Chapter 7

"Regarding that matter..."

"That must have been tough. But there's no need to worry. It's not just humans who kill their own kind. Ants and humans share the same life. If you think of it as the same as eating a meal, it shouldn't bother you much, right?"

"I understand what you're saying, but... humans can't just cut it off so easily."

I don't feel sorry for that man at all, nor do I regret killing him. If the same situation arose again, I would end up killing him.

But there's an indescribable discomfort.

Is it the result of moral education?

"Hmm. That's fine for you. It would be abnormal to not feel uncomfortable after killing a relative. Children raised by abnormals become abnormals. But don't hesitate. It's a waste."

The griffin snorted.

"By the way, did you come just to report this?"

"No, that's not it... I want you to see something."

I showed the branch I brought.

It was a thick branch, about as thick as an adult's arm.

I demonstrated by breaking it in front of the griffin.

"So what?"

"No, no, isn't it strange? A ten-year-old kid with such strength!!"

"Is that so? I've seen a clan where people can knock down trees with one hand."

"That's definitely not human."

Are they orcs or trolls?

I don't know if orcs or trolls exist in this world.

"Rest assured. They left this land three thousand years ago, one group heading north and the other west."

"I'm relieved."

If such beings came, no matter how much I racked my brain or mustered my courage, I wouldn't feel capable of winning.

"So, did you come to show off this subtle strength?"

"No, that's not it. I came to ask why I suddenly gained such strength."

I was just a normal ten-year-old until recently.

But recently, I've gained this strength.

Thinking back, I started feeling a bit off around the time I traded the iron sword for iron farming tools... or so it seems.

But things changed drastically after I woke up.

I came to visit because I thought that with his thousands of years of life, Mr. Griffin might know something about this strange occurrence.

"Your body, right? If you don't know, how could I? If I were to venture a guess, it's probably a blessing. Strange things have always been attributed to blessings."

Strange things... the definition of a blessing is pretty arbitrary, isn't it?

"Are you a wanderer? If so, it's natural to have at least one blessing. Every wanderer I've met had a blessing. Still, it's surprising. I thought it would be a blessing related to your soul since you were reincarnated... but it's a physical ability. So, it's not related to the blessing?"

"Could I have multiple?"

I'm not sure about the rarity of blessings, but the griffin in front of me seems to have multiple. So, it wouldn't be strange if I had multiple, right?

"Blessings come in two types. You either have one or many. I've rarely seen someone with two or three. You don't seem to be aware of any other blessings besides this strength, do you? That's not possible."

I was rejected.

Well, I don't want to be part of a clan of such cheaters, so it's fine. I might lose the importance of effort.

I'm not at all disappointed!

Sigh...

"Have you said what you wanted to say?"

"Yes, but it's still a bit unsatisfying. I'll think about it on my own."

I left the griffin's den.

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"Now, say 'Good morning.' Cut off the 'Blessing of Language' and keep saying it."

"wrtetwetwqwwjo"

"wrteeewzwwja"

When I imitated Tera, she frowned.

"The pronunciation is wrong. Focus on the middle and the end. Listen more carefully."

Tera said 'Good morning' in the foreign language again.

I repeated it, paying attention to the middle and the end.

"That's better. Repeat it again."

"Good morning, Good morning"

Right now, I'm learning the foreign language.

Sometimes I forget, but I can converse with Tera and the others by using the 'Blessing of Language.'

Without this blessing, I can't do anything.

And it's borrowed, so I could lose my language ability at any time.

Of course, suddenly losing my language ability would be a problem.

That's why I'm learning from Tera.

By the way, why Tera? Because she's the only one who can use honorifics, humble language, and polite language.

Why Tera can use them is a mystery.

It's a mystery that doesn't matter anymore.

This is quite difficult.

The pronunciation is unlike Japanese or English, so it's hard to improve.

Will I be able to speak it after years of practice?

At least, I couldn't speak English.

"Hey, what are the leaders doing?"

"They're practicing language."

I answered Ron's question. Ron tilted his head.

Since I had to explain the 'Blessing of Language' again, Ron understood. Normally, people would forget such a setting. I understand how they feel.

"Hey, Tera. Can you teach me too?"

"You can speak normally, right?"

"I'm not good with honorifics."

Ron scratched his head, embarrassed.

"Are you worried about such things? If it rains tomorrow... it might be good for the turnips I planted."

"Because I'm the deputy leader, right? I want to use proper language."

As Ron said this, a shout echoed.

"Hey, I'm the deputy leader!!"

It was Rozward.

"What! You're the one who put the leader in danger!"

"Shut up! I'm better at sword practice than you!"

"That's just a difference. You can't beat the leader at all."

"Still, I'm more capable. Right, brother?"

"I'm the deputy leader, right? Leader?"

What's with these guys.

You can't decide the deputy leader based on sword skills. Besides, both of them are too dangerous to be appointed as deputy leaders.

"Teach us proper language. The first one to learn it becomes the deputy leader."

When I said this, both of them approached Tera.

"Teach us quickly!!"

"Wait. I'm teaching Almus right now."

As they argued, more children gathered.

"Um... I want to be the deputy leader too!"

"Me too, me too!!"

Gram and Soyong shouted loudly.

In the end, we decided to have study sessions whenever we had free time.

"What?"

"Nothing, really."

In reality, the deputy leader is this girl...

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

That night.

I woke up feeling an unpleasant sensation on my face.

When I opened my eyes, several butterflies (or moths) were fluttering around.

One of the butterflies was glowing green, which was eerie.

The butterflies fluttered to the entrance of the pit house as soon as I woke up.

I closed my eyes, feeling reassured.

But soon, I felt a strange sensation in my nose. When I opened my eyes, I met the butterfly's gaze. The butterfly fluttered to the entrance again.

After repeating this five times, I finally realized.

"Are you calling me?"

The butterfly seemed to affirm this by flying outside.

...It seems I won't be allowed to sleep unless I follow.

I fastened the iron sword to my waist and followed the butterfly.

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

"How far do you plan to make me walk?"

I had been following the butterfly for an hour.

The only guide was the moonlight and the green glowing scales of the butterfly.

"Wait a moment. I need to mark the path."

I made a mark on a tree with my sword every ten steps. It's unlikely that the magical butterfly is trying to make me lost, but there's a chance I might not remember the way back.

After a while, the trees finally ended.

In the open view ahead was a small lake.

The lake water glowed under the moonlight, looking mysterious yet somewhat terrifying.

I noticed a girl with purple-red hair on the opposite shore of the lake.

She seemed to be sleeping, leaning against a tree.

The green glowing butterfly approached her and landed on her hair.

As the green light disappeared, the girl woke up.

Her purple-red hair was illuminated by the moonlight.

She looked incredibly beautiful and mysterious.

Like a goddess of the moon and the lake.

"Nice to meet you... or is it? Messenger of the Griffin."

The girl smiled mischievously.