The Extra's Indifference

(2-year time skip)

I woke up and did my usual routine.

Last 2 years nothing interesting happened, just the usual stuff.

Training with daggers, practising magic, meditating, playing and pampering Lucy, reading books about important things and so on.

My blood, skin, muscles and bones partially transformed. Which made my work easier when i was absorbing mana or practising dagger art.

My life as a Kayle solidified which made me think about the original Kayle.

Kayle was too perfect as if made for a greater purpose. Perfect looks and genetics, extremely high affinities and fully rational. So my thoughts were that he was an artificial human with an artificial soul that was made to protect Lucy.

I didn't know why would someone want to protect Lucy and this was just a theory but it made me think about my transmigration.

'Is Kayle's makers didn't like the idea of the fully rational human, so he pulled some random souls that happened to me, who read a novel about this world? Or someone with great power saw the future and made a novel about it and chose me? And there's a possibility that someone can manipulate me with my fused part with Kayle's soul. Or maybe manipulated me already to treat Lucy well, because even i have an urge to really pamper Lucy, which is a 5% possibility. There are many possibilities that i didn't think but i know one thing and that's someone with great power transmigrated me in the body of Kayle with a purpose greater than Hywel's. Because even Hywel wasn't overpowered like the original Kayle from birth.'

'Though even if i am being manipulated somehow, i can't do anything right now. So i will go with the flow and do what i want.'

With that, i threw the topic of transmigration to the back of my mind and focused on today's event.

Yesterday was Lucy's birthday, so today we will go on our 1.5 year expedition.

I woke Lucy up and we went to the dining room to have breakfast with Count Ceurie.

I took my seat and eat my share and waited for Count Ceurie to start the topic.

"Today two of you will begin your exploration. This exploration is for you to gain real life experience before the academy."

"Though there are many dangers out there, you don't have to worry about it because i will give you defensive artifacts and one teleportation artifact. Teleportation artifact is the Ceurie family's exclusive artifact that only someone from Ceurie blood can use it, thus don't reveal anyone. Teleportation artifact has one passive ability and that is to teleport to Ceurie Mansion when the wearer of the artifact's life is in danger." Count Ceurie explained thoroughly.

After Count's explanation, Lucy asked some questions which Count answered thoroughly.

Count gave us some mana and healing potions, a holographic mana map, some money, weapons and 2 storage artifacts.

With that we were ready, so we get out of the house.

I turned to Lucy and asked while we walking randomly.

"Do you have a place in your mind to go and explore?" I didn't know why, but she was more cheerful than usual

"No. Do you have plans for us brother?"

"I do, but if we go there right now, we might die. So we will go to the forest where low rank mana beasts live and hunt some to gain experience against fighting mindless creatures."

Lucy wore an anxious expression and said:

"Brother, wouldn't that be dangerous?"

"It will be dangerous, but we are 3rd circle mages. We need real life combat experience or else in the academy, some arrogant nobles would bring more trouble. We have defensive artifacts too, so don't worry about too much we will be fine." I said with a reassuring smile and patted her head.

Lucy nodded after some thought.

We began to walk in the direction of the regulated mana beast forest.

Some mana beast habitats are regulated instead of exterminated. Because every mana beast has mana cores and even if it's from [F] rank mana beast there's use for every mana core.

Sky got darker while we were still in the city borders, so we decided to go to an inn and continue tomorrow.

We went to the inn and rented a room. We got too much ominous stares, probably because we were beautiful children without parents or guards. Lucy got uncomfortable because of the stares, so we went to our room.

Lucy curled up on the bed and muttered:

"Are we in trouble brother?"

I sighed loudly, sat on the bed and put her head on my thigh.

"Presumably we are Lucy. I forgot that you are too beautiful that kidnappers wouldn't even hesitate to kidnap you." I caressed her head slowly, which made her calmer.

My plans were simple actually. Lucy would get used to killing beasts, and afterwards, we would hunt some bandits to get Lucy accustomed to killing humans. Though my plans probably will reverse in a few hours.

"My dear Lucy at first i wanted you to hunt some low rank beasts to get accustomed to the feeling of killing something. So if you are scared close your eyes and ears when they came."

Lucy nodded and hugged me.

Though i said i will make them disappear, that would be hard if they have mage or fighters.

In the middle of the night, kidnappers tried to enter our room stealthily but they failed miserably, even Lucy noticed them.

They were 3rd rate kidnappers and i heard their noises even before they entered our room. I didn't kill them, because i wanted Lucy to see them killed.

"Close your eyes and block your ears." I whispered into her ear. I said these words, but i was sure that she wouldn't fully close her eyes.

Kidnappers got closer and i let them because this would increase its effect on Lucy.

When the distance between us and the kidnappers was reduced to 2 meters, i spoke with an emotionless voice.

"You worthless trashes dare to interrupt my sleep."

When they heard my voice they stumbled back but it was too late for them.

4 of the 5 kidnappers collapsed with an ice spear as big as a hand stuck to their hearts. Though the last one wasn't lucky.

He was nailed to the wall with ice spears stuck to his hands.

Kidnapper tried to scream in agony but i was faster. I threw an uppercut to his chin to shut him up.

"If you scream like that, my sister would hear your screams and if she hears your screams, i will torture you. So shut up, okay? " i whispered emotionlessly.

Kidnapper paled and nodded furiously like his life depends on it.

"Are there more of you, that will come here when these 4 idiots didn't return?" I asked with a cold tone, to which he nodded.

After that, i asked more questions about their group and their power levels.

After i got my answers, the kidnapper died with an ice spear stuck to his forehead.

After that, i stored corpses to storage artifact to dispose of them later.

Learning chantless ice magic was worth its trouble. Though it is about 15 times more expensive in mana wise in this way, it is very useful because it is faster and more unpredictable.

I walked to Lucy's side and tapped her shoulder. She flinched and opened her eyes. She calmed down a little after she saw me.

"Lucy you sleep, i will deal with them if any more of them come." I said with kind smile.

Lucy was hesitant at first but with some persuasion, she agreed.

Lucy peeked when i was killing kidnappers, this made her scared of me a little, but not too much. We are in a world where killing is normal, so probably she was just scared by my coldness.

Though it is okay because with this opportunity i am remaking my image in Lucy's head. Probably my image was a kind and affectionate brother but this will change to 'only' kind and affectionate to Lucy.

Then she will understand and will like it soon. Because she knows too that every mage's personality is altered because of their highest affinity and affinity grade.

My highest grade affinity is Superior grade Ice. Normally i would be a cold man who kills for a small mistake, but i can't even be a cold man because of the curse. Though i will act like a cold man and probably no one wouldn't notice it.

Anyway, i hugged Lucy to my chest and slowly caressed her head.

"Relax, everything will be okay. We will leave this shabby inn to explore this beautiful world and eat lots of sweets." I whispered melodically. After some time she fell asleep.

I waited for the new batch of kidnappers. I was sure that more kidnappers would come.

For the rest of the night, i killed 2 more groups of kidnappers. Although i can understand their greed for 2 beautiful children who they could sell for a good amount of money. But i couldn't even sleep for a wink because of this shit heads. I am a growing boy and growing boys need their sleep.

Anyway morning came and Lucy woke up, apparently, she was sleeping rather lightly because of the kidnapper incident. After that, we continued our way to mana beast forest.

On our way Lucy spoke:

"Brother, are you okay?"

"I am fine, but why are you asking?"

"Because you killed a human first time and you have dark circles under your eyes."

What she said was true. It was my first time killing a human but i didn't felt anything when i killed them. Though if the old me was here, he wouldn't feel anything drastically either, just pity.

I have dark circles too, so it was obvious that i didn't sleep.

But she doesn't have to know these, so i will put it to my affinity.

"Though it's pity that they died, it was their fault to try to kidnap us, but i don't feel bad about it thanks to my affinity. Sigh. And yes i need some sleep but that can be wait until beast forest. In the forest, we will find cave like place, block its entrance with ice and get some sleep."

After my explanation, Lucy went silent and we continued our way.

After 6 hours of walking, we arrived at our destination.

"Be cautious, don't make noise and always be ready to cast spells. Though this is low rank mana beast zone, they can kill us easily if they can manage to close distance "

After giving my warnings to Lucy, i cast basic illusion magic to hide our scents.

With that our preparation are done, so we continued our walk to the forest.

I came to this forest for 2 reasons.

The first one was to gain combat experience against mana beast.

The second one was to pick up a [S] rank artifact. Although artifact isn't particularly useful or powerful, it has some use.

While i was thinking, i heard a noise. I looked over the place where the noise come from.

There was 1.5 meters tall black wolf. Though it has a big gash on its stomach. From the size of the wolf and mana quality that i sensed, i could tell that it was [E] rank beast, best prey for Lucy.

I nudged Lucy and pointed to the beast.

"Chant an attack spell and aim at the wolf's head or body."

Lucy was anxious. I patted her back to calm her a bit. Which worked finely, and her breathing stabilized.

Lucy chanted her spell.

Earth spikes appeared beneath the wolf and shot through to its head.

The spell was slow, normally wolf could escape it easily. But it couldn't because of its injuries and impaled through of its head.

I looked towards Lucy to see her state. But contrary to my expectations she was perfectly fine.

It seems that i was still stuck in my old world's standards. She killed a big creature other than a small insect and wants to be praised. Although i don't judge this, i just found this weird.

"It was a good shoot Lucy, but it was too slow. If the beast wasn't injured it could have escaped easily. In short speed up your casting speed."

I explained and patted her head.

"Come i will extract its mana core. Although it is my first time doing it, maybe you will learn something from it."

"Usually wolf like mana beasts core's were in their stomach area but if they have 3rd eye, the mana core will be in their head." I explained slowly while cutting it's stomach with my dagger.

I found a light blue almost white crystal ball, mana core. It was [E] rank beast, so it was normal to have low rank mana core.

I gave mana core Lucy to store her storage artifact and i picked the beast corpse to my storage artifact.

After that, we walked to the direction of the middle of the forest. In the middle of the forest, there is a special tree about 40 meters long, so even we can see it here.

On our way, we encountered [F] rank wolfs and i decided Lucy take them.

Lucy chanted her spell faster than before and blades made from wind shot at the wolfs.

Compared to her last spell it was faster but on the general side, she was still slow.

Fortunately, her opponents were 2 ranks lower than her, thus they couldn't escape from wind blades. Though only 2 of them died, Lucy missed the last one. Survived wolf rushed towards Lucy. Lucy panicked and couldn't cast any spell.

Wolf died from an ice spear through its head.

"Good job your spell was faster than before and you killed 2 of them." I patted her head.

"But you missed one of them and afterwards you panicked because it was rushing to you if i wasn't here you could have died. So be careful and don't fully relax."

Afterwards, we picked mana cores and continued our way.

On our way, we killed beasts and picked their cores.

Lucy got a little bit better than before but not much. Though we had 1.5 years to practice, so she would definitely get better in time.