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IBP 53
It was just as I narrowed my eyes, feeling as if something had scratched my finger.
Come to think of it.
‘...Then, has Belief been speaking the language of animals this whole time? Is that why people couldn't understand him?’
But they said there were no ability users who could speak to animals?
"Now, we will have a test on what we learned today. Please fill in the blanks on the parchment provided."
Mercy handed out parchments with sentences full of holes, announcing the start of the test.
I filled in every blank densely with writing and tapped my pen down.
"Little one?"
"Mm-hmm?"
Mercy lifted the parchment I had written on with a mocking expression.
"To give up so quickly..."
"Mm-hmm? I didn't give up?"
Upon checking the parchment, she stared at me, unable to hide her utter astonishment.
"...Little one?"
"Mm-hmm, why?"
"Ha."
She looked at my writing utensils and laughed, as if she had expected this.
"Little one, I'm sorry, but this test is not open-book."
I looked around.
None of the other children had any magic tools with them.
I was the only one with all sorts of magic tools spread across my desk. There was an image magic tool and a recording magic tool on the table.
"Bringing magic tools while studying can be mistaken for cheating."
"It might be mistaken, but I could just take the test again..."
However, her eyes were already filled with prejudice.
"I suppose I should also conduct a basic academic achievement test for the little one."
And that was when it happened.
At the mention of a 'basic academic achievement test,' the children—who didn't yet know I had decoded the scriptures—began to snicker.
"Gasp, what's with her? She couldn't even write a single letter correctly! How stupid."
"She was a commoner without a tutor. My mom said commoners are a bit vulgar..."
"No, I know how to write!"
I pulled out my writing utensils from my puppy-shaped bag.
Then, I confidently wrote a character on the parchment.
[Ko]
...After writing up to this point, I looked at Mercy's glaring eyes and thought.
‘Ah, no. Maybe being misunderstood is more advantageous for me.’
I stared intently at the character ‘Ko,’ erased it, and wrote again.
[Kok Ko]
"See, this is my name!"
"U-uhahaha!"
"Is she a chicken? That's a chicken's crowing. How is that a person's name?"
"Why?"
They laughed in disbelief, wiping their eyes.
"As expected of someone from a commoner background with a half-baked blessing... I knew it."
Mercy also wore a sneer and let out a deep sigh, as if she found me pathetic.
"My goodness, little one. What on earth is happening here?"
"Mm-hmm?"
"I'm asking how someone who cannot even write their own name managed to decode the scriptures."
I gave a beaming smile and said, "I don't know."
"Pardon?"
Mercy looked flustered, perhaps thinking I would insist on my story until the end.
"Don't worry too much; you may speak honestly and truthfully."
"Umm..."
"Why you had magic tools in your pencil case..."
As Mercy openly mentioned the magic tools, the collateral branch children grew emboldened.
"Gasp, does that mean that commoner really cheated?"
"Maybe she copied something with them?"
"She doesn't even know how to write her name. Didn't she use a magic tool?"
People easily cornered me.
Because I was a commoner.
Despite the complete lack of evidence, they chattered away as if it were a given.
‘Even though Duke Ardos is behind me...!’
They were clearly acting this way because they knew Duke Ardos didn't interfere with Belief's classes.
But you know what.
‘One step back for two steps forward!’
I proudly tilted my chin up.
"That's right. Coco is a very, very bad problem child!"
And.
The person who would inevitably be encountered in the process of sending such a problem child home was...!
* * *
Belief Ardos looked at the small child before him with an absurd expression.
"Lord Belief, it seems you must send the little one out. However, since the little one is under the protection of His Grace Duke Ardos, it is impossible for me to resolve this on my own..."
"..."
"T-then, I shall take my leave."
"You're summoning me here for a brat who does nothing but cheat? Is that it?"
But...
"Hah! 'What a pain, this brat caused trouble again,' that's the face you're making, right?"
He clearly intended to scold me briefly and kick me out.
Belief's body flinched.
"That's the 'How did she know that?' face!"
...The attempt to seize the initiative had failed completely.
Coco said with a proud air.
"But, I really didn't cheat!"
"..."
Belief looked at the tiny child in disbelief.
Everyone else was flustered because they couldn't read his intentions, yet he was being read like an open book by a mere child.
"I do know how to write my name!"
[Coco Ardos]
The handwriting was somewhat crooked because she lacked strength in her hands, but...
"I just came back to see Lord Belief on purpose. I was curious!"
"..."
"I'm curious about why I can communicate with Lord Belief."
"..."
"I'm wondering if I should just stay with you for one day? And then, once exactly 24 hours have passed, you can teleport me right back to solar village?"
"..."
I couldn't be sure, but he looked surprised.
I nodded and replied, "I understand!"
One day is enough!
* * *
Mealtime.
Naptime.
And even hand-washing time!
I hovered around Belief, marking him closely.
"Wow! This looks yummy!"
"..."
"Hah, is that alcohol you have to drink alone?"
A nod.
"Then I'll wait outside!"
...When he left with a look of utter disbelief.
I felt the image sphere hanging around my neck vibrate.
With a movement of my hand, the image sphere turned on with a click.
[Sooty!]
"Ruthhh!"
[Phew, what? Sooty, you. Why are you alone? I heard rumors that you were kicked out of the village.]
"Hah, rumors travel fast, Ruth!"
[You should call me Brother Ruth.]
But I'm smarter.
I looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"Ruth! I'm playing with Lord Belief!"
[What, you didn't go to the village? Seriously. Now you've buttered up the uncle too?]
"Mm-hmm."
Ruth lowered his voice and whispered to me.
[Uncle originally dislikes people. You shouldn't cling to him too much. Come play with me.]
I blinked at Ruth's words and tapped the image sphere off.
Because Belief was approaching from afar.
"Belief! Teacher!"
"...Ah."
Belief clenched and unclenched his fist as if flustered.
In his hand, he held a small box.
‘Oh.’
Feeling my gaze, he shoved the box away haphazardly.
"..."
"You're saying not to pay attention to it?"
Today, while observing Belief, I felt many things.
Even here, in this cabin, there were villagers who came up to help Belief.
That was why, before entering to eat, he would intentionally clap his hands a few times.
And...
The way he occasionally looked down at solar village.
The way he reviewed educational materials created for the collateral branch children staying in solar village.
And even the strangely uncomfortable expression he made whenever he saw animals.
‘...I think my guess is correct.’
The direction all his actions pointed to was clear.
However.
‘But, if that's the case... is there any way I can help?’
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