Akuyaku no Oujo ni Tensei Shitakedo Chapter 4

 Day Four: Bullying and Shocking Truths

I woke up abruptly. As I sat up and looked around, there was no one in the storage room, and the morning sun was shining through a small window. It seemed like I had fallen asleep without realizing it after everything that had happened.

I covered my face with my hands.

"I was so shocked!"

I screamed inside my head.

What's going on? Is Lefebvre Nicholson really a yandere? Saying things like, "If I can't have you, I'll kill you, and if I can't have you, I'll kill you with my own hands." He's the terrifying kind of yandere, not just a walking landmine!

He's the possessive yandere who believes that your life belongs to her!

"But maybe I'm the same..."

Lucienne seemed pleased.

She genuinely felt it would be okay to be killed by him.

And I didn't even feel afraid of that. In fact, I felt strangely relieved that I wouldn't be alone in my final moments, and I couldn't help but feel a bit happy.

I don't remember it very well, but I've died once before.

Reincarnated Elf Chapter 25

 Reincarnated elf (105), discover the 'Hero' factor.

"Tonight's dinner is Minori Special No. 34, a delicious dish of Rock-Eating Fish steamed in white wine. We caught them in the Folt River, and it's more budget-friendly than buying from the fishermen at Kukule Fortress."

Rock-Eating Fish return from the sea to spawn in the river during this season, benefiting from the cooler weather.

These magical monsters are known for consuming rocks to grow. The ones that feast on rocks rich in magical essence from the river are the most prized, resulting in their delightful fat content.

While they bear some resemblance to salmon from a previous life, these fish are unique magical creatures that have their own flavors to offer.

The ones with the most fat can sometimes be traded on the Imperial Kingdom's internal market for enough to sustain you for a week.

Despite that, Minori takes care of everything herself, from sourcing the ingredients to preparing the meal, and her hard work truly deserves recognition.

The steaming process leaves the white meat tender, with a delightful, slightly wobbly texture. The soup, infused with the fish's flavor, provides a mixture of sweetness and a subtle touch of saltiness that lingers in your mouth.

As always, Minori's culinary skills shine at the dining table, and the meal is as delicious as ever.

"It seems that recently, the dishes have become even more delicious."

"Hehe, lately, I've been adding hints of the fruit flavors you like, Sir Reese. The ingredients turn out tender and just right, I thought."

Reincarnated Elf Chapter 24

 Reincarnated elf (102), sending off a friend

When someone is on the brink of death, it's said that they resemble the brightest version of themselves from their past. If there were gods in this world, I'd think it's a clever arrangement.

"Master, you shouldn't be in a place like this yet."

While tapping his broad right shoulder, bearing a massive axe, Grillet showed a mischievous yet troubled smile.

"Don't worry. I plan to return in just a few minutes. I felt the need to have one last chat with you, Grillet. I assumed you hadn't completely passed away yet, so I'm relieved that I made it in time."

If a living being hasn't completely died yet, their soul finds its way to the threshold of death. I thought it was worth a shot after seeing a reaction when I held his hand on his deathbed, and it worked quite well.

"It seems I can still sense temperature and hear a bit, huh? Your hands, Master, they haven't changed a bit since that time. They're still white, clean, and youthful as ever."

"Elves typically begin aging after they reach 800 years."

"Which means that the clan chief must have lived for such a long time!? I see, the lifespan of the Elven race is truly remarkable..."

Grillet couldn't see, but his eyes seemed filled with wonder.

"In fact, Grillet, I can use my magic to give you a physical body as well. There's a revival spell for necromancers. A great necromancer in history performed a forbidden ritual known as the 'Ancient Rite of Resurrection,' which temporarily called forth the 'Origin Demon Lord' and the 'Dragon King' into the world. The number of oaths involved was staggering, but I will certainly find a proper resurrection method. Even if it's only temporary until then..."

Akuyaku no Oujo ni Tensei Shitakedo Chapter 3

 Day Three: What I Want

The next day, I continued to sleep through most of the daytime.

However, once again, I received no food.

I decided to save as much as I could of that sweet-smelling thing he had given me. My stomach rumbled in response.

I looked up at a small window high above, through which I could see the stars in the night sky. I wondered if dinnertime had already passed. I couldn't be certain of the exact time, but it felt like it was probably past 10 o'clock at night.

Carefully, I opened the door, making sure the dim corridor was empty.

I headed toward the kitchen, following Lucienne's memories. It was dark, so I had to be cautious not to get lost. It was amusing how the area around my storage room was kept dark, but as I moved further away, the hallway was illuminated by lamps.

When I reached the kitchen, it was already dark, the fires extinguished, and no one in sight.

However, the room two doors down seemed to have people inside, and the delicious scent of soup filled the air. I swallowed the saliva that had accumulated in my mouth. The aroma of vegetables and meat simmering was enticing.  But I knew they wouldn't share it with Lucienne, even if I went there. Most likely, I would either be chased out or taken back to my room

So, I decided to act quietly. As I entered the kitchen, I was met with the lingering aroma of the meal that had been prepared earlier. I checked the table, but it seemed there were no leftovers. Even if there were, the servants would probably share it among themselves, and I wouldn't get any.

Reincarnated Elf Chapter 23

 Reincarnated elf (102) decided to make a visit

We used teleportation magic to quickly reach Kukule Fortress, and we found ourselves right in front of the Garlander Marchioness's estate.

A guard, now in his seventh year of service, recognized us. "Oh, it's Sir Reese and Lady Minoru, isn't it? Please come in." We were smoothly escorted to the fourth level, reserved for family members.

In front of a particular room, we found Garlanda, the Lord of Kukule Fortress. It had been two years since we last met, and he looked more composed and had a slightly more relaxed expression.

Beside him was Silfa, the silver-haired lady, and at her feet, a little boy who clung to her nervously. Silfa greeted us with a smile, and Minoru respectfully bowed.

Next, Garius came over to me. "Thank you very much for coming, Master Reese."

I responded, "It's been a while, Garius. I feel like you've become quite dependable compared to the last time we met."

"If you can say that, Master Reese, it's all thanks to your support. It's been two years since then. Thanks to you, I was able to make time to have a proper conversation with Father once again. At first, I was fumbling in my role as the Lord, but with Father's guidance, I managed to get things on track."

"That's great to hear. By the way, who's this?"

I shifted my gaze to the little boy who had moved away from Silfa's side and was curiously looking at me. He introduced himself as Weiss, a young boy with neatly arranged black hair and big, round eyes. He seemed to resemble Garius more in terms of his composed and knowledgeable demeanor than the adventurous and courageous Grillet.

"His name is Vais. Well, to my embarrassment, he was born just two years ago. My apologies for the delayed introduction. Say hello, Vais."

"Umm? Hello, Master Reese?" A young boy, Vais, pointed at me, his eyes wide, looking in my direction.

"Hello, Vais. I'm Reese Farlan, and I'm 102 years old."

"I'm Vais Garland, and I'm two years old," he greeted with a proper little bow.

So young.

"My father is right here. Although he's unconscious, please allow me to show his face."

Suppressing trembling laughter during our conversation, Garius guided me inside. Both Garius and Silfa had expressions that appeared more cheerful, despite their grief. This was a stark contrast to my visit two years ago when Grillet fell into a deep coma due to a sudden illness.

"Grandpa, Master Reese is here!"

Young Vais quickly reached Grillet's bedside.

"My father often talked to Vais about you, just like he did with me. He used to say, 'Someday, Vais, you'll become as strong as Master Reese.' I've heard that many times," Garius explained.

Grillet had a serene expression. His body, once corroded by the dark miasma, now showed no such signs. His life's flame was quietly fading.

"Hello, Grillet. You've become so much calmer since I last saw you."

I held Grillet's shrunken, wrinkled hand.

Thump, thump...

The small pulse in his hand was significantly fainter than it used to be. I remembered the first time we shook hands. My hand had fit snugly into his muscular, large one, and I could feel a strong, powerful pulse. Now, our hands had withered to nearly equal sizes.

"…?"

Suddenly, I felt a slight movement in his hand. I'd heard that, near death, a person's hearing often remained intact. Perhaps, he was aware that I was here.

"Garius, can I ask a favor?"

"Of course, Master Reese. I'm here to assist."

"I'd like to have a short conversation with Grillet, something I forgot to tell him."

"Is that possible?"

"I can use necromancy, a guide to the brink of death, an ancient form of magic once practiced. It allows me to separate my soul from my body for a few minutes. If it's feasible, should I deliver a message?"

This method temporarily detaches my soul from my body, allowing me to journey to the brink of death—a path often taken by the deceased. However, I must be cautious, as delaying my return could lead to being drawn closer to death.

"Master Reese, you truly have an array of abilities, don't you? I'd be honored to help. Please go ahead and deliver the message."

Garius responded with a small smile and added, "Thank you. Please take your time to rest."

●●●

As I opened my eyes, I found myself in a dimly lit world.

In front of me, there stood a solitary gate, casting a faint glow.

I see, many souls are being drawn toward this gate.

Even though it's a form of necromancy, the magic that governs life and death, it's astonishing how close 'death' feels here.

And then...

"Hey there, isn't that you Master? What on earth brings you to a place like this?"

With his spiky chestnut hair and robust physique, carrying an enormous axe on his right shoulder, the towering man heading my way was none other than Grillet, the man I first met when I was 73 years old.

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Akuyaku no Oujo ni Tensei Shitakedo Chapter 2

 Day 2: Someone Interesting

"... Fever's gone."

The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed. I'd had a high fever last night, but now my temperature seemed normal.

Come to think of it, he visited me, right? He brought me not only water and food but also some medicine. Was it a fever reducer? During the day, he also took care of my wounds, and thanks to him, I felt much better today.

I heard a rustling sound under my clothes as I got up. I sat on the blanket, shook my clothes, and a small package rolled out from my skirt. I picked it up, and when I opened it, there were small, square, crispy, fox-colored pieces inside. They had a faint, toasty sweet scent.

"What is this?"

I placed the package on my lap, unfolded it, and found four small, square pieces inside, slightly smaller than the palm of my hand. They had a faint, sweet scent.

"Oh..."

These are the ones I had last night!

I took one piece, sniffed it cautiously, and recognized the sweet aroma. I scanned the room, but, of course, there was no one else here. Still, I felt somewhat cautious.

This was one of the few times I'd received proper food from someone, a rare occurrence in Lucienne's memories. A warm sense of joy spread within me.

I took one piece out of the package, closed it tightly, and placed it in an old, abandoned desk in the corner of the room. I opened the bottom drawer and carefully slipped the package into a hidden gap at the back.

Reincarnated Elf Chapter 22

 Reincarnated elf (102), discovering the joy of meals

"Thanks to Sir Reese's skilled slicing, tonight's meat is incredibly tender! This is Silfa Dining's secret recipe number 33: Cockatrice Oyakodon. Please enjoy!"

The dinner table displayed a sumptuous feast, adorned with fresh eggs from the fortress and recently harvested chicken, their luster gleaming.

And the discovery of rice in this world was a welcome surprise, reigniting the lost pleasure of mealtimes.

Each scoop with the spoon brought forth steaming, delicately half-cooked eggs. Every chew released the meat's rich succulence and its savory broth, enhancing the rice's sweetness.

"Yup, as delicious as ever. Minoru, your culinary skills keep expanding. Thanks, as always."

"Ehehe, I'm just happy you enjoy it."

I tousled her hair, making her fluffy locks bounce. Her way of expressing joy hadn't changed much over these two years.

But her eyes, as she gazed at me, seemed even brighter than usual.

"Is something on my face?"

"No, it's just that seeing Sir Reese savor his food so contentedly makes me happy."

"…You're right. It's been so long since I've enjoyed a meal like this."