64 63. Maria Distras.txt (2/2)

I let my cheeks fall and resume cooking. If my magic continues to increase at this rate, I might be able to establish a role in the labyrinth. With that hope in mind, I cook.

That day, after having breakfast, Master and Rastiara-san went to explore the labyrinth - but they immediately cut off their search and returned.

With few words, Mr. Rastiara went back to his family's home in Hoozeyer's.

And only the disheartened master remained at home.

It was a chance for them to do a lot of things alone. However, I can't break my promise to Arti-san here. Training in magic is absolutely necessary in the long run. I can't let myself get carried away by temporary pleasures here.

I left my master and joined Arti-san.

Mr. Alty was sitting in the same seat as he had been one day. And a strange man was also sitting there.

'Hi, Maria. I'm over here.

Oh, yes.

I take my seat as Mr. Arti leads me to my seat.

Then I bow to a tall, fearless-looking man.

I wondered if he was an acquaintance of Mr. Arti's. I wondered with my eyes.

I wondered with my eyes if he was an acquaintance of Mr. Arti, and he told me about the man.

”Oh, don't worry about this guy, he'll be gone soon. Don't worry about this guy, he'll be gone soon. He's just an old friend.

'Haha, my old friend (・・・・). Sure, that's about it. Don't worry about it, little girl. I'll be out in a minute.

And with that, the man did as he said, he got up and left.

After the man left, I realized that I had met the man.

I've met that man before. With the power of 'eyes', in the short time I have now, I have matched the characteristics of the man I met in the past.

As I recall, that man was in the same place when I was hired as a slave by my master.

I don't know the details of the story, but he must have been an acquaintance of my master's.

I regret that I should have greeted him a little more properly. But the 'eyes' deny it. It advises me not to get involved with that man as much as possible.

Then let's get something to eat first. It's lunchtime.

With that, Mr. Arti passes the menu to me.

Then we started to have lunch as if nothing had happened.

As we ate our lunch, Arti-san asked me about me, as if he were making small talk.

'How are you doing these days?　Do you think we're making progress?

'No, not much has changed ....... But thanks to the magic you taught me, I'm able to take down stronger monsters.

That's good to hear.

''With the amount of magic I have, I'll soon run out of breath. In the end, the labyrinth is just Master and Rustyala-san alone. I can't help it.

I report my current shortcomings as I stir the soup on the table.

'Oh well ....... I'm rooting for Maria, so that's a sad thing ......

...... but someday, I will be just like Ms. Rustyala. Even if I can't now, someday I'll be ......!

I speak with positive enthusiasm.

But Alty's face remains sunken as he listens.

'Someday (・・・・), or ......'

Mr. Alty gave a sad look as if he was reminded of something.

'D-Do you need anything?'

'No, that 'someday' is the question. I just heard that the relationship between Christ and Rastiala is about to change rapidly: ......

What happened?

It was true that the two of them were strange today. However, it's always the case that the master is fumbling and ...... but Rustyala-san didn't seem to be disturbed by the spirit. It's a 'eye' confirmation, so there's no doubt about it.

''Hmph. Just like Maria thinks, those two aren't trying to change. They are willing to stay the same. That's what they are. But the people around them don't seem to allow it. ...... It seems we need to rush things along a little bit.

Surroundings.

As far as I know, the only people around the master are the people in the tavern where he works.

I give the tavern clerk an 'eye' to check it out. It seems that Arti is not referring to the people here.

The only thing left is that it's Rastiara-san's surroundings. In other words, the knights we encountered in the labyrinth. Indeed, those people have a nuisance that is likely to progress their relationship.

''Those knights are ......?　--Yes, let's hurry up!　Teach me magic!

'Hmph, you don't have any doubts. Cultivating a higher level of magic is a physical hindrance. Is that what you want?

Of course.

Okay, let's move on.

We finish our meal at the tavern and move to a clearing with few people.

It's a grassy field far from the city. There is a lot of uncultivated land in the Valt. In this kind of place, there are not many eyes on people.

So Arti-san's expression changes to a serious one, and he gives a sharp first word.

''Well, from the looks of it ...... Maria, you're repeating yourself recklessly. A series of magic in a real battle. And with your own training, your body is in tatters.

But he's not in an accusatory mood.

It's more like a confirmation.

If you're a wizard like Arti-san, you'll be able to see through it at a glance. I nodded honestly.

''Yes .......''

'Hmm. ....... It's just as I expected, or so I'd say. I must say, you're just like me.

As he said this, Alty-san's expression relaxed and he smiled nostalgically.

''Are you exactly like Alty-san?''

Yeah, it's pretty obvious. So I know exactly what you're going through right now.

Symptoms?　Am I sick with something?

I cringe when I hear the symptoms.

Because if it's a potentially infectious disease, you won't be able to be with your master.

'No, I'm not sick. I told you before.　They say that if you use magic to abuse your mind, there is a price to pay. Now your mind has been damaged more than you think.

'Oh, really: ......?'

I don't feel it when I hear about the damage to my psyche.

If anything, I feel better because I have more hope than before.

In my case, I was so overworked that I even had memory loss. How are you doing?　Does that mean anything to you?　If there's something you can't remember or something else you can't remember, please tell me sooner rather than later.

Memory impairment?

There's nothing in particular ...... should be.

'Yes, no, for now it's ......

'The operation of high-level fire magic can burn old memories at any moment. Your use of magic that is out of proportion to your stature will always be in danger.

Burn old memories. ......

Burning the past and setting the present ablaze. That's the essence of fire magic. The chanting I taught contains those techniques.

Memories are lost one day anyway.

I do not abhor the idea of burning them. I've been prepared for that level of abuse ever since I heard the words 'abuse the mind'.

'No matter. I don't need the past if I want to get my powers ......!

Hearing this, Alty-san smiled sadly again.

'Hmmm, I suppose ....... Yes, I suppose .......

Laughing, Ms. Alty slit her wrists, just as she had before.

I took in her intentions and brought my lips to her wrist.

-- and that day I learned not only about magic, but also about the origins of chanting.

The relationship between chanting and magic runs deep, and the words you chant replace the effects of your magic.

It is generally believed that using magic consumes MP. However, Arti, who has a deep knowledge of magic, taught me otherwise.

How to shoot magic without MP.

Chanting with memory as a substitute. Chanting at the cost of emotions. Chanting at the cost of life.

Chanting at the cost of life. I learn various types of chanting.

When I use them well, I can do them in rapid succession and not run out of breath.

I feel my understanding of magic growing and becoming stronger.

However, as I compose, I also feel something dear to my heart peeling away and falling away as I compose.

Knowing this, Arti-san is teaching me.

I am also prepared for this.

I'd rather die than leave my master.

I'd rather die .......

With that in mind, I--.

My head is overheated and I feel dizzy.

Before I knew it, the bulk of my thoughts seemed to be increasing.

And I understand that the true nature of this is fire magic.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

That's probably what makes the feelings watered down.

The ”compensation” is not only losing it. I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do that.

The fact that my existence has been altered by magic gives me a chill.

A physiological disgust takes over, and I can feel my body screaming.

But that's okay.

If the thoughts are lost, or even increased, I welcome it.

Ms. Arti chooses to teach me that kind of chanting.

She supports my love with all her might. It's the 'chanting' for that, and it's the 'price'. I continue to practice my magic with no fear.

The fever builds up.

The heat makes my inner feelings boil.

The emotions turn to mush, and at the end of it all

Let's call it a day.

Arti-san was looking down at me.

It seemed that I had collapsed before I knew it as I repeated my training.

I stand up, wiping the sweat off my face.

''Well, I can still do it. ......

'Yes, I know. But it's time for Christ to come home, you know. You should meet him at home.

Arti-san seems to be able to keep track of his master's movements.

As I recall, I heard that he can expand his sense organs wherever there is a fire. What an enviable ability. Since it's an ability and not magic, I'm curious about Arti-san's identity.

I won't pry too deeply into it. I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what it is, but I'm going to be able to get a good idea of what it is.

You can tell that from his eyes.

'I understand. Thank you for your time today.

'No, fine. It's all for me, too.

For Mr. Alty?

'I couldn't reach you, but I feel better about you reaching me. Yes, it makes me feel better ....... That's why I'm using you, Maria, .......

Mr. Arti replied, mocking himself.

I can see that he seems to be self-mocking somewhat.

I don't want my benefactor to look at me like that, so I try to encourage him.

'I don't know Alty-san well. I don't know the details of the situation either. ...... but I don't think that's a bad thing. Normally, if I see someone trying to accomplish something that they couldn't accomplish on their own, I think I would be disturbed. I think it's a dirty feeling that gets in the way. So Mr. Arti is a wonderful person to be able to support without doing that.

I will communicate clearly.

Mr. Arti and Mr. Rustyala are wonderful people, and I'm going to make it very clear that I am a dirty person.

Yes.

I'm the only one who is dirty .......

'Hmmm, I see ....... Thanks, Maria. ......'

Hearing this, Arti-san's eyes widened and her cheeks broke out - she looked somewhere in the distance and thanked him.

You can see that various emotions are mixed up in Arti-san's chest.

However, the full extent of it cannot be grasped even with 'eyes'. It's a deep and complicated emotion.

'Alty-san ......?'

The emotions confused me and I called out his name.

'Thank you so much, Maria. See you later.

Shaking it off, Mr. Arti left the scene.

It burned the clothes he was wearing and turned into a flame, and then disappeared in a huff.

Like the last flame of a candle, it was somewhat sorrowful.

As I looked away from it, I felt hazy, unable to comprehend Alty-san's heart.

However, I had no choice but to hurry back to the house so as not to waste the information that Alty-san had given me about my master returning home.

If that was true, I would have to go home first and prepare a meal for him.

Cooking is my remaining significance and my place of residence.

I will return to my home, my place of residence.

And as Arti-san informed me, the master returned alone as I was preparing the food.

But his appearance is strange.

The master's behavior is the same as it was sometime ago.

The atmosphere of when we first met.

The exact same expression he had when he found me in the slave market.

A look like a lost child wandering alone ...... such a face.

I could feel something beginning to fall apart.

I became worried and approached my master at a fast pace.

''Master, what's wrong ......?''

The master let his gaze wander and spun his words as if he was lost.

'No. ......, Rastiara will be at ...... the day after tomorrow.'

The day after tomorrow?　What is it about Mr. Rastiara?

On Nativity Day: ”On Nativity Day: ......

Yes, sir.

Apparently, the master is disturbed by Mr. Rustyala.

My heart bubbles at that fact.

However, I restrain my mind so that he doesn't realize it, and wait for the master to speak.

The master looks lost, and then he squeezes out a voice as if he were squeezing.

'On the day of the Nativity, he wants to play again.

They lied to me, as if to squeeze it out.

I can see it in my 'eyes'.

Now, the master has decided that he doesn't need to explain to me.

I can feel my bubbling heart raging like a storm.

Gritting my back teeth, I struggled to calm my emotions.

'...... yes. Good.

I nod.

I know he lied to me.

I also know that it was not a lie out of consideration for me, unlike the usual. But looking at the exhausted master, I couldn't say anything else.

What the master needs right now is to rest.

Master slowly walked towards his room.

As I stare at his back, I watch him and mutter to myself.

''--You mean I'm not worthy of revealing my troubles to you, right?

The usual sense of being left behind intensifies.

Right now, the master is full of thoughts about Mr. Rustyala.

I'm not there.

I am nowhere to be found.

You'll know it.

I don't need to 'see' it.

I clench my fists and return to the kitchen.

I use my flame magic to increase the heat and finish cooking early.

Saving the food for the master who won't return to the living room, I go outdoors alone.

I walk from the sparsely populated hill to an even more sparsely populated one.

Then I practice my magic when I am sure no one is around.

A raging fire, which seems to reflect my mind, dances across the sky.

Over and over, over and over again, I repeat the 'chant'.

I recite things that Arti-san told me not to use too much, over and over again.

I was sure that the more I chanted, the more power I felt.

Most of all, it was easy to feel like I was letting my emotions out. It was too comfortable.

My body was screaming and my mind was breaking down.

It was so, so, so easy - and so easy to do.

The control of the flame is getting better and better at a frightening speed.

The speed of 'chanting' also increased rapidly, and it was no longer necessary to say it out loud to obtain the effects of 'chanting'. This is the technique of 'chantless chanting' that Arti-san was talking about. I was told it would take years to master, but that's not true. It's easy once you get the hang of it.

I spawn flames without chanting and manipulate them with little magic power.

Less magic.

That's the key.

How to operate fire magic with less magic power. That was my challenge.

However, it can be said that this has almost been resolved.

I've figured out how to replace the missing magic power.

We can use our useless emotions as fuel. We can fuel our inadequate bodies.

We can make as much magic as we want if we sacrifice our memories and memories, as Arti-san did.

I can make the flames of the Midgals Blaze dance as many as I can and control them all. And I make sure that I haven't lost much magic power in my body. I release the magic, smiling at the fact that I was able to activate the maximum magic with the least amount of magic.

There was a definite feeling of gaining power.

It spurred my training.

Even the power is .......

If only I had the power, there would be nothing like today .......

You will no longer be able to lie to your master .......

You can't rely on .......

I won't be worth spewing a single worry .......

I will no longer be that weak ......!

You can walk next to your master, like Mr. Rastiala: ......!

I'm willing to sacrifice anything for that.

There's no such thing as memory loss.

It's not about the past. It's about now.

Don't seek a home that isn't there.

Forget about the homeland that isn't there.

All I need is this power and a thought.

As long as I have these two, I won't be left behind.

I can be happy.

That's all that matters now.

Hmph. Hahahahaha--

I laugh.

I keep laughing.

I'm having fun practicing magic.

I can feel I'm getting closer to happiness.

I'm beginning to acquire a power that's second to none, even to Rastiara-san.

Now, I had the confidence that I could be relative without cowering, even against that horrible mass of violence.

A few more .......

I'm almost ready to .......

I won't let my master look at me like that anymore .......

I am ...... not Mr. Rustyala, who embarrasses the master, but I am .......

I'm the only one next to ......--

What?

I surprised myself with the black emotions that were born inside me.

Up until now, I had only had red hot feelings for my master, but suddenly I felt black hot feelings.

I immediately shake my head.

It's not that I want to drag Rustyala-san down.

I'm sure he's outlandish in his thinking, but he's not a bad person. Rather, he's a good person who will help me. And yet, I thought about it as if I wanted Rustyala-san to disappear.

I let all of my fire magic sink in, shook my head again, and cooled my head with the night breeze.

I seem to have paid too much of a 'price' and lost my composure.

Before I knew it, I was thinking about all the strange things.

I still have some time to spare, but I decide it's time to rest.

I wobble back into the house and collapse into my bed in my room.

Looking up at the ceiling, I remember the black feelings I had earlier.

Now that I've calmed down, I can't believe who I was earlier.

I thought it was because of magic, but Alty didn't say that this kind of black emotion was created.

I think the cause is myself.

Perhaps the emotions that were at the bottom of the pile came to the surface for some reason.

I shake it off and meditate hard on my eyes.

It takes me a moment to fall asleep.

My body is exhausted. It's easy to lose consciousness if I let my mind wander.

I fell asleep as if I were running away from something.

I sleep believing that tomorrow will be the same as usual.

Believing that it will be the same as usual .......

I sleep and .......

--but (...)

'-- If ...... can help me, can Christ help me?　Is Hein right, will you and I travel together somewhere far away and different?

The next morning.

I hear the master and Mr. Rustyala talking.

It was like an act in some love story, and I could only give a drawn-out laugh.

Mr. Rastiara appeals to his master.

It was as beautiful, tragic, and cowardly as the heroine of some story.

Cowardly.

Yes, cowardly.

'You said you'd support me ....... I said I was just watching you. ....... Why .......

The words leaked out in the hallway outside the room.

Master and Rustyala's world. And my world.

I shed a drop of tears as I was held by the door that blocked those two worlds.

One drop of tears spilled from my cheeks and before it fell to the floor, it disappeared as a flame.

The color of the flame was red - and then it burned black.