Chapter 47

EP.47 Aria Learns - 1

Now, all we have to do is wait for the trash to destroy themselves.

[Then what are you going to do now?]

<Well, I have to study magic and Aria's...>

"Joke Assassin."

At the provocative statement, Leonardo turned around with an irritated expression.

Squish

"...Miss?"

Behind him, Aria was there with a mischievous smile, gently pressing her cheek with her finger, which made her mischief even more alluring.

"Cute. My joke assassin."

"Y-You're taking it too far."

At that mischievous play, Leo had to turn his head to hide his flustered face.

[What really happened in that dream?]

<I want to know. Really.>

After the nightmare incident, Aria had changed in some way. It wasn't like a trauma or PTSD... perhaps she had matured, or become more precocious...

[...Why did a kid become so alluring?]

It was a crude expression, but it was the most fitting.

"Why? Are you embarrassed?"

Aria slowly brought her face closer to see that embarrassed expression. Each time, Leo turned his head even more, trying to hide his reddening face.

"Are you hot? Your face is very red."

"Y-Yes...! That's right!"

Leo's answer and reaction made her very satisfied, and she chuckled with a smile.

"...So, what brings you here?"

"I thought you might know the person Mr. Anus introduced me to."

Aria held out the note she received from Anus. She remembered that before leaving the village, the village chief had given her a note.

"Physis Natora... I've never heard of this name..."

Yet, it felt somewhat familiar. She might have heard a similar name before the regression...

[No need to overthink it. You'll know when you go.]

That was true. It was someone introduced by the village chief, and it wasn't a request for something difficult, so there was no reason to hesitate.

"Let's go first. We might remember when we see them."

"Right. Let's go."

At that moment, Aria took Leo's hand and started walking forward.

"A...! Miss?!"

"Hmm? Why?"

Aria's expression was calm but annoyingly innocent. Seeing that face, Leonardo couldn't say anything.

[...]

<Shut up.>

[I haven't said anything yet.]

It didn't matter since it was in his mind. Anyway, he would probably say something unsatisfactory, so it was better to silence him in advance.

"It seems we're here."

The place they arrived at was a location like a forest, with many plants and trees, and surrounded by glass walls, making it a greenhouse.

"I heard from Ms. Ameri that this person often comes here."

"Is that so? Are they studying plants...?"

To resolve the issue, Aria opened the greenhouse door and went in. She still held onto Leo's hand tightly.

"...But... there doesn't seem to be anyone here."

The greenhouse only had plants and trees, not even a bird or any other animal.

"...Strange..."

Suddenly, Leonardo pulled the hand Aria was holding and even wrapped his arm around her.

"Leo...! Leo?!"

"Come out. If you don't, I'll consider you an enemy."

As he said that, a laugh came from the direction of his sword.

"You've become quite sharp, haven't you, Leonardo?"

The voice came from the forest, but not from between the trees. It seemed as if the trees themselves were speaking.

"Or should I say, more daring?"

A clear voice, it was appropriate to assume it belonged to a woman.

The branches of the acacia tree trembled and then transformed into human arms. Not just the branches, but the trunk and leaves gradually transformed into a human shape.

"...Ah, I'm stiff."

The woman, now fully human, looked at Leonardo and waved her hand warmly.

"It's been a while, Leonardo."

"...Do you know her?"

Aria, with a slightly erased smile, looked at Leonardo. Her expression hardened with instinctive wariness towards the sensual woman.

"I don't... really know."

It wasn't to evade or ignore, but genuinely out of confusion. He had no idea who she was. There was no one he should know in the magic tower, either before or after the regression.

"That's disappointing. It's been a few years, but you've forgotten your sister? Should I help you remember?"

The sister took out a photo from her pocket with a relaxed smile.

"Remember this? I took it with the one I brought."

The photo showed Leonardo himself and the woman who handed it to him. The notable feature was that the Leonardo in the photo was smaller and cuter, like a child younger than a teenager.

"...This... is definitely me, but..."

"...Ha...Ha...Ha...!"

Suddenly, a rough breathing sound. She panted heavily as she examined the photo closely. Her face was red and sweaty, which felt almost pathological.

'...Wow,

such a cute creature exists...! More innocent and cute than at 13. If I touch those cheeks, they must be very soft, like a soft bread that stretches well...! Even his scarred body is attractive, but he was even more lovable back then. If I could hug him and rub him against my body now, it would be so good...

Why couldn't I meet Leo from the beginning...!!'

Aria could taste supreme happiness just from her monologue and imagination. A slight drool formed at the corner of her mouth.

"Um...? Miss?"

"H-H-Why...?"

"I don't know why you're excited, but... first, calm your breathing. We need to continue the conversation."

At that, Aria swallowed and looked away from the photo to Physis.

[Just asking... Aria... you don't have that kind of taste, right?]

<What kind of taste?>

[...No. I must be imagining things. Don't worry about it.]

There was something tickling in his words, but the woman in front of him didn't give him time to think about it.

"Still, I'm surprised. I didn't expect the kid to grow so much."

"Um... I'm really sorry... I know the person in the photo is me, but I still don't remember..."

At that, the sister emitted even more energetic vibes to help him remember.

"Back then... about 10 years ago? I knelt before Mr. Anus and begged for his teachings. After that, I learned from him for two or three months and played with you."

"...Ah...Ah...!!"

Now he remembered. That was the person from back then.

"It was you? The one who learned spirit magic?"

"Ah! You finally remember?"

It couldn't be helped. After all...

"No... but! Your name and surname have changed!"

"It had to be that way. After all, 'Pisun' isn't a very elegant name, is it?"

That was true. The name 'Physis' was so memorable that it didn't stick in his mind.

[Your old name was better, right?]

<...Ah...Yeah...>

He could once again remember what era the sage was from. In the sage's time, that name was probably sophisticated.

"We played hide and seek and read books together. Ah, now I remember."

"Remember? I used to ride you on a hobby horse, and you followed me around calling me 'sister.' You were so cute back then."

Memories of the old hometown came back. Thinking about it, after Anus, the person Leonardo followed the most was Physis (Pisun).

"Ah, really?"

"Yes. I remember now."

By now, Aria had cooled down her excited expression and crossed her arms. The sharp, dagger-like gaze beyond that was piercing Leo's body.

"We played hide and seek, read books, rode hobby horses, and you followed me calling me 'sister.'"

Daringly,

"Is that not true?"

"...It is, but..."

By now, Leo was showing a guilty attitude. He didn't know what he was guilty of, but the cold gaze made him bow his head.

"Ah, I see. I understand. So, this person is the one who spent happy times with the young Leonardo in the photo."

That was true, but... the conversation seemed terribly... off.

And that was indeed the case.

'...Daring... to claim she monopolized such a young Leonardo...?'

For the record, they were all together with the villagers, so it wasn't a monopoly.

'And playing and rubbing against each other...'

The playing was just reading fairy tales or playing hide and seek, and the rubbing was inevitable when riding hobby horses. After all, Leo was only five at the time.

'Besides...'

What Aria was most angry about wasn't that.

'Sister... Sister?! Daring...?! I've never heard such a thing...!!'

For the record, Aria and Leo were the same age. It was a fact that Aria and Leonardo already knew.

"Um... Sorry, but can I see the letter? Mr. Anus said to check the details in it."

"Yes."

Aria handed over the letter with a smile. The veins on her forehead were prominent, indirectly showing her emotions.

"Um... well..."

"Why?"

Aria slightly relaxed the prominent tendons and smiled.

"Your finger strength is no joke, huh?"

Physis barely took the letter and unfolded it.

"Hmm... hmm... I see. I understand."

"What's the content? N-"

"Haha, Leo. Now it's time for the ladies, so you need to leave."

If he felt it was the same as with Anus, it might be a misunderstanding, but probably not.

"Since we've met after a long time, shouldn't we talk more...?"

"Come on, get out quickly. Get lost."

Without understanding, Leo was chased out of the greenhouse. The inside soon became foggy, making it invisible.

"Now, let's talk."

"About what?"

After Leo left, Aria openly showed her hostility. The hostility was so cute that Physis smiled.

"Cute jealousy~ But it's only among peers. It's not the time for an aunt to interfere, right?"

"Why are you talking to me without including Leo?"

Still a thorny remark, but Physis remained calm.

"I thought it would be better to have this conversation one-on-one."

Then Physis snapped her fingers, deploying magic.

[What's going on, Physis?]

A spirit emerged from the tree and approached her. Aria was startled by its appearance.

"Sure enough~ I can see you?"

"Can see... Isn't it obvious?"

[It seems you can really see. Your gaze is steady.]

Even the spirit looked surprised at Aria. Her gaze, filled with hateful jealousy, had somehow turned into curiosity.

"It's not obvious. Seeing a spirit is rare even among magicians."

A spirit mage, similar to a magician in result but different in process and principle.

"A spirit mage is blessed with mana. They can communicate with and contract with spirits, the essence of mana."

"But Leo can see spirits too."

Otherwise, he wouldn't know the appearance of Anus's spirits.

[That's because the village chief materialized them. The boy is closer to having no talent for spirit magic.]

In fact, Leonardo had tried to learn spirit magic from Anus in his previous life but failed several times.

"Spirit magic is 80% talent. While magicians can do it, it's almost useless without talent, so they don't."

"But I..."

Aria looked at the spirit of the tree in front of her. It was as clear as a real person, and its voice was distinct.

[That's proof of your talent.]

"Spirit magic can be used without knowledge of magic. In fact, the lack of knowledge might make it more efficient."

As a close-range swordsman, Aria, unlike the magic swordsman Leonardo, had a disadvantage in mid- and long-range.

"It seems the teacher who recognized this sent you to me. I've given lectures a few times before."

[It seems you're a swordsman. Learning spirit magic will definitely help. I recommend it from my position as a spirit.]

It was a good opportunity and proposal for her. But there was still something she didn't understand.

"Thank you, but... what did Mr. Anus write in the note...?"

What did he write that allowed her to receive direct training from a spirit mage in the magic tower? It was a bit puzzling from her perspective.

"Oh, nothing much."

Physis held out the note she had.

[She's my grandson's future daughter-in-law. She has talent for spirit magic, but lacks sexual education. Consider that and teach her well.]

Her face turned completely red.

"...U...Ah..."

To her red ears, Physis whispered this. The ring on her finger subtly hinted at her marital status.

"I'll teach you how to seduce Leo in a mature way. My husband couldn't resist my techniques and covered me first. How about it?"

After a moment of thought, Aria immediately agreed when Physis offered to give her a photo of young Leo.

It was too great an opportunity to refuse.

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