Chapter 23: The Advice From the Unknown Onee-san

Author: Sakurakiri Kohaku (桜霧琥珀)

Okay, going to start and do my staple. The cheat sheet on the top, it will eventually grow to include new characters and appearances.

Fari von D’azell . Previously Nanjou Yukiho, nicknamed Yuki by Kami. 

Is currently 10 years of age. Ruby red long wavy hair and striking gold eyes not fitting her age.

Kami-sama, or also known as Kamille. Is a girl that looks 12 but is a G.o.d. Has silver hair and red eyes.

Also Fari always uses, 私 aka female p.r.o.noun watas.h.i.+.

Father is Gilbert Von D’azell. Master warrior.

Translator: Mamuni

“Hey, don’t say such scary things, shouldn’t you just go home? You must not know what you are getting into little girl. It’s best for you to come back when you are older, okay? Because this is a serious test were you would need to fight, if you don’t know what you are doing you will get seriously injured.”

I know all of that already.

This strange Onee-san stopped me and is now talking to me in a friendly manner.

It’s a bit troublesome, but I kind of agree. . .

I would have urged a ten year old to go home if I was in her position as well. 

But I can’t go home.

“If it gets too dangerous I’ll stop midway, so I’ll be fine.

“. . .Really? I can’t stop you if you say that but. . . be careful, really do. If you got injured on your pretty face, then wouldn’t your Papa and Mama be sad?”

Isn’t she acting a bit too over friendly?

I’m going to start feeling down if she keeps pestering me to go home, it’s probably better to just s.h.i.+ft this conversation away from me.

“Um, Onee-san. Have you taken the exam before? Onee-san must be a really famous and strong person to be taking this, right?”

“Huh? That’s right. . . Yeah, this is the third year I’ve taken the exam already. I have a lot of experience, so if you have anything you can ask Onee-san. ♪ “

She said that with a proud voice. 

So, how should I put it. She’s tried to enter the school three times already?

“I got pretty good results in the midyear exam, but there were a ton of powerful people all of the sudden. A daughter of a royal knight, the only daughter of a hunter guild’s chief, a group of girls that were children of one of the best hunter party in the capital. There were so many aristocrats and high ranking people. But above all else, there was her, that incredible person!”

As the Onee-san said that she pointed towards a girl.

The girl had long silky blond hair tied in a high ponytail. I couldn’t get a full picture of her, only the side. However I could tell from here, she was understandably beautiful.

I was startled because instantly she looked over here with her blue eyes. 

“Her name is Rigurett(リグレット), I only know that about her. Although she had an overwhelming score in the midyear exam, but when I went to see the results she somehow failed. She was easily on the top of the board. I don’t really know what happened, but I saw the top examiner apologizing and feeling regretful about something.”

I see, something must have happened with the examiner.

“Her exam scores were amazing. . .but above all else, she is extremely magically gifted.”

“Really?”

I tilted my head in confusion as I looked at Rigurett. In her right hand she is holding what looks to be a rifle. On the bottom of the rifle’s barrel, she has a short sword attached to it, kind of like a bayonet. In her other hand she had another rifle identical to the first.

I don’t really know how mages fight, but that doesn’t look to be mage gear.

“ It was amazing! I was watching with everyone as she used four attribute magics! She could use, fire, earth, wind and electricity! The examiners were making a ruckus about her, to be a genius like that is a first for the hunter’s academy.”

“I-I see. . .”

They were all up in arms about 4 attributes. It’s for the best that I keep my ability to handle 8 attributes a secret.

I was going to keep it a secret from the very beginning, but this is just a wake up call. I need to be more cautious about it.

“- – -We will begin our distribution of tickets for applicants! Applicants must line up in an orderly fas.h.i.+on to receive their number!”

A loud voice suddenly echoed through the air. There was an adult woman, who seemed to be the examiner, lining up people and entering the training area.

“It looks like the exam will begin soon. I need to get going, so do your best! And don’t overdo it!”

She said that, then rushed to receive her number.

Chapter 24: The Last Two

I nervously walked towards the group of people gathering to take their numbers.

Although I really shouldn’t be nervous.

My body is well trained, thanks to my Papa. Even if I’m not 16 I should still not be in too much trouble.

But that would make me stand out. 

A 10 year old girl who could overtake an older woman would definitely cause a stir in the examiners, making sure I’d get good results.

However that would ruin my plan. . . It seems inevitable though.

I have to wait before I push myself into the moving crowd. I’ll just be the “little girl who will cause trouble because she can’t keep up with everybody.” 

However then I noticed a woman standing next to me.

She was a beautiful girl with blond hair and blue eyes. It was the girl called Rigurett. She still had those bizarre weapons in her hands.

“. . .What are you doing here?”

She immediately confronted me, stopping me on the spot.

I understand though. A 10 year old girl shouldn’t be taking the hunter exam, but. . .

“Umm, I’m taking the hunter’s exam!”

“I understand that. I’m asking why are you here?”

“. . .Oh, that’s right. I’m just naturally curious about wanting to take the exam.”

The gears started turning in my head as I tried to remember how to act.

For now I’ll create the story that I’m “ Simply a pure child who always admired their hunter Papa, and secretly came to take the test.”

Fufu, This should be a perfect performance.

I gave a fake, but polite innocent smile. It’s something you learn when you are born into a n.o.ble family.

However it didn’t go according to plan. Rigurett seemed to have saw right through my lie as she just looked at me plainly.

“Listen, I’m not looking to ask why you are here because of your age. If you are a child, I’m also only 14 years old. So I’m not in a strong position to be lecturing you about that age. . .What I’m actually wondering is why a D’azell daughter here.”

Right when she hit me with those unexpected words, I completely forgot about my innocent naive child smiled, as it turned into a serious and cautious look.

I’m already starting to regret how I reacted, but it’s too late already. I already messed up my act, so it’s meaningless to continue the charade. 

“. . .Why am I a D’azell?”

“The ruby colored wavy hair makes it obvious that you are from a prestigious family. And I know about your family, so I can tell you are a D’azell from the signature hair and eyes.”

I totally overlooked that.

The D’azell family has had bright ruby red hair and sharp golden eyes for generations.

So anybody who has a connection to the aristocratic society would immediately recognize the connection.

“Is Rigurett-san a n.o.ble?”

“Well yes, that is the case. . .Wait a second. Why do you know my name?”

Once she heard that, she held her bayonet weapon in an armed position.

“Awawa! No that! I-I just heard rumors that there was an amazing person at the mid year examination. . . Somebody so amazing they could use 4 attributes in magic! You must be amazing!”

I tried to s.h.i.+ft the focus of our conversation.

“Well, naturally I am gifted. However, before that. Answer the first question. Why is a daughter of the D’azell viscount family here?”

Oh, it was no good.

Apparently Rigurett-san is smarter than what her age would a.s.sume. She doesn’t simply get side tracked, and stays on the main subject.

“- – -Oi! You two! Are you guys candidates or not?! If not then leave!”

A sudden female examiner’s voice rang into the air. Most of the candidates already received their numbers.

It was only me and Rigurett-san standing here.

“W-Well look at that Rigurett-san! Let’s go get our numbers!”

“Hey, wait a second!?”

I pushed Rigurett-san forcibly by her back towards the examiners. By doing this I could end this awkward talk and we could move on.

Chapter 25: The Test Begins

I received a ticket from the examiner with the number 308 on it. It was the last one given out.

Rigurett-san received number 307.

The test will start from the lowest number up.

So everybody would have finished by the time Rigurett and I start.

The first exam is the physical ability test. However it’s not what it sounds like, it isn’t dependent on how you move your body.

An examiner is a teacher at the Hunter’s Academy, so they are a first grade active hunters. They are the ones doing the checking. There are some who are really good with martial arts, and some who are skilled in magic.

Also, there are some who are familiar with non-attribute magic.

And they are searching the candidates for those potentials. That is all played into their physical results.

Why I’m saying this is that. . .The examiner Onee-san is checking the candidates physical status with the “search” magic.

If their status is too low, they will fail the examination.

Hopefully I’m not bothered by the examiner.

. . .Wait, will my magic capability and resistance leak!?

I was super tense because of my anxiety. I nervously walked to the line of people waiting to be searched. Rigurett-san was standing in front of me as she glanced behind her to look at me with a face full of concern.

Aaaah! The two examiner’s are coming over here soon. 

I could feel my anxiety overflowing.

I don’t like this. I don’t like being in trouble.

Just calm down, relax. I’ll pa.s.s this without any problems, I’ll pa.s.s normally!

“You.”

“Ahh. Yes?!”

Rigurett-san brought me out of my trance with here sudden voice. I nervously looked at her.

“Um, You.”

“Hii! Did I do something strange!?”

“You are doing a lot of strange things. . . but that’s not what I’m asking about. I can’t call you “you” or “girl” forever. Can you tell me your name?”

She is asking for me name. . . I ended up smiling.

Is that it?

Is this the friend event?!

I may be able to become friends and get along with Rigurett-san!

I smiled and answered her.

“Okay! My name is Fari!”

“Okay. Fari von D’azell. I’ll remember that.”

“Oh, Umm please, it’s just Fari.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t say anything.”

Her a.s.suring me she won’t say anything really takes a weight off my shoulder.

I think my dodgy att.i.tude to her question just made her more suspicious, but she was still worried about me.

Rigurett-san is surely a good person. Only a kind girl would do that.

“. . .Ufufu.”

“What’s wrong Fari? Can you not raise a gross voice behind me?”

“Ok-ay♪”

I feel like we are already friends.

This is fun.

“Next is 306!”

The voice of the examiner brought me back to reality.

Oh that’s right. I was in danger of being searched.

h.e.l.lo. I wasn’t really sure about whether or not to do 2 or 3 chapters, but I just decided to do 3 because it was still setting up the test. Also I wasn’t sure how to translate Rigurett(リグレット). It could be translate as Regret, and I think that’s what the author had in mind with the name. However for English speakers, that’s a weird name. So I tried out just Rigurett. It’s the same thing with Fari, and her actual translated name being Fairy, but that’s a weird name in English, so I changed it. I also hope I got Rigurett’s description right. If not I might retcon this chapter.

Also , Rigurett uses 貴女 when she is saying “You.” to Fari. It’s a way of saying “You” while also saying “Lady” or “n.o.blewoman.” It may seem rude in English, but I didn’t know how to translate that j.a.panese meaning well. I am so happy that they are on a name basis now, also Fari got a friend! It’s also the same when people call Fari “Little girl.” they use お嬢ちゃん which I just have a hard time thinking of a way to translate that. It’s not a demeaning way of saying it, so don’t think they are looking down on her. They are just saying “Young girl.”, but with a -Chan so you know they thinking she cute.