Playful days (Part 6)

I don't know how things turned out like this.

"Mayu, don't let the ball hit you!"

Rin shouted from the bench, her voice full of energy.

"Why am I even doing this extracurricular activity? Also, this place is full of children…"

They all thought I was the same age as them. These kids are in the adventurer school. Still, I don't particularly enjoy losing.

I guess I'm not mature enough to be considered an adult in this world.

(Adults here are considered to be 15 and up. I'm currently 17… in the body of a little elf girl.)

Earlier, Captain Yuri visited my house with Marry and Rin. They told me they needed my help and that only I could do it. I prepared myself, thinking it was some kind of monster hunt, but I was wrong.

I was asked to play with kids at the adventurer school. They're between six and ten years old, and now we're playing dodgeball.

One of the kids threw the ball at me. I dodged it with ease—I can use detection skills, after all.

"This time, I'll hit you!"

Another throw.

"This time!"

Again.

"This time!"

Again.

At first, the game was fun, but as time passed, the mood shifted. What started as excitement became dull repetition.

"..."

"..."

As expected, someone like me, who doesn't like losing, won every single game. Eventually, the kids didn't want me to play anymore.

They looked at me with boredom and frustration.

"You're a cheater."

"You're cute, but you're a cheater."

"Too bad… I wanted to be friends with you…"

One by one, they left.

Well, I have nothing to say. This outcome benefits both parties.

"Don't be sad! Don't worry, big sister will play with you until sunset!" Rin tried to cheer me up.

That was unnecessary. I didn't want to play in the first place.

Sitting on the bench beside Rin, I gazed at the vast blue sky, feeling strangely at peace. Things were becoming normal, and I was starting to blend in. Technology doesn't exist here like in my old world, and staying inside all day is boring.

I took a sip from my canned juice, glancing at the can in my hands.

"This world already has canned drinks? The technology here isn't so bad."

It also has instant noodles, vending machines, and other conveniences. The mix of magic and technology is seamless.

Turning to Rin, I noticed her taking a picture with me.

"Smartphones exist here too?!"

"You don't have one yet? When I get my salary, I'll buy you one."

"This is ruining my fantasy feel."

"Fantasy feel?" Rin looked confused.

Maybe the idea of fantasy doesn't exist here. To them, magic and technology have always coexisted.

As I continued drinking my juice, I noticed a lonely girl walking by—Meily, my neighbor and friend.

"The kids don't want to play with me anymore. I guess I'll leave."

"You just wanted to play with Meily, didn't you?" Rin teased.

"I'm not a kid. I just want to talk to her."

"Not being honest with yourself is bad."

Ignoring Rin, I got up and waved at Meily. "Hey, Meily!"

She hesitated before responding. "Mayu…"

"Why aren't you playing with the other kids? You go to this school, right?"

Meily looked uncomfortable, staying silent.

I'd heard she wasn't doing well at school. She didn't have many friends and was often alone—just like I was in my past life.

I understood her loneliness. I knew what it was like to be an outcast.

Then, I overheard whispers from nearby adults.

"That girl is always so dirty."

"I saw her mother flirting with the vegetable shop owner."

"That woman used to be a prostitute… No wonder Meily never met her father. Her mother probably doesn't even know who he is."

"She has time to flirt while her daughter works so hard? I feel bad for Meily."

Meily's expression twisted in anger, and I noticed the crystal-like stone in her pocket glowing violet. She grabbed a small rock and hurled it at one of the gossiping women.

"Ouch!"

"My mother is NOT a bitch! She's the kindest, most caring person I know!"

She reached for another rock.

Before she could throw it, I used wind magic to destroy it mid-air.

"Mayu…"

"Hurting people isn't right. Ignore them. Their lives are so boring that they entertain themselves by meddling in others' affairs."

The gossipers sneered at me, their faces twisted with disgust.

I just smiled, took Meily's hand, and ran.

—

Later that evening, Meily sighed. "You didn't have to do that."

"Violence doesn't solve anything. No matter what, it's not the answer."

"…My friend Eriko told me that humans are supposed to be equal. Looking down on others and enforcing a social hierarchy is pointless. The moment you're born, you have to fight for your goals. That's why when people look down on me, I can't ignore it. Who do they think they are? They should just… die."

I was stunned.

Meily was only eight years old and already talking about killing people. At her age, she should be playing without a care in the world. But her environment had shaped her differently.

I decided to be kinder to her.

"Who'sthios friend, Eriko?"

"She's the kind hearted healer I was talking about… She treated my mother. She's a skilled alchemist. I think you'd get along. Since you both use magic, you'd make great friends."

"You think so…?"

"Eriko is a kind person." Meily smiled, clearly looking up to her.

That reminded me of something. "The week-long festival starts tonight, right?"

Meily nodded. "Yeah, but I'm staying home. I don't have money."

Money again. It's a problem for everyone, but seeing her waste her youth over it was sad.

So before nightfall, I took Meily to the forest, hunted monsters, and completed quests to earn some money.

"Being an adventurer is amazing! You can earn this much gold in just a few hours! I wish I could be like you."

"It's the only thing I'm good at," I admitted. "I don't have much talent otherwise."

As night fell, the festival began. The streets were alive with lights, vendors, and laughter. It felt like a Japanese festival, with children running around and couples holding hands.

"Mayu, is it really okay for us to play here?"

"Of course. Festivals are meant to create happy memories."

Meily beamed. "Then let's make some memories."

We bought candy, played shooting games, and caught small fish. Along the way, we ran into Rin, who was determined to win a giant stuffed toy for me… and failed miserably.

Meanwhile, Marry arrived, holding hands with Captain Yuri.

"I didn't know you two were like that," I teased.

"It's not like that! I just didn't want to get lost in the crowd!"

I smirked knowingly.

Meanwhile, Captain Yuri tried the shooting game… and destroyed the entire stall with his shot.

"My shop…" the owner mumbled, devastated.

"Sorry! I'll pay for everything!" Yuri quickly apologized.

As Meily and I continued enjoying the festival, she turned to me. "On the seventh night, there will be fireworks. Let's watch them together with my mom."

"Sounds like a plan."

Far above, Eriko watched from a giant tree, eating cotton candy.

"Meily is doing well… I wonder what she'll think when she sees what's coming next…"

She took another bite.

"This is good."