“I think today is the day we finally settle things, oh rival of mine!”
It was four days after my forty-second regrettable defeat.
There I was, triumphantly shouting exactly the same line as I had four days earlier. First, I suppose I’d better explain again just who I am.
“Huh…you’re doing that again…?”
“Don’t be so obtuse, my rival. Because we are rivals, it’s only natural that we should fight.”
I stood before Nadona, my rival, who had no enthusiasm for the fight. My dark blue hair fluttered in the wind as I shouted at her.
My name is Crechill. I am a mage. My age is seventeen. My face is cute. My magic skills are decent. Wearing an expression full of confidence, my face is still undeniably cute.
Let me say it again.
My name is Crechill.
That’s the name of a mage who will one day make a name for herself in magical circles.
“And it’s the name of the woman who will knock you down completely this time, graaaaaahhh!”
Slam! I issued her the challenge.
Armed with the knowledge and skills I had gained through observing the witch Elaina for three days, I threw down the gauntlet for my forty-third duel. Preparation is everything.
“You want to fight in a place like this…?”
My rival wore a puzzled face.
Ordinarily, I would have summoned her to a grassy field outside of town, but this time was different.
We were in a neighborhood café.
“Heh-heh-heh. You don’t seem to have realized it yet, my rival. The match has already begun, from the very moment I summoned you to this place today!”
“So basically we’re just on an outing that you’re calling a duel? I think this is the first time I’ve ever come to a shop like this with a friend.”
Nadona giggled, placing her hands, which had been pressed closed together, on both her cheeks. Right after that, a ridiculously large parfait was placed before us.
As I had said, the contest had already begun, from that moment on.
I had learned a lot of things from spending time with the esteemed witch.
For three days, I had followed the witch, Lady Elaina, to many different places. They included a bookstore, a normal café, and a nearby park.
Lady Elaina was free. She wasn’t tied down by anything, and I envied the way she lived, surrendering herself to the passage of time.
“Crechill, I bet when you look at me, you’re thinking that I seem so free, and you’re jealous of that, right?”
One day, Lady Elaina had started talking in this way, as if she had seen right through me. I was perceptive enough to get the hint that she was about to start telling me something that would be of benefit to me, so I’d opened up my notebook.
According to Lady Elaina, travelers only appeared to be free, but actually, that was not true.
“I’m sure the idea of not living in any particular place and not having to fit your life around school or a job seems wonderful to you. But that’s only how it looks from your perspective. The truth is, reality is different. We travelers seem so free, but of course we have troubles of our own.”
When I had asked her for some examples of what sorts of things troubled her, she had thought it over, holding her coffee cup in both hands and staring out into space.
“Let me see… There’s anxiety about the future, and about money for living in old age, and things like that.”
“I worry about those kinds of things, too, though.”
“I guess you do. So maybe we’re not different from you at all.”
“……”
I hadn’t quite understood, so she had simplified things for me.
“What I’m saying is that neither witches nor travelers are really actually that different. We worry just like everyone else and think about things like anyone else does,” she’d told me.
Then, on top of that, she’d given one piece of advice to me, who hadn’t won any of my matches.
“Even in different situations, people are still people. Nobody is free from worry. Even you, who proclaim to be perfect, seem to be troubled that you can’t win against your rival—,” the witch Lady Elaina had said.
Then I’d realized something.
“In other words, Nadona also must have a weak point…?”
“That’s right. She probably does,” the esteemed witch had said as she blew on her coffee.
Then she’d added another comment. “Well, it occurred to me that it might be easier for you to study your rival, who is so close at hand, before studying some witch you’ve never seen before. Start with that.”
In other words—
She had told me that what I had been lacking was an understanding of my opponent.
Accordingly, I had decided to spend the day taking Nadona around to different places, just like the days I had spent with Lady Elaina, so that I could study her habits.
“Today is my treat,” I said. “Eat whatever you like.”
“So tasty!”
My rival smiled broadly at the parfait, unaware of my real objective.
I see. Apparently, she likes sweets. Come to think of it, I feel like many of the sandwiches she was eating at our last duel were fruit sandwiches.
After we finished eating, we went shopping.
The first store we went to was a bookstore.
“Ah, I was just wanting this book!”
Nadona headed to the counter, clutching a recently released mystery novel to her chest. Her stride was light, like she was dancing.
Come to think of it, I went into a bookstore during the three days I spent with Lady Elaina, too.
As we lined up for the register, Nadona turned back to me and said, “Wait a second, okay?” She waved her hand, and as I waved back, I recalled an exchange I had with Lady Elaina.
“Novels are just great, aren’t they? Now I have something to enjoy before bed for the next few days, heh-heh-heh.”
Lady Elaina had chuckled to herself while clutching a mystery novel.
When I saw her like that, I had decided it was as good a time as any, and I threw out my chest with pride.
“Lady Elaina, do you know about speed-reading?”
“Sure. Well, I know it’s a thing that exists. It’s where you can understand the content of a book just by flipping through the pages, right?”
“Exactly!” I had raised my voice in the bookshop. “I’m an accomplished speed-reader, you know, and if I were to read that book you’re holding now, I could finish it in about five minutes,” I’d boasted.
I’d been puffed up with pride, but Lady Elaina had sighed to see me that way.