Chapter 5: One Year Later

Ayear has passed since then.

As of now, I am thirteen years old.

Even in the game, time progresses in intervals of one to two years.

Otherwise, the starting village arc would never end.

From ages thirteen to sixteen, we are taught basic compulsory education.

Well, the children of farmers start working at twelve years old.

I attend the school in a nearby town with the three bullies.

That guy also graduated.

It seems the future Hero—Alfred—wanted to work, but the nun at the church convinced him to continue his education.

The future Hero’s growing up well.

On mornings and evenings, he works diligently at his part-time jobs.

Keep it up, you working boy. I feel like tears are about to flow out of my eyes. I want to show that appearance to lazy rich guys who can’t do anything by themselves.

I’ll continue to cheer for you in my heart.

The current training curriculum for the future Hero is as follows.

…Since I’m still a kid, I can’t do much.

Even though a year has passed, since he grows slower than me, he’s still half a head shorter than yours truly. Also, he’s still weaker than me. That’s the main point, so I try to stir up a sense of competitiveness in him.

Every now and then I’d do some unfair things, then say cliche lines like “if you hate it, then try and defeat me.” Beat into his head that he wants to become strong.

I’m such a great teacher.

Since girls are stuffing baked goods and other foods into Alfred’s possession after he entered the new school, his insufficient diet has improved.

I-I’m totally not envious!

At the municipal school, the teacher of the sword lessons is distinguished too.

Somehow, I also won against Alfred in today’s spar.

Currently, it’s a complete victory.

I can still do this. It’ll be okay. My body is still big enough for now.

Alfred seems to be practicing the sword under the guidance of a teacher in the village’s school, who used to be a knight.

All for the sake of beating me.

It seems even he can’t stand to be completely defeated.

Good, good.

You’re doing great. Keep striving to win against me just like that.

According to the game’s plot, perhaps it’ll be impossible for me to win without using sneaky tricks in the future.

Like making him slip in oil. Or foul play.

That’s too unpleasant… Do I really have to do things like that?

---

There’s a fairly large municipal library in town, where books can be borrowed to each individual’s delight.

This is great for me.

I borrowed all the books regarding curses and magic squares from one end of the library to the other, and returned home at night to study.

Lian’s magic potential isn’t high.

In the starting village, he’s the kind of person who’s like an extra from a movie, who would disappear in a crowd. Basically, his specs are rubbish.

He’s just a small-fry rival for the Hero before the latter leaves on his journey.

That’s why, for the sake of the impending doomsday, I’ll need to know how to use various skills and techniques, even if it’s just by a little bit.

If you mess up even a single character or line when crafting a curse, then it won’t be effective. It’s an extremely delicate procedure.

That being said, I don’t have much of an issue with the finer magics. In fact, it’s fun.

It’s because of my desk-work type of nature.

Compared to the other students, Alfred has a higher magic potential, which towers over the others’.

The teacher recommended that he attend the Royal Academy of Magic, but I saw him refuse.

As one would expect from the future Hero, he’s got high specs.

But he’s still got a ways to go before catching up to me.

Well… that too, sooner or later he should be able to overtake me.

Today, I also intend to borrow many books home.

Since I’m heading for the library, I part with the other three at school.

Occasionally, I want to be by myself.

Besides, today is when the sequel to my favorite mystery novel arrives. I’m skipping too—no, well, it should be okay! Modest recreations are acceptable! Or else, I’ll die from stress.

Entering the library, I make a beeline for the new works corner.

Like I thought, the book I want is there.

It’s lying flat on display.

However, it’s the only one left of that title. That’s because it’s a popular series!

When I reach out a hand to take it before anyone else does, someone extends a hand in the same way from the side.

Who is it?! I was faster by just a touch! Give up you bastard!

Looking up at that rude person, I see a boy with shiny blond hair and blue eyes.

Strangely, his eyes are a little wide.

It’s Alfred.

And he’s covered in wounds.

His clothes are caked with dust, face and arms scratched red with marks as if he was roughened up.

“Woah!!”

Alfred’s silent.

“Y-y-you! Y-your appearance… W-w-w-what happened?!” I ask.

“I fought with the upperclassmen.”

“Fought…?!”

“But I took him down by beating him up.”

“I see.”

Is that so?

He really is the future Hero.

These days, Alfred stands out for better or for worse. Maybe he’s become a target. Blood flows down his temple in a single stream.

“F-first aid—”

“It’ll heal by itself.” In a casual manner, he wipes off the blood getting into his eyes with the back of his hand.

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T-that’s true, but!!

I don’t deal with blood well.

When my parents died, the scene of the accident was a mess of red—I put a hand over my mouth. A wave of nausea hits my stomach.

“Hey. Are you okay?”

“I-I’m fine… or rather that should be my line! C-come with me!” I say, latching onto Alfred’s arm, pulling him toward the washroom.

I wet a handkerchief and wipe away his blood. The wound isn’t as severe as I thought. Even a small scratch on the head would give out a lot of blood.

As the handkerchief is dyed in red, I look like I’m about to puke again. My hands tremble. “The blood—”

“Has already stopped.”

“I see…”

I retrieve something that resembles a white candy ball from my bag—a healing crystal stone. An item that will help you recover health when taken.

Today, I learned how to make them in the elementary magical item lesson of my elective course. When it’s all said and done, since it’s something a beginner made, the healing crystal stone’s effectiveness will be low. However, it can heal a light injury just fine. Good timing; I’m glad I brought this.

There are two.

One will be used for the forehead injury that’s spewing blood.

I summon a lot of strength when grasping another, breaking it into pieces.

They resemble shiny, shimmery white sand.

I apply the sparkling grains that are in my palm onto Alfred’s temple.

As the wounds seal up, the light vanishes at the same time. Thank goodness. Looks like it worked.

“Do you have any other severe injuries?”

“Nope.”

“I see… Can you move your left arm?” I ask.

Alfred shifts his elbow and wrist obediently.

If he can move them, then he’s okay. But he better wash off the mud from the scratches. It’ll get worse if bacteria get in. “You better rinse out your wounds. It’ll be bad if they fester.”

I pull his left wrist to the sink, rinsing it with the spray of the faucet.

Suddenly, I sense a gaze on me and tilt my face upward. Alfred is looking at me with a strange expression.

I finally realize the current situation.

Damn it.

I unintentionally treated his wounds.

Lian never does anything like this.

That’s no good. Still, it’d be bad to leave him alone. He’s hurt. Isn’t that natural? But.

This is extraordinarily terrible. This is obviously not how Lian acts.

Crap. What should I do?

One way or another, I have to cheat my way out of this.

“…ted.”

“Ted?”

“I tested it! The prototype! You’re just a good test subject in front of me! Looks like it was successful! As expected of me!”

Alfred continues to eye me in an odd way.

“You lucky guy! T-that’s why I’ll give you this other one as well! It’s a prototype! Better thank me!” I shove the other healing crystal stone into his hands, leaping out of the washroom.

That was bad.

Did that seem strange or what?

Even if it did, I’ll act like there was nothing amiss. Let’s just do that.

Let’s hurry home.

I return to the new works corner in a rush.

And then, I am shocked.

The last copy is missing.

What the heeeckkkk?!

Who did it?! Who took my book?! Who is the one who robbed me of my only source of entertainment?!

The nausea won’t subside either!

Ugh, this is the worst.

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I totter and rest a hand on the desk.

“Hey.”

“Woah?!” Getting clapped on my shoulder, I jump up in surprise in spite of myself.

I calm down and turn around to the image of Alfred just standing there.

He’s expressionless while carrying the last copy of the book I want in his hands.

The mystery novel.

Aren’t you rather shrewd?! Did you secure the book back then?!

Typical.

“This. You also wanted to borrow this, right?”

“Huh, ah, yeah…”

“Well, you can borrow it first. Thanks in advance.”

Since he keeps pushing it onto me, I take it by reflex. “T-thanks…”

Alfred’s eyes widen again.

Slowly and unusually, he smiles.

I once again come back to myself and panic.

Why am I thanking him?!

Aren’t Alfred and I supposed to be rivals who hated each other?

We shouldn’t be making friends with each other!

“I-I have to go already,” I say. “Unlike you, I’m still busy. L-later!”

And I rush toward the counter to check out, before leaping out of the library.

That was dangerous!!

Irregular contact turns out to be incredibly dangerous. I have to be careful. Mainly for myself! I suck at acting!

Ahh no more.

Tired, I heave a large sigh.

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