Fresa-chan brought us to lodgings a ways from the city. It seemed she was using this place as her base while she practiced her magic to become an adventurer.
“Furutsu, why do you call her ‘-chan’?” Grida suddenly asked.
Huh, good question. That’s what she calls herself, so I guess I just followed suit.
“Then could you stop?”
Hm? Why?
“I just don’t like it.”
A little weird, but okay. If you don’t like it, I’ll stop.
Fresa carefully placed me on a bookcase shelf and started to pack.
“All right! Tomorrow, I’ll do my best!” she said. She started stuffing her backpack with medicine and portable food, probably for her test tomorrow.
It turned out that she was shadowing a group of adventurers as an apprentice. That’s why she was so far out from the city, and ended up getting chased around by goblins. She wasn’t there to fight, but to do all the menial work.
“Jeez! I was just about to diiie thanks to them,” she sighed.
She was kicked out in the middle of their journey, and was forced to walk back to the city by herself. On her way back, she bumped into those goblins.
She claims that it wasn’t her fault, but maybe she made a fatal mistake and the party chased her out for it.
“Um, Furutsu, what should we do from now on?” Grida asked.
Well, we need to meet the World Tree, and find a way to properly get you out of that storage card.
“Right, because the world might get destroyed if I come out wrong.”
That means we don’t really have to tag along on Fresa’s test. We can sneak out if we want.
“Heh heh! Yay! Hooray! An adventurer!” Fresa exclaimed in a singsongy voice as she started polishing her lantern. She was humming to herself.
Well, it’s probably less suspicious to be with her than to roll around as an apple. I guess I can pretend to be a magic apple for a bit, I said after a brief silence.
“You really are kind, Furutsu,” said Grida.
What are you talking about? I’m just gonna use her. That’s all.
She giggled. “Right. You’re an evil apple, rotten to the core, and you won’t even shed a tear.”
You seem kind of happy about that. You’re right, that’s exactly what I am. I’m a cold, rotten apple that won’t shed a single tear. Well, whether I’m evil or not, I can’t exactly cry as an apple anyways.
“Oh nooo! I was about to forget my grimoire. Where is it?” said Fresa. She had finished packing and was going through a different bag.
Hm? Is she gonna do it again today?
“Even if I have my apple magic, I should still be able to use some speeells.” Fresa took out a thick, tattered grimoire. It seemed her daily routine was to practice her magic from the book before she went to bed.
“Uh, let’s seeee,” she said, as she thumbed through the pages and found the page she had marked. She started to chant: “Unknown traveler, remove the shackles of fire. Unleash the unseen, and return to ashes within the earth.” She repeated the spell over and over again.
“Fresa-san’s been at it every day,” Grida said.
Yeah. Thanks to her, I’ve already memorized the spell myself.
“Ha ha, me too!”
After practicing for about an hour, Fresa shut her grimoire and started mumbling to herself. “Phew. Unknown traveler...unleash... All right then!” She opened a window and stuck both her arms outside.
“Unknown traveler, remove the shackles of fire. Unleash the unseen, and return to ashes within the earth. Fire magic!” she chanted.
Beads of red light started to gather on Fresa’s outstretched hands. Then...sizzle. A bit of smoke puffed out from her hands and the red light disappeared.
“Whaaat? Why can’t I do iiit?” Fresa wailed.
She failed again.
“Today was a bust too,” said Grida.
Yeah. I commend her for trying every day without giving up.
“Fine! I can use apple magic anyways! I’ll learn how to use other spells sooon!” Fresa said, teary-eyed. She puffed out her cheeks and shut the windows before starting to take her top off.
“Hey! Fresa-san’s going to strip in front of you again!” Grida yelled.
So what? I’m just an apple.
“Hmph! Stop ogling her like that! You pervert! Cheater!”
Ogle? I don’t even have eyes. Wait, how am I a cheater?
Grida huffed in response.
Okay, okay. I don’t get it, but you want me to cut off my vision for now, right? It’s not like I want to look either, okay?
“Liar! I know guys! They’re all lecherous perverts and beasts!”
Hey, I’m no beast. I’m a fruit. Besides, I don’t bother with stuff like peeping. If I wanted to look, I’d just ask her directly.