I and Marc-san sat in front of that old man.
I stared at him with full curiosity… this old man is the guildmaster?
"Etto… Nals-san, do you still remember me?" (Marc)
"I'm Marc, Marc Leiwenz—"
"Marc… huh? Where's William? Usually you two always come here together, right?" (Nals-san asked)
Marc-san's expression immediately changed.
"Nals-san, have you heard about the case involving Count Brigend?"
Nals-san nodded in understanding.
"Really?...." (Nals-san)
Nals, an old man who was already 78 years old. Even though he looked doubtful, his abilities were highly admired, allowing him to become a guildmaster. (N)
And one more thing, Nals still had a very sharp mind.
After bowing his head for a while, Nals-san now looked at me and then at Marc-san.
"Marc, who is this little girl?" (He asked)
"This is Anna, William's daughter." (Marc)
"William's daughter… so what are you two planning to do by coming here today?" (Nals)
"You're not planning something with big consequences, are you?"
"Nals-san, please save Papa and Mama!!" (I bowed toward Nals-san)
Nals-san was silent for a few moments.
"Little girl, I also want to help you, but I can't do anything." (Nals)
"Unless, if you have something you want to do… then I'll help as much as I can." (Nals)
My eyes immediately lit up with excitement.
"Nals-san, please teach me magic!" (I)
Nals-san showed surprise on his face.
"Magic? Aren't we supposed to be saving William?" (Nals)
"I want to learn invisible magic!" (I shouted)
Nals-san was silent for a few moments, maybe he was thinking of something.
"Invisible magic doesn't need mana nor MP… besides, Marc, what have you been teaching this little girl?" (He asked)
"N-nothing." (Marc)
"I could teach you, little girl, but this magic will consume something precious from you." (Nals)
"But, this magic doesn't hurt others physically. Invisible magic is actually one of the basic techniques." (Nals)
Nals-san's eyes suddenly turned sharp and terrifying.
"And, I won't teach it to a child who has no will or resolve." (Nals)
I swallowed hard, my chest felt heavy. Am I really sure about this plan? Can I save Papa and Mama?
"I want to save Papa and Mama, that's why I must master this magic." (I answered with a slightly serious face)
"Yosh, let's start training now." (Nals)
———
Magic training with Nals began.
"Little girl, try standing up first." (Nals-san)
I only followed the instructions given by Nals-san. What is he going to do?
"Try straightening your hands forward." (Nals)
"Now say, Invisible." (Nals)
I took a slow breath and stared straight ahead.
"Invisible." (I)
Anna's entire body was now completely invisible. (N)
Invisible, a magic that is not ranked. It's just a small technique that every beginner adventurer should master.
Invisible doesn't drain stamina nor MP at all, but it requires high concentration to master. (N)
I looked at my hands, then my legs — everything had disappeared!
Meanwhile behind me, Marc whispered to Nals-san. (N)
"Nals-san, can this magic evolve? Doesn't it feel way too fast?" (Marc)
"No, this magic is always the same… maybe every vessel just has different capabilities." (Nals)
"Marc, why do you want to help this little girl?" (Nals)
"Same reason as you, right?" (Marc said, while looking at Nals)
I turned back, Marc-san and Nals-san were chuckling.
"Is something funny?" (I puffed my cheeks)
"No, nothing at all." (Marc)
"Little girl, I've never seen anyone master invisible this fast, has William ever taught you something?" (Nals-san asked me)
"Papa never taught me magic at all.." (I answered)
Invisible magic, a magic highly recommended and should be possessed by beginner adventurers. (N)
"Little girl, right now you can only use the invisible technique for 10 minutes, and you must use an incantation." (Nals)
I was confused by Nals-san's words—
"How long can this technique normally be used?" (I asked)
"For those who've used it often and mastered it completely, they can use this technique with no time limit and without incantations." (Nals)
"But if used too long, it'll start consuming MP."
"And with your current ability, you can only use this technique for 10 minutes and must use the incantation." (Nals)
Sweat began to drip down my face. If I can't master this technique, will Papa and Mama die?
"Nals-san, with your help how long will it take for me to master this technique?" (I)
"In my opinion… maybe 2 days." (Nals)
"If you want, I'll teach you as my student." (Nals)
I immediately became excited.
"I'll be your student for 2 days!" (I answered)
——
Suddenly, Marc-san joined the conversation.
"Let's go home, Anna—" (Marc-san)
"What do you mean? Anna will stay here for 2 days." (Nals)
Marc-san looked at me with a somewhat sad face…
Meanwhile, I raised my thumb to Marc-san.
"I'll be fine!" (I)
Marc-san only sighed softly.
"Alright, I'll come back here in 2 days." (Marc-san)
—
(Day One)
"Little girl, focus your mind, don't be distracted by anything else." (Nals-san)
"If you try, tomorrow you'll definitely manage it!"
The first day ended.
Progress: Anna had managed to improve her concentration.
—
(Day Two)
Morning,
"Little girl, this is your last day as my student. I'm sure you'll master it today!" (Nals-san)
I nodded my head.
Focus… focus…
This time, after 2 days of fighting with all my might, Anna managed to make her body invisible quickly and without an incantation. (N)
Anna's cheeks immediately turned red with joy.
"Did I succeed?" (I asked)
"You did, little girl." (Nals-san)
Nals-san immediately hugged and patted Anna's head. (N)
Anna's eyes welled up with tears.
"William would be so happy to see his daughter like this." (Nals-san)
Then, Anna cried for a while before wiping her tear-stained cheeks. (N)
"I'll save Papa and Mama tomorrow!" (Anna)
——
(The next morning)
Maybe for those who think Anna's plan to sneak into Count Brigend's prison was childish, right? (N)
But all those who helped Anna believed in her, that she really would save William and his wife.
Since they couldn't do anything themselves, they entrusted it all to Anna. (N)
Anna was escorted to the alley before Count Brigend's mansion by Marc-san.
"Anna, are you really going alone?" (Marc-san asked, seemingly worried)
"I'll be fine." (I)
I immediately used the Invisible technique and walked to the front gate, but—
"What are you doing here, little girl?" (Someone asked from behind me)
I turned around and saw the guildmaster.
"Nals-san—"
Nals immediately put a sack over Anna's head, making her lose consciousness.
"Sorry, little girl." (Nals)
Nals brought Anna to Count Brigend's prison. Besides the prison, there was also an execution chamber. (N)
Anna's hands and feet were bound so she couldn't move.
When Anna finally opened her eyes—
"Nals-san… PAPA!! MAMA!!" (Anna)
Anna saw William and her mother in front of her, on the guillotine*.
*A punishment device originating from the western land of Velmoria, where the head of the person placed on it is severed by a heavy metal blade falling vertically. (N)
William and his wife were silent, their faces looking starved and tortured multiple times. (N)
Behind Anna, still bound, stood Marc and Nals watching from afar. (N)
"Sorry, Anna… I had no other choice… all this is for money." (Marc)
"Little girl, you have great talent… but this time… sorry, this time I don't want my name as guildmaster to be tainted." (Nals)
Anna's face showed anxiety, fear, and… hatred.
"A-anna… forgive Papa." (William)
"Anna dear… thank you for being our only daughter… we both…" (Anna's mother)
"Love you." (Anna's father and mother said together)
"Execution begins." (Count Brigend)
"Ready."
"PAPAAA!!! MAMAAA!!!" (Anna)
SRASH
William and his wife's heads were severed right in front of Anna's eyes. Anna's face was splattered with blood.
"Papa… Mama…." (Anna)
My tears fell endlessly. Everyone around me enjoyed Papa and Mama's death as if they were watching entertainment.
That became a deep wound for Anna. Forced to witness her parents' bloodied death right in front of her. (N)
This was a great trauma for Anna. And from that incident, Anna lost the meaning of her life.
And she locked her heart so no one could ever play with it again. (N)
———
"Anna-kun… Anna-kun, wake up!"
Someone shouted, calling my name.
I tried to open my eyes, seeing all around me completely white.
I looked ahead, toward the voice calling me. I saw an old man with a white beard and hair.
"Anna-kun, do you still remember what you just did?" (He asked me)
I tried to think, focusing—
After witnessing Papa and Mama's death, I was forcibly taken back to my house. There, the ropes binding my hands and feet were removed.
I entered the house, its atmosphere cold and empty… even though it was still daytime.
I sat on my shabby bed, thinking about what I should do.
"Papa… Mama… where are you all? Why isn't anyone home?"
I looked around, only myself in this house. Then, staring at my palms—
"I… am still alive, right?"
"Why does it feel like I can't move? Am I sick? My hands even look pale?" (I)
I decided to get up from the bed and go to the river to wash my face.
I stopped by the riverbank, seeing my reflection in the water.
"My face… looks so shabby…" (I)
All this time, Marc and Nals had been giving Anna food laced with poison, poison that grew stronger over time.
"My head… it hurts…." (I)
BRASH
I fell and sank into the river.
———
"So, Anna-kun, do you remember now?" (The old man asked)
I looked at him with an empty expression.
"Anna-kun, I want to ask… what do you desire?" (He asked)
That's true… what do I actually want? Family? Friends? Love?
"I want… to control people." (I answered, my eyes widening slightly)
"Do you want to carry out the mission I give you? In return, you are free to do anything in that world." (Old man)
"That world? What do you mean?" (I)
"I'll give you a place in Ulvur, but not in Ulvur itself… in the core of Ulvur."
"Core… of Ulvur?" (I asked)
"There are 2 different dimensions in Ulvur, and if you enter the second dimension, then you can trap anyone into that world. Do you understand?" (The old man asked)
"So… that will become my world?" (I)
"Exactly… so, what do you say? Not a bad offer, right?"
"No, that's a good offer." (I)
"One more thing, your physical body in that world will never change. And you can disappear anytime after your true desire is fulfilled." (Old man)
"True desire? What kind of joke is that? Didn't I already tell you my desire?" (I)
"I know… but from your eyes I can tell there's a hidden desire deep within you."
"Old man, transfer me there." (I)
"Are you sure?"
"Don't waste time." (I)
"I'll create a world where everyone lives peacefully and safely." (I)
"I'll create a world where everyone who lives there, lives happily according to their true selves!!" (I)
"Alright then, I'll watch over you from afar. So Anna-kun, enjoy that world." (Old man)
After his words, I was truly transferred to who-knows-where. Around me was only grassland, but I had a dream—
I would trap many people, make them live in my world, and from there my world would be ready!!
———
Since then, Anna began trapping many people who came to Ulvur into her world, to "play" with them.
"You two just arrived here, right? Want me to help you?" (Anna)
—
"You don't have a job? Want me to find one for you?" (Anna)
—
"You're alone? Want me to accompany you, so you won't feel lonely?" (Anna)
This incident kept repeating in Ulvur. Many merchants and adventurers who came to Ulvur suddenly disappeared, so the people of Ulvur called this phenomenon "Theft by the gods."
Anna had not yet found her hidden dream, and she committed this "theft" for 50 years straight.
Until she met Yukito and Yuu