NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: Abel
─── This is a tragic story of a commonplace.
In the Kingdom of Myrstia, a commoner has two names, while a noble or royalty has three.
But the boy only had one name, Abel.
Yes, he was an orphan.
Abel grew up in a small church in a small village.
Life there was never easy.
He plows the fields daily, gathers medicinal herbs, and somehow manages to make a living.
That way, he can finally have a meal that barely satisfies his hunger.
It is a life far from wealthy.
However, Abel never once thought he was unhappy.
The sisters and other orphans in the church were like a real family, and Abel, the oldest, was very much adored.
No one in the village discriminated against them because they were orphans.
Though poor, there was compassion in their hearts, and they all lived by helping each other.
Abel loved everyone in this village who always had a smile on their faces no matter how hard it was.
He was happy.
He was really happy.
He used to believe that this happiness would last forever.
However── it comes to an end all too quickly.
One day, he heard the sound of a whistle.
The sound of the flute was so beautiful and yet so sad that it made him pause.
Then, with the sound of heavy footsteps, the monsters called “Forest Giant” suddenly appeared and attacked the village. These monsters are characterized not only by their overwhelmingly large stature, but also by their high intelligence, and they hunt in groups.
There was no escape for the villagers, who had no military force of any kind.
The sisters sent the children to separate places to hide.
She wanted to make sure that any one of them could survive.
Abel followed her words and hid.
But even if they were hiding, they still could hear them.
The screams of the villagers.
The sound of something being crushed.
Deafening laughter.
For Abel at the time, that was very hard to bear.
He covered his ears.
Still, he could hear it.
The sound of someone killing and someone dying.
I don’t want to hear it.
I don’t want to hear it.
I don’t want to hear it.
I don’t want to, I don’t want to, I don’t want to, I don’t want to───
That’s right─── so was the tragedy in a commonplace.
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The Viscount of Lumley lives in the Royal Capital because they do not own any territory.
But the second daughter, “Lily Acryl Lumley,” had no complaints about it.
Because she loved the streets of this beautiful royal city.
“Grandpa, let’s go for a walk.”
“As you wish, young lady.”
She got ready and went outside.
This was a routine she has kept for years now, to add a little color to an otherwise unchanging world.
Even the pattern of walking routes has already been established.
However,
“… Erm, today again, I want to visit Eruka-san!”
“Yes, young lady.”
About a year ago, that pattern, which had remained unchanged for many years, changed dramatically.
These days she goes to the Eruka’s dojo, spends some time there, and then goes home.
This is where she goes when she tells she has to go on a ‘walk’.
“… Will they think I’m annoying?”
“No, I don’t think so at all. Rather it would be an honor for the young lady to go there herself.”
“Yes, you’re right! Let’s go! Grandpa!”
“Understood.”
Paul, the butler, or “Grandpa,” as he is called, has been in the Lumley family for generations and has been by Lily’s side since before she can remember, watching her grow up.
It can’t be helped that he’s become somewhat lenient of her.
With a few guards, Lily walked through the streets.
It was a beautiful city, but too familiar.
There was no big atmosphere of cheerfulness there.
Still, Lily’s steps were very light.
After walking for a while, her desired location came into view.
“Yaaaah!”
It was a roar of ear-splitting rage.
At first Lily thought it was barbaric, but now she is used to it.
And she didn’t come here for nothing.
She knew when was the time for break.
“That’s it. We’ll take a break.”
“Hah… hah… thank you…”
She heard voices from inside.
Apparently, the timing was good.
“Grandpa.”
“Understood.”
Paul stepped up to knock on that majestic quadrupedal gate, but there seemed to have been no need to do so.
As it opened from inside with a creaking sound.
“Welcome. Come on in.”
“Y-yeah…”
The person who greeted them was the former Chief Commander of the Royal Knights, Eruka Ai Sutherland.
Lily was just a little bit uncomfortable with Eruka.
As in this case, there was an eerie feeling of being able to see through it all.
She once asked her how she always knew when she comes, but she just laughed and said, “It’s just a feeling.”
That’s what’s so eerie about her.
However, just because she gets such vibes doesn’t mean she hates her.
Lily entered the dojo without prompting.
When she entered, the first thing she saw was a boy with ragged black hair lying sprawled out on the ground.
Lily smiled just a little at the sight.
“You’ve been beaten up pretty bad today, Abel.”
“Haa… haa… Lily!”
The boy── Abel looked at Lily while breathing heavily.
“What? Is it wrong if I come?”
“I-I’m sorry. That’s not the case. Rather I’m glad.”
“Fufu.”
Just her strong attitude is enough to make Abel feel intimidated.
She finds it adorable.
That’s why Lily teases him.
“… As expected, you were training.”
“Yeah.”
Abel sat on the porch and gulped down the water.
Not a word of courtesy, but Lily doesn’t seem bothered by it.
“───You’re not going to give up on Aslan Academy of Magic, are you?”
“Yeah.”
“………”
Abel’s response was quick.
The mythical hero “Aslan” was a legendary magician as well as a swordsman with sword skills comparable to that of a sword saint.
It goes without saying that the “Aslan Academy of Magic” that bears his name is the kingdom’s best magic school.
The only qualification for the examination is to “have an aptitude for magic”.
But that is not exactly the case.
It would be more correct to say, “having an aptitude for attribute magic”.
It is an unwritten rule that goes without saying.
This is a truth that no one doubts, and that no one takes for granted, at the school, which is based on a system of complete meritocracy.
There is such a difference between those who can use attribute magic and those who cannot.
Hence, attribute magicians are not used in skirmish-like wars.
Why is that?
Because the number of deaths will jump.
If a war so severe that several attribute magicians are mobilized, the battlefield will turn into a world of corpses.
So why was Abel so obsessed with Aslan Magic Academy?
Why not a knight of the kingdom or an adventurer?
No matter how much you hone your sword skills, it is too reckless to be somewhat capable of using unattributed magic.
Why is he so obsessed with strength?
Lily does not want to see Abel hurt.
How can she make him give up?
That’s all she’s been thinking about lately.
“Just stop it already.”
“……Eh.”
“I will not bend my way no matter what anyone says. ───I’ve made up my mind. A long time ago.”
“……”
(Really, he’s just like Eruka-san…)
It was as if he could see through it all.
“I will be strong. I will not compromise on that, even if it kills me.”
Lily looked at Abel.
In those eyes.
There was never any light or hope there.
It was only the “darkness” that stirs inside.
A deep, bottomless, all-consuming darkness.
Seeing that a chill ran down her spine.
“… Haha. Sorry, that was sudden. I said something weird.”
But the dangerous atmosphere fizzled out in an instant.
And only the usual slightly clumsy and appallingly good-natured Abel, was there.
“Seriously, there’s a limit to how far you can go.”
“Ahaha… you’re right.”
Abel scratched his cheek, feeling bad.
“── But I do respect you a little bit.”
“Eh?”
When they first met, Lily was an arrogant aristocrat herself.
It was a surprise to her to hear that.
“What is it? Why do you say so?”
“Because Lily, you…”
“Ahh, enough!”
Lily stood up vigorously to hide her embarrassment.
“I’m here today to tell you that I have an aptitude for water.”
“Eh, really. Congratulations Lily!!! That’s awesome! You’re really awesome!”
“N-not that much.”
It was a carefree smile, of admiration.
Lily couldn’t help but think if the situation had been reversed.
Was it possible for him to admire her so sincerely?
“So… I’m also aiming for ‘Aslan Magic Academy’. From now on, you will be my rival, so be prepared.”
“… Haha”
Abel was happy.
For Lily, a great talent, to call him a “rival” was a great surprise to him.
But she was not satisfied with just that.
“But I won’t lose.”
Wanting to be a little cool.
Abel laughed.
It is a steep road.
It is thin, and one wrong step and you would immediately fall to the bottom.
Such a road it is.
No, on the contrary, there may not even be a road.
Nevertheless, Abel decided.
Never again── I won’t allow anyone to take it away from me.