Chapter 28

### Chapter 28: Miu (2)

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#2

The priest who had witnessed Miu's birth and examined her condition came to visit. He stood before Miu, who was sitting on the bed with a lively vigor that he had never imagined possible, and her parents, and with a sense of awe at the vast sky, he spoke a brief word.

"…This is a miracle. How can such a thing…"

He described how Miu's body, which had been withering like a dried and twisted plant, had not only improved miraculously but seemed to have transformed into a completely new one. Her skin remained as pale as ever, unable to withstand the outdoors, but her bright, intelligent purple eyes were filled with hope, joy, and vitality that far surpassed her previous state.

"Please, bless us."

The priest smiled softly at Miu's appearance and knelt in prayer, humbled by the living miracle before his eyes.

That day, a festival began early in the morning.

Miu got to eat the cake she loved, read the books she had always wanted to, see the beautiful hills and sparkling night sky that she had only seen in picture books, and even ride the carousel she had never been able to because of her frailty…

Miu fulfilled all her wishes that day, now that her illness had healed. Walking on the grass with her bare feet was a bit painful, but the pain made her laugh with joy. It was a level of discomfort that was almost embarrassing, merely a slight tickle.

The fresh air outside, deeply inhaled into her lungs, made Miu smile. Though it was just air, with no form or smell, it tasted sweeter to her than the birthday cake. She filled her cheeks with air and swallowed it several times, finding it sweet and delightful.

Her frail constitution, which had made her tire easily even from a short walk indoors, had improved to the point where she could run around the hill all day without any problem. Her parents, unable to keep up with her boundless energy, had to take breaks by leaning against tree trunks.

On a day when the sky was painted with a beautiful crimson sunset, Miu, dressed in a white dress, danced barefoot on the grass. Her hair, like strands of the Milky Way, fluttered in the wind, and her smile was filled with the natural innocence of a child her age.

The outside world was so enjoyable.

If she had left this world without experiencing such joy, she would have shed tears of blood in regret even in death…

As the deep night approached.

Amid the chirping of insects, Miu's father gently carried her, who had been gazing at the stars in the night sky, and brought her back to the house.

From that day on, Miu did everything she wanted.

Making friends with children her age was, surprisingly, a secondary matter. She started with the things that interested her first.

Miu's parents fully supported their daughter's wishes. When their adorable and precious daughter, with her bright eyes, made a heartfelt request, they could not refuse her.

In one year, she did so many things that it was impossible to list them all.

She even went on a long trip with her parents, where Miu, with her fairy-like appearance, gained the enthusiastic admiration of many people.

Miu then realized, albeit slightly, that she was not an ordinary child. It was not a bad feeling, so she thought it was fine.

Everything in the world was new and interesting to Miu.

There were countless things she could not know until she saw them with her own eyes. When the things she had only read about in books unfolded before her, Miu realized what it meant to be alive.

Every moment was thrilling, always new, and playing without worrying about getting sick never got old.

After being confined to a restrictive environment for ten years, Miu, with her overflowing energy, became like a runaway magical train.

It was a rather aggressive expression for a pitiful girl, but it was not entirely wrong.

If something was impossible due to their family's circumstances, she would give up cleanly, but for everything else, she would vow to achieve it and find a way to make it happen.

Moreover, surprisingly.

Miu had exceptional talent in every aspect.

After trying things she had never done before due to her frail body, and achieving remarkable success in most of them, Miu's parents began to deeply consider their daughter's future.

Miu could excel in anything she did.

Apart from being a bit more active, she had inherited her parents' superior genes, a high intellectual level from reading, and boundless energy. There was almost nothing she couldn't do.

The only sticking point was that Miu was a commoner, but in an era where even commoners could be recognized for their abilities, this was not a significant issue.

Of course, discrimination against commoners still existed in various parts of the continent, but the most famous and powerful imperial academy, Frontier, had several commoner students in its top class.

One day, while such thoughts were ongoing.

"…I'm bored."

Miu, having completed her list of things she wanted to do that day, noticed a long, cylindrical object lying around the house out of boredom.

An old sword her father had used when he was young.

The leather on the hilt had worn out over time, and if she gripped it and swung it, it might cut her palm. It was a rusty, dangerous item for a young girl.

Miu easily picked up the heavy sword with both hands and, while her parents were momentarily away, went outside to draw the sword. A metallic sound echoed as the sword slid out of the stiff scabbard.

She had seen swords in books.

She also knew the story of a great warrior who wielded a single sword and rampaged like a demon on a burning battlefield.

How was it described?

Of course, as a novel, there might have been some exaggeration, but it was said that the warrior's light sword swings caused the surrounding air to vibrate strongly.

"Hya!"

Miu swung the sword as described.

However, it only made a whooshing sound, and she did not feel the air trembling or the leaves dancing.

Was it because she was weak?

Then, a bit harder.

Whoosh—

"…"

Again, nothing special.

What was wrong?

She knew that it was impossible for a sword to behave as described the first time she held it, but she felt a sense of stubbornness.

Until now, most of her wishes had been fulfilled. However, this was the first time she had encountered something that required long-term practice, and the competitive spirit that had been dormant in her heart began to surface.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…

Miu thought her sword skills were quite disappointing. Was it really impossible to be good at everything?

No. I'll try a little more.

It's too early to give up.

Books don't lie. Even if 90% of it is false, the 10% of truth is still contained within.

Miu wanted to use even one of the great warrior's sword techniques she had read about.

But if someone had seen young Miu swinging the sword from a distance, they would have been unable to hide their shock and fear.

A child holding a sword as tall as herself should have struggled to lift it, but Miu swung it easily and even displayed a rudimentary form of swordsmanship, as if she had been practicing for a lifetime.

It was the mark of a genius.

Now, the genius, who had just awakened, gathered her last breath and, in an instant, froze the world around her, except for herself.

"…!"

Suddenly, Miu instinctively sensed it.

A completely different sword momentum was about to be released.

Whirr—

Her upper body twisted to the right. Her body was steady.

A strange heat burned through her blood.

Her vision turned bright, and a tingling sensation made her eyes almost blind. Miu, without losing her way, gripped the hilt tightly with both hands.

Thus, aiming at an invisible target.

Swoosh—

She brought the sword down from her shoulder.

"Our daughter, we bought the bread you like…?"

…Thud.

Miu's mother covered her mouth in shock.

Miu's father, standing beside her, dropped the bread he was holding but was too stunned to notice, his mouth agape in astonishment.

A strong wind blew.

The leaves of the tree deeply rooted in the yard were torn and cut diagonally by the sharp wind.

Miu was standing far from the scene.

She sheathed her sword and muttered.

"…Ah, it's done."

The crescent-shaped afterimage left by Miu's sword had a dark blue shadow.

Three years later.

The headmaster of Lorsen Academy, visiting his hometown to see relatives, saw a young girl practicing swordsmanship in a corner of a yard.

The decision was not long.

She was now the right age to enter the middle school, and her intelligence far exceeded the elementary school graduation level.

The headmaster bowed deeply to Miu's parents and recruited Miu for Lorsen Academy.

There was no opposition.

It was a good opportunity. They thought it would be good for their daughter to have friends her age.

Moreover, Lorsen Academy was a prestigious academy in the empire, located very close to the capital.

With a full scholarship promised to consider their family's circumstances, there was no better opportunity.

However, Miu did not seem particularly enthusiastic. While swordsmanship was interesting, dedicating her life to it was a different matter.

Rather, it was hard to say.

Unfortunately, she preferred lying in bed and reading her favorite books.

However, Miu was also interested in the educational institution. She was starting to develop an interest in friends her age.

In the village, many boys and girls had wanted to be friends with Miu, but for some reason, they did not match her sensibilities.

Perhaps it was because she had matured early. Children her age seemed much younger to her…

Six months later.

After tearful farewells, Miu left the village.

She was leaving the familiar countryside for the heart of the empire, filled with wonders and new experiences. Although it was sad to part with her parents, it was only for a while.

Upon arriving at the location by carriage, Miu boarded a magical train with the headmaster and had a fantastic experience during the short ride.

"…Wow."

When Miu stepped off the train and took in the grandeur of Lorsen Academy, her heart raced with excitement.

She had no interest in grades or studies.

She had entered the academy out of pure interest and curiosity.

So, Miu remained as whimsical as ever.

The news of the new student Miu was widely known.

Although she had not done anything herself, rumors about the remarkable new student spread throughout the academy.

A special admission to the swordsmanship club.

A full scholarship, with only four awarded each year.

Her radiant beauty, which would shine even from a distance, and her pure, heart-stirring appearance, which captivated many boys. From the early days of her enrollment, Miu received countless love confessions.

Naturally, she rejected them all.

She did not like the idea of being close to a boy she did not know, let alone one who tried to create a connection just to get her attention.

She had long realized that she was beautiful, but it only became a nuisance after entering the academy.

Still, she faintly understood the meaning of being beautiful, and that was something she liked. It was clear who was attractive and who was not when objectively assessed.

"It's all lies."

But Miu soon became disappointed.

She could not feel the excitement and fluttering heart described in romance novels.

Indeed, novels were partly the author's imagination and contained some falsehoods…

As a new student, Miu had already decided on the club she would join upon enrollment.

Although she had tried various activities, reading had become a daily habit, and she read at least one book a day.

Perhaps due to her accumulated experience, reading consistently brought her joy and excitement.

So,

Miu started managing the library in March.

In the morning, during lunch, after club activities, and until the library closed in the evening.

Miu lived immersed in books.

Reading was always enjoyable, so she read quietly, leaning against or sitting at the desk.

…After about two weeks.

"…Hmm…"

Miu noticed a male student who visited the academy library every day without fail.