Chapter 6.2

Translator: Lizz

 

Upon announcing his visit, the butler, unusually tense, came out to greet Leon. No, the entire mansion was enveloped in a somewhat prickly atmosphere. Just as he had such a thought, a well-dressed man appeared from the inner room, and Leon instinctively straightened his posture.

 

It was the owner of the mansion, whom he had met only once when he was hired. Rosalind’s father, Lord Andrews. He usually lived in the town of Maha, where the Lord’s mansion was located.

 

“It’s been a while, Mage of Lille.”

 

“Yes. I have heard that you have distinguished yourself in the recent battle of Maha. Congratulations.”

 

As Leon hurriedly knelt down, the Lord approached him and, seemingly ignoring his greetings, said:

 

“I heard the training of that one is completed today.”

 

“Yes. The young lady is truly intelligent. She absorbed the teachings in no time. It’s rare to find someone who learns so quickly.”

 

His voice inadvertently revealed his feelings, wondering if such talent should be left to waste, but the Lord seemed not to notice.

 

“I see, it’s finally over…”

 

The sentiment in his muttering was not one of appreciation for his daughter, but rather a sense of relief that he could finally be rid of the burden.

 

“I trust you understand, but you must never speak of this again. Forget that you ever taught magic to that one.”

 

“…Understood.”

 

“Receive your reward from the butler. You have done well.”

 

With that, the Lord returned to the inner room. Leon stood up and asked the butler.

 

“Where is the young lady?”

 

“She is waiting in her room.”

 

Nodding in response, Leon ascended the stairs, trying to keep his focus solely on his destination. He knocked on the door, but no matter how many times he knocked, there was no answer from inside the room.

 

A fear crossed his mind that perhaps she had taken her own life in despair. Knowing it was disrespectful, he hastily opened the door, only to find the room completely empty.

 

The belongings she had packed when they last met were also gone. …No, perhaps they had just sent the larger items ahead. However…

 

Leon went back downstairs and wondered whether he should inform the butler of Rosalind’s absence. But before making a big deal out of it, he headed towards the lake. The shaded area by the lake was Rosalind’s favorite spot, as she excelled in water-related magic and often had lessons there.

 

With a hint of anxiety, he made his way to the place and, as expected, found the girl sitting by the tree trunk.

 

“…I’m glad. I was looking for you.”

 

“Did you think I had run away?”

 

With a self-mocking voice, Rosalind raised her head. Her expression was dark, and the rims of her eyes were red.

 

“If I could have done that, how wonderful it would have been. But even if I ran away, I know nothing of the world and cannot live by myself. Even though I have the power of magic, I do not have the strength to survive in this world. I am a powerless human being.”

 

Rosalind returned her gaze to the lake, as if looking into the distance.

 

“Leon, what exactly is a mage? Why must we be so despised? Why must I, just because I am a mage, be shunned by my own father and serve a God I do not even wish to believe in for the rest of my life?”

 

It was Rosalind’s cry. Despite always acting cheerful and strong, doubts must have been swirling inside her all along. She must have been resenting this world.

 

“What do I exist in this world for?”

 

Mages were discriminated against simply because they possessed guiding veins. Even so, those who could live using their unique powers might still be the fortunate ones. For someone like Rosalind, who was denied life as a normal human as well as life as a mage, what value could she find in her own life?

 

Leon had no words to offer her. He knew that anything he said would only be a temporary comfort. No one could take on her suffering or heal her pain.

 

“I am a powerless person. No, it would be more accurate to say I am incompetent. My Master once clearly told me that I am below third-rate as a mage.”

 

“That’s not true.”

 

“No, it is a fact. In reality, I have never been approached by the guild, and if my Master hadn’t left me her private school, I would either be a renter farmer or dead by now. It’s laughable that I don’t even have the skill to become a bandit.”

 

Among struggling mages, there were quite a few who turned to banditry with their powers, and dealing with such individuals was also part of the guild’s work. Naturally, without the ability to rival guild mages, one could not even walk that path.

 

“But Leon taught me magic! Everyone was afraid of me or looked at me as if I were something dirty… So I always hated myself. There were no other mages around, so I thought I was the only strange person… That’s why, when I first met you, I was able to meet someone in the same situation, and I felt like I wasn’t alone…!”

 

That was why she had become attached to him, the first mage she had ever met, from the very first meeting. She had treated him as if he were a long-acquainted friend without any caution.

 

“I was always scared of being useless. Because being hated by everyone and not being needed by anyone is too empty, isn’t it? That was why I envied other mages who had talent. At least, if you have ability, you can join a guild and work for people. Even if you’re despised, your existence is needed.”

 

Otherwise, you would have to admit that you were worthless.

 

“I have been constantly thinking about why I exist. …No, I want someone to assure me that it is okay for me to exist. I dream of a day when someone will genuinely say to me, ‘I’m glad you are here’.”

 

Leon looked down at Rosalind, who was about to speak, with calm eyes. His eyes were telling her ‘Don’t say it’. Perhaps she understood, for she immediately held her tongue.

 

For Rosalind, Leon was not an important figure. He might have saved the lonely girl’s heart for a moment, but that was an illusion. He had not truly saved her in any meaningful way, and it didn’t have to be him in the first place. Any mage who appeared before her could have saved Rosalind’s heart.

 

“In reality, my power isn’t that useful to others. But, I can’t help but dream. That’s why I’m so desperate. I think I will be like this for my entire life.”

 

He wanted to believe that he was not worthless, so he kept resisting. He continued to fight in the hope that someone would acknowledge him.

 

Even when his life came to an end, it would end in despair.

 

Leon took out the two items he had kept in his pocket.

 

“This might be abhorrent to you.”

 

When he handed over the medal, the proof of being a mage, Rosalind silently accepted it with a stiff expression.

 

“And this,”

 

When he handed over the other item, Rosalind’s face showed a puzzled expression.

 

“What is this?”

 

“It’s from Zechs.”

 

“A bird…”

 

As she took the pendant into her palm, Rosalind touched the bird with a careful hand, as if handling something fragile.

 

“He wants to give it to his senior apprentice.”

 

Rosalind quietly grasped the little bird tightly in her hand and brought it to her forehead. A tear silently fell from her closed eyes.

 

“Thank you…”

 

She murmured, passing the leather strap around her neck. The wooden bird, in its soft color, suited her well, even though she wore a simple dress instead of her usual luxurious attire.

 

Rosalind glanced back at the lake once and, despite her faintly trembling lips, managed a smile as she started walking towards the mansion.

 

“I am going to enter God’s house now.”

 

“Yes, indeed.”

 

“In front of God, everyone is equal, so I will no longer be bound by status.”

 

“Well, that’s true.”

 

Wondering why she said such things, Leon tilted his head. Suddenly, Rosalind stopped and turned back with a bright expression.

 

“Thank you very much for everything, Master! Please convey my regards to my junior apprentice as well.”

 

When Leon returned home, he caught a glimpse of a girl hopping like a rabbit along the path leading to the village. As he opened the door and entered the hut, wondering if she had once again come after sunset, he found Zechs sitting in a chair, looking exhausted.

 

Upon hearing the story, it turned out that Nia had come during the day and had been chatting non-stop until now.

 

“I don’t understand what’s so fun about talking to someone like me.”

 

“She’s simply happy to spend time with someone her age.”

 

He patted his apprentice’s shoulder, as if to commend him for not running away and keeping her company today.

 

“By the way, Rosalind thanked you.”

 

“..I didn’t really do anything big.”

 

Feeling embarrassed, Zechs wore a disgruntled expression. His desire to escape this topic was palpable.

 

It was truly surprising.

 

This boy, who disliked sitting still to study and preferred wielding a sword, also had the talent to create delicate crafts. Furthermore, he gave a gift to a noble girl he had never met, and whom he more or less disliked.

 

“Why did you decide to give her a gift anyway? You hate nobles, don’t you?”

 

“You were the one who said she was a mage.”

 

Leon indeed said so. But at that time, he didn’t think those words had moved Zechs’ heart.

 

“I hate nobles. I don’t care about the feelings of nobles. But, I understand the feeling of being alone…”

 

Zechs said haltingly. Perhaps he didn’t even fully understand his own feelings.

 

As a mage, Zechs was also forced into loneliness, and he could understand the desire to be connected with someone, somewhere.

 

The little bird was both a gift for his senior apprentice, whom he had never met, and a comfort for himself. It symbolized that he was not alone. Somewhere in this world, there was someone with the same suffering, sharing the same Master.

 

By giving the little bird to Rosalind, Zechs had shown that he indeed had human compassion.

 

“It probably didn’t suit a noble lady.”

 

“That’s not true.”

 

Zechs, unable to completely rid himself of his disdain for the ruling class, added a sarcastic remark, but Leon confidently denied it.

 

Rosalind would have been happier with that one wooden bird than with a heap of gold and silver treasures. It was the proof of the connection she most longed for.

 

(How pathetic I am.)

 

Leon was Rosalind’s Master and the one who taught her magic. But he couldn’t ease her suffering when she expressed her pain. It was the kindness of a boy, who had just begun his journey as a mage, that supported her.

 

“Rosalind was truly happy with your sentiment. …Hey, Zechs. I’m a person whose only ability is magic, and even that is inferior to others. But still, I continue to wish to be of use to people with this power and to be needed by someone. However, more than all my efforts, more than any words, it was the little bird you gave that saved Rosalind’s heart. Your feelings for her surpass any magic.”

 

“…I don’t understand.”

 

Leon smiled wryly at his disgruntled apprentice. That might be true. Even he wasn’t sure what he wanted to say.

 

But there was an intuition that this was the essence.

 

What he wanted to accomplish as long as he lived. And what he wanted Zechs to accomplish as long as he lived.

 

For the sake of someone else.

 

No matter how great the power one possessed, in the end, it came down to that, Leon thought. At least, this was his conclusion.

 

“…It’s fine. You will find your own path someday.”

 

Laughing, Leon started to pack up his belongings and prepare dinner. Together with the boy, who naturally began to help.

 

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