Endless Memoir - Seraph Wedd (read a book .TXT) 📗

you staring at?”

I suddenly heard Mary’s low voice from my side. I didn’t notice that she entered.

“N-Nothing. I was just wondering what to do when she wakes up.”

I muttered an excuse, which is the truth, but is actually just a passing thought in reality. Hearing my words, Mary sighed.

“… Actually, she woke up around sometime before midnight... However, after seeing your figure, she fainted again… I’m afraid that she may be unable to properly wake up as long as you’re present.”

Trauma?! Is it some sort of trauma?! Or maybe phobia? Don’t tell me it is!

“Nnnn…”

As I was having some random thoughts, Blaire got up from bed and rubbed her eyes sleepily. I was focusing on something entirely different. Ho-Ho-Ho.

“Hmm? Uh? Ah?!”

After her vision cleared, she stared at my face and looks like she was surprised. She started shaking terribly and her face turned deep red.

“… Good morning.”

I greeted half reflexively. Shortly after, the round two of our skirmish occurred. But this time, no magic was involved as all her belongings were set aside.

I don’t really know why but when I told her that if she don’t stop, I’ll be forced to pin her down again, she obediently stopped. During the whole duration of breakfast, Mary ignored me though. Why?

After eating, we headed towards the village chief’s house once more to hear their judgement. Blaire also tagged along but was walking far away behind us. She still got a displeased look on her face.

After arriving, we were almost immediately led inside. The same members yesterday were already present despite the time being early in the morning. Are they not busy?

“… After discussing the matter amongst us elders, we decided to let the three of you go to the capital as punishment.”

Doctor Tessa was the one to announce that. Partly because all the men in the room looked tensed after Blaire entered. She was literally standing at the only exit. There’s no saving them if Blaire decided to go on a rampage.

Wait. Capital? … Is that why the merchant is here?

I finally caught a glimpse of the reason why the merchant was here. I think that no matter how this mess ended up, they already decided to send us to the Capital. I don’t know the reason to go there but…

“… We understand. We would gladly accept this punishment. When will the departure be?”

Before I could ask, Mary answered in affirmation. I know that our crimes were a bit light but isn’t this punishment too light? I even doubt if it can actually be called a punishment.

“That’s great. The departure would be anytime today or tomorrow. You may decide.”

“Then how about this afternoon? If we move early, we can reach the border checkpoint before it gets dark. Also, the earlier we move out, the earlier we can return.”

Mary continued the conversation and sealed the deal. After talking about finer details, we finally got out of the village chief’s house. The moment that Blaire left the room, all men heaved a sigh. How pathetic.

After reaching the area near their house, we separated ways. The two seems to have decided what to bring. I don’t have much problem as I don’t have any belongings other than what I was currently wearing.

All I did was collect the magic circles which I made into something that looks like talismans.

As for others, I have the self-made talisman’s belt holder, the pair of leather gloves that I made yesterday and my own shoes that I engraved with special magic circles.

I also made a pair of gloves for Nina which I plan to pass to her later. Since I took advantage of the luxury of having a book as reference, and the fact that it has a chant, I was pretty sure that it was of high quality.

With that, I was all set. However, there’s still a couple of hours before noon which is our gathering time. I decided to pay Orga a visit.

“Ohh! Feels like it’s been a long time after your last visit! Hahaha!”

He greeted heartily as always.

“Well, I’ve been a bit busy lately. How’s your business going?”

“Hahaha! Thanks to your designs, I managed to rake a large profit! The merchant even got amazed by your ‘mechanical pencil’ and plans on buying the rights for manufacturing it. With the earnings I made, I can probably relax for the rest of this year!”

“Well, I’m glad to be of help… By the way, I got some additional requests… Is now a good time?”

“Of course! Leave it to me! Hahaha!”

I wasted time with him talking about several things that I want to have manufactured. As I already made some rough designs, he can just adjust it later.

Most of the conversation was spent on explaining the parts and functions. There were few random chatters mixed in between. Time flew and it was now almost noon.

I left Orga after hearing that my orders would be done after a week. As expected, it will take some time. The payment was just like last time, the rights to the designs. I accepted it heartily.

Since I would be travelling to the Capital, maybe a week was a short wait in comparison.

I arrived back to the trio’s home and saw them standing at the end of the stairs. Some bags were packed on one side. Looks like they too finished packing.

“Let’s go.”

Mary said and boarded a carriage parked in front of their house. Like any carriages, it looks like it was powered with magic too. Was horse pulled carriage not known here? Or maybe they just replaced it after knowing of this convenient application of magic?

No matter which of it was the truth, I don’t care much. One reason is that I got permission to see the magic circles powering the carriage later that day. The other is that I can’t calm down as Blaire also came with us.

“(… Do we really need to let her come along?)”

I asked Mary in a whisper. She acted a bit ticklish but I ignored it for now.

“(Y-Yes. I can’t disobey master’s orders easily so…)”

“(You mean she forced you to make her come along… Right?)”

Mary turned her head away in response. Her silence answered everything.

The actual problem was that in this carriage, there’s only 2 sets of chairs that could fit 2 persons comfortably. Albeit reluctantly, I was made to sit beside Blaire. Mary was sitting across me with Nina beside her. Our knees were almost touching as the space was a little small.

I was starting to get bothered with her occasional peek towards my direction. I couldn’t do anything but focus my attention outside the window and watch the scenery pass by. The occasional worried stare of Mary was the only comfort that I got during the whole trip.

Hours passed with the conversations inside being mostly with only Nina and Mary. Just before the sun had set, we reached the destination.

I quickly got off and looked around. I was immediately convinced that this was a checkpoint as there’s a camping ground just before reaching the gates of the border.

A lot of carriages were stopped and tents were set up in regular intervals. Some even had a bonfire up already despite it not yet being too dark.

“Let’s set up our camp here.”

Upon Mary’s words, we decided to start preparing out tent. We only made a single tent but it was large enough to fit four people with space to spare.

Everything went smoothly.

By that time, I didn’t have the slightest thought about how the view I have of this world would change greatly in just one eventful night.

Intermission 1: Blaire Grandine Goldbell

[Never pay attention to a man weaker than yourself.]

This was the golden rule passed to all the females of our clan. Mainly, it was to prevent the case of their husbands not being able to return after a war. But it was also mainly because the birthrate of males in our clan was too low that we can’t afford to lose them.

However, the females of our clan was strong in essence. In other words, there were not too many men who could marry into our clan. Some males even treated marrying into the clan as an indication of being strong enough to return alive after a war.

Ironically, it was the main cause of the decline of our clan.

Since the number of passable suitors weren’t satisfactory, the bloodline couldn’t propagate continuously. The result, the number of the next generation was always lower than the previous.

When I was born, the remaining members of the clan wasn’t even near a hundred.

Two generations before mine, the clan decided a new rule. Every female of the clan would need to leave after reaching the age of 15. This is to have more interactions with males and to have access to many challengers for suitors.

This plan would make the bloodline continue but it would also scatter the next generation far away from the village.

I too wasn’t an exception to that rule.

When I reached 15, a year before the coming of age, I was permitted to travel far and wide in search for a suitable partner.

There’s only 10 of us in our generation and all of us are females but amongst us, I was treated a genius.

I managed to master all elements before I reached the age of 10. I even managed to create several new applications of magic circles that helped the village greatly. Even in mock battles, I don’t have a record of loss even when against an adult.

I was treated like the jewel of the clan. A perfect representation of the clan’s ideals. That boosted my confidence and made me a star amongst our generation.

I, and the other 9 girls, travelled away from the village. Of course, we were all alone in each of our travels. I was headed north to where the farthest of all the near villages are located.

On the way there, I felt gazes towards me. After checking their presences, it was bandits as I suspected.

The lust lingering in their gazes is something I was accustomed to. As for a 15 years old girl, my body has developed too far. Even the few men in our village couldn’t help but gaze with lust when seeing me.

The bandits blocked my path. They even went as far as threatening me. However, it didn’t even take 5 minutes to eliminate them all. This is the first time I took a fellow human’s life. But I didn’t feel anything. After leaving the mangled corpses of the dozen bandits, I continued my travel.

I reached the village I was headed to after 3 days. Other than the occasional wild animals that attacked, the travel was peaceful.

When I entered the village, the countless gazes I felt was varied.

Lust was of course, but there were even some mixed with fear and awe. Even some females were gazing at me with yearning in their eyes.

I ignored most stares and went to the nearest branch of the Adventurer’s Guild. There, I applied as an adventurer and took requests. This is not only to provide me with earnings but also for me to have access to information on possible candidates as my partner.

Days passed quietly. However, the number of men who looks at me with fear increased. The reason for that is a disappointing truth.

Not even a single man can beat me. Even when I was attacked by a full party of 10 strong men, they all died to my hands. The knights didn’t capture me as it was treated as self defense but still, they were now vigilant towards me.

I was disappointed. And because of that, I decided to head out of the said village and head towards the capital.

During my weeks of travel, the total headcount of the men I killed reached 70. Still, I didn’t feel anything about their deaths. Maybe my heart was slowly turning to stone? I don’t care either way.

When I reached the capital, the same event happened. Many men with lustful gazes approached me with ill intentions but not a single one was left alive. Even after a leading hunting party set their sights on me, the whole party vanished from the earth on the next day.

It took me 4 years to finally reach a conclusion.

[There’s no man stronger than me anywhere.]

When I realized that, I lost all interest towards men. When I see one, only irritation welled up inside of me.

When I reached the age of 20, I decided to leave the capital. There’s nothing for me to earn there anymore.

I headed south from there and started a journey. I plan on finding a suitable village