Shimulir, a world possessed of prosperous magical power. The gods sat high in the heavenly realms, silently watching over the various races on the ground while also guarding the entire world.
Elves, dwarves, beastkin, and humans.
People of all races walked the earthly realm, enjoying the protection and blessings of the gods while also offering devout faith to them.
... ...
... ...
Tap, tap, tap...
Inside the solemn and quiet church, footsteps echoed one after another.
The old priest and the young acolyte walked through the aisle between rows of old wooden pews, stopping before a certain statue.
The old priest looked up at the statue and began to wait quietly.
In the ongoing silence, the acolyte began to grow restless.
His youthful eyes darted around. The faint scent of rotting wood from the ancient pews and floorboards wafted to his nose, making him slightly uncomfortable.
Old, desolate—just staying here made him feel as if his very life was rotting away with it.
Sigh...
A tiny church in the countryside.
The young acolyte sighed silently in his heart.
I really don't want to spend my whole life in a place like this.
If only I could be transferred to the central cathedral...
“Neichard.”
The old priest's sudden voice startled the young acolyte, who hurriedly straightened up in a panic.
“Yes, Father!”
“Remember to maintain humility and reverence before the gods.”
“...”
He saw right through my daydreaming...
The young acolyte lowered his head in embarrassment.
“I'm sorry, Father...”
“It is fine,” the old priest said gently. “Correcting one's mistakes is a sign of good character. I am sure that Lord will forgive you as well.”
That Lord...
The young acolyte looked toward the statue.
As he stared, he gradually lost himself in his thoughts and subconsciously asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time.
“...Will the god really descend again?”
The old priest's eyes dimmed.
“...”
He remained silent, unable to answer for a long time.
Only after a long while did he slowly speak, his voice filled with firm conviction.
“I have always believed...”
“Just as that Lord once brought dawn to this world, dispersing the darkness that enveloped it, healing the wounded bodies and minds of the people, allowing us to bask in the divine light and enjoy perpetual peace and tranquility.”
“I firmly believe...”
“The day of that Lord's return will surely come.”
Dong, dong, dong...
Just then, the church bells rang.
The old priest clasped his hands together and slowly closed his eyes.
“It is time. Let us offer our prayers to that Lord.”
“Yes, Father.”
The young acolyte also closed his eyes and clasped his hands.
Inside the quiet, old church, the long, drawn-out sounds of their prayers gradually echoed.
... ...
... ...
Dong! Dong! Dong...
As the church bells echoed throughout Mente Town and reached the Hayeral estate, the Hayeral family did not stop what they were doing to pray silently as they usually did.
Right now, the head of the Hayeral family, Rezerian Hayeral, was pacing back and forth in the courtyard with an anxious and uneasy expression.
“Is it not ready yet? Is it not ready yet?...”
Seeing his father so anxious, muttering to himself repeatedly, Reid shook his head helplessly.
“Father, could you stop pacing around in front of me? This isn't the first time.”
Rezerian stopped, grabbed Reid's shoulders, and shook them vigorously.
“I know! Of course I know! But I'm just worried! Lilia... Lilia is...”
Ah...
Reid was speechless.
This troublesome old man is really troublesome!
“Wah! Wah! Wah...”
Just then, a loud baby's cry echoed from inside the house.
“She gave birth! She gave birth!”
Rezerian's eyes lit up instantly. He shoved Reid's shoulders aside and rushed into the house, and Reid immediately stood up as well.
“Wait, Father, you can't go in yet...”
“Ah! My Lord, you can't come in yet! Please get out!”
“Don't be like that, let me see my child quickly! Is it a boy or a girl? How is Lilia?!”
“Please leave immediately!!”
“Ahhh...”
Hearing the chaotic commotion inside, Reid couldn't help but facepalm.
My old man is really...
On July 7th of the year 777 of the New Divine Calendar, the Sabbath.
In Mente Town of the Pasara Empire in Shimulir, the seventh daughter of the hereditary Knight class Hayeral family, Shulim Hayeral, was born into this world.
————————
“Heave-ho, heave-ho...”
In the utility room of the Hayeral house, the seven-year-old Shulim was whittling a wooden stick with a small knife.
Before long,
“Finished!”
Shulim held the carved wooden stick above her head, her young eyes shining with light.
“My magic wand!”
“Hey, ha! Magic Bullet~!”
She waved the wooden stick around, striking a few decent poses, before dropping the knife and walking out of the house.
Clang! Clang! Clang...
As she passed the courtyard, Rezerian was practicing with wooden swords against Reid and Yamen.
“Too slow! Your sword swings are too slow, it's pathetic! How do you two normally practice?! I can't even look at this! Do you even count as descendants of the Hayeral family?!”
Seeing Rezerian playing his game of “beating up” her older brothers again, Shulim didn't find it strange at all. After all, ever since she could remember, her father had often “beaten up” her brothers like this. In her eyes, this was just their normal way of interacting.
She walked past them.
“Father, Big Brother Reid, Big Brother Yamen.”
Shulim greeted them politely.
“Oh, Shulim, going out? Don't wander too far!”
Rezerian turned his head. Seeing his youngest daughter, his expression instantly became warm and gentle.
“Okay, Father! I'm going out!”
“Oh, take care on the way!”
Watching his youngest daughter walk off with small steps, humming a little tune and waving her wooden stick, Rezerian didn't look away for a long time.
“Hey, hey, Dad! That's too much of a double standard! Why are you so gentle to Shulim, but you just shout at us?!”
“Yeah, exactly!”
The breathless Reid and Yamen grumbled in dissatisfaction.
“Huh?!”
Rezerian's eyes glared as he turned his head back with a ferocious expression.
Thud! Thud!
Two dull thuds rang out, and Reid and Yamen clutched their heads, rolling on the ground in pain.
Pointing his wooden sword at the two brothers, Rezerian roared, “How do you two idiots still have the nerve to complain?! Starting today, your daily training is doubled!”
“Argh, no way—!!!”
The brothers' pitiful wails echoed through the courtyard.
... ...
... ...
“Witch~, witch~, the strongest witch~, defeating all the evil~...”
Deep inside the Mine Forest south of Mente Town, the sunlight filtered through the sparse canopy, casting scattered patches of light onto the forest path.
Shulim hummed her completely tone-deaf, self-composed little tune as she made her way deeper into the forest.
As the youngest daughter, although she was pampered by her parents and older siblings, who viewed her as a good, obedient girl, Shulim was inherently a restless spirit.
For instance, her secret paradise that she was currently heading toward was a place where even the adults in town wouldn't easily set foot.
If her parents knew that “not too far” in their youngest daughter's mind meant something so vastly different from their own interpretation, they might have grounded her.
But whether she forgot to mention it or instinctively felt that bad things would happen if she did, Shulim had never told anyone where she went when she went out alone.
“La~! La-la~!”
Shulim arrived at the deepest part of the forest. Pushing through a patch of shrubs, her vision suddenly opened up to reveal a small lake.
The lake water was clear and serene, shimmering with faint ripples under the sunlight.
“Heave-ho!”
Shulim climbed onto a large boulder by the lakeside.
Pointing her wooden stick at the lake surface,
“The witch, Lady Shulim, has arrived!”
The forest was completely quiet...
Holding the pose for about three seconds, Shulim didn't feel embarrassed at all.
Slowly lowering her wooden stick, Shulim nodded.
“You've hidden well, monster! Even hearing the great name of Witch Lady Shulim leaves you unmoved? Worthy of praise!”
Suddenly, Shulim vigorously swung her wooden stick forward again.
“Magic Bullet—!”
The wind gently blew across the lake's surface, creating a few ripples. The forest remained completely silent.
The Magic Bullet... didn't come out.
“Oh, unexpectedly clever, monster! To think you saw through my feint. I'll acknowledge you for now, but—”
Shulim raised her wooden stick high, her gaze becoming serious.
“Now I'm playing for keeps.”
“Magic Bullet—!!!”
Splash!
A large splash of water was kicked up, and the originally peaceful lake surface became heavily disturbed.
“Hmph, this is this Lady Witch's Magic Bullet attack! How about that? Are you scared, monster?!”
Shulim proudly raised her chin, while quietly hiding her right hand—which had just pinched a pebble—behind her back.
The ripples on the lake soon subsided.
“Oh? You can still stand firm even against this Lady Witch's Magic Bullet attack? I really underestimated you. But my attacks don't stop here! Take this, monster!”
Shulim bent down, picked up another pebble, and threw it at the invisible “monster” while swinging her wooden stick.
Splash!
Splash!
Splash...
Ripples spread across the lake one after another.
After a long time, Shulim, exhausted from playing, lay down on the rock.
“What an exhilarating battle!”
Shulim propped herself up with her arms, sitting on the rock as she looked at the lake.
“You are a powerful monster. We'll settle this next time.”
With that, she picked up another pebble and threw it toward the lake.
At that time, Shulim didn't realize that this next pebble she threw would lead her to an event that would change the course of her entire life.
Splash!
Just like before, the pebble kicked up a splash of water on the lake.
And then,
The gears of destiny began to turn.
Rate on N.U.
