I felt refreshed and smiled broadly as I spread my arms and bathed in the sunlight. Being human is really the best!
No, obviously not. I won't be able to pay my debt that way. Besides, I'm not a heartless, ungrateful bastard.
'Debts must be paid.' (Mary [Usagi])
I looked down curiously and saw her little feet in black shoes and white knee-high socks, short white legs under her skirt, and an undeveloped chest under her pretty pale blue one-piece dress.
'So she changed her clothes from yesterday? I had not noticed ... ' (Mary [Usagi])
Also, I raised my hands and looked at my little white fingers and my long, thin white bare arms.
'It feels weird being a little girl ... ' (Mary [Usagi])
I was a man in my previous life, so obviously I like girls, but this is the first time that I am one.
'I can feel the wind passing under my skirt ... ' (Mary [Usagi])
My heart started beating like crazy and I tried to calm it down.
'Not! I don't like little girls! I do not ...' (Mary [Usagi])
After breathing slowly for a while with my hand on my soft little chest (which didn't help at all), I finally managed to calm down.
'Yes! I was just surprised! I love big-breasted elf women after all.' (Mary [Usagi])
I swore it in my mind as I looked at the blue sky with a serious expression.
'My will cannot be broken!' (Mary [Usagi])
Let's just check my status... I should also appraise the new skill I got.
≪Mary White (Usagi)≫
Race: Human (Spirit)
Main Class (Species): Noble (Wandering Soul)
Gender: Female (None)
Age: 12 (0)
Level: 12 (10)
≪Classes≫
Noble Lv. 12 (Rare)
[None]
≪Inherent skills≫
None
[Possession Lv. 2 (Active), Soul Eater Lv. 2 (Active), Soul Guard Lv. 1 (Passive), Assimilation Lv. 1 (Active)]
≪Active skills≫
None
[Appraisal Lv. 2, Charge Lv. 2]
≪Passive skills≫
Lunaria Kingdom Language Lv. 3, Etiquette Lv. 3, Quick Thinking Lv. 1, Evade Lv. 1
[Evade Lv. 3, Escape Lv. 3, Increased Piercing Power Lv. 1]
She seems to be a Noble. Also, her last name is White. I wonder if everyone here has last names or if it is something "unique to the nobles".
Main class? What is that? Also, I haven't seen the class category in my status before.
It could be a "system" unique to humans and if there is a category, it must mean that you can acquire more of them.
From what I know, there should be classes like Swordsman and Warrior. Also, if there is magic in this world, Mages would not be uncommon.
I will appraise her class for now. Maybe I will understand something.
≪Noble [Rare] (Lv. 12). Nobles are fair and protect their people from danger. They are graceful beings who shine best when they lead others.
Main Class effect: increase skill experience acquisition.≫
Its description is a bit short, but it's definitely a good class because it makes it easy to learn different skills.
It being "Rare" must mean that it is difficult to get. Mary probably inherited it from her parents.
Although I do wonder. If there is a Noble class, do the villagers own the Villager class? I'm not sure, but I think it's an interesting theory.
"Lunaria Kingdom" seems to be the name of this country. I would like to know more about this world. Maybe I can find out more about it by reading the books I found in the living room ...
Looking at her abilities I thought something and frowned.
'Poor girl.' (Mary [Usagi])
If she has a skill like Evade, it means that yesterday was not the first time her life was in danger. How many times has she evaded danger to acquire it?
Aside from being a bit uncomfortable with her body, I couldn't feel any injuries on her or had trouble walking.
Sigh. 'That's good ... It's good that she's ok... ' (Mary [Usagi])
It must mean that maybe she got it while doing things like playing with other children.
Feeling relieved, I used Appraisal while thinking about Assimilation.
≪Assimilation (Lv. 1). The user can understand what the host knows about any topic and imitate their mannerism. Also, the user will slowly assimilate the host's abilities.≫
'Excellent! This is the skill I was waiting for!' (Mary [Usagi])
I struck a gutsy pose and grinned widely. The people walking down the street smiled when they saw me. In truth, a girl's smile is a powerful weapon.
Assimilation allows me to acquire skills without killing the people I possess.
I knew that I had to acquire a similar ability somehow. It would make me sad if I couldn't learn skills like that.
The time required to understand a foreign language is not short. Also, consuming Mary's soul is not an option.
Yes, let's use it! It would be bad for Mary to wake up now. It would be difficult for me to explain who I am and why I am controlling her.
I will release her when I finish learning her skills and one day I will return to pay off my debt in some way.
'Don't worry, Mary! I will take care of your body! I won't let a single scratch appear on your smooth white skin!' (Mary [Usagi])
I walked several steps as I gently spun around, spreading my arms almost like I was dancing, my skirt fluttering in the wind.
Indeed, my walking style has become really girly.
'Is this the effect of the Etiquette skill or her natural walking style? Probably both.' (Mary [Usagi])
In any case, my manners were now those of a refined young lady ...
So for now, I just need to act like Mary for a while before I can acquire her language skills.
'Easy!' (Mary [Usagi])
. . .
"Little girl, your parents told me they'd be home late. Yesterday's incident has yet to be resolved." (Mysterious Villager)
When I was lost in thought, a middle-aged man, with dark brown hair, of average appearance and dressed in a brown coat, came up to me and said something important.
According to Mary's memories, the name of this brown-haired, brown-eyed man is Charles. He is her parents' assistant and she calls him "Uncle."
By the way, Mary's father is the acting village chief who tried to kill me yesterday. He is a muscular but slim man with white hair and blue eyes who loves his daughter. His name is Richard White.
'Yeah, yesterday was a close call ... ' (Mary [Usagi])
Meanwhile, her mother is a sweet and beautiful woman with brown hair and blue eyes with a similar appearance to herself who works alongside her father. Her name is Ellen White.
They are poor nobles compared to others, be it land or gold, but they give everything to make the people who live in their territory happy.
Mary's parents are both respected and loved.
"You should go home before the sun goes down. Remember, no matter how important your parents are to this village, bad people here will always try to hurt you!" (Uncle Charles)
So what happened yesterday wasn't an accident? Certainly, I can see a strong-looking fence that covers most of the area around the village, plus stern-looking guards patrolling its surroundings.
At the time, I didn't realize it because I charged like an idiot, but the fence was probably broken and there were no guards protecting it.
'I was blinded by my mediocre "heroism" ... Haha.' (Mary [Usagi])
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Although, if the Fire Lizard managed to get in without being seen, it means that something is happening here.
I gently nodded and responded as Mary would.
"I understand, Uncle." (Mary [Usagi])
Uncle Charles patted my head and spoke softly.
'Don't pat my head! It's gross!' (Mary [Usagi])
I cried in my heart, but Mary usually let the people close to her pat her head. She is such a good girl ...
"Good girl. Your bodyguards have been replaced. I'm sure you understand why." (Uncle Charles)
Certainly, no one was protecting Mary yesterday. Not even from a distance.
Something must have happened to them.
'This is really suspicious ... Something fishy is happening here.' (Mary [Usagi])
They simply couldn't have disappeared without leaving any trace or message.
I nodded with a serious expression at his words.
"That was all I had to say. I'll get going. Take care little girl." (Uncle Charles)
After he left, I went back to Mary's house.
I noticed two new bodyguards slowly patrolling the house, but I didn't meet their eyes and kept walking.
Once inside, I grabbed some cookies from a jar in the kitchen and went to "my" room while dodging the maid and butler serving Mary.
It's surprising how small this house is considering the wealth of Mary's parents, but I "remembered" that their temporary home here was one of the buildings that burned down yesterday.
It was a splendid two-story mansion.
'The biggest house "I" saw when "I" got here ... ' (Mary [Usagi])
That's what Mary thought then.
And yes, Mary doesn't actually live in this village. She lives in a town called White Town which is part of her father's territory.
'Using Assimilation to "remember" things feels similar but different than when using Soul Eater ... ' (Mary [Usagi])
It's like trying to separate my consciousness from Mary's. It is a real pain.
'What if I do the opposite? Let's try.' (Mary [Usagi])
From now on, I am Mary White. Daughter of Viscount Richard White and his wife Ellen White ...
Something changed inside of me. Suddenly my body felt less tense and the barrier that made me different from Mary began to disappear.
'My name is Usagi ... No ... I'm Mary. Mary White.' (Mary?)
Is this the power of assimilation? Not only can I act like her, but I can also think like her. This will certainly make things easier.
Giggle. 'Heh. This is pretty interesting.' (Mary?)
Night came fast and I went to sleep.
People say that when you sleep in a different bed than the one you usually use, you would feel quite uncomfortable.
But ... "I" have already slept here once and I'm already used to it ...
The bed was very soft and warm and I quickly entered the world of dreams.
. . .
I dreamed of this world. It is called "Aegis" unlike my previous world and "I" know two of its continents.
The eastern continent and the western continent. I am currently in the western region of the western continent.
This is the Lunaria Kingdom. Until a few decades ago it promoted human supremacy.
People could trade slaves of other species in broad daylight, and the treatment of slaves was the worst.
Things changed when the Lionheart Kingdom was founded.
The Lionheart Kingdom. It is located in the southern region of the continent.
It promotes the equality of all races, except those hostile to all others like savage beasts and dangerous monsters.
Shortly after its founding, it became involved in a fierce war against the Lunaria Kingdom.
Both ended up weaker than before, but Lionheart managed to change the minds of the citizens of Lunaria by showing them that demihumans, beastmen, and other intelligent races were equal to them.
That didn't stop the slave trade but limited it mainly to well-hidden black markets.
There is also an empire on this continent. The Demon Blood Empire.
It is an amazing neutral country. It has had conflicts with the Lunaria Kingdom in the past, but the power of the empire managed to win each time with few casualties.
It is said to have ties to the eastern continent. Also, it is inhabited by different species of the demonic race like imps and succubi, and intelligent monsters like minotaurs and liches.
I really want to visit it! But I still need to do more research on this when I can as there are a lot of things I don't know about.
The knowledge that "my" mother Ellen taught me is just the common information one can get by reading widely sold books.
I should be able to learn more if I make it to the capital city of the Lunaria Kingdom, Aria.
Although I wanted to sleep a little more and immerse myself in my new memories, the light that illuminates my room through the window does not let me ...