Aisha's Dream 2

Ah, it's you again! Weird god!

"What do you mean, 'weird god'? The direction I pointed you in before wasn't wrong, was it?"

Hmph! That was just because I was lucky!

"What an unlovable child."

I am not! My brother always says I'm cute!

"All right, all right. Next, I'll give you another hint."

Will it help my brother?

"To a certain extent, yes."

That sounds suspicious...

"Oh, come on, you're still doubting a god? I'm so hurt."

Fine, hurry up and say it!

"Hmm... Tomorrow, steal a little of the money your brother has hidden under the bed, buy some food from a stall, and then walk into an alley."

No! My brother won't let me go outside, and your suggestion is dangerous!

"Just trust a god this once. I guarantee it in the name of god."

I don't—

When I opened my eyes, my brother and Eris had already gone out on a job.

"What the heck..."

I got up, ate the breakfast my brother had left in the room, and then started reading the book he had bought me...

My brother had said before that we'd probably only stay in this city for two months, but now it had already been almost four...

Had he run into some kind of difficulty? But even if I asked, my brother and Eris definitely wouldn't tell me...

Will it help my brother?

This was the first time I had sneaked out of the inn.

How should I put it? There were way too many races around, and they all looked vicious... No wonder my brother wouldn't let me go out.

Holding a silver coin, I bought some food from a little stall and walked into the alley that Human-God had mentioned.

The alley was strangely quiet. Usually, when someone talked about an alley, it made you imagine a few thugs gathered together in groups.

In fact, if a pure, cute, innocent little girl like me walked there, she'd immediately be targeted by human traffickers, right?

If anyone tried to kidnap me, I'd use magic to cut off both his arms and legs, ask him where he lived, then loot every valuable thing he had before handing him over to the guards! Mm!

"So dirty..."

Looked like I'd have to wash my clothes myself when I got back, or if my brother found out I'd sneaked out, I was finished.

I could use those drying spells my brother used now too, so it should be fine, right?

"So hungry... I am going to starve flat... Food... food..."

After hearing that voice, I saw a girl about my age reaching her hand out to me.

Suddenly, her stomach let out a rumbling growl, and then she fell straight down.

"Ah! Are you okay?"

I crouched down on reflex and caught the girl as she was about to hit the ground.

"Ugh... whimper, whimper... To think that three hundred years after my resurrection, I would collapse like this... This matter must not be allowed to reach Laplace's ears..."

Was she delirious?

"A-anyway, eat these first and recover a little, okay?"

The moment I finished speaking, the little girl snatched all the food out of my hands.

She stuffed the skewers straight into her mouth. There had originally been twelve skewers, and she ate three in one bite, finishing the meal in two minutes.

"Thank you, thank you! Now I can hold out for another year!"

At that moment, she lifted her head and looked into my eyes, and I looked back. Her eyes were mismatched, one purple and one black... kind of strange.

In any case, I turned around, intending to shake off this weirdo and go back to buy more skewers.

"O you who rescued me, state your name!"

"Uh... Aisha Greyrat..."

"Very good! I am Kishirika Kishirisu! Known as the Demon! World! Great! Emperor!"

I'd never heard that title or name before... Huh? I think she appeared in the bedtime stories Mom told me? So was she imitating that person now?

"My mom said the Demon World Great Emperor was a beauty. You look like a child, and a scantily dressed child at that."

"Young people these days truly have no manners. However, in consideration of the fact that you saved my life, say whatever reward you desire!"

Could she be the encounter the Human-God said would help my brother?

Hmm... Could she really grant wishes?

"I... I want money! Lots of money!"

"As you can see, I am penniless."

"Uh... Then can you help my brother, Rudeus Greyrat?"

"I cannot! For some reason, merely hearing that name fills me with loathing!"

"Then... do you know where my mothers, Lilia Greyrat and Zenith Greyrat, are?"

"That is more like it!"

After that, I saw the color of her eyes shift with abnormal speed, and the way she looked into my eyes was as if she were gazing at some distant place.

Several dozen seconds passed.

"Oh dear... Why can I not see them...?"

She stared wide-eyed in a fluster. By now, I had completely labeled her a fraud.

I sighed and said, "Money is no good, helping my brother is no good, finding my mothers is no good—then what can you bestow upon me?"

"You big fool! When speaking of gifts bestowed by the Demon World Great Emperor Kishirika, of course it must be a magic eye!"

"What is that?"

"Come, bring your face closer."

"Oh..."

"Close your eyes."

Kishirika suddenly jabbed her finger into my right eye, and intense pain spread through my entire body.

"Aaaaaaaaaaah!"

Instinctively, I tried to flee backward, but Kishirika grabbed my hair, and I could not get away.

She was unexpectedly strong.

It hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt!

"What are you doing?! Even if you're a child about the same age as me, I won't let you off now! May the great Blessing of Flame descend upon the place you seek! Fierce and raging flames, burn away the great bounty! Great Fireball!"

"Ohhh! You can use intermediate magic when you're only a few years old?"

Kishirika reached out and grabbed forward, and my magic suddenly dissipated.

What... was that...?

"All right! Do not be angry. What I gave you is the Magic Absorption Eye. It can absorb mana and cut through magic. It is the bane of mages. From now on, infuse mana into it and practice well. Also, when you are not using it, your magic eye will not show."

"What... what do you mean?"

"All right, all right. It is about time for me to leave. I must go find Badigadi. Thank you for the meal."

After Kishirika said that, she sprang onto the roof with a thud.

"Well then, Aisha, until we meet again! If you have trouble, come to me! Wahahahaha! Wa-hahahaha, wa—hahaah aah ka-cough cough cough..."

She left only her laughter behind as she strode off into the distance, while I simply stood there in a daze and listened.

Huh...? She really was the Demon World Great Emperor?

And that was how I obtained the [Magic Absorption Eye].