Ch.2I Need a Pillow (1)

# Dellin’s Lake has a high concentration of mana in the atmosphere.

If the mana level were moderate, it would be an excellent place for training.

But since it’s excessively high, anyone without considerable skill can’t even breathe properly.

This was also why Ruide always slept at Dellin’s Lake. While the absence of people was a benefit, the biggest advantage was…

Sleep comes easily!

Ruide had a blessed affinity with mana, which allowed him to maintain a very stable mental state.

But even Ruide had concerns.

“I need a pillow.”

Tap tap.

Ruide patted Dellin’s shoulder.

After sleeping with a book as a pillow for the past week, his neck was stiff.

“…A bed would be nice too.”

A natural grass bed.

At first, he was quite pleased with it, but human desires are indeed greedy.

“I should really have a blanket too…”

His wish list kept growing.

But the most urgent need was a pillow.

Ruide pondered seriously.

The historical setting was medieval.

Unlike the ergonomically designed pillows of modern times, pillows here were quite uncomfortable.

Bringing a pillow from home wouldn’t necessarily improve the situation.

“What should I do?”

Should he cast an air bubble spell and sleep underwater?

“…!”

Ruide clapped his hands lightly.

My goodness, what a brilliant idea!

He decided to implement it right away.

He closed his eyes.

The method of using magic was simple.

When he first possessed this body, he just tried something that seemed right, and it worked immediately.

The method of using magic? It’s imagination.

Ruide imagined himself inside a transparent air bubble that would never burst.

Fresh oxygen with infinite refills.

The air bubble was extremely soft and cozy.

Then, the ocean-like waves of mana inside Ruide’s body began to move.

Soon, it perfectly manifested exactly what Ruide wanted.

“It worked.”

When Ruide opened his eyes, a transparent air bubble was surrounding him completely.

As a test, he poked the air bubble, and it rippled like pudding throughout.

Magic was truly a convenient and amazing mystery.

But not everything was possible.

The realm of ‘creation’ was impossible to implement.

Still, Ruide was very satisfied with this much.

He decided to experiment. Ruide moved the air bubble. His body slowly floated.

Was it because the air bubble was so soft? Ruide lost his balance and fell.

But the air bubble gently wrapped around his body. He didn’t feel even the slightest impact.

Ruide submerged the air bubble into the lake.

He pinched the air bubble and wrapped it around his body.

It felt comfortable and cozy like a blanket.

Just as the satisfied Ruide was about to fall asleep.

He spotted a fish living in Dellin’s Lake.

It was four times larger than Earth’s fish, and perhaps due to the high mana concentration, it resembled a deep-sea creature.

This was monstrous enough to be called a monster.

“……”

Ruide made eye contact with the fish.

-What the hell is this guy???

That was exactly the expression it had.

Above all, its sharp fangs were impressive.

Though he had made the bubble strong enough that it wouldn’t burst, it seemed impossible to sleep in such an environment.

“I guess there’s no choice.”

With a regretful expression, Ruide…

Rustle.

Cast a scenery blocking spell!

Additionally, he muted all surrounding noise.

If you can’t see it, it doesn’t matter.

Theoretically, this air bubble would survive even if a nuclear bomb went off next to it.

Ruide was satisfied.

“I’m a genius.”

A comfortable pillow.

A soft bed.

A cozy blanket.

With one spell, he achieved all three at once.

Being a genius was just a character setting, but Ruide thought he wasn’t too shabby himself as he drifted off to sleep.

**

Amelia walked quickly through the forest.

‘This won’t do after all.’

Earlier, she had retreated after getting caught up in Ruide’s pace.

But she couldn’t bear to see her only brother living like a loser, even if dirt got in her eyes.

Thinking she needed to scold him properly, she headed to where Ruide was.

“Rui… huh?”

There was no one there.

There were traces of pressed grass, but that was all.

‘Where did he go?’

She saw his shoes. Since he left them behind, it didn’t seem like he had gone anywhere.

Besides, the only normal path through this forest was the one she had just come from.

Amelia suddenly felt scared.

“Ruide! Ruide!”

She called out anxiously as she looked around.

There was no trace of Ruide anywhere.

Could he have gotten lost?

Then, Amelia noticed water droplets splashed where Ruide had been just moments ago.

She slowly raised her head.

Dellin’s Lake sparkled.

The ground around it was wet.

Amelia instantly thought of something terrible.

‘Could he have rolled into the lake while sleeping?’

The back of her neck felt clammy.

It was entirely possible. Ruide was a deep sleeper and had some sleeping habits.

“Oh, no.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Amelia jumped into the lake.

‘It can’t be. It mustn’t be.’

Her heart felt like it was dropping.

Amelia frantically swam toward the bottom of the lake.

And then she saw it.

Her brother sleeping comfortably inside a water bubble.

Gurgle.

“……”

Amelia stared at the absurd sight with dead fish eyes.

**

“Are you in your right mind or not?”

“…Sorry.”

“Even so, how could you think of sleeping at the bottom of a lake! If your concentration slips, you could drown, drown!”

Amelia, soaking wet like a drowned rat, scolded Ruide severely.

Ruide blinked slowly and repeated the same words.

“Sorry.”

Amelia sighed.

Earlier, it had truly been terrifying. She had been chilled to the bone thinking something had happened to Ruide.

It was fortunate he was safe, but she didn’t want to experience that again.

‘This won’t work.’

Ruide thought with a mind still not fully awake.

He had forgotten about Amelia. She visited three times a day, so it was natural for her to look for him if he wasn’t there.

‘But how did she find me?’

He decided to let the minor details slide.

Ruide yawned long and wide.

“This is perfect timing. Sis.”

“Anyway, from today, you need to attend classes properly… huh?”

“I need a pillow.”

“Ah, yes. If Ruide needs it, I should get one… Are you even listening to me?”

“You said not to sleep at the bottom of the lake.”

“That’s right, but… why am I getting annoyed?”

Amelia felt disgruntled.

“But what do you mean by a pillow?”

“Look at that.”

Ruide pointed to the book he had been using as a pillow.

“It looks hard, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it does. Because it’s a book.”

“My neck is stiff.”

Ruide tapped his nape.

“Therefore, I’d like Ame sis to get me a comfortable and good pillow.”

“Ah, yes. I understand. You want me to get you a pillow?”

“Bring it quickly.”

“Alright.”

Amelia smiled brightly and turned to go back the way she came.

After just a few steps.

She rushed back to Ruide.

“That’s not it!”

Fortunately, she had come to her senses this time.

Amelia sat down firmly on the ground.

She tapped the ground in front of her as if telling Ruide to sit and glared at him.

“It’s been a week since classes started, Rui.”

“Yes.”

“Even if the chancellor has allowed your laziness, a freshman shouldn’t be like this from the start.”

“Why?”

“Why, you ask… well.”

Amelia was at a loss for words.

Indeed, her brother was an absurd genius.

Ruide knew how to use magic from birth. He moved mana before he could speak.

When Ruide was 10, they brought in an outside tutor, but he defeated the tutor at their first meeting. The tower master, who had been hired for a hefty sum at that time, was still suffering from depression.

She didn’t know why a magic genius was born into the Windsor family, known for swordsmanship.

What was certain was that the academy level was not for him.

“…M-magic isn’t everything. The end of learning is as vast as the sea.”

“For example?”

“Well, that…”

Amelia rolled her eyes. Ruide’s genius wasn’t limited to just magic.

Before he was called the ‘Lazy Young Master,’ his nickname was ‘Reincarnation of the Sage.’

He was much smarter than herself, who had handled only swords all her life.

But Amelia remembered why she was here.

“Social skills, Ruide. Attending the academy is of course for learning, but it’s also to learn about human relationships. Meeting various people.”

Amelia was so proud of herself for saying this that she sniffed and touched her nose.

“Now, do you understand? Sleep at home and at least attend classes…”

“Why do I need social skills?”

Amelia’s eyebrows twitched.

She was angry at her brother’s constant backtalk.

But when she looked at Ruide’s face, her anger automatically dissipated, and she spoke gently.

“Being alone is sad, Ruide. Humans can’t live alone. You’re a genius, Ruide, but you’re definitely lacking in that aspect. You haven’t had a single friend until now, have you?”

“I don’t need such things.”

This time, Amelia was determined to scold him properly with words.

But…

“I have you, sis.”

“……”

With just one sentence from Ruide, she melted like ice cream.

Amelia tried to hold back her smile, but it kept leaking out, and she giggled while scratching her head.

“Hehe. Right? You have your sister, so you don’t need anyone else. As expected, Ruide is a genius.”

Amelia gently stroked Ruide’s head and stood up.

“Then I’ll come back after school ends, so sleep well~”

“Yes. Don’t forget the pillow when you come.”

“Yes, yes. I got it.”

And with energetic steps, Amelia headed toward the main building.

**

“Lip service is hard.”

As soon as Amelia disappeared, Ruide yawned lazily and lay down on the grass bed.

Ah, it’s still cozy.

“I’ve already attended school for 15 years.”

He had already attended school for 15 years in his previous life. Being told to attend school in this life too went against Ruide’s plan to live a happy, leisurely life.

Stress is the root of all diseases.

Ruide wanted to live a long life.