This world was made by the Ryujin. The meaning is the treasure of the dragon, and it’s coming. This world seems to live by such myths still, G.o.ds still thrive. It seems that ordinary people can’t meet G.o.d, only the royal family can meet them. It is said that ordinary people need to visit a shrine if they have a wish.

​  Since I was clearly aware of myself, I always asked for information. I was confused and hungry for knowledge to the extent that I would otherwise go crazy. As I heard various pieces of information, I came to an understanding.

  I am in a different world…

  I have memories as Acht, certainly. She was living in a troupe of a traveling performers with her mother, sometimes standing on the stage as a performer. It’s a little dream like, but definitely mine.

  Along with that, more memories existed within me. Different memories. I do not know the owner of the memories, but with a mult.i.tude of memories that didn’t belong to Acht, my personality seems to have formed from that too. In other words, nothing in Acht’s memories could be solely responsible for the formation of my personality.

  In the memories that do not belong to Acht, I lived in a country called “j.a.pan”. Every child seems to go to school and I seemed to have gone as well. In this world, the biggest difference is that one cannot attend school without money and talent. Moreover, I think that religion was not followed as much in j.a.pan. It was not a monotheistic country, at least. (少なくとも一神教な國ではなかった。better translation?)

  I thought at first it was a country somewhere in this world that I did not know. But the deciding factor was that in j.a.pan the only intellectual life forms were “humans”. 

  When I go that route, I am denying myself. (「その知識で行くと、自分を全否定だもんなぁ」 I think this is right but I’m not sure.) The inhabitants of this world is a large variety, including “humans”. A large portion is made up by “elves”, “beastmen”, “winged”, “demons”, and “spirits”. However the beastmen can be further cla.s.sified amongst themselves. Ethnic minorities can be numbered with the stars.

  I was called a “mixed breed” with the blood of “humans”, “elves”, “beastmen”, and “spirits”. A “mixed breed” was a mixture of three or more races and it was considered an abhorrent existence. Because growth changes from race to race, “mixed breeds” do not know how to grow. When was it that you first heard it? (初めて聞かされた時は、何だそれ。I’m confused by this one). You can not choose your birth but to be suddenly persecuted was harsh, wasn’t it? That’s what I thought anyway. 

  Apparently, the country of j.a.pan was a country that did not recognize social status and regarded persecution as being evil. 

  But when I heard the reasons, I started to understand why they were disliked. “Mixed breeds” grew at different degrees, and their lifespan, intelligence, and magical power were all unknown. 

  In other words, there were cases where they were born and dead within one week. Others have grown suddenly after a hundred years of being a baby. Magical power and intelligence could be abnormally high or the exact opposite. Even though it was normal until now, the aging speed could suddenly rise, it was like an unpredictable bomb. 

  Unusual growth was not a disease so it won’t spread, but for this world where

security was not as good as it is in j.a.pan, it is not always possible for children to be adult. “Mixed breeds” were not blood that should be left to the next generation, hence it was hated. In my case, my body grew at the speed of “humans” apparently, but the intelligence seems to have been on par with an infant until now. I used to be unable to say a word, like a baby. The sudden intelligence and spirit growth was the result of the death of my mother, who was half “spirit” and “beastmen”, a month ago. Since it was overtaking the body this time, the degree of growth would be creepy to others. Other reasons for hatred may be fear of the unknown.

  Still, I am not dead, there seems to be some ethics in this world about killing “mixed breeds”. “In other words, you can act now,” the j.a.panese are good at reading the mood (「かといって、今更演技してもなぁ」 日本人は空気を読むのが上手い。what does this have to do with anything?) It is an ordinary skill that can make those who can’t worthy of being called names. As a result of my status, I have been distanced with the group of travelling performers. 

  How can I live comfortably in the future?

  So I won’t be persecuted, I should probably hide that I am a “mixed breed”. But reality was not so sweet. There’s a bruise type mark on my face, a feature of “mixed breeds”. I have another such bruise on my hand that solidifies my ident.i.ty. In order to hide, you’d have to wear a mask or hide your face with a hood. I try to imagine that look, but it’ll probably stand out more.

  It’s seriously hard to live in this world. It’s so bitter. I think that it’s at the level where it’s a little gray. “Acht, you can play dancers.” Even so, there is a child that is not afraid of me. Even now with my spirit growing abnormally, he will treat me like a little sister. ​

  Clau, who peeped in from the outside of tent came up to me, smiling at me. By the way, it is only his mother and the troupe leader who treat me like an ordinary child. “Today, if you don’t feel bad, you ought to be able to play, right Acht?” He grabs my hand while smiling and moves out of the tent gracefully. 

  “Clau, wait, I have not finished polis.h.i.+ng the knives yet.” In order to earn my keep I have no choice but to work. Until now my mother worked and I wished I could become a performer on stage, but now my mother has gone away, and now I had to miscellaneous work. “Mixed breed” is not common, of course, but it was eye catching regardless.

  I was necessary to appeal to others as a human resource that could be used.

  For the reason, I grasp my situation and I regularly take care of the tools of the troupe members.

  “That’s a job for Iris, don’t do it Acht, my mother said that it’s a professional’s job to take care of their own weapons.”

  “No.” I shook my head as I spoke. It may be true, but if I give up doing what I asked for, I do not know what kind of hara.s.sment I will be in for. Unfortunately, I am not a professional fighter performer, I am a young child without any fighting skills. If you get hit, you can seriously die.

  Although they are different worlds, I have come to a conclusion based on the memories of my previous life. “Safety is a better possesion than a wound” (「長いものには巻かれた方が安全」I did my best to make this one make sense). “If I wait for you… will you go?” I nodded at Clau. If it won’t bring serious harm, there’s no problem. “I don’t quite understand, but I will help out as well.” He sits down on the ground and picks up the cloth I’ve been using and starts to wipe the blade. I’ve been having trouble with my small hands and being hurt by the knife, but Clau is quite stubborn. Once he has decided on something, he will see it through. 

  “Thank you.”

  “Because I’m your older brother, it’s natural to protect Acht.” He ruffles my hair, but I don’t mind. This is the behaviour of his mother so there is an expression of affection on his face, but my hair is messed up. It is slightly inconvenient.

  In order to finish quickly, I sharpen only the knife which was dull with a grinding stone and oil. This was not knowledge from my previous life, Iris had told me. The brain just escaping infancy could easily absorb the technique. 

  Thankfully, it seems I am quite dexterous. I could do it. When I wiped the oil off and cleaned the last one, I put it in the last one. I wiped my forehead sweat with the sleeves of my clothes. If it’s the power of only child, even this degree is considered hard work. 

  “Well then, where will my mother be?” I wonder if he will go to their tent. I thrust out my hand and Clau grabs my arm and helps me stand. “When we’re already dirty, we might as well go play in town, right?” I see. Certainly both me and Clau were dity. Clau held my hand this time as he headed out of the tent.