Hello.
To anyone meeting me for the first time—nice to meet you.
I was an Ordinary Angel.
My name? Please, spare me from giving that. I didn't want to stand out. I couldn't even tell you which faction I belonged to. It was enough for you to think of me as just another person lined up behind the high-ranking members of the Angel Race.
Was it inconvenient not to have a name? In that case... you could call me Skuld.
Yes, it was a pseudonym. I took it from the name of a high-ranking Angel from the olden days. Go ahead, feel free to call me that.
Heh heh heh.
Lady Reginleiv scolded me, telling me not to use her sister's name. The Chief, Malbit-sama, gave me a sarcastic remark about whether she could expect the same level of work from me as the original Skuld-sama, and the Chief Assistant, Ruincia-sama, landed a solid blow to my stomach.
A silent punch was just playing dirty. I couldn't even dodge it.
Well, it was my own fault for getting carried away.
Anyway.
I was currently in the Village of the Great Tree.
Yes, the Village of the Great Tree. I had heard stories from the Chief and the Chief Assistant, but it really did exist—a village in such a dangerous place.
And he was really there, too: the man who had taken Tia-sama, Granmaria-sama, Kudel-sama, and Corone-sama as his wives. To think he actually existed. I had honestly thought it was just a shared delusion between Ruincia-sama and Razmaria-sama because they were so desperate for grandchildren.
I wasn't able to meet Tia-sama's eldest daughter, Tiselle-sama, but I did get to meet her second daughter, Aurora-sama.
She was truly Tia-sama’s daughter and Ruincia-sama’s granddaughter. She seemed incredibly capable. In fact, she might have already been above my level. In a situation like that, the smart thing would have been to avoid acting like a conceited big sister and instead treat her with polite respect to build a connection for the future.
I knew that.
I knew that, and yet, being who I was, I rebelled.
I played the "big sister" role with everything I had. While I was at it, I told her all sorts of stories about the failures Tia-sama and Ruincia-sama had made. Aurora-sama looked a bit troubled, but she still gave me a smile.
Hehe, she really was adorable.
Then, Ruincia-sama called for me.
Where was the "back of the mansion"? Did she mean the courtyard where those ferocious chickens lived? I wasn't that familiar with the village yet.
Oh, there was Ruincia-sama. It turned out the "back of the mansion" meant behind the Great Tree.
...
I dodged Ruincia-sama's silent strike. I wasn't so senile that I’d fall for the same attack twice. And if she was punching me, that meant it was perfectly fine for me to punch back!
Fuhahaha!
Channeling all my daily resentment, I threw a flurry of left jabs. Ruincia-sama parried them with her arms, but that was naive. That was exactly the trap I had set!
Seeing Ruincia-sama’s attention drawn to the left, I threw my finishing move: a chopping right straight!
...She avoided it with a sway?
Just like that? Did she read my move?
No, this was bad. My side was wide open. Ruincia-sama stepped in. A wrapping hook was coming. At this distance, I couldn't dodge.
In that case, I just had to endure it!
Hang in there, my ribs! I’ll gladly sacrifice a bone or two for the cause! I’ll counterattack right after!
Ruincia-sama’s fist connected with my side.
...
Impossible. I couldn't take it.
What kind of power was that?! Was telling those failure stories really that big of a deal?! A grandmother who wanted to look good for her grandchild was truly a terrifying thing!
My body folded sideways into a "V" shape.
I was revived after a passing White Slime cast healing magic on me. That was a close call. If I hadn't instinctively manifested my wings to stay afloat, I probably would have died. Well, because I was floating, I ended up rolling quite a long way.
I wondered where I was.
And the one waiting there... was that Tia-sama?
I see. I understood. Fine.
Let's have one more match.
"Ah, Mr. White Slime? I’m sorry, but could you stay here for just a little while longer? Yeah, I think I’ll be needing your services again very soon. Yes, sorry about that. I’ll be sure to repay you."
Now then, here I come, the Strongest!
The Strongest truly was the Strongest for a reason.
As I stared up at the sky, that was my only thought. It would be a lie to say I wasn't frustrated, but I wasn't exactly a front-line fighter. I was the type who handled logistics and preparations in the rear. I’d just have to tell myself we were climbing different mountains.
Yes, that was pure sour grapes.
"Ah, um, I’m not sure which of the Inferno Wolves you are, but thank you for your concern. The White Slime healed me, so I’m fine. Thank you as well, Mr. Demon Spider. Yes, I can get up on my own. Oh, could you just tell me where the mansion is? I’ve lost my bearings. I’d know where I was if I flew, but taking to the air right after a slugfest is a bit risky. Especially for the one who got thrashed."
Is it that way? Thank you. You'll even guide me? That's a huge help.
Escorted by an Inferno Wolf and a Demon Spider, I returned to the mansion.
I greeted the other three daughters: Granmaria-sama’s daughter, Rosemaria-sama; Kudel-sama’s daughter, Laladel-sama; and Corone-sama’s daughter, Tolmane-sama.
I acted like a big sister again.
Yes, I told them plenty of stories about the failures of Granmaria-sama, Kudel-sama, and Corone-sama. Since they were still so small, they probably didn't understand the stories, but they seemed happy. That was what mattered most.
Now then, shall we head to the back of the mansion?
Was the order Granmaria-sama, then Kudel-sama, and finally Corone-sama? Three-against-one was definitely off the table, okay?
Why did I keep doing things that got me beaten up?
Well, to put it simply, I was venting.
I had worked my fingers to the bone supporting the Garlet Kingdom, and then it all just collapsed so easily. I had my grievances. As a member of the Angel Race, I followed the Chief’s instructions, but... I hadn't been able to sort out my heart yet.
So, I was having them help me with my own selfish way of processing things.
I was sorry for the trouble. And honestly, there would probably be a few others who would do the same thing, so I hoped the villagers would go along with them without holding back.
I wouldn't pick fights with other races, and I was making sure the others didn't either. There weren't many people here we could actually beat anyway, and even if we won against someone, their superiors would just come out to finish us off, wouldn't they?
The Village Head?
He was the most dangerous person of them all. I could tell. After all, I’d been an Angel for longer than any of you. For what it was worth, I was actually from a generation older than Malbit-sama or Ruincia-sama. People often told me it didn't seem that way, though.
Well, there was no point in rambling on. Shall we get started? I’d show them how much stronger I’d become after my matches with Ruincia-sama and Tia-sama.
It looked like the White Slime had arrived at just the right time, too.
Ordinary Angel: "I’m definitely younger than Lady Reginleiv, at least."
Kierbit: "I heard I could hear stories about my mother's failures!"
Ordinary Angel: "The Chief's failure stories would affect the dignity of the Angel Race, so I really shouldn't..."
Malbit: "Kii-chan, why don't we head to the back of the mansion?"
Inferno Wolf: "Wait... This person..."
Demon Spider: "Aren't they going to faint?"
Ordinary Angel: "Our experience points are on a different level! Experience! (I’ve fainted so many times in the past that I’ve built up a resistance!)"