The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

We returned to the high-class inn.

As Roze was checking in at the same inn, I, who had already gotten a room, went up the stairs without concern.

I paid for two people's accommodation, but in the end, it's just me. Since I'm already in the room, I can't ask them to change it, so I guess I'll sleep using both beds today. Hehehe. Actually, I've always wanted to indulge in this kind of wasteful luxury!

Just as I was thinking this, for some reason, Elen had followed me to the room.

"Huh? Elen, didn't you get a room?"

"Mm, I'll sleep here."

Elen flopped down on the bed that was supposed to be for Saaya.

She buried her face in the fluffy bed, then said,

"...Smells like a woman."

"Woman? Saaya is only 10 years old, you know?"

"A woman is a woman."

As expected of the sheep-folk who spend their entire lives looking like young girls. It seems the age or appearance of others doesn't matter to her.

Well, it's not like there's anything improper going on, and even if there was, there's no need to make excuses. I'll just leave the grumpy Elen be. She'll probably cheer up when it's time for dinner.

For now, let's just take it easy for the rest of the day.

Thinking this, I started laying out my equipment on the built-in table. I took out my wallet from my pouch and replenished what I had used from the savings box I had deposited in Elen's item box. The item box that can also be used as a bank is too convenient... I really need to seriously research if I can create storage spaces with mystical arts.

As I was maintaining my mithril dagger, there was a knock at the room door.

Before I could answer, Roze came in with a matter-of-fact expression.

"Mind if we talk a bit before dinner?"

"Sure, I don't mind."

"Mm."

I pulled out a chair and turned it around.

Roze sat in another chair, while Elen remained lying on the bed.

"It's about that Saaya girl. First, there's something I need to tell you both."

"This is unusual, you being so formal."

"This time, it's a bit special."

Roze began to speak after this preface.

"Ruruk. You may not be able to cultivate magical power, but you have a talent for mystical arts that no one can imitate. Your understanding of formulas and structures, your skill in manipulating ethereal elements and calculation ability, and above all, your outstanding creativity. You also possess insight that extends beyond just mystical arts, which is why you can casually do outrageous things like creating several new mystical arts. Honestly, even I'm jealous."

"Thank you."

I was suddenly praised.

It's a bit embarrassing since Roze rarely praises me.

"Elenora. You've acquired a natural aptitude for magic, abundant magical power, and the courage to not be intimidated. For a magician, these three things are the greatest talents that can overturn any situation. If you're with Ruruk, it wouldn't be surprising if you eventually become able to use forbidden spells of all attributes. You might not be interested in becoming a Demon King, but you might naturally become one."

"Mm. I'll do my best."

Ruruk and Elen.

Roze gazed at her two disciples with a slightly passionate look.

"Master, it sounds like a will or something."

"Eh? Ah, yes. Maybe I'm being a bit too formal. Anyway, what I want to say is that among all the people I've seen so far, you two have the highest level of talent in your respective fields. So I want you to listen carefully, but there's a child who has an ability that surpasses even you two, which can only be described as ridiculous. That child is—"

"Saaya, right?"

"That's right."

Somehow, I understood the meaning.

She's only 10 years old. At that age, she has agility that's probably about half of my status at level 49. Strength that can compete with her father, who, although fat, is probably trained for military service. Surely her other stats are high too. Sensitivity that can detect fluctuations in magical power, and she can already control ethereal elements to some extent. She seems intelligent, so she probably has abundant talent for theoretical arts as well.

A versatile talent with no flaws.

"I said we'd wait until three days from now, but honestly, I feel like I need to make her my disciple no matter what... no, I must make her my disciple. While she has talent, she also has corresponding instability. That's why I'm determined to make her your junior disciple. She may be inexperienced at first, but her talent... no, her skills will overcome that. When that time comes, I want you two to understand. Don't compare yourselves to her, but continue to develop your own talents in your own ways."

Roze spoke anxiously.

I couldn't help but laugh a little.

"Master, are you perhaps worried about us?"

"I-It's not like that. I'm just being cautious so that excellent talents don't get crushed when faced with such immense ability."

She looked away, seemingly embarrassed.

That's what we call being worried, you know.

"It's okay, Master. Even if Saaya has innate talent and quickly surpasses us, we'll never become discouraged. We have our own lives, after all."

"Mm. It's fine."

"Really? Really really?"

"Yes. Besides, Master, do you understand? We always have an insurmountable wall right in front of us. If we were to be crushed by comparing ourselves to others now, we wouldn't have been able to train under you for four years in the first place."

"...Ah."

She just realized it now?

It was truly laughable that the pinnacle of mystical arts was worried about us, neglecting herself.

That's why I can say this without any false bravado.

"Besides, I already have mystical arts that only I can use. Elen will also continue to develop magic that only she can use. The formulas I create myself can't even be used by you, Master, right? So in that aspect, we've already surpassed you. No matter what skills Saaya has or how much she grows, things look different depending on the angle you view them from. So there's no need to worry."

"Mm. No problem."

"...I see. I was being overprotective."

Roze's embarrassed smile was very beautiful.

The next morning.

Since I didn't think Saaya's persuasion would go well in just a few days, we had free time until three days later. Of course, I headed to the Adventurers' Guild to check on quests. Elen, who's weak in the mornings, was still sleeping in the room, so as usual, I'll decide on a quest and then meet up with her later.

The Adventurers' Guild was of a decent size with a tavern that could accommodate about 30 people attached to it. There were no adventurers drinking in the morning, but several parties were already gathered around the quest board.

The posted quest requests were mainly gathering-type missions. The ranks were mostly E and D. These quests couldn't even be accepted by me, a B-rank adventurer.

The occasional C-rank quests were also all about gathering medicinal herbs. Moreover, the reason they were C-rank was simply because the growing areas were far away, and it seemed anyone could do them easily if they had enough time.

Hmm. There aren't any quests I want to do.

"Excuse me. Are there any quests that have been stagnating?"

Sometimes there are quests that no one takes, so they remove the request forms. I asked the receptionist about this.

At first, the receptionist looked dubious, but after seeing that I was B-rank and checking my dungeon clear records, she hurriedly went to the back.

When she returned, she was holding multiple request forms.

"Um, if you can do any of these, please!"

All the forms she presented were A-rank extermination requests.

- Annihilation of an Orc settlement.

- Sweep of a Gigant Ants nest.

- Subjugation of the Fly King Beelzebub.

...None of these are a problem in terms of combat power.

According to the receptionist, the Orcs have formed a settlement in an abandoned village by a lake about a day's carriage ride south from here. There's nothing nearby so it's low priority, but if they continue to breed, it might have some impact.

However, this quest is more of a preventive measure, and the client is the Adventurers' Guild itself. Honestly, it's not an urgent quest.

The Gigant Ants have made their nest in the northern mountain range. The nest is in an abandoned mine, and while this isn't urgent either, it seems the animals at the foot of the mountain are being used as food, and the animal population is decreasing. It's not breeding season yet so there's no problem, but if this situation continues, meat prices might soar eventually.

As someone with a voracious family member, this is a serious matter.

Beelzebub is an A-rank monster on its own. It's the familiar "Fly King" monster from my previous life.

This one is also lurking in the northern mountain range, and the reason for wanting to subjugate it is the same as the Gigant Ants. According to the receptionist, they'd like at least one of either Beelzebub or the Gigant Ants taken care of.

"In that case, I'll take care of both."

"Is that okay!? Thank you so much!"

The receptionist thanked me with teary eyes.

I ended up accepting because she asked so cutely.

"Alright, I'll go back to get Elen and then we'll have breakfast first."

I ended up accepting consecutive insect-type monster subjugation quests.

Well, it's fine once in a while. Elen might complain because we won't get any meat, but we should still have plenty of extra-large boar and bird meat left.