Chapter 21 - Volume 2 (1/2)

Volume 2, Chapter 8: A Six-Year-Old’s Magnificent Daily Life, Part 2

Author’s note: The third person part is longer than I thought.

I went out into the town with Noel and Bree-chan.

I asked Sarah-chan to watch over those four. Why? It’s because I’m worried, you know? About the Ducal assets.

“This… do I look weird?”

Since my normal appearance makes people think of that shameful rumor, I’m only wearing a dress at the level of a merchant’s daughter going into town.

It’s a flawless disguise once I put on this cap… My powers of perception scare me sometimes.

“It matches very well, Prin-, Young Lady.”

Bree-chan… you almost called me [Princess-sama], didn’t you.

“… Cute… Saint-sama”

You’re the cute one, Noel-kun.

The destructive power of a cute boy squirming in embarrassment is inconceivable.

“Noel… Don’t call me Saint-sama. Just use my name, okay?”

“But… to call you by only your name is …”

How rigid… Do you want to call me Saint-sama that much? Well, it might be a longing for his savior, his… [Saint-sama].

I can feel the itch of his willingness to worship me, though it makes me feel lonely that he can only see [Me] as a [Saint].

Since I have so few acquaintances, I wanted to become friends with him.

Hmm? Could it be that he doesn’t know my name or something? ~Uwaa~, am I being overly self-conscious?

“Umm… Call me Yurushia. No need to use an honorific.”

“Such a thing, it’s impossible. To call Saint-sama without an honorific…”

Noel… how stubborn.  Rather, should I command him? No, that’d be unpleasant like ordering a servant around.

“Exactly, at least call her Princess Yuru-sama.”

Bree-chan…

“Bridget.”

“Yes!”

“If you call me “Princess” one more time, you will have to move 20 steps away from me and stay there.”

“… Yes….”

Will she even listen to that order? I don’t know why, but this child seems to be pleased when I coldly order her around… Sarah-chan.

But, since Bree-chan can’t stop calling me [Princess Yuru], it may be impossible for Noel to just call me [Yuru]… Another nickname, huh.

“Hey, Noel.”

“Y-yes.”

I pull the hem of my dress in a theatrical gesture.

“Today, I am the local girl [Lucia]. Since Noel is the friend of [This Girl], it’s strange for you to call me in such a reserved way.” (App note: Yurushia-> Rushia-> Engrish it up into Lucia)

Right? …  I made sure to put on a gentle smile.

Are the instructions too little? Or is it the setting? Did I apply too much pressure?

“ “ … … ” ”

The two of us stared pointedly at each other in silence… …

“… Lucia…”

“… Yes.”

I’ve done it, I’ve finally done it. Calling me without [Yuru] is just one step away from a cute nickname.

“So then, let’s go.”

“Yes, … Lucia.”

“Yes! Princess-sama!!”

Bree-chan will be following me and Noel from a distance of twenty steps.

“Lucia… Is there anything you would like to see?”

“That’s right… what would you recommend?”

“I’m sorry, this is a small town with little to be proud of… ah, that’s right. Would you like our town’s special fried sweet potatoes? They’re sweet and delicious.”

Oh… something like that, doesn’t it feel like a date? We’re only ages six and eight, though.

But food… how tiresome.

“M-my apologies, Lucia doesn’t want potatoes…”

Oh crud, did I let it show on my face?

“I-I’ll eat sweet potatoes, I love~ them.”

“Really? Then, I’ll buy you one.”

With a terribly happy smile, Noel goes running to the stand. Ah… you don’t need to buy that much. Isn’t it enough to just share one between two people?

My last resort, after I ate a mouthful, I said “I’m so full I can’t eat another bite, can Noel eat the rest?” Once he heard that, he ate the rest of it up.

Yeah… this little boy is unexpectedly honest.

“L-lucia, there’s a candy story over there… should we…”

Noel, are you still not full?

“I appreciate it, but… I can’t eat that much, you know?”

“It’s delicious, Lucia… just… one bite?”

“ …?”

I thought he would hate sharing with me, after all, kids love sweets.

But it’s difficult for me.

“Ah, yeah, Noel, you can use magic, right? What magic can you use?”

I forcibly changed the subject to something that’s completely unrelated to the town tour.

“Magic, huh…?”

Noel put on a serious face, but still talked happily to me.

“The result of the examination was that I was shown to be gifted in fire, wind, water, and earth spirit magic, at the basic level.”

“… All of them?”

“Oh, and… [Light] …”

When Noel casted his spell, a little light like a feather appeared and disappeared.

“… Amazing.”

Having all the attributes!? Lord-uncle, the child you picked up isn’t just excellent.

When he heard my mumble, Noel shook his head a bit.

“No, I don’t have an aptitude in Holy magic. But this power…”

Noel gently… picked up my hands as if they were fragile.

“Lucia… you gave me this [Power]”

He said while staring at me with dazzling eyes and wearing a soft smile.

Ah, he misunderstood. Since I’m a Demon.

It was probably something that happened while he witnessed me doing magic as the [Saint]. His strong yearning for strength and that desire for [Light], probably won over the favor of the weak-willed [Spirit of Light] and gave him results.

But I can’t say for sure.

I couldn’t say a thing against the cute smile of Noel who was in full [Believe in Saint-sama] mode.

“…Hmm?”

“Lucia…?”

Noel calls me out at the faint change in my expression.

“Just a little… unusual presence.”

“A presence?”

I didn’t know what to say to Noel, who noticed my state.

I felt a presence just like this in the forest by the Royal Capital, the presence of a [Beast]

Why is it in the middle of this town?

“I’m sorry… I don’t know what you mean.”

“I may be imagining it, but… I’m a little tired.”

We only walked for a little bit in the town square and ate potatoes, though…

“I’m sorry, Lucia… I didn’t notice… do you want to go back?”

“ … No, Noel. Over there.”

Over in the shadow of a building, I point to an empty bench.

“Let’s go over to that bench. Also, tell Bridget to bring me a cold drink…”

“Yes, Lucia.”

He could tell that I was in the [Duke’s Daughter] mode, rather than the [Lucia] mode, so Noel obeyed his instructions like a servant.

It drew closer… little by little.

Its aim seems to be us, maybe because we are children? The [Beast’s] presence comes towards me, since I’m [Alone], quietly… steadily closing in.

Ye~s… Come.

You pest, you’re trespassing in my feeding grounds.

＊

“Princess-sama!”

The sharp sound of Bridget’s voice resounds through the square, and there was a scream as someone tried to kidnap a lone girl.

“Lucia!?”