The Old Veteran's Anti-Attribute: Saving the World with Gags? - Weed Explosion and Flame Girl's Epic Firewood-Splitting Failure

The next morning, when Calderan stepped into the backyard, he let out a deep sigh. In a single night, the world had changed. The backyard, which had once been scattered with weeds, had now transformed into a small jungle. Grass stretched up to knee height, tangled vines, walls of green. The weeds that Selina had cast her purification magic on had become not a true "purification," but rather a complete "growth acceleration." "...What in the world is that?" Calderan picked up an old rope. He needed to assess the situation first using water drawn from a tributary of the Gatara River. Last night, his mind had been consumed with thoughts of that black blade. He never expected that holy attribute magic would react and cause something like this. But for now, he had to deal with these weeds first. Calderan retrieved a sickle from the tool shed. It was an old tool, but the blade was sharp. A sickle he'd used countless times over three years to maintain the garden. He placed his hands on his hips and took a deep breath. His movements belied his age, yet fatigue was evident on his face. "Well then, let's begin." The weeding started at eight in the morning. Calderan cut through the weeds one after another. Shwick, shwick—the sound echoed through the backyard. Sweat began to bead on his forehead. Ten minutes, twenty minutes. The pain in his lower back gradually increased. But he didn't stop. If left alone, these weeds would grow even more. It didn't look good either. For an inn that welcomed guests, this was an unacceptable state. Selina watched from inside the inn. Through the kitchen window, she gazed at Calderan's figure. Her expression was filled with remorse. That her purification magic could cause something like this. Her hands were clenched more tightly than usual. "I'm truly, truly sorry..." Selina murmured to herself. She lacked the courage to speak aloud, repeating her apologies only in her heart. As Calderan cut the grass and the two worked together to return it to the soil, a cheerful voice suddenly came from the front entrance. "Hello there! Is anyone home!?" An unexpected visitor. Calderan looked up. Selina stopped what she was doing. That voice was youthful, powerful, and filled with innocence. "Um, sorry! Do you have any rooms available!?" When Calderan and Selina headed to the entrance, a single girl stood there. She appeared to be in her late teens. Her hair was a vivid flame-like red-orange, with careless waves cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes were a burning golden color, with a perpetual flame-like brilliance within them. She stood about 162 centimeters tall, roughly the same height as Selina. She wore clothing in red and orange tones designed for easy movement, with a wooden sword at her waist. And above all, her entire body radiated heat. The air around her seemed to shimmer faintly. She must be constantly imbued with flame attribute magic. Occasionally, sparks seemed to scatter from her fingertips. Her smile was like the sun itself. "Oh, sorry! Showing up so early in the morning. Um, I'm Flare! I'm training to become a flame attribute swordsman, and I'm currently working hard at my training!" Flare's manner of speaking was lively. Energetic and full of vitality. Her speech ended with phrases like "daze" and "ssu," and she occasionally stumbled over her words. Her way of speaking reflected her personality well. "I don't have much money for lodging yet, but I can help with anything! Chopping firewood, starting fires, anything physical—leave it to me!" Calderan silently observed Flare. His expression was completely composed. Selina sensed that this new girl was also someone in training, like herself. "I see. There's a room on the second floor, one down from here. Have you eaten breakfast yet?" Calderan answered matter-of-factly. Flare's face brightened instantly. "Really!? Thank you so much!" Flare let out a cheer as she passed through the entrance. Her movements were innocent and powerful, like a young puppy. Mid-morning. While Selina was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, Flare came out to the backyard. Calderan was still battling that weed jungle. "Oh, Calderan! There's still weeds left, huh? I'll help!" Flare retied her red hair into a ponytail and rubbed her hands together. Her face overflowed with a pure desire to be helpful. "Wouldn't it be faster to just burn them with fire!?" Calderan stopped. His gaze turned toward Flare. There was a hint of caution in his eyes. "No. Burning the weeds with magic is..." But Flare was already eager. "It's fine! I can easily handle chopping firewood with flame magic!" Flare thrust both hands forward. Her movements were full of confidence. But Calderan furrowed his brow. "No, wait. You—" Flare ignored Calderan's words. Flame attribute magic began to concentrate in her palms. Small flames danced from her fingertips. "Burn, flames. 《Flame Blade》!" In that instant, a small blade of flame was released from Flare's palm. But Flare's aim was completely off. The flame blade didn't hit the weeds—it struck the wooden back door of the inn directly. A dull thud. The door began to char immediately. Black scorch marks spread, and part of the wood carbonized. White smoke rose up. The smell of burnt wood filled the backyard. "Ah, wait...?" Flare froze. Her face turned bright red in an instant. She had understood what she'd done in that very moment. Calderan silently drew water and extinguished the fire on the door. His movements were efficient, without waste. The movements of a seasoned veteran. Staring at the blackened door, he spoke quietly. "You burned the door, not the firewood." His words were matter-of-fact. Emotionless. Merely a statement of fact. But the impact of those words was significant. "I-I'm so sorry! I'm truly, deeply sorry!" Flare's face turned pale as she began apologizing. Tears even welled up in her eyes. She was no longer the confident girl from moments before, but someone genuinely filled with remorse. Selina rushed out from the kitchen. "Ah, ah, ah..." Selina was also at a loss for words. Yesterday, her weeds had created a jungle, and today Flare had burned the door. This inn was truly being struck by troubles one after another. Calderan stared at the charred door. His expression showed fatigue. But there was no anger. Only a calm acceptance of reality. "..." Silence fell. "I'll fix the door. The weeds are cut. There's no problem." Calderan said this. His voice was calm. In fact, completely composed. Selina and Flare looked up. "Eh...?" "Is it... really okay...?" Calderan looked at both of them. There was warmth in his eyes. The eyes of someone who had observed humanity for many years. "You two didn't do this with malicious intent. Selina was simply trying to learn purification magic, and Flare was simply trying to help. Failures happen. What matters is what comes after." Calderan stood up, pressing his lower back. "Even so, you keep trying. That's enough." Those words sank deeply into both their hearts. --- That night. The three of them gathered in the dining hall on the first floor of the inn. On the table sat three bowls of stew that Calderan had made. Steam rose from them. The complex aroma of spices. A specialty of Calderan's, made with southern spices. Selina and Flare sat looking apologetic. Flare was running her fingers through her hair. Selina gripped her spoon tightly. "I'm truly sorry..." "I'm really sorry too..." Calderan took a sip of his stew. He checked the taste. Good, perfect as always. "Don't worry about it. It's all settled now." Selina looked up. Uncertainty still lingered in her eyes. But Calderan's words slowly began to dissolve that uncertainty. "Besides, having some liveliness isn't bad. This town was too quiet." Calderan looked at both of them. A faint smile played across his face. There was an air of a dependable old veteran about him. Flare's face lit up in an instant. "So, can I stay here!?" Selina also quietly raised her hand. "Can I continue helping you for a bit longer...?" Calderan nodded. "Do as you like." That was all. Selina and Flare looked at each other. Their faces were filled with joy. Something precious was being born in this inn. Before Calderan's stew, the bond between the three deepened. But Calderan's left hand was clenched tightly beneath the table. That black haze. That blade. The anomaly that had occurred that night. It remained unsolved. Selina's purification magic had reacted, causing that to happen. In other words, his left hand possessed something that responded to holy attributes. Anti-attribute. That power Selina had mentioned. (What could it be?) Calderan murmured in his heart. But the answer to that question remained shrouded in darkness. The dining hall was filled with the laughter of three people. Warm light. Warm stew. Warm human connection. But something that would shake all of this was quietly beginning to move. Calderan watched the two of them while bringing the stew to his lips. (Well, what will happen from here on?) Thinking this, he quietly spent the night.

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Episode 3

Name: The Old Veteran's Anti-Attribute: Saving the World with Gags?
Author: Novelia

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