v2 Chapter 2: Haru’s Determination and Reality
After enduring yet another lonely Star-Welcoming Festival, Haru turned thirteen. She found herself constantly thinking about the other woman who came from the same world. If it ever gets too hard, come to me. That’s what she had said. Her name was Shou, according to Dred.
Just as Haru was called Haru instead of Miharu, Shou was probably originally Shouko or something similar. Realizing this made Haru feel just a little better.
But the goddess had provided caretakers for everyone, hadn't she? Wouldn't it be selfish to trouble a fellow reincarnated person by relying on them? Thinking this way made her hesitate to even consider her current life as difficult, especially since she wasn’t struggling for food, clothing, or shelter.
Dred was a rare, active individual in a nation of reclusive magicians. In the Lake Country, there were lakes, forests, and rocky terrain surrounding them—areas from which monsters frequently emerged. The demand for magicians remained high throughout the year. Occasionally, even hunters were called upon. But leaving the country for other territories was almost unheard of.
As a magician’s apprentice, Haru often participated in these hunts. But the efficiency of the hunters’ methods left her speechless. Honestly, she felt that leaving the work entirely to the hunters might be far better than having magicians do it.
However, there was pride at stake. Each territory handles its own matters. That was the way of things. Magicians wanted to hunt their own monsters. More than anything, they loved magic and wanted to use it.
Among them, Dred was different. He frequently left the country. Rumors said he could hunt on par with the best hunters. Ever since Haru had first heard Shou’s name two years ago, she had started paying more attention to those rumors. They were everywhere.
Of course, many young magicians admired Dred.
And Haru?
She felt like Dred looked at her with a touch of disapproval.
Even so, it was still much better than how the other adults in the Lake Country treated her—like an inconvenient stray with too much magic. They intended to keep her under their control until she turned twenty, then use her as they pleased.
Whenever Dred looked at her, Haru felt as if he were silently asking:
"What do you want to do?"
And that, in itself, was proof that he saw her as a person.
Once she turned twenty, she would finally be free.
This world had a long lifespan. She just had to endure seven more years.
On the night of the Star-Welcoming Festival—when everyone aged together—Haru sat alone in her dormitory and made up her mind. I will survive.
But that resolve was quickly shattered.
Shou was an apprentice healer with exceptional talent. Even among the younger trainees, she was allowed to travel to distant towns under the guidance of a master. Sometimes, she was stationed with the rear support unit during hunts. However, she was never truly left without adult supervision.
In towns and villages, it wasn’t a matter of life or death. But on the battlefield, it was. Until she turned fifteen and became a proper apprentice, she wouldn’t be left alone.
But what about Haru?
As a young apprentice magician, what was her role?
She was bait.
It had happened almost immediately after she had been taken in.
During what was supposed to be an observational training exercise, a monster charged toward the group of apprentices stationed in the rear.
If she had remained calm, one monster wouldn’t have been a major threat. But Haru had never faced such a thing before. It was a massive, lizard-like creature. And it terrified her.
Panicked, she unleashed a fire spell with all her strength—the one she had just learned. It felt like the most effective option.
Of course, the monster was incinerated, not even ash remaining.
But that wasn’t the problem.
Her outburst of magical power attracted every monster in the area.
Haru was paralyzed with fear. The other young apprentices panicked and scattered.
But the magicians?
They were ecstatic.
As long as Haru was there, they could efficiently exterminate the monsters.
But isn’t using a person as bait dangerous?
Yes. It was.
Haru had been injured countless times.
But this was a world where potions could fix anything.
As long as she carried potions, even if she got hurt, she could recover.
Normally, a parent would put a stop to such a practice. If not, then a guardian would.
But Haru didn’t have a guardian.
She had a technical caretaker, but no real one.
The other young apprentices still kept their distance. She had no friends.
And now, after the incident, the parents of the other children had warned them to stay away from Haru—because she was dangerous.
This world cherished its children.
That much was true.
But a child with no one looking out for them?
They had already been cast out of that world.
Haru didn’t want to get hurt.
Even if she healed, the pain was real.
So, to protect herself, she kept training her offensive magic—until she could survive even if a stray monster attacked her.
She no longer had the luxury of thinking about what it meant to protect others.
Three years passed that way.
The third Star-Welcoming Festival had come and gone.
Autumn arrived in the Lake Country.
The autumn foliage was beautiful.
Amidst the evergreen trees, the reds and yellows of those preparing to shed their leaves stood out vividly—one last declaration before winter.
Autumn and winter also marked the peak season for monster appearances.
It happened during a large-scale hunt.
As usual, Haru unleashed a powerful spell to act as bait.
But this time, there were too many monsters.
The adults were so focused on hunting that no one was watching Haru.
She continued using her magic, fending off the incoming monsters.
Then, suddenly—
A fire spell was launched near her.
Reacting instantly, Haru shielded herself with wind magic, avoiding burns.
But the explosion sent her flying.
She lost consciousness.
By the time the adults noticed, she had already suffered multiple fractures—her right collarbone, shoulder, and femur were broken.
And worse—too much time had passed for potions to be fully effective.
