Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The thing is: I'm inside a novel. But apparently that's not enough entertainment, so the author decided- a-hem, I mean... I'm inside a novel that's inside a novel.

The Knight of Blood and Iron. A novel that follows Javier Asrahan, a young knight that loses the couple who saved his life when he was a child, and after taking revenge on the guilty, he wanders through the continent, fighting, hiding, running and getting stronger at an unbelievable pace. Once again losing someone he loved amidst a battle, he continues to walk his path alone, for his strength was his biggest curse.

That's a protagonist for you.

The Greatest Estate Developer. A novel that follows Suho Kim, a young Civil Engineering student who lost his parents to a huge debt and was now alone, working and studying to the brink of death. After reading The Knight of Blood and Iron, he wakes up as Lloyd, the son of the Baron couple that saved and took in Javier. Worth mentioning: Lloyd is the shittiest character in the novel. Drunkard, rude, violent, a complete hooligan, he made the Barony's people's lives a hell, especially Javier's, since the young knight was also responsible for guarding the Young Master. But Suho Kim decides to save the Baron and Baroness by helping clean up their debt, and for that he uses his Civil Engineering knowledge.

That's another protagonist for you.

I read both stories, so I know how The Knight of Blood and Iron ends, as well as The Greatest Estate Developer, and I was very happy living my life after finishing reading both of them, when I tripped on my way home and hit my head on the ground, blacked out and woke up here, as a commoner in the story. Ridiculous. This author has zero creativity.

Now you ask me, in a story with two protagonists, who are you? I'll tell you, man I got no clue. And you wanna know why I'm lost in the dark? ‘Cause let me do a quick check with you, got your pen? Alright so, Javier has: sword fighting skills, pretty face, the power of OG protagonism; Lloyd has: fighting skills, strange but convincing social skills, Engineering knowledge and also the power of 2nd protagonism; Little Ol Me has: …

Uh…

Not even the power of friendship.

I mean, just like Suho, I was also a college student, but my major is Language Arts, I'm his complete opposite! Are you telling me I ran off to my course avoiding math and physics and now I'm stuck in a novel where everything is about perfectly exact construction sites? What's more, I wasn't even close to the dedicated student he was, so I didn't research much outside my field and I don't have random, conveniently suitable knowledge to help in anything.

Oh, and you know the best part? I don't even have a purpose! I mean, most of Isekaid people have a goal in mind: avoid death, marry your favorite character, finish the story and go back to your normal life... But me? I mean, Javier's story is tragic, but Lloyd's existence is exactly the counterpoint for that, so I don't have to do anything and the story will just progress normally to a happy ending. And it's actually good that I don't have to do anything because I might end up getting in the way of the original plot. Hey author, is that what you want?!

Anyway, I only did one unusual thing: as I realized that I was inside a novel and watched the unfolding events right before my eyes, I used up all my savings to sponsor Lloyd's first work, Heating System, or Ondol. Of course, I signed a contract with him, and needless to say he was veeeey suspicious as of why I wanted to sponsor the Baron's drunkard son, but I made sure he saw me watching him building the first Ondol and looking very surprised (that part wasn't really acting though) and approving of this method. I told him something along the lines of "If you're willing to build such a thing for your people, and using this as repayment for the things you did with the bar owner, I have more reasons to trust you than to don't. Besides, you'll prepare a contract, won't you?" And, well, he actually got even more suspicious, lucky me, but we ended up signing a deal nonetheless.

And that's where I am now: in this world, I have no family, so no one complained when I was left with barely a penny after sponsoring Lloyd, but also I had no one to share part of the money I got back from him, which is why I'm kinda rich now, and with a heating system for myself. For a land as small as Frontera, it doesn't take too much to be rich, although it felt somewhat wrong since the Baron was swimming in debt, and consequently the estate was quite poor. I had enough to live comfortably but discreetly while continuing to sponsor Lloyd.

Discreetly, I said, but now I'm pacing back and forth near the ant's cave. I mean, no one knows it's an ant cave, everybody's just following Lloyd, who wanted to mine coal. Shortcut of events: gigantic ants showed up, Lloyd and Javier evacuated the workers and stayed back to destroy the ant's nest and avoid the disaster that would happen if they left the cave and got to the estate. Now, as I'm sure you know, this is a key moment for both Lloyd and Javier. The knight doesn't really trust him yet, and this event is a turning point, also for Lloyd, who due to his heroic deed and great effort to save both the estate and Javier, levels up skills and earns Relationship Points, a crucial part of Estate Developer's plot.

The thing is: the timing is too narrow, too dangerously exact. It's been a few minutes since the workers left the cave in a rush, heading to the Baron to report what happened. They were workers, not knights, so it's obvious they'd run away after seeing such enormous ants. Besides Javier, they also had a senior knight, Sir Bayern, so they probably left to call for them both. I'm hiding between a few trees, waiting. It's a weird feeling. Only a few minutes earlier there was a ruckus, screams, steps, shovels. Now I can only hear my desperate heartbeat. What if, this time, they don't arrive here in time? At this point, Lloyd is probably trying to dig their way out of the cave before they run out of oxygen. In the novel, it takes so long they actually pass out, and the Baron arrives just in time to rescue them. I started biting another nail, glancing at the cave every two seconds. Not a soul to be seen. No workers coming back, no Baron and his knight. There was only little old me. What if something changed? How many minutes have passed already? What if their plan to kill the ants went wrong this time?

But I can't interfere. I absolutely can't. If I do, Lloyd might not get RP points and skills, Javier also won't get stronger from fighting the ants and won't trust Lloyd. So I can't interfere, I don't want to change this story. It's fine as it is, and what could I even do? Dig them a way out? I don't even know how to hold a shovel, and if I went to warn the Baron before the workers, he'd be suspicious of me, or he wouldn't believe me and I might even end up delaying him. But shit- this is taking too long. What the hell would happen to this story, to these people, and to me if both protagonists died?

Just when I was running out of nails to bite, I heard horses and hurried voices making their way to the cave. The Baron led, followed by his knight and a few workers who still had stamina to help them.

Fucking finally. I was about to have a heart attack.

A moment after they entered the cave with shovels and swords in their hands, at long last I saw Lloyd, Javier and Bangul being carried outside the cave, all three of them passed out, covered in dust, wounds and blood. A relieved sigh came out of my mouth, and as I waited behind the trees for everyone to leave so I could go back home as well, I locked eyes with Sir Bayern.

Shit, how did he notice me here? I guess he's a knight, after all.

He stared at me for a second or two, then looking away and diminishing the Baron's question with a shake of his head.

He'll definitely tell him about me later. But that's not time to worry about that. As long as the protagonists are safe, that's all that matters.

***

“That’s all that matters” my ass! Now I'm sitting in the living room of the manor, waiting to talk to the Baron. Worst part? He didn’t even wait until the next day, because his knight apparently couldn’t wait to run his mouth either. Damn, sir Bayern, you should get that anxiety treated.

But in all seriousness, of course they’d be worried and suspicious of me. There was absolutely no one around, there was nothing there besides the cave and the forest, and the strangest part, I didn't move a finger to help them, instead staying hidden waiting for everyone to leave first. I didn’t really help myself, I guess. Of course, the Baron knew all this, and while his knight stood behind him, he sat across me and stared intently right into my soul.

Shit, I don’t know how to lie.

— So, — he started, his fingers crossed over his legs, — I’m sure you know what I want to ask.

Although the situation wasn’t favorable for my side, the Baron was still a good person. He probably saw my face around the estate a couple of times, and he kept his kind demeanor just because I’m a citizen from his land. Yep, guilt hurts. I shifted uncomfortably on the couch and spared a glance at the window. It was pitch dark and we were probably nearing midnight, so it’s been a couple of hours since the incident. I thought I’d have plenty of time to think of an excuse so in the meantime… I procrastinated. Well, I mean- not totally! I stayed in the city center to hear the people’s gossip, and watched how the workers looked thankfully at Lloyd. Very important intel gathering, if you ask me.

— What was your name again?

— I am Ilya, my Lord, — busted on the first question. Evidently, that’s not my real name, and this character’s diary that I found when I came to this world only had her first name. The girl has no family, so it doesn’t really make a difference.

— Your surname?

— I do not have a registered surname to my knowledge, my Lord. I just humbly go by Ilya.

He nodded, humming in acknowledgement. Ilya is not an important character in the novel, so, as far as I'm concerned, no one really knows her. I mean, obviously there are some people like her neighbors who are often in touch with her, but they wouldn't really notice or complain if her personality suddenly changed, would they? Not if I lay low, that is. Besides, Lloyd changed from water to wine and now he acts like a totally different person — which he is — and people just accept it.

— So, Ilya, what were you doing near the cave earlier?

Straight to the point alright.

— You see, my Lord, I was very worried about this project. It seemed very dangerous, and although I trust Young Master Lloyd, I couldn't help but go and check with my own eyes.

Both men flinched visibly at my words. Come on, I didn't even lie!

— You… trust my son?

That's what you're surprised about? Damn, I can't even judge him, people are only starting to build some trust in Lloyd exactly as we speak, since word from the incident is spreading like wildfire. Obviously it's weird that someone you barely know already trusts and worries about your hooligan of a son.

This would be easily done with if I just said I signed a contract with Lloyd and wanted to check the project since I was investing in it. But I don't want anyone to get wind of this. Javier's the exception, I guess he stayed to make sure Lloyd wouldn't try to take advantage of me, just like he stayed when he signed a contract with the bar owner. Ohh, since Javier saw he didn't scam that guy or me, did that give Lloyd some RP? Damn, wish I could tax him.

— He… seems to be really walking on the right path now, My Lord. It was about time he started doing something for this estate.

— Hm, I do believe you in a way. I understand there might not have been anything you could do in that situation, but it is strange that you walked such a long way just to check on the progress and stayed in hiding even during the commotion.

I glanced at the Chief Knight behind him. Such a snitch.

There's no answer I can give him to make him less suspicious of me. I mean, I could lie something cheesy and awkward like I like your son!, but instead of changing the subject and sending me home he'd probably call a doctor to check my head and eyesight or arrest me for being awfully suspicious… Should I say I like Javier instead? Argh, but my pride!

I took my time to clean my throat after taking a sip of water that the Baroness had given me earlier, and went for it.

— My Lord, I am ashamed of telling you this, but the truth is-

— Ms. Ilya?

Three heads turned to the door at once to see a shirtless, patched up and only half recovered Javier leaning his shoulder on the door frame. The Baron swiftly got up from his seat to assist and scold the young knight. Politely dismissing his worries, he turned his eyes at me again, trying to understand that unusual situation.

— What's happening here? Are you alright?

Arcos Frontera guided him to the couch across from me, the same spot he was sitting on earlier.

— Do you know this young lady?

— Yes, I do, — I widened my eyes at the Silver-mint haired man. Please don't tell him, pretty please.

Javier nodded and I left out a quiet, relieved sigh. That is, until he softly smiled, pointed his hand at me and-

— Ms. Ilya here is the first ever and only Young Master Lloyd’s sponsor.

…Well, there goes my lay-low plan. Is not having common sense a classificatory aspect for protagonists? I audibly heaved a long sigh and palmed my forehead.

— Sponsor? Does- does that mean you give him money for construction?

— Haaa, yes, My Lord.

— So is he… extorting you?

— Yes, M- No! What? — I almost chuckled from the absurdity of his question. — No, he's not extorting me.

— Haaah, what a relief, — he shook his head, almost ashamed he had asked such a question. He does learn how to trust his son afterwards, but I guess there's not many people who do it now.

That sounds exhausting, having people suspect you all the time, and it's not even his fault the original Lloyd was a piece of shit. Poor Suho.

After cleaning up the situation and making sure the Baron knew his son didn't force me to give him money and kindly asking him not to tell the people, I apologized to the three men for the confusion and headed outside, much to my discomfort, accompanied by a now properly shirted Javier. He said he'd escort me home since it was already way past midnight. And remembering he can't sleep without Lloyd's lullaby service… I don't think this poor guy's gonna get much sleep today or tomorrow.

Every now and then I glanced his way, it was the first time I actually talked to him. It was incredibly awkward, but also curiously entertaining, walking side by side with a character from a novel. But looking up close… he looked so real. I felt goosebumps all over and shook the thoughts from my head. He seemed to notice — of course, it's been a while since he's been experiencing the Sword Master Syndrome, — and broke the silence.

— I thought you wanted my help in making his lordship believe you. Did I misread your intentions?

— What? No, it's okay. It's all settled now, I guess. — Wow, he has a nice voice too. I can understand why everyone in the novel fangirls over him. I snorted softly. — I really looked suspicious anyway.

— You are not suspicious at all.

— You mean, a woman people barely know being caught hiding in the forest right after a huge incident involving the son of the Baron and his trusted knight is not suspicious?

He pondered for a second.

— You are not threatening, — I scoffed. — Besides, Master Lloyd and I know you.

I only sighed. This didn't go as planned at all. Our steps made a rhythmic sound against the steady road built a few weeks earlier, it's funny using a road to walk and not to drive. It's so late that it's probably very early already. I yawned, today was so tiring… a different tiring from watching lectures in college all day.

— May I ask why didn't you want him to know?

— Haaa, I just don't want to draw attention to myself.

— Oh, I see. — Shit, did I say that out loud?

— I-i mean, I'd like to live a simple, quiet life. Getting involved with the Baron's son doesn't sound like the right road there.

He nodded and silently agreed. We were nearing my house when it was my turn to break the silence.

— …how's Lloyd?

Our pace wasn't very fast since Javier was still recovering, and honestly speaking I was quite tired from walking all day too. But I made sure to slow my steps just enough to hear his answer before getting home.

— He's recovering. Maybe he'll be back on his feet in one or two days.

I hummed in understanding. Damn, this isn't easy, being the person who waits for the protagonist to wake up. He has no clue that his actions are already written. All of them.

— Would you like to see him? You can come by tomorrow morning, I'm sure the Baron and Baroness wouldn't mind.

— No, — I smiled, standing at my front door, — but thank you.

And I need to make sure it stays like this.

Chapter Text

I'm learning magic.

Yep, apparently Ilya already had an interest in learning magic spells, mana controlling and that stuff, so she had 3 dusted books — maybe grimoire is a better word? — on her shelf. I had found them the day I came to this world, but didn't really spare them another glance. I mean, I couldn't really feel mana flowing through my body, so I figured she didn't really advance on her studies and practice.

I was quite wrong, though. After reading the books, taking some notes and training at night, away from people's gaze, I found out she already had a body quite fit for magic. It's a pretty exciting feeling when you can feel and control mana flow, and that's what I started with. Then I moved to basic magic spells, but for some reason, fire magic was way easier than ice, and I was limited to those two since the basic stuff I read only talked about them. Too bad, I wanted to try wind controlling. Anyway, now I'm training with ice in an open space I found far from the road and water bodies in the middle of the night, getting increasingly frustrated ‘cause I only seem to produce a cold breeze comparable to a broken AC.

And there's Lloyd. He woke up in only a day thanks to the Asrahan Technique. If I remember correctly, right now he's preparing to travel to the orc tribe, and he'll spend some good months there to build them a seokbinggo, a facility to keep food, and to befriend the tribe. That's also when he'll have to go rescue some workers in a dark magician dungeon, fighting and killing the guy. I closed my eyes, concentrated my mana on the palm of my hands and felt them getting slightly cold. Hmm, slightly cold is not quite enough. I haven't seen Lloyd for a while now. Before he got busy with that complicated coal mining, he used to visit me from time to time and ask how I was doing and check if I hadn't given up investing in him yet…

***
— Well hello! How's my dear sponsor doing? Having a lovely day, I hope, and surely not thinking of breaking the contract, as the terms are-

— Shut it, — I huffed to his business smile and chatter. — Why would I break a contract I suggested?

Lloyd stood on my front door frame with Javier dutifully behind him, his expression as stoic as ever.

— Well, you never know. People can change their minds in the blink of an eye, — he shrugged and side eyed me, to which I answered with a groan.

— If that's all, you can leave, — I don't need you wasting your time with me here. Go construct something! Don't delay the plot!

— As my best sponsor wishes.

— Am I not your only sponsor?

— You are.

I snorted.

— Goodbye, Lloyd, Javier.

The knight nodded his head at me, and Lloyd had this sly smile on his face when he turned around to leave. Urgh, that face… I can understand why so many people want to punch him. I stayed standing on my door, watching them banter for a moment before a hurried worker ran up to Lloyd and he changed completely his demeanor, turning serious and silently nodding while listening to the worker. He might have his devilish smiles, but…

When he's serious, his face is not that bad.

A quiet chuckle escaped my mouth, which I instantly regretted: Javier was horrifyingly staring at me, right in time to see me stupidly smiling at Lloyd.

Aw, shit. That is absolutely not what I need right now. I glared at the knight dead in the eyes, not a single word, smartass, to which his eyes responded with no one would believe me anyway. Damn…, I'm sorry for you, Lloyd.

He probably also noticed how I don't call Lloyd “Young Master” or something like that, but come on, look at him! Even the Devil later on becomes his fan, and calling someone I know is from the real world by a “fantasy” title feels weird, like a real life RPG. Anyway, it was really a good decision to sponsor him early in the story; it will only take a while until he finds allies and people to make part of the estate, and even the Queen Magentano eventually supports him. When this day comes, he won't need me anymore and I'll probably be able to just sit around with the huge sum he'll pay me back and enjoy a fantasy life until he finishes the story and I probably get sent back home.
***

And what’s a better hobby in a fantasy world than learning magic? Ilya was probably saving money to buy magic stuff, like books or, I don't know, artifacts? But since I received some money back from Lloyd I barely spent any, I’m only following the books she already had. Unfortunately, during this flashback I was able to create only some tiny ice cubes, so you can certainly affirm that my ice training has been going terribly wrong this week.

I showed the trees my best frustrated groan and sat on the ground. I genuinely thought fire would be harder, but I didn’t even burn my hands! It’s fascinating that it doesn’t hurt me at all, maybe that’s because it’s made of mana, my mana? I vaguely remember Lloyd being very good at controlling specific mana particles, separating and absorbing only the ones he wanted. Urgh, but I don’t want to talk to him or ask for advice. It’s not about my pride, it’s just…

Grooowl.

Yes, exactly that feeli- wait, hold on. A what?

I turned my head to the forest ahead of me. I’m not that stupid to train alone in the middle of the night in a forest, that’s why I was close but not inside it. But why the hell didn’t I realize this is equally as stupid? Animals are common in a forest, but that sound… it wasn’t an animal.

I messed up.

I hurriedly got up without even glancing back at the dark area or my book laying on the ground. I had watched enough thriller movies to know that when people come back for stuff- that’s when they die. And when try to fight back? Thats’s when they are torn apart. Both endings are the same, but one is far more painful than the other.

But shit, if I run back to the estate, they’re gonna target the houses, won’t they? That didn’t stop me from running like I was being chased by two men on a motorcycle — would they be on a horse? — but also, I tried to gather some fire mana just in case, I don’t know, one of them bites my leg.

I didn’t run that much but I could already see the houses at the foot of the small cliff and hear angry footsteps right behind me. The second I turned to look back — and I didn’t really learn anything from horror movies as you can read — I bumped into someone and a hand reached for my shoulder.

Did that calm me down? Of course not! So, instead of acting like a normal human being and properly assessing the situation, I just shouted and the fire mana accumulating in my hand turned into ice in the blink of an eye, getting released in a one-shot. It wasn’t enough to kill or paralyze the wild beats, but it was enough of a surprise element to make them flinch, and Javier wasted no time in slicing them in four pieces. Yeah, Javier is omnipresent, apparently. He wasn’t absurdly strong at this point in the story, but he’s still a genius, a high-level Sword Expert who doesn’t really sweat after killing two or three monsters.

He sheathed his sword and turned his attention to my poor ass on the ground. I'm already embarrassed enough, please don't ask me if I'm okay-

— Are you okay, Ms. Ilya?

Sigh. I raised my hand to meet his extended arm to help me get up, but when I did so, I felt his fingers slightly… flinching?

— Ai, yes, yes I'm good. Thank you, and sorry for causing… — the words slowly died in my mouth as I noticed my hands: they were frozen.

What in the Let It Go is this shit?

I quickly pulled my hand away from his as soon as I stood up.

— Jesus!

— Who?

I could've laughed; and I really wanted to, but after the adrenaline wore off, my now blue fingers started to hurt.

— Is this because of the magic you used earlier?

— I-i don't know! Fuck, this hurts, — I winced after trying to move my fingers, and maybe it was out of panic that I felt the coldness spreading to my arms.

— Breathe, please. Take a deep breath.

Javier stepped closer and took my hands again, not flinching this time. I felt a warm, cozy feeling coming from him and as soon as I did what he had asked, I sensed his mana flow: he was covering his hand in warm mana and using it in my hands. It still hurt like hell, but I bit back all the cursing I could think of, instead focusing on somehow gathering and circling mana in my hands and arms.

Was I using a variation of his technique just now, the Asrahan Core Technique?

Thanks to him, it only took my hands a moment to go back to their original color and I was finally able to sigh relieved despite the visibly cold puff of air that escaped my lips. I’m sure he noticed the way I clumsily manipulated my mana since Javier’s senses are way shaper than average, but he didn’t seem intended to ask.

— Are you feeling anything else?

Besides so much shame I could call Lloyd to dig a hole for me to hide there forever? Hmm, maybe I’m also a bit hungry.

— I’m fine. I’m sorry you had to come all this way, Javier, — maybe it's a rule of fantasy novels that you must constantly be saved by the hero? Come on, that's already salvation number 2, which is not that much, but it's surely bound to happen more often.

— It was no problem at all. I… have been sensing some new, inconstant mana flow from the fiefdom, and when Master Lloyd stopped by your house on that day, I noticed it was your mana.

— Wow, you’ve been sensing that already?

— Yes. So I decided to check it for myself, since we are travelling early in the morning for the Orc Tribe.

— Were you worried? — A playful grin formed on my lips.

— Yes.

I was only joking, but his answer actually made me feel bad. Of course he worries about his estate, it’s his home after all. I scratched the back of my neck, but even this proved to be a little difficult, my hands were still sore and I had some small cuts on probably half my fingers. He didn’t seem to care though.

— Wild beasts usually don't come this close to the barony. They probably sensed some unusual mana flow, although weak.

— Damn, — even the beasts know my mana sucks.

— It's not my intention to offend you, Ms. Ilya.

— You saying that only makes it worse… — I sighed. — So they are attracted to weak mana? They think, like, oh I can feel some weak mana, must be a delicious easy meal?

— Possibly.

— Hm, didn't know that.

I told him about my book I left behind while running for my life and he accompanied me to get it back during some small talk. Once again I found myself wasting the main character’s time by taking me home. It’s funny how my only job here is to stay out of their way but that’s exactly what I have not been doing at all. He was holding the book for me, saying I should treat my cuts as soon as I get home and train on how to control my emotions when I’m using mana. Easy to say, prodigy.

— Hey, could you keep this a secret?

— That you’re training magic?

— Yeah.

— Why?

— Because I'm asking? Besides, I'd be a pain in the ass if people found out about it, and they'd start to pressure me into becoming a magic genius just because we have a knight genius in the fiefdom. No offense.

— ...you speak much like the Young Master.

That's because we're both from another world, not Magentano.

— It's a trend among people our age. You wouldn't know since you're always training.

— Is it?

— Yes.

— I see.

Damn, now I feel guilty. Is that how Lloyd feels everytime he lies to people? Not everyone knows how to keep a brazen face while lying through their teeth.

— The way you used your mana earlier…

He seemed hesitant on whether he should meddle or not. If I could remember clearly how the book described his technique it would’ve been a piece of cake for me to improve on magic, but the thing is: it’s been too long since I’ve read the story, especially the first chapters where the author takes paragraphs to describe in detail how Javier created it and how Lloyd mastered it, using analogies involving gears and fractions… So I didn’t really bother to understand it. A-ah, don’t judge me, did you really read and understand all the paragraphs on bridge construction and Roman cement? Hm? Guess not. So, a word or two from the creator of the technique himself is very welcoming, and I hummed in answer, encouraging him to go on.

— You seemed to have tried to gather mana from your surroundings and store them inside you, but struggled since there were only trees where you were training.

— Mhm.

— Getting mana out of organic material can be harder, and since you were quite far from the trees, you only had mostly grass around you, besides the natural mana in the air.

— I mean, I know I can extract mana from grass, but… it’s so small, I don’t think it’s enough.

Enough to form a circle around my heart just like you do, that is. But I’m not telling you that. If I manage to form one you’ll find out anyway.

— It is too little. That’s why you must constantly gather mana from everything you can, and store it around your heart, and not just absorb mana in the moment you need it. You may find yourself in a situation like today, when you need mana but the environment is not propitious.

— That makes sense, — and it’s so obvious. Why didn’t I remember this from the novel? I guess obvious things need to be said over and over until they actually become obvious. Or maybe I just have a terrible memory. — Thank you for the advice.

I wanted to ask him why he spared some time to actually advise me, but he didn’t really seem to have a reason? I didn’t want to put him in a tight spot, so I just let it go. That way he won’t ask how I started to use magic out of the blue and I won’t ask why he wants to help me improve. It crossed my mind he might value having more people to protect the estate when he’s away, something he will constantly be since Lloyd is always traveling back and forth. The novel doesn’t mention the barony having trouble when they’re away though, and when their people are in trouble, the main characters duo always get back right in time.

We soon got to my house, once again, and I took the book from him. He bowed slightly — I’m not even sure why, since I’m pretty much a nobody — and when he was about to turn around and leave, I did what I was trying so hard not to do.

— Lloyd… take care of him.

A memory from the novel came to my mind as soon as he said they were going to the Orc Tribe: during the confrontation with the dark mage, the guy pretends to regret keeping Lloyd’s workers in captivity and killing dozens of people for his experiment, and when the duo turn around the mage goes for Lloyd’s neck. Of course, reader Suho Kim expects that, and so does Javier, who beheads the guy to protect Lloyd, so I shouldn’t worry, right? Right. When you’re a reader, you don’t get too anxious with things like that, but out here, where my actions can actually impact the story… I can’t help but wander through the what-ifs.

Javier is obviously ignorant of my feelings since he instantly grimaced at my request.

— It’s not like that, please don’t get me wrong, — I even raised my hand for, you know, emphatic purposes. — How’s he going to pay me back if he gets squished by an orc and dies?

The mint-colored hair guy seemed to think for a second before humming and nodding to himself as if reaching a conclusion.

— Indeed, you are very much like Master Lloyd.

And left without allowing me another word.

Chapter Text

Javier’s advice was pretty good for a non-magician.

When training to wield fire or ice, I just imagined what I wanted and tried to make it appear out of the blue. I mean, it’s magic, but it’s not a miracle. There’s a process, a sort of science behind it; knowing how it’s done doesn’t mean it’s not magic. Before, I just used a lot of energy to somehow create the necessary mana on my hands — but thinking back, maybe I just tried to create mana and ended up absorbing the mana around me anyways, just taking the hardest route to the same destination.

But now that a local gave me the directions, I’m obviously taking the easiest path. It’s easier, but it doesn’t mean it’s absolutely easy to do. If it was, Lloyd wouldn’t have needed a month to learn the Asrahan Core Technique, and he was under training of the creator himself. His technique involves constantly absorbing mana from your surroundings, and since I’m not used to it, nor I have a manaheart yet, whenever I get distracted, all the mana I absorbed fades away. More often than not I pulled my hair in frustration during the first weeks, but as soon as this became a common thing for me to do, using magic to manipulate mana became a piece of cake.

It’s funny to think that at this point, Lloyd must be using the Asrahan Technique for a similar purpose: to make ice and finish constructing the seokbinggo (the stone ice storage) for the orcs: he feels different mana in the water and absorbs only the warm mana to make it colder and colder until it becomes what he need, giant ice cubes. And I’m training to do the same, using warm mana to wield fire and cold mana to wield cold.

My mind was so occupied with only these two elements that I forgot completely about wind magic. As soon as I did some experiments with it, wind magic proved to be the easiest of the three, and please don’t actually correct me if i’m wrong, but maybe it’s because wind is air, air is oxygen, therefore to use wind magic I only need oxygen. It’s the same as fire magic being effortlessly used in higher temperatures or ice magic during colder days. Or, and I’m probably just being delusional here, I just have an affinity with the wind. I like to think that.

After going through the boring training part, I went from hunting and selling small animals at the market to dealing with bigger, faster animals and eventually monsters. Not a pro yet, but I get things done in my slow and craven way. It’s not often, but monster attacks actually occur from time to time — and since the strongest estate knight was away, I tried to help here and there without attracting too much attention for myself.

In the meantime, I started to keep some notes from the novel arcs and how long they roughly take, from building the ondol, the road, the mine, the seokbinggo… and so on. Unfortunately I’m not a Kim Dokja who conventionally has a PDF of the novel, nor I have an amazing memory; compared to other isekaid people, I probably have almost zero information especially on the long run, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.

— Master Lloyd is back!

Screams and steps echoed in the street, and I paused my note-taking moment to walk with the people and receive the protagonists. They must be tired from the j-

Oh shit, I completely forgot.

The euphoric crowd sooner than expected shut their mouths when they saw Lloyd. More precisely, when they saw Lloyd, Javier, the workers and 120 orcs from the Sand and Steel Tribe.

Get used to it, guys. Everytime this guy leaves the fiefdom, he comes back with people who got tricked into working for him.

That’s what I thought, but still… Seeing an orc in person was, with all due respect, unsettling. I know they’re big dorks with much muscle and little brain, with all respect of course, and they only think of training and I mean no disrespect but-

Okay, I’m being mean. Sorry guys.

I chuckled softly seeing the baron and baroness’ faces. Sir Bayern looked at a loss for words — serves you right for snitching that day at the cave, don’t think I forgot.

Lloyd made an announcement to the townspeople, explaining the situation to the best of his abilities, aiming to ease the people’s fear and worry. As his speech proceeded on the road, I locked eyes with him for a second, and for some reason I remembered what he said after Javier killed the dark sorcerer.

“There are clearly times where violence must be stopped with violence.”

I mean, I don’t exactly agree or disagree, but the memory of that scene- no, the real scene I imagined in my head made me oddly uncomfortable. Reading it is something, but knowing he actually passed through that, and Javier’s sword got stained in blood to protect him… Unsettling, to say the least; you could say I had some sort of reality check — months late though. I didn’t need to stay and hear him, did I? I turned around to go back home, write down what I remembered and stay out of his way. He would need some time alone to progress on the next arc.

As I walked between the people, saying “excuse me” two or three times, I could swear I felt eyes on the back of my head. Maybe it was because I was the only one nonchalantly giving my back to 120 orcs, or, who knows, it might have been just my imagination.

I wasn’t sure where the orcs would stay the nights, so I left a little later after dinnertime to check the surroundings — not to defeat monsters or anything, that wouldn’t be needed anymore; I wanted to make sure my training spot was still undiscovered and vacant. When I got closer I felt some unusual mana flow with the Asrahan Technique, and as I opened my fists and took a deep breath to prepare for battle, I saw-

— She is really here! It’s just as you said. How did you know, did you send her a letter or something saying “hey, meet me and Lloyd at this spot”?

I was so surprised to see Lloyd and Javier right on my training spot that I let escape some mana I had and was about to blast them with it (hah, in my wildest dreams, maybe). Lloyd was sitting on the grass with his summons, Ppodong and Bangul, and a bag beside him.

— And she uses your technique! Did you know that?

— Master Lloyd, it’s rude to talk about a person when they’re right in front of you.

— You taught her, right? You did, right? But you almost choked with disgust when I asked you to teach me. Is it because she’s a woman?

Dude, why are you like this?

Lloyd got up and stepped closer to me and I resisted the urge to shoot a fireball at his forehead. Javier wouldn’t even stop me.

— My favorite sponsor, I hope you’ve been well, — there is that sly and wry smile of his while he clasps his hands.

— Peacefully without you, — I crossed my arms and tried to gather my lost mana again. No reason in particular, just in case a violent impulse kicks in.

Javier quietly greeted me after I looked behind the ex-hooligan.

— Can I help you both with anything?

…I asked, but a thought that was hoovering on the back of my head hit me again. He might tell me he doesn’t intend on renewing the contract; I knew he would never break it, as disfavorable as it may turn out to be for him. But he now had the support of the orcs, as well as positive impressions from key characters and the people from the barony, so there was little to no benefit for him to maintain the deal with me. That was obvious, so it didn’t really bother me.

— Why, so proactive of you! I wished this guy was more like you, you know?

— Ppodong! Ppo-dong!

— What, you’re saying Javier is very helpful and I shouldn’t talk about him like he’s a slacker?

— Ppodong!

— Bangul!

I couldn’t help but chuckle at how cute the summons looked right now. In moments like this, Ppodong really looked like just a hamster.

— Aren’t you the slacker?

Shit, shit! Why the hell did I open my mouth? What normal person in a fantasy novel calls the baron’s son a slacker? Not that I’m wrong, but-

After I panicked for a second, Javier snorted quietly, covering his mouth with his fist and cleaning his throat.

— Forgive me, Master Lloyd. I just remembered a very good joke.

— Ah, so you’re not laughing ‘cause she called me a slacker, right? Hey, you’re a swordsman expert, but you still suck at lying. Did you even try?

— That is your expertise, Master Lloyd.

— And what is yours beside sword fighting, huh? Tickling me off?

— Optimistically, yes. And also all the rest. I have many specialties that you don’t have. My looks, for instance.

— You’re full of yourself, right? You think you’re the most handsome knight in Lorasia, don’t you? Where’s your modesty?

— It is the truth, Master Lloyd.

If I closed my eyes, I could swear I was listening to a GED audiobook. You could say I got hit by a slight rush of dopamine seeing my favorite characters for years interacting together, right in front of me. I had to fake a cough to control the fangirl smile forcing on my lips.

— You!

— Me? — I pointed my index to my face and raised my eyebrows at Lloyd.

— No, the girl behind you. Yes, you. Say, do you think this guy is handsome?

— Huh? Well… He is really handsome, — I said and almost shrugged.

— …That’s all?

— What do you mean?

— Don't you feel like sending love letters to him, declaring your love or something like that?

I scoffed and crossed my arms.

— I'm not that interested in romance.

That was actually true. Although I’m not blind, I re-read GED chapters so many times I got used to their faces, and Javier being strikingly handsome was so used to funny scenes that it became too good of a joke. And also, I was part of the percentage of people who didn’t actually see Lloyd as ugly. Please don’t ask for the percentage, I’m afraid we are very few. And inside the novel? Probably just his mom and the Queen are part of the club. Moreover, constantly worrying about the plot taking form correctly, I wouldn’t have time for love letters or such. Romance? Count me out!

My declaration seemed to quiet their bickering, and Lloyd mumbled an “I see” before turning around and taking the bag from the grass, leaving Ppodong and Bangul with nothing to lay on. Javier discreetly offered them the inner part of his vestment, which the summons gladly accepted, nuzzling in between the layers of his warm clothes.

Too adorable. I shall die for them.

— Anyway, my dear sponsor, a silver-mint bird told me you’ve been training mana control to wield magic.

I glared at Javier, whose apologetic face told me It slipped out of my mouth and I wondered how the hell did he manage to spill those beans. But again, Lloyd works in devilish ways. I turned to the engineer again, and he extended his arm holding out the bag for me.

— So this is a gift for you! — I suspiciously grabbed the bag, but it should be fine since Javier is here; sorry for not trusting you, Lloyd, but your face still scares me from time to time. — We stumbled over a magician’s dungeon and we found many sorcery materials lying there.

Really? You stumbled over and the materials were lying there? I had to hold back a scoff. I opened the bag and in the dim light I could only see a few books and notes and instantly remembered he actually took every last piece of paper from that dungeon. He got home and studied them, but didn’t find them that useful. Although, if I remember correctly… there is one useful thing for him later on.

I crouched down and placed the books on the floor, searching until I found a hard-cover grimoire with some ominous patterns drawn on it. A dark magic book.

— I don’t think I need this one. I don’t intend on controlling the dead or summoning demons, — I made sure to comment on how the other books looked exciting and helpful so he wouldn’t suspect I was intentionally looking for this one. Not that I could do anything if he suspected me. I’m not sure he already learned that skill, but dark magic is problem, and I don’t want it. Not in the slightest.

I properly thanked the duo for the gift and said I’d put them to good use. Maybe Lloyd wanted to test me, to make sure I wouldn’t become another Lupellan since I don’t believe he would be careless enough to give a dark magic grimoire to a random girl from his fiefdom. Anyhow, it’s a great asset for me, and he might hope I become a great asset for the barony. Please don’t count on me.

The books were really good, I gotta say. I mean, there were still a bunch of pages I didn’t really understand yet, but some things became easier.

Using the Asrahan Core Technique, I had three primordial steps to follow: absorb, process and amplificate mana. By repeatedly using and applying magical rules over them, following the books gifted to me, I was able to use magic more freely, without being limited to what and how I’ve seen in the novel.

In the next 20 days or so, Lloyd didn’t show up. I was busy with reading and trying new stuff, and when he appeared again in the barony road, he headed straight to the next step of the plot: The Maritz Wetlands. After spending day and night racking his brain for a way to drain the water completely and reclaim that area to be handed over to the people, he summoned Hamang, the hippo, to help in construction.

Roughly three times a week I made my way to the construction site, and boy did Hamang get absurdly enormous. Also, mind you sir Bayern, I’m not hiding this time! Since my contract with Lloyd was to sponsor his projects, part of my money turned into shovels, gloves and whatnots. That was my excuse to watch both protagonists work in the reformation; Javier, much to his dismay, was dragged to the way of the shovel.

Their work was parallel to my training, specifically wind magic. Weeks later, I didn’t have to wait for my clothes to dry, isn’t that awesome? I also used it to collect wood and sell it as fuel to the Ondol, using what I originally named windblades to cut the branches. Totally invented by me and not based on a blond traveler with a flying company from another world.

As work progressed, I started to mark my presence everyday. I didn’t want to miss that scene in a million years. And when it was almost done, I finally saw a few horses approaching the Maritz Wetlands. Horses, men, and two ugly faces.

Chapter Text

— Now, would you please… get off my land?

The contrast between Lloyd's voice while citing the laws of the nation and directly telling the Viscount to piss off was wild. He had asked Javier to plant some seeds and take care of them exactly for this moment, and everything went according to his plan: Viscount Lacona came to try and reclaim the Maritz Wetlands after ignoring its existence for decades, but the articles of the law regarding land reclamation plus the crops from the seeds made the moustached Viscount’s eye twitch in anger.

Workers, Javier and the men who came with Lacona all fell silent. And when he and his moustache gave up, about to turn around to go back home, an uncanny strong wind ran through the site, carrying sand and leaves. Some of the workers from Frontera held their hats, others gladly accepted the refreshing breeze under the scorching sun. Javier and Lloyd didn't bulge until a heap of leaves traveled right to Viscount Lacona’s face. It was so sudden that it was almost funny. Well, at least I thought it was pretty funny, especially the way he kept trying to wave off the insistent leaves from his face but a stubborn wind wouldn't let him do so, and he ended up just turning around and decided to leave the estate with two or three of them glued to his face and hair rather than to fall from the horse and embarrass himself even further.

Of course, that was a little me doing.

I couldn't resist after I imagined the WHACK sound the leaves would make crashing against that face of his. And if you want to know, yes, that's what I'm training for. Wind magic is the best. I'm sure the protagonists felt it was no ordinary wind, as it had some mana in it. But it didn't cause any harm, did it?

It didn't take long for the workers to scream and cheer for Lloyd, thanking him for making Lacona leave and protecting the land, the project and everyone's efforts, but at this point I was already on my way home.

Me and my poor memory don't really remember how far Frontera is to Lacona, but the Viscount would have other things to deal with before trying to get back at Lloyd and that was enough time to finish the Maritz Wetlands Project. I also had a small project myself for when construction ended, specifically for when the first rain fell.

As soon as summer gave way to fall and its heavy rains, I grabbed my project, put on my boots and tossed my bag over my shoulder, stepping outside. With my magic, I was able to walk for a short period of time in the rain without getting wet; a tiring process, but it would only take some minutes to get there. I walked awkwardly and with a bit of an effort from carrying my project until I saw the construction site, and, a bit further, Lloyd and Javier standing in the rain.

Despite his endless simulations, Lloyd still wanted to make sure the water would be drained properly in the heavy rain, or else everyone's work would go to waste, and making sure meant sitting on the grass in the rain, watching it pour down on the Maritz Wetlands. Of course, I remember very well how Javier shows up with a girly umbrella — probably from the Baroness — and holds it for the Young Master as both stay to see if everything's alright. And for some utterly stupid reason, I found myself slowly stumbling towards them with a huge parasol with the intention of joining them. Three minutes of walking in the rain made me change my mind — and if I did come back home, no one would have judged me.

But, sometimes, readers are stupid. So there I was, stupidly sticking the parasol in the ground, covering the grass where I was about to sit with a folded blanket that would be drenched in seconds and making sure the parasol was big enough for the three of us, or at least almost big enough. I had this scene in mind for a few weeks and had the brilliant idea of sacrificing my good night of sleep in my warm bed to come here, bringing stuff like we're at the beach. But well, if it works, it works.

Both men stared at me bafflingly while I opened my bag, showing them the food I had brought and offering them some.

— I have some fruits, a cake I baked yesterday, some cookies- no, don't eat them, they didn't turn out very good… Javier, you can come a bit closer, this should be enough to keep us out of the rain. If it's not too windy, that is.

If it did get windy, I would use magic to relocate the wind around them, forming a sort of barrier; magic was easier while sitting and eating than stumbling on a small hill carrying stuff.

— Hold on, what are you doing here?

— Isn't it obvious?

— How did you know we would be here?

— You're pretty predictable sometimes, — I shrugged.

As soon as I said that, I noticed how Javier looked taken aback, his whole face said How could she say that about this man? Boy does this knight suspect everything.

I was so busy with how I would stay here with them that I didn't think of why.

— Umm, you see, Lloyd… After watching your construction projects, I, uh, became… curious.

— Curious?

— Yes. About… engineering.

As a Linguistic student, I can easily confirm I almost choked saying that. Jokes aside, no one can deny he did have a way of making civil engineering look amazing, and that was exactly my argument. But I rushed to interrupt him before his answer.

— But please, in all honesty, I wouldn't take it if you were to ramble on engineering, — I was genuinely scared of actually falling asleep if he did that. If Javier says it is a powerful lullaby, I believe him.

— Well, if you're curious, would you be interested in joining the engineering corps?

— No way, you just want to take advantage of my magic. You have orcs and Javier, you don't need much more.

— All help is very much appreciated, you know.

— I'll let you know if I ever go crazy and decide to shovel and build.

A not so awkward moment passed by, and we actually managed to make small talk about random things until the conversation slowly died. Lloyd was always attentively looking at the Maritz Wetlands, and I could almost hear his gears turning, but also his silent wishes for everything to work out. My mind also wandered for a minute until…

— You can go home now.

— Sorry?

— You don't have to stay. You'll get sick.

— I'm not one of your workers, you don't have to worry about me being sick and skipping work.

— Of course I do, you're also my dear sponsor, — how will she keep giving me money if she gets sick and spends everything on meds?, I could hear him think.

I quietly snorted.

— I won't spend everything on meds and break our contract, don't you worry.

— Still. Javier, please escort-

Wait, not again, I refuse!

— Nope. Only if you knock me out and carry me, and that would be very… undignified and inappropriate for a knight.

Javier flinched. Poor knight.

— I won't get in the way, just let me be, — I sighed, eating a cookie that was actually way too sweet, but it couldn't go to waste. — Besides, it's my money over there, right? My money and everyone’s efforts.

They seemed to give up sending me home, and we sat silently under my umbrella. Hah. Javier complimented my improvement on magic, normal conversations surging here and there.

Eventually, morning came, and with that, the rain stopped. I glanced at Lloyd, and his smile said all that was needed at that moment.

Mission complete!

Seeing him satisfied and wasting no time in preparing to head back home to do God knows what left me with an equal sense of accomplishment and pride. I packed up my stuff — the food was completely eaten, much to my satisfaction — and was about to go home as well and take a 10-hour nap when Lloyd stopped in front of me after telling Javier to leave first.

— I don't know why you stayed, — he started, looking right at me, — but thank you. For trusting and believing in me. I really appreciate your support.

Urgh, I knew he was thinking something like “It's important to make your sponsors feel like they're part of the project” or some shit, but it didn't prevent my face from going slightly red. It's not my fault he said it so… honestly. He came a long way for people to start trusting him, and I can't help but think he must have been lonely early in the story. And… to think he lost his parents not that long ago….

I huffed and started to rush back home.

— If you're thankful, give me money, — money was pretty much his language, and I vaguely remember him saying something similar to his workers in the story. Am I really becoming like him because I read the story too much?

He silently accompanied me until I got home, and although I was happy everything went accordingly, the next arc came to my mind: the Water Supply System. This guy can't catch a break, can he? But still, the problem should arise by tomorrow, so maybe he can take today off.

Fast forwarding, Lloyd had to build a Water Supply System and a freaking Roman-style aqueduct just because Viscount Lacona thought it was wise to mess with the river supplying Frontera. Now, he and his successors will forever be a slave to the estate through the monthly water bill. Serves you well, dip shit.

I went on a stroll and ended up taking a closer look at the most recent constructions. Good, the plot is still the same. Suho had already changed the whole plot, so I can't be stupid enough to change what was already completely different, can I? I know you must want me to, though, but come on, would you? I wanna go back home. I'm not fit for living in a Barony with knights and fantastical creatures all while studying magic my whole life, let alone dying because something our protagonist couldn't foresee happened. Eh, sometimes I think I'd prefer to be in a romance novel being the secluded daughter of a Count and living my life eating the best food until the protagonists finished the plot. I'd be like a trip!

But nooo, little me from the past just had to read only fantasy novels, right?

Keeping tabs on the plots wasn't easy, Lloyd and Javier surely have a tight schedule.

Then, came the snow. I had completely forgotten it also snowed in here, it can't be good for construction. The thing is, I've never seen snow in my whole life! So acting like that was just another Thursday wasn't easy when I was walking the main streets wearing too many layers of clothes to count and an amazed expression, especially when pretty much everyone was at home.

— You look like you've never seen snow before.

Lloyd, this guy shows up everything. Is he omnipresent?

— That's because I haven't.

He tilted his neck to look at me, one brow raised. Man why am I like this? I literally said it snows here 100 words ago.

— I mean- well, you know, — I scratched the back of my neck, — it has been a while, and I like snow.

— So much that you're standing alone looking at it?

— And what are you doing here? — I accusatively crossed my arms and turned to him while he shrugged.

— Maintenance of the water supply system.

I hummed, vaguely remembering him using this reason for taking more money from the Viscount. I really thought he'd leave after blabbering something about another project, so his sudden soft voice surprised me.

— How's your magic training going?

He wasn't calling me his dear sponsor anymore, or trying to threaten me not to break the contract. That simply looked like… small talk. I drew some lines with my feet on the snow, hands tucked in my pockets.

— Fine. Those books really helped me out.

— That's good to hear. Are you perhaps an Intermediate Magician already?

— I don't know how to evaluate myself, but I don't think I'm on that level yet, — sorry to break it to you, but I'm a slow learner. — There aren't many places where I can actually practice and improve.

— Well, if you joined the engineering corps-

— No thank you.

It was surprisingly nice to have a normal conversation with someone else; the normal conversation being about magic training, but meh, who cares.

— We’ll be leaving for Cremo in a few days.

— Is that so? — Hopefully my expression wasn’t too I-already-know like.

— It’s a big commercial city. It’s not the absolute best place for magic learners, but you could find info on books or travelers.

— Are you saying I should go there?

— I’m inviting you.

— Why?

— Well, many students or even average magicians might travel there or take a break between a trip. It’s a port city, you know.

I couldn’t really tell if he didn’t understand my question or decided to bluntly ignore it. And I wasn’t so sure saying to his face that since I wanted a quiet life I would do everything I could not to get in his way would be… nice of me. Probably not.

— I’ll give it some thought. Thank you for the invitation.

— We leave in two days, — he added, mimicking me and putting his hand in his brown coat pockets. — Just making sure you’ll actually consider it and not discarding it right away without even knowing when we leave.

Ack.

— Ah- okay.

It wasn‘t a bad idea, actually. The pros were many, like indeed encountering a traveler magician or reading books that may take years to get to Frontera, and if you compare them to the cons of having to run for my life because a Lobster thrice as big as the most expensive ship in that port has invaded the city because the old man Cremo had exactly the opposite thought in mind when he build a mermaid statue in the sea…

Yep. No thank you.

I know Lloyd drove that thing away from the city to avoid any casualties — and he succeeded. In the story, that is. In a make-believe world. But this is freaking real, and I’m not about to be the only character besides the bad guys in this story that dies. I don’t want to be the only person he won’t be able to save. And I want to live. If possible.

Chapter Text

So.

I'm here in Cremo. You guys wouldn't believe the sight and it's a tad chilly because of the sea winds. I know I said I wouldn't come, but things happen, right? Right.

The group to Cremo was small, and I was the only woman among old men. Some rode horses at the rear and the carriage was placed between them and Lloyd and Javier’s horse, leading the way. The trip is awfully long, but oh boy only if that was the sole problem…

It's hot! It's boring! My butt hurts! And I'm sharing the space with three other men! I mean, they aren't bad people, but all they do is sleep or talk about how the trip takes so long. I wanted to enjoy the view, but from here I can only see parts of trees through the window, with no one to talk to. I couldn't even bring my books to study because I didn't want to fill the carriage with my luggage, so what am I supposed to do?

The worst part? It's only been 48 hours! If I'm not mistaken, it should take around two weeks or so. Maybe more, since I was half awake when a guy was saying the schedule because it was too early for me. Waaah, it's so tedious I could cry. I overheard some voices, the carriage stopped for a moment then resumed. Javier's probably teaching Lloyd how to ride a horse now. I sighed, resting my elbow on the window after carefully pushing away the passed out drooling man beside me.

Around a bonfire, I felt like I was having lunch alone at the school cafeteria because I didn't know anyone. Couldn't I be the cool person who can light up the fire with their powers? You could ask Javier to mana blast the wood though, just let me know so I can take a few steps back.

After seeing me groaning and pouting and whatnots, barely holding my food appropriately, Lloyd sat on the same log I was.

— Are you that sad from traveling?

I'm already in acceptance that I might die there, you know. Going there doesn't bother me anymore.

— I'm sad from the carriage. It's so boring I feel like it's slowly draining all my mana and life span. I could die tomorrow.

I'm 110% sure he thought something along the lines of “maybe you would've preferred a car” but held back thinking I wouldn't understand. But I did and you didn't even open your mouth. I snickered at myself. Am I going crazy from boredom?

— I thought they would make good company, — he pointed at the trio of sloths, yawning so loud you would think they didn't get a wink of sleep yet.

— They sleep as soon as the carriage starts moving and wake up as soon as it's time to eat.

Lloyd chuckled softly, bid me goodnight and headed to his tent. Haha, will he wait until everyone's asleep to sing Javier the lullaby?

Morning came, and after gathering everything I dragged my saddened feet to the carriage door, but before I could open it, a clear voice called my name. Then, I remembered what I heard yesterday while trying to fall asleep.

* * *
— Well hello dear customer, I didn't know you were a professional horseback instructor as well!

— The lullaby, Master Lloyd.

— Why the rush? Do you wish to see more horses even in your dreams? Do you count horses in your sleep? Never? I can tell the baroness you'd like a horse plushie instead.

— Please, Master Lloyd.

I'm so, so sorry for you Javier.

— Thank you for choosing Frontera's lullaby services once again. I look forward to learning more about the amazing world of equines with you from now on.

The bitter face Javier was making was almost visible in my head, and I had to muffle a chuckle with my hand.

— Before that, do you think tomorrow you could teach someone else to ride a horse?

— I'm not paid enough to teach even you.

— What was that?

— I'm afraid I'm not able to, Master Lloyd.

— And what if it's Miss Ilya?
***

— Put your feet here and use the impulse to get on. Straighten your back and hold the leash firmly. You see how Master Lloyd is doing? Do the exact opposite.

— Hey!

— Very good. Please don't even look at Master Lloyd, you might end up doing everything wrong.

— I can hear you, you know right? You're right beside me!

And, in a nutshell, that's how the ugliest estate dev- I mean, Lloyd and I successfully acquired the skill “Horseback riding: Level 1”. Joking, I don't have any system-like skills. You readers already have too much info from Lloyd’s system so the author told me you wouldn't have to think to read this. That’s funny because if you guys remember the rambling paragraphs on my mana training-

Erm, so after a trip that felt almost as soul eating as 4 hours-long lectures on a Monday morning without a break, the sea was finally visible. Although everything around us was white from the winter, it was so exciting to see our destination that I almost felt like Armin.

Javier and Lloyd headed straight to meet Count Cremo while the rest of us side characters vulnerable to the plot allocated ourselves at an Inn. Being the only woman finally had its benefits since I have a room all for myself while the others need to share it with at least one person.

Anyway, so now I’m sitting here on my warm, comfy bed, thinking of how my favorite side character is doing. Count Cremo is so funny, I mean, I think he's the first to mistake Javier for Lloyd, and later on he even tries to marry his daughter with our main character! Please, I laughed so hard every time I re-readed that scene.

Yep, but life's not a strawberry (or a piece of cake, if you want). Although winter here is terribly cold, I can't stay inside all day as much as I want to. Lloyd was kind enough to drag me against my will bring me here to take advantage of me give me this opportunity to widen my horizons because he is a sly con man truly cares about all his people. Long live our young master. So as he built the concrete pillar in the ocean to support the mermaid statue, I used my time to search for useful books and walk around the city trying to meet someone from the Academy on vacation or something like that, since independent mages are quite rare.

Construction was nearing its end and as the Gigatian attack drew near, there was only one thought in this stupid head of mine:

Holy shit I am going to die.

Now, dear readers, you must wonder why in hell did I decide to go if I was scared of dying. Well, I shall answer your worries with a flashback. Everyone has a few of these before kicking the bucket, right?

* * *
An ordinary day. Buffed orcs walking around the estate mining and building with buffed engineers. The Baron spots me in the middle of his walk and gives me his usual thumbs up and a face that says hey! I didn't tell anyone that you give my son money, don't worry! which, to be completely honest, I can't decide if I should indeed not worry, worry a lot or just laugh.

Tomorrow they leave for Cremo. They, as in me not included, because I am not about to be this stupid. (Hey, couldn’t you have left this out, author?)

Still… let's just, uh, weigh my options and the possibilities. I know from the original story that no one died during that attack, not a single person. Not only did they defeat the oversized lobster, the summons also saved many on their way, putting off fires, eating rubbles and fishing people out of the freezing sea. No deaths, so I shouldn't have to worry, and I wouldn't if I weren't someone from outside the story. I can't count on the fact that what didn't happen to all of them won't happen to me as well, because I shouldn't even be here in the first place. Going a bit farther, I have more chances of surviving because of my magic, which doesn't make me a Wonder Woman but it's still better than average. I wouldn't fight — I can't and don't want to if the story is to stay the same — and I'd just stay out of sight, maybe helping in the rescue while the overpowered MCs cook the Gigatian. If I waited on the other side of the port, that is, the part less damaged by the monster, I'd stay away from its path and close enough to start rescue right away.

But there's no guarantee. What if me acting a certain way because I know the future changes it exactly because I know what happens? You know, Oogway once said we meet our fates in the path we take to avoid them. Or something like that.

I can't help imagining how everything would be fine as long as I stayed at Frontera. What fun would that be? you might wonder, but dying is nothing too fun either.

Speaking of death, did I kick the bucket before coming here? Did I die or… I don't know, is my body just waiting for me to go back?

…Just like Suho’s?

I remember being said in the story that his body is kind of resting, sleeping or something like that, so is it the same with mine? But Suho just went to sleep and woke up here while I hit my head on the ground. Does one die from tripping on the street?

No, no! What am I thinking? Suho Kim’s also a character, not another real person reincarnated into this story, get a hold of yourself, Ilya!

Wait… Ilya? That’s not my-

[Ok, that is quite enough, don’t you think? It is too early. Let us go back to the story.]
***

In a nutshell, I decided to go because there's a chance I don't actually die. I mean, it wouldn't be nice if I did, maybe I'd get sent back home, or to the beginning of the story, or just really hit the boots and that's it. But If I don't die, I only have to gain from this trip.

Rationally speaking, I don't think there are any good guys in the story who’s under Lloyd’s leadership that dies. What are the chances of me dying then? Please don't correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, COME ON! If you were in my shoes, would you really stay behind for safety's sake instead of following the trustworthy main characters in an exciting, once in a lifetime trip? I never really got the chance to travel much in the real world, okay? Imagine the views, the food, the people, the money I can make there!

Author’s disclaimer: Suho's not the only broke real-world person in this story.

Anyway, I actually made some non-monetary profit: met some people, bought some books and could watch the protagonists working their asses off. A pretty good deal. That is, until I had to work too.

I'm sure you remember the fight against the Gigatian, and let me tell you, it looked like the world was about to end. That lobster was just that enormous, you see. As the chaos set itself in the port, I did what I could. And by that I mean I stayed hidden out of the monster's route until Lloyd and Javier lured him out of the city. I couldn't watch the actual fight even if I really wanted to. I couldn't just run all the way there, and there isn't exactly an Uber I can get, I guess. And now's the part where I really did what I could. Two of Lloyd's summons stayed back to help save the people, so I tried to focus on places they weren't. Putting away fires, lifting rubble, helping people move to improvised medical stations, the things you’d expect in this situation. Good thing instead of slacking off while Lloyd and Javier worked, I also read and trained different magics convenient to help in this disaster

And there was this girl. She looked 8 or 9 years old and kept following me around every time I left to help somewhere. I guess she thought I didn't notice her, and she didn't look injured, so I let her be. When I feigned surprise seeing her around, I told her to stay with the doctors to rest, and she just nodded. The rest of the night was still hectic, but somehow we managed to help everyone while loud explosions could be heard far away. Then, there was a noise so deafeningly loud that it made the whole city fall silent. Listening. And when we couldn't feel the trembles from the Gigatian footsteps under our own feet anymore, or listen to the sounds of the intense fight, shouts of relief and joy erupted among the people. The guards, the sailsmen, the children, the rescued. Dusted hands in the air, smiles, cheers.

But all I could silently think of was how long would we need to wait until Lloyd wakes up again.

Javier tried not to show, but painfully so, he looked utterly… devastated, if I dare. When he brought back Lloyd’s limp body, barely breathing and scaring away all physicians Count Cremo could find, the lively city soon turned gloomy. The reconstruction was also a long and tiring process. Many were homeless, depending on the city’s aid and assistance to survive another day until they recuperated what once was a given.

The knight came to check on us and briefly filled us in on the facts. After leaving the men with worried expressions to whisper and lament among themselves, I followed Javier as he dutifully headed back to the Count’s manor, back to Lloyd.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes. Thank you for your concern.”

It looked like it would start raining anytime now, but that didn't hold the city down. We strolled through the streets, walking around constructions in progress, doctors' tents and kids trying to help their families and friends with a single wooden board. Guess all works are able to come together thanks to their small parts.

I didn't want to see him. I mean, I wouldn't be of any help, would I? I know I'm a reader, and as one I've seen him confident but also vulnerable. Brave but scared. Strong but weak. However, as Ilya, I've only seen him fearless. I'm not sure how I would feel seeing him now, personally.

But it's alright. He'll be back on his feet in no time, asking for a bonus for saving the city. That's how the story unchangeably goes. Before we could get any closer to the manor, my steps came to a halt, and so did Javier's, looking back.

“He'll be fine.” I wasn't sure what kind of face I was making at that moment, but Javier's only changed when I finished speaking, “he always is.”

With a late nod, he resumed his walking, hopefully feeling somewhat reassured. Or perhaps just wondering if I actually care about Lloyd or not.

“Auntie!”

Auntie? Come on, I'm not even in my thirties yet!

“Hey. What can I do for you?” I crouched down to Niita’s level, who came up to me running but now was looking away, fidgeting with her fingers.

Remember the girl who kept watching me as I rescued people and stuff? That's her. Niita. Aside from her name, I found out three other things about her: first, she's not from Cremo, but from a snowy village on the other side of the ocean, second, how she looks younger but is actually 11 years old, and third…

“Please teach me magic!”

Followed by a nervous little girl, I reached a secluded place, close enough to the city. Everyone was already busy enough, there wasn't really a reason to walk further away.

“Who's with your brother?”

“He's with the aunties who give food and clothes in the big stall.”

“Good. Got your water and food?”

“Y-yes!”

“You'll get hungry after or even during the training, so whenever you feel like, let me know and we'll take a break.”

Niita nodded. I hung my bag and hers on a branch and turned to talk to the girl. It's wild how she looks so small and lost in this big world. Her dark, straight hair was tied up like mine, per her request, and parts of her brown skin was covered in bandages from small, old cuts and bruises, probably already healed but she didn't bother or couldn't take them off.

I crouched down to look at her and used my best serious face, raising an index finger.

“I'll teach you, Niita. But this power is only for people with a pure heart, okay? It can only be used for good. The magic gets sad if it's used for evil”

“It does?”

“Yes. It gets so, so sad it hurts your heart until you get sad too.”

“Wow. That sounds scary.”

“That’s because it is. But you won't have trouble with that, will you?”

“N-no!” The girl shook his head hurriedly.

“Good.” I stood up and looked around. “Also… call me Ilya.”

“Auntie Ilya?”

“No, no, just Ilya.”

“But you’re older. And very nice. The aunties say I need to be respectful with nice people.”

“And what do you do to bad people?”

“Kick their knees and run.”

“Got it. Call me whatever you like.”

After some thought, the next day I decided to help her. Even more so when she told me about her younger brother who depends on her and also because when I asked about their parents she just said “it's complicated…”

Well, this situation right now is not complicated at all. She saw me using magic, and wants to learn to use them to help her little brother. Recalling some events from GED, Javier is a prodigy, becoming a knight before even turning 18, so he must've started his training when he was a kid or a young teenager. Niita would need to be one as well to become a great magician before adulthood, but she doesn't have to be one, she just needs the basics.

And that we can work with.

The idea of teaching is a bit… uuurgh. Especially because I had quite a hard time learning by myself even though the old Ilya had already taken the first steps. But I did enough research, and it won't hurt to try.

Besides… I need something to focus on while Lloyd is counting shovels or money instead of sheeps on his beauty sleep.

The first classes went… completely wrong, as expected.

She couldn't feel mana at all. I tried everything, even giving some of my mana to her or controlling it next to the girl but she sensed nothing. I also had the same problem when my training started, although that was because I wasn’t really Ilya, but another person completely unacknowledged of mana and magic. It’s highly possible the OG Ilya was able to manipulate mana at her will, and after using that to my advantage it was only a matter of time, study and practice to get proficient in it too.

It would’ve been easier if she could at least feel mana already, but guess not. Since I didn’t bring my Magic for idiots I: Introduction book with me, I bought one for her and we tackled the theory while also training her resistance with running. Yes, this was based on Lloyd’s training early in the story. I wasn’t about to create a training plan when there was a very good one already done and waiting for me to use.

By the time Lloyd woke up, after the Baron and Baroness came to see him, Niita had caught on to the basics and was still invested in learning. The ladies who watch over her and her brother told me she stopped giving him half her food, and had a very serious expression when saying I need to eat everything to train tomorrow.

And when we came back to Frontera, there were 2 extra people in the carriage.

Chapter Text

I swear I didn't steal two city’s kids.

Here's what happened: when we were about to travel back to Frontera, Lloyd showed up to talk to me for the second time after he woke up, and the topic was completely different from the first one where he wanted to make sure the group was fine.

* * *
“Heard you helped on the day of the attack.”

“A little. You helped a bit more.”

“And also during reconstruction. You didn't have to.”

“Mhm, they didn't need my help that much. I didn't try to steal your job or anything. You're still the engineer.”

“Then I'm guessing you're the teacher?”

My head turned abruptly in his direction. If I had tried to deny, it would be far from the best denial of my life.

“It's nothing serious. You don't have to worry about that, really.”

“I do, actually. You're one of my people, we are in a different place and I'm responsible for you and your actions here.”

My eyebrows furrowed and my feet stopped in the middle of the wooden planks of the pier. A cold breeze came from the sea but I didn't bother to close my coat.

What the hell is he on?

“What if the count dislikes non-regulated professors? Especially an outsider teaching a kid?”

“It's not like I'm teaching black magic or something. Did he say he disliked what I'm doing?”

“That's not the point.”

“That's precisely the point!”

I resisted the urge to stomp my feet, but I could still feel my face turning red. In contrast, the whitest, most oblivious snow started to fall around us. Maybe it would have been nice to closely watch it touching the sea, becoming one with the water as I enjoy the coldness so unfamiliar in my hometown and at Frontera– but I was too busy glaring at the stupidest estate developer. Maybe he noticed how I was at the verge of Mana Blasting his ugly mug— in my dreams —, because he rushed to raise his hands and:

“Ilya, you need to listen to me–”

“I tried to help that girl, I’m still trying! That’s what she wants, I don’t see where that’s harmful, having a mage training in your county,” my huff was followed suit by a puff of cold air. What seemed to be a quick turn in the weather was becoming a storm, but I didn’t feel like looking for shelter, even when the sea waves crashed violently under us or when I felt my nose and hands freezing. I was pissed. Why would he get mad at me for helping a girl? And what the hell was that I’m responsible for you and your actions?

“I know, just– let’s go back first, okay? I don’t want us to become popsicles.”

“You’re explaining what you meant right now, Lloyd.”

“If you want to stay in this open refrigerator, fine by me. But me and my words are coming back to the Inn.”

…

The shitiest estate young master closed the door behind us and, needless to say, I almost really became a popsicle. A quick, precise fire ball lighted up the fireplace and I hung my coat, probably much colder than warmer by now. I crossed my arms, both for emphatic purposes and because I was trembling like a leaf.

“Wanna listen to me now?” I didn’t bother to answer. Had to be careful not to use any modern insults, but wasn’t really in the mood to say you’re spitting bullshit in Shakespearean language.

“Cremo City, as far as I'm concerned, doesn't have a facility or any support for mages,” he started as he made himself pretty comfortable and at home in my bed, halfway crossing one leg over the other. “Starting to teach magic to someone here, especially a little girl, wouldn't be good for both parties. Cremona can't provide her with the stability she needs as a training mage or the opportunities to grow, and if left unwatched, can you guarantee she won't use what she learned for evil?”

“She wouldn't.”

“Would you put your neck on the line to defend that?”

Niita was kind, hesitantly excited, a little clumsy but with the purest heart. It's been a long time since I've… dealt with children, and honestly I was doing just fine before having to interact with kids so often again. I don't want to say she changed me in some way, especially because I've only known her for a few weeks, but I do believe that her desire to protect her brother is far stronger than the greed that consumes ordinary people. This paragraph must be written all over my face because Lloyd didn't wait for my answer.

“She's your problem now.”

“What?”

“Niita and her brother will have a place to stay as soon as we go back, but she'll need your guidance. Anything you two need, our estate will provide.”

I was confused, what does he mean?, then happy, he was not that shitty!, then sad, urgh, can’t believe I’ll have to work, then, “that last part. Can I get that written?”

***
Damn, that was a big ass flashback. So long we’re already back and the kids are nicely settled in the estate — not in my house, thank god. Going back with two kids the count and countess have never seen before made me feel like Lloyd bringing home all types of people and creatures.

Turns out Frontera has something similar to a homeless shelter. The estate is small, so the number of people who need this kind of service was pretty low, while the quality was top-tier, even more now that Lloyd's working his ass off to pay their debt. They are the only children in the shelter, but one of the people in charge knows how to take care of kids so I don’t need to worry about them sleeping under improvised shelters and about her giving her food to her brother. You can’t learn anything on an empty stomach, after all. Also, they were quite surprised with the orcs but the tribe is so friendly they didn’t even have time to be scared of them.

We left Cremo City and I didn’t find out anything about their parents. Somehow, but at the same time expectedly so, I became a sort of guardian. The ladies working and the people living at the shelter often tell me things about the siblings — although I am not that close to her brother — and keep me updated on them.

“Seeing you two from here, you really look like her relative,” a kind smile accompanied the older lady's voice and I almost felt goosebumps.

Maybe the reason why Niita asked me to tie her hair up like mine when we were training in Cremo was because my hair’s also black, but it’s wavy and short in comparison to hers. I never really paid attention to it, but we may also share the same eye color, dark brown. Aside from these things, I don’t think we have many similarities: I guess I’m of average height in Frontera and somewhat tanned while she has round eyes, brown skin and looks like she will be taller than me in no time. I have been noticing she has been getting new clothes from the adults, probably because she’s growing up from the scrawny kid she used to be. I do wonder if her new blackish outfits have any relation to my usual black pants, white blouse with black corset and boots.

“Ahah… Black hair is very common, don’t you think…?”

“Oh I wasn’t talking about your hair,” the woman gazed at the siblings excitedly talking about something while Niita pushed her brother in the swing. “She was quite timid when she got here, but was always so excited to see you and talk about your time together with her brother. She's still a reserved kid, but she's opening up. Just like you.”

“Me?” I laughed awkwardly. “I may appear younger to you, ma'am, but I'm 26 years old.”

“My dear, I know you. We took care of you years ago, but when you grew up you used to stay inside all day… until recently.”

Wait, wait, wait, whaaat? They used to take care of Ilya? They, as in the people in the shelter? And years ago, like she was raised by them?

I can’t believe all this time I’ve never really tried to find out who Ilya really is.

“That’s why I said you two are rather similar. But I guess you do share the same hair color too.”

The lady left, and without me even noticing, my hand reached for the stone in my pocket and I tightened my fingers around it. After calling Niita to tell her to stroll in the city with her brother in the afternoon, I went home and finally opened the box of my order from Cremo: a brown waist accessory — two belts and two small bags —, and something similar to a long, black waist rope in a kind of nordic style, with a 5cm ring with adjustable space to safely fit a jewel.

I don’t know much about Ilya, but I have a strong feeling this black stone I found in her house next to a simple and worn off rope holds some meaning for her. That feeling when you leave home and you forget your watch or your earphones… I felt it whenever I left this house without the stone, so I started to carry it around with me in my pocket. Eventually it started to bother me how she probably used it as a necklace every day — hence the old rope — but I only tossed it in my pocket and went out and about for my day.

After inspecting the first item, which was quite plain and common for adventurers and people who carry tools everywhere (valid to mention that’s not my case, they were just cheap and cool), I placed the wooden box aside, still open, and held the waist rope. The stone fit perfectly; it was a nuisance to find someone in Cremo who would craft something to hold it instead of attaching them together but the search was worth it. Shoot, I completely forgot about a curious merchant who saw me calling it a “stone” and meddled between me and the artisan because how could you mistake a black sapphire with a mere colored stone?. I stood up and put on the rope around my waist with the jewel weighing on my side and the belts over it. I may not be that fashioned, but at least the stone matches my eyes and hair. Besides, in an estate where the heir is seen as a mole cricket, I can’t really be judged, can I?

I’ve been focused on training Niita, but I didn’t let my own practice lacking. Magic has many possibilities to which I have been very incompetent to explore, until I remembered that nothing is created, everything is copied, so I started to use video games, books and movies as references when using magic. I could also do the same with swords if I used one, but I’m too much of a coward for that; with all due respect, I ain’t using a shovel, so magic is the safest. I kept training at night, sometimes showing one or two new uses for magic that I’ve somehow polished to keep her motivated — and because I like the kid — but all of that made me ignore a growing matter. Until one day I was with Niita as usual in the training field, then it started. Kids first, most of them I’ve never seen before. Then their friends. Cousins. Parents. Grandparents even.

One by one, asking me to teach them as well.

“What’s that commotion?”

“I don’t know either, My Lord.”

Great, and here comes the duo to check in another chaotic setting I've started. Fantastic job at keeping yourself out of their sight, Ilya.

“Oh, they’re not fighting or anything. What’s going on, Ilya?”

“They, uh, are here to watch the training,” I answered Lloyd vaguely, hoping he’d leave. But since nothing in this story goes my way, he decided it was wise to pry.

“Is that so? They seem very interested, why’s that?”

Urgh, now I have to give him an excuse good enough for him to go back to build things for other people so they can pay him back by being his contractual slaves. Hmm, why’s no one impressed by Javier? Is it because it’s more common to have a genius sword master than a magician? If that’s the case, it’s no wonder the Frontera citizens are more impressed by fire balls and ice blades.

“That’s because, well, we- I mean, the estate doesn’t have any magicians. They told me they were very surprised,” To be honest, I got surprised with my own lie — pretty good, and it has a tad of truth, “which I understand, but it’s making Niita a little uncomfortable, so I was about to ask them to leave.”

“Oh, got it. Do you want us to help talk to them?”

“Oh no, no.” Leave! Kindly, please, “it’s fine, but th-”

“Look! It’s Young Master Lloyd.”

“Where?”

“There, talking to Miss Ilya!”

“Let’s ask him to convince her!”

The crowd started to walk towards us, fast enough that Lloyd only had time to glance at me with a quirked eyebrow.

“Good day, my dear people,” his arms were benevolently open. “Do tell me, what is it that troubles you?” Wow, look at him go, looking like a priest who’s about to feed the starving just enough for them to die as sacrificed lamb inside their god's crimson cathedral. Or as a sly salesperson, not much of a difference to note.

“My Lord, we ask you to convince Miss Ilya to teach us magic and train us just like she does to this young girl,” one of the women from the group spoke.

“Oh, so that’s why you’re all here.”

And there goes my lie.

The matter took such proportions that I ended up at the Baron’s manor, again, but specifically at his office and this time with a different purpose.

“As you said yourself back in Cremo, I’m not a licensed magic teacher or anything. I admit that I wanted to help Niita and ended up getting attached to her, that’s why I do what’s possible for me. but this-” I gestured with my arms trying to symbolize the dozens of people from earlier, “is out of my capabilities.”

Let me be honest: I am a teacher. Or better, I was, in the real world. Which absolutely does not mean I know what I am doing while teaching magic here. I haven’t thought of any possible parallels between fire spells and language grammar rules yet, although sometimes I remember my past experiences in some situations with Niita. Gotta say, teaching spells, mana control and physical resistance is much more fun, and I have zero pressure and stress from students, parents, bosses… it’s education at its purest form.

And all that peace and fun will go away if I take 30 students and go back to being an overworked underpaid stressed professor with more students than she can handle. I’m free from that already, and I don’t need to go through it all again, not when I haven’t been this comfortable with my “job” in ages. Maybe, in that sense, Lloyd and I are alike. We both had our share of dissatisfaction and hopelessness towards the world we lived, studied and worked, but enduring the disappointment and exploitation was needed for us to survive another day. Study, work, earn money, spend money, study, work, earn money, spend money. Suho got tired. And me too.

In summary, I’m a traumatized teacher. Not exactly an endangered species.

But of course, Lloyd sees this as an opportunity to earn money.

“I have your best interest in mind, dear Ilya. If you could just take a look at this contract-”

“Thank you,” my sigh interrupted him, and also hopefully made me not sound too rude, “but I can’t. I don’t want to.”

I shouldn’t have, but I was actually surprised he already had a contract drawn for me. Was he expecting this, just from knowing I was training with Niita in open spaces? In any case, I have no clue about what he wants in return since I left without reading the deal and further insistence.

On my way back, I couldn’t help but notice how schools and daycare centers here at Frontera are a rarity, going by without getting much attention. Not that that’s my problem. Since the crowd had startled Niita a little, I told her we could train later somewhere else. Before that, I had to buy some basic medical supplies for my hands. For me, fire spells are one of the most dangerous ones I could teach her, plus the fact that she’s still a kid. Thankfully, she seems more interested in ice and wind for now, which is not free of danger but, well, it’ll be fine.

We are progressing at a slow but safe pace, but still sometimes her hands get injured from her magic. And since I train with her during the day and try out new spells at night, my fingers and forearms often get small frostbite bruises which my mana circulation takes care of faster than usual, but still hurts like hell.

At night, sitting on the ground in my usual training place by myself after a few hours of practice, I bitterly regret complaining about small frostbites. Why?, you may wonder.

You see, frostbites are normal.

Freaking plants literally growing from my arms-? Not very much.

pstt, this is an attempt of bloopers, not related to the story or the fic. feel free to skip!

Talking to Lloyd about music...
“Hey, did you use to listen to North American pop music?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Well, there’s this song that reminds me of you.”
“Oh really? Which?”
"Say no more counting dollars, we’ll be counting stars / take that money, watch it burn~"
"If people burning money makes you think of me of all people, I must be doing something extremely wrong.”

Talking to Lloyd about music, again…
“You know, the last time you just wanted to piss me off.”
“But this one really is just like you!”
“...Fine. If it’s not, you’ll have to work a week on construction.”
“Urgh.”
“What, too good for that?”
“Listen- the song’s Sossego by Tim Maia, a Brazilian singer. Sossego means slack.”
“Go on.”
“Darn it, don't bother me / With this talk about work / Can't you see, I'm not in that / What I want? / Slack, I want slack.
Hehe, like it? Sounds just like you.”
“...Work starts tomorrow at 6.”
“What?! Why?”
“Because of the first song. If i were you I'd go to bed early.”

Chapter Text

Earth magic. I had Avatar in mind and I thought I'd learn how to aim pieces of earth at enemies while looking cool doing some kicking motions. Turns out I can't—yet. Apparently what I can do is accelerate the speed of plant growth, or rapid soil fertilization, I'm not really sure. I'm about two planets away from earthbending but at least now I'm a very good farmer with mother-nature-like hacking codes.

And the leaves and flowers growing from my arms? After almost having a heart attack at the sight, I noticed they didn’t really hurt, probably because they weren't real plants, but some sort of condensed magic shaped in those forms. I think they were caused by a prolonged use of the spells, and as soon as I stopped, they detached from my skin and disappeared after touching the ground. I couldn't use any spells for a whole day and my body felt incredibly sore. I already suspected it, but now I'm pretty sure magic can be trained like a muscle: the more you use it, the greater is the strain on your body, so you have to train moderately to increase the time you have and spells you can use without overexerting yourself.

That's kinda cool actually. Magic is literally something from another world to me, but still it isn't out of logic.

Also, I need to know who Ilya really is. But I can’t seem to find time for that because I’m constantly failing in staying out of the plot, also improving my skills so I don’t have to depend on the protagonists and I still gotta train my only student.

Oh, and speaking of working even in a fictional world — perhaps the real horror lies there? — I haven't been able to sleep a blink for three or four days straight. On the bright side, Lloyd hasn't pestered and stalked me to actually comply with his request of teaching the people from Frontera. On the not-so-bright side, he hasn't done anything. Said anything. Offered anything. As a reader, I refuse to let myself be fooled by him, of course he didn't give up. It's a great opportunity for him to make more money at other people's expenses and work, which is why he must be thinking over manipulation or bribing strategies to convince me. And I've been lying awake trying to catch clues of what’s on his mind, what he might try tomorrow, and how to not fall for it. Money, house upgrades, perhaps a trip to the capital or worse, some sort of training program for aspiring teachers at the Academy. God no. It occurred to me he might have more wild offers, like borrowing Javier or one of his summons once a week, or even summoning a new creature just for me — he did tell the townspeople and everyone else he is a summon genius — which oh Lord I would go crazy over it… But I mustn't fall for it!

I don't absolutely despise teaching or being a teacher; if I did, why would I still train with Niita hours on end? But in my real life, past life, the previous season, backstory or whatever you decide to call it, I wasn't happy with it. Much dramatic, but 18 years old me was devastated when she found out the world wasn’t a fairy tale where you can choose to work with what makes you happy. At least not for all of us. I got too many jobs, stayed too long at college, and one day I didn't have the strength for more than to stare at the ceiling from my bed, with rivers for eyes.

That's just the way the world works. Ain’t funny, pretty or sweet.

Lloyd went through the same struggle. He had to work to the bone just to have a place to sleep and food of questionable quality to eat. What I find fascinating, however, is how he managed not to go insane. Not to break. Not to give up. He had it so much harder than me, but there is he, using what he knows to help people — and himself too, of course. And here am I, refusing to help people with what I know, basically avoiding it like the plague.

Hey, you! Don’t judge me, would you really be willing to work after being isekaid? You wouldn’t, right? People in novels get to live lazily. Uh, Suho can’t, but I'm not the main character, he is! You bet, this is a side-characters-only benefit! …What, what’d you mean I can’t say that because technically I’m a protagonist too? Really, author? And when were you going to tell me that, on Christmas? Nuh-uh, I don’t want t-

[Just tell them what happened, okay?]

Guys. I have been enlightened by revelations. But never mind the fact I’m kind of tied by the narrative, you’re not gonna believe what Lloyd had been up to.

A peaceful morning, me sipping on my coffee when this guy slides the contract under my door. Alright, not much of a problem. I didn’t bother to read beyond Service provision contract between Lloyd Frontera and Ilya so I just left the paper over one of the shelves. Later when I met Niita for training, she gave me a rolled up paper with a sort of sticky note on it that said “Read me, pretty please ‪♡”, and told me a hooded guy in a rush asked her to hand it to me. Dude. But okay, no big deal. I threw it on my bag and at home threw it over the first one. I went to the market to buy food and there was another one glued to my window when I came back. It even got ripped in pieces because there was glue everywhere! And when I was using a small fire from the tip of my fingers to get the remains of the glue off the glass, I caught him right next to my house, red-handed, already holding up another contract to glue it directly to my wall. The work it’d be to take it off!

— Hey! — I called while walking over to him with the crumpled paper on my palm.

— Oh, hi!

— “Oh, hi!”?

— Uh, good afternoon?

— What’re you doing to my windows and walls?

— They’re a little plain. I’m adding some color.

— With white paper? — There’s your greatest estate developer and the reason why he’s not the greatest estate architect.

— Yes, but it has some tiny little black drawings on them. You should check them out sometime.

— Already did, — I lifted my hand and slowly opened it, revealing said white paper with tiny little black drawings, now in ashes dropping to the ground.

Lloyd’s shoulders slumped down, and I almost felt bad for him when he turned around to leave, but when I was about to apologize for literally burning his handwritten contract he scurred over to me again.

— Good thing I have 10 more! — He promptly placed another contract on my hand, which I burnt on the spot.

Ten more? Was he planning on covering my house with them or what? I prayed he was joking; by the look on his face when he remembered I was a magician — I wonder how he managed to forget that — and hurried to reach a bag laying by my house with papers and glue sticking out, I realized he wasn’t.

A swift, precise fireball traveled from my right hand to said bag, turning everything into a pile of ashes and some sparks almost hit his extended hand. I sighed and after I turned back home I told him:

— Send me the bill.

I know, it was harsh. But before you feel bad for him, know he got back at me.

He used the orcs. I obviously couldn’t just dismiss or ignore them because 1- They are much too kind and 2- I don’t want to get on their bad side. This led me to often stand in the middle of the road on my way to do whatever but being delayed for a few minutes being told all about how I should do whatever it was that Lloyd was asking me because, and I quote, “He looks very sad, oink.” Thank god he didn’t seem angry. I would always end up promising them I would think it over, and it took a while to get them on my side.

— Uhm, think of an exercise you don’t like to do.

— We like all exercises, oink! Our bodies have to be equally muscular, oink, — one of the orcs stated convictionally and the other two eagerly nodded.

— Right. So… imagine having to train in the cold weather.

— That's how we keep warmed up, oink. We don't like the cold, oink!

— Uh, and when it's very hot?

— We only dive in the river after finishing our training, oink. It's very motivating, oink!

— Urgh, you can drop the oinks, there was enough of it in the original story already. The readers will get tired of it.

— What do you mean, oink?

— Nothing. Just- imagine that you hunted and ate a very good meat, — I started slowly, waiting for them to follow, — but after that, all you have left to eat is this same meat.

— That's not a problem, oink! We like meat a lot, oink.

— Yeah, but you won't be able to eat anything else, at all, for the rest of your lives. — I punctuated every pause with a step towards the trio, who finally seemed to have faltered in their resolve.

And you have to strike while the iron is hot.

— No other types of meat, no fish, no fruits, not even soup. What if repetition impacts your diet and your muscle gain? I'm sure you have tasted human food by now… — the way they slightly flinched at that was funny given how my neck was almost cracking from looking up during this whole conversation. — Bread, eggs, vegetables, do you know how good milk is for your bones? And you can't get more muscles with weak bones, can you?

As if their quiet, reflective head shakes weren't enough of an answer, each mumbled in almost guilt:

— I really like fish, oink…

— I really like red berries, oink…

— I really should drink more milk, oink…

I sighed with satisfaction and took a step back. My neck was starting to hurt.

— What Lloyd is asking of me is similar to that.

— Is it, oink?

— Yeah, sort of. — I scratched the back of my head, — you guys might like the meat, but being forced to eat it in order to survive- to gain muscles, every day… it wouldn't be very good. You would get sick of it… Tired of it.

— Master Lloyd is very cruel with Miss Ilya.

My snort was followed shut by a dismissive wave of my right hand.

— He's not. I mean, he can be apocalyptically devilish at times, but he's nice. I, uh, owe him a lot, — first and foremost as a reader. — Not enough to eat the same food for the rest of my life though. Wait, did you just forget to say oink?

— No, I didn't. Oink.

— I think you did.

— We don't forget, it's natural for us to say it. Oink.

— But you forgot. Just now.

— We should go back and talk to Master Lloyd. Oink.

— Stop emphasizing the oinks!

The orcs marched back to the baron’s manor with a final nod. Albeit so far I couldn't see Lloyd standing at his bedroom window, I knew he'd be watching from there, so I dramatically waved on tiptoes at him in the distance. When I turned around to follow on with my day, Javier stared at me horrified from across the road after witnessing the scene. Not again.

— This is- this is not what you're- urgh, forget it.

You would've thought that after that he didn't insist anymore. But in the next few days he resorted to all kinds of plans to make me read the damn contract. He placed it among magic rolled up papers at the market, stood outside with an improvised megaphone — which, come on, he doesn't even need one! — and Javier had to drag him back before one of my ice blades could finally hit him, had the audacity to send his summons and tell them to fake sadness if I declined them. I almost gave in that day. The last I heard Javier had to stop him from making a gigantic contract for Hammang to hold it in front of my house, while all Frontera watched. For god’s sake, when is the plot continuing, where is the royal messenger to call Lloyd to the capital? Just jump to the next arc already!

Despite all of this, not once did the interested townspeople talk to me or Niita again.

I was getting almost paranoid, and just as it crossed my mind to suggest Niita to have more theoretical classes inside my house, he suddenly stopped. Which only made matters worse because I had no idea why. And I let some days pass by before I knocked on his door, decided that I needed an actual conversation with him.

— You stopped pestering me. I came to know why, because you doing nothing is somehow scarier than you trying to shape my blankets into a contract.

— Does that mean you changed your mind?

— No.

— Tsk.

— But what made you change yours?

— Well, I figured something.

— Yeah? In just a week? Or did someone figure something out for you?

— That is completely unimportant. What matters is that you probably have your reasons, whatever they may be. Reasons I can't understand — he sat on the couch across from me, with his hands together over his legs, and I hated how suddenly he wasn’t just goofy and unserious. — You're not stupid or anything, it's not like you can't see the benefits or comprehend the deal; it was actually me who couldn't stand in your shoes. What I'm offering is not what matters to you, but what I need in return.

The smirk faded from my face. He knew. And the person who told him that knew too. This girl is so messed up on the head she won't teach for anything in this world. And I found myself darting my eyes from him to the ground, suddenly feeling like I was ripped from my armor, as if someone had run off with my shield that allowed me to be whoever I wanted without fear of being judged, or worse, seen. The liberty I had been feeling since I got here, tied to the fact that I acted this whole time like this is just a game and the outcome doesn’t really matter… all this confidence vanished. I felt naked. And it was infuriating how my face acted as if I really was. My cold palm quietly met my hot face, somehow trying to appear less embarrassed.

This is so stupid. At this point, everyone in this whole estate must think the same. Why can't she? What made her be so adamantly against it? She hates us. Must hate that little girl too. It's only a matter of time before she runs out of-.

— And I wanted to let you know, I spoke to the townspeople. And they understand.

I blinked twice and my eyebrows met in confusion. Understand? What could they possibly understand?

— I told them I couldn't just order you around or force you to work for me. Not when you haven't signed an abusive contract — he muttered that last part more at himself than me. Seriously, this guy. — They came over to me not too long ago, worried that it might somehow be their fault that you’re against it. I reassured them, saying I was doing my best to convince you, but just when I realized I couldn't, they came over again.

— ... What'd they say?

— Sorry. For putting so much pressure on you. They didn't point fingers or anything, but simply…— he shrugged while looking for the right word, — understood you.

I came here to tell him all about how I didn't want to transform an enjoyable thing into work. I feel somewhat responsible for Niita, but I'm not obligated to teach her. I never feel weighted down by it but maybe I would if I had to teach dozens, hundreds of people at once. I came here to tell him that, but I don't think I should anymore.

I sighed heavily and scratched my head. I don't have a stone for heart. It caught my attention how schools here don't get as much attention as other facilities in the estate, and perhaps he's trying to change that. In the future, Frontera turns into the strongest estate of Lorasia due to its absurd army, firepower and a cunning but well prepared leader. Maybe, if it's in my way, maybe we could add another one to that list.

— Put the contracts you hid under the couch away. Let's talk.