Chapter 26
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Hmm, well, I had often imagined meeting my mom and dad.
Even in my past life, I never had a proper family, so I longed for a life with parents.
That’s why I used to daydream about a touching reunion scene where I’d burst into tears, wailing, "Mom! Dad!" and throwing myself into their arms.
But a very minor problem had arisen.
‘First of all, I have to figure out which one is the mom, don’t I?!’
I was flustered, but once I realized this was a spicy BL novel, I quickly accepted it.
‘Let’s act natural. If I’m startled, it’ll hurt Mom and Dad’s feelings.’
After making a resolute decision, I threw myself into the arms of the man as pure as a lily.
"Mom... I wanted to see you."
"……?"
However, the pure man’s reaction was a bit strange.
‘Ah, I guess it’s not him!’
I must have been biased because of his appearance. Bad Annette, you shallow Annette!
With an open mind, I threw myself into the arms of the wolf-like, wild, muscular man.
This time for sure!
"……Mom!!!"
At that, the muscular wolf-mom flashed his golden eyes and then raised an eyebrow.
"Why would I be your mom……?"
He looked at me with a questioning expression for a moment before saying with a face struggling to hold back laughter.
"I think you misunderstood. It doesn’t mean we are the parents who literally ‘gave birth’ to you; it’s just a ‘figure of speech’."
"It means we are like parents who will always protect you."
"Ah!"
My face turned red.
‘I totally overdid it!’
I was being far too open-minded, teachers.
I really thought one of you had carried me in your womb.
"How cute."
Seeing my reaction, the two handsome men chuckled. My face burned like a roasted sweet potato from embarrassment.
"……Um, then are you two like my guardian deities?"
"Guardian deities, your partners—call us whatever you like. The important thing is that from now on, you can use our power, Annette."
‘I can use the power of these two men?’
Just as I was questioning this, the lily-like handsome man spoke.
"You are a child who has awakened the power of the ‘Origin’."
……The power of the Origin?
"It means you are a child who wields the soul of Exórdĭum, the ‘First Summoner’ who existed in this world."
The First Summoner!
In this worldview, the existence of a Summoner was extremely rare.
Because they were so rare, there were no proper records of them, and information was scarce. That was why people regarded Summoners as secretive, holy, and fearsome beings.
A Summoner did not ‘awaken’ their ability like a mage or an esper.
Uniquely, they only inherited their power by ‘succeeding’ a soul.
Summoners only came into existence in the limited number of souls available. That was the reason for their rarity.
‘In the history of The Forest, not a single Tree has ever become a Summoner.’
*Gulp.*
I swallowed hard.
‘But I summoned the soul of a Summoner? ……And the soul of the First Summoner at that?’
What on earth have you done, future bakery owner?
My pupils trembled violently.
Watching that expression, the red wolf-like handsome man crossed his arms heartily and said.
"You seem confused, Annette. Shall we sit over there and talk?"
"Yes?"
There’s nothing over there.
Then, the lily-like handsome man gestured slightly.
And then, an amazing thing happened.
Suddenly, as if paint had been spilled, the surroundings were dyed in brilliant colors, and the scenery changed rapidly.
A large table and luxurious chairs (mine was a child-sized one, of course) appeared in a beautiful garden, and the table was filled with delicious desserts and bread.
Before I knew it, the lily-like handsome man was pouring milk tea into my cup and smiling.
I sat down, feeling dazed.
"……Thank you."
"You’re welcome."
The milk tea smelled sweet.
"Child, have you ever read the founding myth of Eldorado?"
"I only know the first sentence. I heard the rest was mostly lost?"
I replied as I sat and drank the milk tea. Mmm, it tastes like honey.
"As expected, you’re smart. Then, shall we say the first sentence together?"
The pure handsome man and I said in unison.
"In the beginning, there was the light of fire!"
"In the beginning, there was the light of fire."
He smiled as beautifully as a lily.
"That’s correct."
He began to tell me a quite interesting story.
The first Summoner who existed on this land was named ‘Exórdĭum’.
He was a demigod, and it was said that he descended when this land was first created, possessing the power inherited from the gods.
The First Summoner was omnipotent, but he decided not to use that power to rule, but solely to look after humanity.
After helping the development of civilization for a long time, and once Eldorado was founded and a dynasty was born, the Summoner soon fell into a new dilemma.
The dilemma was this:
‘Humans are not strong enough to endure in this world.’
...was the case.
The Summoner soon foresaw that war would break out on this land and that other races would invade.
In the end, humans would either become their slaves or face total annihilation.
Thus, the Summoner decided to sacrifice their own life to cast one final, powerful spell upon the land.
"That spell was one that drew out the 'potential' of humanity to its absolute limit," the lily-like handsome man explained. As he continued his step-by-step explanation, the man who resembled a red wolf added his voice.
"Thanks to that spell, ordinary humans began to awaken their abilities. That is how mages, ability users, tamers, and the like came to be."
"In truth, they are only able to use their powers because of the magic they received from Exórdĭum."
"……."
So, um.
To summarize, this means that originally, this was a world without mages or ability users?
'Like the modern society I lived in during my previous life.'
But then, thanks to the Summoner's power, people who transcended human limits were born.
This is……
It meant that the soul of the Summoner I had awakened was the root of all ability users.
Only then did I understand why they had called me a child who awakened the power of the origin.
It meant I had summoned the soul of a Summoner who was on par with an omnipotent god, didn't it?
'……It’s so incredible that it’s hard to believe.'
*Sigh*, I had felt so pitiful all this time.
Suddenly, I remembered the past when I could only watch with envious eyes as Shasha summoned a chick.
And to think that I, of all people, had summoned the soul of the Summoner!
It felt like living as a beggar from the streets, only for a rich grandfather to suddenly appear and say, "Actually, I am your biological grandfather," before gifting me ten buildings.
'Hehe. This is truly wonderful.'
While I just sat there rubbing my nose and smiling, the wolf-like handsome man continued the explanation.
"When the Summoner finished the life-risking spell and died, they divided their soul into two."
The lily-like handsome man took over.
"Into 'Fire' and 'Light'."
"……!"
I retorted.
"That’s what was in the founding myth, isn't it?"
So that was why there was a space between 'Fire' and 'Light' instead of it being written as one word.
It seemed scholars had been debating the meaning for over a thousand years because of that single space.
'I wonder if it’s okay for me, a 12-year-old, to make such a great academic discovery in just one second.'
Even if I am an honor student, this feels like overdoing it. Hmm, wouldn't the scholars feel a sense of intellectual deprivation?
"That’s right. 'Sordi', who possesses the power of light, and 'Um', who possesses the power of fire, were born that way. Let me introduce us now; my name is Sordi."
The lily-like handsome man—no, Sordi—pointed to himself. Then, his palm turned toward the side.
"And this is Um."
So, if these two combine, they form the soul of Exórdĭum!
I quickly caught on and asked.
"Then, was it Sordi’s power that was unleashed when I encountered the monster earlier?"
I didn't remember it clearly, but I recalled a brilliant white light shining.
"You really are smart, little one."
"Thank you for protecting me! Sordi."
When I greeted him affectionately, Sordi looked touched for a moment.
"Our little one is so kind-hearted, Um."
"A cute and precious little rice cake indeed."
Sordi and Um reached out from both sides and began to pull and play with my cheeks, stretching them out.
Hmm, I blinked, not knowing what was going on, and thought.
'……They’re like a married couple doting on their late-born child!'
It was no wonder I had mistaken them for my mom and dad.
I quickly changed the subject to protect my cheeks, which were being stretched further and further.
"Thad was a bery poweful power(I only let go of my cheeks after my pronunciation was severely slurred). It’s amazing that I can use such power!"
"Realizing the depth of the ability you possess is the first qualification of a 'Successor'. I am pleased. Very pleased indeed."
A look of immense satisfaction spread across Um’s face.
"However, the core of your ability is not merely fire or light. There is a truly important power separate from those."
A power more potent than fire and light?
"……What is that?"
Looking down at Annette’s curious expression, Um’s golden eyes gleamed.
"It is 'Retrieval' and 'Buff'."
"Retrieval and Buff?!"
It seemed I didn't understand at first mention. Um smiled proudly and explained.
"You are the 'origin' of all Awakened. That means you can amplify their abilities, or take them away entirely."
"……!"
To amplify or take away abilities!
Annette swallowed hard, as it sounded like something of vital importance to all Awakened.
"That is the essence of the power Exórdĭum possesses."
With that power, the 'Successors' of the past had manipulated the world.
Annette’s future would be no different.
Though this little 12-year-old brat didn't seem to realize it yet.
Sordi quietly posed a question to the bewildered Annette.
"If the Magic Tower Master’s mana were 'retrieved' right this instant tomorrow, what would his future look like?"
"……The power structure of the Magic Tower would likely change. Because the Magic Tower Master would be replaced."
'That’s not all.'
Annette thought. The Magic Tower was an institution that maintained a delicate balance in the power struggle between the Imperial Family and the Great Temple.
If the 'Magic Tower Master' who stood at its head were replaced, the empire’s power structure would naturally be overturned in an instant.
Um wore a cruel smile.
"It seems you’ve caught on. That change would alter the fates of many people. Furthermore, the 'fate of the world' as well."
"……."
"If you use 'Buff', you could grant the power to rule the world to someone who possesses only a pathetic ability."
"……Ah."
As expected of a clever child, she seemed to understand quickly.
"I see you’re starting to get the feel of it."
Um arched his thick eyebrows and cupped Annette’s small chin.
He whispered as sweetly as a demon.
"You can hold this world in the palm of your hand and manipulate it with your power, little one."
"……."
"Some will fear your power like death, and others will drool and crave it like dogs coveting a piece of meat smeared with medicine."
Annette replied with deep, thoughtful eyes.
"……That really is an incredible power."
Seeing Annette fully realize her own power, Um stroked his chin with satisfaction.
'A gaze burning with ambition. Satisfying! Very satisfying!'
Um felt his heart grow hot and swept back his hair, which was as wild as a red mane.
'I am very much looking forward to the future this little child will dream of. Heh heh.'
How will this child use her power? Will she become a powerful kingmaker? Or perhaps choosing to become the ruler of the world herself would be a wonderful choice.
Um lifted a small milk tea cup with his thick forearm and said.
"Little one, what do you intend to become in the future?"
*Thump-thump.*
Between his muscular chest, his red heart beat with ambition.
However, he suppressed his anticipation and watched Annette while taking a sip of milk tea.
Annette’s eyes, sparkling like the sunlight of early spring, lit up as she opened her mouth.
"I am going to be a very excellent and wonderful……!"
Um’s heart beat even faster.
*Thump-thump-thump.*
'Yes, excellent and wonderful?'
The child finally clenched both her fists tight! And shouted.
"Bakery owner!"
*Pffft!* Milk tea sprayed like a fountain onto poor Sordi’s face.
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