SHC55_C55_CHAPTER 55 Something Like a Straw Millionaire

Chapter 55: Something Like a Straw Millionaire

A thick, dark emotion swelled in my chest.

It wasn’t something as simple as "I can't forgive them"—it was deeper, heavier.

I bit my lip hard, trying to hold back the storm inside me, when suddenly something firm was pressed against my chest.

Startled, I looked up and saw Kanade’s serious eyes staring back at me.

“You don’t look so good. You’re probably just hungry. Let’s roast some sweet potatoes.”

“Sweet potatoes…?”

What he’d handed me was, in fact, a plump sweet potato. I took it, and Kanade wiped under his nose with his finger in that classic boyish gesture.

“I kinda got lost partway through what you were saying, but… I could tell you were mad for my sake. Thanks.”

“I’m sorry, Kanade. I shouldn't have said such harsh things about your parents.”

“It’s fine. I mean, yeah, I didn’t clean up my stuff, so that’s on me. But Tsumugu was wrong too. That’s all there is to it.”

He said it casually, brushing away the heavy mood with a big grin. Then he turned to his grandpa, Genzo, who’d been holding his breath the whole time.

“Gramps! Let’s roast the potatoes already! I’m starving!”

“O-oh, sure! Kanade, start gathering some leaves. And you folks—would you like some roasted sweet potatoes too?”

“Yes, thank you. We’d be delighted.”

“Count me in. And of course Lara, right?”

“I’d be honored.”

The elf trio, who had been surprisingly quiet until now, brightened up at the mention of food and joined in excitedly.

Then I felt a tug on my blouse. Looking down, I saw Regulus with his eyebrows furrowed, looking a little unsure.

“What is it?”

“Niini, what does ‘mukatsuku’ mean?”

“It’s kind of like... ‘feeling annoyed’ or ‘a little mad.’”

“Do you feel ‘mukatsuku’ at Re~?”

“Of course not. Regulus is the cutest thing ever.”

I buried my face into his soft, fluffy golden hair—it smelled like sunshine.

As I inhaled that warm, comforting scent, the murky feelings in my chest started to settle. I gave Regulus a tight hug in return, allowing his warmth to ground me.

“I think those roasted sweet potatoes are going to be really good.”

“Niini, what’s a roasted sweet potato?”

“It’s when you cook a sweet potato in a campfire’s embers. It gets all sweet and soft and yummy.”

But that method takes a while. Kanade didn’t seem like he’d have the patience. I wondered what he’d do.

Soon enough, he and the elves built a mountain of dry leaves and sticks.

To shift the mood, I took Regulus’s hand and walked over with him to the pile.

Campfires always made me think of a certain song. It was originally a French folk tune—“Au Clair de la Lune” or something like that—but here, we usually sing it as “Moeyo Moeyo” at campfires.

I found myself humming it softly.

And then—BOOM!

A burst of fire exploded from the pile of dry leaves.

“Whaaat?! What just happened?!”

“Whoa! That was awesome!”

“Wow! So cool!”

While I stood frozen in surprise, someone gently touched my shoulder.

It was Romanov-sensei, wearing a troubled expression.

Before I could ask, Lara’s voice rang out sharply.

“Manmaru-chan, if you’re going to use magic, could you please say something first?”

“Huh? What?”

Her expression shifted to confusion.

Victor pointed at the bonfire. “That wasn’t you using magic?”

“Me!? No way—I only just finished learning how to build magical nerve pathways!”

“But I saw a clear burst of magical energy come from you…”

“Magical energy burst?”

Even I didn’t know what that was, and Regulus and Kanade looked just as lost.

Victor explained that when someone uses magic, there's a trace—called “magical energy release”—and it had come from me.

“But I just sang a little song…”

I puffed out my cheeks, a little annoyed. Then Romanov-sensei’s eyes suddenly widened.

“Agetha, when you were singing, were you imagining a bonfire in front of you?”

“Uh… not exactly? But I guess the song does give off that kind of image…”

“Ah, well, there you go.”

“Yep. That explains it.”

Victor and Lara both nodded, and Romanov-sensei rubbed his temples like he had a headache.

Oh no. Did I mess something up?

The elf trio huddled together, whispering among themselves. Then Romanov-sensei grabbed my shoulder, this time firmly.

“Starting tomorrow, we’re going to begin proper magic lessons.”

“Okay…”

“Your singing seems to have the same effect as a magic chant. If you don’t learn to control it, all sorts of unintended things could happen. You understand the risk, right?”

“Yes…!”

Unintentional magic is seriously dangerous.

No one had been close to the fire, but if they had… it could’ve ended really badly.

I nodded quickly, and everyone else—Romanov-sensei, Victor, and Lara—nodded too.

Just then, I felt someone poking my back.

It was Regulus and Kanade, eyes sparkling.

“Hey hey, was that magic just now!?”

“Apparently, yeah.”

“Can I do that too!?”

“If you train your magic nerves… probably!”

“Re~ wants to try! Re~ wants magic too!”

The two of them bounced around in excitement.

Wait… maybe this is a golden opportunity?

If Kanade gets into learning magic, he might start enjoying studying other things too. Maybe it could even inspire others to see how important education is.

All right. Let’s go for it.

But… I don’t know how to teach magic.

While I was wondering what to do, Regulus toddled off to the tool shed and came back with a stick.

“Niini, you forgot this.”

“Oh! Great memory, Regulus. Thanks!”

It was the primordial flute entrusted to me by the Princess.

When Victor saw it, his face lit up like a kid on Christmas. Right—he’s a magical appraiser. He must’ve instantly realized what the flute was.

“Aatan… is that…?!”

“It’s a gift for you from the Princess.”

“She gave this to me…!?”

Victor fell to one knee, lifting the flute reverently above his head. Everyone watched, stunned.

Then he started crying—ugly crying—with his beautiful face all scrunched up, hugging me tight.

“BUHUUU! I’LL STAY WIF AAATAN FOREVERRR!”

“Uh… I have no idea what you’re saying.”

“I’LL HELP YOU REBUILD YOUR DYNASTYYY!”

Okay, so he’s going to help. That much I got.

He is one of the world’s top mages, after all. Sounds like the perfect teacher for Regulus and Kanade.

Romanov-sensei just sighed and shrugged, while Lara was trying hard not to laugh—her shoulders were shaking.

I’m not exactly sure what just happened…

…but I guess I just gained two little students and a world-class magic teacher.

Lucky me?

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Eunie: Thanks fore reading!!

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