Please Do Not Abandon the Adopted Heroine

Chapter 10 – The Hut in the Forest and the Teacher

 At some point, I started writing a memoir.

I knew well enough that reminiscing was not the best thing for me. Despite that, it was the only way I felt I could hold myself together.

“The Fox clan received the blessing of the spirits. You seem to be particularly endowed with their affection. Do what you want. Then, the spirits will guide your way.”

Since ancient times, writing has been considered a virtue of the Fox clan.

At some point, I picked up a pen when I remembered what my teacher had said to me.

In the depth of a forest where an open space lies between the trees.

A small house, built solidly by stacking bricks between the trees, was a place where my mother and I could find comfort. The time when the teacher began to visit this peaceful place, sometimes filled with birdcalls, is blurry in my memory.

The only thing I am certain of is that it was before I reached adulthood.

The teacher appeared softly yet profoundly, just like a dandelion seed flying and resting on a shoulder, and has been by my side ever since, always protecting me.

It seems as though both my mother and I never felt uncomfortable with the teacher being around, as if it had always been that way.

The teacher did not disclose either his name or his age.

Following the teacher around like a chick and learning new things every day could have been the happiest days of my life.

If I were to condense the teacher into a single description, he was as cold as ice but as warm as the sun.

A different species from my mother and me. I even speculated if he could be a human, which I’d only heard of in stories, but the teacher never provided a clear answer.

Sharp ears poking out and a fluffy warm tail were, of course, things the teacher did not have. Mother often praised his tall stature and handsome features, but to me, the warmth seeping through the teacher’s sharp words brought more joy than any of those.

He was kinder to my mother and me than any other fox families.

One day, I was deep in the woods having shrugged off the teacher’s concerns. When I was found in the midst of the grasses, covered in dirt, the teacher scowled at me.

“…where have you been…. I told you not to go too far.”

“Ta-Taacher!”

“It’s ‘teacher’.”

“Ta-ta… Teacher! Look here.”

“Been eating something weird again. You never get tired picking up tiny things.”

“It shines! Look at this, what plant is this?”

“That’s known as Hwacheongrass, a deadly poison. Even if you touch it, make sure to clean your hands. Even for foxes with high resistance to poison, if not detoxified, one can die in a day.”

“No, no… e-e… won’t eat….”

“…you did well finding this. Hwacheongrass is not just a poisonous plant but an expensive magical medium.”

“Magic?”

“Yes, magic.”

“Magic! I want to see… show me!”

“Alright then. Well…I’ll teach you a simple spell. It could be handy to assassinate annoying few once you memorize it.”

The teacher taught me various things.

How to distinguish between poisonous herbs and medicinal herbs, the weaknesses of dangerous monsters, stories about the outside world. History of other races, not Fox families. The way to read and write strange texts was there too.

Among these, the most outstanding teachings of the professor were none other than sword and magic.

The teacher’s sword dance was like a sharp flower dancing in the wind, and his magic was as deep and profound as secret hidden in the abyss. I stretched out my fern-like hands, trying to learn such things.

The memories with the teacher came to an abrupt end when I turned ten years old.

It was a late night.

As usual, I was exhaustively tailing the teacher, and as I was dozing off on the bed, I mumbled ‘ Teacher…’

‘What is it.’

“I’m sleepy… Teacher…”

“All right, go to sleep quickly.”

“…………”

“…………”

“Teacher…”

“Speak.”

“Teacher… hug me.”

“…………”

The teacher stared at me in silence, eyes open slightly.

Ordinarily at this time, a quick scolding would have fallen. I too was merely grumbling out of sleepiness, laughing mischievously.

But unusually that day, the teacher showed a bitter smile,

“… Right, this is the last time, so I suppose I should grant this much.”

The last?

Was the abstract sense I felt from that word simply because I was drifting to sleep?

“Even if it is forgotten… I… ah… that… since I’ve said that… all right, sleep well. And…”

And as she said this, she sighed softly, messing up my hair and pulling my ears.

“If given a chance, let’s meet again later.”

The next morning, I remember a chill autumn wind blowing fiercely.

One by one, rustling leaves started piling up on the ground outside the window.

“Where is the teacher…?”

“The teacher? Who is the teacher?”

My mother blinked, stroking my sharp fox ears.

It was my favorite expression of love, but at that moment, I struggled to escape her touch.

My heart plummeted.

Overwhelmed by anxiety that nebulous as fog, I bolted from my mother’s embrace and scoured the yard hurriedly, but sure enough, it was vacant.

My mother’s inquiry about the identity of the teacher was clearly a white lie for my benefit. My mother often spoke amicably with the teacher. She must know that the teacher had vanished.

Yes, the teacher had definitely left me. My personal tutor, who departed without so much as a word.

Since that day… Strangely, I couldn’t recall the teacher’s face clearly.

Like the teacher’s usual display of magic, my characteristic memories of him were artificially excised…

I was certain of this alone: I hadn’t forgotten the teacher of my own will. Someone had stolen my memories, that much I could understand.

Teacher… Teacher… Where on earth did you go?

Years passed, I still had forgotten even the teacher’s face.

***

“The hero has been summoned in the other world. They are the holder of the sixth Holy Sword,” someone announced.

“Have the dread frost clan and the monsters started to act out again?” someone else noted.

“We are concerned indeed, but since the holder of the sixth Holy Sword has been summoned, our fox tribe has no need to worry about the monsters. …Only what comes after is the problem.”

“When the owner of the holy sword takes action, the state of affairs changes greatly, as with the other holy sword’s heroes, and it was especially conspicuous when the second Holy Sword’s hero appeared. …At this rate, our fox tribe needs to act agilely and cleverly.”

“Indeed. The sixth Holy Sword’s hero was chosen by the Holy Sword in another world and summoned.”

“We of the fox tribe should also apply for the hero’s party.”

“Hero’s party.”

“If, by any chance, we initiate a relationship with the hero… I am confident that our fox tribe’s position will improve.”

“Hmm… Do we have any suitable young ladies in our tribe?”

“………Hold on, why is everyone looking this way? Our girl, Cecilia, won’t do!”

“It is a given duty for a member of the fox tribe to contribute to the village.”

“It can’t be! Surely, you haven’t forgotten how much persecution our fox tribe suffered in the outside world!”

“Calm down. The hero will be different. They are from another world. They will not hold prejudice against us, the fox tribe, or any other species. Don’t you remember? Once, the second Holy Sword’s Hero cherished our fox tribe.”

“She’s still a child who hasn’t even gone through a coming-of-age ceremony yet! We can’t take that risk!”

Clatter…

As I drop the tray with a teacup, the hot water soaks my feet. My mother came running in surprise, but my foot was already starting to swell and sting.

“You heard, didn’t you? My child.”

“…”

“You will represent the fox tribe and become a member of the hero party. You will explore the snowfields and eradicate the demons.”

I could not say a word.

And the elder’s final words fell.

“There’s no right to refuse.”

***

“You lack education. Greeting manners are a basic element among all species.”

“You know a lot about history but your perspective is extremely narrow-minded! Where did you learn such primitive thoughts? Are all fox tribes like this? How… how barbaric! I get the chills thinking that this person will be a part of the hero party.”

“Are you going to use that cheap, vulgar language in front of the hero too?!… Really, the thought of educating a beast makes me tremble.”

For the first few months, I stayed in the imperial city under the pretext of education.

As a representative of the fox tribe, I was given lavish food and bedding to an excessive degree, but that was it. Everything else was a living hell to me.

There must have been some aspects that could not be explained simply by hatred towards the fox tribe. Among those who pointed fingers at me in the imperial city, there were members of the fox tribe too. Their actions and language always had something contrived about them, and some even showed signs of feeling guilty to me.

Almost as if they’re under someone else’s pressure…

The Crand family was behind it all… specifically Rebecca.

And, it was the same, if not worse, once I officially joined the hero’s party.

“Hey! You! What are you scribbling about all this while?! Did you hear the hero’s words?”

“… I was… writing… my diary.”

“What? A diary? Tsk…! Don’t lie! A beast knows how to read and write? Hand it over.”

Rebecca grabbed the diary from my hands and began to read it mockingly. Was it just a simple prank?

The hero was dining with the others at some distance.

Laughter could be heard from them now and then.

“Hey, what’s up with you. Are you crying?”

“…No… no, I’m not. I’m okay.”

“Gosh, you’d think I’ve done something really terrible with the way you’re acting.”

Rebecca smirked, a mirthless chuckle escaping her lips.

“Keke.. keke…”

Keke… keke…

Kekeke….

…keke

Just like that,

“Gasp…!”

There was a spark of realization in my mind.

I clamped my ears shut, my body curling up against the abrupt noise.

The sound of rustling insects suddenly reached me through the window. Slowly, I opened my eyes to gaze outside.

Dawn was still breaking.

I tried to steady my heavy, labored breaths. Once again, silence descended upon the dormitory room.

I wiped the cold sweat gathered on the back of my neck.

A single word that hadn’t escaped my mouth at the time.

“Help me…”

No one was there to hear that plea when it finally came out. As the words left my mouth, I collapsed onto the bed.