Chapter 17
Pepe cleared his throat again before finally opening his mouth.
“Alright, shall we begin?”
“Get on with it.”
“Espers absorb natural energy into their bodies and use that power to manifest abilities. The strength of one’s ability depends greatly on how much natural energy they can absorb and condense.”
“How do you obtain natural energy?”
“You don’t really have to try. Espers naturally absorb it. Though if you go to places like forests, mountains, or the ocean, you can receive purer natural energy. But only as much as your body can handle. If you absorb more than that, your body won’t be able to withstand it.”
“Ah…”
“So in other words, the healthier your body, the more energy it can store. The weaker you are, the less you can hold.”
“So… if your body is healthy and strong, you can hold more energy?”
“Exactly.”
“Then the people who can use the strongest powers are those with strong bodies?”
“It’s not that simple! You idiot…”
Pepe snapped at me.
His insult irritated me, but I decided to hold back. Understanding abilities was more important right now.
“Condensing large amounts of natural energy is important, yes, but what’s even more important is the power to release it.”
“Release it?”
“Yeah. Manifesting energy into an ability is entirely up to the individual. That’s why even among those from Guardian bloodlines, if they lack the ability to release, they can’t use any power at all.”
“So the greater your ability to release energy, the stronger your ability becomes?”
“Exactly.”
What the heck. So people without talent can’t use abilities at all?
“Do you know when people usually manifest their powers?”
“What? That depends on the person. But generally, it happens around age four or five. Some heirs even manifest right after they’re born.”
“……”
I felt like I’d just been told I had no talent—indirectly.
“But why are you asking all this? Don’t tell me… you haven’t manifested yet?”
“……”
“How old are you?”
“Five.”
“And you still haven’t manifested anything?”
“……”
“Ahh, so you’re from the Erayton branch family. I thought you seemed a bit rustic, like you came from some rural place. I’ve heard branch family kids have a much lower chance of manifesting abilities.”
Well, I did come from a rural village, but rustic? Excuse me—I’ll have you know I was one of the most adored kids there thanks to my looks.
And this guy—whether he’s a world tree spirit or a fairy—looks just like a tiny squirrel. Getting disrespected by a squirrel made me even more annoyed.
“I’m not from the branch family!”
My tone came out sharper than I intended.
“What? Then you’re from the direct line?”
“Yeah! I’m… the daughter of Duke Erayton!”
I hesitated briefly before saying “daughter,” but puffed out my chest as I said it.
Because it’s true—I am Herald’s daughter.
Pepe looked slightly stunned.
“You… you’re really the duke’s daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Then why can’t you use any abilities?”
“How should I know?”
“Huhhh…”
Pepe began pacing and mumbling to himself.
“Direct bloodlines are supposed to be strong with blessings. It’s unheard of for someone like that to not manifest. Or maybe… she didn’t receive the blessing at all?”
“……”
“Hmm… What could it be? Could the power of the blessing have weakened? No, the energy here in the mansion is too strong for that. So the problem must be with her.”
Is he seriously mumbling to himself?
Pepe’s voice was far too clear for me to mistake it as anything but a direct insult.
“Hey, I can hear you, you know?”
“Hm? Hear what?”
He gave me an innocent look like he didn’t know what I was talking about. With that deceptively cute squirrel face.
But I knew better. I knew what he was really like.
And then he said the one thing that made my blood boil.
“Hmm… Or maybe blessings are picky too? Maybe they just don’t like country bumpkins?”
“HEY!”
I reached out quickly, but Pepe easily dodged me with agility only a squirrel could possess. Teasing me, he darted just out of reach, and then leapt down from the table.
“Come back here! Who are you calling a bumpkin, you dumb squirrel?!”
“I’m not just a squirrel. I’m a very, very special—mmph!”
“You can’t even say who you really are! Hey! Get back here!”
His mouth covered again, Pepe scurried out of the building. Burning with rage, I chased after him.
But I couldn’t catch up. Who knew squirrels could be this fast? As I watched him grow smaller in the distance, I stopped to catch my breath.
And then—someone suddenly stepped into his path.
I didn’t waste the moment.
“Hey! Grab that squirrel!”
Startled, the boy froze, but then bent down smoothly and picked up Pepe. So smoothly, in fact, it almost looked like Pepe jumped into his hands on purpose.
“Haah… Hah… Th-thank you!”
I ran up to him without hesitation.
The boy gently held Pepe and silently looked at me. His light straw-colored hair fluttered softly, but his expressionless face didn’t leave much of an impression.
“Ugh, I thought I was gonna die from running. Hey, Pepe! You! What were you thinking, saying something like that and then running away?!”
“Squeak squeak, squeak?”
“Don’t start squeaking now! Come here!”
“Squeak.”
Pepe turned away and snuggled deeper into the boy’s arms. Fuming, I reached out to grab him again—but my hand was swatted away.
“Ouch!”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
The boy, who had shown no emotion earlier, was now glaring at me with clear hostility.
Excuse me? I should be the one asking that!
I rubbed my wrist and began to assess the situation. Clearly, this boy thought I was bullying Pepe.
“Uh… no, it’s not like that. I didn’t bully him. If anything, he bullied me with his words!”
“……”
“Seriously, wouldn’t you be mad if someone called you dumb or said you looked like a bumpkin?”
“There’s no way this squirrel said that to you.”
“Yes! He did!”
I was losing my mind.
This guy—the one who just finished explaining all about abilities a second ago—is that very squirrel!
I beat my chest in frustration, trying to make my case, but the more I talked, the colder the boy’s gaze became.
After bickering for a while, I slowly turned around and said weakly,
“Fine… whatever. If you don’t believe me, what’s the point of explaining?”
“……”
“You can keep the squirrel. Do whatever you want.”
I took a few steps away, pretending to give up, then—
“Oh? There’s still a cookie left in my pocket!”
—I said it as dramatically as I could while pretending to search my pockets.
Then—
“Cookieeee!!”
Pepe, who had been nestled in the boy’s arms, leapt up high and dashed toward me at lightning speed.
I didn’t miss my chance. The moment he was right in front of me, I reached out and grabbed his tiny body.
“Ughk!”
“Gotcha.”
As I grinned, Pepe’s eyes started to water.
