The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

[TL notes: Gaui -> Gavin]

"Master, I've brought Young Master Ruruk."

"So you've come."

This is the second floor, the family dining room.

While I was being taught about this world and the Muuteru ducal family in Verugana's room, a maid came to fetch me. Apparently, my father wanted to talk to me.

There didn't seem to be an option to ignore it, so I reluctantly moved.

As I entered the dining room, my father was glaring at me from the most luxurious sofa.

Duke Digray Muuteru.

He's my father and serves as the second commander of the kingdom's knights, one of the top knights of the realm.

Standing easily over two meters tall with a fierce face. He looks like a gorilla who could casually crush an apple, and apparently his physical abilities are far beyond that of ordinary people.

The difference in physique makes me doubt if he's really my father.

Even just sitting there, he had the intimidating presence of a fierce beast that could kill small animals with a glare.

I can only muster the presence of a baby rabbit at best, so I quietly respond.

"Yes, did you call for me?"

"How are you feeling?"

He's not... concerned, is he?

Multiple gazes from around the room were focused on my words and actions.

Other family members were seated near my father.

Sitting on the closest sofa was a sharp-eyed, intelligent-looking woman in her 30s. With an atmosphere reminiscent of Cinderella's stepmother, she was probably the second wife, Matine, according to Verugana's information.

The chubby child next to her was Matine's third son, my brother who's two years older than me. His name was... what was it again?

On a sofa slightly apart from them sat a young woman who looked like a college student, with a small girl beside her.

The mother is the third wife, Rina, and the little girl is probably my sister. I think the sister's name was Lilith. She was peering at me with frightened eyes, half-hidden behind her mother's arm.

I see, I see.

This interrogation isn't out of concern for me, but to share information with them.

Of course, they might be afraid that the cursed child who was supposed to be dead has become an undead. Apparently, such monsters exist in this world. The reason I was summoned was straightforward.

In that case, I'll answer briskly. Right now, I'm overflowing with vitality as if I've drunk 10 energy drinks. Besides, Verugana had only told me that Ruruk was polite, albeit emotionless.

To emphasize that I am Ruruk, let's role-play.

"Yes. I'm fine."

"I see. I heard the mana toxin has disappeared, do you have any idea why?"

"No. I can't confirm any healing skills in my status."

"...I see."

Digray let out a low growl.

This is currently a puzzling situation for me as well.

According to Verugana, there are healing skills in other systems too, so if we go to the church for an appraisal spell, it would become clear, but...

"Father, could we go to the church for an appraisal?"

"That's not possible. As I've said many times, you are forbidden from going outside."

"...I see."

Right, of course.

I knew that. Even though the toxin in my body has disappeared, I'm still a weak boy with mana deficiency syndrome -- unable to use any sorcery.

This Muuteru family has a history of all male children becoming excellent knights and contributing to the kingdom.

Among them, a cursed child like me is truly a disgrace to the ducal family.

Of course, Ruruk's existence is kept secret, and he's not allowed to freely walk the streets. He'll probably be confined to the mansion in the same state of house arrest for a while longer.

In modern Japan, this would be a case for child protective services, but unfortunately, this is another world and we're in the heart of noble society. I've encountered many such stories before, so I can understand, but... damn, being the one involved makes it frustrating.

Anyway, I nodded quietly without pressing the issue, and Digray let out a big sigh. He immediately ordered a nearby maid to prepare some alcohol and his expression turned sour. He no longer even tried to include me in his field of vision.

It seems our brief conversation was over after just a few exchanges.

While my father's attitude showed not just a lack of affection but even hatred, I, having been informed of the reasons by Verugana, didn't react and just bowed my head slightly as I left the room.

Phew.

I take a breath after closing the door.

"Well, you're certainly disliked, aren't you, Ruruk-kun?"

The second and third wives gave me looks that clearly showed they found me a nuisance.

By the way, the first wife (Ruruk's birth mother) died while giving birth to Ruruk. It seems that's part of the reason why the father resents his son.

Just being a cursed child probably wouldn't cause this much aversion.

"But I still feel sorry for you. It's not like it was your fault, Ruruk-kun..."

"Hey, you weakling!"

As I was wallowing in sentiment, a voice called out from behind.

I've been called a weakling a few times in my Nanairo days too, so I naturally realized this insult was directed at me. Somehow, I feel like I've lost to my previous life...

Anyway, the one who called this 5-year-old recovering patient a weakling was,

"If I remember correctly... Kiwi?"

"It's Gavin!"

Ah, right, Gavin. My slightly chubby brother who's two years older.

According to Verugana's brief assessment, he's a bit of a brat?

As my brother approached with an attitude that screamed "I'm a bully!", I hesitated a bit. We're in the hallway right outside the dining room, and if the door opens, our conversation might be overheard.

I had decided to pretend to be Ruruk and behave quietly for a while. I wish they'd leave me alone except for Verugana...

"Hey weakling, I heard your sickness is cured?"

"Hmm... you could say that, or you could say it's not..."

Like the poison is gone but the aftereffects remain?

At my ambiguous answer, Gavin showed a momentary look of displeasure, but quickly put on a sticky smile and put his hand on my shoulder as if to loom over me.

"You're healthy now, right? Then let's play. You don't have the right to refuse, weakling!"

"Play? What are we going to do?"

"Just a bit of water play. Come on, let's go."

"Come back when you've become a beautiful older sister."

"Huh?"

Oops, my worldly desires slipped out.

That was too mature an answer for a 5-year-old.

To cover it up, I'll pretend to be innocent and follow along.

"It's nothing. Of course, that's fine. I'm happy you want to play with me~"

"Oh! You get it, don't you, weakling!"

Well, I guess I'd be taken along either way.

I wonder what kind of water play we're going to do. Surely there isn't a river within the mansion grounds.

I didn't have a good feeling about this, but Gavin was stronger than he looked. Since I wouldn't be able to shake off his arm anyway, I silently allowed myself to be dragged along by Gavin.

□ □ □ □ □

Dear parents,

"I beseech thee, source of maternal life--"

I am overwhelmed with emotion right now!

"Grant me a single drop of cool refreshment--"

The chanting of sorcery.

This is truly the essence of another world.

Sorcery was a part of stories that could never be experienced in modern Japan. It's an imaginary technology that exists as a matter of course in fantasy novels and manga that I've read countless times. There probably isn't a boy or girl who hasn't dreamed of mastering it freely.

And now it's happening right before my eyes. Is this a dream? Is it a dream? If it is, please tell me so. If it's not, please don't let me wake up!

"Become a pebble that pierces him and burst forth-- 'Water Ball'!"

A ball of water created from empty space and fired. Ah, so this is sorcery, it's sorcery! I'm so moved, I can't see through my tears of joy--

"Yes! It hit your face, so that's 10 points!"

Gavin, my chubby brother, was shouting with joy after hitting the 5-year-old's pretty face with a water ball.

By the way, this is the guest bathroom on the first floor. It's a needlessly large and luxurious bathroom that could probably fit about 20 people at once. It's like a public bath.

I'm standing at the edge of the sparkling clean bathtub, serving as a practice target for Gavin's sorcery.

"I'm going to hit you continuously! Don't move!"

He chants again and uses the "Water Ball" sorcery.

The next one misses, veering to the right. The one after that misses too, veering to the left. The next one hits my foot. Apparently, the foot is worth 3 points.

"Damn! It's not going where I aim!"

The chanting is the same, but the trajectory of the water ball keeps changing.

As the target, I'm extremely bored, so after mentally composing a letter to my parents, I just observe Gavin.

The humiliation of being forcibly made a target? Come on, he's just a child, you know? As an adult, I approach children's games with a loving heart, so I don't feel anything like that at all. Gavin-kun, keep practicing your sorcery and grow a bit using my sacrifice as nourishment. And when you grow up, let me punch you once, okay?

"I missed again! Why!"

"Isn't it because your arm is moving?"

Looking at him head-on, I can see that the moment Gavin activates his sorcery, his right arm aimed at me wavers slightly. If he's using that arm position to imagine and aim, that slight deviation becomes a big deviation by the time it reaches me several meters away.

"It's not moving!"

"It is. Why don't you try fixing your right arm with your left hand?"

"Shut up!"

Perhaps annoyed by my suggestion, he deliberately hid his left hand behind his back and activated the sorcery.

The water ball flew off in a completely wrong direction.

Ah, the buckets that were neatly arranged have been knocked over. They're rolling all the way to my feet.

Even after that, he tried aiming with just his right arm several times, but he couldn't even graze me.

*Yawn* I'm bored. It seems Gavin can only use "Water Ball", and seeing the same thing over and over has dulled my excitement. I wish I could see some different sorcery.

After failing many times, Gavin started breathing heavily. Sweat began to form on his forehead. Does sorcery use physical energy... or is it that? The thing often heard in fantasy, running out of mana?

"Hey weakling! This is the last one, I'll definitely hit you this time!"

"Okay~ It'd be nice if you could hit me."

Sending a light provocation, Gavin's face contorted as if he was about to shout. But he swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth, and this time he started chanting after placing his left hand on his right hand. Oh, it seems his pride (frustration at not being able to hit) has overcome his pride (anger at being mocked).

"'Water Ball'!"

"Good form. Your left hand should be placed-- bleh!"

Direct hit to the face. 10 points for Gavin-kun!

"I did it! See that, weakling! This is what happens when I get serious! I'm a genius!"

"Heh, I have nothing left to teach you..."

Seriously, I have nothing to teach because I lack knowledge.

Gavin crosses his arms and puffs out his chest proudly.

"Listen up, weakling! Keep quiet to the blind old hag about me being a sorcery genius! That damn hag always makes fun of my sorcery, saying it's clumsy. Next time I'll deliberately hit that damn hag's butt with sorcery!"

"Won't you get scolded for that?"

"The damn hag thinks I'm unskilled, right? So even if I hit her, I can insist it was an accident!"

"I see."

My brother is quite cunning, isn't he.

"...But you know, Gavin."

"What?"

I pointed behind Gavin.

"Doesn't it lose meaning if the person in question heard it?"

"Huh-- guhaa!?"

Verugana's fist came down on Gavin's head.

Gavin's eyes rolled back.

"Really... this brat never learns to reflect. Come on, I'm going to punish you."

"L-Let go, you damn hag! How dare you hit me! I'm Lord's son!"

"Is that so? So what?"

"I'll tell Father! You're fired! You'll be executed!"

"Say what you want. I'm the one entrusted by that lord to educate you lot. If you had the guts to kick me out, you would've done it already."

Verugana dragged Gavin away.

She stopped briefly before leaving the room and turned back.

"Young Master Ruruk, it's almost dinner time, so hurry up and change clothes and return to your room. I'll be instructing you from early morning tomorrow. I'm going to beat that spineless attitude out of you that lets this brat do whatever he wants."

"Ah, yes."

Training from early morning... that's going to be tough for me who hates exercise.

Well, let's leave tomorrow's problems to tomorrow's me. For now, I'm hungry. It seems dinner is soon, so I should wait quietly.

Oh, but I need to change clothes first. In this short time since reincarnating, this is already the third time I'm changing.

Hmm, I think I should find the maid in charge of laundry and tell her it's not bed-wetting. She's definitely going to misunderstand.

...Come to think of it, a meal in another world, huh. I'm looking forward to it.

Being a high-ranking noble's dinner, it shouldn't be modest.

"I bet it'll be quite a luxurious meal."

I didn't yet know that this murmur would become a flag.