The Reincarnated Young Girl Is Adored by the Spirits She Helped in Her Previous Life
Only Sara and I were left in the waiting room.
“I never thought something like this would happen…”
Originally, the plan was for me to go with my father and mother, and just imitate my mother.
I had been taught the proper etiquette for meeting alone, but that was for the future.
“…I’m nervous.”
“It’s alright. Probably.”
Even I was starting to feel a bit nervous.
But if I got nervous, Sara would get even more nervous, so I pretended to be fine.
I tightly held Sara’s hand. She was sweating in her palm.
“It’s going to be fine.”
“Yeah.”
At that moment, suddenly a boy entered the room.
Without knocking on the door, and without closing it after entering, he barged in.
His manners were terrible. He should have learned from his mother, just like I did.
The boy was well-dressed, and he seemed to be around my age or maybe a little younger.
“Well, he’s small, so I guess it can’t be helped?”
Maybe it’s the duty of an older person to tolerate such bad manners.
While thinking that, the boy pointed his finger at me.
“You! Your hair is like blood! How disgusting! Just like the Witch of Calamity!”
“Huh? Who the hell are you? What a rude thing to say!”
I stood up. To think he was picking a fight with me, he certainly had guts.
If it’s a fight he wants, I’ll be happy to give him one.
“Wha—”
I guess he didn’t expect me to snap back, and the boy flinched a little.
But he quickly recovered and then turned to Sara, stepping toward her.
“Are you a slave? Get out of the palace, you beast!”
With that, he roughly grabbed Sara’s cute ears with his right hand.
“It hurts!”
Sara screamed, looking like she was about to start crying.
Such words and actions of violence couldn’t be ignored.
“Ha!”
I jumped and slapped the boy’s right hand, pulling him away from Sara.
“Wha-what the hell are you?”
“Shut up! Is it your mouth that says such useless things?”
I grabbed the boy’s cheek with my right hand and shook it violently.
“Y-ya… Stop! Do you know who my father is!”
The boy, on the verge of tears, tried to pry my right hand off with both of his.
“I don’t care! Is this the hand that hurt such a cute girl? I won’t forgive you!”
I grabbed the boy’s right arm, the one that had grabbed Sara’s ear, with my left hand.
“This rough hand doesn’t need to be here, right?”
I squeezed his arm tightly with my left hand.
“It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! Waaaaah!”
The boy started crying.
“Crying won’t make it okay.”
“Waaaaah!”
“Stop crying and apologize!”
Hearing the boy’s crying, one of the nobles came into the room.
The boy had failed to close the door, so his cries must have echoed outside.
“Wha—! Stop it!”
“I won’t stop. I won’t stop until he apologizes.”
“Waaaaah!”
I had no intention of stopping, but I couldn’t fight against an adult’s strength. He forcibly pulled me away.
“Hey, you. Reflect on yourself. And apologize.”
“Waaaaah!”
The boy was crying and couldn’t speak.
“A girl using violence… how unbecoming.”
The noble, who hadn’t seen anything, said that in an arrogant tone.
“I don’t care. He’s the one who’s in the wrong.”
I tried to explain what the boy had done, but—
“Your Highness!”
Another well-dressed man rushed into the room.
“Waaaaah! He pinched me!”
The boy clung to the man who had entered.
“You! Violence against His Highness, the legitimate heir! This cannot be tolerated!”
If he’s the legitimate heir, that means he’s the son of the king’s heir.
In other words, he’s my cousin.
It’s truly lamentable to have such a cousin.
“Huh? You’re the one who used violence first!”
“This is not worth talking about. Hey, who are your parents?”
“This is my problem with him!”
I didn’t want to tell my father and mother about this.
“You’re rude for a girl.”
The man glared at me, and I glared back.
Maybe because my gaze was sharp, the man looked away, and then asked the servant who had just arrived.
“Who are this kid’s parents?”
“His father is Duke Valois.”
“…………So, this is the infamous Witch of Calamity! Filthy!”
He sneered, mocking me.
“Your true nature is rotten! You’ll regret this!”
Spitting out those words, the man took my cousin and left.
The nobleman who had entered first also left with him, comforting my cousin.
“You’ve been through a terrible ordeal, Your Highness.”
“…Yeah.”
A crowd of nobles had gathered outside. They must have come to gossip after hearing my cousin’s crying.
“What happened?”
“Ah, the red-haired daughter of Duke Valois used violence against His Highness.”
“What? I knew redheads had a bad temper…”
“Even though His Highness, the legitimate heir, is a girl, she endured it because she’s a girl…”
“Oh, what a wonderful person. I’m looking forward to their future.”
“That was impressive.”
They were talking such nonsense.
“Who was that? I won’t forgive them! Ah, you mean the adults?”
My cousin is still young. He’s probably about four years old.
So, he’s probably just repeating what the adults said.
But if he’s surrounded by such adults, he’ll never grow up to be a good person.
In that sense, maybe my cousin is also a victim.
“Sara, does it hurt anywhere? That boy was really rough.”
We don’t have anyone as rough as that at home, so I was surprised.
“Sara is fine.”
I checked Sara’s ears.
“Is there any bleeding? Does it hurt anywhere, like your bones?”
“Mm, I’m fine.”
“Good, I’m glad. People really say terrible things, don’t they? Good girl.”
As I was comforting Sara by patting her head, another servant came in.
“Lady Luria, please come to the audience chamber.”
He said, bowing respectfully.
.
.
.
.
.
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Top Tools for Learning Japanese: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners and Beyond
Learning Japanese opens doors to a rich culture, unique career opportunities, and a rewarding personal challenge. Whether you’re captivated by anime, planning a trip to Tokyo, or looking to expand your linguistic skills, the right tools can make your journey smoother and more enjoyable. With so many apps, websites, and resources available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
This guide highlights the top tools for learning Japanese, catering to different learning styles, budgets, and proficiency levels. From gamified apps to immersive software and conversation practice platforms, these tools will help you master vocabulary, grammar, Kanji, and more. Let’s dive in!
Why Learn Japanese?
Before exploring the tools, it’s worth noting why Japanese is a valuable language to learn:
- Cultural Immersion: Understand anime, manga, and Japanese literature in their original form.
- Career Opportunities: Japan’s global influence in technology, business, and entertainment makes Japanese a sought-after skill.
- Cognitive Benefits: Learning a non-Latin script language like Japanese can enhance memory and problem-solving skills.
Now, let’s look at the best tools to help you achieve your goals.
1. Duolingo
- Best For: Beginners seeking a fun, gamified approach.
- Key Features:
- Free with optional premium upgrades.
- Bite-sized lessons on vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure.
- Listening and speaking exercises to practice pronunciation.
- Gamification elements like points, streaks, and leaderboards.
- Why It Stands Out: Duolingo’s user-friendly interface and reward system make it ideal for building a daily learning habit. It’s perfect for beginners but may need to be supplemented with other tools for advanced learners.
2. Rosetta Stone
- Best For: Learners who prefer immersive, structured lessons.
- Key Features:
- Paid subscription with a focus on immersion.
- Interactive lessons covering listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
- Speech recognition technology for pronunciation feedback.
- Lessons build on each other for gradual progression.
- Why It Stands Out: Rosetta Stone’s immersion method helps you think in Japanese rather than translating from your native language. It’s ideal for serious learners looking for a comprehensive curriculum.
3. Memrise
- Best For: Vocabulary building with spaced repetition.
- Key Features:
- Free with premium options.
- User-generated courses and official Memrise content.
- Spaced repetition and mnemonic techniques for memory retention.
- Audio and video clips from native speakers.
- Why It Stands Out: Memrise excels at making vocabulary stick. Its use of real-life videos and community-driven content adds variety and cultural context to your learning.
4. Anki
- Best For: Customizable flashcard learning, especially for Kanji.
- Key Features:
- Free on most platforms (paid iOS app).
- Create custom flashcard decks or download pre-made ones.
- Supports images, audio, and example sentences.
- Spaced repetition system (SRS) for optimal review timing.
- Why It Stands Out: Anki’s flexibility allows you to tailor your learning to specific needs, like mastering Kanji or advanced vocabulary. It’s a favorite among serious learners for its effectiveness.
5. Tae Kim’s Guide to Learning Japanese
- Best For: Grammar-focused learners.
- Key Features:
- Completely free online resource.
- Comprehensive grammar lessons from beginner to advanced levels.
- Clear explanations with practical examples.
- Available as a mobile app for offline access.
- Why It Stands Out: Tae Kim’s guide is a go-to for understanding Japanese grammar. Its straightforward approach demystifies complex concepts, making it a must-have for self-learners.
6. HelloTalk
- Best For: Conversation practice with native speakers.
- Key Features:
- Free with premium options.
- Connects you with native Japanese speakers for language exchange.
- Text, voice, and video chat options.
- Built-in correction tools and translation features.
- Why It Stands Out: HelloTalk bridges the gap between textbook learning and real-world conversation. It’s perfect for practicing speaking and listening in a supportive environment.
7. Kanji Recognizer
- Best For: Learning and recognizing Kanji characters.
- Key Features:
- Free app available on Android and iOS.
- Draw Kanji on your screen to search for meanings and readings.
- Provides stroke order, example words, and readings.
- Offline functionality for on-the-go learning.
- Why It Stands Out: Kanji Recognizer is a handy tool for quickly identifying and learning Kanji. It’s especially useful for beginners struggling with character recognition.
Tips for Maximizing Your Learning
To get the most out of these tools, consider these strategies:
- Set Clear Goals: Whether it’s mastering 100 Kanji or holding a 5-minute conversation, specific goals keep you motivated.
- Practice Daily: Consistency is key. Even 15-30 minutes a day can lead to significant progress.
- Mix and Match Tools: Use a combination of apps for well-rounded learning. For example:
- Vocabulary: Duolingo or Memrise.
- Grammar: Tae Kim’s Guide.
- Speaking: HelloTalk.
- Kanji: Anki or Kanji Recognizer.
- Embrace Mistakes: Language learning is a process. Don’t be afraid to make errors—they’re stepping stones to fluency.
Conclusion
Learning Japanese is a journey that requires dedication, but with the right tools, it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. From gamified apps like Duolingo to immersive platforms like Rosetta Stone and conversation tools like HelloTalk, there’s something for every learner. Start with the tools that best fit your style and goals, and don’t hesitate to experiment with different combinations.
Ready to begin? Choose your first tool and take the first step toward mastering Japanese today!
