"A long time ago, there was a clan called Criella, with around 100 members who had excellent knowledge of magic and magical tools ."
Croana began to speak quietly.
I gently put pressure on her trembling body and hugged her tightly.
I have heard of the Criella tribe. To be precise, when I was playing as an adventurer in a game, I saw them mentioned in the text of a ruin... but...
"If you'd seen this royal capital, you'd probably find it hard to believe, but the women there are from a family with cliff... I was already like this when I was about 6 or 7 years old, the age at which I could understand things."
"...At seven years old?"
"Yes, you'll be surprised, right? My height, my breasts...and my knowledge. I said before that I've been excellent since I was 13, right? I wasn't lying, but to be precise, I've "know" a lot of things. ...My family intentionally gave me this body. It seems I was intentionally forced to regress to my ancestors."
"A throwback..."
I could see Croana smiling wryly from behind me.
What the Criella tribe did was bring back to life a talented woman who had once been part of the tribe.
However, this did not work out. First of all, the Criella tribe had no way of creating a homunculus.
So they decided to use a living person, trying to put her gifted soul into a newborn baby.
The experiment was a success. The memories were not passed on, but the newborns were able to acquire skills and knowledge.
But the shape was unexpected.
"My family, including my parents, began to hate me. Knowledge and technology that they didn't know about... and a body that doesn't belong to the family... Isn't that selfish of them? Even though they were the ones who created me..."
Then, when she was 10 years old, talk of engagement came up.
The 14-year-old boy was kind, and it soothed her heart, which had been worn down by the way he had been treated by his family. But then she overheard his family laughing at her and saying that she is ugly.
What they needed is the knowledge and technology that Croana possesses, and her descendants.
She finds out that he has a fiancee other than her.
...What is that, does something like that actually happen?
Croana grabbed the arm that was holding me and turned to face me with a wry smile.
"But even I had my two older sisters on my side."
"...sister"
"My sisters took good care of me. That's why they became angry at how I'm being treated. And so... They destroyed the Criella tribe."
"...Hm?"
"They decided that humanity had been corrupted, and destroyed, killed... annihilated everything. That's when I was forced to escape to the royal capital. So, Reid, there's no one left for you to be angry at. My two sisters did that for me, carrying the burden of their sins."
I could tell from Croana's painful words.
Since it was a family, there would have been children and women.
Normally, I would be put off by this excessive behavior, but I respect the actions of her two sisters.
There's no point in a family like that staying alive.
Moreover, trying to conduct an experiment on one's own child...no matter how talented one is, would one even come up with the idea unless one had a personality disorder?
...Could it be that your two older sisters were there at that time?
Perhaps sensing my expression, Croana smiled gently and said,
"I told you earlier, right? Reid are the third person that I've invited here."
"...Thank goodness."
"...To be honest, I thought you'd be put off if I told you this story. But you still went so far as to worry about my two sisters...Thank you."
She skillfully turns her whole body around in his arms, straddles him, puts both arms around his neck and smiles happily.
The reason she thought her body was ugly was partly because of her shape, but also because of the actions of her sisters.
So I felt ugly and had no confidence because of past events.
Croana kissed me and continued talking.
"I was so scared that I developed a spell that could detect lies to a certain extent. That's why I didn't doubt Reid's words that day."
"...Then I can't lie. Are my two sisters...still alive?"
"They are still alive, because I taught them life-extending magic. They are currently traveling, saying they are going to see the world."
"I'm looking forward to seeing their reaction when I tell them I have a lover," said Kuroana, rubbing her head against my chest.
While gently embracing Croana, he combs her glossy black hair with his hand.
And the look of pleasure on Croana's face is so endearing.
Then, to his surprise, a black comb floated up from the side.
"I'm surprised... They don't need to given an orders, they think about it themselves?"
"Magic is a living thing. There is fixed magic, but magical power fills the world. I just gave it a little consciousness."
"...Does it feel like a ghost?"
"Those are human thoughts. What I'm doing is the consciousness of magical power."
"Yes, come with me," Croana said, floating up and standing next to me, pulling me by the hand.
I followed it and moved to the next room, where I was surprised again.
It seems to be a room for creating magical tools, as there were many magical tools I've never seen before.
The walls were all shelves, and along with crafted magical tools, rare materials were also placed there.
"This is... amazing."
"What are you talking about, the magical tools I saw at Suzuya were interesting ideas. I never thought they would improve my own magical tools like that."
"I haven't made any improvements, I haven't touched the magic tool itself at all."
What I did was attach an accessory to the magic tool.
For example, around a magical tool that makes the surrounding area cold, wrap a pipe around the magical tool.
Then, while activating the magic tool, pour liquid into the pipe and it will become cold.
This is why the drinks at Suzuya are so cold.
In a world where pipes are non-existent, I asked an old blacksmith to make one for me, but he complained.
However, thanks to their hard work in making it, we are able to serve cold drinks at Suzuya.
By the way, he's an old blacksmith. He likes cold ale and sometimes joins the adventurers for a drink.
...Oh, it's going to get hot from now on, so should I ask?
"Croana, can you do something like this with a magic tool that makes you cold and a magic tool that makes you windy?"
"...Hmm?"
He draws on paper at a desk made to fit Croana's height.
Only one side is open, and I place a wind magic item at the very back. I place a cold magic item in front of it.
Yes, I wondered if I could make a cooler.
Croana was so happy and excited by my suggestion that she hugged me around the neck.
"Interesting! That's an interesting idea. Why didn't I think of that?"
"Also, I put the cooling magic item in front because I was wondering if I could exchange it for a warming magic item..."
"Good... that's a good idea! I'll have to think a bit more about the shape of the box, but I think I can do it. Hey Reid, are there any more ideas coming from this room?"
"...Is it okay if I do it after you explain the magic tools?"
I smile at Croana, who is laughing happily while kissing me.
No matter what sins they may have carried, I'm glad I was able to meet them alive, and I'm so grateful to both of Croana's sisters.
When we meet, let's prepare a feast at Suzuya.
Abandoned ruins in the forest.
There, two girls are walking happily and looking at the murals.
"*Sneeze."
"Eh, the dust isn't that bad?"
"...I feel like Croana is happy."
"Why does that would cause a sneeze..."
"No, It will. There's no doubt about it... I believe so."
"...It's been a year already... Should we go back and see her?"
"I'm going! I want to see her, I want to pet Croana!"
Such cheerful voices echoed throughout the ruins.