I Was Reincarnated As An Instructor In An R18 Game... - Chapter 31

“Long ago, there was a clan of around a hundred people called the Criella, known for their exceptional knowledge of magic and magical tools.”

Croana began to speak quietly.

I gently wrapped my arms around her trembling body.

The Criella clan, I’ve heard of them. To be precise, I came across the name while playing an adventurer in the game. It showed up in some ruins’ inscriptions… but still.

“You probably wouldn’t believe it, looking at this capital, but the women of the clan were all flat-chested… I was around six or seven when I became aware of things, and I already had this body back then.”

“…At seven years old?”

“Yes, surprising, isn’t it? Height, chest… even knowledge. I told you before I was gifted from thirteen, right? That wasn’t a lie, but truthfully, it was more that I knew a lot. …It seems my clan deliberately shaped me like this, forced a kind of ancestral regression on me.”

“Atavism…”

Even without turning, I knew Croana was smiling wryly infront of me.

What the Criella clan attempted was the resurrection of a once-great woman who once belonged to their lineage.

However, the attempt failed. The Criella lacked the technique to make a homunculus to begin with.

So they decided to use a living human instead. They tried to insert the soul of that brilliant woman into a newborn baby.

In terms of results, the experiment was a success. Though the memories weren’t passed on, the knowledge and skills were.

However, the body turned out unexpected.

“My clan, including my parents, began to hate me. Knowledge and skills they didn’t understand… and a body that didn’t match their lineage… It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? Even though they were the ones who created me….”

Then, when she was 10 years old, the topic of engagement came up.

The 14-year-old boy was kind, and his warmth soothed my heart worn down by the clan’s treatment. But then, I overheard it. His family and mine, laughing together about how ugly I was.

The only thing of value to them was Croana’s knowledge, her skills, and the bloodline she could pass down.

Then I came to learn the truth. He had a true fiancée, someone who wasn’t me.

…Seriously? How could something like that even happen?

Croana held my arms tighter and turned to me with a wry smile.

“However, even someone like me had two older sisters who were on my side.”

“…Older sisters.”

‘My sisters cherished me. So they became angry at how I was treated. Then… they annihilated the Criella clan.”

“…Eh?”

“They decided the clan had lost its humanity, and so they destroyed everything, killed them… wiped them out. At that time, I was sent away to the royal capital. So, Reid, the ones you would direct your anger at… no longer exist. That sin was already taken on by my two sisters.”

I could tell from Croana’s pained tone.

Since it was a whole clan, there must have been children and women too.

Anyone else might call it excessive, but I hold deep respect for the actions of her two sisters.

That kind of clan would have been no good even if they had lived.

To think of experimenting on their own child… no matter how gifted, only someone with a broken mind could come up with that.

…Could it be, the sisters at that time?

Maybe sensing it from my expression, Croana smiled gently and spoke.

“I told you earlier, didn’t I? That you, Reid, are the third person I’ve invited here.”

“…That’s a relief.”

“…To be honest, I thought you’d be put off by this story. And yet, you even worried about my sisters… thank you.”

In my arms, she skillfully turned her whole body to face me, straddled me, and wrapped her arms around my neck with a joyful smile.

The reason she called her body ugly wasn’t just because of her figure, but also because it carried her sisters’ karmic burden.

That’s why she saw herself as ugly, and those past events kept her from gaining any self-confidence.

Croana kissed me, then continued speaking.

“I was so afraid, I developed a magic that could detect lies to some extent. That’s the reason I didn’t doubt your words that day, Reid.”

“…In that case, I won’t be able to lie. Are your two sisters… alive even now?”

“They’re alive. I taught them a life-prolonging spell. Right now, they’re traveling, saying they want to see the world.”

Croana rubbed her head against my chest, saying she looked forward to seeing the reaction when she told them she got a lover.

While gently embracing Croana, I combed her glossy black hair with my fingers.

Seeing Croana’s relaxed and happy expression, I couldn’t help but find her adorable.

Suddenly, a black comb floated in gently from the side, surprising me.

“I didn’t expect that… do they also make decisions by themselves, not only act on instructions?”

“Magic is alive, you know. Some spells are fixed, but magical power exists throughout the world. I just gave it a slight consciousness.”

“…So it’s similar to a ghost?”

“That’s a person’s lingering thought. What I’m doing is giving awareness to mana.”

“Come with me, okay?” Croana floated up, stood beside me, and tugged my hand.

I followed her, and upon entering the next room, I was surprised again.

It seemed like a room for creating magical tools, packed with things I didn’t recognize.

The walls were covered in shelves, which held completed magic tools and rare materials.

“This is… amazing.”

“What are you saying? The magic tools I saw at Suzuya had such interesting ideas. To think you’d improve my tools like that.”

“I didn’t improve anything. I didn’t touch the magic tool itself.”

What I did was attach an additional tool to the magic item.

For example, I wrap a pipe around a cooling-type magic tool so it follows its shape.

Then, while activating the magic tool, you run liquid through the pipe and it gets cold.

This is why the drinks at Suzuya are cold.

There aren’t things like pipes in this world, so when I asked the blacksmith guy to make them, he complained.

But thanks to him working hard to make them, we can serve cold drinks at Suzuya.

By the way, the blacksmith old man likes cold ale and sometimes joins the adventurers to drink.

…Oh, with the weather getting warmer, should I ask?

“Hey Croana, do you think we could make something like this using a magic tool that cools and one that blows air?”

“…Hm?”

Using a desk built to match Croana’s height, I sketched something on paper.

One side is open. At the far back, place the wind magic tool. In front of that, place the cooling magic tool.

Right, the idea was to make something like an air conditioner.

Excited and delighted by my proposal, Croana wrapped her arms around my neck.

“This is great! What an interesting idea! Why didn’t I think of it before?”

“Also, I put the cold magic tool in front thinking maybe it could be swapped for a heating one…”

“Good… it’s a good idea! The box shape still needs work, but it can be done. Hey Reid, do you think more ideas will come out of this room?”

“…Is it alright if I get an explanation of the magic tools first?”

As Croana kissed me and smiled cheerfully, I smiled back at her.

No matter what sins they bore, I’m glad she lived and we could meet. I’m only grateful to Croana’s two sisters.

Let’s treat them to a feast at Suzuya when we meet.

–

A ruin deep in a forest, now turned to rubble.

Two young girls stroll there, joyfully observing the wall paintings.

“Achoo.”

“What? It’s not that dusty, is it?”

“…It seems like Croana is happy.”

“How do you get that from a sneeze…?”

“No, I’m certain. There’s no mistake… probably.”

“…It’s already been a year… Should we go see her?”

“Let’s go! I want to see her, I want to snuggle Croana!”

Such joyous voices echoed through the ruins.

Chapter length 2993 characters.