kscans

Chapter 44 - My Master's Diary and My Wavering Feelings

After Leonhard-san left the tower, the room felt strangely quiet. Even this space that should have felt small now felt vast and cold, accentuating my loneliness.

"You're still only eighteen. Since you're in a special environment right now, it could be the suspension bridge effect. Once you calm down and think about it, you might realize you'd be better off with someone your own age."

Leonhard-san had said that with such a lonely look on his face.

But is that really true? When I see him after everything has settled down, will I no longer be drawn to him? ...Or is it that Leonhard-san isn't interested, and he's just letting me down easy to avoid hurting me?

No, but he held me today. If my feelings don't change, can I allow myself to have a little hope?

Today, Leonhard-san was appointed captain of the Tree Sea Defense Force. On his collar shone a badge with the same emblem as the one on the document from the wooden box on the fourth floor.

I need to know, too. The truth about my master. I can't just let myself be protected all the time.

She gave me a dagger with my name on it. I suppose it means I'm supposed to use it to fight. I may not be able to fight in combat, but I have alchemy. I can't just hide. I have to act.

With that thought, I headed to the fourth floor. I felt like Leonhard-san's scent still lingered there faintly... and my chest tightened. I took a deep breath to calm myself and opened the third box.

Inside were my master's personal diaries. There were several volumes. She was a meticulous person who recorded everything. But...

Is it okay for me to read this? I'm sorry, Master. But I need to find a clue.

I turned the page.


It was a beautiful, sunny day. We had talked about harvesting the vegetables we had all grown. Even as a small child, I had a basket of my own and was fully prepared to harvest vegetables.

But then, a fire-attributed monster suddenly attacked the village.....

"Ariel, hide in here."

"What about you, Mom?"

"I'll hide somewhere else. No one can get in here, so you'll be safe. I'll definitely come back for you, so don't you dare come out."

"...Okay."

But Ariel was the only one who survived.

"Is anyone alive!" A voice called from the distance. Despite her severe injuries, she screamed with all her might.

My father and mother must be somewhere. They might just be unable to speak.

Hey, where are you? Please, answer me!

But on the scorched earth, not even bones remained. Master's memories ended there, and when she next awoke, she had been "bought" by the state.

Ariel, who possessed strong magic, was raised to become either a magician or an alchemist, and eventually, she was made a soldier to manage the Tree Sea. It was the only way for her to live. So, she studied relentlessly until there was no one left to teach her.

At first, it was battles with small monsters. If she failed, she'd be covered in blood. But as long as she didn't die, it wasn't a problem. A High Potion of her own making could even heal a lost limb.

She only cried when she was a child. Before she knew it, she could defeat even large monsters. No matter how many times she neared death, she revived, killing as she was told.

At the same time, she mastered alchemy. The Potions she made were all of higher quality than those sold in stores. She trained and practiced alchemy until she passed out.

She never questioned it. If she made things, people were happy. That gave her a place to belong.

And then, at the age of seventeen, my master was called a "living weapon" and appointed captain of the Tree Sea Defense Force.


Reading the diary, I held my breath. ...She had been carrying this past with her.

The master I knew laughed a lot, knew so many things, and taught me gently.

Wow, alchemy is amazing! I want to know more! I want to make useful things!

Why did my master, who became the captain of the Tree Sea Defense Force, take me in? Did she intend to raise me as a soldier to manage the Tree Sea, just like her?

Feeling uneasy, I turned to the next page.