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Vol 01 Chapter 07: Encounter

「And that’s what happened.」

「That must have been tough. Well, don’t worry about it. Most species kill their kind sometimes. Also, what’s the difference between a human life and an ant’s? Life is life, right? If you think of it like killing something for food, it shouldn’t bother you as much.」

「I understand what you’re saying, but… humans can’t just easily come to terms with that.」

I don’t feel sorry for that man at all, nor do I regret killing him. If the same situation arose again, I would probably end up killing again.

But there is an indescribable discomfort. Is this the result of the so-called moral compass?

「Um, it’s fine for you to feel that way. It’s abnormal not to feel uncomfortable about killing your own kind. A child raised by an abnormal person will become abnormal, too. But don’t hesitate. Everything will be pointless if you die.」

Griffon snorted as he spoke.

「By the way, did you come here just to report that?」

「No, that’s not it… I have something I want you to see.」

I showed him a branch I brought with me. It was as thick as an adult’s arm.

I broke the branch in front of Griffon’s eyes.

「What about it?」

「No, no, isn’t it strange? A ten-year-old child doesn’t have such strength!!」

「Is that so? I have seen a tribe of humans who could knock down trees with one hand.」

「Those are definitely not human.」

That must have been an orc or a troll.

I don’t know if orcs or trolls exist in this world, though.

「Well, rest assured. They left this land three thousand years ago. One group went north, and the other west.」

「That’s a relief.」

I can’t even picture how I could win against something like that. It’s a relief they aren’t here anymore.

「So, did you come to show off that mediocre strength of yours?」

「No, that’s not it. I came to ask why I suddenly got this incredible strength.」

Until recently, I was just an ordinary ten-year-old kid. But then I suddenly became incredibly strong. Looking back, I think I started feeling a bit strange around the time I exchanged the iron sword for some iron farm tools… maybe?

But the major change happened after I woke up.

Thinking that Griffon, who has lived for thousands of years, might know something about this unusual phenomenon, I decided to visit him.

「Is your body, isn’t it? How could I know something you don’t? Well, if I had to give an answer, it would probably be a blessing. Most of the time, whenever anything mysterious happens is due to a blessing.」

Mysterious things… The definition of blessing is quite arbitrary…

「You are a lost one, aren’t you? Then it’s only natural that you have at least one blessing. Every lost one I’ve met had a blessing. But this is unexpected. I thought, since you reincarnated, that your blessing would be related to the soul… but it’s a physical ability? Maybe the blessing has nothing to do with it.」

「Is it not possible that I have multiple blessings?」

I’m not clear about how rare blessings are, but Griffon in front of me seems to have multiple. So it wouldn’t be strange if I had multiple blessings too, right?

「There are two patterns for those who have blessings. Either they have just one blessing, or they have a large number of them. I haven’t seen many with two or three blessings. Other than your increased strength, you don’t have any awareness of having any other blessing, do you? That possibility seems unlikely.」

A shame. Well, I don’t want to become the typical cheat protagonist, and it’s fine really. If I got a lot of them, I feel like I would lose the importance of making an effort. I’m not disappointed at all! Sigh…

「Is there anything else you want to say?」

「Yes, I’m still not quite satisfied, but I’ll think about it myself.」

I left Griffon’s den.

◇

「Now I’m going to say ‘good morning.’ Turn off the [Blessing of Language] and repeat after me.」

「Búttítu, díúrnú」

「Búttíto, díúrnu」

When I tried to imitate Tetra’s pronunciation, she frowned.

「Your pronunciation is different. The middle part and the end are wrong. Listen carefully and focus on these parts.」

Tetra repeated ‘good morning’ in this world language. I repeated it, paying attention to the middle and end accents.

「That’s the way. Repeat it one more time.」

「’Good morning,’ ‘Good morning.’」

I’m in the middle of learning the language of this world. Occasionally, I almost forget, but I can converse with Tetra and the others thanks to the [Blessing of Language]. In other words, without this blessing, I can’t do anything. Moreover, it’s borrowed, so I could lose the ability to communicate at any time.

Naturally, it will be a problem if I suddenly lose my ability to communicate. That’s why I’m being taught by Tetra.

The reason why is Tetra the one teaching me is because she is the only one who can handle honorific, humble, and polite language.

The reason why Tetra can use it remains a mystery. Although it’s something that doesn’t really matter now.

Learning the language is proving quite difficult. I’m struggling with it since it doesn’t resemble either Japanese or English. Will I be able to speak it if I spend more years on it? I was never able to speak English when I was on Earth.

「Hey, what are you doing?」

「Practicing language.」

I replied to Ron’s question. Ron tilted his head, confused. I explained about the [Blessing of Language] again, and Ron seemed to understand.

It’s normal to forget such things. I get how he feels.

「Hey Tetra, can you teach me too?」

「You can speak normally, can’t you?」

「I’m not good with honorifics and stuff,」

Ron said, scratching his head shyly.

「You worrying about such a thing? It must mean it’s going to rain tomorrow… Maybe it will be just right for the turnips we just planted.」

「But I’m the vice leader, right? I want to make sure I don’t embarrass myself when needed.」

Just as Ron said that. A shout rang out.

「Hey, I’m the vice leader!!」

That was Roswald.

「What? You’re the one who carelessly exposed the Leader to danger, aren’t you?」

「Shut up! I’m stronger than you in sword practice!」

「That’s just a small difference. You’re nowhere near to Leader’s level.」

「But I’m still more capable, aren’t I? Right, Nii-san?」

「I’m the vice leader, right? Leader?」

What’s with these guys? You can’t decide who’s the vice leader based on strength only. And anyway, both of them are too reckless to be appointed as vice leaders.

「Learn to use polite language. The first one to master it will be the vice leader.」

When I said that, the two of them crowded around Tetra.

「Teach us quickly!!」

「Wait. I’m currently teaching Almus.」

While they argued, more children gathered around.

「Um… I want to be the vice leader too!」

「Me too, me too!」

Gram and Soyon loudly insisted.

Eventually, it was decided that we’d all find time every day to study together.

「What?」

「Nothing.」

Although the real vice leader should be Tetra…

◇

That night, I woke up feeling an uncomfortable sensation on my face.

When I opened my eyes, I saw several butterflies (maybe moths) fluttering around. One of the butterflies was emitting a green light. It was a bit creepy.

When the butterflies noticed I was awake, they began fluttering towards the entrance of the pit dwelling. I closed my eyes again, feeling relieved.

Immediately after that, I felt something odd in my nose. When I opened my eyes, I made eye contact with the butterfly. It fluttered again towards the entrance.

After repeating this about five times, I finally realized.

「Are you calling me?」

The butterfly, as if affirming my question, flew outside.

… It seems like it won’t let me sleep unless I follow it.

I strapped my iron sword to my waist and followed the butterfly.

◇

「How far do you intend to make me walk?」

I have been following the butterfly for an hour. The only guides are the moonlight and the green luminescence of the butterfly’s scales.

「Wait a moment. I need to mark the path.」

Every ten steps, I mark the trees with my sword. Although I don’t think this butterfly is a monster that is plotting to get me lost, there is a real possibility that I won’t be able to find my way back.

After following it for a while longer, the trees finally thinned out. Before me was a small lake. The lake shimmered under the moonlight, mystical yet somehow inducing fear.

My eyes were drawn to the opposite shore of the lake. There, a girl with lavender-colored hair was leaning against a tree, seemingly asleep.

The green-glowing butterfly approached her and perched in her hair. As the green light vanished, the girl sat up.

Her lavender hair, illuminated by the moonlight, glittered.

She looked incredibly beautiful and mystical, like a goddess of the moon and the lake.

「Nice to meet you… if that’s the correct greeting. Messenger of the Griffon.」

The girl smiled mischievously.