Chapter 11

Having fully awakened as a commoner, Miu decided to become a Priest I for now. She was still weak, but at least she had a starting point. Honestly, she would have preferred another job, but since it could be changed at home, it wasn’t a problem.

After enduring the kind of hardship that could have killed her, she could now gain strength through less severe efforts. Either way, effort was still necessary.

But since she had almost died, she had already endured the kind of hardship that could have killed her. The conditions should be met, even if she didn’t know exactly what they were.

Now, I had finally been discharged from the hospital and was at a café. The sofa was high, so I dangled my legs and waited leisurely for the thanks from Yami for helping her in the dark night.

With my gray hair and ice-blue eyes, I had become quite cute, even among young girls. Passersby looked at me with a smile.

I was waiting for a super jumbo parfait. This body is that of a young girl, so it’s easily drawn to sweet things. I liked sweet things in my previous life too.

The café had a chic interior, with various types of coffee beans on display, and the aroma of freshly roasted beans tickled my nose. The clientele consisted of elegantly dressed people reading English newspapers and enjoying their coffee, with no sign of middle-aged women.

In my previous life, I never understood the differences between coffee beans, and I thought about this while looking around. But there was something else I noticed. This café was strange.

A high-end café in a residential area, it didn’t seem to be very profitable. Cafés have poor turnover rates, and with long-staying customers, profits are low. But even so, it would be a problem if there were no customers. Even middle-aged women wouldn’t come in if the café didn’t make a profit. The lack of customers was noticeable. Was I the only one who felt this way?

How was this café being run? If it was just a hobby, the prices were too high. 1200 yen per cup. A price that would make middle-aged women hesitate. It wouldn’t be surprising if it went out of business in less than six months.

The master of this café was an elderly man with silver-gray hair. To be honest, he seemed suspicious. Was he an information agent for some organization? Or was this café for the protagonist? You know, the kind where the protagonist and the heroine often visit a chic café. The background setting for the café. And the master gives the protagonist some sage advice.

What added to the strangeness was the super jumbo parfait. A menu item that didn’t fit the café. The 3000 yen price tag also made it seem like a prop. It seemed like something the protagonist might treat the heroine to.

I had only read up to volume 10 of "The Night of Magic." The game had weapon shops, item shops, and restaurants, but I couldn’t remember such details. The final volume, 25, was full of battles with demons and demon revival enemy bosses, with no daily life scenes.

Volume 10 was released over 15 years ago, counting from when I died in my previous life. Adding my current age, it was over 21 years ago. I didn’t have many memories of such old, detailed content. What I remembered were the erotic armors with high exposure and the faces of the characters. I couldn’t even remember their names.

It’s normal, right? Or rather, I wasn’t sure if I remembered the protagonist’s school life. I somehow remembered the main plot. I think that’s normal.

Since my life was on the line, I wouldn’t forget the game mechanics. I could bring up the status board with a click.

Just in case, I left behind the story and game strategy information in a code that only I could understand. If I titled it "Final Dragon Rebirth," no one would think it was about this world. If they did, they’d be a pervert or a god. Even a genius wouldn’t think of it.

"Mi-sama, come quickly, I’m looking forward to it!"

"Sure! I’m looking forward to it, Yami. I hope the parfait comes soon."

I had been reborn as a girl, so I was acting like a well-behaved girl to avoid worrying my parents.

I made my ice-blue eyes sparkle and glanced at the master. I could see him making the parfait instead of coffee, and my body was getting restless on its own.

"Hehe, can’t you wait, Mi-chan?"

"Sure! Because it’s so big!"

I spread my small hands and raised my voice filled with anticipation. The surrounding customers looked at the restless young girl with a smile. Acting is tough, yeah, it’s tough. I hope the parfait comes soon.

The menu had a photo of a beautiful parfait in a fancy glass, topped with lots of fruits, whipped cream, and ice cream. It was hard not to get excited, right?

I came to eat the parfait with Yami, her mother, and her personal maid. Yami sat next to me, and her mother and the maid sat across from us.

Toga was too busy to come. Well, as long as he treated us, anything was fine. I was surprised by the personal maid. She was a bit scary-looking woman around 30, who was also a magician and served as a bodyguard.

In this world, it was normal for noble families to have maids. Honestly, it was impressive. This was a world of novels, after all. Moreover, while the maids around the protagonists were young and cute, in reality, experienced and skilled maids were chosen. So, it was normal for there to be no young girls.

"So... Mi-sama, I’ve officially started practicing magic. Would you like to practice with me?"

Yami looked at me, fidgeting and intertwining her fingers. Her eyes, like black diamonds, reflected my image. Her ponytail swayed, and I felt a bit of a desire to touch it, a sign that my body had become younger.

But magic practice? Hmm... I wanted to increase my proficiency. I could use magic because I had awakened to mana and chosen a job. Since it was a game mechanic, it was important to work hard to learn magic.

But I wanted to learn the game’s magic first. It was a concern, but I needed to increase my job proficiency to learn magic. I should ask how to learn magic.

"How do you practice magic, Yami?"

"The Teisei family is skilled in non-elemental and dark magic. So, I was taught secretly by a maid. I can only use two spells so far."

"Really? That’s amazing!"

I smiled, but only two? Those must be the sword that slices through everything and the dark arrow. The magic that almost killed me? Why would a maid teach such dangerous magic? Teach her some safer magic. She’s only six years old. I thought I was going to die.

I glared at Yami’s personal maid with a cold stare. Did you teach her?

The maid shook her head when she saw my ice-blue eyes. Hmm?

"That maid was reassigned. The magic was indeed dangerous."

The maid spoke in a monotone. I didn’t understand the difference between a maid and a servant, but her eyes told me what had happened to the servant. Yami didn’t seem to notice... Was there something behind this? The appearance of the undead wasn’t a coincidence; it was part of a plan?

This was a marquis family. It wouldn’t be strange if there were plots. I thought it had already been dealt with. It wouldn’t be strange if the servant had been sunk to the bottom of the sea.

If I were the protagonist, I would start an event, expose the mastermind, and defeat them. Unfortunately, as a commoner, I probably wouldn’t be involved. I think this story is over here.

Nobles always seem to have such things happening.

"Oh... I’m sorry, Mi-sama. I hurt you with my magic..."

"No, it’s okay. It was the ghost’s fault. You’re not to blame, Yami!"

Miu smiled to cheer Yami up, and Yami lifted her head.

"Mi-sama, you’re so kind, I love you!"

When I comforted the dejected Yami, she hugged me. She clung to me and rubbed her cheek against mine. The warmth and ticklishness made me laugh. I felt a bit embarrassed by the physical contact. In my previous life, I was single and didn’t have any girlfriends who clung to me like this. I had a girlfriend when I was young, but she didn’t get this close.

"Can you learn magic easily?"

"Yes, it was a bit difficult, but it seems I can use it instinctively."

"That’s right. You’ve awakened to dark magic. I’ve heard that Miu, who awakened to holy magic, could use healing magic instinctively."

I nodded in understanding. My instincts were related to the game mechanics, so I kept that a secret. But using such dangerous magic instinctively? Yami, you’re a dangerous girl.

"Also, Miu is a holy magic healer. Unfortunately, the Teisei family doesn’t have the expertise for that."

When she heard about holy magic, her mother’s face became thoughtful. Was there something? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen the old man who brought fruit for my get-well visit since then. My parents haven’t mentioned him either. Is there something going on?

"Eh! I can’t practice with Mi-sama?"

While I was thinking, Yami became sad when she heard this, so the maid quickly followed up.

"No, simple life magic can be used even outside your element. You’ll learn it at the academy, but before that, nobles are taught at home."

"Then, let’s study together!"

"Sure! I want to try using life magic!"

Yami and I held hands and laughed. My mother and the maid smiled at the cute sight of the young girls with gray and black hair.

"Here are your super jumbo parfaits."

Two parfaits were placed with a clink. Wow, they were even bigger than in the menu.

"Big, isn’t it?"

"Yes, it is."

The sparkling glass was filled with whipped cream, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, and strawberries and apples, a luxurious parfait in a large glass about 30 centimeters tall.

"Take your time, Mi-chan."

"Okay!"

I was the one who would conquer this parfait. I would show off my spoon skills. I grabbed the parfait with a deep breath.

I poised the spoon and the parfait appeared! Or something like that.

Huh?

"A Parfait A has appeared!"

"Fight"

"Run"

What is this?

Miu’s ice-blue eyes spun in confusion. The gray-haired young girl froze with her spoon in hand.

It seemed my game mechanics were still in effect. This body was deeper than I thought. It was quite a problem.