There is no such thing as a noble who cannot use magic. I heard that such nobles existed in the past, but now, that is literally a thing of the past. Some ignorant commoners even think that anyone who uses magic is a noble…
It is a correct perception. In fact, it's what the nobles of the past aimed for. Not to be seen as the same species.
Just as the hooves of horses and oxen are different, making people accept that a gap exists from birth was the greatest advantage the ruling class could have. Magic was proof of purity, and a simple means to explain why one side was the one to grasp the heated iron.
Therefore.
Elysia Rakshania had to be able to use magic.
"... I'm sorry."
"It is not your fault."
Aletus stroked his crying daughter's head. The room was filled with broken potion vials, all sorts of magic books, books, and magic paper. But Elysia could not take in any of it. ...even after suffering the divine fever.
'If only she hadn't suffered it at all.' Aletus wore a grim expression, making sure his daughter could not see it. Then I could have thought of her as a late bloomer.
If this is the state of things after her talent has blossomed...
"Ah, Father. Am I, am I not a mage?"
"... Of course not. You will become an outstanding mage, just like your mother. So, just wait a little longer."
I must not let them find out. It is as clear as day what will happen if I show such vulnerability. Aletus hugged his daughter warmly and clenched his teeth.
For the sake of the family, and for the sake of my daughter. I absolutely had to find some way.
"But it all failed."
I glanced sideways at Elysia, who was hugging her knees on the bench and muttering gloomily.
"Is that so."
"Yeah, no matter how I look at it... I don't think I'm a mage."
"Hmm."
How absurd.
I thought to myself as I looked at the sky, where the evening glow was faintly fading. The story wasn't particularly surprising. To be honest, I wasn't even listening that closely.
Everyone has some shameful family affair. Even though I was letting it go in one ear and out the other, I ended up finding out who Elysia's gardener was having an affair with. It felt like new information was flowing out for three hours without a single second's rest.
To put it simply, this girl... is an unbelievable chatterbox. I wonder how she held it in all this time. It wasn't bad, though, since the information I needed to draw out was mixed in there.
'This should be enough information.' At least, it was enough to make a personal assessment. The family doesn't seem to have any rough edges, they're quite powerful, and above all, the fact that Elysia is an only child is a big factor.
Did Dersia tell me to distinguish myself? She didn't specify a method. This way seemed like it would be fine.
As I was pondering how to begin, Elysia let out a deep sigh first.
"So, I'm wondering what to do about the upcoming job experience event..."
"Job experience event?"
I've never heard that word before. Elysia nodded with a mournful look on her face.
"Yeah. I have to show the elemental spells I've learned in front of everyone. Everyone already has their suspicions, but I think... it will definitely be exposed."
Elysia slumped over.
"... That I'm a good-for-nothing."
Is this the time to comfort her? Out of habit, I was about to pat her head, but I flinched, thinking it would be big trouble if I carelessly touched a noble's body.
"It's okay..."
No, she's watching everything. Still, it felt weird to actually put my hand on her head, so I comforted her by patting her back instead.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. Lady Elysia might have a hidden talent, right?"
In fact, she does. That talent is what blocked the manifestation of her elemental spells. They wouldn't have been able to tell with magic paper either.
She would have been even less responsive than a normal person to erasing magic.
So...
Hyuins was right. This girl really was the villain who interfered with the magic of nearby mages. Seeing as it has no effect on my Deep Sea, I guess it's only at a level where it bothers young, beginner mages.
It's not a very hopeful prospect, but if she grows, she might be helpful to my condition. As I greedily watched Elysia's glossy silver hair, which looked like nothing but a golden goblin to me, she shook her head from side to side.
"If so, I would've known already. Even if I find out I have one later, what can I do? If I fail the demonstration at this job experience event, I'll be branded a failure."
"That sounds truly terrible."
"Yeah. If I can just get through this one job experience event, I might be able to manage by skipping with the excuse of being sick or something... but I can't." "That's the thing. If I could just use magic, even just half as well as others, no, even less than that would be fine, I wouldn't be worrying like this."
"It might work. Let's try it one more time."
"... What?"
"What would a mere janitor know, but I imagine you must have worked very hard to manifest your magic until now."
"Uh, yeah."
"Couldn't that effort bear fruit right now? Let's try it one more time, right here."
"What are you talking about?"
Elysia asked back with a dumbfounded expression. Of course, she would have known from thousands, tens of thousands of past experiences that it wouldn't work. And yet I'm telling her to try it again out of the blue.
Her reaction is understandable. Setting the stage is faster than persuading. I threw the broom I was holding in front of the bench.
"I would like to witness this thing called magic just once. Please, I beg you."
"... I told you it won't work."
Elysia grumbled, but upon seeing my serious expression, she raised her hand.
"I'm only doing this because you saved me once. This is embarrassing... Hmph!"
With a cute grunt, Elysia glared at the broom and tried her best to use magic. To be precise, that's how it looked. Since nothing happened, how would I know?
"Hnnngh...."
She was indeed concentrating so hard her face turned red. Even though it was just a request from a janitor she was indebted to... she was trying so hard I was a little moved. Of course I had to help.
I stood a little way off and manifested my magic.
"... Huh? Huh!"
The wind blew. It was not natural. The broom rose unnaturally and began to stagger towards us.
Elysia covered her mouth with an expression of disbelief.
"I, I manifested magic...!"
The broom gradually came closer, and Elysia, with a moved expression, reached out a trembling hand. -Thwack! I caught it. Of course, it was me.
"... Huh?"
Elysia, her hand left hanging in the air with nowhere to go, stared bewilderedly at the broom held in my hand. It did not take long for her gaze to meet my eyes. A small star swimming in my eyes.
At this undeniable proof of a mage, her expression changed in various ways.
"You...!"
A triumphant look that said, 'See, I was right!'
"But..."
A questioning look that said, 'How can a janitor...?'
"Why you...!"
An angry look that said, 'Are you mocking me?' I was involuntarily impressed. To express her emotions so clearly within three seconds.
Shouldn't this girl be a stage actress or something? The last one was the strongest, so I bowed my head and apologized.
"I apologize. I have been rude."
Originally, I was just going to say, 'Actually, I did it,' and end it there, but her reaction was so amusing that I crossed the line. Fortunately, as if not wanting to admit she was angry, Elysia crossed her arms and glared at me.
"Th-that's fine. But what's this? Were you a noble?"
"I wish I were. Then I wouldn't need to eavesdrop on classes."
"... The reason you were always around here was to eavesdrop on classes?"
"Yes. I do this at other children’s classes as well, not just this one."
Now that I've revealed that I'm a mage, there's nothing more to hide. Elysia tilted her head and asked again.
"Why are you doing that? Do you want to learn magic?"
"Yes. I truly, sincerely want to learn."
Because it's my last struggle. Looking at me, Elysia nodded slightly as if she understood.
"I think I know what you mean. I'm the same way... No, but then that means you're a mage even though you're a commoner. Haa, what am I then..."
"By any chance, are you not angry about the fact that I am a mage?"
"It's annoying. Even a commoner is a mage, but I'm not."
"I mean, angry enough to want to kill me."
"...?"
Elysia looked at me as if she genuinely did not understand.
"Uh... why would I kill you for a reason like that...?"
She looked at me as if I were some kind of psychopath, so I was relieved. It seemed I wouldn't be rejected for that reason. On second thought, this isn't something to be relieved about.
I cleared my throat and continued the conversation.
"Lady Elysia. I apologize for saying this on our second meeting, but would you be interested in making a deal with me?"
"What kind of deal?"
"I will use magic for you at that job experience event."
This time, I used currents to lift the broom dozens of meters into the air, then brought it crashing down, moving it freely. At the rather elaborate high-speed maneuver, Elysia looked at me with a stunned face.
"W-without commands... you're a genius?"
I'm not.
But I let her think so. It was more advantageous for me that way.
"And I will make it so you can definitely use magic."
"... Hmph."
I said it in all seriousness, but Elysia snorted.
"Do you know how many mages came to treat me? They all failed and went back."
"Trying to treat you was the problem."
It's not an illness, so what's there to treat. And, the problem is that they were too high-level. Unless you're a crappy beginner mage like me, you wouldn't have trouble with something like magic-interfering magic.
"Of course, you don't have to believe me now. But you still have to get through the job experience event, don't you?"
"But the teachers will know..."
"Pressure them with your family's power. What are they going to do? Announce that there's a failure in the class and make a mortal enemy? Or just shut up and stay quiet?"
Elysia looked conflicted. Based on everything she'd said, she must really want to get through the job experience event.
"Then..."
This was the first time I'd revealed I was a mage to a noble. Even for me, my heart was pounding as I waited for her answer. She then asked in a tone mixed with an anxiety similar to mine, and a hint of expectation.
"Wh-what do you want from me?"
"It's nothing much. Just an introduction will do."
"?"
I said with a friendly smile.
"Could I meet your father?"
"Hey, what kind of place do you think this world is?"
It was a torture chamber. Rotten water dripped from the ceiling, and the walls, filled with nail marks, were covered in browned, dried bloodstains. Amidst a stench so foul it made one want to vomit just by smelling it, a man holding a saw blade still dripping with fresh blood asked amicably.
"Huh? Answer me."
"... Why, why are you doing this..."
The prisoner tied to the chair, with an appearance that could hardly be called human, begged for a final mercy.
"Just, kill me..."
"No, what are you talking about. You shouldn't give up on your life so easily. Just answer my question. I'll let you live then."
At the cheerful tone, completely out of place, the prisoner reacted and squirmed.
"I, I am..."
"I asked what kind of place you think this world is? Huh?"
"What... does that..."
"Agh, so frustrating!"
The man threw the saw down in irritation. -Clang! At the unpleasant metallic sound, the man tied to the chair groaned and flinched.
"Ugh, ughh.."
The man grumbled as he picked the saw back up and lifted a bucket filled with rotten water.
"Get a grip. This won't end until you answer properly."
Chwaaak!
Water was splashed, and the prisoner, his reddened vision clearing, could see the man's face once again. Red hair that looked like it had never been washed in his entire life, and wide, emotionless eyes. And skin flushed red and blotchy with burn scars.
At the appearance that should be called a monster rather than a human, the prisoner gave up all hope and hung his head low.
"Ah, ahh..."
"Ah, fucking hell. This one broke again."
The man, scratching his head, sighed and swung the saw sideways.
Thud.
The head that had once belonged to the prisoner fell off all too easily. The sighing man roughly pushed over the chair with the corpse tied to it. It wasn't a meaningful action.
He knew from experience that he had to drain the blood anyway, and doing it this way would be convenient later.
"This Fall thing, how the hell do you do it? It's damn hard."
He was in the middle of carrying out the order he received from his new Master... but it wasn't that easy. As I thought, should I follow the guidelines even if it's a bit dangerous? The man roughly exited the room and picked up a piece of paper that was on a nearby table.
[... Therefore, the younger the target, the better] He ignored the annoying text that came before it.
He couldn't understand it anyway. It seems old mages won't do.
"Well, I've prepared everything, so..."
He planned to skip town after this job was over anyway. So it wouldn't matter much how furious the nobles got. The man hummed as he left the room to prepare for his work.
He didn't need that many. Making just two or three of them Fall would be enough. Because Red Lotus did not wish for more than that.