The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

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"Hehehe, I did it, I really did it~"

Saaya rolled around on the bed, hugging a doll. She had been in high spirits since the afternoon, and was still smiling.

A confined life. A predetermined future as a noble. An impossible dream.

It was Ruruk who shattered those restrictive, painful chains. Training as a disciple of the legendary Mystic King alongside Ruruk, becoming an adventurer.

It might be dangerous, but just imagining it filled her with excitement.

"Ehehe. Ehehehe"

Well, the time limit was three years.

Ruruk had promised, "I'll make you a full-fledged adventurer or better in that time." He had whispered so her uncle couldn't hear, "Once you're capable, you'll have the option to leave home. Then you can marry freely."

She was truly happy that he had thought that far ahead for her.

She was a bit worried about being able to properly repay the money he had paid for her sake...

No matter what, she wanted to repay her debt. She intended to repay it even if it took a lifetime. It was only natural to do so for such a great favor. If she could be greedy, she wanted to do more than just repay it - she wanted to show her gratitude.

"Hm hm hm~♪"

Well anyway, all that would come after leaving this house.

Tomorrow, he would officially come to pick her up.

Saaya left her room humming and headed for the kitchen.

She was just a bit thirsty and wanted some water. That's all it was.

However, there was already someone in the kitchen.

"Don't screw with me! A commoner dares to! To steal her, to steal her away!"

It was her father.

Her visibly drunk father was just standing up from a kitchen chair.

Enraged, he kicked over a water barrel in the kitchen with a wine cup in hand. The water inside splashed out dramatically, but he paid it no mind.

"What Count family nonsense! That girl! I raised her! And now some damned brat comes along and snatches her away!"

Saaya peeked into the kitchen and sighed.

He was in an incredibly foul mood.

This was the worst possible timing to run into him.

"Damn it... If that girl can't inherit the Schreine family, what am I supposed to do... Does she think I've been working towards all this for nothing? The Schreine family is mine... Damn it, damn damn damn damn!"

Her father downed his drink in one go.

He slammed the empty cup on the floor, gritting his teeth.

The servant children seemed to have already fled to their rooms in fear, leaving only her father's rough breathing echoing in the kitchen.

She'd come back for water later.

Just as she thought that and turned to leave...

"Damn it all. Why did I... Why did I go so far as to poison my own brother to make sure he couldn't have children... After all I've endured to get this far..."

...Huh?

Saaya couldn't believe her ears.

What did he just say?

"Damn it! Just because we're twins, and I was born second, why am I the younger brother?! I'm more capable, aren't I?! I'm far superior to that soft fool - I can control others! Damn it! Damn damn damn damn damn!"

Her father kicked over the chair too, continuing to curse endlessly.

Saaya felt the blood drain from her face.

She couldn't believe it.

She had certainly thought he was the worst father.

He had a foul mouth and only thought of himself. It became even more pronounced after her mother passed away. He saw his daughter as nothing but a tool, and even resorted to violence.

But to go so far as to poison his own brother...

"What you just said... it's a lie, right?"

"Huh?"

Saaya had spoken without thinking.

Her father noticed her entering the kitchen and turned his flushed face towards her.

"You poisoning Uncle... that's a lie, right?"

"Tch. Who cares?"

"What do you mean, who cares?! Was what you just said true?! Did you really poison Uncle?!"

"It doesn't matter, does it?! As long as you inherit the family! I, your father, will become the most important person! You just need to shut up and do as I say!"

"You're the worst!!!"

Slap!

She had struck him before she knew it.

She couldn't hold back.

Saaya's emotions exploded.

"I knew it, you're no father at all! I wish I was Uncle's child! It's disgusting to think I share blood with someone like you!"

"What did you say, you little...! How dare a daughter talk back to me!"

"Kyaa!"

He grabbed her tied-up hair and dragged her down.

Though their strength stats weren't that different, the overwhelming difference in physique meant she couldn't break free.

Her father straddled Saaya, who had hit her back on the floor.

Only 10 years old.

As if to crush that small body, he wrapped his rough hands around Saaya's slender neck and began to strangle her.

"Guh!"

"You've always been! So damn cheeky! A daughter should just shut up and do as I say! What outside world, what original world! Always spouting nonsense about your dreams! What destined partner, what freedom! You've been mine since the day you were born! Acting all high and mighty for a girl! You just need to shut up and look pretty, you little brat!"

"...Uh, ah..."

It hurt.

With her throat constricted, saliva dripped from the corner of her mouth.

This guy.

She was ashamed to have been born from such a lowlife scum.

It was frustrating.

She was frustrated at herself for being pushed around by someone like this.

Tears began to overflow from Saaya's eyes.

"You're just a doll! You belong to me! Huh?! I don't need a defective product that won't listen! Die, you little brat! Just die! Die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die!"

She was scared.

For the first time in her life, she felt fear from the bottom of her heart.

The familiar face of her father before her eyes looked like an unknown creature.

But Saaya could do nothing.

Unable to break free from the strangling force, she could only struggle in suffocation and pressure.

It hurt.

She was going to die.

No.

She didn't want to die.

Tears flowed endlessly.

Just when hope had appeared.

Just when she thought a new life was finally beginning.

As the pain continued, her vision began to fade.

Help.

Someone help.

Please.

"...Ai...o...u..."

Saaya called out unconsciously.

In a voice that couldn't become words, she called the name of the one she had locked away in the depths of her heart.

The name of the one she would never meet again.

And as the light faded from the girl's eyes—

"'Let go of her, you bastard'"

The voice suddenly descended.

With those words, the pressure on her throat disappeared.

Her body involuntarily gasped for air, causing her to cough.

Her lungs moved painfully, desperately seeking air.

Her vision flickered as if electricity was running through it.

Saaya vaguely thought it felt like being under a dying fluorescent light. It was a strange sensation, as if her near-death experience had been someone else's.

As her breathing stabilized, her consciousness finally became clear.

She realized she was being held in someone's arms.

"...Ruruk?"

She knew without seeing his face.

She felt that in this world, no one else would save her but him.

"Yes, it's me, Saaya-san."

See, it was him after all.

Next to him was her father, curled up and motionless for some reason. He was trembling in fear, cold sweat on his brow, as if he had seen something terrifying.

"Are you alright? Does anything hurt?"

"No... I'm okay. Just a little tired, I think."

Hearing her honest answer, Ruruk smiled while still holding Saaya.

It was a beautiful smile. Somehow captivating.

Just like that person.

"...Huh? Was there someone else besides Ruruk just now?"

Suddenly, she felt compelled to ask.

Ruruk tilted his head.

"Besides me? I didn't see anyone."

"I see... must have been my imagination."

Saaya wondered why she had thought that, puzzled herself.

Then she remembered.

It was Japanese.

Just before she lost consciousness, she had heard Japanese.

In that nostalgic language she hadn't heard for over 10 years, someone had said, "Let go of her, you bastard."

It wasn't a dream. She was sure of that.

...Wait?

But that voice just now—

"Ruruk...?"

"Please wait a moment. I need to deal with this bastard."

Ruruk said this while looking down at her father—no, at this man—still holding Saaya.

It was then that Saaya suddenly realized the situation.

What this man who had just tried to kill her had been doing all this time. She felt she had to tell him that. Above all, she couldn't forgive this man.

"Ruruk... This guy, it seems he poisoned Uncle. To prevent him from having children."

"...I see. He truly is beyond saving."

"What should we do? Should we capture him?"

"That would be the right thing to do... but there's no evidence, so it's doubtful he'd be punished. And if it becomes known that the Viscount himself absolutely cannot have children, that rumor alone could ruin the Schreine family."

That was certainly true.

The rumors of Uncle's preference for men weren't good, but they served as a cover for his inability to fulfill his duties as a nobleman. It was undoubtedly better to leave things as they were.

But then, who would judge this despicable man?

How should he be judged?

Saaya glared at the man who had tried to kill her, her face on the verge of tears.

The laws of this world weren't kind. It was difficult to judge a parent who tried to kill their child. Especially if they were nobility.

Ruruk quietly closed his eyes, then opened them as if having made a decision.

"I understand. I'll bear it."

"...Huh?"

"Honestly, I don't want to bear any sin for the sake of this bastard. To be frank, I think it would be better for the world to capture him and throw him into a monster's nest. But that wouldn't satisfy me. I can't forgive this bastard who did this to my important companion... who tried to kill his own daughter, right in front of her. So, Saaya-san. I will bear it. Not for your sake, but for mine."

"Ruruk..."

Saaya clutched tightly at Ruruk's chest.

She didn't understand what he was trying to do.

But she understood enough to know that it was truly for her sake.

So...

"I'll bear it too. So do it. I order you."

"...But,"

"Just do it."

Saaya stared intently at Ruruk.

Her eyes lit with determination.

"Bear the sin together, and live with me, Ruruk."

"...As you wish."

Ruruk took a small breath.

A silence that felt eternal descended.

Still holding Saaya, Ruruk uttered those words.

"'Lore Manifestation'"