Interlude: The World's Strongest Goddess

The place where I was born was the pits. It was the absolute worst, yet somehow, it was the best.

"Hey, give it back!"

"Ha! If you want it that bad, try taking it by force!"

At the very peak of a mountain of literal garbage, a boy had snatched away the doll—well, the toy—I’d managed to scavenge.

The boy, a kid with a frame way too big for his age, went by the name King. He had short, cropped hair and eyes that always seemed to be glaring upward. King wasn't his real name, obviously. He just told everyone to call him that, so I went along with it. I didn't really have much of a choice.

"King, give it back to her!"

"Yeah, what he said!"

"Shut up! This belongs to me now!"

A whole crowd of orphans like us gathered at the dump. Everyone had their own story—war, slavery, being abandoned. I’d heard enough "woe is me" stories to last a lifetime. The only thing we all had in common was that we survived by picking through other people’s trash.

King was around the same age as me, eight or nine, but since he was a boy, he was a lot stronger.

"I saw this first," he barked. "Don't go trying to steal my haul."

"Liar! I'm the one who found it!"

"Hah! Then use your—gyaaaaaaah!?"

The next second, King took a flying kick to the ribs, sending him tumbling down the slope of trash like a discarded bottle.

There was only one person who would do something like that without a second thought: Eva.

"Here, your doll. Honestly, you're always letting people pick on you."

"Oh... uh, th-thank you."

She had long, silky white hair. It was so beautiful—nothing like my own pitch-black mess—and it suited her perfectly. Even though she was a girl, she was stronger and had more guts than any of the boys.

I absolutely adored her.

"Hey, Eva! What the hell was that for?! What if I’d died?!" King yelled from the bottom.

"Who knows? I suppose I would have offered a brief apology at your funeral. King."

Most of the trash in this place came from the Royal Capital. Sometimes you’d find a real treasure, which usually meant a fight would break out over who got to keep it. Despite everything, I didn't actually hate King.

The three of us—King, my beloved Eva, and I—were almost always together.

Like the others, I didn't have parents. Well, I must have had them at some point, but I didn't know where they were. I didn't even have a single memory of them.

"...By the way, King, you stink," Eva said, wrinkling her nose. "Are you even bathing?"

"Once a week! You think I can afford luxuries like that? Besides, you smell too!"

"Me? Don't be ridiculous. I just finished my bath."

Now that she mentioned it, Eva was always spotless. She always smelled so nice. Wait, don't tell me...

"Eva, did you do it again?!"

"Fufufu. I sneaked in."

"You’re going to get killed if they catch you..."

"Maybe. But I like living freely."

Apparently, Eva would occasionally slip into noble villas on the outskirts of town just to use their bathtubs. She claimed she knew exactly which days were safe, but it was still incredibly dangerous. Out here, our lives were worth less than the trash we sat on.

Life was brutal. The winters were freezing, and the summers were hot enough to kill you. But we had one thing: freedom.

If only we had money, though... that would really make this the best.

"Anyway, I brought this back too."

"Eva, is that...?! A Melo-Melon?!"

She reached into her bag and pulled out a massive fruit. It had a beautiful netted pattern and a color that looked absolutely delicious. I’d heard rumors about them—that they were bursting with sweetness.

"We’re all going to share it. Well, everyone except King."

"Hey! Why me?!"

"Only if you apologize properly."

That was just how Eva was. She was the glue that held the children here together. Even in a place this wretched, she was the only one who always acted with grace. She never showed a hint of weakness; she was always smiling, always having fun.

How is she... so strong?

"...Fine. I’m sorry," King muttered, bowing his head toward me. With his shoulders slumped like that, he actually looked kind of cute. I couldn't help but giggle.

"D-Don't laugh!"

"Sorry, sorry! Well, since Eva’s here, I guess I’ll forgive you."

"Fufufu, good. Let’s live even more freely," Eva said. "We—all the children here—are the freest people in the world."

That was Eva’s favorite saying. The freest people in the world. That was us.

"I’m gonna be even freer than Eva! I'm gonna get into Noblesse Magic Academy!" King declared.

"Nobless Academy?" I tilted my head.

Eva chimed in to explain. "It’s the most prestigious magic academy in the world. Apparently, even commoners can take the entrance exam, but... King, there’s no way you’d make it. I could, though."

"What was that?! I’m definitely getting in, just watch me!"

"You can't even beat me in a fight."

"You wanna go?! I'll get serious right now!"

"Fine then, give it your best shot."

"Ow, ow, ow! Stop pinching my cheeks, Eva!"

It was the lowest, most miserable place on earth. But it really was the best.

---

"Oh, welcome back, children."

An hour’s walk from the dump sat a tiny cluster of buildings that couldn't even be called a village. That was where our home was. The person who greeted us was my beloved Grandma.

She always told us she’d forgotten her real name, so she never told us what it was. Everyone just called her Grandma. She looked after a whole crowd of kids. Eva only stayed over once in a while; she always claimed she had a "secret hideout" but never told us where.

That’s so like her. She’s the freest person I know. I love how mysterious she is.

"King, wash your hands."

"Shut up, Eva! You’re always nagging me about the small stuff!"

Watching them bicker always brought a smile to my face. We had no money and no luxuries, but I felt happy.

"How was your day?" Grandma asked.

"Not great... but look! I found a doll!"

"My, my, isn't that lovely?"

Grandma hadn't been able to work since her health started failing. She refused to take any money from us, claiming she had savings, but I promised myself that one day I’d get rich and give her the life she deserved.

She protected us. She kept us hidden from soldier patrols and somehow managed to cook huge meals despite having nothing. If I’d been on my own, I’d be dead—or if I were lucky, a slave. Everyone there had a Darkness in their hearts. Even King would cry when he thought no one was looking.

But Eva was different. She was strong, kind, and never uttered a single complaint. The others all talked about escaping this life, but I secretly hoped it would never end.

"Go on, you wash your hands too. We’re all going to share this Melo-Melon."

As long as Eva was here, I was happy.

"Okay!"

That was the first time I ever tasted Melo-Melon. It was so good it felt like my soul was melting...

---

One morning, I was out at my "workplace"—the dump—earlier than usual. It was my best chance to find something good while the other kids were still asleep.

It was almost Eva’s birthday. Well, it was the anniversary of the day we met, anyway. I wanted to find her a present. Then, I saw it: a small necklace. It was incredibly sparkly. It probably wasn't real gold or anything, but I was so excited I could hardly breathe.

That’s when I heard them.

"—Hey, what about that one?"

"Eh, why not?"

Two adults were standing right in front of me. People rarely came out here. Adults were dangerous. I’d heard stories about kids being kidnapped. I’d even had a few close calls myself. The rumors said they were being sold off as slaves.

I turned and bolted. I knew this dump better than anyone; I was sure I could lose them. Or so I thought.

"[Magic Bandage]"

Suddenly, a glowing cord flew through the air and lashed around my body. I couldn't move. I hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of me.

"Whoa, when did you learn magic like that?" one of the men asked.

"Not bad, right? Picked it up in the Royal Capital."

They looked down at me like I was some kind of animal they’d just trapped. No... please... I don't want to leave. I don't want to go!

"She’s just a brat, but she’s got a cute face. Want a taste first?"

"Don't be an idiot. 'Untouched' stock sells for way more. Come on, let’s move."

A massive hand reached toward me. No. Stop it. Please, someone... help...

"Don't you touch her! Nuwaaaaaah!"

A flying kick caught the man square in the face. It was King!

"Hah! Getting rolled by a kid? Agggh!"

"Quick, run!"

Then came Eva. The moment she struck, the magical bandage loosened its grip.

"Tch, what’s a brat gonna do, call more brats?"

"You pieces of trash!" King yelled, pulling out a small, rusted sword. "Don't think you can just take whatever you want because we’re kids!"

"That’s right," Eva added, her right hand beginning to glow. "You really shouldn't underestimate us."

That’s... magic!

The men’s faces went pale. It was unheard of for kids like us to use magic. Usually, that was reserved for trained nobles or—or kids with insane natural talent.

"Well, well... looks like we hit the jackpot," one man sneered, drawing a heavy sword. "Kids with magic talent sell for a fortune. I guess the early bird really does get the worm!"

"Yeah, but the boy’s a waste of space. Let’s just take the girls."

I was frozen. What could I do? I have to fight too, I have to—

"What are you waiting for?! Run! Get out of here!" Eva screamed.

"Go!" King backed her up.

Their voices snapped me out of it. My legs started moving on their own. I was weak. I knew that. But if I couldn't fight...

"I’m going to bring help! I promise!"

The Royal Capital wasn't that far. The soldiers would help us. I turned and ran, leaving them behind. I ran until my lungs burned, until I thought my heart would explode out of my chest.

But when I finally reached them...

"Huh? Are you stupid? Of course not."

"Sorry, kid. We’re Royal Capital soldiers. We can't just leave our posts on a whim."

"But King is...! Eva is...! They’re going to be killed!"

"Listen, if you want us to file a report, you have to go through the proper external channels."

No matter how much I begged, they wouldn't listen. I wouldn't give up, I kept screaming at them, until finally, they arrested me for "insulting an officer."

"Tch, what a noisy brat."

"Let’s just toss her in a cell for the night to cool her heels."

"Let me go! I have to go back! Please!"

King... Eva...

---

"You’re free to go."

Several days later, Grandma came to get me. She looked so frail; it must have been agonizing for her to walk all that way. But I didn't care about that.

"Grandma! King and Eva, they—!"

"...I know. Just... stay calm and listen to me."

Then, Grandma told me what had happened at the dump after I fled.

"...Eva is missing? And King... no... it can't be..."

I didn't want to believe it. It had to be a lie.

King’s body had been found back at the dump. Grandma couldn't even finish the story; she just wept, telling me how badly they’d hurt him. One of the other kids had been hiding nearby and saw the whole thing.

It’s a lie. It has to be a lie.

But Eva was nowhere to be found.

“Kids with magic talent sell for a fortune...”

Eva was alive. She had to be.

"Listen to me," Grandma said, finally revealing the truth she had been keeping secret.

It turned out Eva was actually the daughter of a noble. She had been sneaking out of her house to be with us, which was why she only appeared every now and then. Her "sneaking into villas" to bathe was a lie; she was just going home. She’d had a terrible relationship with her parents, though Grandma didn't know the details. Eva had been stealing money from her own home and giving it to Grandma to keep us all fed.

Why... why didn't she tell us?

Even if they hated her, the disappearance of a noble daughter was a huge deal. Grandma wasn't charged, but she was permanently banned from entering the Royal Capital. It was all our fault.

The word was that a rising group of slave traders was responsible. I was called in once to give a statement, but after that, the soldiers ignored me. They wouldn't even tell me anything about the investigation. They took King’s body away for "examination," so the rest of us never even got to say goodbye.

Grandma held a small funeral for him. I tried so hard to move on. King was so strong... how could he...?

A month later, Grandma’s health took a sharp turn for the worse.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered.

Right until the end, she had been dragging herself to the Capital every single day—an hour each way—trying to get them to look for Eva. A week later, Grandma was gone too. Our little group scattered to the winds.

"We are the freest people in the world."

Eva’s words echoed in my head. I will find her. I have to.

I said my final goodbye to that dump—the lowest, worst, and best place I ever knew.

I don't want to remember the years that followed. I did terrible things. I lied, I cheated, I survived. Then, years later, I finally tracked down the slave trader who had taken Eva.

"Repeat that," I growled. "What did you just say?"

"S-She’s dead! We didn't know she was a noble’s kid, it got too hot! So we... we sank her in the ocean—"

"Liar!"

"It’s the truth! I swear! H-H-Please, stop! Agggggggggh!"

I didn't want to hear it. I wanted to scream. But Eva...

I won't believe it. She’s alive. She has to be.

I hunted down every single trader who had been involved with King and Eva. I tore their world apart looking for the truth, but I found nothing. Only that first man had known anything. By the time I stopped to catch my breath, I had completely annihilated the largest slave syndicate in the region.

When it was over, I felt nothing but a hollow emptiness. If I killed every evil person in the world, would King and Eva finally be at rest? No. Slave traders were like weeds. You could pull them all out, and they’d just grow back.

Maybe this is enough. At least... I avenged King.

I was free now. Truly free. I would live exactly how she said. I would be the freest person in the world.

I decided to become an adventurer. It was the only way to live with total freedom. It had been my dream since I was a little girl.

"Hello! Is this your first time registering? Can I get your name, please?" the receptionist asked with a smile.

"Ah... my name is, Yu—..."

I want to be free. So... Eva. Can I have your name? I always wanted to be like you. I admired you so much. You’d forgive me, wouldn't you?

My hair had turned white shortly after that day at the dump. Seeing my reflection, I was almost happy. I looked a little bit more like her.

Hey... King. Can I take your name too? "Eva King" sounds a bit silly, so I’ll take your real one instead. I know you said you hated it, but I always liked it.

It was... Avery, right?

"My name is... Eva. Eva Avery."

I am Eva Avery. I am the freest person in the world. I won't be bound by anyone, and I will never take orders again. I don't want to remember my old name. In fact, I can't.

But to be free, you have to be the strongest. I’m done being powerless. I will get stronger than anyone.

---

A few years later, Eva was indeed the strongest. No one could stop her, no one could judge her. She was the only one of her kind—the freest person in the world.

"Noblesse Magic Academy... huh. That brings back memories. Maybe I’ll enroll."

She entered with the highest scores in history. She dominated the rankings as an underclassman. She won the 11th Student Sword-Magic Cup.

"...This is boring. Maybe I should just quit. I'm free, after all."

And then came the Three-Year Unified Tag Tournament. Eva stood there, a faint smile on her lips as the announcements blared across the arena.

[Underclassman Number 24, Iole Torus: Incapacitated. Points awarded to Weiss Fancent and Carta Wiore.]

So that’s the notorious noble everyone’s talking about...

No one dared to defy her. No one even tried to surpass her. Eva was rotting away from boredom in her school life. But then, a boy drenched in murderous intent and overwhelming mana appeared before her.

Weiss Fancent.

"It’s an honor to meet you... Eva Avery-senpai."

"Ufufu. So you're the famous Weiss-kun. Nice to meet you."

Oh, this is delightful.

I think I’ll stick around just a little longer. After all, two very interesting boys have finally shown up.