Today is my third time outside the courtyard after coming to this world and first time outside the ten meters radius of my home---thanks to Julian. Roxy is slowly guiding the horse forward in the village while Julian sat behind her. It wasn't his first time riding a horse.
From time to time, the villagers threw us unreserved gazes. No way. My body is tensing up.
I am still afraid of being looked at.
Especially those mocking and unrestrained gazes. Surely, they wouldn't court trouble with us with mocking words, right? They probably wouldn't. They don't recognize me. In this world, only the people in that small house know me.
Why are you looking at me.
Stop looking, go back to work...
...No.
It's not me.
They are looking at the two behind me. Some of them are greeting Roxy, some are looking at Julian in confusion.
Ah, that's right.
Roxy already established her position in this village. Even though the discrimination against the demon races is quite severe in this country. And in this rural area, this contrast is even more apparent. Within a short period of 2 years, she has become a figure who everyone is willing to greet. When I think of this point, Roxy's back looks so reliable. She knows where to go, and they mutually know her. If I receive any unwanted comments, she will definitely defend me.
"Wait, little Julian had a brother? Is he Paul's second son?"
"No, you idiot. I heard from him he has an elder brother. Guess that's him."
"How come I am seeing him only now?"
"Guess this is his first time out."
"Maybe he was sick and bedridden all this time."
I let out a loud, extended and resigned sigh. This was exactly what I was afraid of. The judgmental dialogues that people "secretely" exchange way too loudly for the subject of discussion.
"Don't listen to them so much. At least you got out. This is your first step."
Haah, I can't believe that I find this young girl, who peeked at the events in the master bedroom, to be so reliable. I could hear Julian's muffled hums of agreement from behind her. Thus, my body's tension faded away.
"Kalajav's mood is pretty good. It's feeling happy that Rudeus is riding it." Roxy added.
Kalajav is the horse's name. Of course, I can't read a horse's mood.
"Is that so." I replied nonchalantly as I leaned backwards, the back of my head hitting Roxy's flat chest.
How comfortable.
What exactly am I afraid of. This is such a peaceful village. Who will bully me? Other than Julian? He's an exception.
"Are you still scared?" She asked and I shake my head. I am not afraid of other people's gazes anymore.
"No, I'm fine already."
"See, it's just like I said."
My heart has more breathing space. The surroundings entered my eyes. Fields and houses, like stars in the sky, stretched out into the distance. The feeling of a village. I can see a considerable number of people within this huge radius. If they are more packed up, it might possibly turn into a small town. If there were windmills, it might possibly let people think of Switzerland. Ah, there are water mills.
After relaxing, I become conscious of the silence for a while. I have never experienced this kind of silence when I was with Roxy in the past. I have never tried to stick so closely to her. Even though it's not unbearable, it is embarrassing. Since Julian was so quiet, which he usually is, I decided to strike up a conversation.
"Sensei, what does this field grow?"
"It's mainly Asura's wheat, the component for bread. There are also small amounts of green vegetables and Bardius flowers. Bardius flowers can be refined into spices in the capital. The rest are ingredients for the dining table."
"Ah, that's green chili. Sensei is unable to eat that."
"N-not unable to eat it. I'm just not used to it."
"You throw up every time you put it in your mouth." Julian commented with his usual monotone voice as she jerked her head back, pulling the reigns of the horse in the process. The horse let out a loud neigh, but it calmed down soon as I patted its neck and Roxy composed herself.
Put what in mouth exactly?
"Its not like that. I told you!" Roxy countered the previous question with a full-blown vigour.
"Ok." He replied with genuine disinterest in continuing the conversation.
After that I asked question after question. Today, Roxy said that this is the last test. That is to say, her working as a home tutor is about to end. Roxy is an impatient person. Since today is the final day, it is possible that she will leave this house tomorrow. Today is the last day. Let's talk a bit more. But I can't find anything interesting to talk about. I can only keep asking things about the village.
Based on Roxy's descriptions, this village's name is Buina, and it is part of the northern Asuran Kingdom's Fedoa region. There are about 30 families here, mainly farmers. My father, Paul, is the delegated knight of this village. His duty is to observe the farmers' situation, to be the mediator for the village's quarrels, and to defend the village from monsters. Such is his job. In other words, a recognized bodyguard of the kingdom. But even if that's the case, this village has a rotation of youths in charge of security. So, when Paul finishes his rounds in the morning, he stays at home in the afternoon.
It's basically a peaceful village, so there's nothing much to do. As we finished these topics, the fields around us gradually thinned. I didn't have anything more to ask, and the silence went on for a period of time. Approximately another hour passed. There aren't any fields surrounding us anymore. We have arrived in a completely untouched barren area.
The more I looked around, the more it felt like I had entered some kind of hell. No more vegetation, no grass. Nothing. Just a vast barren and charred expanse, filled with nothing but char and ash. Like a volcano had erupted here.
What the fuck happened here?
(***)
"It should be fine if we are here." Roxy directed the horse to a lone tree and tied the reins onto it. Then she carried me down from the horse. We are finally face-to-face.
"Are you sure?" Julian finally spoke as he looked around, a look of familarity in his eyes.
"What's wrong with this place?" Roxy asked with a mischievous grin.
Well, talk about being blatantly fishy.
"Nothing." He replied and looked the other way, in the direction of the mountains in the far-off distance.
"Ok, so, Rudeus, I'm going to use the saint ranked water attack magic, Cumulonimbus. This technique is a magic that creates lightning strikes with violent rain."
"Yes."
"Please copy what I do."
Using a saint ranked water magic. So, it is this. The content of the final test. Roxy is about to use her biggest spell. If I'm capable of learning it, she will not have anything more to teach me. "Because I'm only demonstrating, I'll just maintain the spell for a minute before dismissing it, and then... You pass if you can make the rain last for an hour."
"Is it because it's a secret technique that you only did it in a deserted location?"
"No, I'm worried that people will get hurt or the farmers' crops get damaged."
Oh. It's rain at a natural disaster level? That's quite amazing. "I'm starting." Roxy raised her hands up, towards the skies. Julian took a step away from her and stood beside the horse, gently patting the area between his eyes.
"Oh, great water spirit, the son of the lightning emperor who ascended to the skies!! Fulfill my wishes, rain down your ferocious blessings, and show me your strength to this tiny existence! Let your godly hammer strike the anvil, and demonstrate your authority, and devour the earth with water!! Ah, the rain!! Destroy and wash everything away!!『Cumulonimbus!!』"
She chanted every word out like an aria. It lasted over a minute. The surroundings turned dark immediately when the chanting ended. A few seconds later... heavy rain started to pour down from the sky. Violent winds sprang up around us as lightning appeared in the midst of the dark clouds. Among the sounds of the waterfall-like rain, streaks of purple lightning ran through the clouds, causing loud booms. The electricity in the clouds slowly becomes stronger. The lightning continued to grow, as if to make the light become stronger.
...It striked the earth.
Krash!! And it striked the tree.
My eardrums started buzzing and my eyes were in spirals, my clear replaced by static white. I almost fainted.
"Ah!!" This is the sound Roxy utters when she makes a mistake.
The clouds dispersed in an instant. The lightning and rain stopped.
"Uwawa......" Roxy face turned green as she ran towards the tree. I look over in her direction.
No...
The place where Julian and the hose were had smoke rising from it.
Strength sapped from my limbs. My hands trembled. My little brother... no.
I ran before Roxy could move and arrived in front of the tree. After a while the smoke cleared and I was finally able to see.
A silhouette. And then another. I saw Julian standing, completely unaffected with his one hand over the horse and the other in the air. Above his hand was a shimmering dome of green, radiating a cool breeze, his face as impassive as ever. The shield of wind broke into a million pieces and dissolved in the air as he took a step back. He had used an advanced level wind spell as defence against the bolt of lightning. It was sure to crack and break since the attack was from Saint-tier magic, but still... Holy Shit! He blocked it!
This horse is the only horse our family has. Paul takes great care of it everyday, and would sometimes ride it outside far away with a smile. Even though it's not a famous breed, it is Paul's long-time companion. One might even say that his love for the horse is just below his love for Zenith. Such is the importance of this horse. Of course, Roxy, who has lived with us for 2 years, knows it. I also know that Roxy witnessed Paul being in a trance while clinging onto the horse's back and was surprised by it.
"Maybe look around next time?" Julian commented as he rubbed the horse's snout, trying to calm it down.
"Please, keep this a secret?" Roxy said in a half-crying voice. She's a little clumsy.
Well, little would be understating it but who cares. She works hard. I also know that she stays up late into the night to prepare my lessons. I also know that she doesn't want to be looked down on because of her young age, and always tries to present herself with dignity. I really like that appearance. If there wasn't such a large difference in age, I would like to marry her.
"Don't worry, I won't tell father."
"Uuuu... Please do so. You too, Julian."
"Nope."
She was left devastated and clung on to Julian's arm for a whole 30 minutes to not tell Paul. Apparently, Julian liked the horse as much as Paul. But still, looking at Roxy act like is just makes my heart go doki doki.
If only we met at the same age.
"Uuu..."
"Fine. Just get off me." Julian shrugged her away as she clung on to him. Lucky bastard.
Even after making him say it again and again that he won't snitch, Roxy still continued to pester him until he promised her. Even when she was in a half-crying state, she quickly shook her head, slapped her cheek, looked at me with a solemn expression. (A/n ahem)
"Then, please go ahead and try. I will take care of Kalajav."
The horse still showed an afraid expression and was ready to run away at any time now, but Julian reined it in with enough force that the poor horse trotted the side. The horse slowly calmed down. Roxy maintained her position and started chanting something. And then the three of them were covered by earthen walls. A fortress made of earth was completed quickly.
This was the advanced ranked earth magic, Earth Fortress.
With this, it should be fine even if they receive lightning strikes. Alright, time to start.
Let me think what the chant is...
"Oh great water spirit, the son of the lightning emperor who ascended to the skies!! Fulfill my wishes, rain down your ferocious blessings, and show me your strength to this tiny existence! Let your godly hammer strike the anvil, and demonstrate your authority, and devour the earth with water!! Ah, the rain!! Destroy and wash everything away!!『Cumulonimbus!!』"
I say it all in one shot. The clouds started to gather. At the same time, I understood 『Cumulonimbus』.
Creating clouds somewhere in the middle stratosphere along with complex movements to form storm clouds. It's probably something like that. If mana isn't poured into the formation, the clouds will stop forming and dissipate.
(Never mind about the mana, it's too tiring to raise your hands for 1 hour...)
No, wait. A magician requires a spirit of creativity and research. Do you really need to maintain the posture like collecting Genki for an hour? That's right, this is a test. It isn't about maintaining the same position, but about using melded magic after creating the clouds to sustain them. I almost fail to think of it. The things I've learned are about to be used.
"Let me think. I saw it before on television. The process of how clouds form..." There are still some of the clouds that Roxy made earlier. It's something about how water evaporation spirals up. To create a certain rising air flow, you need to let the bottom part become warm, or something like that. And I need to ensure that the upper section can be quickly cooled down...
When I try to do this, half of my mana is actually taken away. But if it's done this way, then it should be able to maintain itself for more than an hour. While looking at the rainstorm, I enter the fortress made by Roxy with satisfaction. Roxy was sitting in the dark corner, While Julian was holding onto the horse's reins.
She observed me and noded. "This fortress will disappear after an hour, so you can stop the magic before then."
"Okay."
"Don't worry. Kalajav is fine."
"Okay."
"Don't keep saying okay. You need to control the clouds outside seriously for an hour."
Hm?
"Do I need to control it?"
"Hm? Did I say something strange?"
"But is there a need to control it?"
"Of course. Saint ranked water magic is also magic. If you don't sustain it with mana, the wind will blow it away."
"But I already made it so that it can't be blown away...?"
"Huh? What...!?"
"You used melded magic, yes?" He asked as he removed his chin from his knuckles, getting up from his bored trance.
"Exactly." This little runt never misses, does he.
Roxy, who seemed to have notice something, ran out of the fortress. The fortress immediately fell apart. Hey hey, aren't you going to continue controlling it? The horse will get buried alive. As soon as I thought that the fortress came to life again.
"Arara." Walking outside I saw Roxy staring blankly at the skies.
"...Is that so, the spiraling tornado will bring the clouds upwards...!!" The skies were filled with the ever-growing clouds that I created. I think I did a pretty good job evident from Julian's face as he stared at them with his eyes that seemed to burn in a deeper shade of sapphire, a contrast to the usual azure blue.
I watched a random show in the past that used science to explain the process behind huge tornadoes. Even though I can't really remember its contents. I just tried it relying on my instinct, and in the end, I seemed to have done it pretty well. "Rudeus. You pass."
"Eh? But it hasn't been an hour?"
"There's no need to wait. It's enough if you did this much. But can you make it disappear?"
"Ah, yes. Although I need a bit of time." I lowered the temperature at the bottom part of the storm while increasing the temperature of the top. Then I created an air flow towards the ground before finally using wind magic to forcibly blow the clouds away. Roxy and I were completely soaked by the time I was done with it, meanwhile Julian and the horse just remained under the wind shield.
"Congratulations. You are now Water-Saint ranked." The bishoujo in front of me with water dripping from her fringe announced it to me with a rarely seen smile. The me who had never achieved anything in life has finally accomplished something. A strange sensation seems to spread across my abdomen. I know this feeling.
It's a sense of fulfillment. I finally feel it in this moment, that this is my [First step] after coming to this world.
"Woah, you're smiling." Julian commented, pointing a finger at her as she looked at him with a scowl.
"Shut up."
"What did I do?"
"Hmph!" She huffed and faced other way, her previous smile turning into a pout.
Well, I have no idea what's going on, but I will pretend I never saw this.
There's no way... right?
(***)
On the second day, Roxy, who hasn't changed in the past 2 years, packed up her luggage and stood in front of the gates. My parents didn't change too much either since Roxy came. We are the only one who had grown taller.
The concept of younger ones outgrowing the older siblings was true even in this world. Makes me envious, but it doesn't matter much. He was a few inches taller than me, just an inch shorter than Roxy. He stood in the door frame, behind Roxy.
"Roxy, it's fine if you want to continue staying in our home. There are many things I haven't cooked for you..."
"That's right. Even if your job as a home tutor is over, you have done many things for us last year. The people from the village will definitely welcome you." My parents are trying to keep Roxy. Somewhere along the way, Roxy and my parents have become close. Well, she's always free from the afternoon to the evening. If she did something every day, she should be able to get a lot of contacts. A thing unlike a protagonist who has to do a lot of things, otherwise their stats won't change.
"No. Thank you for saying this, but this situation has let me realize my weakness. I will tour the world and polish up my magic skills." She seems to have received a shock after I caught up with her in rank. Good thing Julian pursued sword or she would've gone into a perpetual state of shock. She told me in the past how she hated students surpassing the teacher.
"Is that so. Here, what can I say. My apologies, it seems our son has made you lose confidence."
Paul, what the heck are you saying.
"No, this event has made me learned not to be too full of myself. I'm actually grateful for this."
"It's okay to be proud of yourself if you can use saint ranked water magic."
"I understand that even if you don't rely on that, if you base it on creativity, then you can come up with even stronger magic."
Roxy smiled bitterly while stroking my head.
"Rudy. Even though I tried my best, I am unable to teach you at my current level."
"This isn't true. Sensei gave me many things."
"I'm satisfied if you say that... Ah, right."
Roxy searches her mantle with her hand and pulls out something tied with a ribbon.
"Congrats on your graduation. Because I didn't have time to prepare, take this and bear with it."
"This is...?"
"Migurd's protection amulet. If you ever come across a hostile demon, you can present this with my name. You might come to an understanding... probably."
"I will treat it with care."
"It's only a possibility. Don't believe in it too much."
Roxy smiled at the very end and sets off. I don't know when my tears started flowing. She really gave me a lot. Knowledge, experience, technique... If I didn't meet up with her, I might still be studying inefficiently with my hand holding onto the magic textbook. These events would always carry an important meaning in my life. Roxy only came to this village for 2 years. Roxy, who didn't know how to communicate well with others. As a person from a demon race, Roxy couldn't have been treated well by the villagers. She didn't have the intention to make me become a better person. But it is undeniable that she dispelled my heart's shadow. I took another step outside the gates and the small radius yesterday when we got drenched.
There is only the ground. The normal ground. I'm not shivering. I can finally walk outside. She did it for herself. I know that. But I still respect her. I respect the small girl. I swore it in my heart to respect her until her figure disappears. My hands were holding onto the staff and amulet that Roxy gave me. As well as the various knowledge she taught me. I suddenly remember.
The panties that hadn't been washed and were stolen from Roxy are still in my room.
"I'm sorry." I muttered out loud as I saw her figure become smaller and smaller while Julian escorted her to the nearest transportation place.
JULIAN GREYRAT POV
It was finally that day.
The day Roxy leaves our house.
It has already been 2 years since she came here.
Time sure flies by in the blink of an eye.
Right now, she was exchanging pleasantries with everyone in the house.
My parents tried to persuade her into staying at our house, but she rejected it, as expected from her.
She was quite ambitious.
I respected that thing about her.
Something I didn't have at all. I was highly unambitious.
After giving Rudeus his graduation amulet, she departed.
I was standing in the door frame for quite a while, so when she started to go out, I tagged along, hoping to fulfil our friendship by at least accompanying her towards her destination.
"You didn't have to come along, Julian."
"I didn't have to, yes. But I wanted to." I replied.
She let out a slight giggle, "Thanks."
I looked at her, her blue hair gleaming in the evening sun. "No need for thank you's. We are friends. Just like you said."
"I know, I know." She replied, waving her hands. "Hey, Julian?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you really going to give up on magic? You achieved saint stage in 2 elements an year earlier than Rudeus. I don't know why you would hide something like that from even your parents."
"You've seen how Rudeus is, right?" I asked as she stopped, and a questioning look appeared on on her face.
"He is afraid of leaving the house. How do you think this news will impact him?"
She bit her lip. "I know about all of that. But you don't have to waste your potential like that."
I placed a hand on her head, subtly ruffling her hair, "Impatience, even if it's for self-improvement won't result in anything good. Take your time. I will take mine. I am sure we both can achieve a lot."
She lowered her neck, her shoulder slumping. After a while she looked up, "You sure have a way of making me feel like an idiot every time we talk."
"Well, you are kind of stupid, not gonna lie."
"Say what?!!" She exclaimed, standing on her toes as she got closer, placing her hands on her hips and a very... very aggressive look on her face. If I scream help, maybe someone will help me.
I am scared.
"Uh, nothing. I just said you your cognitive faculties appear to be traversing a convoluted path, leading one to question the soundness of your mental acuity in this particular context."
She looked completely lost. "Whatever you might mean by that."
Threat neutralised, successfully.
As she was about to leave, she turned towards me. Maybe it was ambiance or the setting sun behind me, I just realised that Roxy had quite nice features. Chubby but not fat and cute facial features. She smiled one last time at me, "Take care, Julian. May we meet again."
She was the first friend in this world, and arguably the only friend I didn't make to take advantage of. She was just a friend. Just like any other person. I tried to make sense of it. Why would people befriend others if they had no use. The answer that I got over the past 2 years was that it was the same illogical reason that gave it it's meaning. The fact that she had no use of me neither did I have for her, yet she took care of me without wanting anything in return and taught me everything she knew.
I understood it because of her.
Taking a step forward, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her in a tight hug. "Until next time." I muttered under my breath, like a whisper in her ear.
She trembled.