Chapter 7: 7

7. It’s Starting to Become Fun

In the morning, I woke up and began studying. I continued studying even after having lunch, until around 3 pm. Then I went to the lake with Marie. Our plan was to catch fish and observe whether they would glow in the evening. Since I only had to study every other day, I sometimes joined Marie in her training on my days off.

We did this for about two weeks, but unfortunately, the results were disappointing. We examined various types of fish, but we couldn’t find any that would glow. I didn’t give up hope. I believed that if I could find the source of the those glowing orbs, it could lead to magic. With this in mind, we kept going, but we made no progress. I wondered if we needed to change our methods.

Glass is a material that exists in this world. If we could make it withstand water pressure, and create something like underwater goggles, it would allow us to observe the underwater lake more effectively. But as children, we’re limited in how much we could ask our parents for assistance.

One day, we’re out fishing as we usually did. The scenery was all too familiar, and to be honest, quite dull. But Marie stayed with me without any complaints. I felt grateful to have such a kind sister. I promised to support her no matter what happens, or even if nothing happens at all.

Suddenly, she exclaimed, “Oh, I got one!” She pulled back on the rod while moving backward, and the fish made a beautiful parabolic trajectory, landing on the lake shore. It had a pattern I’d never seen before, but its shape was familiar.

“A female Ettentraut, huh?” She said.

“Female?”

“Yes. Come to think of it, it’s my first time I caught one. The males are usually easier to catch, but the females tend to stay in deeper waters and are harder to come by. During this spawning season, they’re easier to catch. That’s what Dad told me.”

“I see, I didn’t know that.”

I paused for a moment, lost in thought. “Let’s try to catch a male one too.”

The last fish we caught ended up in our stomachs. It’s not a particularly rare fish and we didn’t plan on keeping it as a pet either.

“If we catch something else, we’ll release it.”

“Okay!” She said with a bright tone.

Marie happily followed my instructions and continued to fish. After a while, she caught a male Ettentraut, and we put it in the same bucket as the female.

“Is this okay?”

“Probably,” I replied, nodding. “It’s just an experiment I thought of. Let’s wait until evening and see what happens.”

We chatted as we waited for the evening to come. Before we knew it, the sky had turned into a blend of oranges and reds, and the lake began to twinkle with lights.

We looked at each other and then at the bucket. “Nothing happens, huh?”

“Wait a minute,” I said, as we continued to observe. Suddenly, small orbs of light emerged from the bucket. They occasionally floating in pairs and gradually increased in number, and frequency.

“Look! There they are! The light orbs!” Marie’s eyes lighting up

“We did it! That must be their courting ritual.”

“Courting ritual?” She looked at me with a confused expression.

“Umm… In addition to spawning, fish also have to communicate their desire to mate by courting. Unlike humans, they can’t just say it with words, so they have to show it with their behavior. Not all species do this, but it seems that the Ettentraut use these glowing orbs as a way to signal their intentions.”

“Then, it’s not necessary for Theon and me. We’re already family.” She cheerfully said.

“Well, I guess that’s true,” I replied, unsure of what to say. She’s not wrong, but…

“I’m a girl and Theon is a boy. Does that mean I’ll lay eggs someday?”

“What? No! Humans don’t lay eggs! Besides, siblings can’t get married,” I exclaimed, feeling frustrated with her lack of common sense. But then again, there’s no school here. There were few opportunities to learn things like this.

“Why not? Theon, you don’t like me?” She looked up at me with a sad expression.

“I do! Of course I do!”

“It’s fine then. I love Theon too.”

“Uh, no, we’re already family,” I said, hesitantly.

“Then what’s the problem? Why can’t we get married?”

She knew about marriage, at least. Am I the one who’s wrong? No, I’m right. Siblings can’t get married, I convinced myself.

“Blood-related family members can’t get married.” I added.

“Why not?”

“Why? It’s, uh, it’s just not ethical… and there are genetic problems and stuff,” I struggled to find the right words.

“I don’t understand,” she said, looking sad and confused like any child would. It’s no surprise that there were many things she didn’t understand yet. Maybe as she got older, she would learn more and figure it out.

“Anyway, it’s good that we learned about the light orbs for courting rituals,” I said, trying to change the subject. “Thanks, Marie.”

“Uh-huh,” she murmured, looking unhappy.

“Don’t give me that look,” I thought to myself, feeling guilty for making her sad. But I knew that with time, she’d feel better. We walked back home in silence, carrying our tools with us. She didn’t say anything the entire way.

●○●○

We stopped going to the lake and I spent more time doing the observation alone in my room. Since that day, Marie had seemed distant when we saw each other. It’s as if she’s indirectly expressing her frustration that she can’t marry me. I thought she’d eventually come to understand. Was it some kind of phenomenon where a daughter innocently wants to marry her father?

She’s kind, mischievous, and a bit selfish at times, but she’s a great sister. I could always count on her, and spending time with her was always enjoyable. I admit that her features were proportioned, and it’s clear that she’d become a beauty in the future. However, she’s my real sister, and I was more like a mentally mature thirty-something-year-old man or something. I couldn’t see her as a member of the opposite sex, and I knew I shouldn’t. I had to be an adult and look at the situation in the long term.

However, being alone for a long time made me feel lonely. I’d been hanging out with her all the time, and being alone like this was new experience to me. I hoped that we could get back on good terms. I shook my head to clear my impure thoughts and focused on the task at hand – observation.

My bedroom was only about six tatami mats in size, which was quite spacious for a child’s room. As a six-year-old, I was just grateful to have a room to myself. It’s furnished with just a bed, desk, and closet.

I’d been wanting to get my hands on a book about fairies and monsters, something like a reference guide. Unfortunately, books were too expensive for my family to afford and I couldn’t even read them in stores. There’s also no library nearby, so I hadn’t had the chance to read any books yet.

Even though there might have been descriptions of magic in books, it’s still an unrealistic concept in my surroundings. Though I’d heard rumors about a library in the Eastern country that might have books on this topic, I wasn’t holding my breath.

If magic did exist, it would have been widely known and utilized. But as of then, it’s yet to be proven to exist. Nonetheless, I begun to wonder whether it might actually exist, and simply hadn’t been discovered yet.

There’s also the curious case of the Etentraut phenomenon, which was not widely known despite some people being able to see it while others couldn’t. I wondered if this was because only a small group of Etentraut living near the lake or because only a handful of people could see it.

Perhaps if more people could see it, it’d be more well-known, but as it stood, it’s unlikely to change. It’s a bit like a ghost, but maybe it’s something entirely different. Regardless, even if I never figured it out, it wouldn’t have been a huge problem.

Now, let’s return to the observation.

Inside the bucket, male and female Ettentraut swam gracefully, although the confined space did not allow for much elegance.

I’d been observing them for three days, yet the situation remained unchanged. In the evenings, the courtship ritual began, and a light orb emerged for about ten minutes before it vanished. This repeated the following day, and that was all that happened.

It seemed that it might take some time, and there might be a specific period for the courtship ritual. Perhaps this behavior would only lead to mating and egg-laying. However, I didn’t know how they laid eggs, as there were various methods. But since I was not particularly interested in studying their ecology, it didn’t matter. Though I wanted to release them back into the lake, I was also eager to observe them a little longer.

Days went by, and I stared at the bucket, but nothing new happened. Even looking at the water was meaningless.

“…What should I do?”

Honestly, I thought that the light orbs could be linked to something magical, perhaps even magic itself. I believed that using magic required someone or something to expend magical energy to cause some sort of phenomenon. Thus, if the existence that created the phenomenon was a living creature, like the Ettentraut, my hopes increased that I, as a human, could do something similar.

Sometimes, similarities arose from comparing phenomena. However, at that point, the only similarity we shared was that we were living creatures.

By the way, I didn’t just spend my time staring at the bucket. First, I showed my parents the phenomenon. As Marie had said, they couldn’t see anything. That was expected. So, I asked them to touch the ball of light, but they said they felt nothing. This meant that there were differences not only in visibility but also in touch and temperature sensitivity. People who couldn’t see it also couldn’t feel it nor sense its temperature. The answer to this was still unknown, but it’s worth considering the possibility.

I had to change my approach. But, I wasn’t sure what to do next. I needed to think about it. I couldn’t just focus on the results that could happen in reality. Let’s assume that this orb light was magic or magical power. If that’s the case, then I needed to conduct an experiment from a different perspective.

Magic is an advanced technique in my opinion. It used magical power to create a phenomenon. It could use catalysts such as spells, magical tools, or magic circles. Even if it was just creating a ball of light, how could fish do that?

It’s a fine line. But, if the ability to see magical light was exclusive to certain individuals, could it be a sign of their potential? Marie and I possessed this ability, leading me to believe that we might have magical power within us. However, possessing such power didn’t necessarily mean we knew how to use it or were aware of it. Thus, by closely observing Ettentraut’s behavior when releasing magical power and emulating it, we might be able to tap into our own magical abilities.

“Can I use magic too?”

Without the ritual, there’d be no trigger. So, I decided to wait until evening. I observed the two fish closely as they swam around each other in circles, emitting light orbs that were born and passed through the water surface, floating before disappearing.

I tried to grab the male fish, but it wriggled and thrashed around, splashing water everywhere. I continued to observe and noticed that the fish was warmer than usual. “It’s a little too warm for a fish. Isn’t it just the light orbs that are warm?” I thought. I remembered that it’s cold except during mating season. I then realized that organisms that emit magic generate heat.

I stared intently at the fish, looking at it up close. Its cloudy eyes seemed to be looking back at me, but I continued to stare. Suddenly, I noticed something floating around the fish, and in an instant, it thrashed and jumped, falling into the bucket. Stunned, I looked up.

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“The fish itself was also emitting light…?” I asked myself. It’s weak, but there’s no mistake, it was an aura. I contemplated the results.

“Maybe I can also imbue myself with magic.” I thought. I didn’t think I could suddenly create light orbs, but perhaps I could sense my own magic. Thanks to the Ettentraut, I learned that I could overflow with magic myself. Probably.

If I have magic, then maybe…

“But what should I do?” I wondered, contemplating the nature of magic. Despite knowing the word, I found it difficult to give a concrete explanation of what magic really was. It’s a vague concept, and I only had a general sense of how to use it.

The idea of releasing a mysterious energy outside of our bodies seemed impossible, not to mention transforming it into fire or wind. However, I reminded myself not to doubt or rely on preconceived notions. Instead, I needed to objectively consider all possibilities.

One thing I knew for sure about magic was that whenever it was released, heat and light were always produced. It’s not the same as body temperature, which meant that magic and simple temperature were two different things.

As I followed the example of the Ettentraut, I assumed that magic was released during courtship behavior. But it wasn’t just a simple reaction; it’s an active behavior. Mimicking it may not always lead to the same results, but it’s worth a try.

My thoughts were interrupted by a loud noise, and I turned around to see Marie standing in the hallway. She entered the room without knocking and sat down next to me with a stern face. I wanted to tell her to knock next time, but I knew it wouldn’t make a difference. I didn’t have the courage to say anything to her now.

I stood there frozen, unable to do anything but stare at the bucket in front of me. Time passed in silence. I was wondering what’s going on when Marie spoke up.

“I got scolded.”

“By mom?” I asked.

“Yeah…”

I wondered why she’s scolded, but I knew I had to ask her about it.

“Why did Mom scold you?”

“I told her I wanted to marry Theon, and Mom got angry. She said the same thing that you said to me.”

“I see.”

Given her childishness and our mother’s disposition, I’d think it was just some childish talk. Mother was probably smiling and saying something like “Oh, really?” in response. But the fact that she got angry meant that Marie was either being persistent or serious.

“Am I saying something bad? I just wanna be with Theon forever,” Marie said.

“I want to be with you too. But we don’t have to get married for that, do we?” I replied.

“But getting married is special, isn’t it? If Theon and I don’t get married, then one of us might end up marrying someone else, and then we won’t be able to be together like Mom and Dad.”

She had clearly thought about this a lot. She’s right, of course. If either of us were to get married, we would start our own families. We would still be siblings, but it’d be difficult to live together or spend as much time together as we used to.

I thought her thinking was short-sighted, but it seemed like she’d put a lot of thought into it. It made me happy that she loved me so much. Really.

And fortunately or unfortunately, I’ve already lived twice. I’ve had many experiences in my first life, but there were things I didn’t experience. I’m still a virgin.

I’ve lived that way for thirty years, and I might continue to live that way for another few decades. But if it’s for my sister, who looks like she’s about to cry in front of me, I don’t mind. Because I love Marie and she’s important to me, even if not in a romantic way.

“Then, I won’t get married either. I’ll stay with you, Marie,” I said.

” … huh? But, won’t that make Dad upset?

Nobles must have an heir, otherwise the commoners will suffer, and it would be a shame to our ancestors, I thought to myself.

“Well, nowadays it’s not uncommon to adopt a child as an heir. Why not do that?” I suggested.

She let out a sigh, “Easy to say…”

“I know it’s not easy, but I’m serious. I want to be with you and I may be a child, but my feelings are genuine. I swear.”

“Aren’t those words more significant than getting married?” She questioned.

“I appreciate all that you’ve done for me, but I want to do the same for you. That’s not going to be a burden because you’re important to me.”

After being reborn, I cherished my newfound family above my dream of using magic. My sister’s happiness was my top priority, and fulfilling her wishes became my goal.

I heard that if one remained a virgin until their mid-forties, they could become a fairy, and if they reached their sixties, they could become a sage. Perhaps I could aim for that. I’m already in another world, and I couldn’t even use magic.

“Don’t worry, I’ll always be by your side,” I reassured her.

Despite being children, we’re struggling and trying to life our lives earnestly. What might seem like a small issue to adults was a big deal to us. We may be young, but we understood the reality of our situation.

I hugged her, knowing that my small frame couldn’t fully envelop her. Nevertheless, I think my feelings have been conveyed.

“Theeeeoooonn…!”

As Marie clung to me, tears streaming down her face, I patted her back and murmured comforting words, just like how she used to do for me when I was down. But my gestures seemed to have the opposite effect on her, because her sobs only grew louder. So I continued to stroke her back, hoping to calm her down.

After a while, the only sound in the room was the soft gurgling of Marie’s tears. I thought she’d finally stopped crying when I noticed a sudden change in the air.

“Hey, it’s glowing!” I exclaimed, looking down at my body.

As I lifted my head to get a better look, I grabbed Marie’s shoulders and pulled away from her. Her nose was still red, and her eyes were still wet with tears, but she looked more grown-up somehow.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice still trembling.

“Look at me! It’s like magic!” I replied, excitedly.

Sure enough, my body was glowing faintly, like a small ball of light. It wasn’t as bright as the Ettentraut, but it’s definitely glowing.

“It’s… it’s magic?” Marie asked, staring at me in disbelief.

“I think so. Oh, it’s gone now,” I said as the glow faded away.

Marie’s confusion was understandable, so I tried to explain it as simply as I could. I told her that it was similar to the light orbs that Ettentraut had emitted, which were imbued with magic.

“But how did it happen?” she asked.

I thought for a moment and then remembered something.

“I think I know. Remember how the fish produced the light orbs when the male was trying to court the female one?”

Marie nodded, still looking puzzled.

“Well, I watched it do it so many times that I started to believe that if I did something similar, I could use magic too. And I guess that’s what happened.”

Marie’s expression changed from confusion to embarrassment as she realized what I was implying.

“Wait, you mean… when you said you wouldn’t marry anyone else, that’s like a confession of love?”

I nodded, smiling.

“Yeah, it was. I guess my desire shown to you was strong enough to trigger my magic.”

Her face turned bright red, and she stood up abruptly.

“I-I gotta go!” she stammered, rushing out of the room.

Seeing her reaction, I began to feel embarrassed myself. Although I just spoke impulsively, it’s quite a bold statement. Regardless, I cannot go back on what I said, nor do I have any regrets.

However, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. I knew that my words were honest. I’d better not dwell on the matter too deeply, but my heart wouldn’t stop racing. Now, let’s return to the reality.

I was able to produce magic, and now I know what I must do. There’s no magic in this world, but perhaps it’s because the technology hasn’t been discovered yet. Either way, it’s up to me to create magic. If it doesn’t exist, then I’ll make it. I’ll become the first expert in the field.

My motivation is simple: I want to use magic. Just for that. For that dream. I forced myself to suppress my trembling body with my hands.

“It’s starting to become fun,” I said, feeling the excitement build within me. The mundane, yet happy days are now over, but that’s okay. From here on out, I’ll face various challenges, but I’m not worried. I’m confident that I’ll find a way to make everything exciting, as a future where everything is dull, is not for me.

 

Notes: Holy cow, it’s such a long chapter! Took us a while to translate and edit. It’s fun nonetheless.

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