Reincarnated in a Light Novel

Cookie spun around in glee as she received a compliment. She knew she was doing the right thing, always offering help when she got the chance.

She had always been like this; ever since she walked, her curiosity was unbound. After she could talk, she asked her mom what this and what that was. Though Cookie doesn't want to remember the past, she holds onto some memories.

Her mom hummed, brushing her hair and… Cookie didn't want to delve further. She was glad to be of help to Eclair. However, after Eclair dealt with the snake demon, Cookie felt an urge to eat it.

As if sort of primal instinct she couldn't bear to resist. She quickly opened her mouth and gulped the snake head first, then went after the body, as long as it fit in her mouth, she could devour it. 

Though before she realised what she had done, the snake was already gone. She didn't dwell on it however, she went back and followed Eclair after that. After she spat the remains of the snake, however, she felt something grow inside her.

She didn't know what, but her shark body didn't become any different. She shrugged the feeling off, right now Eclair was astonished and she felt some pride in that.

***

"Strange," Eclair muttered, crouching beside the demon's corpse.

He examined it carefully, but something was off—he couldn't feel any miasma like before. In fact, he couldn't detect even the faintest trace of Essence, the life force that every living creature possessed.

It was baffling. The demon's body, still covered in mucus from its time in Cookie's stomach, appeared fresh at first. But as the mucus began to dry, Eclair watched in shock as the entire snake corpse crumbled into dust.

"Wow…" he whispered, unable to hide his astonishment.

Whatever process the body had undergone inside Cookie's stomach had stripped it completely—not just of its miasma but of its Essence as well. It left nothing behind, not even a husk.

Eclair stared at the dust for a full minute before letting out a small cough, shaking himself out of his thoughts. He decided not to dwell on it. The mission was done, and his priority now was to return to the academy.

After backtracking, Eclair made his way to the governor's residence. "Governor, the demon is dead," he announced, his tone measured. "But just in case, I'll stay for a while."

It would be foolish to assume that killing—vaporizing—the snake demon meant the danger was entirely gone. For all he knew, the snake could have been a distraction, or perhaps it wasn't even a demon but something else entirely. The timing of the attack might simply have been a coincidence. Regardless, Eclair decided to remain vigilant. He had a few days to spare anyway.

The governor nodded in agreement, and Eclair excused himself. He ascended the rooftops of the nearby two-story buildings, choosing a spot that provided an unobstructed view of the town. From this vantage point, he could monitor any unusual activity.

Concealing his Essence to avoid detection by any Omi users, Eclair focused intently on his surroundings. He also relied on Cookie's sensory abilities, asking her to scout the area due to her impressive range.

A full day passed without incident. Determined to remain vigilant, Eclair decided to forgo sleep and stay awake through the night. Fortunately, the town remained quiet from dusk till dawn, with no signs of further disturbances.

Eclair couldn't help but feel a bit amused—and slightly concerned—when Cookie decided to sleep beside him on the rooftop. In her more human-like form, she curled up close to him for warmth. Not wanting her to be cold, Eclair wrapped his arms around her, keeping her snug throughout the night.

As the first rays of sunlight broke across the horizon, Eclair rose from his spot and made his way back to the governor's office. After writing a brief report on the events, he delivered it in person.

"The snake demon was most likely the culprit behind the disappearances," Eclair explained to the governor. "That said, if another disappearance occurs, I strongly recommend calling for another sorcerer immediately—just in case."

With that, Eclair took his leave, satisfied that he had done everything he could to ensure the safety of the town. With that said and done, Eclair started running back to the academy with Cookie just following him from behind.

'Am I too slow for her?'

Eclair wondered as he watched Cookie's impressive speed. Compared to her, his movements felt sluggish. Perhaps he was simply too weak. If his affinity had been Augmentor, maybe he could have kept up with her.

It was an interesting thought—but not one he regretted. Eclair had made a promise to himself to stop dwelling on regrets. He had endured enough of those thoughts before he entered the academy, and he refused to revisit them now.

If regret had consumed him, he wouldn't have had the courage to swallow the crystal from his mother's pendant. That single act symbolized his determination to live life to the fullest. The world, for all its chaos and unpredictability, was vast and rich. He wouldn't squander the chance to explore it—to savour every dish it offered before it crumbled away.

Still, there was much to address at the academy, particularly how to overcome his low Omi output.

Omi output could be improved with a significant reserve of Essence. Gathering and condensing Omi was a learned skill, after all. Yet, Eclair knew that while his strength lay in his offensive capabilities, defence required something different: a high Omi output combined with the refined skill to create a reliable defence.

He glanced briefly at Cookie and shook his head. Demon taming was considered taboo and often viewed with suspicion. The deaths caused by demons made trust nearly impossible to establish. Despite this, Eclair couldn't ignore the possibility that forming a pact with Cookie might offer a quick solution to his problems.

But he dismissed the idea as quickly as it came. Cookie hated pain, and Eclair had no intention of causing her any. The last thing he wanted was to be hated by her.