Prologue 3: It Ended up as an Apprenticeship
“Fumu, I don’t think you made this up on the fly, but…”
Hast’al quietly listen to ridiculous-sounding story.
“But, seeing that many of gifts, I’d have no choice but be convinced.”
That many? I had concealed the fact that had several gifts, so then… have I been found out?
“What exactly are … gifts?”
For the time being, I’m in a girl’s body, so I try my best to use polite language.
“As it is, gifts are ‘presents bestowed by the gods’. Of course like in Yuuri’s case, not everyone with gifts has led a life of happiness due to them”
“This is more like a curse.”
“Yes, but instances of people with so many gifts is rare to say the least. Not to mention that all of your gifts are rare abilities. Putting all that together… I wouldn’t be surprised by anything anymore.”
“What the hell!? What are gifts!? Why’d I have to go through all this!?”
I response to Hast’al’s calm and composed treatment, I unreasonably lashed out at him with an angry and uncomposed tone.
As if to calm me down, he sucked at his pipe, and in a composed voice continued to explain.
“It seems you don’t know anything about gifts, so in regard to them, let me give an explanation. Usually, only 1 person of 100 might have a gift, and that gift is completely random. [Weather Prediction], [Business Aptitude], [Arithmetic]… among which there even appears to exist the gift [Rock-Paper-Scissors Winner].”
[Rock-Paper-Scissors Winner]? … Instead, that one’s good since it’s harmless. At this point I can say, I want to trade my gifts for it.
“Of course, even without the respective gift, it is still possible to learn arithmetic or have aptitude for business. But the difference in growth and end result from whether or not one has it is like the difference between heaven and hell. That difference in aptitude is what we call a ‘gift’”
Hast’al spoke in a teacher-like matter-of-fact voice, but as he continued to get into what he was saying, his words came out even smoother.
“Useful skill are considered highly valuable. If one has a gift like [Fencing] or [Magic], the country will come and pick you up in showy welcoming fashion. I too received a similar treatment having [Wind Attribute Magic] and [Magic Tool Creation] gifts. I couldn’t put up with their persistent invitations and eventually gave in.”
“Two?”
“Among those with gifts, there are those with multiple gifts as well. I don’t mean to brag, but among those with gifts, those with two gifts are about 1 in 1,000” (TL: 1/1,000 among those with gifts, so 1/100,000 among the general population)
If someone with two gifts is a 1 in 100,000 rare existence… then I, with eight gifts, am actually extremely valuable? Maa, because of them I had to go through all of that.
“In a given country, there may or may not even be one person with three gift. And you – It’s hard to believe, but as far as I can see, you are endowed with four gifts, right?”
“You can see them…?”
“I’ve been a magician for quite a long time now, you see. The ability to see through to the nature of something is the by far the most essential skill.”
“Four… What do you see?”
“[Eternal Youth], [Immortality], [Golden Ratio], and [Sacred Treasure]. If I didn’t have this ring on, I too would probably have a hard time and go through an unpleasant experience.”
They are the four that made me experience hell. Is there no possibility to disable it in sight?
“Then… be sure not to get close to me.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not possible. You may not be aware of it, but you are an exceedingly dangerous existence.”
I brought a town to ruin, so that seems reasonable.
There are also many people that died because they came under my charm’s influence. Apparently, the adventurer’s girlfriend committed suicide.
“It’s not like I don’t understand, but you can bring a whole town ruin by yourself. You are like ‘strategic arms’ so to speak.”
“Since I caused so many deaths… at this point, what can I even do to make up for it…?”
Fully aware of my sins, I feel like I’m about vomit. Atonement might not even take away this bad after-taste.
“Certainly. However, another way to look at it is that it was out of your control. Though it’s still something that can be treated lightly.”
“There’s no way… to die, is there?”
“… I don’t know. But telling someone I saved to die doesn’t sit right.”
“Sorry…”
“Anyhow, let us pray things get better with time. You have the time.” (TL: lol. Since he’s got eternity to live)
Speaking frankly – I feel an impatience bordering on anger.
“Let’s return to the topic on hand. If you were thrown smack-dab into the middle of an enemy country, that country would be destroyed. Or at the very least it would receive heavy damages. Many countries won’t act ignoring such a threat. Don’t you agree? Much less, there’s no way a country won’t try to get you involved to affect its own strength”
“I have no intention of getting involved, you know.”
“Even if you have no such intentions, they will come for you. Does the current you have control over your own powers?”
“If I did, I wouldn’t have had to go through all of that.”
“Furthermore, powerful people will not leave you alone. Though slightly young, you are a beauty and your body lets other experience extreme pleasure. Not to mention you can double as war potential; you cannot die; you do not age…”
At that point, a pensive look floated onto Hast’al’s face.
“Fumu… Yuuri-kun, you, would you become my pupil.”
“Haaa?!?”
Due to the rapid change in direction of the conversation, my brain just couldn’t keep up. This is an even quicker development than when I died, don’t you think? (TL: I’m assuming his death back on Earth?) What’s with that train of thought!? This guy, could it be that he’s into Lolis? An existence known as a ‘pervert gentleman’?
“It’s not like I’m not thinking improper things but… If you become my student, I’ll teach you how to control/suppress your abilities.”
“Is that possible!”
“Frankly, it’s impossible for all of them. However, if it’s just [Golden Ratio], the root of the problem, then I would think it to be possible.”
“The root of the problem…”
That’s right. If I can end up suppressing [Golden Ratio], then without exuding the charming effect, the pleasure-conferring sanity-stealing [Sacred Treasure] gift won’t be activated.
[Eternal Youth], [Immortality] and the other four gifts are by nature harmless, so…
If I am able to render useless these two gifts that were given to me to fulfill my demand for ‘beauty’ and a ‘harem’, then perhaps I’ll be able to live a normal life.
“Truly… can you truly do it?”
“If it’s with my magical tool creation ability, then probably. Aa, right, let me add another condition”
“Eh, Mo, More?”
“You. Just a bit ago you used 『俺』 (TL: Ore = I/me but very masculine) didn’t you? That’s prohibited. You’re a precious a CUTE girl, so it a total waste if you refer to yourself that way.”
“Iya, I don’t use it unless I lose my composure… since I have this appearance.”
“It’s good that you’re aware of it. Now then, since this ring of resistance seems to be at its limit, I’ll take my leave. For a while, just make yourself at home while you wait here.”
Hast’al said this a he pushed his chair in before leaving.
“Aa, that’s right. There’s a well outside, so I’ll leave cleaning up your bed-wetting to yourself.
That reminds me, the area between my legs is freezing cold… from having peed myself in fear. Not bed-wetting.
But, that guy… He didn’t come even an inch closer to me the whole time. Was it from fear, maybe?
And so, in this way I (ore = masculine)… Iya, I (watashi = gender neutral) came to be Hast’al the Wind Sage’s pupil.