It burns.
Ah, everything is burning.
The precious home entrusted to me by Master, the place where I belonged – it’s burning down.
When did it happen… Really, when did it happen…
Did it accumulate this much… ?
It’s a blackish-red emotion, boiling and screaming to be let out from here, rising with a gurgling sound.
Sticky like sludge, it seethes at the bottom of my heart, suppressed and suppressed, a fuel that has become too dense.
—Mad love and jealousy.
It all started with a single spark.
A spark of magic to create a new world, by “The one who steals the logic of fire.”
That spark burned everything collected in the heart, transforming it into a blazing inferno that fills the heart.
The inferno burns, illuminates, and exposes emotions.
It sharply casts the shadow of what I truly desire onto my heart.
It projected a daily life of a certain ■■, like a shadow play.
That’s right.
I should have been able to return there.
I just want to go back.
To that happy place.
To my hometown.
To the past.
To those wonderful days.
I wanted to regain peace in those days.
Because everyone was happy there.
There was ■, and ■, and ■, and my friends, and my clan.
The frontier of Fanian.
There’s nothing interesting there.
The middle of the countryside, countryside.
Farming, hunting, helping with chores – it was a busy life.
But everyone was smiling.
Everyone was definitely smiling… .
And that place was destroyed by my “Eye.”
This “Eye” sees the essence of things.
Not by finding, discerning, or seeing – it simply *sees*.
So, even when doing farm work, my gaze immediately falls on fundamental improvements, and my hands stop. When hunting, I can no longer use traditional methods. When doing housework, I think it’s not something I should be doing.
I was scolded every time.
It’s a little nostalgic.
■■, seeing me like that, gently admonished me. I think they said, “You have a better eye than the other children.” They praised me, saying, “That ‘Eye’ is a gift from heaven,” and taught me about my Skill. I vaguely remember them asking me to “Find something beneficial for the village with that power.”
Vaguely.
Now, I can’t even recall the face of that ■■.
Where did it go wrong?
Was it when unsettling rumors began to spread in the village? Was it when war broke out? No, the decisive moment was when the army began to station in the village? Was it when I spoke out to the army commander? Was it when I started saying we could win the battle? Was it when I started the battle—
No.
It’s not that.
The process doesn’t matter.
I can tell, because of my “Eye,” that it’s not that kind of problem.
In the end, no matter what, my village was destroyed. All along, long before the army came, all our fate was decided. Ultimately, that village had a bad “location.” It was that simple.
I can see that.
The destruction of the village was fate. It’s true that my “Eye” accelerated it. However, I can see that the true cause is something else.
Even if I could return to those wonderful days as I wished, I would only tread the same path.
Living in such a small village—the clan with rare black hair and black eyes was destined to perish in this era, no matter what. That’s all there is to it… .
“—That’s why I don’t want to go back to the past.”
To that voice, “The one who steals the logic of fire” replies sadly.
“I figured… ”
Then, what do I want to do?
What is my desire?
What do I want?
I look at the shadow play born from the flames within my heart.
I look again at the world reflected by my heart.
There is no hometown there—no such nostalgic thing.
Such things have long since turned to ashes.
■, ■, ■, become ashes and I can’t remember… .
That’s right.
With the “Price”… .
I burned myself out for the price.
I remember that.
I sacrificed it, even though it was something very important.
So, only one human figure remains.
A person with black hair and black eyes, just like my clan.
Only that person remains.
A person who, since the moment we met, has continuously stirred sediment at the bottom of my heart.
—And now, at last, that person appears.
“The one who steals the logic of fire” whispers sadly, “Come, let us confirm it.”
Master, who lies and calls himself Christ Eurasia, appears from below the hill.
A kind person chosen by my “Eye” to be a replacement for ■■.
And a person too precious to be captured by my “Eye.”
The hero of heroes—
—My beloved.
The destination of the burning flames.
Master has finally returned.
***
“The one who steals the logic of fire” has no interest in mere love.
My love began to warp into something strange, and when it met those conditions—I truly met “The one who steals the logic of fire” three days before Christmas festival.
Then, when Master and Rustiara-san invited me to the festival, and we were wandering through the unchanging festivities, I met them again.
On the way back, the two of us became alone.
That was the true beginning—
“—Wonderful! You are wonderful! Oh, how poignant! Maria-chan!”
Arti, “The one who steals the logic of fire,” praised my love as “wonderful.”
“Poignant? You mean foolish, don’t you?”
“No, no, you are poignant and adorable. By no means foolish. You have ordinary feelings as an ordinary girl. The regrettable thing is the other party’s baseness. When the other party is that Rustiara, anyone is at a disadvantage.”
“That’s right. Anyone would be at a disadvantage. She’s that perfect of a person. Beautiful and perfect, like a ‘creation’…”
I let out a deep sigh, despairing at the current difference in strength.
“Fufu, ‘creation’? You hit the nail on the head. Indeed, she is an unfair ‘creation’.”
“I resent God. Why didn’t you make me a little taller… If I had a good figure like Rustiara-san, silky hair, and a better look in my eyes, maybe Master would pay a little more attention to me…”
“I think Maria-chan has her own charms, though.”
“Haha, where are my charms? I’m tiny, my chest is flat, I look like a child. Furthermore, my hair is messy, and my eyes are bad. I have absolutely no appeal as a woman.”
As I listed my own characteristics, I felt like my mood was sinking into a mire.
My steps, naturally heading home, also became heavy.
“I don’t think so.”
“Even if that’s true… Above all, I don’t have the right to stand beside Master. What Master desires is strength useful for dungeon exploration. I lack the power… The power…”
“Hmm… Power, you say…”
I recalled an event from a few days ago.
Instead of being useful in the labyrinth, I could only hold them back. I doubted I would ever find my place in the labyrinth again.
However, at that time, Rustiara-san, though indirectly, said “At least, don’t die, don’t fall apart,” and it was a relief that she told me she would support my love.
Our “Eyes” met, so there’s no mistake.
However, the start is not auspicious.
I have no excuse to approach Master. I was barely able to escape despair when he said, ” Please cook meals for me every day in this house,” but the future is still bleak.
“Sigh…”
“Don’t be so down. It makes me sad too.”
“S-Sorry…”
Arti is looking at me with a truly sad expression.
Feeling apologetic, I force myself to straighten my darkened expression.
“No, you don’t need to apologize. More importantly, it was power, wasn’t it? What you lack.”
“Ah, yes. Without power, I can’t be of use to Master.”
“Regarding that, I can help. There’s a way to make you strong.”
“Eh? R-Really!?”
I exclaim loudly and press Arti.
“Ah, of course. I am always on the side of girls who have unrequited love.”
“What kind of method is that!?”
“I will teach you magic. I, an expert in Fire Magic, will sublimate your Fire Magic into the best it can be.”
“Teach me magic… ?”
I had also heard from Master that Arti was a professional in Fire Magic.
The words seem to hold no lie.
“My methods are a bit forceful, though.”
“Forceful?”
“Yes, very forceful. After all, you’ll be drinking my blood, which is filled with my magic formulas, directly.”
“Blood? You mean that blood…?”
It was a story I had never heard before. I could understand drinking magic stones carved with formulas, but I had never heard of drinking blood. I couldn’t imagine that doing so would grant me magic.
“It’s natural for you to be skeptical. Apparently, this method is unheard of in this era. But I guarantee it. I guarantee it as the foremost Fire Magic user. With this, you will be closer to becoming the foremost Fire Magic user.”
Arti looked at me with earnest eyes.
“But even so, the formulas shouldn’t be transferable just by drinking blood…”
“It’s not widely known, but drinking blood and drinking magic stones are essentially the same thing. It’s true that magic stones are easier to learn from because they’ve been refined. With them, anyone can learn if their attribute matches. But the mechanism is the same. Of course, the conditions for learning magic through blood are very narrow. Really, very, very narrow. That’s why this method isn’t widespread and no one knows about it.”
Arti is knowledgeable about magic. Although she says some eccentric things, her insight is certainly deeper than Franryure’s, who attends the Academy.
“Do I meet those conditions…?”
“Yes, you do. Fortunately or unfortunately, perfectly. You could call it a perfect compatibility.”
“What exactly are these conditions…?”
“Hmm, it’s a secret, really… but since you’re Maria, I’ll tell you a little. Essentially, it’s about the commonality between the giver and the receiver of the blood. You and I share the same worries and have similar personalities. Our lives are also similar. Truly similar. This is important.”
“Uh, um… So, does that mean Arti also has unrequited love…?”
“Heh heh, yes. I’m just like you.”
This struck me with shock. I had thought that somehow, I was alone in having such worries. However, finding an unexpected companion surprised me.
“So that’s why you’re looking out for me so much.”
Then, a doubt that had been lingering in the back of my mind was resolved. I had always thought it suspicious how unusually she was taking my side. But if there was such a sense of camaraderie, it made sense.
Even my ‘Eye’ recognized that Arti was favorable towards me.
“Exactly. Anyway, if you drink my blood, you’ll understand everything. How about it, will you drink it?”
Arti nodded with a smile.
Then, she offered her arm, asking if I would drink her blood.
I hesitated. It wasn’t that I was worried about the possibility of falsehood or the risks.
I was worried about troubling Arti. She always seemed to be in a hurry, and I felt reluctant to have her go this far without any compensation.
“Are you… really alright with this? Magic is something very important to a magic user, and it shouldn’t be something you casually share with others, should it?”
“It’s fine. I want to help Maria.”
Her answer was immediate. Arti said she wanted to help me without hesitation.
“Th-then, I’ll drink it… If I can gain power that way, I’ll drink it.”
I agreed. Seeing my unwavering response, Arti gave a faint smile.
“Heh heh. That’s a good answer.”
Arti slashed her wrist and let her blood drip.
Though surprised by the unsparing self-harm, it seemed to be no problem for a skilled magic user. I steeled myself and brought my mouth close to Arti’s wrist.
The blood spilled and fell onto my tongue. It coiled around my tongue, went down my throat, and seeped into my body. The metallic taste spread through my mouth, and I truly felt that I had drunk someone else’s blood.
At the same time, I felt something hot welling up from the depths of my abdomen. A sensation of gaining something new, as if my body’s magic was startled, as if my blood was surging.
Simultaneously, I felt a sense of euphoria.
“With this, everything about my Fire Magic has been imprinted into your blood.”
Seeing my reaction, Arti nodded.
“Th-this alone, all of it…?”
It was surprisingly simple. It felt easier than drinking a magic stone.
“Even so, you won’t be able to use it immediately. It takes time to acclimate, and using high-level magic abruptly would place a tremendous burden on you. For now, let’s start by practicing some of the simpler ones for combat…”
Seeing my surprise, Arti smiled faintly and produced a small flame from her palm. It was an incantation-less flame. However, I didn’t believe it was a flame that would be effective in the labyrinth.
I felt a bit anxious.
Even if my options for Fire Magic increased, they would be meaningless if they couldn’t affect the monsters past the 20th floor. My desire for power was entirely to follow Master.
“I-I’m sorry! If possible, please let me practice powerful attack magic… Something that can affect the giant monsters in the deep labyrinth!”
I spoke up, demanding strong magic. However, Arti received it gently.
“Heh heh. You’re still in a hurry, are you?”
“If I don’t hurry, nothing will be in time. I feel that way.”
Vaguely, I felt so. Simply put, there was the disparity in intimacy with Master, where I was falling behind Rustiara, but more than that, my ‘Eye’ was urging me that “there is no time.”
“However, reckless magic use comes with a corresponding ‘Price’. Magic is a technique built on the spirit. To be reckless with magic is to overwork your spirit.”
“…I’m fine. Please proceed.”
Arti looked at me with solemn eyes, as if challenging me. Of course, I had no hesitation. When an easy way to gain power by sacrificing something was presented before me, how could I not seize it? After all the sacrifices I had made up to now, I couldn’t obtain power…
“…Ah, as expected.”
To that, Arti murmured softly. It wasn’t words directed at me. They seemed to be words Arti said to herself.
As I tried to ask what she meant, it was interrupted by Arti’s strong response.
“A good resolve, Maria! Very well, though it will be a bit taxing, shall I teach you some Fire Magic that can be used on the 30th floor? The firepower-focused Midgardsblaze, and the close-combat-only Flame Flamberge. Both are immensely powerful, but difficult to control. I hope you’ll train with all your heart.”
As she said this, Arti produced a serpent of flame from her hand without incantation. Looking at that ominous flame, I held my breath and nodded.
—And so, we deviated from our path home and moved to an empty lot on the outskirts of town.
First, Arti taught me the basics of magic, the knack for Fire Magic. Along the way, I naturally came to call Arti “Master.” Arti seemed to prefer being called that when it was just the two of us. I, too, had no objection to calling her Master. In fact, she was the epitome of a master.
In less than a few hours, I had mastered both “Midgardsblaze” and “Flame Flamberge.” Unlike Arti, I needed long incantations, but mastering high-level magic in such a short period was an unimaginably fast pace for an ordinary person.
“—I can already use such amazing magic…”
I couldn’t believe the serpent of flame I had created. The serpent of flame, with its terrifying killing power, swam freely around me.
“It’s thanks to our compatibility, Maria. Also, let’s see… let’s try arranging your specialty, ‘Firefly’. That spell has potential depending on how you use it.”
As it was getting late, the rest of our practice was just going through the motions. However, thanks to the guidance of Arti, a master, my magical options continued to expand.
When Arti was about to leave, I bowed deeply to express my gratitude.
“—Thank you very much! Master Arti!!”
“No, you don’t need to thank me. I’m doing this because I want to.”
“No, I will definitely repay your kindness someday! Thanks to you, I think I can finally be of help to Master. Now I won’t have to give up—”
“Heh heh, Maria, you really do like Christ, don’t you? But don’t push yourself too hard. The incantations for the Fire Magic I taught you are all special. Overusing them will increase your emotional heat. I made them all specifically for you, designed to ‘burn your current love with the fuel of the past,’ but still, I don’t recommend it.”
“That’s fine. If my love grows any stronger, I welcome it.”
“Still, be careful not to get burned.”
“Yes!”
I replied to Arti-san with a smile, feeling the solid strength in my chest.
Arti-san looked at me with, for some reason, a sad expression, and finally left with a laugh.
I’ll go home too.
That day, my steps were lighter than ever before.
***
The next day.
The result was that I still couldn’t keep up with the dungeon exploration.
It was only natural. Even if I got stronger, the two of them were getting stronger at an even faster pace.
However, I had a sense of accomplishment. I didn’t feel the same despair as before.
Rustiara-san, who was cheering me on, told me “Again.”
In the house, left alone, I analyzed what I was lacking.
First, as Rustiara-san told me, the ability to continue fighting. There’s no doubt I’m lacking here. And the lack of self-defense, which Master is concerned about, is also a problem.
If I don’t solve these two things, I have no future.
“More power… I need to practice magic more…”
Wiping away my sweat, I went outside and resumed my magic training.
I almost collapsed during the last dungeon exploration, but I can’t afford to complain.
If I get better at controlling my magic, I can adjust the intensity and conserve magic power. If the casting speed of magic increases, I will have fewer openings. The more I practice, the more problems I can solve.
I practiced magic until I almost fainted, and instead of resting my body, I did housework.
I repeated this process.
As my consciousness grew hazy, I felt as if various things were being lost. However, conversely, my proficiency in magic was definitely increasing.
For Master’s sake, it wasn’t painful at all.
I continuously practiced Fire Magic, paying an irrevocable price. And yet, in a way, it felt pleasant.
— And then, midway through. While resting and cooking, the two of them returned.
It seemed there was some kind of problem in the depths of the labyrinth.
Since it involved fire and heat, the conversation turned to relying on Arti-san. If it were possible, I would have liked to go with them.
However, I suppressed that feeling and spent my time practicing magic at home.
However, after that, Master’s demeanor seemed a little strange.
When I tried to make eye contact with him, he would avert his gaze at just the right moment.
His face seemed a little flushed. He’s been like this ever since he met Arti-san. Perhaps Arti-san did something unnecessary to help.
I confirmed with my “Eyes” that Master was flustered. It felt like I had seen a human emotion from Master for the first time in a long time.
It made me happy, so I didn’t press Master for details.
I was satisfied just watching him.
That night, in my futon, I smiled, thinking that thanks to Arti-san, I could see various hopes.
I resolved to wake up early tomorrow and practice magic again.
The wind seemed unusually restless, but it was a day I could sleep with a calm heart.
The day after that.
I woke up early in the morning and honed my magic.
By the time the two of them woke up, I started preparing breakfast.
Even while cooking, I didn’t neglect my magic practice.
I used my own flames to cook.
If I misjudged the heat, the frying pan would easily melt, so I cultivated concentration and composure simultaneously in a state of slight tension.
As I did this, the flames began to distort against my will. I panicked, infused them with magic power, and tried to suppress the flames, but– the flames formed a mouth shape and started to speak.
“Maria-chan, wait. It’s me. It’s Arti.”
“Huh? A, Arti-san?”
It was a scene I had seen before.
It was the same as when the flames spoke when Master and I went to the 10th floor of the labyrinth.
“I’m sorry to surprise you. But this way is faster. I have something I want to talk to you about, Maria-chan.”
“I see. This is convenient, Master. So, what is it about?”
“I’ll teach you this too eventually. But this time, I plan to teach you a different kind of magic.”
“Huh? You’ll teach me again?”
My voice naturally grew louder.
Arti-san seemed like a busy person. I was prepared for it to take a long time until I could meet her again. But unexpectedly, it seemed she would teach me the next magic so soon.
“Yes, Christ and the others asked me to teach you magic to remove lava from the labyrinth.”
“Lava…?”
The fact that Master asked is concerning, but the situation requiring the removal of lava is also concerning.
“The 24th floor is a lava zone. If you have this magic, it would be convenient to pass through. If you learn it, it will be useful in the labyrinth.”
“I see…”
Honestly, I wanted new offensive magic.
Even if I learned magic to remove lava here, my role would be limited to that 24th floor. Without universally applicable magic, I can’t keep up.
“Fufu. Don’t worry, I’ll teach you other magic too. Let’s see… let’s meet at the tavern where we first met for lunch today.”
“Ah, yes, I understand.”
Sensing my true feelings, Arti smiled and promised to teach me other magic.
As the conversation ended, the flame’s shape returned to its original form.
I let my cheeks relax and resumed cooking. With the pace of increasing magic like this, I might be able to establish a role for myself in the labyrinth. With such hope, I continued to cook.
That day, Master and Rustiara-san, after having breakfast, headed for the labyrinth exploration– but they returned soon after, cutting the exploration short.
Rustiara-san left for Fuziaze’s real home with few words.
And only Master, looking dejected, remained at home.
It was a chance to do various things with just the two of us. However, I couldn’t break my promise with Arti-san. Magic training is absolutely necessary in the long run. I must not give in to momentary pleasure.
I left Master and joined Arti-san.
Arti-san was sitting at the same table as before. And there was another man sitting there alone, a stranger.
“Hi, Maria-chan. Over here.”
“Ah, yes.”
As Arti-san guided me, I took a seat.
Then, I bowed to the tall, handsome man.
Was he an acquaintance of Arti-san’s?
As I looked at him curiously with my eyes, Arti-san told me about the man.
“Ah, don’t mind him. He’ll be gone soon. He’s an old friend, so to speak.”
“Haha, an old friend. That’s about right. Little lady, don’t worry about it. I’ll be leaving momentarily.”
With that, the man stood up and left as he said.
After the man left, I realized.
I had met that man before. With my “Eyes” ability, I matched him with features of men I had met in the past, in this short time.
I remember that when Master bought me as a slave, that man was also there.
I don’t know the details, but he must be an acquaintance of Master’s.
I regretted not greeting him more properly. But my “Eyes” denied that. They advised me that it would be best to avoid any involvement with that man as much as possible.
“Well then, let’s eat something first. It’s lunchtime.”
With that said, Arti-san handed me the menu.
And, as if nothing had happened, we began to have lunch.
While eating lunch, Arti-san casually asked me about my recent progress.
“How have you been lately? Are you making any progress?”
“No, not much has changed… But thanks to the magic you taught me, I can now defeat strong monsters.”
“That’s good.”
“With my magic power, I get out of breath quickly. In the end, the labyrinth is just the two of them, Master and Rustiara-san. I can’t accomplish anything.”
While stirring the soup on the table, I reported my current shortcomings.
“Is that so… I’m cheering for you, Maria-chan, so that makes me sad…”
“…But someday, I will become like Rustiara-san too. Even if I can’t do it now, someday…!!”
I state my resolve positively.
However, Arti-san’s face remains downcast as she listens.
“Someday, huh…”
Arti-san wore a sad expression, as if recalling something.
“W-What’s wrong?”
“No, the problem is that ‘someday.’ Just now, I learned that Christ and Rustiara’s relationship is about to change drastically…”
“Change drastically?”
Admittedly, the two of them were acting strangely today. But Master being flustered is usual for him… and Rustiara-san didn’t seem to be in emotional distress either. My ‘Eyes’ confirmed it, so there’s no mistake.
“Fufu. Just as Maria-chan is thinking, those two aren’t trying to change. They think it’s fine as it is. Those two are like that. But it seems the circumstances won’t allow it… It looks like I’ll have to hurry things along a bit.”
Circumstances.
As far as I know, Master’s circumstances only involve the people at the tavern where I work.
I use my ‘Eyes’ to check the tavern staff. It seems Arti isn’t talking about these people.
That leaves Rustiara-san’s surroundings. In other words, the knights we encountered in the labyrinth. It’s true that they possess a dangerousness that could push their relationship forward.
“Those knights…? –L-Let’s hurry! Teach me magic!”
“Fufu, no hesitation. Acquiring higher-level magic will take a toll on your body. Is that still okay?”
“Of course.”
“Alright then, shall we move to another location?”
After finishing our meal at the tavern, we moved to an unpopulated open space.
It’s a grassland far from town. There’s a lot of undeveloped land in Valt. In places like this, there are fewer people watching.
There, Arti-san’s expression turned serious, and she let out a sharp first remark.
“Now, from what I see… Maria-chan, you’ve been overdoing it. Casting magic repeatedly in actual combat, and with your own training, your body is worn out.”
However, her tone wasn’t accusatory.
It felt like she was confirming something.
For a mage as skilled as Arti-san, she could see it at a glance. I nod honestly.
“Yes…”
“Hmm… As expected, or rather, I can’t help but say you’re just like me.”
Saying that, Arti-san’s expression softened, and she smiled as if reminiscing.
“Am I just like Arti-san?”
“Ah, just like me. That’s why I understand your current condition well.”
“Condition? Am I ill?”
Hearing the word ‘condition,’ I flinch.
If it’s a contagious disease, I wouldn’t be able to stay with Master.
“No, it’s not an illness. Didn’t I tell you before? If you overuse your mind with magic, there’s a corresponding ‘Price’ to pay. Right now, your mind is taking more damage than you realize.”
“Eh, is that so…?”
Even hearing about mental damage, I don’t feel it.
Rather, I feel more at ease now that I have hope than before.
“In my case, I overused it so much that I even developed memory loss. How about you? Do you recall anything? If there’s anything you can’t remember, I want you to tell me quickly.”
Memory loss?
I don’t think so…
“N-No, not at the moment…”
“When using high-level Fire Magic, sometimes old memories get burned away. You, who are using magic beyond your capacity, are constantly at risk of that.”
“Old memories, burning away…”
“Burning the past to set the present ablaze. That’s the essence of Fire Magic. The Incantation I taught you includes such a spell.”
Memories are bound to be lost eventually.
I don’t shy away from burning them. I had already resigned myself to that much from the moment I heard about “overusing my mind.”
“I don’t care. If it means gaining power, I don’t need the past…!!”
Hearing that, Arti-san smiled sadly again.
“Fufu, I expected that… Yes, I expected that…”
While smiling, Arti-san, just like before, slit her wrist.
I understood her intention and brought my lips close to her wrist.
—And on that day, I learned not only about magic but also about the origin of Incantations.
The relationship between Incantations and magic is deep, and the effect of the magic changes depending on the words chanted.
Generally, it’s believed that MP is consumed to use magic. However, Arti-san, who is deeply knowledgeable about magic, taught me other methods as well.
Ways to cast magic even without MP.
Incantations that take memories as a Price. Incantations that take emotions as a Price. Incantations that take life as a Price.
I acquire various ‘Incantations.’
If I utilize these skillfully, I won’t get breathless from casting them repeatedly.
I feel my understanding of magic increasing, and myself growing stronger.
However, as I continued chanting, I also felt something precious being stripped away from my heart.
Arti-san is teaching me this, knowing I’m aware of it.
I am prepared.
If it means being separated from Master, I’d rather die.
I’d rather die…
Thinking that, I—
Heat filled my head, and I felt dizzy.
It seems my feelings have unconsciously grown.
And I understand that their true nature is Fire Magic.
One of the various chants, an ‘Incantation’ that takes emotions as a ‘Price.’
That is likely amplifying my feelings.
A ‘Price’ isn’t just about losing something. It also includes amplification.
The fact that I, as a being, am being altered by magic sends a chill down my spine.
A physiological disgust takes over, and I can feel my body screaming.
But it’s fine.
If my feelings were to be lost, I would resist, but if they were to increase, I welcome it.
Arti-san is teaching me Incantations that select those options.
She is fully supporting my love. These are ‘Incantations’ and ‘Prices’ for that purpose. I continue to practice magic without any anxiety.
Heat builds up.
The heat boils the emotions within me.
My emotions turn mushy, and eventually—
“Let’s call it a day.”
Arti-san was looking down at me.
As I continued practicing, I had apparently collapsed without realizing it.
Wiping away my sweat, I stand up.
“I… I can still do more…”
“Yes, I know. But Christ will be returning home soon. Go meet him at home.”
Arti-san seems to be aware of Master’s movements.
I heard that she can extend her sensory organs wherever there is flame. It’s an enviable ability. The fact that it’s an ability rather than magic makes me wonder about Arti-san’s true nature.
I won’t pry too deeply. No matter who she is, Arti-san is Arti-san, and she’s on my side.
I can tell that from my ‘Eyes.’
“Understood. Thank you for today.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s all for my sake as well.”
“For Arti-san’s sake?”
“I couldn’t reach it, but it brings me peace to see you reach it. Yes, it brings me peace… That’s why I’m using Maria-chan…”
Arti-san replied with self-deprecation.
She seemed to be mocking herself.
I don’t want my benefactor to look like that, so I try to encourage her.
“I don’t know Arti-san well. I don’t know the details of your circumstances… But I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Normally, I think people would try to hinder someone who tries to achieve what they couldn’t themselves. They would hinder them with dirty emotions. Therefore, Arti-san, who can support me without doing that, is a wonderful person.”
I state it clearly.
Arti-san and Rustiara-san are wonderful people, and I acknowledge that I am a dirty human.
Yes.
Only I am dirty…
“Fufu, is that so…? Thank you, Maria-chan…”
Hearing that, Arti-san’s eyes widened, her cheeks flushed, and she thanked me, looking off into the distance.
I can see various emotions swirling in Arti-san’s heart.
However, even my ‘Eyes’ cannot grasp their entirety. They are deeply intertwined and complex emotions.
“Arti-san…?”
Confused by those emotions, I call her name.
“Thank you so much, Maria-chan. See you then.”
Arti-san leaves, shaking him off.
She burns the clothes she’s wearing, turning into flames and then vanishing.
It was like the last flame of a candle, carrying a sense of melancholy.
Watching her go, I felt a lingering unease, unable to fully grasp Arti-san’s feelings.
However, to not waste the information Arti-san gave me about Master returning home, I had no choice but to hurry back.
If it’s true, I have to go back first and prepare a meal.
Cooking is the meaning and the place where I belong.
I return to my home, the place where I belong.
And, as per Arti-san’s information, while I was preparing to cook, Master returned alone.
But something is wrong.
Master’s appearance is like it was before.
The atmosphere from when we first met.
It’s exactly the same expression as when he found me in the slave market.
Like a lost child wandering alone… such a face.
I felt something beginning to crumble.
Worried, I approached Master quickly.
“Master, what’s wrong…?”
Master’s gaze wandered, and he spoke his words as if lost.
“No… Rustiara is the day after tomorrow…”
“The day after tomorrow? Is something wrong with Rustiara-san?”
“On Christmas festival day…”
“Yes.”
It seems Master is disturbed by Rustiara-san.
My heart fluttered at that fact.
However, I suppressed my emotions so as not to reveal them and waited for Master’s words.
After looking hesitant, Master voiced his words as if squeezing them out.
“She said, ‘Let’s play again on Christmas festival day.'”
He lied, as if squeezing the words out.
I could tell with my Eye.
Master judged that he didn’t need to explain it to me now.
My fluttering heart began to rage like a storm.
Gritting my teeth, I desperately tried to calm my emotions.
“…Yes. I understand.”
I nodded.
I knew he was lying.
And I knew it wasn’t a lie made to consider me, unlike usual. But, seeing Master so exhausted, I couldn’t say anything more.
What Master needs now is rest.
Master slowly walks toward his own room.
Staring at his back as he leaves, I muttered to myself.
“—Doesn’t that mean I’m not valuable enough to confide my worries in?”
The usual feeling of being left behind intensified.
Master’s mind is full of Rustiara-san right now.
I am not there.
I am nowhere.
I understand that.
There’s no need to confirm it with my Eye.
I clenched my fist and returned to the kitchen.
I strengthened the firepower with Flame Magic and finished cooking quickly.
I preserved the food for Master, who didn’t come back to the living room, and went outside alone.
From the sparsely populated hill, I walked towards an even less populated area.
And, after confirming that no one was there, I practiced magic.
Flames, as if mirroring my heart, raged and danced in the sky.
Again and again, again and again, I repeated the Incantation.
Saying the words Arti had told me not to overuse, over and over.
The more I chanted, the stronger I felt.
Above all, it felt liberating, like I was venting my emotions. It felt too comfortable.
My body screamed, and my mind began to break.
It felt so, so, so liberating—
My control over fire improved at a terrifying speed.
The speed of my Incantation also increased rapidly, and I could now gain the effect of Incantation without even speaking it aloud. Is this the no-incantation technique Arti was talking about? She said it would take years to master, but that’s not the case. Once you grasp the knack, it’s easy.
I produced flames with no incantation and controlled them with minimal magic power.
Minimal magic power.
This is important.
How to operate Fire Magic with little magic power. That was my task.
However, it can be said that this has been almost resolved.
I found a substitute for insufficient magic power.
I just need to use useless emotions as fuel. My inadequate body as fuel.
If I sacrifice memories or recollections like Arti, I can conjure magic indefinitely.
I made several Midgards Blades flames dance, controlling them all. And I confirmed that the magic power within my body had not significantly decreased. With a smile at being able to unleash maximum magic with minimal magic, I dispelled the magic.
I felt a sure sense of gaining power.
That spurred my training.
If only I had power…
If only I had power, things like today wouldn’t happen…
Master wouldn’t have to lie to me…
Unreliable…
Not even worthy of confiding in about a single worry…
I won’t be this weak anymore…!
I will be able to walk next to Master, just like Rustiara-san…!
For that, I can sacrifice anything.
Memory loss is nothing.
What matters is not the past, but the present.
Do not seek a nonexistent homeland.
Forget the nonexistent ■■ already.
As long as I have this power and these feelings, it’s fine.
With these two things, I won’t be left behind.
I can be happy.
Now, that’s all that matters—
“Fu, fufu. Fufufu, ahahaha—”
I laugh.
I continue to laugh.
Magic training is so much fun.
I can feel myself getting closer to happiness.
I’m starting to acquire power that rivals Rustiara-san’s.
Now, I’m confident I can face even that terrifying ball of violence without flinching.
Just a little more…
Just a little more…
I won’t let Master make that face again…
It won’t be Rustiara-san who troubles Master, but me…
Only me, by his side…—
“—Huh?”
I was surprised by the dark emotions that arose within me.
Until now, I only had red-hot feelings for Master, but suddenly, a black, hot emotion surged forth.
I immediately shook my head.
It’s not that I want to pull Rustiara-san down.
While her way of thinking is certainly eccentric, she’s not a bad person. Rather, she’s a good person who helps me. Yet, I found myself thinking things that seemed to indicate a desire for Rustiara-san to disappear.
I suppressed all my Fire Magic and shook my head again, trying to cool my head with the night breeze.
I must have lost my composure due to paying too much of a Price.
Before I knew it, I was thinking all sorts of strange things.
Although there is still time, I decided it was time to rest.
Stumbling, I returned home and collapsed onto my bed in my own room.
Looking up at the ceiling, I recalled the dark emotions from earlier.
Now that I’ve calmed down, I can’t believe how I was acting earlier.
I thought it might be the magic, but Arti didn’t say anything about these kinds of dark emotions arising.
I think the cause lies with myself.
Perhaps, emotions that were at the very bottom of my heart surfaced due to some trigger.
I closed my eyes tightly, as if trying to shake them off.
Falling asleep was instantaneous.
My body was exhausted. If I let my guard down, I would easily lose consciousness.
I slept as if trying to escape something.
I slept, believing that tomorrow would be as usual.
Believing tomorrow will be as usual…
Sleep…
—But.
“—…Then, will Christ save me? Like Hein said, will you travel with me, just the two of us, somewhere far away?”
The next morning.
I overheard Master and Rustiara-san talking.
It was like a scene from some love story, and I could only force a strained smile.
Rustiara-san appealed to Master.
It was a beautiful, tragic, and unfair story, like a heroine in some tale.
Unfair.
Yes, unfair.
“You said you’d cheer me on… You said you’d just watch… Why…”
I let out those words in the corridor outside the room.
The world of the two of them, Master and Rustiara-san. And then, my world.
Leaning against the door separating the two worlds, I shed a single tear.
A single tear spilled from my cheek and vanished into flames before it could fall to the floor.
The color of that flame burned—red—and then black.
