Richarda Schönheit, a thirteen-year-old Earth Magic user, who knocked me out with a Buster Sword and then, perhaps out of spite, hit me with Reverse twice.
In this world, thirteen is an age where working or getting married is perfectly acceptable. Even the Labor Standards Supervision Bureau would encourage it.
It was a mistake to let her drink alcohol. She must not be used to it. Or maybe Priscilla overdid it.
Lying her down in bed, her sleeping face shows she’s still too young to fight. I know mercenaries can be as young as ten, but this is my first time seeing a mage that young.
Using magic must require study, so to be on the battlefield at this age, perhaps it’s just me getting old that makes me think this.
“This is her first battle,” Priscilla said, drinking ale with her hands on her hips, wearing only a towel. As always, she has a great figure. If it weren’t for this child, I’d want to push her down.
“Are you an Adventurer?”
“Yeah, as soon as I registered, I was conscripted and now I’m a mercenary. To be a mercenary without even knowing how to fight properly…”
To stand on the battlefield without knowing how to fight, and surely without knowing how to love. War is terrible.
Priscilla leaned forward in front of me and fixed Richarda’s hair as she slept. Mmm, I think I can see… almost there.
Priscilla, wearing only a single towel, looks like she’s wearing a super mini skirt. If I could get a little lower, and behind her…
The chairs in this inn seem cheap; the seats slide well. My body keeps sliding down. It’s troublesome how my hips slide down to my waist. Just a little more.
“Hey, Mikael…”
Let’s sit properly in the chair. I returned to my seat with Godspeed, and then Priscilla turned around and continued.
“Is there anything that can be done about her…?”
“D-done about her?”
Priscilla sat on the bed, crossed her legs, and looked into the distance. It was a shame, but her crossed legs were also good.
“Thirteen is too young for war. I was fifteen when I first went into battle. Don’t you think we should let her be a child a little longer?”
Is it sympathy? It’s fitting for Priscilla. But this is a war where it’s game over if we lose. A war against monsters where survival isn’t guaranteed even if we win.
“After I have her create the pedestal for Rufina’s Sand Dragon, I plan to assign her to guard Orietta. I can’t promise she won’t die, but I can promise she won’t be on the front lines.”
Priscilla stroked her hair and said, “That’s fine.” Does she truly want her to escape? Once a contract is made, desertion is punishable by death. At least let her go far away.
I changed and left the room. During that time, Priscilla kept stroking Richarda’s hair. I’m sure she had more thoughts, but I couldn’t ask.
The sun had long passed its peak when Priscilla and Richarda came down from the room to the tavern where the strategy meeting was being held. Richarda was already feeling better and ran down the stairs when she saw me.
“I-I’m sorry. I soiled my clothes…”
Was it her first time drinking? Or did Priscilla make her drink too much? It’s common for first-year employees to be taken out by their seniors.
“It’s alright. If you’re feeling better, I’d like you to start working immediately, are you okay with that?”
“I’m fine. I can go right away.”
It’s good to be young. Energetic and strong against alcohol. I took Richarda, Rufina, and Orietta and left the inn, heading towards where the battery would be.
“For me, it’s drinking to forget.”
You drink, get drunk, and let them attack.
This Richarda… Since she’s thirteen, it’s okay to call her “chan.”
This Richarda is a more capable mage than I expected. Considering her age, it’s too early to graduate from magic school, but it seems there are accelerations for those with talent.
To create Orietta’s battery, she filled a requisitioned two-story house with earth, flattened the upper part, and even added stairs.
Where Rufina’s Sand Dragon was to be placed, there were several houses, but she flattened them all with a single word of magic.
The builders in this world must be out of business. With Earth Magic, houses and bridges can be built in no time.
Healing magic is similar; science is neglected as magic develops. Railguns, for example, are an application of science wielded with magic, so with a basic understanding of science, one could seemingly surpass modern scientific capabilities with magic.
“Good job. After the fighting starts, please protect Orietta at the battery. Can you create walls or something?”
“Yes, I can create walls and three six-meter-class Golems.”
This girl must be a genius. Normally, creating even one six-meter-class Golem is considered first-class, but being able to create three means she’s super-class. The commanding officer lent us some excellent talent. I wish I could have her permanently.
“Being able to create six-meter-class Golems that can fight Trolls is reassuring. To be able to create three of them is incredible.”
Richarda looked down shyly, then turned back to me, smiling with a V-sign. So cute, so young, so pure. Did I ever have a time like this? I did when I was young, but have I become so soiled now?
After Rufina and Orietta were in their respective positions, Richarda and I returned to the inn. We, the Third Army Independent Vanguard, the White Lily Corps, are staying at the inn, but the other members should be engaged in excavation work within the castle walls where manpower is short. It’s good to be important; you can sleep in a bed.
“We’re back. …Where did the drunkard who was supposed to be here go?”
“Fell asleep in bed…”
Sophia also looks sleepy. It must be tough for her to keep up with everyone when she’s not a strong drinker. Today might be the only day for a break. They’ll likely attack tomorrow or the day after, so please rest for now.
As I was about to carry the three people here, Richarda offered her help. With a chanted spell, she easily created three one-meter-class Golems and carried Christine, Sophia, and Alana on their backs up to the second floor.
I really want this girl. Not in the same way I wanted that “auntie” when I was fleeing Lauenstein.
Richarda’s handling of the Golems is superb. Observing the movements of the one-meter-class Golems, they move so naturally with magic, not as if they are being separately controlled. It’s cute… no, it’s magnificent.
Priscilla seems to like her too. Can we keep her with the White Lily Corps until the battle with the Demon Army is over? Once things settle down here, I’ll talk to the commanding officer.
After tucking the three into the room and onto their beds, Richarda was sent back to the tavern to get some food.
The real reason to send her back is for Priscilla. I need to wake up the sleeping Priscilla and make an “request.”
It’s not a difficult request. I just need to borrow a spare Halberd that’s not being used. I know she doesn’t use it often and that she has two spares.
If “I’m not using it, so lend it to me” works, it wouldn’t be so difficult. The scary part is when it’s followed by “I’ll lend it to you, but…”
This is far too stimulating for Richarda. Considering this, I hesitate to invite her into the corps. It’s fine to exempt one person from guard duty, but singling out one person from the corps might create a sense of exclusion.
Perhaps I should cancel guard duty completely… I still value my life. Either way, the only options left are life-threatening, which is tough.
When I woke Priscilla up and made my “request,” the “but…” followed. It was a good thing I kept Richarda out of it.
With a loud shout, the awakened members came running, and I thought the bed might break from the combined weight.
I wonder if the people in the next room can hear this. At least I hope it doesn’t carry down to the tavern below.
