Volume 1 - CH 20

Amethyst Bangle is not a genius.

Amethyst herself knew that fact better than anyone else.

No matter what she does, she is the best, however that does not mean she was born as the best.

Because she wanted to deliver good results, Amethyst secretly worked in the shadows, putting in effort to herself so that she could be the best. She searched for ways to help her improve her physicality such as learning how to run fast. She also studied techniques to help her not to lose in battle, and she learned effective ways of studying and using her time efficiently.

Being number one in Amethyst's opinion, was the best proof of her existence.

"If I am the best, everyone will look at me.  If I am the best, everyone will be my friend.  If I am the best, I won't be alone..."; these words were the words she whispered deep in her heart.

She knew being the best was also the best way to make friends.

Therefore, Amethyst tried to do her best at everything.

She put all her effort into self-improvement. There has never been a person who worked as hard as her. 

She did all these for the sake of making friends...so she wouldn't be alone...

However, when it comes to sacred weapons, effort means absolutely nothing!

The weapon you're awarded with at the Blessing Ceremony can't be chosen by you and neither can you exchange it.

Since Amethyst was young, she realized that.  She felt the immense pressure from others' expectations.

Then the day of the Blessing Ceremony came, and the results...

"Lilac Bracelet," A B-ranked sacred weapon was given to her.

She felt like a failure even though the people around her told her otherwise and considered her to be fortunate.  They thought the results of the ceremony were great.  However, in truth, during the ceremony, Amethyst had placed second.

The one who placed first was that crybaby, bullied girl Diamond Karat.  She had been awarded an A-ranked sacred weapon.

Everyone around Amethyst relentlessly encouraged her. But despite their efforts, all their praises sounded forced and it only made her feel worse about herself. She felt the praises casted at her direction were faux; it was akin to being insulted. More than this, she felt disgusted at the thought that she was second best. She had never felt so humiliated in all her life!

She felt that this flaw of character would lead her to no longer have any friends.

She recalled that shortly after completing the ceremony, she had come across the silver haired girl who was also heading home. She felt a burning annoyance rise inside of her as she saw the face of the person who had stolen her number one position; Diamond Karat.

While passing by Diamond, she heard her whisper in a pitiful tone, "...S-Sorry."

What was her intention by saying that?  She wasn't sure what she was trying to say.

The only thing Amethyst could understand at the time, given her state of mind, was that Diamond was pitying her.

Why did this cry baby, this girl, who is bullied all the time receive an A ranked weapon, while she only got a B ranked one?

And why did this person who stole first place from her apologize?

Where the hell did she go wrong?  What more could she have done? Was she lacking in effort?

Maybe she should have worshipped the gods more?

Maybe she should have been a better kid?

Or, maybe she should have been more like Diamond.  Perhaps it would have been better if she lived her life being bullied and becoming a crybaby.

As her mind was filled with confusion and denial, Amethyst gathered up all of the resentment brewing inside her. Back then, she was unreasonably angry at the world and so, to feel better, she started treating Diamond badly.

After battling with Rust, Amethyst together with Spinel and Lapis walked through the Seven Color Forest.

They were going in the opposite direction of the town; they were going deeper into the forest.

"You guys, come with me." Because both Spinel and Lapis were only a small distance behind her, she urged them to hurry up. Due to her prodding, the two girls broke into a trot with both their red and blue ponytails swinging wildly against the wind.  As the neared Amethyst, they wore apologetic faces.

"So-sorry, Ame." They told her, "Because we had our sacred weapons completely destroyed, we've probably caused you some trouble..."

"It's not your guys' fault.  It's my fault for underestimating our opponent's true ability.  Therefore, don't have such depressing faces, and come along with me.  As long as we have my weapon, we'll be safe.  This exam is going to be an easy one to get through."

After saying this to both of them, the three went further into the forest.

Amethyst was thinking that perhaps Spinel and Lapis would probably think it best for them to return back to the village. However, her pride wouldn't allow it. It would be frustrating to give up on the Adventurer's Exam, but more than anything, doing what Rust had said to do would be humiliating. Therefore, they were going to continue moving forward with the exam.

"We've only got fifty minutes left, and two more dolls to get.  We've got plenty of time.  We'll be able to get it done before Diamond." She reassured them.

"You're exactly right, Ame."

"Out of everyone participating in this exam, you're the strongest Ame."

After their short exchange, the three continued to look for the exam dolls.

They looked in the shrubs, and behind the large trees. They kept their eyes open to make sure there weren't any Snatch Thieves.

During that time, Spinel unexpectedly said something, "Regardless of what happened, did you see...that "rusted sword user?"

"....Urrrr!" Amethyst quietly held her temper back at the mention of that meddlesome stranger. The lone thought she kept pushing at the back in her mind now popped out in the surface, front and center.

This negative thought, which she didn't want to think about, clawed out of her mind.  

Spinel and Lapis seemed to not have noticed her internal turmoil, for they continued on with the conversation, "Although I thought it was just a dirty beat up sacred weapon, it quickly changed its form and..."

"In addition, that black sword has inconceivable attack power.  When that happened, the guy's aura changed, as well..."

Amethyst didn't want to hear any more about the guy. Still, his existence was rather mysterious.

At first, and just by looking at his sacred weapon, one could easily tell that it was of the lowest rank. But when the weapon changed its form, and he attacked them, it was a whole different story.

Furthermore, that weapon had tremendous hidden benefits, and his physical power unmistakably increased when he used it.

What was that weapon?  And, who was that guy?

Since the first time he got in their way, Amethyst has been unable to stomach him,

"If he's the type of guy who would team up with a crybaby like Diamond, then he must not be normal."

"Yeah.  That's also true."

"He's for sure, a strange one" Spinel and Lapis cackled.

But as for Amethyst, she wanted to quickly finish this conversation so she changed the subject, "More importantly, I need to hurry up and pass this exam and return home and report that I've become an adventurer.  After that, I'll devote my time to become known as the number one adventurer, and my name will be made famous all over the world."

"You're absolutely right, Ame!"

"The three of us will make the strongest party!" Spinel and Lapis were clearly in a good mood as they danced around with their broken sickles.

Amethyst told herself that the twins were right and that she shouldn't feel so bothered every time she thought of him.

Someday I'll be the number one adventurer, and everyone will look at me more than anyone else.

And then, there's no way I'll end up alone.

Amethyst's cheeks secretly slackened. Thereafter, she turned around in order to tell the other two to get going. However, before she could say anything, she noticed something moving behind Spinel and Lapis. She thought she saw something trembling in the air.

It was an unnatural shimmering that looked like a heated haze.

Was she hallucinating?  No...

Suddenly Amethyst felt cold, "You two, look out!"

"Huh!?" Reacting to Amethyst's warning, both Spinel and Lapis threw themselves to the ground.

Suddenly, from Amethyst's 'heat shimmer' came a glaringly shiny blade. It stretched out so as to cut off Lapis and Spinel's heads, but by jumping out quickly, they were able to reduce the damage, and only their arms were lightly grazed, "Owwwww...!!" 

Both girls grimaced in pain.

So as to protect them, Amethyst stood in front of the 'heat shimmer.'

What is this thing?  Is this something a monster has concocted?

"Nyahaha!  It's certainly been a long time, nyan!"

Just at that moment, the heat shimmer began to disappear.

The transparent entity's form started to appear little by little, and then whatever it was materialized in front of the three girls.

It was mainly human, but here and there, there were parts that looked like a monster.

It had black hair covering its body, and it had a couple of triangular ears growing from its head, and from its cheeks stretched out whiskers. Its sharp eyes were shining with a yellow tint, and it stared at Amethyst's party with interest.

"Cat..." Yes, it would be best to describe it as a 'Cat Woman'.

In its right hand, it was equipped with a weapon that looked like a black claw.

Then, like a cat licking its own paw, and with a laugh, it ran its tongue over its black claw-like weapon.

"I have a good feeling about the purple one nyan.  She looks super delicious nyan." It said.

"Ma-Majin...!" This was the first time Amethyst had seen a majin, and she was deathly afraid.

-To be continued.