The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

"Hey, beansprout! Duel me!"

"I said duel me!"

"Duel! It's a duel! Take up your sword!"

Oh no, I'm about to go crazy.

Ever since Gavin challenged me to a duel the other day, he's been clinging to me at every opportunity.

At first, I was able to fend him off with Lilith's verbal attacks of "Shut up and go away!", but lately even that hasn't been working. I wonder what his goal is, challenging me to a duel even if it means being hated by Lilith. His eyes are bloodshot, so it can't be anything good.

Even so, I'm reaching my limit of ignoring him. Thanks to the most important rule of knight families - never raise a hand against family members - he won't use force against me, but... could he be aiming for a mental attack? If so, that siscon brother is quite the schemer.

"Duel me today, you coward!"

Gavin shouts at me while I'm resting in the shade after early morning practice, facing me while still holding the rake. What a surreal scene.

"Why don't you accept it already?"

"You say that, but if you give in to these types once, they'll think they can get away with it again and again. It's like being habitually late. Don't you have people like that at your workplace?"

"...Young master Ruruk, are you really 5 years old?"

Oops, gotta keep up the role-play.

"Well, I can understand what you're saying... but I think you could at least hear him out. He is your brother, after all."

"Are you just saying that because you want to see me get beaten up and suffer?"

"Well, I certainly wouldn't mind seeing that."

"Could you at least try to hide it a little?"

What an honest old lady.

Well, I guess I haven't heard Gavin's reason for his constant "duel me" pestering yet.

...Sigh, I don't really want to, but I guess I'll ask.

"Gavin! Why do you want to duel?"

"I want to know our current strength!"

Strength... huh.

I looked at Verugana next to me. This demon instructor claims to be stronger than our father, the kingdom's head knight. Certainly, she's not a good benchmark for children to measure their strength against, but...

If that's the case, why not use the other soldiers instead of me? They don't come to our training, but there seem to be quite a few guarding the mansion grounds and outside.

When I said this, Gavin shook his head.

"No! I want to know your and my current strength!"

"Mine?"

Isn't that obvious if we just compare our status?

We're both still level 1. With no bonus stats, our base stats alone should be enough to tell. If I remember correctly, all your stats except agility and intelligence are about twice mine. That's quite high for an average 8-year-old, isn't it?

You swing your sword every day and you're quite strong for a child. That's who you are, Gavin.

"That's not what young master Gavin is trying to say."

"Then what does he want to compare?"

"If battles were decided by status alone, little miss Lilith would be sold as a slave by now."

Hmm. That's the worst possible future.

But I see, certainly status is just a numerical representation of physical abilities. It's not the same as actual strength.

"...But I haven't even done sparring practice yet."

"Well, we can work around that. How about we make it so that young master Gavin has to pull his punches, while you can hit as much as you want?"

"Oh, that's quite a good condition."

Is it time to settle old grudges?

But there's no way Gavin would agree to such conditions--

"That's fine."

"Huh? Really?"

"Yeah. If it lets me know our strength."

He wanted to duel that badly, huh.

Hmm, I feel like I'm being backed into a corner here. Refusing at this point is... probably impossible.

I'm Ruruk. A man who easily goes with the flow.

"Well, if that's the case, then okay. Remember to pull your punches, Gavin. If you don't, I'll have them take away your dinner."

"Yeah."

He's being obedient! This is the most obedient Gavin I've ever seen!

It might snow tomorrow. Even though it's midsummer.

"Well then, since the ground is ready, let's start right away. We'll use the basic duel rules. It's a one-point match simulating real combat. The match ends when a proper hit is judged to have landed. Young master Gavin has to pull his punches, young master Ruruk can attack freely, but both of you should avoid attacks to vital points."

"What, that's not allowed!?"

"We're not fighting outlaws here, fight fair and square."

Tch.

More than half of my strategies have been crushed.

But well, I don't need to be fixated on winning. What Gavin wants to see is the difference in our abilities, so there's no need to resort to underhanded tactics to obsess over the result. I just need to fight like a gentleman, fair and square.

I'm an adult, so I can put winning or losing as a secondary concern.

"Make sure you both give it your all. Whoever loses will skip lunch."

Alright, bring it on! I'll win no matter what!

"Now then, face each other... begin!"

At Verugana's signal, Gavin and I glared at each other.

Thanks to training, I'm used to swinging the wooden sword. However, due to lack of practical experience, I'm not good at managing distance, so there's no way I can win in a battle of wits.

I'm at a disadvantage in height too. If I remember correctly, our agility is about the same, so if I can outmaneuver him, it would be there. But Gavin may be stupid, but he's not a fool. He probably knows my agility stat, so he won't make any attacks with big openings.

He's not letting his guard down, carefully watching for an opening. He's shown some feinting footwork a few times, but since I'm not reacting, he seems unable to move. Well, it's just that I can't move because I've never done sparring practice.

"Hah!"

"Whoa!"

A thrust came.

I immediately shift my foot half a step to escape the range. Since I widened the distance, there was no follow-up attack.

His movement is too slow compared to that "big bro" who charged at me in the back alley. Indeed, Gavin's stats are nearly double mine, but it seems I have the advantage in judgment of offense and defense and calmness. Well, I'm 18 years old inside after all, so even though he's trained, I don't find a child's speed threatening.

However, I need to attack as well to settle this... ahem, to decide the match. But this body has low physical abilities.

Hmm, what should I do?

"Are you scared, beansprout? You really are just a beansprout!"

"Oh? You said it, didn't you?"

Cheap provocation.

But it seems to have had an effect. My passive thinking switches to how to beat up that little brat. In a direct clash, I'm sure to lose in both strength and technique. So if we can't be on equal footing, I should create an advantageous situation... That's it. Yeah, let's do that.

Fair and square?

Fine, I'll show you.

"Shh!"

I swung my sword parallel from outside his range.

Of course, it won't hit Gavin. But that's not an attack. It's not setting up anything either.

It's just to keep Gavin from getting closer at this moment.

You want to measure our current strength? Fine. Then I'll show you everything I've got.

"'Transcription'"

I manipulate spirit elements and activate the skill.

The basic Substitution skill, 'Transcription', which creates a copy of a possessed item.

What appeared in my left hand was--

"What! Two swords is cheating!"

Another wooden sword.

What's cheating about it? I'm just showing my full strength!

I raise my left hand and throw it at Gavin.

"Damn it!"

Gavin quickly switched to a defensive stance and deflected the flying sword.

He looks like he wants to complain more, but... hey, who said I could only use Transcription once?

"'Transcription'! 'Transcription'! 'Transcription'! 'Transcription'!"

"Wait! Hold on! You bastard! That's not fair!"

I keep copying and throwing, copying and throwing.

By the way, these imitations disappear after about 5 seconds, so if I don't throw them immediately, they'll vanish before reaching the target. Moreover, the basic 'Transcription' only copies the appearance, so the inside is hollow and it doesn't hurt at all even if it hits.

It's basically just a bluff.

But Gavin can't let his guard down and keeps defending against the endless barrage of wooden swords I'm throwing.

Fuhahaha! It's always my turn!

"Damn it! If that's how you want to play... I beseech thee! Mother source of life, grant me a cool droplet to pierce him as a pebble--"

"Just kidding."

That's right. I was waiting for this.

Can't win against him in swordsmanship? Then don't fight with swordsmanship. If you lose by standing on the same ground, then drag him off that ground. I know that brat is bad at magic, and of course I know he needs to use both hands to aim.

I knew that if he realized he couldn't get close, he'd switch to long-range magic.

And that's your opening.

I deliberately charged in just before the last half of the magic chant - right before it could be activated. Gavin hesitated whether to counter with magic or readjust his sword. Well, even if he hadn't hesitated, it probably wouldn't have been in time.

After all, our agility is about the same.

"Uoryaa!"

"Guheh!"

I delivered a beautiful straight strike to Gavin's flabby stomach.

Holding back? Sorry, I left that behind in my previous life!

"Match over!"

Verugana called the end of the match.

Hmm. I wanted to settle one more grudge... but it can't be helped. I'll hold back. So, let's say that was for Lilith's interrupted fun time in the study, and I'll save mine for next time. When I get another chance, I'll beat you to my heart's content! Be prepared!

But well, all's well that ends well, as they say.

I extend my hand to the fallen Gavin.

"It was a good match, worthy opponent..."

"No it wasn't! Hey, you damn old hag! That doesn't count, right?!"

"What doesn't count? I never said it was just a sword match. I did say both of you should use all your abilities, though."

"Guh... but that Mystic Art is definitely unfair no matter how you look at it!"

"Is that so? If you think that, it's just a lack of judgment on your part. Right, young master Ruruk?"

Oh, it's my turn now.

I feel like having the winner explain - or rather, point out the loser's mistakes - after a match is the most humiliating thing for the loser... Ah, no, Verugana is showing quite an evil smile. It's on purpose, so I guess it's fine.

"That's right. The basic 'Transcription' can only copy the appearance and texture of materials, but there's nothing inside. It's almost weightless, so even if it hits your body, it won't hurt or cause damage. If you had charged in while I was using 'Transcription', I would have lost easily."

"That's right. If you had been calm, you would have noticed the difference from the real sword when you deflected the thrown ones... Not noticing that was the reason for your defeat."

"...Damn it!"

Gavin, forced to accept the logic, cursed and punched the ground.

"Listen. Strength isn't determined by status, techniques, or skills alone. You need to be able to use your surroundings, make quick judgments and thoughts, and have luck on your side. Especially young master Ruruk, who had properly prepared a 'strategy'. That was the key to victory this time, right?"

"Well, yes. Since Gavin was so noisy about wanting a duel, I had thought of several ways to win."

"That's right. 'Preparation' also affects winning and losing. That's what a match is all about... Well, it's not something a normal 5-year-old would do, though."

Oops, this has nothing to do with role-playing. I hope they'll accept that as just natural intelligence.

However, no matter how much logic we throw at him, only about half of it will probably sink in for Gavin right now. That's just how humans are, driven by emotions.

So, to Gavin who's glaring at me with dissatisfaction, I say this:

"By the way, Gavin, Lilith was watching too."

"Huh?"

On the third floor of the mansion.

Lilith was watching from a window, probably her private room. When I wave, she jumps up and down and waves back enthusiastically.

"You were so persistent about wanting a match... Lilith seems happy too. Good for you, Gavin... Huh? Was that overkill? Hey Gavin, answer me! Gavin--!"

Gavin's eyes rolled back and he started foaming at the mouth.

Come to think of it, this is normal for him, but I'll exaggeratedly perform last rites because it's fun.

Look, even Lilith is excitedly jumping around at the sight of Gavin's pale face. You look like you're having fun, Lilith, but do you know what they call that? Beating a dead horse.

Namu Amida Butsu, may Gavin rest in peace~!

"Sigh. You guys are never boring, are you?"

Verugana's exasperated voice became the requiem.

For a while after that, we three siblings spent our days like this.

Training our bodies and Mystic Arts, sometimes studying as nobles and gaining knowledge about this world.

We rarely saw our father who occasionally came home, and he seemed to be preparing various things for the future where I would be married into a viscount's family when I turned 10, but...

Our daily life changed greatly four years later.

< Childhood Arc → END

 NEXT → Apprentice Arc >

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Author Notes:

  [Thank you for reading this far!

This concludes Chapter I [The Faceless Heart] Prologue: Childhood Arc.

The Apprentice Arc will begin from the next chapter.

If you enjoyed it, please bookmark!]

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