Chapter 7: Landmine

10 Years Old Arc: A Girl from an Inferior Race

Landmine

"I caught one! It's a rhinoceros beetle!!"

"Wow! Max... you're really good.... at catching bugs!"

Max proudly held the beetle up to the air for an examination, then placed his catch into the wooden cage he'd brought.

Every day at Mr. Bernstein's villa was paradise for me.

I wasn't laughed at during class at school, nor was I subjected to hurtful words from the boys in my class.

I spent time with Max, catching bugs, playing in the river, and stargazing with a telescope at night, surrounded by nature I'd never seen before, even in my past life.

It was also wonderful to have three delicious meals a day.

At school, my dark bread sandwiches often ended up in the trash.

Like my father, Mr. Rüdiger has left the villa, presumably for work, but Aunt Bernold hasn't neglected her duties even in her employer's absence, preparing elaborate meals for me, a beastman.

Perhaps it's because Max is here.

Now, we're exploring the wooded area near the villa, searching for beetles and cicadas clinging to the trees.

There must be a river flowing nearby, as the cool, humid breeze feels wonderful on our skin; just being there makes our minds feel clear.

It's probably almost lunchtime, so to avoid inconveniencing Mr. Weiss, who's still at the villa, we head back for lunch.

After discussing it together, we released the insects we'd captured.

★

As I headed to the dining hall, I found a table far too large for two people, laden with risotto, salad, soup, and roast beef...

And Rice!

To be exact, Risotto, a rice dish I hadn't had since my reincarnation, had the power to make me swing my tail from side to side so much that I could feel it myself.

Wow, I'm so excited!

In my previous life, when I was reading isekai novels, I thought, "Stop going on and on about rice! You've been reincarnated, so adapt to the local food!" But after not eating it for so long, there's something undeniably appealing about rice placed before me.

Sorry to all the reincarnated people who came before me, and sorry to those working overseas who can't eat rice.

But those regrets vanished as soon as I sat down, picked up a spoonful of risotto, and brought it to my mouth.

The slightly al dente rice, infused with the savory flavors of olive oil and seafood broth, brought me a feeling of pure bliss.

While I still miss the soft white rice that paired so well with various side dishes—a taste I can no longer experience—this risotto, in its own way, could be considered the standard for rice dishes in my reincarnated self.

That's how delicious Aunt Bernold's risotto was.

After finishing the risotto with gusto, the blissful feeling of having eaten rice after so long subsided, and I finally had the presence of mind to pay attention to my surroundings. That's when I noticed Max looking at me strangely.

...That's right.

This was Mittelland in the Naraka world.

Yashima, a leading nation where rice is the staple food, is constantly exchanging accusations with Mittelland.

The Kingdom of Remus, located south of Mittelland, likely the source of the rice used in this risotto, also betrayed our country during the Great War when the Allied forces landed at Normendy (as retribution for the betrayal, Mittelland occupied Triast, a port city overlooking the Sea of ​​Tundra, expelling the non-Alba residents and seizing control of the land).

Rice is the food of an enemy nation.

I'm already hated like the plague in Mittelland. I should avoid anything that might make me seem like I'm drawn to their enemy culture.

Just as I resolved never to eat rice again, Aunt Bernold placed another serving of risotto in front of me.

..... I enjoyed it very much.

★

In the afternoon, we played in the river.

We took off our shoes and entered the shallow water, splashing water on each other playfully.

Max and I were having a blast with this simple game, but as the fun continued, Max started to look at me and fall silent.

"Max? .... Are you okay? .... Does your head.... hurt?... Ouch!"

"Celica!"

I became worried about him and tried to go over to him, but my foot got caught in a hole in the riverbed and I almost fell.

"Ah!....Huh??"

I recoiled, anticipating the sharp pain that would surely come the next moment, but instead, I was enveloped in a feeling that was soft yet firm, unlike what I expected from hitting a rock on the riverbed.

Max had thrown himself beneath me, shielding me and taking the fall damage.

Soaked in the river water, he picked me up and stood.

There was a large laceration on his left upper arm, probably from being scratched on the edge of a rock on the riverbed.

"Max! You're.... bleeding...!"

"It's okay, it's just this much."

"It's not okay! .... Come... here..."

I made Max sit on a rock about the size of a tree stump by the river, then I absorbed mana from the air, concentrated it in my index and middle fingers, and slowly slid it over the torn part of his arm.

Max's wound began to close. Thank goodness, it was a treatable injury. I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me anymore.

I looked at Max with a small sigh of relief, and he was looking at me with a surprised expression.

..... Crap!

I regretted using magic now.

I remembered my promise to Al to stop using it in front of others because it could cause bullying.

I was worried Max would be creeped out and start to hate me.

His voice, filled with gratitude, drowned out my fears.

"Celica! You can use magic too!!"

★

After changing out of our wet clothes, we arrived at the backyard of the villa, where many bundles of straw, as tall as an adult, were piled up.

Max focused his consciousness on the bundles of straw, using his wooden magic wand, which had a core of mithril and a glowing blue crystal fixed in mid-air at its tip.

"O jailer of the Abyss! Show the ultimate end of your life to the most evil and utterly despicable beings!!"

"Whoa!? .... Amazing!! .... I've never.... seen anything like it!"

The bundles of straw, about five meters away, suddenly burst into flames, enveloped in high black flames.

Attack magic, unlike healing magic, requires a special wand.

It seems that it's activated by concentrating mana from the air through the mithril into the magic crystal at the tip of the wand, and then releasing it towards the target.

As I tilted my head while listening to the explanation, Max looked astonished that I had used healing magic without even knowing that.

Max handed me the wand.

"Now, Celica, you try it too."

"U-um... Oh you.... zailer...  um ulti.... mate...?"

"...You should probably practice Alban first."

★

I practiced chanting and tried it, but the offensive magic wouldn't activate.

According to Max's assessment, I'm completely hopeless at offensive magic, not even a grain of sand's worth of talent.

What?!

Usually, in situations like this, shouldn't he say, "Don't worry, you can do it!"?

Max comforted me by patting my shoulder as I looked dejected.

★

As dusk fell, we sat down for dinner.

A multitude of delicious-looking dishes were laid out tonight as well.

I took a bite of the pan-fried white fish, a dish rarely found in the inland Baynern region. The richness of the butter and the savory flavor of the white fish, sealed in by the flour, filled my mouth.

The salad, made with various vegetables, had a crisp texture, suggesting it was made with freshly picked produce.

It was tossed with a homemade dressing that didn't taste like store-bought ones, free from preservatives.

Everything was fine up to that point.

The incident began with a casual remark I made.

"Ah.... if it's this delicious.... I wish I could.... have let Al.... try some too."

"Al? Who are you talking about?"

Max, who was also enjoying the meal, asked. 

When I was asked that question, I thought, "Max is a close friend now, so I can tell him the truth," and answered honestly.

His name is Albert, and he's a very handsome classmate who's popular with girls.

He's also smart, gets good grades, and is incredibly athletic.

He's a strong fighter and always helps me when I'm bullied at school.

Al is my pride and joy.

I stumbled over my words, but I could feel the passion in my own voice.

"The other day.... there were five of them..."

Suddenly, I felt a sharp gaze, and Max, who was in front of me, narrowed his already slanted eyes even further as he looked at me.

Unlike the gentle-looking, handsome Al, Max is a strikingly handsome man with a powerful face.

When Max's face became stern, there was something intimidating about him.

"Oh! I'm sorry... Did I... say something that.... offended you?"

"....Not really. Celica, it's nothing."

After saying that, he fell silent during the meal.

★

"Hey, Max!"

"....."

"Max! Hey! Why aren't you answering me?!"

I hurried, finishing my meal politely but quickly, and caught up with Max, who was walking briskly.

Max ignored me for a while, then turned around and said:

"Could you please not talk to me? I want some distance from you for a while."

I was speechless.

.... No way.

In this villa, without my father or Mr. Rüdiger, Max was an absolute presence in my life.

I suddenly realized I had lost his favor.

How am I supposed to live in this large mansion now?

I felt as if the world before my eyes had suddenly gone dark.

TL Note:

The Kingdom of Remus: the name Remus refers to the twin brother of Romulus, the first king of Roman Kingdom. The ancient name of Italy back in 700s BC.

Normendy: Refer to Normandy, a special area controlled by Nazi Germany during World War II from June 1940 until Allied forces liberated the region following the D-Day invasions on June 6, 1944. The Allied Force mentioned there refer to American, Canadian, and British alliance

Triast: Refer to Trieste, an elegant port city in northeastern Italy known for its blend of Italian, Austrian, and Slavic cultures, grand Habsburg architecture, and rich coffee history.

And yes, historically, Germany took control of Trieste and its port during World War II in September 1943.