It is known in this world that ghosts exist both as urban legends and as actual entities.
Though I don’t know the exact reason why genuine ghosts come to be, it’s said they occur when a powerful being, in their final days, brands its very existence into the world with immense will.
And often, by wringing out their very last strength, they produce in an instant the kind of magical power that would normally be generated over the course of a normal life, which is why they tend to become so potent.
At first, I thought it was all just tall tales.
But when you hear “true stories,” complete with evidence, like the farmer’s daughter, who wasn’t a mage or anything but cursed the entire family of the man who trifled with her, or the powerless daughter of a noble family who, having lost a power struggle and died in despair, cursed an entire castle so no one could live in it, you can’t really scoff at them as mere tales anymore. At least, I had stopped doing so…
Until one actually appeared before my eyes.
A chilling wind swirled as she materialized, and in that instant, every source of warmth screamed. The warm air of early summer trembled with cold, and even inorganic objects, which shouldn’t have frozen, did so. Frost descended even upon the master’s “barrier of concept,” a strange, incomprehensible construct that defied all logic and reason.
She was death, clearly embodied in the shape of a woman.
There was no denying that she was—multifariously—gorgeous, causing one to tremble in awe. Her features were soft yet distinctly feminine, and her large, slightly downturned eyes sparkled with kindness. She had a clear but not overly large nose and luscious lips, all arranged with exquisite balance. Her opulent blonde hair framed her face, adorned regally with jewels worthy of nobility.
From her appearance, I judged her to be in her late teens or early twenties. A loose gown concealed her figure, but judging from her posture, if she had been alive, the men of this world wouldn’t have been able to look away.
That is, if it weren’t for this overwhelming power that made my legs turn to jelly beneath me, and that immense magical presence that shook me to my core.
My sympathy went to the auditors who had failed to properly deploy their barriers and the latecomer officials who had wet themselves in terror.
But the reason I still kept my sanity was solely due to Eliza. At first, she was dazed by the suddenness of it all, but when the cold of the barrier’s erosion reached her, she seemed to fully grasp the situation and burst into tears.
As her elder brother, I embraced her and tried my best to console her. The master had said it: if we provoked this girl, whose magical energy had just awakened, we’d risk a magical explosion with dire consequences. Thus, whatever else happened, my first duty was to protect Eliza. No matter how frightened or cold I might be, I had to shield her with everything I had.
I pressed my face tightly against hers to block out the cold, using my body as a barrier against the freezing air. It was extremely tough to stand there in my summer clothes against winter-chill, but what on earth had prompted this person, the head of an influential faction, to snap so thoroughly and cause such chaos—something completely inappropriate for someone of her station?
“Dear me, such turbulence… What could possibly be the matter? Is there some wondrous event in store?”
Not now! I’ve spent the last three months meticulously banking my skills—though I haven’t entirely rid myself of bad habits—and carefully considering how to use them for my advantage! All I’ve been able to manage so far is expanding my physical barrier from an ‘invisible hand’ into a ‘giant’s palm!’
Sure, there was that previous session where I mocked an overwhelmingly superior power, either forcing a huge concession out of them or causing their total explosion, after which I laughed until I cried. But I can’t afford to break now without any backup!
“How many times have you sent back replies that ignore the content of my letters?”
A beauty completely losing her cool, with such delicate features, remains terrifying. Her seemingly kind appearance enhanced by her tears only made her even scarier, like a yaka demon.
I was on the verge of tears again myself. Battling a character that felt as advanced as an upper-tier guidebook’s high-level enemy soon after a soft-reset—by my own standards—was truly exhausting. At minimum, I could really use about four more resets so I could properly prepare to fight back.
We stared at each other silently for a moment. As time passed and I began considering using my abilities to erect some type of barrier, the cold began to ease unexpectedly. It didn’t just ease—it vanished in an instant, as if the scene had changed. The pleasant early summer climate from moments ago returned without a trace, the frozen furniture regaining its original form, and the frost clinging to the shield evaporated as if it had never been.
All that was left was the unbearable itch one feels when returning to a normal temperature after being thoroughly chilled.
When the accompanying effects of the phenomena vanish—it appears that what she used was magic. Though magic lacks the fuel efficiency of sorcery, comparable to the difference between a kei car and a sports car, to create a phenomenon akin to a natural calamity in one breath through magic? That’s some monster. How much skill does one need to solo against this?
“…My apologies, young ones. I was simply carried away by this fool’s antics. I’m sorry for startling you.”
At last, the deceased spirit seemed to notice our presence. She silently glided past the master, crouching down to meet our gaze. Then, with her bizarrely warm semi-transparent body, she embraced me, cradling Eliza and myself. It was then that I realized her chest, which buried my face, was likely quite full and soft upon touch.
Eh? What? Touchable? And why is it warm, even soft!?
“Hehe, you’re rather harsh with your words, my dear.”
“You should remain silent.”
Amidst the chaos of countless thoughts and analyses swirling in my mind, they were all drowned out by the loud calls of “BOOBS! BOOBS!” My brain completely glitched as the ghostly beauty picked me up and declared, “Let’s have some tea,” …
…
A few minutes later, we found ourselves ushered into an unknown room within the Magic Academy.
Surrounded by realistic and tasteful paintings and furniture, we were seated on a plush sofa stuffed with quality stuffing, alongside a matching table adorned with unnecessarily intricate carvings. It was clearly a VIP room meant for entertaining distinguished guests.
Being placed in such a setting, we, mere commoners from the countryside, couldn’t help but feel out of place.
But even more unsettling was the fact that, for some reason, Eliza and I were seated alongside individuals whose rank within this building was undoubtedly within the top five. How on earth could we remain calm?
The reason we were moved here was obvious. If we had stayed in that hall where we caused such a commotion, the reception staff, who had been glaring at us with the look of demons, surely would have snapped.
Their faces plainly expressed that they would kill anyone hindering their job, whether they held a title or were a professor.
But why was she, who should be our host, caressing Eliza’s head as she sat on her knee while also embracing me by the shoulder, pressing my face against her chest?
And master, you’re supposed to be my employer and Eliza’s mentor. Stop smirking and do something! Drinking tea and saying, “oh, this is delicious,” won’t cut it.
“Explain yourself.”
“Now, what exactly am I supposed to explain?”
The master, as if to imply, “I haven’t done anything wrong.” Given the extent of everyone’s anger, there must be some reason. Just what have you gotten us into? Could you also refrain from pouring more fuel onto the fire?
The reason for the three-month return journey, a faint voice muttered, caused Eliza, who had been perched on someone’s knee, to flinch. Her grip on me tightened, and though she tried to stay quiet, it was clear she hadn’t forgotten the scene from before.
“Dear me, for a professor to not calculate a proper travel schedule…”
This woman, whose casual attitude in daily affairs had led me to question whether she was truly a noble lady, was without a doubt a noble. No merchant, however corrupt, would be so shameless in their mockery. And yet, it was true that carefully selecting inns during travel was, in fact, a terrible move.
Still, aside from some odd detours, the journey through inclement weather was reasonable and didn’t warrant a three-month trip that would provoke such rage…
Ah, wait, right. This person had been using space-travel magic for frivolous things. Although details remain locked away for now, if they were able to drag me back from that manor and allow our carriage to proceed smoothly toward the inn, it’s clear that the range wasn’t limited to extremely short distances…
“Surely, as a researcher with proper credentials, you don’t mean to say that you forgot the properties of the dimensional displacement enchantment you once used to pass your exams?”
Of course! The lengthy carriage trip had a reason—I had suspected there was a limit to the magic’s range, but it was all a bluff! While it’s true I never asked explicitly, given how inconvenient the journey was for a travel-averse person, it had never occurred to me to question it!
Moreover, why would this individual endure such an arduous three-month journey along the roads despite disliking both outdoor activities and traveling?
“Not to mention, you registered your disciple without consulting me via letter, and even used your father’s name to expedite an early processing?”
“Oh ho ho, the paperwork for submissions can be quite cumbersome, cannot it? Therefore, I wished to file everything early and present it all properly. Here, kindly review it?”
When the master extended his hand, a certificate folder appeared out of nowhere. Covered in fabric so intricately woven it could have been used as clothing, it slid smoothly across the table toward Lord Raizenitz.
She glared at it maliciously, her willpower focused on denying it as she opened it, ready to nitpick any and every flaw she might find. While she indulged in the soft sensation against her temples—I might as well embrace it—I peeked over her shoulder at the documents.
…It was incomprehensible!
Though my proficiency in imperial reading had reached “court language” expertise, I still struggled with it. The euphemistic expressions, poetic phrasing, historical references, and customs were overwhelming. The dozens of family names and lineages cited, referencing the Old Testament almost mockingly, were all crammed into the text until my brain died out trying to make sense of it all.
Ah… administrative secretaries must have one hell of a job, I thought as the folder was abruptly closed. It appeared the master, intelligent enough to lead a faction for over two hundred years and skilled in document scrutiny, could not find a single issue with any of the paperwork.
I see… so that’s why the carriage journey was used for time-buying to prepare this document.
“Didn’t you once say—on a certain occasion. Ah, yes, twenty-one years ago in summer. That was such a scorching day I distinctly recall how hard it was to step outside?”
Thick, sticky sarcasm flowed, leaving those of us trapped between the two terrifying women squirming in discomfort. Despite the venomous comments seeping into our brains—seriously, how does this person process thoughts?—it was fortunate that Lady Raizenitz did not emit another cold field at such close proximity. If she had, my sister and I would have suffered from frostbite together.
“You did say, didn’t you? That you would return as long as you took responsibility for a proper apprentice and returned to the workshop for their education?”
“Oooh, didn’t the person in charge of this faction say…?” The master continued their shameless instigation, fanning the folds of ridicule. I pleaded silently: Stop it, already, what do you want from us? In my current mental state, if you told me to murder someone in exchange for stopping this, I’d agree without hesitation.
“Wh… who is this child!?”
A strained voice. Glancing up, I found that the gentle beauty of the ghost was now staring at me intently.
“Who is this child?! Even if I agreed to let you take on an apprentice and return to your workshop for educational purposes, this one isn’t on the paperwork! Unfair!”
Unfair… What does that even mean?
“Having two such adorable children all to yourself is unfair!! Moreover, one of them is a half-fairy!! I’ve never taken on an apprentice like her!! Recently, all I’ve gotten are obnoxious fat ones or old men who make me wonder about their ages! I can’t take it anymore!!”
Ah… so it’s like that… I gathered my various deductions while reassessing Lord Raizenitz’s character. She wasn’t just your average authority figure.
She was one of those exceedingly formidable life-adoration enthusiasts, the type whose extreme nature gets condemned in this world, yet somehow still walks in the sunlight. How is she able to do that?
It’s true that I, who had selected “motherly resemblance” and “gentle-appearing features” during my younger days, had a rather delicate and cute face. Thanks to remembering my previous face’s appearance, I’m confident in my self-assessment when looking at my reflection in the water.
Though I hadn’t reached the “mistaken for a maiden” level, I had previously thought I might appeal to those with a penchant for young children. Yet, I never anticipated my assumptions to be completely upended here.
The onset of puberty for young girls was already upon them—but why did I drift off into thoughts of my childhood friend now?—though I hadn’t quite matured fully yet physically. While I had been rejoicing at the sharpness forming in my shoulders and figure, society still saw me as “cute.”
“Give me this child!”
No way… absolutely not….
…
【Tips】 Unfortunately, the Threefold Empire of Rain does not have any youth protection regulations. Life-adoration only becomes criticized when it goes “too far,” and that’s only when it crosses the line.
Life-adoration: Being drawn to youthful life without any lewd intentions. It’s a big thumbs up.
And it seems ghosts long for life, so it’s not strange at all that they would be drawn to youthful life-force.
Thus, it’s perfectly legal. QED. As for who mentioned “icky” stuff, well, they’re absolutely right, there’s absolutely no strange noise being made.
As always, thank you for pointing out any typos and awkward phrasing; your efforts help us improve readability, which directly impacts the rankings. I will gradually revisit the early chapters to smooth out any inconsistencies and make them more digestible.
Tomorrow, Saturday, February 16th, 2019, there will be two updates scheduled at approximately 12:00 and 19:00.
