I Have been Reincarnated As a Lazy, Arrogant Noble, but When I Destroyed The Scenario Through Effort, I Became The Most Powerful With Extraordinary Magical Power - 56.0

Interlude: The Strongest Goddess in the World

The place where I was born was the lowest, the worst, and the best.

“Hey, give it back.”

“If you want it, try taking it by force.”

At the top of a place piled with heaps of garbage, I had my toy snatched away by someone.

With a hefty build and a strong presence, his name was King.

His short hair and lifted eyes were quite befitting of someone called King.

Though that’s not his real name. We call him that because he said to, so it can’t be helped.

“King, just give it back!”

“Yeah, that’s right!”

“Shut up! This is mine!”

Many orphans like us have gathered here, each for various reasons. War, slavery, abandoned children – I’ve heard stories of misfortune endlessly.

What we all have in common is that we make our living by picking up trash.

King is around the same age as me, about 8 or 9 years old. Unlike me, he’s a boy, so he’s strong.

“I found this first. Don’t just steal it.”

“Lies, I found it!”

“Hey, then I’ll take it by force—nooooaahh!”

In the next moment, King was kicked hard from the side, rolling down the garbage slope.

The only one who can do something like that without hesitation is Eva-chan.

“Here you go, little doll. Honestly, you’re always getting bullied.”

“Uh, t-thank you.”

She has long, silky white hair. Unlike my pitch-black hair, it’s beautiful and suits her well.

Despite being a girl, she’s strong and even braver than the boys.

I admire her.

“Hey, Eva! What will you do if I die!?”

“I wonder? I might give you a half-hearted apology. King.”

The place we’re in right now is mostly made up of trash from the capital city.

There are hidden treasures within, and the popular items become the center of attention.

I don’t really dislike King, all things considered.

And then there’s Eva-chan, whom I love. The three of us often spend time together.

Of course, I don’t have parents either.

Well, they must exist, but I don’t know where they are.

I don’t even have memories.

“…Hey, King, you stink. Do you take baths regularly?”

“Once a week. Can’t afford to be that extravagant! Besides, you stink too.”

“Me? That can’t be. I just took one earlier.”

Come to think of it, Eva-chan does seem fresh and clean. And she smells nice.

Could it be…

“Eva-chan, are you at it again?”

“Hehehe, I snuck in.”

“You’ll get caught and killed…”

“That might happen. But I like living freely.”

Eva-chan occasionally sneaks into the mansions of borderland nobles to use their bathtubs.

She knows the safe days to do it, but it’s a dangerous act.

Our lives are fragile.

Living here is tough. It’s cold in winter and scorching hot in summer.

But at least we have our freedom.

If only we had money… Life would be perfect.

“And while we’re at it, here.”

“…Eva-chan, is this… a Melomelon!?”

She took out an enormous fruit from her pocket.

It had a beautiful net-like pattern and a tempting color.

Someone said it’s full of fruit and incredibly delicious.

“Let’s all share it. Except you, King.”

“Hey, why!?”

“Just apologize properly.”

Eva-chan takes care of us kids here, mediating between us.

In this wretched place, she’s the only one who always lives gracefully.

She doesn’t show weakness, always has a smile, and seems to be enjoying herself.

How can she be so… strong?

“…Sorry. My bad.”

And then King bowed his head towards me.

With his shoulders slumped, he looked quite cute.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hey, don’t laugh!”

“Sorry, sorry. Well, I’ll forgive you this time, in Eva-chan’s name.”

“Hehehe, that’s nice. Let’s live more freely. All of us here—the children living in this place—are the freest people in the world.”

Those are words that Eva-chan often says.

The freest people in the world, that’s us.

“I’ll live more freely than Eva. I’ll enroll at the Noble Magic Academy!”

“Noble Academy?”

I tilted my head. Eva-chan explained further.

“It’s the world’s most prestigious magic academy. Even commoners can take the entrance exam, apparently… but King, you can’t do it. I can, though.”

“What!? I’ll definitely get in!”

“You can’t even beat me.”

“Oh yeah!? Should I show you my real strength!?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Ouch, don’t pinch my cheek, Eva!”

Hehehe, this is the worst and the best place.

But, it’s the best.

▽

“Oh, welcome back!”

One hour’s walk from the garbage dump, in a tiny town that can hardly be called a city, is our home.

Welcoming us is my beloved grandma.

She won’t tell us her name, claiming she forgot. But everyone calls her grandma, and many children live together with her.

Eva-chan only stays with us occasionally. She never tells us where her secret hideout is.

But that’s just like her, the freest girl in the world. I like her mysterious side too.

“King, make sure you wash your hands.”

“Shut up, Eva! You’re always so nitpicky!”

Watching their back-and-forth banter, I can’t help but smile.

We have no money, and can’t indulge in luxuries. But I feel happy.

“How was your day?”

“Not that great… but look, a doll!”

“Oh dear, how cute.”

Since her health declined, grandma can no longer work.

She refuses to take money, saying she has savings, but I want to become rich one day and give her a comfortable life.

And grandma protects us.

From soldiers’ patrols to providing us with meals when we’re short on money, she shelters us, kids with no one else to turn to.

If we were alone, we might have died. If we were lucky, we’d become slaves and be worked to exhaustion.

We all carry darkness in our hearts. Even King occasionally cries alone.

But Eva-chan is different.

Strong, gentle, and never showing weakness.

Everyone wants to escape, but I wouldn’t mind if this life continued forever.

“Alright, go wash your hands. We’ll share the Melomelon.”

Because Eva-chan is always here for us.

“Yes!”

And that first taste of Melomelon was simply… delicious, like it was melting away.

One day, I was at the usual place, the garbage disposal area.

It was morning, a chance when the kids were still sleeping.

Eva-chan’s birthday was coming up.

Even though it was only the day we first met.

That’s why I wanted to give her a present.

And then I found a small necklace.

It sparkled so much, surely it wasn’t real, but I was thrilled beyond measure.

And then, that day…

“Hey, who’s that?”

“Well, why not?”

Two adults were standing in front of me.

People hardly ever come to this place.

And adults are dangerous.

I’ve heard of children being kidnapped in the past.

I’ve had my share of tough experiences outside too.

Rumors say they’re sold as slaves…

I desperately escaped. I know this place better than anyone.

I can definitely get away. That’s what I thought…

“Magic Restraint Magic Rope.”

But suddenly, a rope flew towards me and bound my body.

I couldn’t move. I fell to the ground, my body hitting hard.

“When did you learn that magic?”

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s straight from the capital city.”

Treated as if I were a monster, they seemed delighted.

…No, I don’t want this… I don’t want to leave this place.

No, no…

“Such a kid, yet so cute. Want to taste her?”

“Idiot. Fresh items sell at a high price. Come on, let’s take her.”

A large hand reached out. No, I don’t want this. I don’t want…

Someone… help…

“Don’t run awa… aahhhhhh! Who the hell are you!?”

“Hey, run away quickly!!!!”

King, with a flying kick, saved me.

And then…

“Ha, to think I’d get done in by a brat, ughhh!”

“Come on, let’s run!”

Next, Eva-chan appeared.

At that moment, the rope around me loosened.

“Ha, what are kids doing here?”

“Don’t think just because we’re kids, you adults can get anything you want from us!”

Surprisingly, King drew a small sword.

And then…

“Yes, don’t underestimate us.”

Eva-chan’s right hand started glowing.

That was… magic.

The two adults’ expressions changed.

It’s unimaginable that kids like us could use magic.

Only trained nobles or children with talent can.

“Hey hey, this is our lucky day. People with magical potential can be sold at a high price. Waking up early paid off!”

“Yeah, but we don’t need boys. Let’s go with the girls.”

However, upon seeing that, the adults drew out large swords and got ready.

How could I…?

I have to fight too…

“What are you doing? Run! Quickly!”

“Go!”

With King and Eva-chan’s strong encouragement, my surprised feet moved.

I’m weak. I am… that’s right.

Then…

“I’ll definitely call for help!!!!!!”

The capital city isn’t too far from here.

Soldiers will surely come. So, I left them behind and hurried.

I ran and ran, even if I got out of breath, even if my heart felt like it would burst, I ran.

But…

“Oh? It’s obviously impossible.”

“Sorry, missy, we’re royal city soldiers. We can’t just let you go off on your own.”

“But, King! Eva-chan! They’ll be killed!”

“Sorry, but if you want this handled as an incident, go through the proper channels.”

No matter how many times I told them… they wouldn’t listen.

Even though I desperately insisted, I was accused of insulting them and got caught.

“Tch, you annoying brat.”

“For now, we’ll lock her up for the night.”

“Let go, let go! I have to go, I have to go!”

King… Eva-chan…

A few days later, grandma came to pick me up.

Even though she was in poor health…

No, more importantly…

“Grandma, King, Eva!”

“… I know. Listen calmly…”

And grandma told me what happened after I fled from the garbage dump.

“… Eva-chan is missing? King… no way…”

I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to hear it.

It’s a lie, it’s a lie.

… King’s body was found in that garbage dump.

With a trembling voice, grandma tearfully recounted how he had been brutally beaten. Apparently, there was a child who had been hiding out of fear at that time and testified about it.

… It’s a lie. I don’t want to believe it.

But Eva-chan was nowhere to be found.

“Those with the potential for magic can be sold at a high price.”

… Eva-chan is definitely alive.

“Listen well, Eva-chan…”

Grandma finally told me what she had been hiding all this time.

Eva-chan was the daughter of a noble.

She only occasionally appeared to avoid suspicion.

The times she supposedly sneaked out were lies. Eva-chan would just come home and take a bath. No, she had no choice but to come home.

She had a bad relationship with her parents, but the details are unknown.

And Eva-chan had apparently been secretly giving the money she took from home to us through grandma.

… Why didn’t she tell us…?

However bad their relationship was, Eva-chan’s disappearance was quickly acknowledged.

While grandma wasn’t blamed based on the testimonies of those around, she apparently couldn’t enter the royal city again.

It’s our… fault.

And the culprits were rumored to be the growing slave traders. After that, I was called in by the soldiers once to testify, but I couldn’t be called again or be informed about the case.

King’s body was taken back to the capital city for investigation, and even we, the kids, couldn’t even say our goodbyes.

But grandma held a funeral for him, so I tried to put my feelings in order.

King was strong. Even him…

Then, a month later, grandma’s condition worsened rapidly.

“I’m really sorry.”

Even though she was so sick, she kept trying to get information about Eva-chan in the capital city. She was denied repeatedly. Despite her health, she walked for over an hour every day.

A week later, grandma passed away, and we all went our separate ways.

“We are the freest people in the world.”

Eva-chan’s words echoed in my mind.

I’ll definitely… find her.

Then I bid farewell to the lowest, the worst, and the best workplace.

I don’t want to remember what happened afterward.

I did terrible things, told countless lies.

And then, a few years later, I found the slave traders who had kidnapped Eva-chan.

But…

“What did you just say?”

“Oh, that guy’s dead. Didn’t know she was a noble’s daughter and things got messy. So we dumped her in the sea…”

“Don’t lie!!!”

“I-I’m not lying! St-st-stop, please, sto-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-op!”

I didn’t want to hear it. I wanted to cover my ears.

But Eva-chan…

“I don’t believe it. She must be alive.”

After that, I tried to find all the slave traders who might have been involved with King and Eva-chan, to get the truth from them, but in the end, I couldn’t find out anything.

I only knew about the first man.

Before I knew it, I had destroyed the largest slave organization at the time.

When it was all over, a sense of emptiness overwhelmed me.

If I could eradicate all the evil in the world, could King and Eva be at peace?

No, slave traders exist all over the world. Even if you kill them, they’ll just keep increasing.

Maybe it’s enough to end it here.

At least… I’ve avenged King.

I’m finally free.

To live… freely.

Just like she said, I’ll become the freest person in the world.

And I decided to become an adventurer.

Because in this world, I can live with the most freedom.

It’s been my dream… since long ago.

“Hello! It’s your first time registering as an adventurer, right? Can you tell me your name?”

“Uh, my name is… Y-…”

… I want to be free.

Then… Eva-chan, may I have your name? Can I be you?

I wanted to be like you. I admired you.

… Please forgive me.

And also, my hair turned somewhat white after that day.

But it made me a little happy, because it was a bit like you.

Hey… can I have King’s name too? Eva King sounds a bit embarrassing, so I’ll take your real name.

You used to say you hated it, but I liked it.

… It was Avery, right?

“The name is… Eva. Eva Avery.”

My name is Eva Avery.

I am the freest people in the world.

Unbound by anyone, not obeying anyone’s orders.

I don’t want to remember or can’t remember my original name.

But to become the freest, I must become the strongest.

I’m tired of being powerless.

So, I’ll become stronger.

A few years later, Eva became the strongest.

No one can stop her, no one can blame her. The freest person, the only one, that’s Eva Avery.

“Noblesse Magic Academy… huh, nostalgic. Maybe I’ll enroll.”

With the best grades, she entered the academy, dominated the underclassmen, won the 11th Student Sword-Magic Cup—.

“… It’s not fun. Maybe I’ll quit the academy. Being free is better, right?”

And then…

After advancing to the intermediate class, during the three-grade joint tag team tournament, Eva listened to the flowing announcements with a faint smile.

“Underclassman number 24, Iore Tolus, incapacitated, incapacitated. Points awarded to Weiss Fancent and Karta Violet.”

“That’s the infamous noble… huh.”

No one defies her, no one tries to surpass her.

Before Eva, who had been leading a boring academy life, appeared a figure emanating murderous intent and magic power—.

Weiss Fancent.

“I’m honored to meet you. Eva… Avery… senpai.”

“Hehe, you must be the famous Weiss-kun. Nice to meet you.”

—It was fun.

Ah, just a bit longer, I want to stay here a bit longer.

Two interesting boys have appeared as well.