Flame User 1-6

 1-6 First Use

Hell Gate.

As a sorcerer, my village has been in charge of it for generations. At the end of the Hell Gate, the flames of hell burn, and a sacrifice must be made once every hundred years to keep the flames alive.

Having no family, I volunteered for the sacrifice.

It seems that it has to be young flesh and blood, and luckily I'm single with no family. No one objected when I came forward to sacrifice myself, and I think the kids of my generation were somewhat relieved.

The teacher was the only one who objected. But... in the end, he relented.

The only person who cried for me was the teacher.

I sacrificed myself.

My flesh burned, my soul burned...and never did.

For some reason, my soul did not burn. On the contrary, my soul consumed the flames of hell.

I feed the eight-coloured flames with my soul, and the white flames recreate my body, and when I woke up... well, a thousand years have passed, and my village has been abandoned.

Strangely enough, I felt no sadness when I saw the abandoned village.

I tried to sacrifice myself for my village, but I died. Then, I, who survived the hellfire... this time, I'm determined to live for myself.

First, I decided to go on a trip to learn about the world outside the village.

When I walked out of the village and into the forest, I met Primavera, the princess of a huge country called the White Pearl Kingdom. Also known as Prim, and her knight, Aishera.

To make a long story short, Prim is the seventh in line to the throne of the White Pearl Kingdom. She left the country because she didn't want to fight for the throne, but she was attacked by her brother or sister who wanted the throne.

In the meantime, I fought off the bad guys with [Curse Fighting Arts] a combination of magic and martial arts that I learned from my teacher. At Prim's request, I decided to become a guard for these two.

[TN: I’ve been calling it curse fighting for now. 呪闘技 but if someone has a better word for it, please leave in the comments.]

The goal is to reach the Blue Sapphire Kingdom in the west.

It seems to be an isolated island in the sea. I've never seen a Sea before. It's going to be a fun trip. But... it's not going to be that easy, is it? It's not that easy.

Me, Prim, and Aishera's journey... we were already facing hardships.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

We arrived at the village that Aishera mentioned. When we went to the inn, there was some trouble.

Aishera started to argue with the old man at the reception desk. He told her not to stay at the hotel and to get out.

Prim sat down, tired of walking, and I was impressed by the first civilization I'd seen outside of my hometown.

“Hey, why not! I said I'll pay you!”

“Sorry. I want no trouble... so leave.”

“What do you mean "trouble"? What kind of trouble?”

“You know, it's funny to see, isn't it? A female knight in silver gleaming armor, a girl in a frilly dress, and a normal guy.”

“Wh-What's so funny…?”

“You know, the princess, the knight, and the boy who saved her life and hired him as a bodyguard. You don't have a lot of luggage, and I'm guessing this is the village you fled to after being attacked.”

“I-I d-d-don’t know what y-you’re talking a-about… this isn’t the p-p-princess…!! The princess is…”

“……You're a hard-nosed lady knight who can't lie. Watch out for orcs.”

“Wh-wh-wh-wh--”

The old man at the reception desk waved his hand shooingly.

I don't know, but I do know that Aishera looks very stupid. She comes back with her shoulders slumped.

“I guess we'll just have to stay out here.”

“Oh, shut up! I'm sorry, Princess...”

“No… It can't be helped.”

“…It can't be helped.”

I asked the old man at the inn about it.

“Hey, old man. Can you at least share the food with me? I won't cause you any trouble.”

“...can't help it. I'll at least make you a lunch.”

“Thank you! Also, is there a store that sells normal clothes? Something that would look good on those two.”

“Uh...I think the tool store had it.”

“Okay, okay. Thank you! Aishera, money, money! You should thank me!”

“You bastard! Without even asking!”

"Aishera. Pay"

“…Yes, ma'am.”

I asked the innkeeper to make me lunch and gave me three unused blankets as a favour.

We were told that there was a small cave just outside the village, so we decided to sleep there tonight.

“Prim, can you walk?”

“……”

“All right. Come on, let's get you on my back.”

“What, what, what!?”

“You! You're going to enjoy the Princess's breasts with your back!　You know I can't do that because I'm wearing armor... unacceptable!”

“Aishera, die.”

“Ugh... huh. I'll take care of the princess.”

“Flare, it's... I will be in your care.”

“Sure”

“You guys, do me a favour and take it outside...”

The old man at the inn glared at us and we headed out of the village.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

A few minutes after leaving the village, we arrived at the cave we were looking for.

It's a cave with very little depth. I think we'll be fine here for a day or so.

I picked up some firewood and took out my charm.

“[Burn it Atchichi]”

[TN: These spell names… -_-]

The charm burns and the wood burns.

I laid the blanket on the ground and sat Prim down.

She seemed to be very tired and was about to fall asleep as if she was out of it.

“Prim, if you're going to sleep, you should eat and go to bed.”

“Yes…”

“Aishera, you're tired, too.”

“It's no big deal. I train differently than most people around here.”

“I see. The old man at the inn said that you should do something about your armour and clothes. It's really noticeable.”

Aishera is in silver armour gear, and Prim is in a dress that looks hard to walk in.

In the village, she stood out very much, and I think this dress made Prim even more tired from walking.

“You want me to take off the 'Holy Silver Armour' given to me by the Princess? Don't be silly, this is holy armour that only the princess can take off. One day I will take this armour by the hands of the Princess...”

“All right. Flare, please act as my escort... tomorrow, could you go to the village and buy clothes for me and Aishera?”

“No problem. I want to learn how to spend money, too.”

“fufu…”

Aishera seems tired after all.

Although she doesn't show it in her attitude, Aishera also looks pale.

After they ate, they fell asleep in no time at all. Prim leaned on Aishera and Aishera fell asleep giggling.

I've trained with my teacher for seven days without sleep, and there's no way I couldn't stay up all night. Watching is the job of the guards.

"Oh, that's right."

I forgot one important thing... they're asleep, so I guess I'll just do it on my own.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

The next day. I go to the village by myself.

I took Prim and Aishera's dresses and armor and wrapped them in blankets. Prim looked embarrassed with the blanket wrapped around her body, and Aishera was spreading a stiff killing intent, so let's quickly buy some clothes and go back.

The village tool shop was located across the street from the inn.

“Hello!”

“Hmm… welcome.”

It looks like a one-woman store run by an old lady.

I looked around the store and saw many interesting things. There are machetes, sickles, pots and knives, all the things you need for daily life. They also have a little armour, weapons, clothes, and underwear.

“You, weren’t you the one making all that noise in the inn yesterday.”

“Ah, so you knew…haha”

“Damn it. We don't have clothes that young girls wear. If you want trendy clothes that princesses and knights wear, head west to the city.”

“There's a town to the west? Wow... that's exciting.”

“…You, are you traveling without knowing what you're doing?”

“Haha. I'm from the countryside... oh, that's right. Is this a ‘Trade’? And please give me some money!”

"……Good grief"

As I placed the dress and armour in front of her, she gazed at them sullenly.

“I can't buy this.”

“Yeah”

“This is mithril holy silver. Twenty white gold coins won't be enough if you try to buy something like this.”

“Uh, ‘White gold’? What does that mean?”

“...you don't look like you're lying.”

“Well, I'm from the country, so I don't know much about money.”

“...I can't afford something this fine. That's it.”

“Well... what if it's not fine, then?”

"What?"

I grabbed the armour and patted it down, then punched it between my fists with both hands. The armour crumpled and could no longer be called armour.

“Ouch, how about this? It's damaged, and it's cheaper.”

“Are you stupid?”

“Yeah”

“Kukuku… You're a funny kid. Yes, I'll buy it if it's damaged. I'll buy it for a hundred gold pieces, along with that dirty dress of yours.”

“Yes! So, what's a ‘Big Gold’?”

“They say stupid kids are cute... so I'll teach you a little about money. And you'll be traveling, right? I'll help you find the right tools.”

“Oh! Thank you, Grandma!”

“Hmm”

Grandmother fixed some pots, knives, dishes for the three of us, underwear, and clothes.

She packed the tools into a large bag and pulled out an old-fashioned box.

“What is that?”

“...you're armed with your bare hands...or is that martial arts?”

“Oh, you know?”

“Yeah. The way you stand, the way your muscles are. But that's not enough.”

“?”

“Take it. It's a service.”

When I opened the box, there was a small gauntlet inside.

"…what's this?"

“This is a weapon that I used when I was younger. I used to be a martial artist too... but I had a lot of hidden weapons that I used to pretend were only for martial arts. This is one of them. A two-handed pop-up knife.”

"Oh, cool"

I take off my teacher's grub, put Grandma's pop-up knife on my arm, and equip my teacher's grub on top of it. It's quite light and sturdy and doesn't feel heavy.

I twisted my wrist upward, and the blade flew out.

"Wow!"

“You've got to have a few tricks up your sleeve. You never know what will be your trump card on the battlefield.”

“Yes! Thank you so much!”

I thanked her and left the store.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

“Hey, I'm back!”

“Oh, Flare!”

“Hmm, looks like you can at least shop.”

I unloaded my luggage and tried to get a change of clothes and underwear out from inside, but Aishera hit me.

“Ouch… what’re you doing?”

“Come on, you idiot. How dare a man offer me the underwear I'm about to wear!”

"No, it's the one I bought..."

“Enough, go over there!!”

As I turned around, I heard a rustling sound.

Prim said, having finished getting dressed.

“Flare.”

"Hmm, oh. Is it over?"

“Yes, that's Flare. The size is perfect.”

"Hmm. That's okay."

Good. I measured you last night, and it fits perfectly.

Prim’s is a shirt, skirt, and boots for ease of movement.

Aishera is wearing a shirt and pants. She has a sword in her belt.

“I got my travel gear sorted out. Now we can go to the next town. Oh, I'll give you back the rest of your money... what's wrong?”

““……””

"Hey?"

"Hey, you... what did you say?"

"Eh? Look over the travel tools."

"No... Before that."

“Before that? Uh...yeah, the one where I measured you last night. What about it?”

““……””

I'm scared.

I wonder what's going on. It’s silent all of a sudden.

"Huh, flare ... what did you measure?"

“What? Size. I measured them both last night while you guys were sleeping. You're going to be so picky if your clothes don't fit. I took off your clothes and measured your whole body, so it fits perfectly, right? The tool shop’s grandmother must have some pretty good sewing skills!”

““……””

Aishera silently draws her sword and Prim's eyes lose their glow.

“What? Um? What's wrong?”

“You bastard… did you see? Me and the princess naked!”

“Um, yeah”

“I’ll kill youuuuuuuuuuuu!”

“Yes? Wait, why? Hey, Prim!”

"Flare, please die"

"Why!?"

It doesn't make much difference whether a man or a woman is naked. In my hometown, men and women bathed and changed clothes together. When I told them that, they got really angry.

What is this? Is it my fault?

◇◇◇◇◇◇

“Hey, you... you gave it to that kid?”

“Yeah. He's a funny kid. I'm sure he'll make good use of my armour.”

“Well, well... that's not a weapon, it's a dark weapon. I'm sure it's the last thing you remember about yourself, the woman who was once known as the strongest female assassin.”

“I don't care. It's no use putting them in the grave of an old lady who's going to die in a few years. Anyway, innkeeper, why didn't you let them stay?”

“Ho, that's obvious. I mean, didn't you notice?”

"...?"

“The three of them are being followed by someone. And they're pretty good at it.”

"Hmm..."

“I don't want war in my village. I can't let them destroy the safe haven I've finally found.”

The old man of the innkeeper and the old woman of the toolmaker puffed on their pipes together.

 

TN: This is a big one. Enjoy!

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