“Can she really change sizes at will?”

“She can adjust her size freely, and she can also make herself lighter.”

“Wait, isn’t that… gravity magic?”

“…Is it?”

“How come you don’t even know!?”

I’ve rarely been outside the village, and there were no wizards there. It’s natural I wouldn’t know much about magic.

Sara seemed furious that I didn’t fully understand Ivy’s abilities.

Though she looked a little scary while angry, she readily agreed to explain when I asked.

“She deserves to have her abilities understood… Also, there’s… no, never mind for now.”

Sara glanced at Ivy, who had climbed back onto her shoulder.

I wonder what she left unsaid. I’m a bit curious, but… I’ll let it go for now.

“Let’s set aside the whole lightning and thunder thing for later, okay? We can have her demonstrate it when the time comes. First, let’s talk about her healing magic. Do you even realize how amazing Ivy’s healing magic is?”

“It’s first-rank priest level… isn’t it?”

“Right, but that’s just what I said! In other words, you don’t really understand at all… Listen up, okay?”

Magic is generally divided into three levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced.

For healing magic, here’s a rough explanation:

• Basic can only heal things like cuts and scrapes.
• Intermediate can heal light fractures and similar injuries.
• Advanced can heal severe, life-threatening wounds.

“Normally, healing magic has to be applied multiple times to work gradually. With enough applications, intermediate magic can heal a deep wound or partially fix damaged organs. But Ivy healed severe full-body burns in a single shot. This means her healing skills are advanced. Do you understand?”

“Advanced… so like second-rank or first-rank adventurers. That would mean she’s extremely rare, right…?”

“More than rare. Healers are generally taken in by an organization of the church called the Healing Institute. Even there, only a handful of people can use advanced magic. Exact numbers are kept secret, but it’s safe to say there aren’t even ten of them.”

Even in an organization specializing in healing magic, Ivy’s level of power is incredibly rare.

I don’t know what this truly means.

But having such rare abilities is probably not a good thing for Ivy.

Just the fact that she kept growing made the villagers uneasy around her.

As for this so-called gravity magic Sara mentioned, it’s magic that can make objects heavier or lighter.

It’s another rare magic, rarely found among people.

I used to think Ivy’s lightness only affected herself, but apparently, she can make other things lighter too.

Sara’s story reminded me of the days when Ivy was just barely big enough to carry me on her back, easily lifting me.

Even when all three of us rode on her, I thought it was amazing that she seemed unaffected. It seems there was more to it.

Breathing heavily, Sara leaned back, clearly tired from explaining to me.

Her blue hair, now damp and darker with sweat, swayed in strands.

I’m truly grateful to her for explaining so much to someone like me who knows so little.

I really am fortunate to be surrounded by such kind people.

“Advanced healing magic, gravity magic, a barrier that even the Guild Master couldn’t break, and an attack similar to a breath weapon. What kind of monster is she?”

“Um, Sara, please don’t use that word. Ivy doesn’t like being called that.”

Ivy has been sensitive about the word “monster” ever since my mother used it.

Apparently, villagers said it to her when I wasn’t around, and it became a painful memory.

“Meep…”

Ivy looked down, her face sullen, her eyes welling up with tears.

Even if she has rare and special powers, being labeled a monster is still painful for her.

If someone says something hurtful, Ivy gets upset, and if something bothers her, she sulks.

In that way, she’s not much different from most people.

Seeing Ivy retreating into her shell, Sara quickly apologized.

When she offered to give Ivy a little gift next time, Ivy’s mood brightened immediately.

Ivy’s quick to shake things off. I’m grateful she’s such a mature turtle.

“Well, she may have many powers, but Ivy’s just a regular girl, huh?”

“Yes, though technically she’s female, not a girl.”

“Meep!”

Ivy started nibbling my finger.

Ow, Ivy, that hurts!

Weren’t you in a good mood just now!?

“...That was pretty insensitive, Bruno.”

“Yeah, that was a bit too much.”

For some reason, I received icy stares from all three of them—and Ivy.

For the rest of our journey to the neighboring town to hunt ogres, I felt like an outsider.

Sure, Ivy has the sensitivity of a young girl… but she’s still just a turtle.

I don’t really understand why I got such strange looks from them.

Girls are complicated.