Chapter 4: The legendary dragon is back
I arrived in the forest behind the castle carrying a magic book called [Compendium of Elementary Magic], which Okaa-sama had given me for my birthday.
“I can practice my magic here without being discovered.”
“Kii~yui!”
Ruria squeals in agreement.
Children from noble families typically begin studying magic when they are six years old.
I was betrothed to Prince Edward at the age of six in my previous life, so I was inevitably involved in the Queen’s education.
However, in my previous life, I despised studying and was proud of it. I was only good at two things: socializing and dancing. But I could only socialize because I was the daughter of a grand duke and the prince’s fiancée.
For the second time, I aim to become a hardworking grand duchess.
You might learn something that will help you later. even if your magic is a piece of crap.
Marie Setouchi was a well-educated and hardworking woman. She got the job she wanted in a large corporation and was an excellent employee, if I may say so.
So maybe life on Earth isn’t so bad after all.
That’s why I’m here today to find out. During nap time, I snuck out from under Sofaa’s watchful eye…
Chanting while reading a spell book
“Uh… um. Wind. Be my blade and cut through the enemy. Windcutter!”
A light breeze blew around me before it vanished with a light thud against the target tree.
“As expected, magic was clunky.”
This is the level of basic magic that even a child can perform.
I fall to my knees and hang my head.
“Isn’t the chanting a little too long? It’s like you’re suffering from second-grade-syndrome (Chūnibyō). Why not just call it “Wind Blade”? Or something along those lines.”
As I complained in Japanese, a whirlwind suddenly blew, and the spiraling wind cut through the tree.
“Eh?!”
I couldn’t figure out what had happened, and an unintentionally stupid voice came out of my mouth.
“It’s an unbalanced magic power.”
A voice can be heard coming from up in the trees. When I look up, there’s a young man with long, golden hair standing in a tree.
He jumps down and lands next to me.
“I haven’t seen you since yesterday—human girl.”
He raises his hand and smiles brightly; he is handsome, to say the least. But I’ve never met this dashing gentleman before. I’m curious who he is.
“Pigi ~yuruuu…”
Ruria, who had been quiet up to this point, begins growling as soon as he sees the young man.
“What’s wrong, Ruria?”
“Don’t be angry, little boy—I’m not here to bring you back.”
Bring back Ruria? Something clicked, and everything fell into place.
“Oh! That ancient elemental Dragon-san from yesterday…?!”
It’s Ruria’s father! His name is Laseid—and he can take human form?!”
“Piii! Kii~yui!”
“What? Do you want me to go home right now? Are you already going through a rebellious phase?”
The father and son are locked on each other.
I wish I could understand Ruria.
“Well… If you’re not here to bring Ruria back, is there something else?”
“I just happened to pass by.”
I’m guessing he was concerned and came to check on Ruria.
“Don’t worry, Ruria is a very popular boy in our house who is adored by everyone.”
Ruria, despite being a dragon, is charming and friendly. Ruria is adored by my parents and all of the servants.
“I see. That’s good; by the way, have you been practicing your magic?”
“…Yes, but I’m having trouble getting it right…”
Laseid crosses his arms and thinks for a moment before placing his hand on my head.
“Huh!”
I startled, shook Laseid’s hand off my head, and backed away.
“Hmph. I knew it—the cycle of magic is reversed.”
“The cycle of magic is reversed…? What do you mean? What does that mean?
“Are you familiar with the magical cycle?”
“Yes.”
Magic is always present in the body of a person who possesses it. It is analogous to blood flowing through the body.
“Your magic circulates in an unusual way. That’s why your magic is off-kilter.”
“You mean it’s flowing backwards?”
“That’s exactly what it means.”
Normally, a great deal of magic would build up in your body, but I’m allowing it to flow away.
That’s a clunker.
“Is there any way to fix this?”
“You were born this way. I don’t think so.”
I dropped my head again.
I thought that since he’s an ancient elemental dragon, he would know how to heal with his ancient magic spell or something…
“Don’t be negative—you could have used your magic better if you’d spoken those strange languages earlier, right?”
“…Strange language? Do you mean in Japanese?
“It’s called Japanese? It’s an odd and complicated language—but it appears to be compatible with your magical constitution.”
Come to think of it, as soon as I said “Wind Blade!” In Japanese, a tree was cut down.
That means you can chant “fireball” or “stone bullet” when you use magic.
Laseid swallows and clears his throat.
“If you don’t mind, as an apology for yesterday, I can teach you magic.”
You could have just been honest and said you wanted to see Ruria…
“… If you want an apology, how about paying for the broken windows and the ruined garden?”
“Pigi ~yu!”
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