Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 36 - Aisha's Dream 2
Ah, it's you again! You strange god!
"What do you mean, 'strange god'? The direction I pointed you in before wasn't wrong, was it?"
Hmph! That was just my good luck!
"What a disagreeable child."
Am not! Brother always says I'm cute!
"Alright, alright. Next, I'll give you another hint."
Will it help Brother?
"In a way, yes."
That's really suspicious...
"What's this? Still doubting a god~ I'm so hurt."
Fine, just tell me already!
"Hmm~ Tomorrow, steal a little of the money your brother hides under his bed, buy some food at the stalls, and then walk into an alley."
No! Brother won't let me go outside, and that suggestion is dangerous!
"Trust the god just this once~ I swear it on a god's name."
I won't...
When I opened my eyes, Brother and Sister Eris had already gone out on a quest.
"What the..."
I got up, ate the breakfast Brother left in the room, and started reading the books he bought me.
Brother said before that we'd only stay in this city for about two months. It's been almost 4 months now.
Is he running into trouble? But even if I asked, Brother and Sister Eris definitely wouldn't tell me.
"Will it help Brother?"
...
This was the first time I had ever snuck out of the inn.
How do I put it? There are way too many races here, and they all look fierce and mean. No wonder Brother won't let me go outside.
Holding a silver coin, I bought some food at a small stall and walked into the alley Man-God had mentioned.
The alley was eerily quiet. When you think of an alley, you picture clusters of street thugs loitering around.
In fact, if a pure, cute, perfectly innocent little girl like me walked through here, she'd be targeted by human traffickers in an instant, right?
If anyone tried to kidnap me, I'd cut off both his hands and feet with magic, force him to tell me where he lives, loot everything valuable he owns, and hand him over to the guards. Yeah!
"So dirty..."
Looks like I'll have to wash my clothes myself when I get back. If Brother finds out I snuck out, I'm done for.
I've already learned those drying spells Brother uses, so it should be fine, right?
"So hungry... I'm going to starve to death... food... food..."
I heard the voice before I saw her. A girl about my age, arm stretched toward me.
Then her stomach let out a long, miserable growl, and she crumpled straight to the ground.
"Ah! H-hey, are you okay?"
I crouched down without thinking and caught her before she hit the dirt.
"Ugh... uwuwu... To think I'd collapse like this, after being resurrected for 300 years... I can't let Laplace find out about this..."
Is she delirious?
"A-anyway, just eat something first. Get your strength back."
The moment the words left my mouth, the girl snatched every piece of food out of my hands.
She shoved the skewers straight into her mouth. There were 12 of them. She ate 3 at a time. Two minutes later, they were gone.
"Thank you, thank you so much! With this, I can hold out for another year!"
She looked up at me then. I looked back. Her eyes were two colors, purple and black. Kind of strange.
I turned around, ready to shake off this weird person and go buy more skewers.
"One who has aided me, give me your name!"
"Uh... Aisha Greyrat..."
"Very well! My name is Kishirika Kishirisu! People call me the Great Emperor of the Demon World!"
A name and title I'd never heard of. Huh? I think it came up in one of Mother's bedtime stories. Is she just imitating that person?
"My mother said the Great Emperor of the Demon World is a great beauty. You look like a child. A scantily dressed child."
"Young people these days have no manners at all. But in consideration of you saving my life, ask for any reward you wish!"
Could she be the event Man-God said would help Brother?
Hmm. Can she really grant wishes?
"I... I want money! Lots of money!"
"As you can see, I am utterly penniless."
"Uh... Then can you help my brother, Rudeus Greyrat?"
"I cannot! That name fills me with inexplicable loathing!"
"Then... do you know where my mother Lilia Greyrat and Zenith Greyrat are?"
"Now that's more like it!"
The colors in her eyes shifted with alarming speed, and her gaze drifted past me, fixed on something far away.
Several dozen seconds passed.
"Oh dear... Why can't I see them..."
She stared ahead, flustered. I had completely labeled her a fraud.
I let out a sigh.
"Money won't work. Helping Brother won't work. Finding Mother won't work. So what exactly can you give me?"
"You big idiot! When speaking of a gift bestowed by the Great Emperor of the Demon World Kishirika, it's obviously a Magic Eye!"
"What's that?"
"Here, bring your face closer."
"Oh..."
"Close your eyes."
Kishirika drove her finger straight into my right eye. The pain exploded through my entire body.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
I lurched back on instinct, trying to get away, but she grabbed my hair and held me in place.
She was shockingly strong.
It hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts!
"What are you doing?! I don't care if you're a kid my age, I won't let this go! May the great blessing of flame descend upon that which you seek! Fierce and raging fire, burn the great bounty to ashes! Great Fireball!"
"Oh my! You're only a few years old and you can already use intermediate magic?"
Kishirika reached out and grabbed at the air. My magic scattered and vanished.
What... was that...?
"There, there. Don't be angry. What I gave you is the Magic Absorption Eye. It absorbs magic power and cleaves through spells. The bane of mages. Pour your magic into it and practice, and when you're not using it, the Magic Eye won't show."
"What... what does that mean?"
"Alright, alright. It's about time for me to go. I need to find Badigadi. Thank you for the meal."
With that, Kishirika sprang onto the rooftop with a boing.
"Well then, Aisha, until we meet again! If you run into trouble, come find me! Wahahahaha! Wa-hahaha, wa——haha-ack-cough cough cough..."
Her laughter trailed off into the distance. I listened until it faded.
Huh?... Is she actually the Great Emperor of the Demon World?
Just like that, I obtained the [Magic Absorption Eye].
➤ Next: Anyway, Rage