Chapter 4: First Impression

10 Years Old Arc: A Girl from an Inferior Race

First Impression

"Hey, where are we going?"

"It's a very peaceful and calming place."

Sitting in the passenger seat of the rental car, gazing out at the town, I asked, but my father, Gerald, evaded the question and didn't answer clearly.

I was woken up by my father in the dim light of dawn, barely morning, and after being told to be quiet and only getting ready quickly, I was taken to the rental car company's garage.

My backpack, placed in the back seat, contained only the bare minimum of underwear and a change of clothes, a cup, a toothbrush, and a novel I was reading to learn Alban.

As we left Nygenburg, and the landscape gradually changed from buildings to fields, my anxiety grew.

★

The rental car drove along a sloping road lined with broadleaf trees on both sides.

Judging from the road signs, it seemed we were heading towards the Orbus Mountains in southern Baynern.

Along the way, we stopped at a service area on the Autobahn for a quick meal, a restroom break, and to refuel the car, but my father continued driving relentlessly.

Come to think of it, the previous night, when I passed my father's study to use the toilet, I heard his voice on a flip phone, sounding serious as he spoke to someone.

... Perhaps I'm going to be placed in some kind of facility.

For my father, supporting his work and my mother's life is already a huge burden; perhaps he can no longer bear the weight of me on top of that.

I should probably steel myself as much as possible during this journey.

I counted all the things my parents had done for me in my life since I was born, and solidified my resolve to break away from them as I prepared for my new life.

★

"We've arrived. Sorry for making you ride in the car for so long, Celica."

A well-built road cut through the forest, dotted with large, villa-like buildings on either side.

The place we arrived at was a three-story brick mansion, its size evident even from the outside, with numerous rooms.

As my father and I stepped out of the car parked in the garage, a man in his 30s, dressed in a black suit and possessing a refined air, greeted us with a graceful bow.

The man, who introduced himself as Daniel Weiss, led us into the mansion's entrance hall.

Waiting at the entrance was a refined-looking man in his 40s, dressed in elegant casual clothes, exuding a dignified yet poised air. Seeing my father, he spread his arms wide in delight and shook my father's hand firmly.

Then, seeing me, he wore an expression that seemed a mixture of understanding and surprise, and led me to a room in the mansion.

"We adults have something to discuss, so could you wait here with that boy? If anything happens, I'll be in the great hall, so just call me."

With that, my father closed the door with the man and left.

It was a large room.

It contained a large bed and tasteful furniture that was clearly valuable even to an untrained eye.

The room lights were off.

All the curtains were drawn, and only the faint sunlight filtering through the fabric illuminated the room.

In the dim light illuminating the room, a boy sat in the darkest corner, his head buried in his knees.

A heavy atmosphere emanated from him, and it seemed as if that weight permeated the entire room.

Having nothing to do, I couldn't just stand there, so I walked over to the boy and asked in the gentlest voice I could manage.

"Hey... is it okay.... if I sit here.... with you?"

The boy looked up once, glanced at me, then put his face back on his knees.

I took that as permission and sat down next to him, holding down the skirt of my dress.

.....

.....

Time passed uneventfully.

Perhaps because I had a job with long waiting times in my previous life, I have a tolerance for "doing nothing."

As I sat there, wondering if the first period had already started at school and what Al was doing, the boy next to me spoke.

"Aren't you going to say anything to me?"

"Huh? Did you... want me.... to say something?"

"No, it's not that...!!"

He said that and looked up, his face showing surprise.

... Ah, I see.

This is the first time he's really looked at me properly. Of course he'd be surprised by a beastman.

I'd forgotten about myself.

Will he hurl insults and ridicule at me like the boys in my class? Or will he find it amusing and forcibly pull on my animal ears and tail?

But he did nothing, instead burying his face in his knees again. Then he whispered softly.

"You can stay here."

Now that I think about it again, I hadn't been given permission to sit with him until now.

★

Time passed until the sun rose high in the sky.

My impression of the boy wasn't bad.

For me, who had been the target of so much teasing from the boys at school, his attitude of simply sitting next to me without doing anything was very appealing.

Brrrrrr~

A silly sound echoed in the silent room.

It seemed my stomach had rumbled.

The boy next to me looked at me with a look of exasperation, then sighed softly, stood up, and extended his hand to me.

"Let's go get lunch. You're hungry, aren't you?"

★

The dining room, which the boy led me into, had a large, long table laden with what appeared to be seven dishes per person.

The imposing man (apparently named Rüdiger von Bernstein), who had been sitting and talking with my father, looked surprised for a moment when he saw the boy walking in with me, then happily gestured for the boy and me to sit down.

My seat was a round stool, perhaps a thoughtful touch to prevent my tail from being crushed by the backrest.

Rüdiger and my father, the boy and I, sat next to each other.

Once seated, in front of me were large slices of white baguette (my family only serves dark bread), juicy grilled chicken with the aroma of herbs tantalizing my nose, a salad with many kinds of vegetables, and a simple yet elegant soup with a fragrant broth.

Perhaps noticing my longing expression, even from a distance, Mr. Rüdiger suggested we begin eating.

I said "Itadakimasu" and cut a piece of grilled chicken with my knife, then brought it to my mouth with my fork. The meat was incredibly tender, unlike any chicken I'd ever tasted, and the flavorful oil sizzled in my mouth.

The other dishes were also incredibly delicious, unlike anything I'd ever eaten before. I felt bad for my mother, who always cooks for me.

As I began to eat and savored the meal, Mr. Rüdiger seemed to take an interest in me for some reason. Smiling, he asked me my name, age, and what I usually do.

I answered his questions, even though I was still engrossed in eating.

I told him I usually play with friends in the park.

I couldn't tell a complete stranger that I use magic to heal a friend who got hurt protecting me from bullies.

Mr. Rüdiger patiently listened to me, nodding along as I stumbled over my words with broken Alban.

During the meal, I suddenly felt a gaze from the next table. I looked over and met the boy's eyes. He looked away.

As I was finishing my meal, Mr. Rüdiger said to me, "I hope you'll continue to be friends with my son."

.....

But I was just sitting next to him though?

★

After finishing his meal, the boy returned to his room and sat down again, hugging his knees to his chest.

I sat down beside him, naturally. This time, I brought a novel with me.

The heavy air around him seemed lighter than it had been this morning.

As I sat and read my novel, I felt his gaze on me more and more often.

I didn't react, though, because he would just look away again if we made eye contact.

Eventually, the boy, in that husky voice that often develops when someone hasn't spoken to someone in a while, turned to me and asked:

"What are you reading?"

"On the Tracks... by Formann Fesse."

"..... You're reading quite a book, huh?"

After saying this with a sullen expression, he gave a somewhat self-deprecating smile.

Then, as if an idea had suddenly struck him, he asked me:

"...Wait, you can read? I thought you couldn't read at all, given your way of speaking."

"Hah?! Of course I can read!"

That was a little annoying.

Amused by the change in my expression, he chuckled lightly, then, with a slightly serious expression, murmured.

"Maximilian."

"Huh?"

"That's my name. It's not fair if I'm the only one who knows your name. Come on, I'll give you a tour of this mansion."

He stood up, grabbed my hand, and forcefully pulled me to my feet, pulling my arm.

He was so depressed just a moment ago!

★

As I walked through the mansion, hand in hand with the boy, he showed me around, starting with the guest room, then the locations of the toilets and bathrooms on each floor, the game room with the billiard table, the dining room, the grand hall, and the guest rooms.

Along the way, we came across my father and Mr. Rüdiger chatting in the guest room.

Mr. Rüdiger looked genuinely pleased to see Maximilian holding my hand.

After we had finished looking around the house, we decided to play billiards in the game room.

The result was a crushing defeat for me.

Maximilian told me, "You're so clumsy."

Grrr! Just you wait!

Even so, while I was practicing billiards, he quickly averted his gaze as I aimed my cue at the ball.

What on earth was that about?

★

In the evening, my father left, leaving me behind at the mansion. He must have been worried about my mother.

"Enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. I'll come back for you in a month," he said.

What on earth was he expecting me to do here?

Maximilian, who took my hand again as I stood there bewildered, led me to the dining room for dinner.

The meal prepared by a woman named Bernold was even more luxurious than lunch, but I was so anxious about my upcoming life in this mansion that I couldn't really appreciate the taste.

Afterward, as prompted by Weiss, the butler, I brushed my teeth and took a bath, then was led to my assigned room—smaller and simpler than Maximilian's.

With nothing to do, I lay down on the bed.

.....

Perhaps because I was so far from home, I couldn't settle down and couldn't sleep.

I decided to sneak out of my room and explore the mansion.

TL Note:

Orbus Mountains: By the name, I think it refer to the Bussen mountain in southern Germany. But it is located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, not the state of Bavaria (or in this novel called Baynern)

"On the Track" by Formann Fesse: The right title reference to "Beneath the Wheel" by Hermann Hesse.