[V7C14] Nothing Like Harpies
Translated by Jodas 7: To the NorthWren had three half-brothers. All three were sons of his father’s legal wife.
The older two saw Wren as an eyesore and worked with the legal wife to bully Wren, but the third brother Kevin alone would go behind his parents’ back and try to take care of Wren.
He would bring his old clothes and books to the cabin where Wren and his mother lived and would pay out of pocket for writing supplies.
The clothes Wren was wearing now were hand-me-downs from Kevin that his mother had altered to fit him.
Kevin occasionally would bring over some of his left-over sweets as well.
“I can’t stop myself from eating all of it, so why don’t you help out and eat some for me, Wren?”
“Geez, you really are a lost cause, Kevin!” — Even when he said such crude things, Kevin would never get angry at him. He would only smile nervously.
Their father’s legal wife abhorred the idea of allowing Wren to learn anything. Perhaps she was afraid that Wren would become smart enough to take revenge on her.
Therefore, Wren never had the privilege of learning under a household tutor. Instead, it was Kevin who taught him how to read, write, and do math.
It was also Kevin who told him about the Wedge Tower.
—”In the Autonomous Territory on the Eastern edge of the Empire, there’s a place called the Wedge Tower that accumulates magecraft from all across the Empire. Once every three years, they recruit new Apprentice Mages.”
“Then, could I become a mage too?” Wren had asked, to which Kevin’s eyes widened, then he laughed noncommittally. “I wonder…” He said.
Kevin never said anything conclusive.
That was partially due to Kevin’s own nervousness, but it was also a way of caring. He didn’t want Wren to get his hopes up only to be disappointed.
It surely wouldn’t be easy to become a mage.
Although, the idea that he wouldn’t have to pay tuition so long as he passed the entrance exam was attractive. Magical academies were usually much more expensive than regular schools. Nonetheless, the Wedge Tower was free.
As Wren stared at the book about the Wedge Tower, his mother spoke up as she sewed.
“Oh? Sounds great, doesn’t it?”
His mother spoke with an uncharacteristically sunny voice.
Wren’s mother’s beautiful face that closely resembled his own was half hidden by wraps of bandages. All thanks to a plot by the legal wife that ended in a pot of boiling oil being poured on her face.
On top of that, her left foot and several of her fingers were injured. Injuries she suffered by an ‘accident’ the legal wife arranged to target her.
As a result of these incidents, it always seemed as if a dark shadow was cast over his mother. Even when smiling, her smile was filled with self-loathing, like she had given up on everything.
When he heard his mother make such a cheerful, positive voice, Wren’s heart fluttered. He felt like she was giving him the first push.
“Look, Mom! The Wedge Tower isn’t just looking for mages, they want people to do work for them, too. So why don’t we leave this house and you, too can…”
“I’ll pass. I don’t think I can go that far on these feet anymore.”
She made a defeated smile. It lasted for only a second before she picked up the adjusted shirt and handed it to Wren.
“Go check out the Wedge Tower. Whether you go as a mage or a servant, it’ll be a lot better than living here.”
“You too, Mom…”
He said that, but he knew.
He knew that his mother’s body had weakened all over. She wouldn’t be able to travel.
Maybe he should just give up. He didn’t want to leave his mother alone here.
However, before Wren could voice his decision to give up, his mother spoke.
“I’ve got Kevin with me, I’ll be fine. Just go, Wren.”
Thus, Wren ran away from home with only the money his mother had secretly accumulated and a suitcase Kevin had prepared for him.
Only now did he understand.
His mother was trying her best to put on a brave face.
Sitting on a tree branch near the Third Spire: Water Bubble, Tia looked to the skies and sang a song.
“Lalalua lalalua metea…”
Midway through the line, she shut her mouth. That song meaning ‘the weather is clear and pleasant today, everyone come out and play!’ felt a little wrong for right now.
(Now that I think about it, I’ve sung this song in front of Wren before.)
On the first day of their individual lessons. Hütter asked the class what they wanted to do, and Wren responded:
“I want to use magic to make money, become wealthy, fill a bathtub with gold coins, eat luxurious food every day, build a harem, and become the happiest and most beloved pretty boy in the world!”
That goal of his that Sevil dismissed as ‘vapid’ was Wren’s way of rebelling against the environment in which he was raised.
Wren’s mother was the mistress of a wealthy merchant and he was treated with disdain by the legal wife and her sons.
The legal wife’s schemings led to Wren’s mother having hot oil poured on her face, burning away her beautiful appearance.
Afterwards, Wren said that his father grew distant and he and his mother began to live in a detached cabin.
Wren, having inherited his mother’s good looks, suffered especially cruel treatment from the legal wife.
“……My mom cries when she sees me. She says ‘I’m sorry you have to look just like me.’ She says ‘Since you look like me, you also get bullied. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.’”
That was why Wren insisted on being a pretty boy.
He wanted to let his mother know that it was thanks to her blessing him with her good looks that he was able to have such nice things. That there was nothing for her to apologize about.
(…And yet…)
Wren’s half-brother, Kevin, came bearing news of his mother’s death.
She could never forget the expression on Wren’s face when he heard that.
Wren did not break down in tears.
Instead, as if he had forgotten how to use the muscles on his face, he stood limply and expressionlessly until Hütter arrived to guide Wren and Kevin into the Tower.
Hütter instructed Tia and Sevil to go about their individual lessons as usual.
Thus, Sevil was practicing with her magic sword in the Second Spire: Golden Needle while Tia had just finished taking a lesson on choral magic from Spiremaster Alto at the Third Spire: Water Bubble.
With only five days to go until the operation to retake Darwock, she had to learn as much as possible before they left.
(…But, is it even okay to bring Wren to Darwock with us?)
Tia’s reason for joining the operation in Darwock was to meet her sister.
Sevil said she ‘wanted to put the higher-ups at the Wedge Tower and Prince Axel in her debt,’ but Wren really had no reason to go to Darwock.
Wren was just coming along because he ‘might as well.’
“……Peu.”
“Tia, there you are.”
She heard Sevil’s voice from the base of the tree.
For whatever reason, she’d been so immersed in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice Sevil’s footsteps.
Tia nimbly leapt down from the tree and stuck the landing.
“Sevil, you know…”
Tia spoke up, then closed her mouth.
Usually, she would just be able to say whatever was on her mind as it came to her, but now she was conflicted on what to say.
Without even letting out a ‘Piroro…’ Tia fell silent as Sevil watched.
“This sort of thing isn’t easy, Tia.”
“…Yeah.”
When a Harpy was sad, they would sing a sad song.
As they sang sad, sad things, that sad feeling would slowly wash away.
But Wren was not a Harpy.
Wren’s heart would not heal in the same way Tia’s would.
“What do humans do when they’re so, so sad their heart is all jumbled up?”
“……”
Sevil glanced towards the First Spire: White Smoke.
“As a matter of fact, Mr. Hütter talked to me when I finished my practice.”
“Piyo?”
When Sevil concluded her training, she made straight for the First Spire: White Smoke.
She did not know exactly where Wren and his half-brother Kevin went, but she had a hunch that it was Hütter’s classroom.
But, just before she could enter the First Spire, Hütter called out to her.
Hütter didn’t appear particularly shaken, nor was he putting up a strong face. He behaved naturally as he always had.
“Are you the type who likes to be alone when you’re down? Or would you prefer not to be alone?”
That was the first thing he said.
Sevil considered Hütter’s words for a second.
Even Sevil experienced sadness some times. The death of a loved one goes without saying.
Nevertheless, in the environment in which Sevil had to live, stopping and lying down was not an option.
When her mother died, she had been so desperate to find the culprit that she didn’t even have time to cry. Then, when she learned that her mother had partially chosen that death herself, she felt more despair than grief.
When her comrades died on the battlefield, she never had the time to grieve — she always had to think of her next move. If she ever chose to take time to grieve instead of fighting on, that would mean losing even more of her comrades.
When she learned of her friend’s death on the battlefield, she was not even allowed to feel sad. After all, that friend was the daughter of the enemy chief.
“I never have long to feel down. So, I suppose I am usually alone when that time does come.”
“Ah, I guess you’ve been through quite a lot yourself.”
Understanding the position Sevil was in, Hütter nodded to himself, then added in a whisper:
“I think Wren is the type that likes to have people around. Go see him.”
“Is he in the classroom?”
“He said he was stepping out to get some fresh air.”
As he said that, Hütter pointed towards the outer walls. His gesture communicated ‘he went over there.’
“Won’t you go as well, Mr. Hütter?”
“I have to keep an eye on Wren’s brother. He’s an outsider, you know? Even having him wait alone in the classroom like this isn’t a great idea.”
That made sense. Naturally, you would want to keep an eye on outsiders.
In this case, Hütter, as Wren’s instructor, would be expected to serve as Kevin Bayer’s handler.
“Understood. I shall get in touch with Tia and head over there.”
“I’m counting on you.” Hütter said curtly, then returned inside the First Spire: White Smoke.
“…And that brings us to here.”
When she heard Sevil’s explanation, Tia let out a long breath. “Pyofuu…”
That was her impressed breath. ‘Mr. Hütter’s really looking out for us, huh?’
Apparently, when they were sad, some humans wanted to be alone while others didn’t want to be alone.
Which side would she be on? She didn’t know.
Regardless, just as Hütter said, she had a good feeling that Wren would rather not be alone.
“Let’s go see Wren, Sevil.”
“Indeed. We’ll decide our formations as we move.”
“For-may-shun?”
“Think of it as our way of preparing for whatever may come our way.”
“Piyopp!”