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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Elf Teaches the Heavenly Death Star
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A week had already passed since Enoch came to Rionne's house.
Enoch quickly adapted to the changed environment.
These days, he even followed Rionne around like a shadow, and the elf was overjoyed at the sight.
"Undine! Look at this! Isn't he just too cute?"
[Hmph! What's cute about that foul-tempered little brat?]
Crackle!
Sparks flew from Enoch's eyes as they met Undine's.
Grrr—just as Enoch bared his teeth,
"Hey now."
Rionne tapped Enoch on the head.
Enoch meekly accepted the touch, as if he had no idea what was going on.
[Th-that little...! Already picking up nothing but bad habits!]
Ignoring the grumbling Undine, Rionne straightened her back.
Now that Enoch had adapted to the environment to some extent, it was time to start his education.
"Alright, Enoch. From today, we're starting your studies."
"Studies?"
"Yes, studies. They're essential if you want to blend into the world properly."
Rionne stroked the head of the child who was staring blankly at her.
"Sometimes you suddenly get really angry, right?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Like when electricity starts sparking from your body."
"Uh-huh."
"If you can't control that properly, it'll be a huge problem."
Whoosh! Rionne spread her arms wide to startle the child.
But Enoch just stared at her calmly.
[Idiot.]
"Ahem. Anyway, just know that we have to start studying from now on."
"Okay!"
Enoch had no particular thoughts on the matter.
Rionne was a good person.
Everything she did was good.
Rionne smiled warmly as she looked at Enoch.
'First... I should start by helping him form his Dantian, right?'
There was only one way to overcome the curse of the Heavenly Death Star.
To conquer it himself.
And to make that possible, Enoch had no choice but to surpass the limits of humanity on his own.
"Alright, Enoch. What did I say the Heavenly Death Star was yesterday?"
Enoch pondered Rionne's question for a moment before answering.
"Something bad?"
"That's right! It's like those nasty little dwarves."
The Heavenly Death Star, which thrives on chaos, blesses only humans.
That blessing grants humans talents beyond their worth, but in exchange, it lurks, waiting to erode their reason and trigger a great massacre.
According to ancient records that even Rionne hadn't witnessed, it once nearly wiped out all life on the continent.
But conversely, there were those who overcame the curse and reached transcendent realms.
It was thanks to him that humans of this era held significant territory on the continent.
'Hmm...'
Rionne frowned deeply as his face came to mind.
"Rionne?"
"Yes?"
"Does it hurt?"
"Hee hee, it's nothing."
Rionne ruffled Enoch's hair wildly and declared,
"Then let's get started?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Rionne sat Enoch down in the yard and stood behind him.
What she would teach him was the foundational heart method of the Estor family.
Even if it was foundational, it was naturally a top secret that shouldn't be shared with outsiders, but...
'Who cares.'
Rionne snorted and spoke to the child in a gentle voice.
"Alright, can you follow along properly?"
"Yes."
After giving some explanation, Rionne placed her hand on Enoch's back.
A considerable amount of mana was already scattered chaotically inside the child's body.
It was true that he was using mana even now, but its stability was lacking.
Rionne recited the incantation softly, as if telling an old fairy tale.
"Flowing mana is like water, so become a great tree yourself and bloom flowers. Root yourself in the soil rich with nutrients..."
As she repeated the incantation and guided the child's mana several times, at some point, the child began to lead the mana on his own.
"Hee hee."
Rionne smiled in satisfaction at the sight.
It was only natural for the Heavenly Death Star, but Enoch was exceptionally talented.
Even though they'd only met a week ago, Rionne felt as proud of him as if he were her own child.
"That's it. Now gather the mana below your navel, in your Dantian."
Enoch complied with Rionne's words.
He seized the mana by the scruff and confined it to his Dantian, then drew out a strand from there and slowly circulated it along the path Rionne had taught him.
'Huh?'
Then, at one point, lightning dwelled within the mana.
Rumble!
The mana, now circulating much faster, urged Enoch on.
That he could go further.
To advance to even higher places like this.
Enoch smacked the mana to quiet it and glanced at Rionne.
Rionne was smiling contentedly without a word.
'Okay.'
It must be fine.
Enoch immediately released the reins on the mana.
Boom!
Like a lightning bolt shooting upside down, the mana surged from the Dantian toward the heart.
Rionne was startled, her heart nearly stopping.
"E-Enoch...!"
The Middle Dantian was still too soon.
If a child who had just formed his Dantian tried to open the Middle Dantian, his body could explode.
"Undine...! Hurry!"
The elf called for her friend's help.
Undine didn't like Enoch at all, but she didn't want him to explode and die either, so she rushed over.
[You idiot! No idea of your own limits!]
Undine summoned water with her Divine Power.
Water infused with healing power enveloped Enoch, and Rionne sweated profusely as she tried to soothe the mana.
"Enoch! You can't push yourself too hard!"
Rionne could have forcibly stopped the child's mana, but that risked causing irreversible injury.
Here, Enoch had to control the mana himself.
'Oh...'
Enoch realized something was wrong.
Honestly, it seemed like no big deal, but if this continued, Rionne might get angry.
In his panic, Enoch struck the mana hard.
If it didn't listen, he'd be the one Rionne hated.
Groar!
But the mana, gaining momentum, ignored Enoch's command.
The whirlwind of lightning from Enoch's Dantian finally shot toward the sky,
Flash─────!!
And it broke through the path from Dantian to heart.
'Oh no...'
Enoch broke out in cold sweat.
Everything was over, and he could open his eyes, but if he did now, Rionne would scold him.
The child squeezed his eyes shut and desperately pretended not to know.
But who was Rionne?
The highly capable elf quickly noticed Enoch's condition.
"Haa... I really thought we were in big trouble."
It was unprecedented.
He hadn't undergone complete transformation due to lack of enlightenment yet, but for such a young child to open the Middle Dantian—no one would believe it, not even as a joke.
As if he were some dragon.
After calming her startled heart, Rionne flicked Enoch's forehead.
"Ow..."
The surprised Enoch's eyes snapped open.
His eyes shook wildly, as if there had been an earthquake.
Instead of saying anything, Rionne pulled Enoch into a tight hug.
"Don't rush ahead like that next time, okay? I was worried."
"Okay..."
[Rionne, you idiot! You should scold him, not comfort him!]
Zap! Enoch's sharp gaze turned toward Undine.
[What! What're you gonna do about it, glaring like that!]
Undine growled back.
"Undine, how could you say that to a child? Are you the child here?"
[Wh-what!? Hey! How dare you talk to me like that!]
Undine flew off, scattering tears of betrayal.
Rionne sighed.
She'd be back in about five minutes anyway.
"Alright, Enoch. You worked hard today, so how about some tasty food?"
"Yes!"
"Hee hee, let's go inside."
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[Rionne, you're too soft on that kid! It's gonna be a problem! Look! He's glaring again!]
Undine, who had returned just as they were setting the table, pointed accusingly at Enoch.
"Huh?"
Enoch quickly made his eyes look innocent the moment Rionne turned.
His round, wide eyes looked utterly pure to anyone.
[Aaaah! Goosebumps!]
Ignoring the fussing Undine, Enoch and Rionne finished their meal.
It was lunchtime now.
Instead of going to the yard, Rionne sat Enoch in the study.
"Enoch, do you know how to read?"
"Uh-uh..."
Shake, shake. Enoch's head wagged side to side.
It was only natural, so Rionne smiled brightly.
"Then shall we start with learning to read?"
Rionne laid out the books she had secretly bought from a nearby city last night while wearing a hood.
Most were children's picture books.
"Alright, this one reads 'apple.' You know what an apple is, right?"
"Yes..."
Rionne pointed alternately at the picture and the word.
Enoch nodded.
Or rather,
"Oh? Hee hee, you must be tired, huh?"
It wasn't a nod—he was nodding off, dozing.
They hit a snag at the first word, but Rionne didn't mind.
"Of course you'd be tired. Shall we take a nap?"
"...Yes."
Enoch stretched out his arms.
Rionne familiarly picked up the child and headed to the bed.
"We'll study again after you wake up?"
Snore...
Enoch hated studying.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Rionne took special measures.
After Enoch woke from his nap, she held him in her arms, sat on the bed, and opened the picture book.
"Alright, Enoch. What's this?"
"...Apple."
"And this?"
"...Rabbit."
Enoch was smart.
He seemed to hate studying letters, but once taught, he memorized them quickly and made them his own.
Rionne's resolve weakened at the sight of Enoch's pouting lips, and she closed the book.
"Shall we stop here for today?"
"Yes!"
Ten words.
That was plenty.
With 150 years left, they could take it slow.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next day.
Rionne taught Enoch martial arts.
Rumble!
"Ah, no...!!!"