a friend she knew.
Every time I saw them, my heart would twinge with guilt.
After all, I had some sense of shame.
I tried desperately to hold back my longing.
Once I became an adult, I would freely search for books and travel the world.
At least until then, I would endure.
I was not an impatient puppy, and I swore that if I could not even hold back this much, I would fail as a human.
But that was too much.
Without new books, my heart would race anxiously.
My hands would tremble even though it was not cold.
My memory and thinking skills would decline.
I could not hide this appearance.
Instead, it led to a vicious cycle that increased Hesti’s worries.
That was why I was grateful to Hesti.
If she had not become my master, I would have definitely died somewhere.
I wanted to repay her somehow.
But as someone with nothing, all I could do was succeed as her disciple.
So I decided to create a star magic for Hesti.
But what exactly is star magic supposed to do…?
Yet it had been a full month since I discovered my mana was star attribute.
The plan to create star magic had been dragging on.
But what was I supposed to make with star magic?
Drop a star from the sky?
I had tried, but even that was impossible with my current ability.
Would Hesti even like me creating magic in the first place?
Maybe it would be better to develop a book-creation magic a little more practically.
I wanted to read a book.
I wanted to repay Hesti.
I needed to make magic.
Desire.
Repay.
Magic…
With my head in a mess, I sighed.
Just as I was staring at the meaningless night sky as before, thinking, I heard footsteps above me.
“Well? Got any income?”
“Ah, Master.”
The owner of the voice was Hesti.
She must have said she was going to look at the stars for a bit and left.
Was she curious about what she was doing?
I was lying down with a book as my pillow and tried to spring up.
But she gently pushed me back down.
“It’s fine to stay like that.
I was planning to lie beside you too.”
“The blanket isn’t that wide, though.”
“If you stick right next to me, it should be fine, right?”
Despite the faint darkness, Hesti’s bright smile shone as she stuck to my side.
Her body became pleasantly warm from her body heat, and while I was used to skinship, I did not mind.
…
She must have come here for some reason, but Hesti still did not open her mouth easily.
Of course, there was no need to urge her.
I quietly took her hand, as if to say I was fine staying relaxed.
Then, perhaps she had finally made up her mind to talk.
Hesti moved her body awkwardly, turned her face to me, and spoke.
“I’m sorry.”
The words that came were a sudden apology.
But sorry for what?
To confirm her sincerity, I turned my head.
Right in front of me were moist, glistening eyes.
In the embarrassing situation, a mischievous thought slipped out.
“Why suddenly? Did you sneak snacks again?
You promised to eat only one chocolate a day, remember?”
Wh-what are you saying!
The serious atmosphere from a moment ago vanished in an instant!
Ah.
That serious atmosphere doesn’t suit Master at all, so I…
Master, if you tease me like that, I won’t be able to use you…!
This is, this is!
“Aigoo, ahaha! Wait, ticklish—sorry, sorry!”
Hesti, whose eyes were teary, clung to me and tickled all over.
My body jumped around like a snake crawling all over me.
When I could no longer endure, I tried to get up and run away.
But suddenly, vines from the bushes had wrapped around my body.
This was inescapable.
My face stiffened as I had to endure Hesti’s touch for a long time.
This person was harmless like a herbivore when she was normal, but if you teased her too much, she might eat you instead.
I had to be careful.
“Heeuk, heu, I’m sorry… I was wrong…”
Hoo hoo.
This is the dignity of a master.
This time, I look like I have deeply reflected.
So I’ll forgive you.
Dignity in fingers…?
Eh? What did you say just now?
I didn’t say anything.
…So, what exactly are you sorry for?
I felt the start of the second round of torture and quickly changed the subject.
Still, it was a real question from the heart.
After all, Hesti was the benefactor who gave me nothing but gratitude.
She was born as a farmer in a rural village, married someone, had children, and lived her life reading only one or two books a day before dying.
She was the one who changed that.
She even brought me new books regularly because my mind went unstable without them.
No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason for her to apologize to me.
So when I asked what part she was sorry for, Hesti answered with a self-reproaching expression.
“A master who can’t help a disciple who is always troubled?
I was really worried about seeing my disciple’s face grow thin every day.”
That’s…
There’s nothing Master needs to worry about.
After all, it’s just my lack of ability.
I was thinking of making magic for you, but I couldn’t make anything, so I was frustrated.
I could not say that, so I vaguely answered.
Hesti did not seem to like my answer very much.
She pulled me into her embrace.
With my face buried in her chest, it was hard to breathe, but I did not want to push her away.
“Disciple.”
“Why are you calling me?”
“I don’t need you to repay me… but what if you get upset?”
…A little hurt?
What?
You knew the whole time.
You always act so innocent, but there are times when you are surprisingly sharp.
A strange feeling washed over me, and I buried my face deeper into Hesti’s arms.
Then she patted my back and continued.
“I didn’t do it to receive repayment.
After all, the disciple is the disciple.
I just wanted to do everything I could for you.”
“Still, I hate receiving things without giving anything back.”
“I make delicious food, clean the house, and even be a conversation partner for Master, right?”
Those are…
Compared to what I received, they are not that special.
I lifted my head and met Hesti’s gaze as she looked down at me.
The unconditional affection in her eyes made my chest tingle.
You don’t need to think grandly.
If I make something like star magic, it’s because I thought you would need it.
After all, I made the book-creation magic because I thought you would need it.
B-but.
If I make something too strange, like a witch with star attribute next after me…
Don’t worry about that!
Your magic is power only for you, after all!
Why would an always self-indulgent disciple suddenly do something praiseworthy?
…That won’t do.
Of course, doing something praiseworthy comes from the disciple’s heart!
Saying that, Hesti released me from her arms and stroked my head.
Perhaps because my mental age had regressed along with my reincarnation.
I could not resist her touch.
Normally, I was the one taking care of her.
Now like this, it felt… no, quite embarrassing.
Hey, let’s stop this serious talk here!
Let’s talk about something more fun!
“I’m happy about anything with Master.”
Ufufu… this cute disciple!
Where did you learn to flatter so much?
Really, I’m so happy!
It was not something I said because I wanted to hear it.
Being with Hesti was fun no matter what.
It was as if I was not a master and disciple, but just friends.
Soon, Hesti turned her body and looked at the galaxy shining in the night sky.
Then, filling her eyes with starlight, she asked.
“Does the disciple have a dream?”
“Yes.
I do.”
“Can I ask what kind of dream?”
“I want to read only books for my whole life without being disturbed by anyone.”
Hoo hoo, that’s the answer of a true disciple.
But is that really the end?
…It would be nice to have a personal library that pours out new books every day, and to swim in a sea of books.
Puha ha ha! The disciple doesn’t disappoint my expectations at all!
Hesti burst into laughter, perhaps because she liked my answer.
I was startled by how loudly she laughed.
Soon, the laughter finally stopped, and after taking a few deep breaths, she looked at me with a confident voice.
“If you are a disciple, you will surely be able to fulfill that dream.”
It was not predicting a hopeful future, but a confident atmosphere that it would definitely happen.
I nodded to her and answered.
“That would be great.”
Seeing my answer, Hesti looked satisfied and turned back to the night sky.
I wondered what she had been trying to confirm, but her smile remained in my memory as brightly as the stars in the sky.
A few days later, Hesti told me she would have to leave the house for a while.
I wondered if she was going to get another book again.
She seemed to be on a long trip that would last from a few months to a few years, and I could not return.
“Then will I have to protect this house?”
No.
I asked my master to entrust you to their master.
We’ve met a few times, right?
“Yes.
Master’s master… was Lethe, the strongest witch of the era.”
“For the time being, stay by her side.
I’m sure she will greatly help with the star magic.”
I was not a little shocked by her words.
Today, tomorrow, and yesterday would be the same day all along.
But now I would be separated for a long time.
Shocked and frozen, I said to Hesti, “It can’t be helped.”
“I wanted to stay by your side until you became an adult, but the situation is difficult.
It seems a tide of monsters is coming from the other side of the continent.
As a witch who made a pact, I have no choice but to go help.”
…
Still, I have some attachment to this house.
Come by once a year to clean it neatly, okay?
“I will do that.”
She said it was okay even if I thought of the house as my own and gently stroked my head.
It was the way of treating someone as if you would never see them again.
I felt uneasy and grabbed the hem of her clothes.
“You have to come back.
Master.”
Of course!
Even if Master is gone, make sure the disciple doesn’t do anything dangerous.
That’s a promise.
Hesti took me to her master and left without looking back.
The situation must have been urgent because it seemed a huge army of monsters might kill countless people.
Hesti will be fine.
According to the stories, Hesti was among the top five strongest witches.
She would surely return safely.
Yeah.
Let’s make magic in preparation for when she returns.
I spent my time at Lethe’s mansion learning magic with a restless feeling.
One year, two years…
Eventually, news came that the long war with the monsters ended, and they were pushed back to the north’s eternal land.
Urgently running to the story of the witches who had left returning, Hesti’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
She had not returned.