TL/ED – Miso
There is no such thing as a noble who cannot use magic.
In the past, I’ve heard such nobles did exist. However, that is now literally a thing of the past. Some ignorant commoners even believe that those who use magic are nobles…
It is a correct perception. Rather, it was something the nobles of the past aimed for.
To not be regarded as the same kind.
Just as the hooves of a horse and a cow are different, making people accept that there is a disparity from birth was the greatest advantage the ruling class could possess.
Magic was both the proof of purity and a convenient means to explain why one ends up holding the heated branding iron.
That is why.
Elysia Lakshania had to use magic.
“It’s not your fault.”
Alletus gently stroked his crying daughter’s head.
The room was filled with broken potion bottles, all kinds of magic books, texts, and magic paper.
However, Elysia was unable to accept any of it.
…Even though she had suffered from Awakening Fever.
‘It would’ve been better if she hadn’t gone through it at all.’
Alletus made a pained expression, careful not to let his daughter see it.
Then he could have thought of her as a late-blooming flower.
But if this is the reality after her talent has bloomed…
“D-Dad. Am I… not a wizard?”
“…Of course not. You’ll be an excellent wizard just like your mother. So, just wait a little longer.”
It must not be discovered. It was clear as day what would happen if he showed his nape so openly.
Alletus gritted his teeth as he warmly embraced his daughter.
For the sake of the family, and for the sake of his daughter.
He had to do something, no matter what.
*
“But I failed at everything.”
I glanced sideways at Elysia, who sat on the bench hugging her knees and muttering gloomily.
“Is that so.”
“Yeah, no matter how I look at it… I guess I’m not a wizard.”
“Hmm.”
This is ridiculous.
I thought that as I looked up at the sky dyed with the colors of sunset.
It wasn’t a surprising story. To be honest, I wasn’t really listening that closely either. Everyone has a bit of embarrassing family history.
Even so, while listening with one ear and letting it out the other, I ended up learning who the person Elysia’s gardener was having an affair with was.
It felt like new information had been pouring out for three hours straight without a second of pause. To put it simply, this girl…
Is a truly unbelievable chatterbox.
I’m amazed I’ve endured it until now. Not that it was bad though, since some of the information I needed to draw out was mixed in there too.
‘At this rate, I’ve gotten enough of the information I needed.’
It was more than sufficient for me to make a personal assessment.
Her family wasn’t particularly problematic, their power was considerable, and more than anything, the fact that Elysia was an only child stood out.
Was it Dersia who told me to stand out?
She didn’t specify how, did she. I figured this approach would be acceptable too.
While I was wondering how to open the topic, Elysia let out a deep sigh first.
“So… I don’t know what to do for the upcoming field trip…”
“Field trip?”
A word I’m hearing for the first time.
Elysia nodded with a tearful face.
“Yeah. I have to demonstrate all the elemental magic I’ve learned in front of everyone. They’ve already started noticing, but I think… this time, I’ll definitely be exposed.”
Elysia slumped over just like that.
“…That I’m defective.”
Is this the time to console her?
Out of habit, I reached out to pat her head but flinched, thinking I’d be in big trouble if I carelessly touched a noble’s body.
“It’s okay…”
Nope, she’s watching me.
I couldn’t bring myself to actually touch her head, so I patted her back to comfort her instead.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Elysia-nim might have a hidden talent?”
In fact, she does.
That talent is precisely what blocked the manifestation of her elemental magic.
Not even magic paper would have been able to detect it. It probably reacted less than that of an average person in erasing magic.
So… Huins was right.
This girl really was the villain who disrupted the magic of the wizards around her.
Seeing that it had no effect on my Deep Sea, it must be something that only disturbs still-young novice wizards.
Not exactly a hopeful outlook, but if she grows, it might end up helping my condition.
As I greedily stared at Elysia’s glossy silver hair, which looked nothing short of a golden goblin to me, she shook her head firmly.
“Then you must’ve figured it out already. Even if I learn something later, so what? If I fail the demonstration at this upcoming field trip too, I’ll be branded as an inferior student.”
“That’s truly a dreadful thing.”
“Yeah. If I can just get through this field trip, maybe I can make some excuse about being sick and get out of the rest somehow… but that won’t work. Really. If I could just use magic, at even half the level of others, no, even less than that, I wouldn’t have to worry like this.”
“It might still be possible. Let’s try just once more.”
“…What?”
“I’m just a janitor, so what would I know, but I imagine you’ve put in a lot of effort trying to manifest magic.”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Maybe that effort could finally burst forth right now. Let’s give it one more try here.”
“What are you talking about?”
Elysia asked again with a dumbfounded expression.
Of course, after thousands or tens of thousands of failed attempts, she must’ve known it wouldn’t work.
So for me to suddenly suggest trying one more time, this reaction was only natural.
Rather than trying to persuade her, it would be faster to set the stage. I threw the broom I was holding in front of the bench.
“I’d like to witness magic for myself. Please, I sincerely ask.”
“…I told you, it won’t work.”
Elysia grumbled, but seeing the seriousness on my face, she raised her hand.
“I’m only doing this because you helped me once, okay? This is so embarrassing… Huuup!”
With a cute shout, Elysia glared at the broom and gave it her all in trying to cast magic.
Or to be precise, it looked like that. Since nothing happened, how could I know for sure?
“Hnnnnngh…!”
Her focus was real, enough to make her face flush red.
Even if it was at the request of a janitor who once helped her… she was putting in enough effort to move someone.
Naturally, I had to help. I stepped back a little and activated magic.
“…Huh? Oh!”
The wind began to blow.
It wasn’t natural. The broom lifted awkwardly and began to stagger toward us.
Elysia, her face filled with disbelief, covered her mouth.
“I-I used magic…!”
The broom continued approaching, and Elysia reached out with a trembling hand, overwhelmed with emotion.
-Thwack!
I caught it.
Of course, I did.
“…Huh?”
Elysia, her hand now hanging in mid-air, looked at the broom held in my hand with confusion.
It didn’t take long for her eyes to meet mine.
A tiny star swimming in her eyes.
Undeniable proof of a wizard. Her expression changed in various ways.
“You…!”
That triumphant look saying, “I knew it!”
“But…”
That puzzled look asking, “How can a janitor…?”
“No way!”
That furious look yelling, “Were you making fun of me?”
It was honestly impressive. To express one’s emotions so clearly within three seconds, maybe she should’ve been an actress.
Since the last expression was the strongest, I bowed my head and apologized.
“I’m sorry. That was rude of me.”
I originally meant to just say, “Actually, that was me,” and leave it at that, but her reaction was too funny, and I crossed the line.
Fortunately, Elysia, seemingly unwilling to admit she had gotten angry, crossed her arms and glared at me.
“Th-That’s fine. But what the heck? Are you a noble?”
“That would be nice. Then I wouldn’t have to eavesdrop on lectures.”
“…So the reason you’re always hanging around here was to eavesdrop on classes?”
“Yes. I do this in other children’s classes too, not just here.”
Since I’d already revealed I was a wizard, there was nothing left to hide.
Elysia tilted her head and asked again.
“Why are you doing this? You want to learn magic?”
“Yes. Truly, I sincerely want to learn.”
Because this is my last chance.
Seeing me like that, Elysia gave a slight nod as if she understood.
“I think I get what you’re saying. I’m kind of the same… But wait, so you’re a wizard even though you’re a commoner? Haah, then what does that make me…”
“By any chance, aren’t you angry about the fact that I’m a wizard?”
“It’s annoying. A commoner’s a wizard, but I’m not.”
“I mean, are you angry enough to want to kill me?”
“…?”
Elysia looked at me like she genuinely didn’t understand.
“Uh… why would I kill you over something like that…?”
That look, as if she were staring at a psychopath, reassured me. At least I wouldn’t be rejected for that reason.
Now that I think about it, maybe that wasn’t something to be relieved about. I cleared my throat and continued.
“Elysia-nim. I apologize for bringing this up on our second meeting, but… would you consider making a deal with me?”
“What kind of deal?”
“I’ll use magic on your behalf during that field trip or whatever it’s called.”
This time, I lifted the broom dozens of meters into the air using a current, then slammed it down before maneuvering it freely.
Elysia stared at me with a dumbfounded expression as I pulled off this fairly refined high-speed maneuver.
“W-Without even a chant… You’re a genius?”
I’m not. But I let her believe that.
Because that works in my favor.
“And I promise I’ll make sure you’re able to use magic.”
“…Hmph.”
I meant it seriously, but Elysia snorted at me.
“Do you know how many wizards have come to try and fix me? They all failed and left.”
“The problem is that they tried to cure you.”
It’s not a disease, so what’s there to cure?
And besides, the issue is that it’s simply on too high a level.
If they weren’t pathetic rookie wizards like me, they wouldn’t have been troubled by that magic that interferes with magic in the first place.
“Of course, you don’t have to believe me right now. But shouldn’t you at least get through that field trip?”
“But the teachers will know…”
“Use your family’s power to pressure them. What are they gonna do? Announce there’s an inferior student in the class and make an enemy of your house? Or just keep their mouths shut?”
“…”
Elysia looked conflicted.
From what she’d said so far, she really did want to get through the field trip.
“Then…”
It was the first time I’d revealed I was a wizard to a noble.
Even for me, my heart was pounding as I waited for her answer. Then she asked in a tone similar to mine, nervous, with a bit of hope.
“W-What do you want from me?”
“It’s nothing much. I’d just like a single introduction.”
“?”
I smiled warmly and said,
“Would it be possible for me to meet your father?”
*
“Hey, what kind of place do you think this world is?”
That place was a torture chamber.
From the ceiling, rotting water dripped down. The walls were covered in nail scratches and dried, browned bloodstains.
In the middle of a stench that made one gag just by breathing, a man holding a saw with fresh blood still dripping off it asked in a friendly tone.
“Hm? Come on, answer me.”
“…W-Why are you doing this…”
The prisoner tied to the chair, whose appearance barely resembled anything human anymore, begged for a final mercy.
“Just… just kill me…”
“No, what are you saying? You can’t give up your life so easily. Just answer the question and I’ll let you live.”
His cheerful tone, completely out of place for the setting, made the prisoner twitch in response.
“I-I…”
“What kind of place do you think this world is? Hm?”
“I… I don’t…”
“Ah, fuck, so frustrating!”
The man clicked his tongue in irritation and threw the saw.
-Clang! The unpleasant clatter of metal made the man tied to the chair flinch with a groan.
“U-Uugh…”
Muttering to himself, the man picked the saw back up and grabbed a bucket filled with filthy water.
“Get your head straight. We’re not done until you talk.”
Splat! As water was splashed over him, the prisoner’s blood-drenched vision returned, and he was once again able to see the man’s face.
Fiery red hair that looked like it had never once been cut in his entire life, eyes that gleamed with emotionless intensity, and skin blotched and inflamed with burn scars.
With a form that seemed more monster than man, the prisoner lowered his head in complete despair, giving up all hope.
“Ah, ahhh…”
“Ah, fuck, seriously. It’s broken again.”
Scratching his head, the man sighed and swung the saw to the side.
Thud. The head that once belonged to the prisoner dropped off all too easily.
Still sighing, the man casually shoved the chair the corpse was tied to, tipping it over. It wasn’t a meaningful act. He just knew from experience that it made things more convenient later when draining the blood anyway.
“What the hell is this downfall thing? It’s so fucking hard.”
He was in the middle of carrying out an order from his new master… but it wasn’t exactly going smoothly.
Maybe he needed to follow the instructions more precisely, even if it was a bit risky.
The man strolled out of the room and grabbed a paper off a nearby table.
[…Therefore, the younger the subject, the better.]
He ignored the bothersome first part. He couldn’t understand it anyway.
Apparently, old wizards didn’t work.
“Well, I’ve already got everything ready…”
He planned to vanish as soon as this job was done.
So, even if the nobles got furious, it wouldn’t really matter.
Humming a tune, the man left the room to make preparations.
He didn’t need many. He just needed to cause the downfall of about 2 or 3.
Crimson Circle didn’t ask for more than that.