Chapter 6

I was able to read and write because I pestered my mother to teach me the characters.

Well, to be precise, she only gave me a list of characters written on a piece of paper and read it out to me a few times.

After that, I learned the characters almost entirely on my own by comparing the list with books.

My mother taught me enthusiastically, but perhaps because she thought I was only six, the pace was too slow, and it frustrated me.

In this Maaren tribe, it seemed that learning to read and write by the age of ten was considered good enough.

She probably thought it was too early for me.

Even though I told her I understood, she kept repeating the same things over and over, and when I thought we had made some progress, she would go back to the beginning.

So, after the first day, I pretended to be bored and ran away, secretly learning on my own.

I sit on Oatem in the garden and open a book of magic.

It’s a children’s book with plenty of illustrations.

With this, I can say that I was just looking at the pictures if anyone asks, even though I can’t read the words well yet.

My parents still don’t know that I can use characters skillfully.

If they found out that I mastered them on my own after they gave up teaching me, my mother would probably have some thoughts about it.

I was just told by my father that I’m not acting like a child. It’s better to keep it hidden.

When the time comes, I can claim that I learned simple characters while reading picture books.

"Big brother, can you read the words?"

Giselle stretches her neck from the side and peeks at the magic book.

"Yeah, but don’t tell Father and Mother."

"Wow, that’s amazing! Ah, I want you to read the story of the dwarf forest!"

The "dwarf forest" is a collection of fairy tales.

Mother often reads them to me before bed.

"I don’t want to be seen reading... Mother can read it to you, right?"

"But... but... I want you to read it to me. Is it... not okay?"

She’s pushing back.

"Sure, it’s fine. I want to keep the fact that I can read a secret between you and me."

"Between the two of us...?"

"Yeah, that’s right. Is it not okay?"

"N-no, it’s fine! I understand, it’s our secret, just between you and me!"

Good, I’ve convinced her.

Giselle is happy, and it was a perfect push. No one loses.

The main reason I wanted to learn to read was to start serious magic training.

Making Oatem is the foundation of the foundation. I don’t intend to neglect the basics, but I think I’ve made enough of them.

Father says it’s too early, but I want to move on to the next level.

I wanted to read books and gain basic knowledge of magic.

According to the book, divination and fortune-telling using oracle cards seem to be basic magic.

Oracle cards are like tarot cards specific to the Maaren tribe.

They are divided into red and black cards, with thirteen cards each, numbered from 1 to 13. There is also a colorless card with a 0, making a total of twenty-seven cards.

Each card has a slightly suspicious and eerie picture, such as a thief, a hunter, or a magician. By the way, cards with the same number, regardless of color, have the same picture.

While their purpose is similar to tarot cards, their form is closer to playing cards.

In fact, I once played Old Maid with Giselle using oracle cards.

...Well, after that, I was severely scolded by my father.

It seems they weren’t meant to be used for games.

If he says I should act more like a child, he could have overlooked it.

I was made to cross my hands in the air and ask for the gods’ forgiveness.

If I try to bring out the oracle cards, my father might say something again.

Maybe I should have Giselle fetch them.

When we played Old Maid with the oracle cards, I was the only one scolded, saying, "You must have been the one who suggested it!"

I have no complaints about that, as it was true, but my father can’t scold Giselle.

So, it’s better to have Giselle fetch them.

"Giselle, do you remember the oracle cards?"

"Yes, I remember. The Old Maid..."

In Giselle’s mind, they are completely Old Maid cards now.

Well, it’s fine. I’m not in a position to correct her.

If only playing Old Maid with the oracle cards wouldn’t get us scolded.

"Right, go to the second floor and fetch the Old Maid cards. I’ll keep Mother occupied on the first floor."

"Yes, leave it to me, big brother!"

Giselle answers without hesitation.

Yeah, she’s a good sister.

However, if I’m going to use the oracle cards, I want to do it where my father can’t see.

Maybe I should get Mother’s permission and go to a quiet place a little away from the village.