Chapter 26 (1/2)
Chapter 26 – They call irl
Maria Campbell is my name But, very few people actually call ic”
I grew up in a sic first activated when I was five
A friend that I was playing with tripped and fell, and injured her foot It was bleeding, and was very painful While thinking that I’d try and do so light burst out from my hands, and when it came in contact with her wounds, they disappeared instantly
My lightall the injuries and pain
However, at that time, I didn’t knohat I had just done If I had been born to a noble faic to some extent, but…… I was born in a commoner’s family At that time, I hadn’t even been to school yet, and I didn’t even knohat ic was……
Also, , just like ht just suddenly burst out from my hand What’senveloped in the light
My friend was astonished at what happened, and was terrified She screamed, pushed me, and ran away
While I just froze there in confusion, my mother orried about me, came to find me, and found me there frozen to the spot
After that, I was finally able to tell ht me to city hall
And so, after I was inspected by the governician”
Until I activated ic abilities, I was just another ordinary kid Even though my family’s not very rich, I’etic and reliable father, and my kind mother that loves tospecial, it’s that my mother is called the most beautiful woman in town, and since I looked so much like her, of course my father and everyone else in town loved me
But…… After I becaed
In this country, those with ic powers are ic power Nevertheless, I was born as soic However, alic would have a noble for a parent
Because of that, when I was found out to havean affair It was probably also partly because I looked a lot like my mother, but not very much like father
Especially since mother was thethat she must have hooked up with a noble at some point in time
Of course, nothing of the sort happened, but……
Rumors spread very quick in a small town, and our family relationshi+p became rocky……
Before long, my father who had always come back home immediately after work to listen to mother and I happily, would hardly ever come home at all And so, mother who used to smile all the time would always have a blank expression and have her head down Even though she also used to likesweets so much, she wouldn’t make any at all anymore
………All because I have ic……
Also, h all the townsfolk used to treat me so kindly, before I realized it they had all beco with er play with me
It was said that I itimate child of soic
I probably wasn’t an easy presence to accept for the townsfolk that were used to living a peaceful life……
And so, since I had light ic – I was shunned by everyone, people were scared of me, and I became a presence to be avoided
But even so, I…… couldn’t help but keep hoping I want father to return hoain, and once more, I want to be able to play with my friends
That’s why I worked hard I actively participated in household chores, never co selfish, and desperately studied
As long as I hung in there, worked hard, and was a good child, I desperately believed that I could return to inal life filled with happiness……
And, before I realized it, I’ve becoirl”
Finally, I was chosen to be the school representative at our neighborhood school, and the teacher praiseda wonderful student
But even so…… As usual, father wouldn’t come home…… And mother wouldn’t even look me in the eye anymore
And, as for the other children, nobody would play with nored me, and while I wasn’t bullied, nobody would play with me
And no irl,” and nothing changed
In fact, contrary to my wishes, people would say behind hter, sos for her” or “she ic”
What can I do to get along with everyone like we used to…… is what I was always thinking about Then, one day, a classht some of her handmade sweets to school to share with everyone, and I sa happy they all were at eating them
If I could successfully make handmade sweets just like how she can, I wonder if I’ll be able to get along better with everyone…… Before ic activated, I used to often make sweets with my mother The sweets I made with my mother were very delicious
That day, after co sweets bywhat ood as the ones I ic taste, and gaveinside my chest
And so, I tried ood enough, I took them with me to school
Then, just likelunch break, I put some sweets on everyone’s table
However…… nobody touched those sweets at all When lunch break finished, and everyone returned to their seats, I collected all the sweets and put the
After class, when everyone left and I was alone in the classrooh they’re supposed to be sweets that everyone can enjoy energetically…… I couldn’t stop the tears fro out
And so, I ate all the sweets on my own, then returned home and immediately laid down on my bed
I told mother froht” in a business-like voice saying that “I’m full today” and all she said was “oh okay” before she left me alone
My teachers, everyone in my school, all the townspeople, and irl”
That “special” also meant “different”
No matter how hard I worked, noshunned by everyone, an existence to be afraid of……
I don’t want to be called a “special girl with light ic!”
I’itiic…… I only worked so hard…… I just want to be recognized by everyone that I’m a hard worker……
nobody would even look at me Not even my mother would look me in the eye
Anyone is fine…… Anyone is fine, so, someone…… Look at me…… Only look at Maria Campbell……
When a person reaches fifteen, it’s ic power have to attend ic school
Magic school…… If I go there, everyone will have ain……
If I go there…… just maybe, someone will appear ill be my friend……
Curled up alone on the bed infrom my chest……
I’ic school –
And so, when I entered ic school were immediately shattered
All the students at ic school were nobles, and I was the only coreater difference between us
Also, since coic to begin with due to not havingrare, but it turns out that it’s the rarest of rare even aic users
As a result, I’ve become evenany friends What’s ic powers despite only being a commoner
So, it didn’t change at all from the time in the town, in fact my days became even harder
Even so…… If I keep working hard…… If I’ as hard as I can
And so, a feeeks after I entered ic school, there was a test to deteric Since I studied as hard as I could, I rades on both tests
And so, as a result, I became a member of the student council
The other h social status, that ordinarily I would never have even gotten the chance to ever speak to the in toith a normal life The second-year senpais in student council were the same as well
Ast all of them, my first self-introduction was quite weak as I shrunk in their presence, but the student council members were unconcerned with social status, and were friendly and wonderful people
In particular, because the other student council members wanted it to happen, a person as not a student council o as she pleased here, the duke’s daughter, Katarina Claes-sama – she would even treat me exactly the same as she treated all the other nobles, in a warm and friendly manner
In the school, only the student council room became a place where I could rest and relax
“Campbell-san, can you make sweets by any chance?”
Katarina-sama suddenly asked a question like that, after classes in the student council room At the unexpected question, by reflex, I froze up
“……Uh, why is it that you happen to know that I make sweets?”
Well, for sure, I had always continueda sweet made with my mother’s recipe would remind htly better
Since co and hardshi+ps, so I’ve been borrowing a corner of the kitchen to make sweets for myself However, that was supposed to be a secret Of course, I’ve never said anything about this topic in the student council room Despite this, why is it that Katarina-sa at Katarina-sama
“Uhhh~, it, it’s, I heard so from the lady in the cafeteria……”
That was the answer I got
Indeed, since I haven’t asked the cooks to keep it a secret for , maybe such a topic has become a rumor already
“……Just as Claes-sa the cafeteria kitchen to make some sweets for myself from time to time, but…… It’s, still very far from the extent where I can show everyone……”
I stared at the luxurious sweets placed on the table
They’re high-class sweets that I’ve never even seen the likes of before…… To people that are eating such wonderful things, I can’t possibly bring out my cheap handmade sweets…… Then, to the downcast me, she said –
“As for h I like the luxury sweets made by cooks, I also love handmade sweets”
Is what Katarina-sama said
“Eh, Claes-sama also happens to eat handmade sweets?”
I was very surprised I’ve heard that most nobles don’t cook for themselves Because of that, they would only eat sweetshandht
“Yeah The head maid in our house, also has a si to school, I’ve missed the taste of that handmade candy If it’s not too much trouble for Campbell-san, I’ll be really happy if you could share just a little bit of what you make with me, and I’ll even help supply you with funds for the supplies, and properly pay you for what you make”
As she said so, Katarina-sama directed a lovely smile at me
“I couldn’t possibly accept anythe leftovers from the school kitchen! ………Since it’s really just an aood to Claes-sa them to share”
Being pressured by that lovely sreed and made her a promise Then, to me –
“Thank you!”
Once again, Katarina-saently
Maybe, Katarina-sa pity onsweets by herself in the kitchen, and eating theht have said that out of sympathy for me Katarina-sama is a very nice and wonderful person, after all……
She ht only be lip service……
But…… It’s the first time…… That someone’s said they want to eat my sweets……
I was on cloud nine, and after returning to the dorht tosweets for so sweets by myself anymore
The next day after classes ended, I was onup the sweets that I had left in the kitchen I wanted Katarina-sama to enjoy it even a little bit And so, I placed the warmed sweets into a basket, and headed for the student council room
While on my way – that’s when it happened
On the path from the dorms to the school, several fe, sparkly dresses, I knew that they were fairly high-ranked nobles
“There’s so we need to say to you”
Is what they said, and I was forcibly brought over to the forest When we got to the forest, the girls started showeringme “commoner peasant” and the like
This has happened to me several times since I’ve entered school, I just reer to subside a bit Then……
“What’s this?”
One of the girls showed interest in the basket I was carrying
“……Th, that’s…… Sweets that I made for everyone in the student council……”
At the unexpected question, I answered it honestly by reflex…… And then, I regretted my carelessness immediately
At ed I felt an anger froer that could not be compared with earlier I’ve done it now…… My careless rery
Then –
One of the girls knocked the basket out of round with a loud “thu out onto the ground
“Just because you have the power of lightfawned over by everyone, doesn’t that feel just great! A co as poor as this for the student council to eat, have some shame and know your place!”
The girl that was shouting at ht now raised her foot and was about to stomp on the sweets
I’ve never enraged anyone like this before, and so in front of their fierce anger, I could only blankly watch as going on before me…… At that time –
“Stop!”
Suddenly, a dignified voice echoed With beautiful flowing tawny hair, clear light blue eyes, that voice and dignified pose –
Why would she be in a place like this, after classes are over she should always be in the student council room……
And so, al in front of me