The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

...Where am I?

The first thought was a simple question.

I found myself standing there.

It's a room with pure white walls and ceiling. The size is about that of a school classroom. Though it's so white that the sense of distance is distorted, making it hard to gauge the exact dimensions.

In this space, three chairs were placed sparsely. They're the wooden chairs often seen in schools.

Two of them were already occupied.

Roze and a 5-year-old Ruruk Muuteru.

The two seemed to be waiting patiently for me to sit down.

I wanted to ask about this room, but... I'm a man who can read the atmosphere.

I silently approached the chair, and...

"Hyah!"

I tried throwing it.

When the chair hit the wall, it oddly melted and disappeared.

The next instant, a chair appeared at my feet as if nothing had happened. What an invincible chair. I want one at home.

"What are you doing?"

"Well, when you end up in a mysterious space, the first thing to do is try to break something, right?"

Unfortunately, it seems to be the type of mysterious space where things can't be broken.

...Wait, huh?

Looking closely, my arms and legs are longer...?

No, that's not it. This is--

"I'm surprised. You were a person from a different world, weren't you?"

Roze looked at my face and smiled faintly.

That's right.

Right now, I'm in the form of Gaku Nanairo. My face and body are those of my nostalgic high school self.

Then, that 5-year-old Ruruk over there is...

"Ahaha. The current me inside is an interesting person, isn't it?"

"Ruruk, huh..."

It's the real Ruruk.

But, what does this mean?

If my memory isn't wrong, I should have been killed by Skato's last-ditch attack.

It was a regrettable rookie mistake because I was so focused on protecting Elen and Saaya that I didn't think about my own defense. It's really embarrassing.

Well, for now, let's sit down. There are chairs after all. Did you know? Chairs are for sitting, not for throwing.

"So, Master, where is this place? Wasn't I supposed to be dead?"

"You won't die. I protected you."

"Master, please say that line more ephemerally."

"Huh? ...Ahem, you won't die. I protected you..."

"Thank you very much!"

It's a bit different, but I'm satisfied.

Anyway.

"I thought my heart was blown out..."

"I became that heart. That's why I'm here."

"Huh?"

"We can talk about that later. What's important is that we're here."

"...By the way, where exactly is 'here'?"

"You could call it a vessel for souls, I suppose."

Setting aside the self-proclaimed heart master for now, this strange space is very intriguing.

It's certainly not a dream. After all, I'm thinking despite supposedly being dead. I could predict that this place was surely filled with fantasy elements. Because it's another world, after all.

"Normally, each person has one soul. But Ruruk, you currently have three souls inside you."

"Um, my soul and..."

"My soul," said Ruruk.

"And mine," added Roze. "Because I became Ruruk's heart, our souls fused. Look."

What Roze pointed to was the center of the chairs.

A golden, chalice-like vessel was floating there, seemingly out of nowhere.

There were three of them, stuck together in a way that they couldn't be separated. Hmm, it looks like cups that were welded together by mistake. It kind of ruins the atmosphere, though.

However, even though there are three chalices, one is significantly larger. The remaining two seem to be attached like mere accessories.

"The large one is the vessel for your soul."

"Why me? What about Ruruk's and Master's?"

"It's probably because the original soul's power is strong. You came from a different world, right? A soul strong enough to cross worlds... that's you."

It's the first time in my life I've been praised for my soul. I'm blushing~.

No, wait, wait. That's not right.

"You're saying that this body's soul is mainly me... is that what you mean? But the original owner is Ruruk, right? Besides, I just died, and if Master saved me, shouldn't Master's portion be larger?"

"If we're talking about that, I died first. You came to this world using this body. Isn't that how it is?"

"That's right. I also poured most of my power into adapting to you. I only learned about soul vessels when I came here, but because the body had already adapted to you, my soul might have just nestled alongside. Or maybe my soul had worn down from living for so long."

"...Hmm, I kind of understand, but I also don't..."

Well, it's my first time seeing a soul anyway.

All three of us were just speculating, so we decided to end this conversation for now.

So, then.

"Master, can I ask what happened to me?"

"As I said earlier, I became your heart and brought you back to life."

"...But, isn't that..."

I was at a loss for words.

Roze is saying it casually, but doesn't this mean Roze died in my place? I don't think a heart can just start beating on its own. If it did, that would be horror movie material.

"Ah, but you don't need to thank me."

Roze waved her hand dismissively.

"You know, I've always wanted to die. After living for over a thousand years, I realized that immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be. To be honest, I only took on disciples to distract myself. That's the same reason I made you and the others my disciples. Before I met you, I was even looking for ways to die."

"Well, even if you say that..."

"To be honest, I was happy when you died. When you died and Saaya went berserk, causing the surrounding world to head towards destruction... I was delighted at the thought of dying together like this. Really, I'm the worst master, aren't I?"

What kind of situation is that?

What was Saaya doing...

"But when I realized I could become your heart, I was even happier. To function as your heart until the end of your lifespan, to definitely die together with you... Fufu, just hearing the words makes me sound like an incredibly clingy woman. I believe it's called 'yandere', right?"

"Eh, that doesn't suit you at all."

"How rude. Anyway, I had ulterior motives. I should be the one thanking you. If I have any regrets, it's that there are many things I failed to teach you all. But you and the others can grow without relying on me, right? You're my pride and joy as disciples after all."

Roze laughed with innocent delight.

...Even if she says I don't need to thank her.

"Thank you for keeping me alive."

I bowed my head.

Whatever thoughts or calculations were behind it.

Roze saved me. There's no doubt about that.

"Really, truly, thank you."

"Geez, how embarrassing. That's enough of that."

Roze turned her face away.

Come to think of it, there's one more person here I should thank.

I faced Ruruk.

"Thanks for letting me use your body. Thanks to you, I've been able to live happily."

"No, thank you. If anything, I'm sorry it's the body of an abomination. It must be hard just to live, right?"

"Well, it is tough. But thanks to Ruruk, I've met wonderful people. I'll continue to use it carefully from now on."

"Please use it as you like. ...To tell you the truth, I actually wanted to become a doctor. I wanted to become a doctor, cure my own body, and live freely. So please, live freely. That's my wish."

"That's my wish too. Ruruk, you should live freely and happily."

Being watched by both of them, I nodded.

To live freely.

I now had a clear—and at the same time, free—goal.

I vow to live a life that won't bring shame to Ruruk who gave me this body, or to Roze who gave me her heart.

"Let's start by creating a harem of elves. I'll go to an elven village and prostrate myself."

"Your worldly desires are in full swing! Please stop, it's embarrassing for me!"

"I'm just kidding."

"You really never change, do you?"

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Oops, my vision is starting to fade.

Am I about to be called to heaven? Or maybe this is heaven.

Well, I could somewhat understand that my body was trying to wake up.

"Master, Ruruk."

In my gradually fading vision, I bowed my head to the two of them once more.

"Thank you so much. Please continue to watch over me. I want to become a person you can be proud of."

"...Geez, stop being so sentimental."

"I'm rooting for you. Do your best."

Three souls in one body.

I don't know what meaning this has, but for me, it's a simple matter.

I am not alone.

Watching the two of them wave to my disappearing self, I felt something powerful welling up from the bottom of my heart.

...Ah, that's right.

There's one last thing I need to say.

"Master."

"...What is it?"

"Thank you for not abandoning Saaya."

I finally understood.

The reason why Roze had been wary of Saaya, and why she didn't lay a hand on Saaya even in a critical situation.

"I-It's not like I did it for you or anything!"

Wow, a textbook tsundere line came out at the end.

This master really was an interesting person.

"Let me ask you one last thing too. What do you think of this world? Compared to your previous world, do you think it's a good world?"

"I think it's a wonderful world. There are many cruel and harsh realities, but for me, it's the best world possible."

"...I see. I'm glad to hear that."

She, who had been guarding the world's order while suffering from loneliness, smiled with great satisfaction.

 □　□　□　□　□

I woke up some time after the sun had risen.

An unfamiliar canopy and the softest bed I've ever felt.

And two familiar weights clinging to both my arms.

"...I'm alive."

The same murmur that escaped my lips when I woke up after dying in my previous life at age 5.

Ah, that's right.

I had a dream. A dream of Roze and Ruruk.

I remember it clearly. The content of the conversations with both of them, everything.

And when I lowered my gaze to look at my chest, the information that appeared in my vision confirmed everything.

[ "The Faceless Heart": Roze's form changed by numerology. Ruruk's heart ]

So that's how it was after all.

Roze is here. Inside this chest.

We really have become one, huh.

"Master..."

I was about to cry, remembering the conversation in the dream.

At that time, I desperately held back, but I really wanted to cry and apologize. I wanted to tell her how much what Roze did meant to me.

But that's not what Roze wants.

I sniffled and exhaled.

To live freely and happily, huh.

"...Well, you gave me this as a bonus too, didn't you?"

I looked at the two young girls sleeping soundly, clinging to my arms.

[ Elenora: Female of the sheep-folk race. 22 years old ]

[ Saaya Schreine: Female of the human race. 10 years old ]

Information that should be invisible floats up.

This isn't just a simple appraisal skill.

It's like a popup displayed at the edge of a game or app. As a test, I focused my consciousness on Elenora's name, and the information changed.

――――――――――

[Name] Elenora

[Race] Sheep-folk

[Level] 57

[Health] 580（＋2890）

[Mana] 1410（＋9310）

[Strength] 110（＋530）

[Endurance] 560（＋2520）

[Agility] 140（＋820）

[Intelligence] 700（＋2680）

[Luck] 777

[Theoretical Arts Proficiency] 380

[Magic Arts Proficiency] 8300

[Mystic Arts Proficiency] 90

[Possessed Skills]

≪Automatic Type≫

"All Magic Aptitude"

"Mana Consumption Halved"

"Power Increase (Large)"

"Magic Resistance (Large)"

"Status Ailment Immunity"

"Crisis Detection"

"Pure Heart"

≪Activation Type≫

"Healing Breath"

"Song of Flowers and Grass"

"Sage's Ear"

――――――――――

...There's no mistaking it.

It's an appraisal skill that nullifies recognition interference.

I can now use Roze's "Eye of Fiction."

It's incredibly useful. Let's look at Saaya too.

――――――――――

[Name] Saaya Schreine

[Race] Human

[Level] 4

[Health] 110(＋800)

[Mana] 70(＋800)

[Strength] 40(＋800)

[Endurance] 60(＋800)

[Agility] 90(＋800)

[Intelligence] 140(＋800)

[Luck] 111

[Theoretical Arts Proficiency] 100(＋800)

[Magic Arts Proficiency] 100(＋800)

[Mystic Arts Proficiency] 100(＋800)

[Possessed Skills]

≪Automatic Type≫

"Fire Magic Aptitude"

"Water Magic Aptitude"

"Wind Magic Aptitude"

"Earth Magic Aptitude"

"Lightning Magic Aptitude"

"Ice Magic Aptitude"

"Light Magic Aptitude"

"Holy Magic Aptitude"

"Numerology 1: Probability Manipulation"

"Universal Growth"

≪Activation Type≫

"Duet"

"Holy Beast Summoning"

"Heaven-Breaking Slash"

――――――――――

Hmm.

I'll need to ask for details about what happened after I lost consciousness, but Saaya's numerology skill has changed.

A skill that manipulates probability... I had a vague idea, but numerology skills are probably related to the associated numbers, right? One represents existence itself, and also has the meaning of the convergence point of all probabilities. That's probably why it's probability manipulation, but this also seems like a cheat skill.

By the way, I wonder what my 7 means.

Maybe I should check my own status too.

I casually displayed my own status.

――――――――――

[Name] Ruruk Muuteru

[Race] Human

[Level] 59

[Health] 460(＋6070)

[Mana] 0(＋1)

[Strength] 420(＋3310)

[Endurance] 340(＋3680)

[Agility] 520(＋5470)

[Intelligence] 470(＋4780)

[Luck] 101

[Theoretical Arts Proficiency] 690

[Magic Arts Proficiency] 1

[Mystic Arts Proficiency] 9250

[Possessed Skills]

≪Automatic Type≫

"Calm and Collected"

"Incapacitation Immunity"

"Adversity Breakthrough"

"Numerology 7: Domain Arbitration"

≪Activation Type≫

"Spirit Summoning"

"Familiar Summoning"

"Equipment Summoning"

"Transcription"

"Color Change"

"Synthesis"

"Blade Shift"

"Fist Shift"

"Rupture Bullet"

"Landmine"

"Threshold Compilation"

"Relative Teleportation"

"Phantasm"

"Word Soul"

"Legend Manifestation"

"Numerology 0: Eye of Fiction"

――――――――――

"...Huh?"

I rub my eyes vigorously.

Thinking I might have misread, I open and close the popup several times, but the numbers don't change.

Um, what's this?

Aren't the added status values abnormally high?

The level increase of about 10 is probably due to the consecutive battles with demons since coming to this town. Especially Skato, who must have been quite high level.

But even so, each status has jumped up to several times its original value.

...Ah, could it be.

"Is this Master's contribution?"

Roze's status, which was probably at the level cap. Could it be that a certain amount of it has been added?

Every value has increased enormously, and I can't think of any other explanation.

"Hey, what have you done?"

This is too much, isn't it?

At this rate, it's no different from Saaya's cheat level, right?

...Well, there's no point in complaining. The higher the stats, the better.

Also, the numerology skill has changed from "Autonomous Adjustment" to "Domain Arbitration." I wonder if this changed because I accepted Roze as my heart. I should properly check the content of the skills later.

And just to be sure, my mana and magic arts proficiency have become 1.

This is huge. It's no longer zero, even if it's just a tiny amount.

My magic deficiency syndrome has been cured... or rather, the value is too low for that, so it's probably because Roze is inside as my heart, having a slight influence. It's a shame that I couldn't inherit the mana due to my constitution.

Still, just 1, huh.

I wonder if I can use magic tools now. I should check later.

"Alright, I think that's all for the confirmation."

Now I need to wake up the young girls and hear the details.

Just as I pulled my arms from their bodies and sat up,

"Ruruk! You're awake!"

With a loud bang, Count Babel entered the room, opening the door forcefully. There's no such thing as privacy, but considering the situation, this must be the count's mansion. They let me rest here when I was on the verge of death, so I shouldn't complain.

"You're up! Good, I'll have breakfast prepared, so come to the dining hall."

"I'm sorry, it seems I've overslept after you lent me the bed."

"That's not a problem at all, or rather, well done. You're our lifesaver."

Count Babel slaps my shoulders vigorously.

Hmm... thanks to my status, it doesn't hurt at all.

"Did the bed suit you? The young ladies seem to be sleeping soundly."

"Yes, I'm well-rested. By the way, Count, what happened to the demons' bodies? I'm sure they won't start moving again, but..."

Given that Skato, who was supposed to be dead, moved, I was a bit uneasy. I didn't know if it was some kind of skill or magic.

"Their corpses are in Miss Elenora's item box. I confirmed they were completely dead, and more importantly, living beings can't enter item boxes. You can rest assured."

"I see. Thank you."

"Now then, wake up the young ladies and come to the dining hall. I know they must be tired from taking care of you last night, but we need to confirm the details and discuss future plans."

"Understood. ...Ah, I have something to talk about with them first, so would it be alright if we take about half an hour?"

"Hmm. I understand."

The count nodded and left the room.

I immediately shake the two young girls to wake them up.

"It's morning. Wake up. They say there's breakfast."

"...Huh?"

"Mm..."

Saaya opened her eyes first.

Elen, still weak in the mornings, curls up.

"Ruruk...?"

"It's me. Good morning, Saaya."

"Ah! Ruruk!"

Saaya hugs me tightly.

She's putting so much strength into her arms that it's almost choking me.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Because of me, Ruruk... Roze-san..."

"It's okay. It's not your fault, Saaya."

I pat the back of the young girl who's shaking her shoulders and shedding tears.

"But, but, because I was here, because someone like me was with you! And then Roze-san said she would save Ruruk... and, and she became Ruruk's heart..."

"I heard directly from Master. I know what she was thinking and why she became my heart. She was actually grateful to you. She said it was a chance!"

"Huh?"

"You know our Master, right? Her way of thinking and the years she's lived are too different from ours. I'm sure she was happy to become one with me."

"Is that so? But..."

"There's no need for you to feel guilty, Saaya. If you feel a sense of guilt... Saaya."

I cup Saaya's tear-stained cheeks with both hands.

Slowly bringing my face closer, I touch my forehead to hers.

"I bear the same guilt. You and I will live together carrying the same sin. We promised that, didn't we? So it's not just yours. I'm with you."

"...Yeah. Yeah!"

Saaya, still crying, finally manages to smile.

Now that I've calmed Saaya down, it's time to wake up Elen.

Elen was mumbling for a while even after I shook her body, but when I stroked her hair, she slowly opened her eyes and said,

"Mm, Ruruk."

"Yeah. Good morning."

"Mm... are you okay?"

"Yeah. Thanks to you."

"I'm glad."

Unlike Saaya, she didn't get upset.

Well, it seems all the wounds were closed by the time Roze became my heart.

Our sheep girl really has a solid state of mind.

Elen sat up, rubbed her eyes, and then pressed her ear firmly against my chest.

"Mm. I can't hear Roze's voice."

"Well, she's a heart now. But the heartbeat is Master's sound."

"Mm... thank you, Roze."

Muttering that, Elen kissed my chest.

Saaya raises her voice loudly.

"Ah! You kissed him again!"

"Mm... that was for Roze."

"It's Ruruk! It might be Roze-san, but it's Ruruk's body!"

"Mm, that's true too."

"I knew it was intentional! Besides, Elenora, you're being unfair! Yesterday too, you were kissing Ruruk all over saying it was because you have a healing skill!"

"It wasn't kissing. It was treatment."

"That's what I'm saying is unfair! Oh geez, give me that skill too! Hey Elenora, give it to me!"

"Hmph."

"You laughed through your nose! You dark-hearted woman! Ruruk, this girl might have a pretty face, but she's quite the little devil! From now on, if you lose consciousness just because you want Elenora to kiss you, I won't forgive you! No fainting! No injuries allowed!"

Saaya turns her attack towards me.

I smile wryly at her unreasonable demands.