Chapter 156: One Match, Lost
Spring arrived.
Snow still lingered, but sunlight, not snow, poured down from the heavens, and the life-sapping blizzards ceased.
With that, people gradually began to resume their work…
“Excuse me! Is Lord Andrews at home?!”
…Oi, someone just popped up.
Let’s see… this person is Count Missgancia’s head Knight.
If I recall correctly, his name is…
“Lord Alphons, was it?”
“Yes! I am Alphons!”
His voice is loud…
He’s got a large build, too.
And his face is big, to boot.
“Um… what business do you have?”
“First, look at this.”
Hmm?
What Lord Alphons brought over, along with other soldiers… was a woman bound by ropes.
This girl is…!
“Maries?! Why… ?!”
Maries.
She works as a prostitute and is my lover.
A beauty with soft blonde hair… but she was dressed in incredibly filthy clothes.
She hadn’t come to see me at all recently… no, wait, what are these guys even doing…?!
I reflexively grabbed my staff and took a stance.
“Please wait!”
Hm…
“There is a reason for this. First, please listen to what I have to say.”
…Count Missgancia’s foremost Knight.
I suppose I can’t just brush off his words.
“…What happened?”
“This woman, Maries, attempted to elope at night from the city.”
E-Elope at night…?!
“Maries, why? What happened?”
I asked Maries, still bound.
Because I had absolutely no idea.
Why would she elope at night?
Even though I promised I’d support her for life and cherish her…
“Ah, Dru… I, I… I just can’t anymore…!!!”
“What can’t you do? If there’s anything I can do to help…”
“…It’s you. You… I’m scared of you…!”
Th-That is…
“My home was burned down by a Magician like you! My brother, my father, my mother, they all died!!! I’m scared… I’m so scared! To think that you were actually a Magician!!!”
…I see.
Right…
This is the medieval era, after all.
Witches, Magicians, it’s only natural they’re feared and ostracized, huh?
Especially for someone like Maries, who comes from a poor farming background…
“…Why didn’t you talk to me about it?”
“Because you’re a Magician, aren’t you?! You could easily curse me to death, couldn’t you?! Running away was… it was the only choice I had!!!”
…Hah, I see.
Somehow… no, yeah.
That’s how it is.
I was fortunate with the people around me after carelessly coming to this world, so I’d forgotten.
This is just how the world, how life is…
This world is like that too.
She isn’t some heroine; she’s a human being.
The possibility of things turning out like this always exists. No, it’s probably the norm.
I am of a different kind, a despised kind, and above all, a terrifying Mage.
To a devout, country-born woman, it’s not strange that I might look like a monster.
This is a world where superstitions are readily believed, where sacrifices are commonplace.
Prejudice against Magicians naturally exists…
“I’m sorry… for everything up until now. For deceiving you like that…”
“Why…? Why couldn’t you have just been a normal person? If I had known you were something as terrifying as a Magician, I never would have fallen in love with you!!!!”
All I can say is, tell that to God…
…Anyway.
Ah, what a shame.
This is a breakup, isn’t it…
Maries, who had betrayed me—Count Missgancia’s number one subordinate—fled, and tried to spread the information that I was a Mage, was sentenced to Public Execution.
…However, I have feelings too.
Letting my former lover die is simply too sad.
Therefore, I arranged for another female death row inmate to be publicly executed under the name Maries.
As for Maries herself, she was declared dead and sent to a Monastery in a distant land…
Being sent to a Monastery is, so to speak, like being exiled. She will likely never return here again…
Having settled matters like this with the head Knight, Lord Alphons, I let out a deep sigh once things calmed down…
“Lord Andrews! Please don’t be so downhearted!”
“…I appreciate the sentiment, Lord Alphons, but I don’t need comforting. I’m used to this sort of thing.”
“…Hmm! It seems Lord Andrews cannot take pride in his origins or in being a Mage! However, as someone whose life was saved by that power, I sincerely wish for you to be well!”
“Is that so? I thought you veteran Knights disliked me for suddenly appearing and getting into Count Missgancia’s good graces?”
“Yes, of course! Honestly, I dislike you! …However, as a Knight! I am grateful for everything—for mending my broken arm, for curing my child’s illness, and for saving Rosalinde-sama!”
Uh, hmm…?
Well, I guess that’s it.
He doesn’t like everything about me, but he recognizes me as a comrade within the faction and acknowledges my abilities.
Is that the gist of it?
It makes sense; the people in this world aren’t “characters,” they’re human beings. They aren’t NPCs with affection gauges floating beside their heads.
Liking or disliking someone isn’t such a one-dimensional thing.
Knights and squires like him probably do dislike me. But even though they dislike me, they seem to acknowledge my abilities and recognize me as a comrade they would risk their lives to help in a pinch.
“I am the sword that fights in Count Missgancia-sama’s stead! And the Mages who serve as his advisors will support Count Missgancia! …However, you are the only one who can stand on the same level as Count Missgancia-sama!!!”
…Maybe that’s true.
“…Thank you, Lord Alphons. I feel better now.”
“Is that so! That is wonderful! …By the way, how about it? When Rosalinde-sama’s child is born, how about a Knight?! My sixth son is available!”
“Hahaha, when that time comes, I’ll definitely take you up on that, Lord Alphons.”
…Hardships are a natural part of life.
But it turned out that I had an environment around me that allowed me to overcome those hardships.