[14.1] Trouble Comes in Threes

I yawned as I walked through the library. Who knew that getting babysat would be so freeing? I can read any book I want to without any annoying adults treating me like a child.

I looked up over my book and out of the window. I could see Cyrus practicing with his sword with such a resolute look. I tilted my head, "How diligent… When I was his age I was only interested in playing games."

How traumatizing does someone's childhood have to be for them to turn into an adult at such a young age?

I shook my head, "Who cares about that? It's best to stay away from people with complicated backstories."

Especially when you get swept into another world.

Cyrus wiped the sweat from his brow and looked up to see me watching from the window. He smiled cheekily at me.

I made a face and left the window. I searched the rows of the library listlessly, completely unaware of a small girl watching me through the bookshelves. I pulled out a book and noticed a pair of brown eyes staring back at me.

"AH!" I dropped the book as I gasped in surprise, "What- who?!"

The girl on the other side blushed, "O-Oh… Terribly sorry…"

I clicked my tongue and picked up the book. I shook my head in disbelief. She almost made me faint! What is wrong with the children here?! They are all so weird!

As I walked away, I didn't notice the same freckled girl watching me silently as she hid behind a bookcase.

I sat at a table and started reading the book I had picked up from the shelf. I glanced over at the man sleeping on the table and turned up my nose in disgust. I waved my wand and a green light rushed around him, cleaning him up. I grinned in triumph and turned back to my book.

He turned his head to me, "...Mind your own business."

My eyebrow twitched, "Your stank is my business! I'm trying to read!"

He propped up his head lazily, "There are other tables you can sit at. You don't have to sit at this one with me."

I froze.

Oh sh*t. I didn't even think about that….

But I won't ever admit it!

I stuck out my tongue, "The Headmaster wants you to watch over me. I don't want to make him angry with me, so I'm going to be a good girl and sit next to you."

He rolled his eyes, "Oh I'm sure… If that's true, then why are you reading that book?"

I frowned, "What's wrong with this book?"

"Nothing if you want to read it for fun. But if you are taking it seriously, then that's a problem."

"What's wrong with learning teleportation? The Headmaster did it. If teleportation is possible, it would save me a lot of time and effort."

"That's your first problem. Teleportation is very hard to master. Trying to learn it for fun will most likely kill you. There's a reason why only a small handful of people can use this magic without using a magical circle or tool. Most people will forget to teleport with their limbs... And those are the lucky ones."

I rolled my eyes, "What makes you such an expert?"

"I'm the one who wrote that book."

I flinched and frantically flipped to the cover. Sure enough, 'Marx Gauzer' was written at the bottom in bold letters. I looked at him in disbelief, "I don't believe you. How can someone who looks like you write a book?"

"I didn't just write the book, I taught your precious Headmaster too."

I placed the book down and crossed my arms, "Prove it."

His face twitched, "Are you trying to provoke me? I'm not going to be tricked by a child."

I smirked, "If you can't do it, then you don't need to make up lies. Just admit it you can't do it. I won't make fun of you."

"I can do it."

"Mhm. Sure."

"Fine! Just watch!"

He snapped his fingers and disappeared in a sea of smoke, leaving behind only his butt print on the chair. My eyes nearly fell out of my head as he suddenly appeared back in his seat waving around a wine bottle.

I jumped up, "HOW!? How can YOU be skilled at magic!? You look and act like a bum!"

He smirked, "I'm the King of laziness, kid."

My eyes sparkled in admiration, "I have much to learn from you."

He snickered and leaned back in his seat proudly, "I will teach you all the tricks there are to using the least amount of effort possible. First lesson: always take a nap."

He laid back down and fell asleep.

My face twitched in irritation, "Oi. I don't need a lesson on how to nap."

…

*Ding ding*

I jumped up from my book and shoved my things back into my bag. I nodded to the tutor, "See you tomorrow. Don't drink too much~"

He waved me off, "Mehh."

As I ran, the librarian shouted at me. "You have to check out those books if you want to take them home!!"

I held up my middle finger, "Shut up Karen! You know I will bring it back tomorrow!"

If I don't leave quickly, that little golden-haired brat is going to bug me again.

I rushed out of the building without wasting another second.

I noticed Cyrus heading over to meet me while Caldwell fawned over him. I quickly jumped into a bush to hide, covered my mouth, and held my breath as he walked toward my hiding spot.

I waited silently until I saw him walk past. When it was safe, I stood up and brushed off the leaves from my dress.

I muttered to myself, "Why am I going to so many lengths just to avoid him? I should just send him away with magic!"

I recalled the determined look in his eyes and shivered.

It's better to hide…

I walked stealthily, taking advantage of the trees and bushes to hide behind. Every so often, I would stop and look around frantically to make sure I wasn't being followed.

"Oh look! It's the idiot!"

I flinched and spun around, "Who are you calling an idiot?!"

I looked around and quickly realized it wasn't me that the voice was talking to. I stuck my head out of the bush and looked around curiously.

I noticed a small freckled girl being pushed around between three bratty-looking girls. The one in the middle had blonde hair pulled back neatly into a bun and was clearly the main aggressor. They all looked to be around the same age as the body I was occupying.

The freckled girl looked so small and weak as she lowered her head submissively without shouting her grievances. Her scraggly thick brown hair was put into two long braids which she tried to use to hide her face as much as possible.

Ah! So those three are just ganging up on that girl there. They weren't talking to me, but to her. What a relief! I can return home~

The blonde girl suddenly grabbed the freckled girl, "You must be feeling brave for showing your face around me. I thought I told you that I never wanted to see that ugly face of yours!?"

She lowered her eyes, "I-I am sorry… I-I-I-"

The other girl mocked her, "I-I-I am such a loser whose parents didn't want me!"

I narrowed my eyes in anger.

Come on little girl! You better stand up for yourself!!

However, she lowered her head further and started trembling, "T-T-That's not-"

"What? It's not true?" The blonde girl grinned maliciously, "If that was true, why did they send you to a foreign land without a bodyguard or even a maid?"

Her lip trembled pitifully, "Y-You're wrong…"

The blonde girl crossed her arms haughtily, "Are you saying I'm wrong? Did you forget who my brother is? Did you forget who my family is??"

The freckled girl turned pale at this, "N-No…"

Another bully joined in, "You must have forgotten. Why else would you be brave enough to insult a duke's daughter?"

The freckled girl panicked, "I-I didn't mean to! I-I was just-"

The other bully pushed her to the ground, "We ought to turn you in for insulting the Duke… I wonder what the punishment is for that?"

Another laughed, "Isn't it death?"

The freckled girl panicked, "N-No! Please!!! I will do anything you want!"

I clicked my tongue.

I can't handle this melodramatic scene any longer.

I stepped out of the bush waving my wand, "Death, eh? I wonder what would happen if three little girls magically went missing?"

The three turned to me suddenly and froze.

I grinned haughtily, "One could even say a demon got them… I mean, wouldn't it be hard to tell for sure?"

The blonde girl stuttered as it was clear she wasn't used to being spoken to like this, "D-Do you know who I am!?! How dare you threaten me!!"

"I don't know who you are, nor do I care." I looked at her lazily, "But do you know who I am?"

I stepped close to her face so that our noses were inches away from touching. I grinned ominously, "I'm the one who almost blew up the entire school… I wonder what I could do to a little girl like you?"

She stumbled back in a panic, "Y-You!"

Wait... Are her ears turning red?

She suddenly shouted, "I-I won't forget this!!"

I watched as she and her goons ran away quickly. I clicked my tongue in annoyance and put my wand back into my sock.

I kind of wish they would have pushed me further… But, ah. No. I can't hurt a child when I'm an adult.

That would be socially unacceptable.