The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

Q. How can a weak 5-year-old win a fight against three adults?

A. Let's call the police.

If three heads are better than one, then the internet can provide wisdom equivalent to about 100 grandmothers.

The wisdom of our predecessors is always great and noble, but that's precisely why it can't always be relied upon. There are often situations where you can't choose the shortest path to resolution.

"You wanna go, kid?"

One of the three men, seemingly the youngest, stepped forward.

He's flashing his knife ostentatiously, wearing a thin smile. The other two behind him don't seem interested in me, discussing where to hide Lilith.

Honestly, if I have any chance of winning, this is it.

A possibility as small as the eye of a needle.

"U-Uwaaaaaaah!"

I let out a loud yell and ran clumsily, dragging the wooden sword with both hands.

Objectively speaking, the man would probably only be wary of the wooden sword. A child's strength wouldn't cause much damage even if I hit him. With such overwhelming differences in speed and power, there's only one way to win one-on-one.

It's the opening called carelessness.

"Waaaah!"

I raised the wooden sword high a few steps before reaching striking distance.

The wooden sword slips out of my small hands. The man instinctively looked up at the sword flying almost straight up.

At that moment, I lowered my posture and ran with all my might towards the man's feet. I dive at his feet before the wooden sword reaches the peak of its parabola.

The man, having confirmed that the falling sword wouldn't hit him, finally returned his gaze to the ground. Of course, I'm not there anymore.

"Huh? Where did that kid--"

"Ultimate! Golden Buster!"

Power? Speed? Height or weight?

Those are stats for a fair fight.

A child's height is actually the perfect position in this case, with the man's weak point at eye level. It's helpful that it's easy to aim.

I swung both hands, joined together to mimic a hammer, with all my might.

"Guhaa!?"

The man's hips lift from the impact.

Sorry. As a fellow man, I sympathize. But I don't regret it, and there's no way I'd forgive you for this anyway. What are you doing making our sister cry, huh!

"Ugh, ah, ooh..."

The man is bent over, enduring the pain with a pale face. I pick up the wooden sword and raise it with both hands over his drooping head--

"Hah!"

I demonstrated the results of Verugana's boot camp sword-swinging practice.

Struck hard on the back of his head, the man collapses to the ground with his eyes rolled back. Oof, my hands are definitely numb...

But well, that's one down.

"You damn brat!"

One of the men who was talking finally notices the situation and hurriedly rushes over.

The same trick probably won't work twice. A surprise attack is only effective if you can exploit carelessness. This is where the real fight begins.

Even if I go all out, it's going to be tough, but Lilith is watching. I can't do anything uncool.

I exhale and take my stance with the sword.

Five more steps and he'll be within knife range. The wooden sword has a longer blade, but considering arm length, the opponent has a wider range. I'm probably at a huge disadvantage in terms of stats, but the "Calm and Collected" skill is pushing me forward.

Even so, there aren't many tactical options, so there's only one thing to do.

If I'm at a disadvantage in range, I'll close the distance myself -- I dive straight for the man's feet.

The man is holding the knife in a regular grip. It's hard to stab straight down. So he'll either have to bend forward to stab or switch to a reverse grip, but switching is troublesome. He'll probably instinctively bend forward, so if I aim for his lowered face--

"You damn brat!"

"Oof!"

I got kicked.

Like a soccer ball, I was kicked in the stomach and slammed back-first into a house wall before falling to the ground. This is bad, I can't breathe. My limbs are numb. I dropped the wooden sword too.

My back and stomach hurt like hell... but I have to stand up, I have to stand or else with no weapon--

"Don't get cocky, brat."

He steps on the wooden sword I dropped. The weapon creaks with a cracking sound. I instinctively reach out, but of course, I can't reach it.

The man snorts, looking at my state, and kicks the wooden sword behind him.

After confirming that my weapon is gone, the man turns back with a confident smile and--

"What the-!?"

"Single flower arrangement!"

An opening!

Hey, kidnapper number two, when did I say that wooden sword was my only weapon? Well, I might have implied it earlier, but who decided that was the only tool I could use? That wooden sword was Gavin's to begin with, and did you check where the knife that kidnapper number one lying at your feet had went? You didn't, right? It's now stuck in your foot!

"Owwww!"

I pierced his instep, nailing it to the ground. Even with a child's weight, you can do that much if you avoid the bone.

The man instinctively tries to pull out the knife stuck in his foot and--

"Hah!"

Who's going to protect your backside when you bend over?

The answer is: it's wide open!

My ultimate technique explodes into his crotch.

"Nngh, augh..."

Number two trembles and crouches down. Unable to move his foot, he curls up on the spot and faints.

Did you think I'd say something like "Sorry if you become impotent"? I won't forgive you until we get Lilith back safely, you idiot!

"Phew, one more to go."

"...You're not just some kid, are you?"

Kidnapper number three, who was called "boss" earlier, puts Lilith down on the ground roughly and stares at me. Hey, you bastard, don't handle Lilith so roughly.

My heart, about to charge in anger, is calmed by the "Calm and Collected" skill.

I no longer have any weapons. He's not hiding any either. We genuinely have to fight hand-to-hand, but kidnapper number three shows no carelessness or openings.

My only effective move left is to aim for the groin. The target is down there... I stare intently.

"Damn brat. I'll ask just in case, but do you want to become one of my subordinates? There aren't many kids who can handle adults like that. My guys were careless, but it's because your situational judgment surpassed theirs that you got this result. I've seen all sorts of people, but honestly, you're a rare talent. You could have a much more thrilling daily life than playing knight in these back alleys. Of course, you'd get money too. How about it? Not a bad deal, right?"

"Save your sleep-talking for when you're asleep."

"I see, negotiations have broken down then. Too bad... Ha!"

"So fast!?"

He was clearly faster than number one and two from earlier.

I was closed in on in an instant, and before I could do anything, I was kicked sideways. I thought I heard a sound from my side that shouldn't be made, and then I crashed into another house wall. Sorry again to the people living here, it's not on purpose.

As I slide down to the ground after strongly hitting my right side against the wall, the numbed sensation starts to return.

Intense pain. No, it's more than that. Did a bone pierce my internal organs? I can't hold back the nausea and vomit blood and gastric juices.

"That's a fatal wound. You're beyond saving now. You underestimated adults too much."

Ow, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts! And my right side that hit the wall is hot. I can't hear from my right ear anymore... no, more than that, the sensation on my right side is disappearing.

What's happening to the right side of my body? It probably feels like it's crushed as if run over by a truck.

Am I going to die... Ah, I see. I'm going to die.

The ground is soaked with my blood.

...But at least one shot.

I want to get in one last shot.

"G-go... to... hell..."

"Hmph. I've got complaints about two of my men being incapacitated too, but... whatever. I'll take this one."

"Mmph!"

Lilith, held by the man again, reaches out towards me.

Is it going to end so easily?

...Is it over?

I couldn't protect someone important to me.

Am I going to repeat that pain again?

I won't allow that. I won't allow it, Nanairo Gaku.

It's okay if my whole body is torn apart here. I don't have to wait for the death that's coming.

Move.

The man is still careless now.

If you don't move now, when will you? This is according to plan, right?

Hey, isn't that right, "Calm and Collected" senpai!

-----------------------------------

> "Numerology 7: Self-Adjustment" has been activated.

>> Physical functions will be restored.

-----------------------------------

"...Huh?"

What appeared in my field of vision was a notification of such a skill activation.

A skill I don't remember having -- is this a hidden skill? Numerology 7? What does this mean?

Before I could question it further, I felt my body being repaired.

It was a strange sensation. Without pain or discomfort, the damaged parts seemed to reverse-regenerate back to normal. Is this what they call a healing skill? Is this the secret that revived Ruruk's body... Eh, no way.

Am I already completely healed?

I've had various injuries when I was young, but of course, this is my first experience of injuries healing at such an overwhelming speed. I was intensely shaken by the drastic change... but this is no time for that. Even without relying on "Calm and Collected," my brain was clear.

...Carelessness.

I think that's unavoidable.

He probably didn't think that a child with half their body crushed would have their wounds completely healed in a matter of tens of seconds. It's because I didn't think so myself that number three let his guard down. He was trying to kick number one and two, who were foaming at the mouth and twitching, to wake them up.

I approach his back.

The technique of killing my presence and muffling my footsteps was cultivated in the mansion.

I was desperately trying to catch Verugana off guard while going along with Gavin's pranks. The blind maid is sensitive to sound and can detect even the slightest disturbance in the air or subtle changes. We haven't succeeded even once, but as long as the mischievous kid's spirit persists, we'll keep challenging her.

I stood silently behind number three, joined both hands and swung them up vigorously towards his weak point and--

"!?"

He noticed!

My arms swung through empty air, and number three once again threw Lilith aside and this time jumped backwards. He retreated about two meters in one step. Incredible physical strength.

"You damn brat! How the hell did you--"

"I am immortal!"

I can't give him time to think.

No matter how difficult a frontal assault might be, this is the only chance while he's flustered. Once he regains his composure, winning becomes impossible. If even a surprise attack is dealt with, I'll aim for his weak point head-on!

"You creepy kid, bring it on!"

"Uoooooh!"

I charge in. Whether I'm kicked, stabbed with a knife, or whatever happens, I'm going to aim for his weak point. I'm only aiming for a mutual strike counter! If my hand reaches even a little, I'll crush it!

"Guards! The kidnappers are over here!"

"Damn it!?"

Gavin's shout echoed.

Number three panics. He looks back at Gavin calling for the guards, glances at me charging in, follows Lilith thrown on the ground with his eyes -- that hesitation became a decisive opening.

I had been aiming for number three's weak point the whole time. From beginning to end, I was only aiming for that spot. Have I ever stared at an old man's weak point this intently in my life before? No, I probably haven't. I hope I never will again in the future... I pray I won't.

Anyway, if I stare at it that much, number three will realize that I'm only aiming for his weak point. He needs to protect his weak point. There's no way a child's strength could do anything else.

So, he probably couldn't predict this development.

"You know, there was this here where you jumped back to."

The man, wary of my unarmed range, missed the moment I picked up the wooden sword because he let his gaze wander.

You understand now, right? The range of the wooden sword is wider than the man's kick.

"Uraaaaah!"

Even the strong warrior monks who made a name for themselves in the Heian period had this weak point. Well, unless you're extremely trained, it's probably a weak point for all of humanity. After all, there's hardly any flesh protecting it.

My full swing with the wooden sword directly hit number three's shin.

"Nguah!"

Number three grimaced and stepped back. While holding his painful leg, he glares at me and points the tip of his knife at me. I guess this alone won't be the decisive blow.

"You damn... brat... I won't forgive you. No, I won't forgive you. This time I'll really kill--"

"Ultimate Back Gate Break!"

"Guhaa!?"

Carelessness, yes, carelessness.

He probably didn't have the composure due to the pain. He didn't even sense Gavin sneaking up behind him.

I practice stealth too, but of course, Gavin does the same. To defeat the blind muscle granny, even my useless step-brother can do it when he needs to.

Using the ultimate technique I taught him, Gavin this time brought number three to the brink of death.

He was just trembling earlier, but I've gained a bit of respect for him now.

"H-How's that, you kidnapper! Give Lilith back!"

"Y-You... that's not fair..."

"-- Ultimate"

"Eep"

Number three glares at Gavin while bent over, holding his butt. Behind him, I swing my arm.

"Golden Buster!"

"Gyaaah"

It might be cowardly. We might have only used the most forbidden attacks against men. From the perspective of chivalrous knight ideals, it's probably not something to be praised.

But none of that matters.

We save Lilith.

That's all we fought for.