080
Did… did I just make the atmosphere awkward with my question?
The next moment, Sister Luarel started nervously biting her nails.
“I-I can’t. I can’t breathe underwater… How would I even do that?”
“You can do it, Pashayen! Be brave!”
To encourage my timid older sister, I held peaches in both hands and started dancing around energetically.
Even so, Sister Luarel made no move to try.
Getting a bit tired, I sighed and finished eating the rest of my peach.
“Hmm, well… It’s true that one might not be able to breathe underwater immediately.”
Teacher Cedric murmured slowly.
“Because she’s never tried it before. Also, she’s already convinced herself in her mind that she has limitations…”
“Limitations?”
Ahh, I’m so full now.
While patting my now slightly rounded belly, Teacher Cedric wiped the corners of my mouth with a clean handkerchief and continued.
“I’m saying there’s a difference between someone who’s always been told ‘You can do it’ and someone who has always assumed they can’t.”
“So, like… if you go in the water, you can breathe, right?”
“That’s how it’s supposed to be, but… well, it’s rare for someone to return to the family this late in life…”
Sister Luarel stopped trembling.
And then she started darting her eyes around—like she was trying to read the mood or something.
“Ladies, do you know how the direct bloodline abilities—also known as ‘blessings’—are passed down in each ducal family?”
This time, Teacher Cedric fanned me gently with a hand fan as he spoke.
Feeling pleasant, I smiled goofily and shook my head.
“You never taught me that.”
“Oh, as expected, I didn’t. Not surprising in the least.”
His matter-of-fact tone made me giggle, but I quickly quieted down to listen.
“The direct bloodline of the Pashayen family possesses the blessing of underwater breathing.”
“Okay.”
“The Velarion family can move through shadows. I’m sure you already knew that. Now, what about the Raximon family?”
“……!”
I’m curious!
Raximon of the Dawn.
That’s Lacifer’s family.
“Raximon is a little unique. They always have only one heir. I don’t know if it’s by design or just coincidence, but… Anyway, they never have siblings. Always an only child.”
“Ohh.”
“And that one-of-a-kind direct bloodline—”
Teacher Cedric continued calmly.
“—inherits ancestral memories. That means they hold all the memories of their forebears.”
“Wow!”
Wouldn’t that make someone insanely smart? How could anyone remember all that?
“And lastly, there’s Ishel. Though it’s called a ‘blessing,’ even the family themselves refer to it more like a curse.”
“A curse?”
“Yes. The direct line of Ishel transforms into beasts. They go into a berserk state and don’t recognize anyone—even loved ones.”
The story of the Flicker of Ishel was completely foreign to me.
It felt like a legend from long ago.
If I ever go to a friendly tournament in the future, will I meet someone from Ishel?
“Anyway, the blessings of the ducal families only apply to those branching directly from the current head. For instance, Lord Galizard’s siblings can breathe underwater. But their descendants? They can’t.”
“Ooh, I see.”
So that’s why the side-branch children can’t breathe underwater.
Still, they’re great at surfing thanks to their affinity with water!
“When Lady Violet becomes the next head, the blessing will stop for all the side branches from that moment on… something like that.”
“Do you understand?”
Teacher Cedric turned to Sister Luarel and asked gently.
Sister Luarel flinched, blinking rapidly.
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ whispers.]
[That’s why, when someone becomes the direct heir, they try to have children quickly, to pass the blessing on while it’s still valid. If Mikard grows up and has a child before Violet officially becomes the head, then that child can also receive the blessing.]
‘Who gives out the blessings, anyway?’
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ smiles.]
[They say that in old, noble families, ancient magic lives and breathes—hidden from human sight.]
At the Water Spirit King’s explanation, I began to imagine.
I didn’t know what they looked like, but they must be huge, right?
Big, strong, and cool. I bet they even have horns.
‘Dear Ancient Magic, if you have any leftover blessings… could I have one too? I want to breathe underwater too.’
And after making that wish in my heart—surprise!
The image of the ancient magic I imagined looked exactly like the Ancestor Whale.
“Anyway, the point is that because it’s a blessing, you will be able to breathe underwater.”
“B-but… what if it still doesn’t work because I’m not used to it…?”
Once again, the atmosphere turned tense.
Sister Luarel, full of anxiety, kept biting her nails. Brother Elzen shrugged his shoulders. And Teacher Cedric…
‘Huh? Why doesn’t he look annoyed like usual?’
He seemed to be observing something, as if deep in thought.
“Then, that would be proof she’s not Miss Luarel.”
“……!”
“But don’t worry. You said you have memories, right? Memories of being ‘Luarel.’”
Teacher Cedric smiled gently.
But… was it just me, or did that smile send a chill down my spine?
I shivered and reached again for a peach to calm myself.
(It’s a secret, but I already got hungry again after eating earlier.)
“My theory is this: if she really is a true Pashayen, then at some point, in the right situation, she’ll naturally be able to breathe underwater. So don’t worry.”
“…..…”
“Keep telling yourself that you can do it. Keep affirming it—until the belief that you can’t breathe underwater breaks down.”
It’d be nice if things really worked out just from thoughts alone.
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ advises: Don’t think ‘I want to,’ or even ‘I can.’ Instead, believe it was always possible in the first place.]
I tried to follow the Water Spirit King’s advice.
That’s when Brother Elzen reached his hand out again.
“Let’s go, Luarel. You need to try. You can’t just sit there forever.”
“Ah…”
“Come here.”
Sister Luarel hesitated but slowly got up in response to his firm voice.
I quickly followed behind.
And even Teacher Cedric came along.
“Huh? Teacher’s coming too?”
“Yes. The duke gave me an order. Honestly… he always picks the sunniest, hottest days for this kind of thing. It’s like he does it on purpose.”
He grumbled with his words, but his eyes were sharp—focused.
Standing before the vast ocean, Sister Luarel once again took a step back, flinching as the crashing waves rolled in with a swoosh.
“Luarel.”
Brother Elzen’s firm voice stopped her from running away.
After a long moment of hesitation, Sister clenched her eyes shut and reluctantly dipped her foot into the water.
Then, step by step, she began to move forward.
“B-Brother… I’m really scared. It’s just terrifying. I feel like something’s going to eat me…”
“It’s just a feeling. You have to overcome it. From here on, try going alone.”
“B-but… I think I have a tr-trauma or something…”
“Go on.”
Children nearby started to gather around us, watching.
Brother Elzen stood behind with his arms crossed, observing silently.
Sister Luarel made it just to knee-deep water—then her whole body began to tremble violently.
Suddenly, as if having a seizure, she threw her head back.
“Ah, ah, ah… AAAAAHHHH!”
She shook uncontrollably—then collapsed into the water, foaming at the mouth.
Splash!
“Oh dear, it seems it really was too much for her.”
I was too stunned to move.
Teacher Cedric stepped forward and lifted her limp body. Her dangling arms swayed weakly.
“Tsk. At least the water wasn’t too deep—thankfully, she didn’t hit her head. I’ll move her right away.”
Was she going to be okay?
The children whispered worriedly, and I, too, looked on with a grave expression as the two moved further away.
[The Air Spirit King ‘Shaparsi’ says she’s just pretending to faint.]
[There’s no need to worry. Her breathing is perfectly normal.]
Huh…?
Well, that was a relief—but still, what a chaotic day.
***
‘That was close.’
A little while later—
Luarel lay in bed in her room. As soon as she sensed the coast was clear, she wiped her mouth and sat up straight.
‘Damn it. Since when can Pashayens breathe underwater?! No one ever told me that!’
