kscans

Chapter 51 - The Master Who Can't Say 'I Love You' and the Magic Furnaces That Will Destroy the Country

Mireille couldn't stop turning the pages of the diary. Her own name began to appear more and more. The events from her memory overlapped with the written words.

The day they did alchemy together. The day her master boasted about her hunting result (I had just thought she was explaining the materials). The day she made a huge mistake with the enhancement multiplier on a weapon.

Small memories were scattered across the pages.

...Master, even though you were so awkward. You tried so hard to learn to love me as a person.

A warmth spread deep within her chest.

Her master recorded everything. Alchemy, hunting, childcare. On top of that, it seemed she often asked Darius, "Is this feeling the same as what a person feels?" about her thoughts and emotions.

She was different from other people. After she understood that, she must have been anxious.

Looking back, after she started working at the shop, she felt she had spent more time with the other employees than with her master. Her master must have consciously kept her distance... so as not to influence me too much.

The time I spent with my master was surprisingly short.


Several years after they started living in the royal capital, Ariel, who had been loved by Darius for so long, had lost the shadow of the girl once called a "living weapon."

But that was why she noticed it. The gap between her senses and those of other people. And she became timid about spending time with the person she loved.

With Mireille, she relentlessly conveyed the joy of alchemy. And just as she had been happy when Darius praised her, she now praised Mireille a great deal.

As a result, Mireille's abilities stood out even in the royal capital, and when it came to recipe development, no one in the city could match her. Seeing this, Ariel felt truly proud.

...And yet.

Despite being told "I love you" by Darius every day for over 10 years, Ariel hesitated to reply. She would say, "I love you too," but she didn't know if it was truly "love." She felt she wasn't giving anything back to Darius, not like he had for her.

Still, they had a sweet relationship where they held each other and kissed every day, and Darius had proposed many times.

Ten years ago, she might have nodded without emotion. But things were different now. She knew the difference between a noble and herself, and she could understand why Adrian had distanced himself. Far from giving anything back, she was a burden to Darius.

Once Mireille could stand on her own, she too should leave Darius, just as Adrian had. That's what she told herself.


"If you hunt too many monsters, they'll swarm and rampage, yet the subjugation orders keep increasing. They've pushed close to the barracks. A large one appeared near the tower, and I'm subjugating it."

When Ariel marked the subjugation range on a map, the center of the previous area was Sacred Peak Mountain. But now, that line had expanded all the way to the entrance of the "recognition-inhibited" forest.

"Should I have the Mage Order expand the range of the recognition inhibition?" Ariel asked Darius, looking openly displeased.

"...The new Mage Order captain is creepy. He just stares at my magic power. But if it's necessary, I'll have to talk to him."

"...What?"

Darius couldn't believe his ears. For Ariel, who was usually oblivious to the subtleties of people, to say someone was "creepy."

"It's not like he's done anything to you, right?"

"I think he is doing something. I always deflect it with my defensive magic. He's also given me poison. But I have an antidote, so it's fine. ...It's fine, but I don't like it. When he touches me, it's different from you, Darius. He tries to touch me to check my magic power. It's creepy."

"Wait, that's not normal!" Darius's face paled.

About a year ago, Rainer had been appointed the new Mage Order captain. Rainer was young and ambitious, but he was under the Supreme Commander's jurisdiction. He hadn't heard anything about this.

"How did that happen?"

"I've been refusing orders from the King and the Mage Order captain, so it can't be helped that I have contact with him."

"...You refused... the King's orders...?"

Darius was speechless. He had thought Ariel would obey the King's orders without question.

At first, it was a small complaint. But gradually, Ariel's expression became more pained. And on the days she had contact with the Mage Order captain, she would always strongly seek to be held by Darius.

"With Darius, I feel safe. I feel relieved. I want to be touched more. ...But I don't like the Mage Order captain."

It was complicated to be compared to him as a reaction to something unpleasant. But the fact that she was being poisoned made it clear that something was very wrong.

"From now on, go through me. I won't let him have direct contact with you."

"...It's probably impossible. The King is trying to build Magic Furnaces all over the country. I'm refusing to create the circuits with alchemy, so I can't cut off contact. Magicians are also involved with the Magic Furnaces."

"Magic Furnaces...?" As the Supreme Commander, I haven't heard anything about this.

"When they're operational, they can create a huge amount of magic power. They can power many weapons, and the cities will become more convenient with magic. But they require a lot of large monsters. The reason the number of giant monsters is increasing now is probably because I've been overhunting for years. It's dangerous to kill any more. That's why I'm refusing."

A heavy weight settled on Darius's chest.

The King only pursued short-term gains. He probably wouldn't understand Ariel's warning or the long-term perspective.

He had a very bad feeling about this.