“Okay, that’ll be four silver coins and five copper coins in total.”
“Thank you very much.”
“Next person, please!”
I sold the materials I had gathered and left the guild reception.
With the clamor of the attached tavern behind me, I passed through the open exit.
“It got a little late today.”
I muttered softly, looking at the darkening sky.
I shouldn’t make Mom and the others worry.
I shook my light blue hair and hurried home.
“I’m home!”
“Oh, you’re a little late today, aren’t you?”
When I called out loudly as I entered the entrance, my mother replied from the back of the house.
I could hear the sound of water, so she must be cooking.
“Sis, you’re back!”
“Sis, let’s play tower building!”
“Ehh! I’m already tired of that! I’d rather play card matching! You think so too, right, Sis!?”
“Sorry, I have something to do, so I can’t right now.”
Originally, I only entered the entrance to announce my return.
I don’t intend to rest at home yet.
“That’s right, you two shouldn’t bother your sister.”
“Aww…”
With my mother’s support, my younger brothers went back inside the house.
Feeling a little guilty, I left the entrance and headed to the backyard.
I stood in front of the single tree in the small backyard and drew my short sword from the sheath on my waist.
Then, I swung the blade towards the tree ten steps away.
“〖Wave Slash〗”
A blade of 〖Mana〗 flew through the air along the cutting line.
The blade hit the tree, leaving a faint line on its surface.
“〖Wave Slash〗”
I sent out another slash.
〖Wave Slash〗 is fuel-efficient, so my 〖Mana〗 reserves are still nearly 90%.
I sent out slashes again and again.
Wave-type is a rare 〖Weapon Skill〗 that consumes 〖Mana〗.
That’s why even a dropout like me, who can’t use magic, can practice 〖Mana〗 control.
With each swing, I carefully and quickly put 〖Mana〗 into the slash.
“Haa, haa, 〖Wave Slash〗… ugh.”
After repeating this about twenty times, I was overcome with dizziness, nausea, and fatigue.
The cause was excessive consumption of 〖Mana〗.
The feeling of intoxication attacking my brain blurred my sense of my body, and I wasn’t even sure if I was holding the short sword properly or if I was standing straight.
“Paula, you should stop there.”
At that moment, I heard a voice calling my name.
I moved my heavy body and looked back.
“Fath, er. Wel, come… back…”
As I spoke in broken words, my father looked exasperated and picked me up.
“Whoa.”
“Be quiet. It must be hard for you to even speak.”
“…Okay.”
Just like that, I was carried inside the house.
In the living room, my mother had finished cooking, and the whole family gathered around the dining table.
I ate the food while enduring the nausea from 〖Mana〗 deficiency.
I’ve been continuing this training since I was little to increase my maximum 〖Mana〗, but it’s still just as painful as ever.
“Hey, Paula.”
As I was picking at my salad, my mother called my name.
I just looked at her to ask what she wanted.
“Actually, there’s been a marriage proposal for you.”
“…………”
“You’re about the age to start thinking about these things, aren’t you? You’re doing such a dangerous job as an adventurer, so I think it’s better to do it as soon as possible.”
Her tone conveyed a strong sense of consideration for me.
I chewed and swallowed the Wooton specialty leafy vegetables well and answered with a smile.
“Yeah, I think I’ll accept the proposal.”
“Really, that’s great! The person is—”
I continued eating dinner while looking at my happy mother’s face.
My mood was still as if I had swallowed lead.
At night. I lay in the same bedroom as my family and looked up at the dark ceiling.
When I was in the darkness where only the sound of breathing could be heard, I couldn’t help but let my thoughts wander.
(What should I do?)
It was something I had thought about countless times before.
A question whose answer I already knew.
In the picture book I read when I was little, there was an amazing wizard.
He brought rain to the drought-stricken village and torrential downpours to the evil Demon Beasts, a great wizard straight out of a picture book.
I wanted to become such a great wizard too.
That’s why I tried my best to increase my 〖Mana〗 as a child.
But reality was harsh. The 〖Attribute〗 I awakened was something incomprehensible, something I couldn’t even figure out how to use, something that was like air, whether it existed or not, it didn’t make a difference.
I couldn’t attack like with the 〖Fire Attribute〗, heal like with the 〖Recovery Attribute〗, or entertain people like with the 〖Sound Attribute〗.
(It’s impossible, isn’t it…)
The entrance exam for the magic academy, the gateway to becoming a great wizard, is in half a year.
I, who am still at the 〖First Canon〗 despite constantly using my trait, don’t think I can reach 〖Sublimation〗 in the next half year.
Even if I reach the 〖Second Canon〗 with 〖Sublimation〗, nothing will change if I can’t use magic.
(Is it time to give up…?)
Until now, I’ve been desperately trying to ignore the reality that I can’t use magic.
No matter how much I train my 〖Mana〗 control, it’s meaningless if I can’t use magic.
No matter how much I defeat Demon Beasts and raise my 〖Level〗, it’s meaningless if I can’t use magic.
No matter how much money I save and get a magic weapon, it’s meaningless if I can’t use magic.
It’s all pointless.
Yet, I’m clinging to my dream pathetically, worrying my parents, and not being able to spend time with my younger brothers.
I think I’m a terrible older sister.
(This is a good opportunity.)
That’s why this marriage proposal is a turning point.
I should give up my unsuitable dream and find ordinary happiness.
That’s the best thing for me and for the people around me.
Unlike the capital, the town of Wooton doesn’t have a strong magic-supremacy ideology.
If I get married, I won’t have any problems even if I can’t use magic.
There’s not a single reason for me to refuse it.
“…………….I wish I could use magic.”
I turned over and put a lid on the true feelings that had spilled out.
The next morning. I went to the guild as usual. The marriage proposal is still a long way off because the schedule with the other party needs to be coordinated.
I went to the reception to ask if there were any notices, and there I found a young man.
“Give me the documents. The documents about Demon Beasts that use 〖Telepathy〗-type 〖Skills〗.”
His words made me think of the friend I recently made in the forest.
“Whoa, there’s quite a lot…”
“You’re welcome to read them, but please don’t take them out of the guild.”
“I understand.”
While that was happening, the chubby young man came over with a book in his arms.
“Hey, can I ask you something—”
Intrigued by what he wanted to investigate, I called out to him.
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
The next chapter will return to the protagonist’s perspective.