Ch. 116

Big Sis didn’t even know what this was. She had no idea of its value.

That’s why I stood at a difficult crossroads.

Should I lie and say it was some cheap trinket to increase the chance of keeping it? Or should I tell the truth and make it impossible to have it, no matter how much I begged?

[What’s got you so torn up?]

[If it were someone I didn’t like, I’d lie without hesitation. But it’s Big Sis Anel.]

[Come on, I could make an identical replica. Let’s switch it out!]

[If there’s a devil whispering inside me, it’s all you.]

[Master! I’m only responding to the voice of your heart! Though I do nudge it toward what I like. Kyahaha!]

If Undine was an angel, then Rai was definitely a devil.

The problem was I spent more time with the devil than the angel.

“Geenie, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Well… this is…”

[Say it’s junk!]

“It might be broken and useless.”

At that moment, what stirred noisily within me was overwhelming greed and a sliver of conscience.

And in most cases, my conscience was buried so deep under greed it couldn’t even lift its head.

“…No. I-I-I can fix it.”

“That’s a relief!”

“And if I can fix it… it might be a treasure no Spirit Mage will ever find again.”

It was such a hard decision I ended up stammering.

Rarely, but sometimes, my conscience did win.

That was when the other person was just too kind. And when they looked at me with that completely trusting expression.

That’s why I preferred wicked people. No guilt no matter what I did to them!

Why do you have to be so good, Big Sis!

Suddenly, all the countless times my greed had triumphed flashed through my mind.

It just meant there were that many awful people in the world.

“Then what about you? Does it mean something to you?”

“Of course it does. I told you, it’s precious.”

“That’s great. Then if I give it to you, could you do me a favor?”

I thought I misheard.

Big Sis was still smiling so warmly, I wondered if I’d let my greed twist her words into something else.

I asked, suspicious.

“…You’re giving it to me?”

“Yes.”

“But it’s a village heirloom passed down through generations!”

“It belonged to the chieftain. And I’m the next chieftain of this village.”

So there was another reason Kenta was cast aside. In a way, Big Sis was practically royalty.

“And no one’s going to care if it’s gone. It doesn’t mean much to us. But if it’s useful to you, I’d like you to grant me a favor.”

“…What is it? I can’t catch a dragon.”

I was a little nervous about what kind of request was coming my way.

What kind of favor would make someone so readily give away something they’d guarded for years?

“Would you take Annie to the city?”

—

You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s it?

It was so easy it left me speechless.

While I was still stunned and unsure how to respond, Big Sis pulled off the pouch hanging at her waist and handed it to me.

“Actually, the reason I brought you here was to ask this favor.”

The pouch I received without thinking was pretty heavy—by human standards, anyway.

“This is everything I’ve saved up while working as a mercenary. It may not be much to you… but if you take the certificates inside to the bank, they’ll exchange them for more. It’s all yours.”

Even if it was broken, after giving me two Spirit Stones and now money on top of that, this Big Sis was doing a seriously losing deal.

This is why kind people always get the short end of the stick.

Should I explain in painful detail how valuable the necklace was? Maybe it wouldn’t resonate with someone who wasn’t a Spirit Mage.

“Please. Could you use this to get Annie into the academy?”

“The academy…”

“Yes, you’re a noble, aren’t you?”

Only then, hearing that earnest voice, did I realize what my true mission was.

No wonder the request was so easy.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“You seemed like you were trying to hide it, but it showed. I don’t know if it was because you were afraid we’d hate you, or because you were in a mercenary den and worried about your safety, but I think everyone knew.”

“I thought I did a pretty good job hiding it.”

“It’s worse now, but… you just look like a noble lady no matter what.”

Ugh, my elegance really is uncontainable. I practically ooze refinement even while doing nothing, and exude grace just by breathing.

I was secretly pleased by the unexpected compliment.

Until Rai had to chime in.

[Master really is the obnoxious type, isn’t she?]

[…Hey.]

[Oh? Did that hit a nerve? You wouldn’t react if it wasn’t true, right?]

Annoying little spirit brat.

Fine, I see where you get it—from your master. If Big Sis weren’t here, I’d rip every last hair off you…

“Geenie… please help me. You can do it, right? Please, say yes.”

The mood was too serious, so punishing Rai would have to wait.

Big Sis’s expression was so desperate, and the weight of the pouch in my hand wasn’t light either.

Her eyes were dark with worry, not for herself, but for someone else.

I saw a trace of my mother in Big Sis.

It didn’t take long to assess the situation.

Even I could tell Annie was too delicate for the jungle.

“So, to be clear—what you’re asking is this? You want me to get Annie into an academy?”

“Yes!”

Big Sis nodded instantly, then took on a more cautious tone.

“Is that asking too much?”

It’s not like I’d tried before, but it wasn’t impossible.

My connections were decent, and this time, I was confident I could score points with the king when I returned.

“Annie always asked for things I couldn’t give her. Like going to the academy, or getting out of sword training… or meeting her father.”

“Oh dear.”

“She always dreamed of living in the city. Said she hated the jungle, always begged me to take her away. It’s not that I didn’t look into it. But it was impossible… Still, if you help, maybe there’s a chance somewhere, right?”

If you were sending a child alone to the city, a boarding-type academy was ideal.

There were many academies on the continent, and the more prestigious they were, the harder they were to get into.

Of course, there were plenty of average academies that accepted students with money and a letter of recommendation.

The problem was the status restriction.

At minimum, you had to be a commoner.

If you were a slave, admission was out of the question. Tribal children were slightly better off, but it was still nearly impossible.

Being a tribal meant you weren’t even a commoner or a slave—you were nothing.

Tribes often didn’t participate in national wars, so naturally, they didn’t receive the nation’s benefits either.

Like status certification or basic education support.

“You’re the only noble I could ask something like this.”

Most academies only accepted their own citizens, so foreigners or tribal students needed powerful backers.

Officially, at least a Count-level household was required to sponsor someone.

But no Count would vouch for a tribal child they didn’t even know. No one wanted to take on that kind of risk.

As I stayed silent, Big Sis’s face darkened like the inside of a cave.

“I’m sorry. Please don’t think I was being nice to you just for this favor. I struggled with it too.”

“I don’t think that. If you had ulterior motives, I would’ve noticed.”

“…I guess I’m not a good mom.”

“Big Sis.”

“I often thought Annie wanted to live like you. Born into nobility, attending a good academy… maybe she just wanted to live somewhere safe.”

We hadn’t been reunited long, so I couldn’t be sure what kind of mom Big Sis was.

But I could feel, even if vaguely, that she cared deeply for Annie.

That she thought of her constantly, just like many other mothers.

“She wasn’t always such a timid and shy child. She used to be like any other kid. She didn’t keep to herself like now.”

I had wondered if she was alone because she had no friends. Guess I was right.

“What happened to her?”

“…There was an accident. After that, she refused to touch a sword, had severe episodes at the sight of blood, and couldn’t fit in with anyone. Being scared is… something that gets mocked around here.”

“Well, your tribe is known for bravery. I can see that.”

Big Sis sighed and gently touched the scabbard on her waist before continuing bitterly.

The more I heard, the more I felt grateful toward my own parents.

Thanks for not letting me be born in the jungle.

“She was younger back then. She was out in the woods with a group of close friends to study herbs… There were adults too. But everyone except Annie was eaten by an ogre. Right in front of her, while still alive.”

“…That’s horrifying.”

“She survived because she hid early, and the ogre was too full after eating the others.”

Yeah, I wouldn’t want to live in the jungle either.

Suddenly, I recalled the vivid image of Magi devouring that ogre. The thought made my stomach churn.

Watching people be eaten like that would give you more than a weak stomach—it would scar your soul.

Especially when dragons eat ogres and ogres eat people… that food chain really messed with my head.

“Since then, she changed. She grew terrified of blood, had nightmares every night. She became scared of the woods she once loved. Couldn’t stand being without me… cried all the time. That’s when she started wanting to leave for the city.”

There was nothing more I needed to hear. I nodded.

“I can help her get into an academy.”

“Really? Thank you!”

“But on two conditions. First, I’ll be borrowing this Spirit Stone necklace until I die. Second, Annie must agree to come with me on her own.”

Maybe I should’ve asked to keep it instead?

No, whatever. I won’t need it when I’m dead.

Big Sis bit her lip and nodded quickly to my conditions.

“Of course, I promise! That child will be so happy. Ah! How can I ever thank you… Geenie, I swear. If you ever need my help someday, I’ll be there. Our tribe treasures favors like life itself. I’ll never forget this.”

She took my hands and poured out her gratitude, and I could see her eyes were definitely wet.

I knew they were tears of joy.

“And Big Sis, did you know? Annie might have the talent of a Spirit Mage.”

“Annie? A Spirit Mage?”

“She heard me talking to a spirit. That’s a very rare ability.”

“I had no idea… I only ever thought she lacked talent in swordsmanship. A Spirit Mage, huh.”

“And at the academy I attend—Royal Drike Academy—that’s the only Spirit Studies department on the continent. How does that sound?”

To be honest, that was the only place I could actually get her into.