(?????? POV) [????????]

"Here is your bread little girl." (?????)

"Thank you!" (Alice)

I got it, I got it!!! I got the last pieces of bread!!!

After a long line and one or two troublemakers who showed up while waiting, I finally got the bread! Today, we are going to have a feast!

I cannot describe how happy I was; it has been a while since I felt this way, but I need to go home. Everyone knows hot bread tastes better than cold bread, so I hugged the bread to keep it warm.

It burned a little, but I will endure this trial for mama's sake. After running for a while and greeting other villagers, I reached home.

Feeling that the bread was still warm made me happy, so happy that I opened the fragile door like trying to take it down.

"Mama, mama, look what I bought today!" (????)

I was excited to show my Mama the bread I managed to buy for her. It took me a while to save for this surprise, and I could see myself enjoying my mama's hug.

At this precise moment, the door decided to fall to the ground. Looking at the fallen door, I could feel the cold sweat rolling down my back. I had forgotten to be careful with the door again. This is bad; mama will be mad with me again.

With no other option but to accept my fate, I looked up to see mama with a big smile and an incomplete scarf on her hands. It seems she was knitting the scarf before I arrived, and it looked very pretty. Is the scarf for me?

"Alice..."(mom)

My mom's words made it clear that I was in trouble. She was still smiling, but... her eyes were quite scary. Running away would make things worse, so I made a stupid smile while hoping for the best. Mama looked at me exasperated; after all, this wasn't the first time this had happened.

"Alice... How many times do I need to tell you?... Forget it; we will talk about the door later.

The main problem here is how dirty you are. you need to be careful with your clothes; otherwise, you won't have anything else to wear the next day." (Mama)

"Bu-But mom, I- I have a good reason this time! I got dirty because I was eager to get back home. Look! I managed to get a discount on this bread! I bought it for you! It has been ages since we ate bread, and today is your birthday, so I thought this would be the perfect gift." (Alice)

I didn't think my big plan would go wrong once I reached home. It was sad that my blunder ruined my surprise, but I needed to appeal with good intentions. Otherwise, I would really get scolded.

After confessing everything, Mama lifted me with a big smile while spinning around.

"Thank you, Alice. This is the best present I have ever received in my entire life." (Mama)

"But mama, you told me the same last year and the previous one." (Alice)

I couldn't help but reply, a little exasperated after hearing her words. And, of course, she laughed at me because of my reply.

She is always like this, trying to poke fun at me whenever possible. As always, I ended up pouting at being made fun of, but besides that, I couldn't and wouldn't stop her.

After laughing for a while, mama mercilessly dropped me to the ground with her never-changing smile. I was not expecting her to drop me like that out of nowhere, which caught me off guard. So I fell to the floor, feeling as if I was her discarded toy.

"Mama, how could you be so cruel with your own daughter? I worked so hard to give you a gift, and here you are. Mercilessly dropping your lovely daughter to the ground with a smile on your face." (Alice)

"Your mama wouldn't be like this if you weren't teasing her all the time. You are becoming cheekier with your own mother recently. Where has my lovely daughter gone? mama misses her baby girl..." (Mama)

As I expected, Mama was also messing around by making a sad expression with her face resting in one hand. We stared at each other while trying to maintain our act, but this was so dumb that we ended up laughing.

I don't know when I started joking with Mama like this, but it was fine, as we would laugh in the end. My Mama and I are commoners living in a village of the Cross kingdom, so we didn't have other means of entertainment. We don't have a luxurious life or any relatives near us, so we always try to enjoy our lives the best we can.

"And how was your day, Alice? Did you get in trouble with the other children again?" (Mama)

"How did you know?! They started it! All the villagers know I'm starless and incapable of using magical devices. I know I'm pitiful, but this isn't a valid reason to let their kids harass me." (Alice)

"Alice, please don't fight with the other kids, I don't like to see you injured." (Mama)

"But mama, they were saying that I am trash and a nuisance to you. They say I don't deserve to be your daughter, and they even say that I'm not your real daughter!" (Alice)

Yeah... I am starless... I thought I had already accepted that fact, but it still hurts. Why do the bullies pick on me just for that reason?

I didn't want to tell mama about all the horrible things they have said to me; I don't like or want to see her sad. Everything started when I learned about spirits. I bragged to Mama about how I would become a great spiritualist and travel around the world.

I expected her to tease me with her usual smile whenever I acted cheekily. But I could never have anticipated that she would hug me tightly and cry without any explanation. At first, I was too stunned by her reaction, but it didn't take long before I learned why she was so sad.

I'll never forget that day when the star rod was in my hand without a single star shining. I couldn't believe what had happened back then.

Something from within me felt empty, as if I had lost a precious treasure. That day, I cried and grieved while mama hugged and stayed at my side. I felt like life was worthless, even with Mama by my side.

But nothing would surpass the regret that a moment of impulse my grief almost caused. Filled with despair, I... tried to end my own life... it should have been a quick jump...

It should have been easy, but mama's eyes when she caught up to me at the cliff. Those eyes still make me shiver with fear. Mama definitely would have followed me in the afterlife if I decided to jump at that moment.

Unable to endure the pain and fear I instilled in her, I ran at her and cried in her arms while apologizing. From that experience, I vowed never to repeat a stupid thing like this and protect her smile.

I still regret what I did, so I won't forgive those other kids' words. I could feel my blood boiling from thinking about it.

"Alice, I know you feel frustrated about this, and I know you will have a difficult life because of your condition. But even so, I know you will find an answer. I'm sure you will achieve incredible feats beyond my imagination.

But right now, you are a child. You must focus on your studies and gain the necessary knowledge before seeking an answer.

You don't have to worry about what other people say; I love you, my daughter. You are my pride, my lovely daughter. Remember this: I will always be by your side." (Mama)

As always, mama knew how to melt my heart. By the time she finished talking, my face was a mess of tears. I knew every word she said was full of unconditional love and trust.

I couldn't help but hug her very tightly while trying to feel the warmth of her body. Mama said nothing and hugged me back while patting my head.

"I almost forgot about it. I heard some exciting news from the nearest village. A noble was seemingly recruiting people to produce magical devices.

They told me that the noble was recruiting people with almost zero mana. So if you want, we can go to that village to ask for more information." (Mama)

How could I forget about mama's unique skill? Dropping incredible bombs in the middle of the conversation out of nothing.

From what mama told me, there has been an accelerated development of magical devices in recent years. And as far as mama knows, the famous noble and spiritualist Fayna Arcon and other unknown experts are leading this development.

There is a reason mama told me about this news. I am starless and unable to use a magical device, but... If I take part in the development of a magical device, I may be able to get a well-paid job. And if I was lucky, I could convince someone to create a magical device that works for starless people.

"Seriously, mama!? Then how about we go there next week?" (Alice)

"Really? I thought you would want to go right now" (Mama)

"Of course not. We still have a lot of things to do" (Alice)

"Fine, it is good to see you more relaxed... how about we take a shower together? After all, I am dirty thanks to someone~." (Mama)

I took mama's offer without hesitation with a big smile. Looking at my smile, my mom pinched my cheek a little too hard while looking at the fallen door.

"By the way, don't believe I forgot about the door. I'll help you to lift it, but the reinstallation is your responsibility. I won't accept an 'I'll do it later' because I know you won't do it." (Mama)

So she remembered the door... Ultimately, I ended up repairing the door with mama's help. I wasn't against fixing it, but her timing destroyed our sweet mood.

After fixing the door, we entered the bathroom and removed our clothes. I couldn't help but steal a glance at mama's body.

Mama's white skin, her slim body without any excess fat, her bountiful chest that always made me jealous, her young face unaffected by time, her shining blue eyes, her smooth blue hair... everything about her is top-notch.

Although I wanted her hair to reach at least her waist, her hair at shoulder level also looked good on her.

I always enjoyed bathing with Mama because her appearance always gave me hope for my future. Thanks to my indiscreet gaze mama looked at me with a troubled smile and rosy cheeks.

"Wh-what's the matter?" (Mama)

"Nothing... one look at mama gives me hope for BIG things in my future. My only regret is not inheriting your eye and hair color." (Alice)

"Wh-what are you saying?! Who in the world taught you those dirty jokes!?" (Mama)

"I heard them in the bar while working as a waitress. I saw the villagers laughing together with their sons, so I thought I could try making one." (Alice)

"Stop with the dirty jokes and sit down in this instant! I'll have a big conversation with all the neighbors tomorrow." (Mama)

Ups, my Mama is more flustered than I thought. Of course, I knew a little about dirty jokes, but I didn't make that joke to see my flustered Mama, well... maybe a little, but mainly for revenge.

I only need to wait for tomorrow to enjoy watching Mama scolding every man in the village. Why all men? Because their kids were bullying me, and the fathers didn't restrain them when I nicely asked them. I'll find a way to take revenge on the mothers who very well threw their children's wrongdoings on me later.

While thinking about my revenge plans, mama forced me to sit in a chair while grabbing a bucket full of warm water. And, without any prior warning, she poured all the water on my head. After making sure I was wet from head to toe, she wore a magical device that was a glove and touched my back with it.

Don't be deceived by its simple appearance. This magical device could execute simple actions depending on the elemental crystal. This device enveloped my body with a faint veil of light and removed the mud and filth of my body.

With the light crystal consumed, Mama looked at me while trying to confirm if most of the filth was gone. Satisfied with the results, mama attached a water crystal to the glove and filled the bucket with warm water before throwing the water on my head. With my bath done, mama cleaned herself like she had cleaned me.

After both of us were clean, mama reached for two pieces of cloth and gave me one to dry myself. We left the bathroom wearing a light dress that we used as pajamas. Feeling drowsy, I wanted to take a bite from the bread I brought before sleeping.

That was my plan, but mama took my hand and tried to dry my hair using the glove after attaching a wind crystal.

"Mama, please don't waste more mana. My hair will dry in the end." (Alice)

"No, I cannot allow it. I don't want to see your beautiful silver hair damaged because of your laziness. Please take more care of it." (Mama)

I couldn't say anything to Mama's words; I was very sensitive regarding hair or eye color. After all, I didn't have the same color as my Mama. But seeing her happily drying and combing my hair was enough for me to like my hair color.

We kept talking about silly things or recent events in the village while my hair was drying. After mama finished with my hair, she looked at it with a satisfied smile and dried her hair.

"I almost forgot, Serg organized a party for my birthday, so how about we go there?" (Mama)

"A birthday party? I'm in!" (Alice)

All the drowsiness I had was blown away after hearing the word party. So, after changing clothes for more comfortable ones, we headed to the bar.

We had a good relationship with the villager in charge of the bar, and I sometimes worked there. So when he learned about my Mama's birthday, he immediately organized a birthday party. This was a nice touch on his part, but I don't like how he looks at my Mama. I won't let them be alone, even for a second!

The time flew by between our chats with neighbors and my discussions with other kids on our way to the bar. So, by the time I noticed, the moon was already out. Realizing we were about to be late for the party, we hurried to the bar. When we arrived at the bar, there was complete pandemonium as two villagers danced at a table. Other villagers were having a drinking contest, and others sang without restraint. My Mama and I laughed at this sight and joined them, creating a giant pandemonium, not knowing that a calamity would destroy our peaceful days.