Chapter 33: Short Story: If Sebastian Transmigrated At Start of Canon Part 4

Chapter 33: Short Story: If Sebastian Transmigrated At Start of Canon Part 4

Asta and Noelle trailed after Vanessa through the bustling streets of Kikka's Castle Town, ignoring the stares from the townsfolk. Excitement sparked in their eyes as Vanessa rounded a corner, then paused and turned back to them with a gentle smile.

"Alright, we're here!"

"Ohhhh!" Asta's eyes lit up with excitement—until he realized what he was looking at. He blinked in surprise.

Noelle sweatdropped, glancing around in confusion. This is supposed to be someplace special? This is just an alley...

After completing their first mission in Saussy Village and earning their first wages, Vanessa had promised to take them somewhere exciting in Kikka after they stocked up on essentials like healing herbs and magical consumables. So they were understandably baffled when their "special place" turned out to be a quiet, abandoned cobblestone alleyway.

Just as their confusion deepened, Vanessa gave a playful flick of her wrist, beckoning them forward. "Right over here," she said and proceeded to walk straight through the wall next to a worn wine barrel.

"Huh?!" Asta and Noelle exchanged wide-eyed looks, then followed her lead, half-expecting to smack right into the wall. But to their shock, they stepped right through it—and into a hidden world.

A crooked line of makeshift stalls and ragtag shops stretched before them, cluttered with mysterious figures in hooded cloaks peddling every kind of strange item. Wands, skulls, rare herbs, bubbling potions, brooms—they could barely take it all in.

Vanessa put her hands on her hips and, without looking back, spoke softly, her voice ringing clearly in her juniors' ears. "Welcome to the Black Market."

"Woooooow." The sparkle returned to Asta's eyes as he eagerly took in the scene, ignoring the bird nestled on his head like it was his personal perch.

Vanessa gave a wave to a nearby shopkeeper sitting on the dirty ground. "It's a teensy bit dangerous," she said with a smirk, "but they've got some super effective stuff here."

She glanced over her shoulder at Noelle's slightly nervous expression. "Oh, and don't worry," she added casually. "Royals and nobles wouldn't be caught dead here. Too 'low-class' for their taste."

Noelle turned, her curiosity piqued.

"You still can't fully control your magic, right?" Vanessa continued. "The only spells you can manage are the ones that stay in place."

Noelle hesitated, clearing her throat. "Th...that's true, but why does that matter?"

Vanessa gestured to a cluster of shops selling enchanted accessories—cuffs, jewelry, wands, brooches. "They've got items that can help you suppress your magic. From what I can tell, you've got way too much mana, and you're not sure how to manage it. Find something here that suits you, adjust your magic a little, and you might just get the control you need."

The way Noelle's gaze widened told Vanessa she'd struck a chord.

As they walked through the market, Vanessa led the way with a certain shop in mind. Dominante better treat me to some booze for bringing her a customer, she thought, glancing sideways and catching Asta peering toward a small shop, where a torn rag draped over the entrance and loud voices poured out.

"That's a casino," Vanessa chuckled. "You two are still a bit young for that."

She narrowed her eyes at the scene inside, her gaze stopping on a familiar face. Seriously, does that virgin delinquent ever learn? She smirked to herself. Magna's going to end up going home in his underwear again.

Inside, just as Magna was about to bet everything on red, he suddenly felt a stab of irritation for some mysterious reason.

Moving past the casino, Vanessa noticed Asta by her side but realized Noelle was lagging behind. Huh? "Noelle, sweetie, what's up?" she called, turning to see Noelle rubbing her eyes, head lowered as though she was annoyed.

Is the dust getting to her that badly? Royals really do have fragile bodies, Vanessa mused, holding back the urge to say something that might offend the sensitive girl.

Asta and Vanessa exchanged curious looks as Noelle glanced past them, then rubbed her eyes and looked again. Her pupils suddenly dilated, like she'd seen something that shocked her. Just as they were about to turn to look, she shoved them both out of the street, pushing them behind a stall.

The stall owner, an old man with a shiny bald head, blinked in surprise before flashing a toothless grin. "Hey, kids, interested in buying a magic carpet—"

"Silence, insect," Noelle snapped, her tone icy, making the man shrink back as she removed her hands from Asta and Vanessa.

"Noelle..." Asta rubbed the back of his head, wincing where he'd been pushed up against the stall. "What was that for?"

Ignoring him, Noelle anxiously turned her gaze to Vanessa. "Vanessa! I thought you said royalty and nobles don't come here?!"

Vanessa blinked at her, taken aback. "That's... because they don't."

Noelle let out a groan, dropping her head against Vanessa's chest before looking back up at her. "Then would you please explain why, in the name of all things holy, my father is here?!" she whispered urgently.

Vanessa and Asta both blinked, stunned.

Your father? The words took a second to sink in, but Asta processed it slightly faster.

"We should go say hi." Asta stepped toward the main street, only for Noelle to yank him back.

"What are you doing, Noelle?" Asta felt dizzy with all the pushing and pulling.

"I should be asking you that, Bakasta!" she hissed. "You can't just go up to him like that!"

"Huh?" Asta tilted his head, bewildered. "Why not? He's your dad, right?"

"No!" Noelle's voice dropped to a tense whisper. "He's my father!"

Asta looked more confused. "Is there a difference?"

Noelle flicked her pigtails and scoffed. "Of course there is, Bakasta! Royals and nobles don't call their parents 'mom' or 'dad'—we say 'Mother' and 'Father.' It's only polite."

The shopkeeper visibly hesitated, glancing between the pouch and Sebastian, before pushing the pouch back across the counter, causing Sebastian to raise a brow.

"Sir, as I said before, whatever you're after, I don't have it. Now, please stop making my life difficult and walk away," the man insisted, motioning for Sebastian to leave.

Watching, Noelle felt her breath hitch. Father, what exactly are you trying to buy that would make even this crook—someone dealing in cursed items in broad daylight—refuse to sell it, even for a fortune?!

Her legs trembled as she silently pleaded, Please, Father, don't tell me you're caught up in something illegal. I don't know what I'd do if that were true.

As a Magic Knight, Noelle knew her duty to uphold justice, no matter who broke the law. Yet, she clenched her fist, battling the thought. I don't want to arrest you... not you, the only family member who's ever treated me kindly.

Vanessa, hugging the shaking Noelle, had a sense of what might be running through her mind. Narrowing her gaze at Sebastian, she thought, You better be innocent, because if you're not, and you hurt her, I'll cut 'it' off.

Sebastian, ignoring the money, glanced around before leaning in to the shopkeeper with a conspiratorial tone. "C.P. told me about this place," he murmured. "I won't snitch."

The duo watched as the shopkeeper's cautious look was replaced with a sly grin. Reaching under his stall, he pulled out a large leather bag.

Noelle's heart sank as she watched her father take a jar from the man, unscrew it, and pinch some white powder. With a subtle smile, Sebastian brought his fingers to his nose and took an intoxicated sniff, satisfaction spreading over his usually indifferent face.

Drugs. Noelle's heart cracked as she clenched her fists in sorrow and betrayal. Her father was using drugs. It may not be the worst crime, she thought, but it's a crime nonetheless. As a Magic Knight, I can't ignore this.

Vanessa's face grew grim as Noelle's trembling ceased, and the girl turned to her with a cold, dull look, her pink eyes now a steely gray. "Let's go, Vanessa. We have a criminal to apprehend."

Before Vanessa could react, Noelle slipped out of her grasp, her small frame radiating resolve as she walked towards her father. Vanessa bit her lip, emotions swirling as she took in Noelle's lonely silhouette.

You're a real piece of work, Vanessa thought, glaring at Sebastian. You're breaking her heart.

Sebastian, satisfied, closed the jar and set it on the ledge, waiting for the shopkeeper to bring out more goods. Caught off guard in his own moment of glee, he didn't register anyone approaching until both he and the shopkeeper were suddenly bound and restrained.

Hmm? Thread? Sebastian looked down at the restraints, surprised but not worried—escaping was within his power. But he paused, curious to see who had dared to ambush him and why. When he lifted his gaze, he was met with an unexpected sight: Vanessa, the Black Bulls' resident witch, and his own daughter, Noelle.

String shot from Vanessa's wand, securing both Sebastian and the shopkeeper in place. Sebastian blinked, a mix of awkwardness and surprise filling his expression. What are the odds? he thought wryly. The one day I come here, and Noelle and Vanessa do the same. As he glanced around, his brow furrowed. Where's Asta? Has canon changed this much?

Ignoring Vanessa, he focused on Noelle, who was glaring at him with an unimpressed expression. Clearing his throat, he tried to lighten the tension. "Noelle... Fancy meeting you here. Care to tell me why your friend has me tied up—"

"Don't." Noelle cut him off, her fists clenched. "Don't give me that father act, you crook!"

The street fell silent as nearby vendors awkwardly looked away. Sebastian blinked, taken aback. "Crook?"

"Don't pretend, Father! I saw everything—we know exactly what you were buying!" Noelle's voice trembled with fury.

Before Sebastian could answer, the shopkeeper snapped, "You were tailed?!"

"Yes, obviously, but—" Sebastian groaned inwardly. Can you not make this sound worse? I wasn't doing anything illegal, you punk. He felt like slapping the shopkeeper, who looked every bit the part of a rebellious street thug.

Instead, he sighed, looking back at Noelle, his tone softening. "Calm down, Noelle. Untie me, and let's talk about this. I'm afraid there's been a giant misunderstanding—"

"No!" Noelle's voice was sharp as Vanessa stepped over to the stand, inspecting the goods.

Sebastian's breath caught when he saw tears stream down Noelle's face as she dissolved into sobs. "I-I w-waited so long... to give you a chance, and now I saw everything. No matter what you say... I'm bringing you in."

While Vanessa unscrewed the lid of the jar to examine its contents, Noelle wiped her face, her words thick with tears. "W-why, Father? Why did this have to happen now, just as you were finally being nice to me? I-I don't want to d-do this."

Sebastian felt a pang of guilt—he hadn't long ago reconciled with Nozel, and now here he was, hurting Noelle all over again.

She wasn't done. "Why'd you have to do this, Father?! O-our family doesn't lack wealth. You didn't need to get into the d-drug trade!"

Drug trade? Sebastian exchanged a bewildered glance with the shopkeeper, then looked comically back at Noelle.

Noelle rubbed her tear-stained eyes. "Is it about the money, or... are you addicted? I-I'm sure there are magic items or spells that can help—"

"Noelle." Vanessa's voice cut through, and everyone turned to her.

"Y-yes?" Noelle asked, hoarse from crying.

Vanessa awkwardly held up the jar, her cheeks flushing as she spoke quietly. "This is... baking powder."

Silence blanketed the group as Noelle blinked, unsure if she'd heard right.

But Vanessa continued, pulling out two more jars from the leather pouch. She gave each a shake, setting them down one by one. "Salt and... black pepper."

Noelle blinked again before collapsing onto the floor, murmuring to herself as she drifted into unconsciousness, desperate to escape what she now hoped was a nightmare.

"Noelle!" Sebastian and Vanessa's voices echoed around her as she lost consciousness.

Author's Notes:

[1] Based on Manga Chapter 10, this little arc is going to combine contents with the first Light Novel, "Stubborn Bull Book"

[2] As always feel free to join the Discord: /invite/s3MME8X8a