The Heroine who plays a role (part 1)

"Ava, while your eagerness to help people is commendable, you should be more self-aware."

"But, uncle Benjamin...! It is because I have this kind of power I am the only person who can accomplish the request!"

A dark-blond-haired middle-aged man made a concerned expression and shook his head while a sixteen-year-old hazel-haired girl with a pixie cut clenched her hands together in front of her chest and pleaded theatrically.

Both of them were having a talk with a recently restored mansion overseeing the town of Startinton, which was almost abandoned just a few years prior.

Nowadays, Startinton has become a blooming society as the place where the miraculous tonic that ended the reign of terror of the Foul Reaper three years prior originated from. It was possible because the countless healers and potion makers would flock in droves around the apothecary that saved humanity to exchange pointers and learn from the tonic's creator.

"Uncle, you aren't being fair! So you allow Theo to do shady odd jobs, but I can't do the same with an official request?"

The girl with the pixie cut pouted cutely and swayed from side o side in an adorable manner.

"Theodore doesn't have anything to do with it. He isn't one of the future pillars of Wondalandor, Ava."

But, the girl's uncle wasn't affected by the charming approach and shook his head decisively.

"That's not true, uncle! Theo has a lot of ambition and will be strong enough to accomplish anything!"

The girl shook her head right back and claimed all pumped up.

"...haaa... you put too much faith in that little beggar..."

"Uncle! Don't talk like that about him!"

Benjamin furrowed his brows and sighed with traces of annoyance and had Ava admonish him instantly and intensely.

"I'm sorry for raising my voice, uncle Benjamin. Even so, I want you to allow me to look into the sick cattle in Crownhorn."

The girl composed herself and lowered her head before asking for permission again.

"Ava. You heal people. You don't have to care for some cows, even if they are from the farm where the royal family stocks up on beef!"

The girl's uncle rubbed his forehead, clearly done with the unreasonable actions of the pixie-cut girl.

"Yes, it is! But, uncle, don't you remember how the Foul Reaper started?! It was because of the meat of sick animals that people ate! And even if it isn't, why if it's a start of a deadly cattle disease that will threaten the lives of all farm animals within the next three years?! We can stop all of it now if we act on it now!"

Ava clenched her fists and cried out selflessly, thinking about a far broader picture than what her uncle was noticing.

"..."

Benjamin got back into a corner with such an argument and looked to the side, trying to think of a response.

"That... that's still too dangerous. So let's put that whole cow problem to the side until we find some capable bodyguards for you. Huh...?"

"~!"

Benjamin spoke up with hesitation but gained more confidence as he realized his argument sounded valid – but then the girl perked up with an excited look in her eyes, making him have second thoughts.

"Uncle Benjamin – we already have someone who can act like my bodyguard!"

"..."

Ava cheered out to her uncle's silent despair.

"He is already a skilled fighter – he is training every day with the soldiers that his majesty dispatched to protect us. And if you think he is not enough, why shouldn't we get the squad's captain, Hector, for assistance?"

The pixie-cut girl straightened her back and opened her arms as if presenting the best idea in the world.

"...they are both young and... uh... I mean, I guess that... if sir Hector will be willing to go then..."

*knock* *knock* *knock*

The middle-aged man began to falter and was basically as good as defeated but was saved by the sudden knocking on the door.

"Ah! Come in."

"...tsk..."

Benjamin gasped in relief, overjoyed with the opportunity to stall, while Ava turned to the side and scoffed in annoyance before turning around with an upbeat expression.

"Greetings, sir and young miss. We have received a message from Crownhorn - it was delivered just now."

A low-ranking soldier entered the room and informed after lowering his head towards the middle-aged man and the girl.

"Oh my...! Most likely a call for haste. See, uncle? I have to take ac..."

"The farm overseer sends his regards and apologizes for unnecessarily bothering you. Furthermore, he reports that the disease has been eliminated."

Ava gasped and urged her uncle, but the slightly too eager soldier spoke over her, revealing the message's content.

"Huh? Wait, but... that's...! What amazing news!"

"...what...?"

The difference in reactions between the pixie cut girl and her uncle was as apparent as night and day – Benjamin's face lighted up as he cheered out all relieved, while Ava's expression turned severe as she let out a cold growl.

"See, Ava? There was not..." *thwack*

"What do you mean they eliminated it? Did they just kill the sick cows? That's not going to solve anything!"

The girl's uncle could finally breathe out in relief as he approached his niece, but she slapped his hand without even gracing him a glance and approached the soldier.

"U-umm... no. The messenger said that the healed cows are free of all symptoms."

"Bullshit!"

The soldier, taken aback by the girl rushing in his face, shook his head and explained, just to be shouted right before the furious Ava pushed past him.

"A-Ava...?!"

"She went upstairs."

Shocked, Benjamin called after her, as the surprised soldier reported to him while looking over his shoulder.

*SLAM*

The sound of the door being closed rather violently echoed in the mansion as the two men looked at each other, slightly troubled.

"Please make sure that she will not try to escape through the window or something..."

"I will inform the commander about that possibility."

Benjamin breathed out with concern, and the soldier nodded and left hurriedly.