The Academy’s Crude Pink-Haired Martial Artist

Diana hated being called her master. She was in her mid-20s and didn’t like being called sister either.

So, I called her Aunt.

Diana was an adventurer.

But not a particularly famous one.

However, looking back now, I think she was really strong.

And as fitting as that was, her personality was just as fierce.

She beat up me and Paulo constantly, claiming she would fix our pickpocketing habits.

But it wasn’t just barehanded.

If she hit us barehanded, there would be emotions involved, and she insisted that wouldn’t do for such brats. So she used a bat she brought from who knows where to whack us.

But that was a lie.

There was emotion in those beatings.

Of course, at first, there were no emotions, but as time went on, emotions did creep in.

Worry and sympathy.

And then, a strangely ticklish feeling for no reason.

From the moment I felt that, Diana started raising us.

She still had her roughness, but she showed us interest, taught us about swords, how to kill monsters and demons, and how to survive in this crappy world.

Five years later.

At the point when Diana had entered her thirties, she was killed after taking down a demon trying to kill me and Paulo.

It was a common, often occurring, and predictable story among those living in that era.

And it’s a story that’s unforgettable.

Anyway.

There’s a sword that was once used by Diana.

It looked like a common piece, but the engravings on the pommel confirmed it was Diana’s sword.

D, R, P.

I don’t know why it’s here.

I also don’t know who used Diana’s sword. I could find out by reading the description below, but I don’t need to know that badly.

I just know it’s the most exquisite sword here.

It has a semi-permanent self-repairing magic cast on it.

It was used by Diana.

And it’s the sword I wanted to use.

“…What do you think?”

I brushed off old memories and handed it to Yurasia.

If Yurasia doesn’t like it, I’ll have to reluctantly choose something else, but I still plan to try to persuade her.

Of course, my pathetic greed is mixed in that persuasion, but it’s a wonderful sword for Yurasia to use.

So, I tried my best…

“Sure!”

Yurasia accepted the sword I handed over without any questions and smiled brightly.

“Don’t you want to check it first?”

“The item chosen by the Young Lady won’t be bad, right?”

I was momentarily taken aback by her incredibly transparent emotions and voice.

“W-Well, that’s true, but weren’t you eyeing other weapons?”

“Well, that’s true… but the sword chosen by the Young Lady is my favorite. Hehe.”

“…Then, well… okay. Let’s go with that.”

“Sure!”

Lately, I feel like I’ve been experiencing these slightly ticklish emotions often.

It’s a feeling I want to wash away by doing something bad, but it’s not unpleasant, and it’s a weirdly ambiguous feeling that’s not as bad as I thought.

My mood just keeps getting odd.

Rustle
While stretching my ticklish fingers, I walked forward.

Twenty minutes later.

After finishing my selections, I came out of the Treasure House.

Finding something for myself didn’t take long.

I couldn’t use weapons anyway, and I hated armor because it was uncomfortable.

So I chose an artifact.

“…What’s that, Ellie?”

As soon as I stepped out of the Treasure House, my dad looked at me wide-eyed.

“It’s a bandage with self-repairing magic.”

“…And?”

“Uh… it quickly recovers mana and stamina, heals wounds, and is incredibly tough and durable.”

Dad’s trembling eyes watched the pure white bandage in my hand for a while.

Then, gulp. He swallowed dryly before cautiously saying to me.

“Uh, really… will that be enough? If anything, I, this Dad! will speak to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Yeah. It’s okay. I like this.”

I shook my head and smiled softly.

It wasn’t a forced smile.

It was just… a smile that came naturally because I felt good.

Of course, the people around us.

Even the Nameless Captain looked bewildered.

They couldn’t help but be confused.

After all, I only brought out a bandage from the Imperial Palace’s Treasure House.

I would be dumbfounded too if I were in their shoes.

The artifacts sleeping in the Treasure House all had outstanding effects.

For example, there were things that completely erased presence, allowed faster movements by borrowing the power of wind, mana tanks that could store massive amounts of mana, or items that amplified mana.

Yet, I chose a bandage.

This bandage was the most important and necessary artifact for me right now.

I gripped the bandage tightly with my heated hand.

“Yeah. If Ellie thinks so, then that’s it…”

“Thanks for worrying about me.”

Giggle – I glanced at the Emperor, who was also looking at me with a slightly bizarre expression, just like my dad.

“I will take this.”

“Hmm, well. Since you’ve made your choice, it’d be strange for me to say otherwise. So be it.”

“Thank you.”

Next, Yurasia also respectfully reported to the Emperor after following the knight’s etiquette, smiling brightly as she attached her new sword to her empty waist.

“I will quietly conclude the awarding ceremony as requested by Duke Turius Eustetia. Do you have anything to add, Your Majesty?”

At the Emperor’s words, Dad’s gaze turned back to me.

This was really the last chance to change my mind.

Without any hesitation, I shook my head.

I wouldn’t change it, no matter who tried to kill me.

*

A short meeting was held between the Imperial family and Eustetia. The agenda was about observers for the Forbidden Library.

The Imperial family was attaching an observer, based on the assumption that the information I knew might leak elsewhere.

It means they want to know the types of information I have as well.

And if the information in the Forbidden Library were ever to spread outside, it would mean they would take me down.

In contrast, Eustetia, fearing that I might be anxious, attached an observer so that I could be free from possible imperial pressure.

This was the superficial reason of Eustetia.

As for the hidden truth behind it, even I don’t know well.

Why do they need to stick an observer on me while causing friction with the Emperor?

Well… if you think of the superficial reason as the truth, then there’s no need to ponder too much over it.

It could simply be that they’re worried about me.

But… looking at Dad’s expression, it seems like there’s some other secret being hidden.

Is there information he is hesitant to reveal to me?

If so, is it related to the secrets of Eustetia?

One suspicion crossed my mind…

“Lady, do you have any worries?”

While I pondered over it, Yurasia, who was sitting across from me, carefully asked.

“Uh… I’m not worried about anything.”

I shook my head and munched on a cookie I had been eating until then.

By the way.
The reception room of the Imperial family is on a whole different level.

Yurasia and I were taken to a separate reception room without participating in the meeting, and we were told we could eat the snacks here freely.

And, wow, each cookie is incredibly delicious.

The cookies baked in Eustetia were tasty, but the ones from the Imperial family are even better.

No wonder they are the Imperial family.

Crunch crunch
I devoured all the cookies named Scotch Cookie and sank back into a large chair.

Yurasia was just beaming with happiness.

She was diligently adjusting the sword at her waist, blooming flowers all around.

“Is it that good?”

“Yes! It’s super good!”

Her golden hair that looked like it was made of melted sunshine danced as Yurasia smiled.

Seeing her laugh like that makes me want to tease her.

You know how it is.

When you see a cute little beast, and its cuteness takes your breath away, you just want to pinch it, bite it, and bother it for no reason.

That’s exactly how I feel right now.

So, I couldn’t resist.

“Hey, it seems like you like this sword more than the one I gave you, huh?”

It was a joke with absolutely zero sincerity.

I just wanted to see Yurasia flustered and stammer in surprise.

On the contrary, I was just thankful that Yurasia liked that sword.

It could be seen as the sword of someone who was my benefactor in my past life, and it’s only natural I feel grateful since it’s being used by someone I care about.

But…

“Ah, could it be… are you feeling jealous, Young Lady?”

“…W-What?”

“Since I seem to like this sword more than the gift you gave me, are you feeling jealous?”

What is she talking about?

This wasn’t the reaction I expected.

“…No? Why would I be jealous?”

“Hmm… really?”

What is with that mischievous tone?

“H-Hey, Yurasia.”

“Yes?”

“You learned that cheeky trick from someone, didn’t you…?”

Yurasia’s eye-smile deepened.

“I wonder?”

Then, she cheekily laughed while reaching out and brushing the crumbs off my mouth.

As she did, the cookie crumbs that were stuck to something fell to the floor.

“You always end up getting something on you when you eat.”

What is this? What is she doing? Why is she acting like this today?

Is she going crazy?

As I blinked at her sudden boldness, Yurasia, now free of crumbs, licked the cookie off her finger.

“Why are you eating that?”

“Oh! It’s just a habit… Hehe.”

What kind of habit is that…?

I narrowed my eyes and glared at Yurasia.

But Yurasia just kept smiling brightly.

“Looks like I’ve surprised you, Young Lady.”

“I’m going to eat you alive very soon.”

“Are you going to eat me?”

“Yeah.”

“Ah… but still not just yet.”

“Not just yet? Oh really? Hah, you’re young and naïve; it’s far too early for you. You’ve still got 400 years to go.”

“Wow… you sound just like my grandmother.”

“Oh really?”

Glares – I stared at Yurasia.

She coquettishly stuck her tongue out, only to smile brightly.

“So, Young Lady, Young Lady.”

“What?”

“Is that bandage… do you really like it?”

Yurasia’s gaze turned towards the bandage resting on the table.

The freshly rolled, pure white bandage.

I softly caressed it and nodded.

“Yeah. I like it.”

“Uh… but still, isn’t it a little… a bit ordinary compared to other artifacts?”

“It is ordinary.”

It’s a wholly ordinary bandage.

Just a bandage that has common magic imbued within it like the other artifacts.

“But.”

When I reach the 6th rank…

It will become, for me,

“The most important artifact of all.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

I’m not sure what expression I wore, but Yurasia didn’t say anything after that.

*
“Instead of creating an artifact, you made this weird thing. What is this rag?”

“While just standing still, it could at least become half of an artifact, and yet this dumbass always has his mouth problem. Open your eyes and look properly. Does this look like a rag?”

“Is this really an artifact?”

“Open your eyes wide and watch carefully. If you wrap it around your hand nicely and channel at least 6th rank mana in a steady flow, tada—do you see?”

“Tada, what? What is this?”

“Look right now, that white thread is connected to my heart, right? This is an artifact that allows you to locate me.”

“Garbage.”

“You jerk. Why is this garbage? This is an artifact infused with an enormous Essence of Miracles. That’s just the beginning of its effects. It possesses automatic recovery that’s different from regular magic, and its durability means it could hardly be torn by any ordinary dragon’s teeth. Moreover, this pattern is something only we know; even if it were taken by any average person, they wouldn’t be able to use it properly.”

“Well, automatic recovery is pretty basic, so let’s ignore that. What can you achieve by locating yourself?”

“What do you think? It’d be extremely useful for when we inevitably get scattered on the battlefield one day.”

“Why would we scatter?”

“You never know! The Labyrinth might show up and trap us separately, or we might get caught in Luxrina’s illusion and not be able to get out. Especially guys like you, if I don’t have my miracle, it’s clear you’d be dead, right? How great would it be to be able to find me at that time?”

“The premise itself is flawed. There’s no way I’d leave a trash like you alone, right? My job is to protect you regardless of the time or place. So this rag has absolutely no value.”

“…You’re saying you protect me, no matter the time or place?”

“Of course—I’ve never not protected you.”

“…Ha, ha! Well, alright. But still, someday. Someday when any of us, whether it’s me or Arisa or Paulo or Kaloso, are far apart from each other, it would be nice to be able to find each other.”

“Yeah, if that happens, we’d all gather again.”

“Exactly. If we follow this white thread, we can come to the place where I am. This is an artifact meant just for that.”

The white bandage.

“The name is Habar.”

The meaning is…

“Reunion.”

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