Who Am I?

"Your movement is flawed, your posture is horrible, and your speed is underwhelming. Miss Mage Prodigy." Said the physical training teacher after beating me up mercilessly. Now resting on the mat floor, I sight. Which made Natsumi Sensei angry at me. "If only you had that energy when fighting, then you would be a real warrior. As of now, you're just a pathetic, defenseless little mage girl." Jesus, she was ruthless with her criticism, but I liked that at least she wasn't merely flattering my prowl at all times. She pointed out my flaws non-stop, which is what you want from a good teacher.

"Now, stand up, Yui. We have got to continue." She said while forcing me to stand up by lifting me up herself. I told her, "Please let me have a break," but Natsumi didn't budge. Instead, her training intensified. What made it worse was that everyone in the classroom could see and hear me while I was beaten up by sensei. Their stares made me highly uncomfortable. Stop looking at me! I wanted to shout, but it was useless. Sensei kept knocking me out repeatedly until I intentionally turned off HP super auto recovery so I could be sent to the nurse's office. 

When I finally managed to escape by being sent unconscious to the nurse's office. I began to have a chat with Vicky, the school nurse. "Master Natsumi beat you up again, uh?" said the always caring, sweet Vicky. "Yeah, she always likes to remark that I am considered a prodigy for some reason," I told her. Of course, I didn't expect Vicky to understand, but what she said corrected my assumption. "Well, it might be because she wants you to understand that magic isn't everything in a real-world battle," Vicky said sweetly.

I wanted to say, "Don't make it sound like that," but I couldn't deny it. Miss Natsumi sounded like she cared whenever she mentioned my magic advantage. Perhaps Vicky was right. After a short while, Vicky finished healing me with her magic and dismissed me, letting me return to my other classes. Since I enrolled in this college, my life has been chaotic. Now I have got many responsibilities over my shoulders. Aside from my studies in college, when I am done, I've got to go to work with Magnus at a local cafe my dad got us jobs at. Speaking of the king of Rome, Magnus is a complete celebrity around here.

He has his own mini-club of followers now. It's not like I care anyway since I am not invested in him. I am being truthful here, I swear. Who would seriously care or fall in love with such a hot young guy with massive muscles and high-strength stats? Not me! Okay, maybe me, but that doesn't mean I'm jealous of anything. Just because I get rid of hoes around Magnus doesn't mean I love him, alright? I am simply getting them away from my Magnus because they're a terrible influence on him, that's all!

"Hey, babe, let's go to work. Remember that today Rigurd oughta pay our salaries," Magnus said, holding me close to him by my hips. When had he gotten close to me? I didn't even notice his presence today. "Yeah, I know, but the hotel we stay at also requires their monthly payment, remember?" Once I reminded him of the rent, he lost all his motivation to work. When we left school to work, Magnus began biting his nails. A bad habit of his. I did understand his behavior, nonetheless. Our days in Enginheim were rough, and our wages didn't help. 

At first, I got excited because this city seemed super advanced. However, things are much different when you finally get to live here. Cutting-edge tech is only for the rich and wealthy. Most of the city relies on human and manual labor except business owners since they get better and better gear to make cheaper products. The economic inequality in this city clearly showed me why this amazing tech didn't make it outside big cities in our kingdom. It was due to the royalty owning close to 90% of all new inventions, and thus, their royalty price was always outrageous.

Conditions at work weren't any better even though we worked at a cafe. The harassment I experienced daily was starting to drive me insane. Frankly, I think old men touching and slapping your butt when you're around 12 would drive any kid crazy. It did illustrate this world in a whole different limelight for me. Not such a dream after all. "Here's your coffee, sir," I said after leaving his cup on the table. Then when I turned around, this man also thanked me by slapping my ass. I just about had it, I was going to call it quits, but Magnus stopped me every time. 

Magnus and I went to our rented hotel room when work was over. We earned enough to not have to sleep in community dormitories, but this wasn't a luxury either. Now that he was almost fifteen and I was about to be twelve, trouble arose between Magnus and me. He, of course, had his man desires and seemed so ever closer to lusting over me at all times. Which made it awkward when he had to sleep in the same room on the same bed every night for who knew how much longer. Only prayers to the Gods gave me hope.

To my surprise, tonight, Magnus began to cry while hugging me. At first, I didn't understand, but then he hit me with why he was upset. "I am sorry, Yui, I'm such a disappointment for a boyfriend. I can't even afford to keep you off work in that awful place. Please forgive me," he whipped over my shoulder. "It's alright, Magnus. Remember that we must keep this lifestyle until you hit at least one thousand MP points to register as an adventurer. Then it will all be over." That was right. All I had to do was wait for him. In the meantime, I turned out to hug him back. I even ignored his hands going below my hip. Just this once was fine. 

The next day, it was the same repetitive routine. Wake up, school, work, harassment, rinse and repeat. Nothing much happened that would make things enjoyable on individual days. And so time passed. We kept this routine going until finally one day, Magnus happily told me he had reached one thousand fifty-nine MP points. It took several years for him to complete it, but by now, I had also become better at physical combat. I got my ass mainly kicked, but at least I now had better stats. 

With Magnus at around seventeen and me at about fourteen now. We could register as adventurers now, but then what? I grew out of my desire to become an OP character. I still had all my massive MP, but it didn't mean much. Even with the education I got out of school, I didn't feel like going out to fight monsters for a living now. That's what the hero is for, isn't he? Why should I become super OP and bring myself possible trouble? Couldn't I become a happy wife with kids alongside Magnus and live happily? What had changed in me? I didn't understand. 

I tried to find my original me but needed help finding it. Whenever I dug out the past of this original soul, the memories seemed to fade. I wasn't the same one who started off the series. I mean, just hear me speak now. I want to bear someone's babies and live out as a simple wife when I had such massive power. It was clear that throughout the years, this new body's drive ate up the original loser me. Whatever it was, it sure made me change. My perspective on things had switched so drastically that I couldn't grasp it at first. 

So I made up my mind. I would surrender my lost desire to become super powerful to pursue my dream as Magnus's wife. And that would be enough to make me happy in this world. A simple life with him would calm my spirits and fulfill me. That was at least until they appeared. 

{Ominous enemy silhouettes surrounded by a red glow and a dark aura}