And so, it was now 5am. The sun was setting and all the villagers hid inside their houses. We were at it's center, preparing the execution of our mission.
"Can you turn into a child now, Seven?"
"Sure but, can I ask everyone to turn around so as to not see me?"
Everyone accepted my request with a nod and turned away. At that moment of noone seeing me, I took out an empty roll of parchment and began scribbling on it with my quill.
"『Rewrite Destiny』!"
I'm honestly nervous. Since I've only been in this body for a short while, will I die if it's age is reversed past 1 month? Or will this body have a child version? To make precautions, I used this sentence instead.
Seven Clavery's body
began turning into a
version of her 7 year
old self. It will be
dispelled when the words
"Age Fix" is chanted.
I specially made sure to write my current name and not Yui Orihime or else it might resort to showing my previous self.
I chanted the skill name and the paper was fully consumed by bluish flames afterwards. But that surprise was already overshadowed as my view began shrinking, I was turning into the 7 year old version of Seven Clavery. It stopped at a certain height around Aria's hips.
"Alright, you can turn around now."
Wow, even my voice changed to that of a child. I wonder if my strength was affected? It's most likely but I hope that doesn't pose a problem.
"Woah she actually became a child!"
"So cuteee~!"
In one instant, Arlet rushed to me and gave me a tight hug that I can't seem to get out of. As expected, my strength was reduced! Even my magic?!
I was certain both aptitudes went down the scales just now. Because I had the knowledge to use the 1st Stage to find out how much mana I have. It was petty! I'm about to cry!
"H-Hey, my turn!"
Now it was Aria's turn. I got deliberately sandwiched between her two melons as a kid! This is child abuse right?! Please tell me this is child abuse!
"Aria! Let go already!"
Aria released me and I hurriedly grasped for breath. The adventurers in our alliance eyed the child me in wonderment, I noticed from behind them that the sun was setting down at a fast pace.
"Everyone, let's prepare to execute this plan."
I was carried along by Arlet who is my partner in this mission to the depths of the woods. She placed me in a very open spot just anyone can see and instantly hid her presence. I can no longer detect her.
"..."
I was left here to wait.
It was eerily quiet. No sound can be heard. No chirping of crickets or the croaking of frogs, only the sensation of the cold wind brushing by my skin. But I could still see things in the dark with my Owl Lenses, though either yellow or black. Those are the only colors I could see.
One thing for certain is that something was watching me besides Arlet. It's only been 2 minutes since she disappeared. I closed my eyes to avoid making eye contact with anything that pops up in front of me, I'm honestly extremely scared right now that I could faint. This child body... It somehow made me more cowardly than before. Because unlike when I'm an adult, I can slay monsters with ease, but right now, I'm absurdly powerless. I hate this!
The rustling of leaves could be heard.
Ah, my time has come.
At that moment, I felt a strong chill find it's way from behind my back. I was shivering from head to toe and went to hug my knees to relieve some stress.
Not long before that feeling, a thin gray hand came and reach out to my shoulders. It looked so pale, so lifeless, so cold, but more importantly, SCARY!
I refused to look at what's behind me right away. It caressed my cheek, it's skin is dead cold. My complexion was turning pale and the blood around my ankles felt clogged.
I have to calm down! Arlet is watching over me somewhere, she has to be!
"This one is alone."
"Ah, devour..."
"Should we eat it here?"
"Why is it not moving?"
"Scared..."
They guessed right! Even if I wanted to, my legs won't let me free! They had these airy sound to their voices, like they had holes in their trachea or something.
"Let's take it to the boss..."
Suddenly, I felt my body being lifted off the ground. The hand that lifted me had fingers that were too sharp it's almost piercing my body just by carrying me. Heck, it's longer than my teacher's nails who could literally impale my pencil eraser with her nails. Actually, maybe 5 erasers.
"Be careful not to kill it."
Ah, thank you kind hearted ghoul. Not like you are one. Well then, I wonder if Arlet is doing her job. I can't sense her but she must be tailing us from somewhere.
The ghoul began moving through the forest, I was being held by him like I was a flower vase. Behind him followed two more of his fellows, just like Durian said, they looked like oversized naked bats. Except they didn't have any wings except the guy carrying me.
"Kikiki, didn't your parents tell you that it's bad to stay out late at night, young girl?"
Is what one of the wingless ghouls said to me while ogling my small figure with his glinting red eyes. I stayed quiet and covered my eyes because their looks creep me out and I might sore eyes.
"We're gonna eat you up~!"
The other wingless bat tried scaring me and it somehow made me feel the chills. I guess I'll reward them by playing along.
"Noooo!"
"Wahahaha!"
"Kids are just fun!"
These idiots! I'll make them regret they were ever born! Or hatched, or infected, whatever the way they came to life. The adventurers must be following us by now by following the luminescent thread Arlet is tying to the trees as she goes. Ofcourse we left some adventurers to keep watch over the village too while we're away because there's a chance some were to go there.
It seems like this is their nest.
In front of me was a waterfall, now let me guess, theres a cave beyond those flowing bodies of water?
The ghouls took a left turn and went around the waterfalls, the entrance to the cave seemed to be hidden by the curtains of water so it's inevitable to get a little wet by going through some gaps.
Nevertheless, my attention was swiftly taken by the Screampeas around here before all else. Not like I can acquire those things at the moment. But I wish they'd step on them.
I was taken inside the cave, my left shoulder a little wet. Their settlement was gloomy and damp. I can't describe it too much because it's your ordinary cave that smells of bat poop and has that uncanny feel to it.
"Boss, we brought a human child."
"!"
I was bewildered and unnerved by the first thing I saw. A great mass of fear was weighting down my chest. It wasn't as strong as the Guild Master's aura, but it's still enough to cause my mentality some pressure.
"What a strong child. Usually, they would start crying around this time but this one only got petrified. Hahaha! I like it!"
Who spoke was the biggest ghoul I've seen yet. The difference in appearance besides the size had got to be his large wings and wider jawline. This cave had atleast more than 15 ghouls, count it 18 with these 3 back.
I was suddenly dragged once again, but this time to what looked like a prison with wooden spikes as it's restrainer. Inside it were the probable missing children.
They were teary eyed and seemingly looking hungry. But that's okay for me, atleast they didn't get eaten. Or not eating amongst themselves. That'd be a whole other problem.
"Omph."
I got thrown into the prison and the children stared at me anxiously. I landed painfully on my buttocks but thankfully didn't receive any scratches.
"Are you guys from the village nearby?"
I asked while comforting my butt and they nodded reluctantly. I kept my voice at bare minimum so the ghouls wouldn't hear.
"Don't worry, I'm here to save you."
They looked at me disgustingly. Ah... I just noticed I'm in a child's body. So to them, this looks like some kid dreaming for the impossible.
"W-Well, I guess I can't persuade you."
I gave up on that. It's not like I'll gain anything by reassuring them anyway. Plus, it might even expose our plan to the ghouls if some kid suddenly shouts I'm here to rescue them out of excitement.
"Boss, when are we gonna eat them?"
I heard a conversation spark outside the prison. My lips were trembling in anticipation.
"We will eat them later at midnight. Food tastes best when hungry and the body of our food is bathed in darkness."
The leader of the ghouls explained gallantly. Every one of his men didn't defy him, some opposed but were hushed instantly by their companions. They couldn't understand what makes him think that way.
For now, I just have to wait for Arlet to come here along with the alliance.
"Seven."
I heard Arlet's voice whisper in front of me. It came from the opposite side of the bar. If I'm not mistaken, Arlet is here somewhere.
"There's too many of them, we're at a disadvantage since it's an enclosed room. We're going to bomb this place."
"Are you crazy?! There are kids here!"
I whispered under my breath.
"That's why you should cast a magic barrier before the explosion."
I pondered for a while. She told me afterwards that if I can cast a barrier, make it as strong as possible and the explosion will occur in under 5 minutes the moment she returns.
"Alright, I can do it. Now go."
Heeding Arlet's suggestion, I started taking out my notebook and quill from my storage ring to use my cheat. To do that, I have to resort in hiding behind the children. And I have just enough Affection Points to use 『Rewrite Destiny』. Afterall, the only barrier I know how to make is a sword barrier but that's not going to work against an explosion. Plus, my current body won't even so much as pull off a single magic sword.
"H-Hey, what're you doing?!"
"Ouch!"
"Watch it!"
There I'm finally here. Noone can figure out what I'm doing at this angle.
...
Alright, I'm done! And the timer is about to go off too!
The children and I were immediately coated in a transparent blue substance. It's purpose is to repel any sort of damage for a duration of 60 seconds. Even this seems possible with my power.
Everytime the seconds passed by, it got me nervous. Afterall, theres only a 60 second duration for my Rewrite's buffs. They have to hurry up before it runs out or else we're dead meat from the explosion!
50 seconds.
40 seconds.
There was a whistling sound as an arrow pierced the breezy air. That arrow took one sharp blitz of speed and hit the head of the leader who was slightly pushed back by the momentum. The last scene I saw was the look of shock in the monsters' faces.
BOOM!
Just in time!
The boom originated from the arrow that was shot, the magic energy inside ran rampant and caused an outburst of mana explosion as planned by it's magic formula. Thankfully, the cave sustained only a minor amount of damage and didn't collapse on us. None of us in this room was harmed due to my barrier.
25 seconds left. The dust cleared up faster than ordinary because it's made out of mana and I mumbled "Age Fix' to turn myself back into an adult as per what I wrote before turning into a child.
There were almost no remains of the ghouls in sight. Although I could still see some left over body parts here and there, but it wasn't that bad.
This skill really is convenient for any purpose. Although I need Aria and Arlet for it and I can only gain a maximum of 2,000 AP a day. Without it, not only me, but the kids I'm tasked to protect would also get caught up in the explosion.
"Seven!"
I could hear people calling out my name. The voices were gradually growing closer, I looked at the children and they looked at me back in surprise. It looks like the barrier wore off too.
"Wh-Who are you?"
"I'm an Adventurer, we came to rescue you."
I don't know if they realize I'm that little girl from earlier but it's better they don't. I'd like them to forget about it this instant, reliving my weak form scared the hell out of me. I felt so powerless.
The kids began crying again, except there weren't any tears anymore. It's likely that they cried so much already that they ran out. It's plausible since they haven't eaten anything for the past 2 days.
"F-Food please."
That was the first thing they asked of me. So I quickly pulled out an item called Vita-Fruit from this world and handed them 3 pieces each. Their number was no joke.
About 20 kids.
It was the right decision to bring this many every time I go on a long term adventure. It consists of 70% water and 30% fiber so it's good for satiating both thirst and hunger for adventurers. They'll have to make do with this for now until we get back to the village.
They eagerly consumed the fruits as if someone would steal it from them if they don't hurry. Now that I take a closer inspection, they really look hungry, don't they? My common sense somehow deteriorated in this body considering I don't get to eat or drink much.
"Eat them all, you have to regain your energy."
The corner of my lips rose the same way as my pride while watching them gulped down the food. I wonder why those guys are taking too long.
Psccch!
"!?"
I looked down from where the sound came from. My stomach... There was a hole and a bloody arm was sticking out of it, furthermore, the arm was greyish and had sharp pointed claws. Blood was dropping madly towards the floor.
I thought they were all killed?!
Behind me was one of the ghouls, it stabbed me from the back with it's claws and had his hand go through the other side, how did it survive?!