Reincarnated as an Instructor in an Adult Game

Chapter 31: Atavism

"Long ago, there was a clan called the Criella, about a hundred people who excelled in magic and magical tool knowledge," Croana began speaking quietly.

She lightly tightened her trembling body in his embrace. Raid had heard of the Criella clan before. To be precise, he had seen mentions of them in the ruins’ inscriptions while playing an adventurer game... but that was all.

"Looking at this royal capital, it might be hard to believe, but the women of that clan were all flat-chested... When I was around six or seven years old and first became aware of myself, I already had this body."

"...At seven years old?"

"That’s right. Surprising, isn’t it? My height, my chest... and my knowledge too. Earlier I said I was outstanding from the age of thirteen, right? That’s not a lie, but to be accurate, I simply ’knew’ a lot of things. ...It seems I was intentionally given this body by the clan. They deliberately induced atavism in me."

"Atavism..." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Raid could sense Croana smiling bitterly behind his back.

What the Criella clan had attempted was to resurrect an exceptionally talented woman who had once lived among them. However, they lacked the technique to create a homunculus. So instead, they decided to use a living human. They tried to implant that outstanding woman’s soul into a newborn baby.

In terms of results, the experiment was a success. The memories were not inherited, but they successfully passed on the skills and knowledge.

However, the body type was completely unexpected.

"My parents and the rest of the clan began to loathe me. Knowledge and techniques they didn’t understand... and a body that didn’t match the clan... It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? They were the ones who created me..."

Then, when she was ten, talks of an engagement arose.

The other party was a kind fourteen-year-old boy. Her exhausted heart, worn down by the clan’s treatment, found some peace. But then she overheard it—his family and her own family laughing together, calling it an ugly arrangement.

What they wanted was the knowledge and technology Croana possessed, and her descendants. He already had a real fiancée elsewhere. She learned the truth.

...What the hell was that? How could something like that happen?

Croana gripped the arms that were holding her, turned his face toward her, and smiled bitterly.

"But even someone like me had two older sisters on my side."

"...Sisters."

"My sisters treasured me. So they were furious at that treatment. And then... they destroyed the Criella clan."

"...Huh?"

"They judged that their humanity was broken, so they destroyed everything, killed them all... and wiped out the clan. At that time, I was sent fleeing to the royal capital. That’s why, Raid, the people you want to be angry at... no longer exist. My two sisters carried that sin on their backs and did it for me."

Raid understood from Croana’s pained words. A whole clan meant there were children and women too. Normally, one might recoil and say it was going too far, but he felt only respect for the actions of her two sisters.

A clan like that wouldn’t have amounted to anything good even if they had lived. Trying to experiment on their own child... No matter how outstanding they were, only people with broken personalities would think of such a thing.

...Could it be that her two sisters at that time...?

Sensing it from his expression, Croana smiled gently.

"Didn’t I mention it earlier? You are the third person I’ve invited here."

"...I’m glad."

"...Honestly, I thought you’d be put off after hearing this story. And yet you even worried about my two sisters... Thank you."

She skillfully turned her whole body in his arms, straddled him, wrapped both arms around his neck, and smiled happily.

The reason she called her own body ugly wasn’t just about her figure—it also included the burden her sisters carried. Because of that, and everything that had happened in the past, she couldn’t hold any confidence.

Croana kissed him and continued speaking.

"I was so terrified that I developed a magic that could detect lies to some extent. That’s why, on that day, I didn’t doubt your words."

"...Then I can’t tell lies, huh. Are your two sisters... still alive?"

"They’re alive. I taught them life-extension magic, after all. Right now they’re traveling the world, saying they want to see it."

Croana rubbed her head against his chest, saying she was looking forward to their reaction when they heard she had a lover.

While gently embracing the adorable Croana, Raid combed her glossy black hair with his fingers. The pleased expression she made was unbearably lovable.

Then, a black comb floated up from the side, fluffy and light, surprising him.

"Surprising... They don’t just follow instructions—they think for themselves?"

"Magic is a living thing. There are fixed spells, but magical power fills the world. I simply gave it a light consciousness."

"...Like a ghost?"

"Ghosts are human thoughts. What I’m doing is giving consciousness to magical power."

"Shall we go?" Croana floated up and took his hand, pulling him along. Following her, they moved to the next room, where he was surprised once again.

It seemed to be a room for crafting magical tools—there were countless magical tools he’d never seen before. The walls were entirely covered in shelves, holding both finished magical tools and rare materials.

"This is... incredible."

"What are you saying? The magical tools I saw at the [Suzuya] had such interesting ideas. To think you’d improve my magical tools like that."

"I didn’t improve them. I didn’t touch the magical tools themselves at all."

What Raid had done was attach additional devices to the tools. For example, he wrapped pipes around a magical tool that cooled its surroundings, following its shape. Then, while activating the tool, he ran liquid through the pipes to make it cold.

That was why the drinks at the [Suzuya] were cold. Since this world had no such thing as pipes, he had asked the blacksmith uncle to make them, and the man had complained the whole time. But thanks to his hard work, they could now serve cold drinks at the shop.

Incidentally, that blacksmith uncle loved cold ale and sometimes joined the adventurers for a drink.

...It was about to get hotter, so maybe he should ask about this?

"Croana, could you make something like this with a cooling magical tool and a wind magical tool?"

"...Hmm?"

At the desk built to match Croana’s height, he drew a picture on paper. One side open, with a wind magical tool placed at the very back, and a cooling magical tool in front of it.

Basically, he was asking if they could make an air conditioner.

Croana’s eyes sparkled with excitement at his suggestion, and she hugged his neck.

"Interesting! This is such an interesting idea! Why didn’t I think of it!?"

"I also placed the cooling tool in front because I thought it could be swapped with a heating tool..."

"Good... That’s a great idea! The box shape will need a bit more thought, but it’s doable. Hey Raid, are there any more ideas coming from this room?"

"...Can I hear explanations about the magical tools first?"

Smiling at Croana as she kissed him and laughed happily, Raid thought: No matter what sins she carried, he was so glad to have met her alive. He had nothing but gratitude for her two sisters.

When they meet, I’ll treat them to a feast at the [Suzuya].

In the ruins of a forest that had become a wasteland.

Two girls were walking cheerfully, looking at the murals on the walls.

"Achoo!"

"Ehh, there’s not that much dust, is there?"

"...It feels like Croana is really happy about something."

"Why would you get that from a sneeze..."

"No, I’m sure of it... probably." free𝑤ebnovel.com

"...It’s already been a year, huh... Shall we go see her?"

"Yeah! Let’s go! I want to see Croana! I want to fluff her!"

Such cheerful voices echoed through the ruins.