Chapter 7

I was thoroughly scolded by my parents. Being scolded while crying is painful. It pierces the heart, so I vow to myself to stop doing dangerous things and to fight with a proper safety margin.

I'm not going to stop fighting, though. Besides, I'm just a minor character. If the protagonist promises not to do dangerous things again, they end up in danger soon, but as a minor character, I can grow a lot before fighting the enemy, so I should be fine.

I just hope this resolution doesn't become a flag.

"Really, I was so surprised? I never thought I'd be fighting monsters."

"Yeah, Mii-chan. When we got the call, our hearts almost stopped."

"I'm sorry, Dad and Mom."

I bowed my head and reflected. It wasn't an act. I genuinely felt sorry. I was too naive. Even though I'm just a kindergartener, trying to fight monsters was too reckless. I guess I still had some protagonist-like feelings left in me.

This battle made me realize the reality. I had this notion that monsters weren't real and could be easily defeated. This is my second life. I need to value my life.

Seeing me bow, my parents exchanged glances, then their expressions softened, and they gently patted my head. I felt happy and showed a smile. My new body was affecting my emotions.

In my previous life, I was indifferent to everything. The only time I got excited was when I won third place in the lottery. I was so happy thinking I had won the second prize of ten million yen, but then I realized I needed to match the bonus number to win the second prize, which was quite a shock.

"Mii-chan, if you see a monster next time, run away. Ask a nearby adult for help."

"Okay!"

That was a lie. I want to level up, so I can't give that up. But since I'm supposed to have awakened, maybe I can become an adventurer and fight monsters openly.

My answer made my mother chuckle and hug me gently. The comforting smell of my mother made me feel at ease.

"But saving your friend was very brave. You did a good job."

"Yeah, you did well, Mii-chan."

But they emphasized that I shouldn't do dangerous things again, and the conversation ended there.

"By the way, isn't this room expensive?"

The conversation paused, and I mentioned something that was bothering me. I don't have a large vocabulary, so I couldn't express it well, but the room had a mahogany chest, a large TV, and even a refrigerator. I should check if there's any juice in that fridge later.

There was also a sofa and a table. The spacious room felt like a special private room where a politician would stay to avoid a scandal. How much does it cost per night?

I started to worry. We can't afford such a room. I hope we didn't sell our house or anything.

"This isn't a room we rented."

"Did Dad rent it?"

"No. As a thank you for saving her."

Just as my father was about to explain why he could rent this room, there was a knock on the door. My mother approached and opened it.

"Please come in."

"I'm sorry, Takanashi-san. I heard your daughter woke up, so I came to visit. Is it okay?"

"Yes, the doctor said she's fine now."

My mother answered with a smile. A deep, authoritative voice was heard, and a man entered slowly.

"Oh, you look well."

The man who entered was an elderly man in a kimono. His hair, which reached his shoulders, was streaked with white. He was tall, even taller than my father, probably around 190 cm.

His eyes were sharp, like a predator's. He had a charismatic and intimidating presence. He saw me and smiled, approaching. Who is he?

But then I noticed a girl walking behind him, and I understood. He must be Yami's father.

"My name is Teisei Ouga. Thank you for saving my daughter."

"Yami is my friend, so it was natural!"

I answered energetically. Adults like this tone. Still, this guy, Ouga, with his name and intimidating presence, seems like a character from the main story.

I searched my memory. I've seen all the anime of "Magical Night." ... Yeah, I've never seen a guy with such an impact. Is he just a minor character with this name and appearance?

Well, the main characters only interact with a tiny fraction of the world's population, like a drop in the ocean. But the novel's setting is vast. There must be such impressive characters.

"Mii-sama!"

"Ugh!"

As I was thinking, Yami tackled me. It was like a jackal's charge. I might be heading to the afterlife again.

She hit my stomach with her head, and I coughed, thinking it might be revenge for when I threw her on the ground. Then she wrapped her arms around my neck and rubbed her cheek against mine.

"Thank you, Mii-sama. If I had been controlled, I would have hurt many of my friends."

Yami, with tears in her eyes, thanked me. She seemed to remember that it was dangerous, even as a child. Or maybe the memories remained even when she was possessed.

"I cried when I saw Mii-sama getting hurt. But I was moved when Mii-sama used magic to save me! Thank you!"

It seemed to be a traumatic experience for her, but she was deeply grateful. I blushed and patted her head, then asked a question.

"What does 'Mii-sama' mean?"

"I decided to call you 'Mii-sama'! You're my savior, my princess!"

I nodded and smiled.

"Have you heard of the 'Suspension Bridge Effect'?"

Being attached to someone based on such intense emotions is something that only happens in fiction. In real life, it often leads to disappointment. ... Is this world, being a novel, also considered fiction?

"What's the 'Suspension Bridge Effect,' Dad?"

Yami, who didn't know, tilted her head and asked Ouga. Ouga, having heard our conversation, laughed like a lion, and my parents chuckled.

It's not funny. The 'Suspension Bridge Effect' is when you mistake the excitement of a dangerous situation for love. Like when you save someone from a terrorist on Christmas and reconcile with your ex-wife, but it still ends in a breakup.

"The 'Suspension Bridge Effect' is when you mistake the excitement of a dangerous situation for love. You know some difficult words."

"Ah! I consider Mii-sama my best friend. I'll be an even better friend from now on!"

Yami squeezed my neck. It felt more like an attack than a sign of friendship. I struggled.

After a while, she seemed satisfied and smiled at me like a blooming wildflower.

"Your hair color is cute, Mii-sama."

My hair had turned gray. It wasn't white, but this color was interesting. If I were a foreigner, it would be normal. It didn't feel out of place.

Smooth, lustrous gray hair. It seems that choosing the priest class turned my hair gray.

My parents nodded with gentle smiles.

"It suits you, Mii."

"Yeah, it really suits you."

I saw my reflection in a nearby mirror. My gray hair was lustrous and almost silver. My eyes were ice blue, and I didn't look Japanese.

There was a beautiful girl. Yes, I'm a girl in this life. "Magical Night" has cute minor characters, even girls.

So, I'm a beautiful girl. My name is Takanashi Mii, and I'm six years old.

"I'll cover all the expenses for this room. It's a thank you for saving my daughter. Of course, I'll give you a proper thank you later, so look forward to it."

At Ouga's words, my ears perked up. A thank you. Lucky me. Then I have one request.

"Then, treat me to a Spring Breeze Super Jumbo Parfait!"

I raised my hand energetically.

I wanted to try that parfait. I saw it in a cafe during a walk. It was 3000 yen, so I couldn't ask for it before.

Ouga looked surprised, then burst into laughter.

"Sure, eat as much as you want."

"I'll go with you too!"

"Be careful not to get a stomachache."

A warm atmosphere was created, and I started to feel sleepy, remembering how tired I was. A child's body gets tired easily and can fall asleep like turning off a switch.

Thinking that it was good to save Yami and that I wouldn't end up in a news story about a minor character being killed, I started to drift off to sleep.

Mii thought it was just a minor character conflict. After all, a prominent girl like Yami didn't appear in the novel or the anime.

However, in reality, Yami was one of the novel's sub-heroines.

The eldest daughter of the wealthy Teisei family. She appeared in volume 11 of the novel. As a kindergartener, she was possessed by a ghost from a dungeon and killed many children. She was then exiled from her family and sent to a branch family.

After that, she was mistreated and suffered, her hair became like seaweed, her personality turned dark, and she had dark circles under her eyes, becoming a frightening figure. She joined an enemy organization and became a dark user, with a creepy laugh.

She was saved by the protagonist, who she fell in love with and became a stalker. However, due to her tragic childhood and unappealing appearance, she was completely cut from the anime. The novel had many heroines, and no one noticed her absence.

The anime couldn't show the gruesome scenes of a kindergartener killing others.

It was unclear how saving Yami would change her future. It was understandable that Mii didn't realize it.

Yami was a character who was erased from the anime. The author mentioned in an interview for the fifth season that they had planned to make her a beautiful girl, but adding more heroines left no room for such an event.

It was unclear if such heroines existed in the world where Mii was reincarnated.