121 – The Stellar Baby Sister and her Knack for Coincidences
Part 1
About a week had passed since Onii-chan's ero elf girlfriend arrived. Since that ti, he was mostly out of the house and taking Sylphy on a trip throughout the kingdom.
Stella wasn't jealous at all. It wasn't like she wanted to show off to Onii-chan and talk to him about magic or go see the kingdom with him either.
Besides, she had soone else who was willing to take her around.
"How nostalgic." Mister Ruijerd smiled as he carried Stella in a baby sling and said, "It's been quite so ti since I carried an infant around like this."
"Thanky Mista Rui."
Ruijerd smiled and said, "You're welco, Stella."
A stroll around the kingdom of Arcadia that Onii-chan founded.
Since Onii-chan was busy with his girlfriend, and since both Eos nee-chan and Ena nee-chan were busy preparing fixing up the port, the only ones available to watch Stella were Ruijerd, Roland, Astolfo, and Rika.
While Stella was fine with all of them 'watching' her, in terms of actually babysitting, the only one she trusted was Mister Ruijerd.
Thankfully, it seed like he was free since he happily took Stella out for a walk.
Wata flew over to Stella's right side, grooming his white fur. After that, he looked up at Ruijerd and said, "You're a nice person for helping Stella out, Mister Ruijerd."
Fai floated by Stella's left side and then nodded. "Yeah! You look scary, but you're really nice, aren't you?"
"Fai!"
"What?"
Wata sighed and placed a palm on his head. "Is this why the other elentals say fire spirits are dumb?"
"I'm not dumb! You're dumb!"
Stella pursed her lips and said, "Fai. Wata. No fite."
"...Kay." Fai sighed and then shrank down to a glowing red orb before resting on Stella's shoulder. "I'll just nap like Wyn then. anie Wata."
Wata rolled his eyes and kept a watch on the surroundings.
Ruijerd chuckled and looked down at Stella. "You have so talkative friends, Stella."
"Mmhm!"
They were kind of dumb, but they were cute in their own way. Wata was an adorable and smart kitty who looked out for Stella, so she appreciated it. Fai was a bit air-headed and dumb, but she was also super optimistic, so that was nice. And Win... Wyn? Wyn. Wyn was quiet and didn't talk much, but she listened to Stella and was really calming to be with.
"That's good. Cherish your friends while you have them. There may co a ti when you part."
Fai flew off Stella's shoulder and turned back to normal size. After that, she shook her head and said, "I'll never leave Stella's side!"
Wata nodded and said, "I won't either! Even if I have to turn the whole world to ice!"
Wyn sleepily opened an eye from her spot on Stella's head. After yawning, she said, "I'll stay too. Stella is nice."
Ruijerd smiled. "Good. Although I believe that Rudy would be upset with you freezing the world."
Wata flinched and said, "W-Well... if I have to fight him to protect Stella, I'll do it!"
Ruijerd paused and then walked over to a tree before knocking on it.
Stella looked up at Ruijerd. "Mista Rui?"
Ruijerd lowered his hand and said, "Just a superstition to ward off bad luck. Now, is there anywhere you want to go, Stella? Or should I take you on a normal patrol?"
Stella humd and looked around.
At the mont, they were on the main road leading out from the courtyard of Onii-chan's tower.
A pretty cobblestone path, lined with flowerbeds and lush trees. Floating railways up above transporting people and goods to and fro.
...Stella had never realized it, but was her Onii-chan a science fiction buff too? A few of those looked like super hi-tech...
But anyway, looking around...
The village housing all the adventurers and the guild hall were up ahead on the road.
From the maps Stella had borrowed from Onii-chan's desk, that ant that they were facing south and that the marketplace and residential district should be behind them, to the north.
To their right would be west, aning that the Church of Rudras would be there. And then to the left would be east, which should have the schools and other educational facilities like the libraries.
...Directions were confusing, but that should be the gist of it.
Then...
"Ca we see venchurs?"
Another slurred sentence.
Stella pouted.
She couldn't wait until the rest of her baby teeth grew in so she could talk properly.
"Venchurs... You an adventurers?"
Stella nodded. "Yeah!"
"Alright." Ruijerd kept moved back to the path and continued walking. "It's about ti I check in with those girls as well."
"Gurls?"
"Yes." Ruijerd laughed and said, "I seem to have a knack for finding troubleso human children these days. They were planning to run off to beco adventurers themselves, so I decided to take them in as my proteges."
Wata laughed and said, "Sounds like sothing Fai would do."
Fai stuck out her tongue and said, "Would not!"
Stella sighed.
Was this why magical girls only had one mascot character? This constant bickering was starting to get on her nerves...
-SNG-
Part 2
A small and modest one-room house on the outskirt of the Adventurer's village. Sothing that looked almost like a hut rather than a house.
Ruijerd opened the door and walked inside. The mont he did, a girl called out.
"Master Ruijerd! You've returned!"
A beautiful young girl with pristine white skin. She looked around ten or so and had long black hair that trailed behind her as she ran up to Ruijerd. As she did, her heavy white armor clanked while the sword at her left side banged against her armor. A bit awkward, but the bright smile on the girl's face excused it.
"How was the Distortion, Master Ruijerd? You easily beat up all the monsters, right?"
Another beautiful young girl, around the sa age as the first. However, instead of armor, she wore a simple leather tunic and matching pants with a sword sheathed on her left. Her skin was also a bit darker, the shade of chocolate rather than the pure white of the first girl's. She also had flowing dark blue hair that was tied in a ponytail, unlike the first girl's long hair.
Ruijerd smiled and said, "Isolte. Nina. Have you two been well?"
The black-haired girl, Isolte walked forward and nodded. "Yes! We've only been doing D-ranked requests and escort missions as you said!"
The blue-haired girl, Nina, grumbled and said, "We absolutely could have done C-ranked missions."
Isolte looked at Nina and frowned. "You rember what the White Knights said! C-ranked missions are for adults!"
"And we're as strong as adults!" Nina huffed and said, "Besides, that Cliff guy or whatever is just a kid too, isn't he? Who does he think he is, bossing us around like that when he's just an Advanced-rank magician."
Ruijerd closed the door behind him and said, "He is the grandson of the current Pope of Milis. And he is also not just 'an' Advanced-rank magician. He is an Advanced-rank magician in every branch of magic. For an ordinary human child, it's fairly impressive."
Stella huffed and said, "Nii-cha is betta."
Ruijerd chuckled and said, "Of course. But your brother is not an ordinary human child, even if he says he is. Especially after his recent exploits aged him."
At that ti, Isolte and Nina finally noticed Stella.
"E-Eh?" Nina's eyes widened and she looked up at Ruijerd. "Master Ruijerd! Did you have a child?"
Isolte's eyes sparkled and she waved at Stella. "Aren't you adorable? And smart too!"
Stella smiled back and did a small wave.
Isolte giggled and let out a bright smile.
...Were children always this easy to amuse? Or was she that adorable of a baby?
Co to think of it, had Stella ever looked at herself in a mirror? Maybe she really *was* that adorable. Considering how handso Onii-chan was and the fact that Sylphy said that Eos looked like Zenith... which should be the na of Stella's mom.
Wait, was Stella part angel? Zenith was definitely the sort of na that an angel would have.
And if their mother was an angel... That would explain a lot?
But then what kind of man was her father to marry an angel? A hero who slayed the demon lord?
Wait! Was that why there were so many monsters attacking when she was born? Was Stella the descendent from a legendary hero and an angel like in Dr*gon Qu*st?
And her big brother said that there was a god after them, and he even beca a demon lord to keep Stella safe...
And Stella's na was 'Stella,' like the stars...
...WAS SHE THE MAIN CHARACTER?!
It suddenly made sense. Why Onii-chan was so strong and everything. And why he had so many girls around him!
That's it! Stella had reincarnated in an oto ga!
...Wait. But did that an that her Onii-chan was a target?
He was handso and everything, but... ew.
Ah. But wait, Onii-chan was definitely a reincarnator too. So then...
...Stella's head hurt.
She blinked and then realized that while she was thinking, Ruijerd had grabbed a stack of papers and a silver necklace with a small card dangling on it.
An ID tag? Was that what adventurers used?
And where did Wata and the others go?
*Hiding! You never know if bad guys are around!*
*For once, I agree with Fai. And we need to make sure you're safe if Adventurers are going to be around.*
*...zzz*
*Wyn!*
*...sleepy...*
*Hah...*
...Mister random omnipotent being that gave her a second life? Could she get an exchange? At least on her spirits?
Nina walked up to Ruijerd's right side and said, "You never answered, Master Ruijderd! Is that your kid?"
Ruijerd shook his head. "No. I had a child once, but Stella is not mine. She's Lord Rudras's younger sister."
Nina flinched and said, "That scary guy has a baby sister!?"
"Yes. Which is why you should be good or else Stella will tell her older brother. Isn't that so, Stella?"
A serious voice.
But Stella could tell that Mister Ruijerd was joking. Even so, she played along and said, "Kay."
Nina paled... Well, as much as she could with her skin color. "T-There's no need for that, baby- I an, Stella... Er, Lady Stella? Princess Stella?"
Seeing her panic, Stella decided to tease a bit and said, "Pwincess Stewwa."
"P-Princess Stella! D-Don't let your brother kick
out! It's not my fault my father tried beating up his!"
Eh?
"Hm?" Ruijerd paused and looked at Nina, frowning. "...What do you an?"
"Huh?" Nina blinked and said, "Um. Lord Rudras is really Sword God Paul's son, isn't he? That's what the girl said when she showed up with that bratty demon lord and that swordswoman..."
Demon Lord? Sword God?
...Her dad's na was Paul, wasn't it?
But...
Uu. Okay. Maybe she should wait to ask Onii-chan about this. Her head felt like it was going to explode- Ah. No. It felt more like she was about to open the lid on sothing she didn't want to accept. Like her rational mind was telling her to not think about it for just a little bit longer.
Ruijerd's frown deepened and he looked at Isolte. "Is that true?"
Isolte nodded. "Yes. That's what she told us after she beat Nina in a spar."
"I-I didn't lose! That girl cheated!"
Isolte shook her head and said, "It was a fair win, Nina. And I warned you that you should not underestimate the girl just because she was small."
"H-Hmph." Nina turned her head to the side and muttered, "I didn't underestimate her. Just what kind of person would expect a kid like that to be able to imbue magic in her sword and body?"
"Hm..." Ruijerd looked down at Stella and said, "Do you mind if we go et them, Stella?"
"No? Is okay. ...Bu why?"
"Because I think your brother would be interested in them."
Ah, Mister Ruijerd was being the ever dutiful recruiter for Onii-chan. That made sense.
Ruijerd looked at Nina and said, "Where did you et them again?"
-SNG-
"Ruijerd!" A kid with blue hair and matching eyes waved at Ruijerd. Letting out a smile, he said, "How have you been?" He glanced down at Stella and then said, "Ah. Did Lord Rudras entrust you with Lady Stella today?"
Ruijerd nodded and said, "Hello Rowin. And yes. I'm just taking her to explore the kingdom today."
The kid, Rowin, nodded and said, "That's good. Young ones get too restless cooped up at ho."
"Yes. Now..."
While Ruijerd talked with the kid, Stella took the ti to look around.
It was a packed place. Sothing that looked right out of a ga. Gruff adventurers sitting around and laughing while clutching wooden mugs of foaming beer. So of those adventurers were human, but a majority weren't. So beastfolk, so demons, a few that looked like monsters but were apparently also demons.
...Demons were weird in this world.
But anyway, it was a lively place. A lobby filled with all sorts of different people.
There was also a chalkboard sign up, with so weird symbols written on it.
Stella couldn't read it, obviously. But from the picture of the bed and then another picture of a bed and so food, this place looked like an inn?
*That is what the sign says, yes.*
Wata's voice echoed in Stella's head.
Right. Of course that's what the sign-
Wait. You can read? Since when?
*...Always?*
Stella let out a deep sigh. Just as she did, she noticed that Ruijerd was moving again.
She blinked and then looked up. "Mista Rui?"
He patted her head and said, "This will be quick, Stella. I just need to confirm sothing."
A boisterous atmosphere. As Ruijerd passed by, it dimd a bit as people called out to greet him. But for the most part, they just let him be.
And then they reached the corner of the room where three people were seated around a table.
Three people that included one who Stella was very familiar with.
First, there was a swordswoman with long crimson hair. She kept it tied in a neat ponytail, but so long strands frad her face. She was also beautiful, with looks that could pass for a princess. She also wasn't that old. While Stella called her a swords "woman
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