I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

Merry Christmas!

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Sara was utterly captivated by the song when it suddenly came to an abrupt halt.

The feeling that welled up within her… could it be a sense of loss?

Music was a universal language of the soul, a balm for the spirit. It crossed boundaries, shining even in otherworldly realms.

The reason Chika had stopped singing was simple—she noticed Sara standing nearby, drawn in by her voice.

"Ah! Sister Sara!"

Chika waved enthusiastically, and Sara, startled out of her reverie, shyly scratched her cheek.

Since she'd already been spotted, it was too late to hide or retreat. Summoning her courage, Sara stepped out of the shadows.

"Chika, you were…"

Curiosity got the better of her; the song Chika had been singing was genuinely beautiful.

"I was practicing a song! Angel Sister taught it to me. Isn't the name lovely and easy to remember? It's called The Wind Rises," Chika said with a beaming smile, her tone utterly open and trusting. "I heard it's really popular in the outside world. Have you heard of it, Sister Sara?"

"Uh…" Sara hesitated, looking slightly embarrassed. "Maybe, but… I don't really interact with people much, so I wouldn't know."

Still… such a beautiful song, and it was something Master taught her?

Sara felt a twinge of surprise, though it wasn't entirely unexpected.

Kiichi had never demonstrated any musical talent before, but she had often mentioned how her thousand years of life had allowed her to pick up countless skills—so many, in fact, that even she didn't remember them all.

During their time together, Kiichi had shown only a fraction of her supposed versatility.

Her martial prowess was indisputable; with mastery over nearly every weapon, she had no apparent weaknesses.

In the realm of elemental magic (or techniques), she was equally proficient.

Beyond that, she also excelled in areas like architectural design, forging, strategy, and even gardening.

Unconsciously, Sara had already started associating the label "all-around genius" with her master—not because Kiichi claimed it, but because her actions proved it.

Even so…

"I'm a little jealous…"

Sara glanced at Chika's radiant, joyful face, her expression growing slightly complicated.

Was this just a passing whim? Or perhaps a childlike sense of possessiveness?

Sara suddenly found herself wanting Master to teach her how to sing too.

Why had she never thought of this before?

Maybe it was because she hadn't realized how enchanting a beautiful song could be.

Or perhaps… it was because her master had once been hers alone, and now… she felt slightly unbalanced.

"Sister Sara, do you want to sing with me?"

Like a child eager to share a precious new toy, Chika held up a small slip of paper, her bright eyes brimming with excitement. "I always forget the lyrics, so Angel Sister wrote them down for me! If you want to learn, you can use this too."

"...No, that's okay."

Did she really want to learn how to sing?

Or… did she just want Master by her side, guiding her hand?

"Hmm? So you're both here, huh?"

The door creaked open, and Kiichi emerged, immediately spotting the two girls.

"Master."

"Ah! Angel Sister!"

Sara's formality was something Kiichi had grown accustomed to, but Chika's cheerful exuberance always reminded her of the Spark Knight, Klee.

Come to think of it, her "adopted" disciple was probably Kujou Sara from the game, right? But this Sara was still just a child, her story yet to begin, and the Traveler likely hadn't awakened yet.

So… was Klee born at this point?

Wait—hadn't she heard somewhere that Klee was a long-lived race? That her growth was slower than normal?

If that were true, then maybe Klee was already born, just younger than the version from the game.

If the Klee from the game could be called "Little Klee," then this version would be… "Tiny Klee?"

Kiichi suddenly had an odd urge to visit Mondstadt during this era, give Klee a hug, and later, when the main story began, casually say, "I hugged you when you were little, you know."

That could be fun. After all, in her family, most relatives were older than her, so she'd never had the chance to say something like that.

"Were you two playing together? Did I interrupt?"

While Sara pondered how to respond, Chika raised her hand enthusiastically.

"No way! Angel Sister, your timing is perfect!"

"???"

Kiichi's first thought: You're up to something.

But upon seeing the pure, unclouded sincerity in Chika's eyes, she realized: No, it's me who's overthinking things.

"Angel Sister! I just sang the song you taught me for Sister Sara, and she loved it!" Chika exclaimed excitedly, oblivious to Kiichi's fleetingly complex expression.

"Oh? Is that so? That's wonderful! Which song was it?"

"The Wind Rises!"

"Ah, I see. The Wind Rises... no wonder."

Kiichi wasn't the type to actively seek out music, but after living for over a thousand years, she had naturally encountered many songs.

Most were from her mother's collection or her classmates' favorites, and after hearing them enough times, she had picked them up as well.

Among all the songs she knew, The Wind Rises held a special place.

It wasn't just "beautiful"—its melody seemed to touch the soul directly, an art form that astonished her no matter how many times she heard it.

Suddenly, Kiichi turned her gaze back to Chika, a thought striking her.

"Wait, Chika, have you already learned this song?"

"Uh… hehe…" Chika scratched the back of her head, her smile sheepish. "I only sang the first four lines. I haven't learned the rest yet…"

"Master, are you heading out?"

The usually silent Sara finally spoke, her eyes falling on the book Kiichi held.

"Yes," Kiichi replied with a nod. "I noticed something interesting and thought I'd look into it. Don't worry—I'll be back before lunch."

With a warm smile, she reached out to pat Sara's head—a gesture that had become second nature.

"Do you need me to come with you, Master?"

"No need. I think Chika here might need you more. After all, boredom is a child's greatest and most fearsome enemy."

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I, WiseTL, in my infinite grace and generosity, have bestowed upon you an extra 2 chapters as my holiday gift. 🎁 Consider it a glimpse of my benevolence—cherish it well.

May your festivities be as golden as my treasury and as plentiful as my updates. Farewell, mortals, until the next chapter. 😉

Now, bow in gratitude. 🌟