Lingering Resolve

The dinner in Graize family usually consists of Millson, Korsch, and me eating in the dining room.

Mother usually eats her dinner in her room while Father usually eats dinner in his office due to his never-ending work.

Tonight is not an exception. Only three of us are eating on a big rectangular table meant for 12 people.

Our dinner tonight is a variety of meat dishes which is Korsch's favourite. As usual, Korsch eats over 10 portions while Millson, and I only eat 1 portion each.

While I am about to finish my meal, Millson start talking.

"Come to think of it. Korsch, have you finished packing your luggage?"

"Hm? Oaf couss."

He talked with his mouth full. Geez, if I ask him to not talk while eating, he will get angry so I shall keep quiet.

"Your vacation is about to end. Do your best at school ok?"

Korsch swallows the meal and replies with confidence.

"No need to worry. School lessons are easy for me!"

That's because you get a private tutor here and in capital city. I really wonder where he got all that confidence from...

School in this world is a system for kids from noble family from the age of 10 to 16 to be educated with magic and common knowledge.

Though most of them put an emphasis on magic because it is the most essential necessary skill needed to live in this world. Be it career prospects or something as basic as daily living necessities, magic is an irremovable part of almost everything in this world.

Korsch is 12 years old, so this is his 3rd year of education.

I am still 8 years old so I need to wait for 2 years to enroll in academy within capital city. But I can already foresee the kinds of troubles I would get for being unable to use magic.

... school... I don't want to go...

"I need to leave Shion again huh... it will be quite lonely. Don't you think so, Korsch?"

"Haaa? Who will miss this defect? In fact, I'm thankful that I don't have to see this useless little sister's face for some time."

Korsch's thoughts and mine are similar in that regard huh. Though I won't say it out loud.

"Geez. Korsch... But I will still be lonely. Don't worry Shion, I shall finish the mission quickly and return back to your side."

"I'm looking forward to it, Millson onii-sama."

And thus, the dinner ends without any incident.

As I think that, I look at outside from the window of dining room. Tonight is full moon.

As planned, I will sneak out toni-

"Shion-sama."

Interrupting my thought, Kaina suddenly calls my name.

"Madam is calling for you."

"Mother? That's unusual. Shouldn't she be sleeping by now? Did something happen?"

"She said that she wanted to talk to you after dinner. That's all."

"Understood. I'll be there immediately."

There is still time before my plan anyway.

On my way to mother's room, I notice the guards that were standing at the house's main gate.

I see new faces. Are they new recruits? Well, I don't usually care much about males in this house so maybe I just don't know about them until now.

I'll just leave them be and quickly go to my mother's room.

As I knock the door, my mother replies asking me to come in. I enter the room.

As usual, mother sits on her bed looking at me with kind eyes.

"I'm here, Mom. Kaina told me that you wanted to talk to me. What do you want to talk about?"

"It's just a whim. Did I interrupt your schedule?"

"Of course not. It's quite late at night, what kind of business I would be doing just before my bed time."

Except my plan tonight.

"I see. Well, I just thought of something. Shion, do you have anything you want?"

"Anything I want?"

"Ever since you were little, you seemed to be less selfish compared to other kids. More like, you spent your time on helping others instead of using it for yourself. So I'm afraid that you were holding back all this time."

Wait, seriously? I'm well aware of my status as a child. That's why I tried to act like one all this time. But to think mother will view me that way...

"As if. I am actually selfish most of the time. Helping others is also probably my selfish wish of being meddlesome."

I say that with confidence but I'm well aware that I'm depreciating myself. It's my bad habit. Whenever someone is viewing me at a positive light, I tend to avoid raising their expectation on reflex.

But mother just smiles after hearing that.

"Shion is so kind huh."

"Eh?"

"That part of you that always prioritise others is what I like about you. Despite the struggle that you had after being born, you always look forward and do your best in your own way. But then again, I also wish for you to act more like a child of your age. That's why I was wondering if there is anything I can do for you."

This is troubling. I would rather ask her to not force herself. But she will most likely be sad if I refuse.

"This is quite sudden..."

My mother giggles a bit after hearing my troubled response.

"No need to think about it that much. Do you have anything you want to do? Or something like a wish? If it's something that even this weak mother of yours can do, I would be very happy to help."

"My wish... huh..."

I guess it's fine to talk to her about it.

"Mom, my wish is always the same."

"Hm?"

"To have a good life. Right now, I'm grateful with my life as it is. That's why I want to protect it. Kaina, Nelsia and other maids... and mother... I want to support and protect you as well."

"Shion..."

My mother looks at me with serious eyes. I wonder if my wish is too strange.

"W-well, of course I also wish to protect father, Millson onii-sama and Korsch onii-sama. Though I doubt that they will need my support to begin with."

"*giggle* you still act awkward with males huh. You should overcome that problem sooner or later."

"... I'll do my best."

I at least still think of them as family. So I'll put effort in getting along with them more in the future.

"But... to have a good life huh... I'm not sure on how to help that."

"You're already helping just by being here. Don't worry."

"Even if you say that... ah, that's right."

Mother suddenly clasps her hands together.

"In the name of Takatsukikami-sama, I pray that my daughter, Shion, will continue to have a good life now and in the future."

Takatsukikami... that's the name of the god that she devoted herself back in her homeland. I heard that mother used to live in Sanrock continent before her marriage.

"... with this, I hope that I can be a help for you even if it's only a little bit."

Mother looks at me happily. Seeing such an expression of pure joy on her face, I can't help but to smile myself.

"... thank you, mother. It's more than enough."

After that, we talk leisurely for about 10 minutes before mother said that I need to go to sleep soon. Obeying her words, I take leave after saying good night to her.

Two hours later, convinced that no one will notice me, I sneak out of the house using my usual route from my room towards main gate using hidden route in the garden. It's not that noticeable but there is a path that is not covered with plants besides the main road.

I discovered it when I thought of sneaking out of this house for the first time. If I walk using that path, I can go out without being noticed by the guards.

After I finish my preparations, including equipments and items, I make my way outside. I call it equipment but it's just a casual clothes that are easy for me to move outside. I might have wanted for a more sturdy clothes to fight a monster but this time, I shall put focus on my mobility instead. On top of that, I put a black mantle that I made in secret using alchemy.

In this world, the concept of monster does exist.

Monster is a mysterious lifeform that evolves from either animals or plants.

The reason for the evolution is still a mystery but beings that turned into a monster lose their soul and become a lifeform living solely with instinct.

There is no sin in killing them unlike some animals or plants so monster extermination is an act that is morally right... is what Millson said.

The knowledge of monsters in this world is limited considering the church and kingdom keep the monster's research information a secret. All they tell to public is that the act of killing monster is not a sin considering monsters are beings without souls. The mass just obey that because monsters usually disrupt humans' daily lives.

And thus, the organizations like guilds and mercenaries were born. They are the only two kind of organizations that is specialized with exterminating monsters. Though the difference is that the guild has a direct connection with kingdom while mercenaries are more of a community of freelance adventurers with not much of restrictions compared to guilds.

As I walk alone in the plain area, I review again the info of a monster that I will be fighting in my head.

"Gestalt Hydra"

When I heard that name years ago, the first thing that came to mind was a giant serpent with multiple heads. However, the book said that it was a white, giant serpent with only one head and a horn on its forehead.

It's a monster that use lightning magic. The book only says that it lives in a place with lots of water within the area near Graize household. That recipe is most likely from my ancestors who managed to find the hydra and managed to escape from it alive. That name is also probably from them since I never see anyone knowing about its existence before.

The book also describes it as a very strong monster. It might be a careless choice to fight it alone.

I would rather resort on a safer option of hiring adventurer. However, there are lots of problem for me to hire them.

For example, my identity. My family definitely won't allow me to hire adventurers for monster hunting.

While that problem can be somehow solved by faking my identity, there is still another problem about no one knowing Gestalt Hydra's existence.
The request of fighting an unknown monster is usually very expensive and of course I don't have that much money.

Also, there is no way I can use the wealth of Graize household to pay the adventurers since this is supposed to be a secret mission.

Thus, after lots of thinking back when I was planning, I decided to fight the monster alone. The reasons above are about half of my total reasonings.

Back on to the topic of Gestalt Hydra, the reason why I have an inkling of its location is because of a certain rumour in Boorash Town, the town which is the nearest from Graize household. The maids of Graize household usually go there to buy things like groceries.

The rumour that I heard is: every time a full moon shows up, an electric current will flow through the river near that town. I heard that a group of adventurers went to investigate it but they can't find anything.

However, I roughly have an idea of what is happening.

As I thought that, I stumble upon a river. I looked at it and notice the electric current flowing through the river. Also, it's a bit faint but I sense mana from the flowing electric current.

I am indeed born without astral body. But after years of studying magic, I noticed some differences between me and normal people in this world. For example, I can sense mana more effectively compared to other people. It is probably the side effect of being born without astral body. The difference can't even be more clearer when I compare their bodies with mine.

Not being able to use magic is a fatal weakness, but I won't feel depressed just from that. If I look at it positively, I got to learn on how to sense mana more effectively and how to use that sense to its full potential. That's why I will do my best, especially now.

I follow the river to the direction where the electric current is coming from. The adventurers probably also did the same thing. However...

I arrive in front of a thick mist of mana. It cannot be seen with naked eyes but I can sense it. According the books in Graize family's library, walking inside a area filled with huge amount of dense mana can cause visual and auditory hallucinations.

This is because the mana within human's astral body will experience incongruity with huge exposure of foreign mana.

In short, it's something like a motion sickness. This must be where the adventurers became stuck as they did not have the appropriate equipment to handle this situation. And most likely they don't know about this huge mana. For some reason, despite its amount, it cannot be seen with naked eyes.

It won't affect me though. I meant, I don't have astral body so I won't feel the motion sickness. I tested it the last time I came here few days ago so I'm sure of it. Though it's too bad that I don't have a method for normal people to overcome it. My current knowledge about magic is still insufficient.

Without the knowledge provided by that book of Graize Elixir, I also won't realize that Gestalt Hydra is the cause of this mist. That book gives a lot of information about that monster as it is a very important monster needed for the alchemy process.

Past this point is that monster's territory. Before entering, I check again my inventory.

Five small bottles of potion, two small bottles of poison and two small bottles of liquid gas for smokescreen purpose.

Not much of a preparation but it can't be helped. I don't have the stamina to bring many items for a long-distance travel after all.

I also bring a small knife and mantle which has the ability to erase the user's presence from monsters' perspective. All of them except the knife are made by me using alchemy. The knife is actually from an unused dull kitchen knife that I repaired using alchemy in secret. It has no power whatsoever but it just feels safer to have a weapon in hand when fighting monster.

After confirming the equipment, inventory and the strategy in my head, I head towards the mist while following the river where the electric current is coming from.

As I walk, I eventually arrive at a forest. Then I carefully enter and walk inside the forest following the river path.

Deep in the forest, I encounter "it".

Long white snake-like body.

Sharp-looking reptile-like eyes.

A big snake-like mouth that is currently drinking the water from the river.

And its silver horn's tip touches the flowing water while sending electric current inside.

As I hide myself behind a tree, I continue to observe that thing.

There is no doubt about it. That monster is definitely Gestalt Hydra.