I am Rena Frostwing!
"I will achieve the title of Regius Primus, and restore my family's honor!"
The voice of the teary-eyed elf girl reverberates throughout the cave. Looking up towards the figure of a girl with a child-like stature...
"Oho.. Such puny determination... You think that would be enough to achieve your goal? You make me laugh~!"
"Call it worthless or something! But even so, I will not waver!"
"Hmmm.. It's hopeless you know? With what you are right now, it would only result to a fruitless struggle.. It would probably take you a whole century before you'll have a tiny bit of chance against them.."
"I don't care! Even if it takes a lifetime, I will achieve my goal!"
With that, the elf stood up, giving the petite girl a stern look full of resolve.
"Ugghh.. You should understand this, you are weak! But I like that look... Those eyes makes me remember the eyes of my enemies that groveled before my power... fufu... So be it!"
"Eh? Th-that means!!"
"Ready yourself human! er- I mean, Elf!! Starting now, you will be the first apprentice of the great Pesty-sama!!!"
...
...
...
2 Days ago...
(Rena's POV)
Ughh.. I'm hungry... So hungryyyy...
It's been 2 weeks since I've left our dukedom... After I've finally resolved myself to restore our family's name... Ughhh.. No Rena! Let's not give up! We're a commoner now after all! I can't eat those sweet tarts anymore.... tarts... those sweet... honey tarts...
This shouldn't happen to me in the first place! I could've arrived safely to the capital if not for those cursed bandits!!!
I was just part of a merchant caravan yesterday when a group of bandits suddenly ambushed us! I was so scared that I'd be killed or taken as a slave, good thing I can still use a bit of magic of my own. Although I can't use offensive magic, I can still use Ice Prison at myself to protect me against the bandits. Even though they tried breaking the Ice Prison I made, they can't even leave a scratch to it! Fufufu!
They tried waiting for me for a whole day, camping just beside me... So I spent several days encased in the prison I made. Took them almost a week to finally give up on me and left, but I stayed for 2 more days here just to be sure.. But now, I'm lost.. and hungry... I can't even hunt an animal nor determine edible fruits... I can't do this anymore...
Father... Mother... I'm sorry... I guess I'll be following you now...
*sniff* *sniff*
That smells.. GOOD!!!
I suddenly went following the sweet aroma of what I think is soup, I am so hungry.. I hope the one making it will spare me some.... Wait a minute, what if it was the bandits? Nah, From what I saw, they seem to only know how to roast meat.. There's no way they can make such an aromatic soup.
As I've followed the scent, it turns out to be coming right out from a cave.
Eh.. Perhaps a sage or a monk is living in seclusion here? Perhaps they'll help me? Kyaa~! Food!!
Food, here I come!!
As I ran towards the cave entrance, I suddenly felt a great impact straight to my face.
*BAM!*
Ouch!!! That huuurts!!
Much to my surprise, there is no cave entrance at all!! Well, there IS an entrance but there seems to be a huge boulder that blocks the passage...
Which means... there's no food? Am I so hungry that this scent is actually just a figment of my imagination? Nooo, this can't be!!!
As I've started bawling my eyes out, a voice suddenly called out to me...
"Foolish one! Can't you shut up?! Why are you crying noisily in front of someone else's abode?!"
"Eh? Who? Where?"
At the exact moment I've asked that, the huge boulder suddenly disappeared and a figure of a small girl emerged from the cave.
"What do you seek from me puny human?"
"I'm an elf... and I'm hungry.."
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
The two of us stared blankly at each other, until the one that broke the silence was no other than my grumbling stomach...
...
...
...
"Fuwaaa~!! I still can't believe I finally got to eat food! I really thank you for saving my life little girl!"
"Ha?! Listen here human, For your information, I'm much more older than you!"
"But I'm an elf?"
"Shut up human!"
*Smack!*
"Uuuuu... I'm sorryyy"
Even though she smacked me, it was only ever so lightly, she seems to be a good person!
"Anyways, what actually happened to you that you ended up in that state?"
I then told her everything that happened during the bandit's ambush.
"Oho... Are you a noble then? Judging from your appearance, you look like one."
"Eh? Does my face really exudes an air of grace and nobility?"
"No. Your dress and accessories do"
"Oh... Well yeah, I am a Noble.. or should I say I was."
"Hmm.."
"My father used to be a duke.. We were living peacefully until both my parents were assassinated. I was only safe because I was protected by my parents that night.. Before my father died, the last thing he told me was to protect the household..."
"Uh, I never asked for your backstory.."
"After that, our family was framed and branded as traitor... Our family was stripped out of nobility and I was cast away from our territory.. Since then, I was living at the place of my favorite bakery since we were such good friends with the owner of the shop... But I realized, nothing will change if I just sit there and do nothing, so I resolved myself to venture out and claim the title of "Regius Primus" to reclaim our family's honor!"
"Oy.. As I've said, no one is aski-- .... Wait, did you just say you want to be "Regius Primus"? "
"Hm? Yeah! I will train hard enough to be stronger! I even studied a lot about the World Championships!"
"Hahahaha!!! How foolish!"
"Eh?"
"You puny human, you're so weak that I can't even think you can hurt a bandit! And you think you can win the Championship? You really do jest don't you?"
"N-No!! Of course not! I'm serious about this!"
"Then think about it seriously! There's no way a weakling like you can win!"
"Humph! You'll never know until I'll try! It's not like you can do any better!"
"Haa?! For your information, I am a titleholder you know!!"
"Eh?"
"What?"
"Eeeeeehhh??!! REALLY?!"
"So loud! What's your deal?"
"Are you serious?! You are a "Regius Primus"?!"
"Yes puny human! That's why I know a lot more about the World Championship more than you do!"
The little girl started floating, exuding a powerful aura that made the pressure drop a thousandfold.
Ahh... I should've known... That emerald, silky hair... Ruby eyes that seemed like a pair of glittering gems... The one known as a legend..
"My name is Pesty Dimroot! otherwise known as the great "Pestilence"!!! "
Instead of being overwhelmed with shock, I took a hold of myself.. This is probably a once in a lifetime chance... An opportunity like this is something that I must grasp in order to succeed. And that is...
"Pestilence-sama!! Please take me as your student!!
"Eh?"
"Please be my master!!!"
"What are you talking about foolish one?"
"I deeply apologize for my earlier attitude! But please... Teach me to become strong!"
"Hmph! And why should I do that? Sounds like a waste of time for me..."
"Uh... I.. I can clean! I can help you with anything! I can.. I can... Do chores or anything that you teach me to do for you!!! Just... please.. Help me win the Championship..."
"Oho... And why is that? What is your goal?"
"I will achieve the title of Regius Primus, and restore my family's honor!"
"Oho.. Such puny determination... You think that would be enough to achieve your goal? You make me laugh~!"
"Call it worthless or something! But even so, I will not waver!"
"Hmmm.. It's hopeless you know? With what you are right now, it would only result to a fruitless struggle.. It would probably take you a whole century before you'll have a tiny bit of chance against them.."
"I don't care! Even if it takes a lifetime, I will achieve my goal!"
"Ugghh.. You should understand this, you are weak! But I like that look... Those eyes makes me remember the eyes of my enemies that groveled before my power... fufu... So be it!"
"Eh? Th-that means!!"
"Ready yourself human! er- I mean, Elf!! Starting now, you will be the first apprentice of the great Pesty-sama!!!"
"Tha-thank you!!! Pesty-sama!!"
"Uwe?!"
Without thinking, I suddenly jumped to hug Pesty-sama because of my overwhelming joy!
"Stay put foolish Elf! Depending on my mood , I might take back my words and kick you out you know?"
"Eeeep! Please no!.. Come to think of it.. You finally called me an elf... hehe~"
"Ha?!... tsk. come to think of it, what's your name again?"
"Ehhhh?! You forgoot? I just told you earlier!!"
"No you didn't!"
"Oh, I didn't?"
"Just tell me your name already!"
"Hehe~! Sorry Pesty-sama, My name is Rena Frostwing! At your service!"
:::
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EXTRA
:::
(That time when Rena was about to be given food by Pesty)
Rena: "Souup~! I can finally eat a delicious souup~!!"
Pesty: "Huh? What soup are you talking about?"
Rena: "Eh? Isn't that soup in the cauldron?"
Pesty: "Uhh no. this is an experimental elixir I'm currently researching on.."
Rena: "Eh.. this.. is not food? But it smells so goood! And it's full of veggies!!"
Pesty: "Yeah, ingest it and you'll probably die in 5 seconds."
Rena: *gulp*
At the end, Rena was given some bland porridge. She was so hungry she still liked it.