Chapter 51

※This is a story that takes place after Chapter 1.

The first volume of "The Demon Hunter" will be released on June 25th!

★In areas like Kanto, it seems to already be on the shelves.★

"Master Bruno, please wait! You mustn't run alone, even if it's incognito, you need a guard! There have been recent kidnappings of children in the city..."

"Hmph, who's going to wait! I won't be fooled by such threats!"

Bruno, the young boy who had run away from his attendant, was having a smooth day as usual.

Born as the heir to a ducal family, nine years had passed. He excelled in his exams, was blessed with magical talent, and had inherited his mother's beautiful features.

At children's tea parties, he was always surrounded by girls. He had secretly overheard his beloved parents talking about how a betrothal to a princess was not out of the question.

(I can do anything! But lately, the old man has been nagging about 'practice' and 'study'... )

Frustrated by this, he sneaked out into the city and, taking advantage of his attendant's momentary lapse, found himself alone. After all, Bruno was a genius who could use magic without practice.

(I've been praised by the king himself for my 'unbelievable skills for a nine-year-old.' I'm always the best, so I don't need boring studies!)

"Master! Where are you going!?"

(Oh no, I'm going to be found! Not the main street, a narrower alley...)

And as he darted into a back alley, Bruno's eyes widened.

"Wha..."

In front of him stood a girl.

The moment he saw her, all his thoughts were swept away.

She had dropped her ice cream on the ground, probably because of Bruno's sudden appearance. But Bruno was so captivated by the girl that he didn't even care about his dirty shoes.

(A fairy...?)

She was incredibly beautiful.

Her silky, milk tea-colored hair, large, bright eyes, and pale golden irises that sparkled in the soft sunlight filtering through the alley.

Her skin was as white as snow, but her cheeks and lips were a rosy pink, like blooming roses. Every time she blinked, her long lashes fluttered.

"..."

Staring into her round eyes, Bruno's face turned red.

(Too cute...!!)

He had never met a girl this cute at any tea party. She was even more beautiful than the noble ladies he had been introduced to as potential fiancées, or even the princesses. Flustered, Bruno blurted out,

"I... I'm Bruno!!"

"..."

After introducing himself, he cast a spell in front of her.

A one-minute spell, which he had been praised for being "short and concise for a nine-year-old."

By the time he finished, a flower made of ice had appeared in Bruno's hand.

"See, isn't it beautiful!?"

"..."

"I'll give it to you! As a memento of our meeting today!"

As he held it out, the girl, who had been staring at him, smiled.

"Thank you."

"..."

Indeed, she was too cute. Bruno, delighted that she was impressed by his magic, cleared his throat.

"Actually, I'm called a 'genius in magic' even at nine years old..."

"Yes, it's very impressive for a nine-year-old to be so skilled."

(What...?)

The girl smiled as she touched the ice flower Bruno had made.

(I must be imagining things... She definitely said it was impressive, but it's different from what I expected...)

At tea parties, when he showed this to the noble ladies, they would all cheer and surround him. But she didn't seem to have that kind of reaction.

(Maybe she doesn't know much about magic. That's why, no matter how much magic I use, she doesn't really understand how impressive it is... Her eyes are a light gold, and I remember that light-colored eyes mean less magical power, right?)

If that was the case, it was understandable that her reaction was lukewarm. Thinking this, Bruno grabbed her hand.

"Hey, let's go play together!"

"Oh?"

"I'll show you more magic. ...Oh, I could even teach you! You might not know, but magic is really hard. Once you try it, you'll understand how amazing ice magic is..."

"---Princess"

The voice from behind made Bruno's shoulders jump.

"Welcome back, Noah."

"..."

Feeling an intense pressure, he cautiously turned around and was speechless at the sight of the boy standing there.

(This guy...!?)

Noah, as he was called, was a stunningly beautiful boy, even to another boy like Bruno.

Black hair, pitch-black eyes. Though he looked about the same age, Noah's sharp gaze made him seem much more mature than Bruno.

"Noah, how did the cleanup go?"

"It's done. ---More importantly..."

The boy called Noah, who was quietly glaring at Bruno holding the girl's hand, asked calmly.

"Who is this?"

"Nice to meet you, he gave me this flower. See, it's very good, isn't it?"

"...It seems you dropped your ice cream."

"Yes, it's a shame."

Hearing this, Bruno realized the ice cream had also stained her adorable dress. The girl smiled at the boy and reached out her small hand.

"Clean it, Noah."

"As you wish."

The boy, as if escorting her, naturally took her hand. Then, with a straight back, he knelt in front of her.

The series of movements was so beautiful, it was like a painting. Bruno was so captivated that he stared in amazement.

Then the boy called Noah placed his hand over the girl's dress. Seeing the faint light, Bruno gasped.

"What...!?"

The stained dress was being purified before his eyes.

(He used magic!? But he didn't chant any spell!! He didn't even whisper... No, he didn't show any signs of casting a spell...)

Magic usually required a short incantation to be effective. Moreover, non-verbal casting was something very few people could do.

(No, it is possible. After all, this guy just used magic without chanting to clean the girl's dress...)

Seeing the dress now spotless, the girl smiled contentedly.

"Thank you, Noah. You've improved again, haven't you?"

"Of course. ---All for the sake of the Princess."

Her expression was genuinely happy.

Seeing the boy skillfully use magic must have truly delighted her. Additionally, the word 'effort' he used made Bruno's chest ache.

On the ground, a puddle of chocolate mint-colored water was forming.

(I made her drop her ice cream...)

Yet, instead of worrying about the girl or apologizing, Bruno had immediately shown off his magic.

(...I...)

Biting his lip and looking down, he was called by a clear voice.

"Hey, you."

"!"

Looking up hurriedly, the girl, holding hands with the boy, smiled gently and continued.

"Your ice magic is good, but I think water magic might suit you better. They're similar but different, so if you're learning magic from someone, discuss how to practice with them."

"Wh... What?"

"You have a good aptitude, so I think you can become even better. ---If you put in the right effort, consistently."

Then, she smiled even more beautifully than before.

"Try your best."

"..."

Bruno straightened his back and said loudly,

"Y-Yes!! ...I'll try my best!! I'll work hard and get better... and then I'll become a better person who pays more attention to others!!"

"Hehe"

Though she was younger, her expression was like that of someone watching over a younger child. But it was incredibly cute.

"Goodbye."

"Bye-bye!!"

Even after they left, Bruno stood in the alley, dazed for a while.

***

After a while, when Bruno returned to his attendant, he received a lot of scolding and was then hugged tightly by his attendant.

Feeling unusually worried, the attendant explained,

"I told you earlier about the recent kidnappings of children... It seems that the cursed magical item causing these incidents was just destroyed."

"Cursed...?"

"We don't know who solved it, but it caused quite a stir. The old man was terrified that you might have been among the freed children!"

Usually, Bruno would dismiss such concerns as exaggerated, but this time he felt genuinely sorry. The incident with the girl's dropped ice cream, which he had done nothing about, weighed heavily on his conscience.

"Sorry, old man. I won't act on my own anymore... and I'll practice magic properly."

"Master?"

"I want to talk to the tutor. I have something I want to study in the next lesson, so will you help me with the preparation?"

The attendant, wide-eyed, was literally overjoyed to tears.

Feeling guilty for making him cry, Bruno realized that he had someone close to him who genuinely rejoiced in his improvement.

The first volume of "The Demon Hunter" and the third volume of the "Lup Nana" manga adaptation will be released on June 25th!

★In some areas, they are already on the shelves.★

The book includes a new short story! It's a heartwarming tale of Claudia doting on her beloved Noah.