CH 2

Chapter 2: Kind reason

“…You were able to become a member of the court, right?”

“Yeah, but I was fired already. They said they don’t need someone who doesn’t do anything in the court, or something like that…”

At first, I had no intention of telling him, but before I knew it, I had confessed everything.

It seemed that the desire to feel relieved by speaking was stronger over my desire not to cause worry.

And now, I have nothing.

Nothing to lose, no goals.

I am left empty.

All that remains is a sense of loss and complaints.

“What? Aria…got fired? You’re not joking, are you?”

“I wouldn’t joke about something like that.”

It would have been so much better if it were just a joke.

It’s not funny because it’s the truth.

Yuren-kun must have also sensed that.

“Why?”

“Well, you know, I told you about my sister before and all.”

“Oh…”

With just that, Yuren-kun understood.

I had talked to him about my family and my sister before.

Of course, I didn’t tell him everything, and since it was my sister I couldn’t say anything bad about her.

But still, she was too cunning to hide.

“I thought that if I became a courtier… things would change a little. But they didn’t. Not for me, nor for the people around me…”

“Aria…”

If it was because I lacked ability or didn’t produce any results, would that have been acceptable?

I worked hard until I developed my abilities.

I had achieved results, but everything was taken away and replaced with my sister’s achievements, who had done nothing.

Looking back now, maybe the only reason I was appointed to become a courtier was that I was a Transmutation Master from the same family.

But because I didn’t produce results, I was cut off as unnecessary despite the effort to appoint me.

“I tried so hard, but it just doesn’t work.”

It was my sincere feeling, devastated from the bottom of my heart.

After saying it out loud, I forced a smile to hide my true emotions.

“I’m sorry. We haven’t seen each other for so long, and here I am, talking about depressing stuff.”

I regretted bringing up the negative topic.

As I turned my face away, Yuren-kun sat down next to me.

“You can complain as much as you want. We’re the only ones here. No one else is listening, so you can say whatever you want. I’ll listen properly.”

“Yuren-kun…”

When he said that, I suddenly lost my strength and squatted down.

“Thank you.”

Perhaps because I had just experienced a terrible ordeal and was completely broken down.

His warm words touched my heart strongly and firmly.

For me, who thought I was alone and had no allies, his presence trying to be close to me was deeply appreciated from the bottom of my heart.

I think my heart, which had been a little bit tattered, was healed.

“Oh, by the way, Yuren-kun is here, so you must be gathering materials for transmutation, right?”

“Hm? Yeah…”

This forest has many valuable materials that can be used for transmutation.

So, being in such a place means that he is still in the middle of training as a Transmutation Master.

I made a statement about resigning as a Transmutation Master in front of those who aspired to become one.

Now, I deeply regret my words and am filled with remorse.

“I-I’m sorry! I’ll leave now.”

“Aria.”

Yuren-kun grabbed my hand as I tried to escape in shame.

“Yuren-kun?”

“Hey, can’t we talk a little more?”

“Huh?”

“I have something I want to talk about.”

❂❂❂❂❂❂

Yuren-kun led me to a cottage in the forest.

Even though it was a familiar forest, it felt fresh after a year.

It was actually eerie and scary.

“Aria, I never talked to you about why I wanted to become a Transmutation Master.”

“Huh, yeah…”

On the way, Yuren-kun suddenly began to talk about it.

I had talked endlessly about why I wanted to become a Transmutation Master, but I didn’t know his reasons.

I was curious and asked him once, but he brushed me off.

Since then, I had unconsciously avoided the topic, feeling that it would be better not to ask.

“I’ll tell you now, here and now.”

The place we arrived at was an old dilapidated mansion.

It had been decades since anyone had lived there.

Moss grew on the walls, and the window glass was shattered.

Part of the roof had collapsed, and the holes were covered with twigs and vines.

I had been to this forest many times, but I had no idea there was such a mansion here.

“This was a small noble’s villa about thirty years ago. The noble’s home is gone now, and this mansion has been left abandoned.”

“I see.”

“Let’s go inside.”

“Okay.”

With some trepidation, I followed him into the mansion.

Surprisingly, the inside of the mansion was organized.

It was still dilapidated, but it had been maintained to some extent.

There were places that were clearly repaired by human hands, and I wondered who had fixed a mansion in such a place.

But that doubt was soon dispelled.

“Is this a Transmutation Circle?”

“Yes. The nobles who used it before might have disappeared, but they were from the same family of Transmutation Masters as you.”

The Transmutation Circle.

It is a pedestal made of a special stone used in Transmutation Art.

It is as tall as my stomach when installed on the ground, and a transmutation circle is engraved in the center.

If you look around, there are rows of old books on shelves that contain information about Transmutation Art.

There are also minerals and materials scattered around.

“Did you study Transmutation Art here, Yuren-kun?”

“Yeah, until recently…around six months ago.”

“Six months? Haven’t you used it since then?”

“I haven’t. There’s no reason to use it anymore.”

What?

Does that mean…Yuren-kun is the same as me?

The unspoken anxiety seemed to be reflected in my expression.

Yuren-kun looked at my face and shook his head before answering.

“It’s not the reason Aria is thinking. It’s actually a good reason in my case.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, should we go back to the first story? The reason I became a Transmutation Master was for my younger sister.”

“Yuren-kun has a sister?”

It was news to me.

When I asked in surprise, he nodded and continued.

“I have a sister named Irina who is five years younger than me. She was born with a weak body and was frequently sick or had poor health.”

As Yuren-kun spoke, he seemed to be reminiscing about the past.

While there was a hint of sadness, he also had a refreshing and open feeling, like a gust of wind. It didn’t feel like he was talking about something unpleasant.

“Irina’s even slow to recover from a simple cold. The potions we made at home didn’t work well for her. That’s when I got the idea to create a potion specifically for her.”

“I see.”

It’s a very kind reason.

It’s not like he’s doing it to seek recognition, like me.

He aimed to become a Transmutation Master for the sake of his family, so that his sister wouldn’t have to suffer.

I am somewhat ashamed of my reasons.

I think it’s a typically kind and genuine reason for him.