65 64. Maria, the one who burns the void.txt (1/2)

After all, Master didn't say he would help Mr. Rustyala.

No, he couldn't say it.

He couldn't catch Mr. Rastiara's unstable spirit and left before I could give him an answer.

I feel a little bit of relief.

However, I knew I couldn't be relieved, so I opened the door with all my intentions.

On the other side of the door is the master with an end-of-the-world look on his face.

'Did you hear me ......?'

Yes, sir.

I affirm without falsehood and confirm my master's intentions.

'Mr. Rastiara can be reached at .......'

I'm out. You heard the man.

Master pointed weakly out the window.

'Are you sure about this, Master: ......

'Nothing. The problem is too big: ......

When I heard those words, I felt my stormy mind calm down.

Never letting it show, I'll make sure about what happens after this.

'So, when the new Tiara-san arrives, you'll think of it as Russ Tiara-san, and you'll still be able to visit ......?

...... That's not Rastiala, that's a different person. It's not going to happen.

I could see my calm mind grow rapturous next.

I try hard to keep my expression from letting Master realize that I'm ugly and happy.

Then the master continues as if to spit it out.

'At least you can't be one of us: ......

My restraint came to an end when Mr. Rastiala assured me that he would be gone from the group.

'Thank goodness ....... I'm really glad .......

Relief from the depths of my heart spilled out and turned into words.

'What ......?'

The master sees my smile and gives me a strange look.

I think to myself, ”Shucks,” ...... but I decide it's a good opportunity to do the opposite. Left behind by Mr. Rastiara, a weakened master might be able to draw out the words I wanted to hear. This is an opportunity to turn the situation into something rock solid.

The Eye also says I can do it now.

The Eye has ruined my life, but for now, it can be relied upon.

Mr. Rastiara did the same thing.

Then I too--

'I thought the master was fond of Mr. Rastiara.

When the master hears this, he rolls his eyes.

It's palpable that his thoughts can't keep up with the abrupt words.

With the current master's impatient thoughts, there would be only one word that could answer this.

The master who ignored Rastiara-san's ”help me” and couldn't keep her back, can't say ”I love you” even if he can't say it. Even if he did, he couldn't say it. It's not that he doesn't say it, but because of his logical nature, he can't say it.

If I ”liked” you, I wouldn't ignore ”help me”. You ignore ”help me” because you don't ”like” it, you reason. That's the master.

And once you put it into words, the master is stuck. It's a master who is very good at fooling himself. He must believe his own words when he says, ”I don't like you,” and he will give it all up.

The master I know would give up in the face of a powerful force called the state.

He would be afraid to take risks and make reluctant choices.

Knowing this, I continue to speak.

''That's right, Rastiala-san has some oddities ....... She's so beautiful, so strong, so bright. He's a prankster, but at his core he's a friend. He's a dreamer, but he's the ideal person to be a labyrinth explorer. She's a lot like her master, so we're very much on the same page--

The master's face contorts as he says the words.

But this is necessary.

It's what I should do to say goodbye.

So I ask for the sake of my master.

'I thought you liked that kind of Lastiara-san. But you don't, do you?　Isn't that right?

Threateningly, he urged an answer.

Master is speechless, but he is giddy with thought. Recalling the present and the past, I could tell from his expression that he was desperately searching for an answer.

Honestly, I can tell the answer by 'eyes' even if I don't ask.

The master is definitely thinking about his emotions with reason as usual, and eventually compromising.

He thinks desperately and desperately, and in the end, he absolutely gives up--.

Ha, ha, ha, ha ......

--the vision flipped and the world distorted (・・・・・・).

Suddenly, the master started laughing.

At the same time, he felt a strong pain from his 'eyes'.

''......!''

As if possessed, the master's expression changes abruptly and he continues to laugh cleanly without hesitation.

And then he laughs and is angry (・・・・・) ......?

I was confused by a reaction I hadn't expected.

I didn't foresee this kind of reaction, 'eyes'.

I don't know why she's laughing and angry.

The Eye has no answer to that question.

To be precise, the 'eyes' are screaming that they cannot grasp the existence of the master.

Such .......

It is true that the master was a difficult person for the 'eyes' to catch .......

But it wasn't this far ....... So far, in a mess--.

What's up with you, ......?　Master?

I ask him fearfully why he is laughing like a different person.

Seeing me, the master replies with a suppressed smile.

However, the laughter hasn't completely disappeared yet.

''Haha ....... No, I was a little crazy ....... You're right, Maria. I don't like Rustyala. There seems to be no doubt about it.

What?　I see. ......

I could hear the words ”I don't like you” that I had hoped for.

However, the fact that he answered it so easily was counterintuitive to me now.

My expectation was that he would answer in a more bitter and compromising way. But what I saw in front of me was a fresh smile. I don't know why.

'More importantly, you said something interesting. You said that me and Rustyala are similar to each other: ....... 'You know exactly what I mean,'

Regardless of my agitation, the master speaks.

In response, I answer without embellishment. I didn't have time to choose my words.

'More than that?　...... Ugh, I can't really say it well, but I thought we were similar in our roots. From my point of view, both of you are perfected, as if you were 'made up'.

The master laughs again when he hears my honest opinion.

This time it's a dry laugh.

'I see. ....... We have similar roots.'

Yes ......

Indeed, the master has a personality that is difficult to understand. He is indecisive, has a unique set of values and a unique way of thinking, and has a sensitivity that ordinary people cannot match.

--But this is too much of an anomaly.

While I'm reeling from this, the master moves briskly, as if he has an answer.

'Maria, I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back by noon.

'What, what ......?　Master, where are you--!

By the time I tried to restrain him, the master was already about to leave the house.

As it was, with a confident movement, he went out the window of the house like Mr. Rustyala.

I could only watch it go.

My thoughts couldn't keep up and I couldn't respond to anything.

I slowly lowered my outstretched hand and sat down in one of the chairs in the living room.

'Yes, what the hell is going on ......'

My body was trembling as I accepted the fact that I didn't understand my master's feelings at all.

I never thought it would be so heartbreaking and frightening to not understand the feelings of a person - or even the feelings of someone I loved at all.

Never before in my life have I ever had this kind of feeling.

As long as I have 'eyes', I've never been in that situation before. Even if it was a master who was good at fooling himself or that Rustyala-san, I never knew any of this. I could read his mind a little.

''Could it be that you're ...... again?　Because of the 'eyes' again: ......?

Memories of the past come back to me.

I remember the village, ■■, burning because of my 'eye' judgment.

...... eh, eh?

What are they?

I can't get the words out. Can't remember?

What did I lose before?

'Yes, no, calm down ....... Let's calm down first: .......

I try to regain my composure through experience.

Never once was it good to lose my composure in my homeland, in the war, or in slavery.

I take a series of deep breaths and adjust my muddled thoughts.

It's the first time I've ever been completely unaware of how my master feels.

But that's the way relationships were originally meant to be.

There's something wrong with the 'eyes' that can understand anything at any time.

That's right, the ”eye” is strange. But I have to put aside my anger at the eye for now.

First of all, you need to be calm.

First and foremost, we need to anticipate our master's actions.

Master said that he doesn't like Mr. Rustyala. However, everything started to go crazy from there.

He laughed and said the lines that he would have said after a hard time if it was true.

It wasn't desperation.

It wasn't even angry at me or at myself.

He was laughing at a definite 'something' and angry at a definite 'something'.

But I don't know what that 'something' is.

I calmly picked up the pieces of information I had just gathered.

I integrate the information from a broader perspective and look for factors, not just what Master and Mr. Rustyala said today.

Then I come up with an idea.

Mr. Arti had said. 'Those two aren't trying to change, and the people around them won't allow it.

Is that what this is?

I have no other idea of the master's sudden change.

This means that the master was changed by the hands of those around him.

The only ones that come to mind are the Knights of the Hooziers. With the most advanced magic, magical tools and medicines of the great powers, it's not impossible.

The master was changed by outrageous means - and he realized it, laughed at it, got angry, and went to save Mr. Rustyala?

That's highly unlikely.

No, otherwise, I don't see the point of going out at this time.

The reason why I became alone at this time is for no other reason than to help Rastiara-san. If I'm going to the labyrinth, I'll use the magic door.

In other words, the answer is .......

The master didn't tell me anything and left me to go to Ms. Rustyala ......?

No. ....... Only that: ......

I can't stop shivering at the answers I've arrived at.

The scenes of memories that come back to me represent the same flow as before.

The extra word I said in overconfidence in my ”eyes” changed everything drastically.

Exactly the same .......

Also lost because of the 'eyes' .......

Unable to bear it, he knocked over the chair, opened the door of the house roughly, and ran out.

-- A man was standing outside the house.

This is the third time I've met him.

We met in the slave market, met again in the tavern with Mr. Arti - and now.

The Eye sounds the alarm bell.

The man in front of me is screaming for danger.

But now I can't trust the Eye at all.

I don't know what to trust anymore.

The tall, fearless-looking man lifts the corners of his mouth and approaches me.

''Hey, we meet again.''

The man approached me with a taut smile on his face.

'Hey, what can I do for you ......?　I'm in a hurry. ......

I don't want to approach this man, and I respond to him plainly.

But the man doesn't seem bothered by it and returns the words.

'I figured it was about time. I just came to check on you.

Is it time to go to ......?

I don't know what the man is talking about.

But I do know that he's thinking about some bullshit. I decide not to deal with him and put my feet forward to walk past him.

But my steps are stopped by the man's words.

'Don't you have something to ask the people at Hoosiers?　I'm still the great, geeky knight of the Foozeyards. I'm also a good friend of Lord Rastiara and his brother Christ. If you want, I can help you out, okay?

'You ....... Are you a knight of the Hoosiers ......?

The Knight of Hoozeyards.

A clear enemy with a deep suspicion of misleading the master at the moment--!

Yeah, yeah.

I felt the blood rush to my head.

Emotions that couldn't be hit anywhere else found their way to the object, the knight of the Foozeyers, and they poured out.

'You people!　What the hell did you do to your master!　There's something wrong with the master!　It's getting crazy because of your involvement with you Hoosiers!

I wave my hand to the side with all my strength and hit the knight in front of me.

The man takes it with a cool look on his face and returns the words calmly.

''No matter. We've only done that to the Lord - 'Rustyala' Hoozeyers. We didn't do anything to your brother in Christ.'

It's a lie!　I know you are trying to take advantage of your masters!　That's why you put a spell on your master!　Trying to manipulate me!

I can't keep my composure in front of a man who doesn't do anything to upset me, and I denounce him.

'No, I really didn't. You'll know I wasn't lying, little girl.

Then the man points to his own eyes.

The man seems to have a similar skill to me and is able to see through my 'eyes'.

He is telling me to judge the truth by looking at myself with my 'eyes'.

But I've already made my decision. I was well aware that the man was not lying.

I knew it, but I wasn't sure what to trust anymore.

Biting my lip, I ask him the reason for his master's condition.

'If only!　Why is the master in such a state ......!

'I haven't seen that state of affairs firsthand, so I can't say for sure: ....... Still, there are things we do know, man.

What do we know: ......?

'Brother Christ is a guy who, for whatever reason, can't give up on anyone. Even if you suffer, if you're lost, if you make a mistake, ...... still, in the end, you can't abandon the person you've moved on to affection. That's what 'Christ Eurasia' is all about.

The man in front of me gives a simple answer.

The master is kind and goes to help.

He assures me that's all there is to it.

I didn't want to admit it.

Is it because I want to keep that kindness to myself .......

Or maybe it's for another reason: .......

'Maybe so ....... I'm sure that's part of what I do with my master ....... But it's more than that!　Master is a cowardly, indecisive, pathetic man!　So, there's no way I'm supposed to be able to go save Mr. Rustyala!

'I suppose so. You're right. I know it well, too.

The man nodded at my master's assessment.

I didn't deny it. He agreed with my words and continued his story.

'You are frightened of the labyrinth because of your cowardice, you hurt your friends because of your indecision, and you don't say what you want to say. He just hides in the labyrinth. That's my brother in Christ. How was it at first (・・・・・), it was worse.

So, right?　So--

I try to use the man's sympathetic words to get my point across.

But this is interrupted by the man's disgusting smile. Then the man laughs suspiciously and says the opposite of me.

'Haha. So, isn't that why your brother in Christ is trying to change?　Aren't you trying to get stronger, trying to attract better results?　Trying to be brave enough to take on the labyrinth, trying to make decisions that won't hurt your friends, trying to be honest with yourself - maybe you're trying to change now (・・・・・・・)?

......!

I do not know such a master.

The master I know is different.

That man is like a lost person who has lost even himself.

He is not the kind of person who moves forward like that.

But that information is by 'eyes'.

It's never something I got by myself.

I don't have the confidence to deny the man's words.

I can't deny it.

What if the man was right: ......?

What if the master doesn't run away, doesn't stray, and is trying to move forward: ......?

If they do that, they'll leave me behind in a heartbeat.

No, they've already left me behind ......?

Actually, I'm home alone.

I'm the only one.

”Well, that's not ....... I don't know about that ....... I've never seen such a thing .......

Of course. That was special. For a lot of reasons, it's especially hard to see. That's why you didn't understand anything about your brother in Christ. That's the limit of what you can do with your skills, little girl.

Was the master trying to change?

I was so reliant on my 'eyes' that I didn't notice it?

Did I make another mistake because of the ”eye”?

Before long, Master may have grown strong and acquired the will to resist the mighty wall of Foozeyards.

So, the master may be angry at 'something' - at 'Fuzzy Yards' and trying to help Rustyala-san.

'Time is running out, little girl. Tomorrow, your brother in Christ is going to help the Lord. And as he grows up, he may end up helping the Lord with flying colors (・・・・・・).

Oh, oh .......

I'll help you .......

The master is strong.

His spirit is appropriate for his age, but if he is only capable, he is like a hero in his later years.

I'm sure he will help Mr. Rustyala dramatically and move on further.

''If that happens, 'Rustyala' and 'Christ' will be bound together by a fatal bond. Yes, by a fatal bond. ......

The two are united by a fatal bond and move on to the next stage as the hero and heroine of the story.

Will I really be there?

As I am only a minor character in the previous chapter, will I have a role in the next stage?

No, I won't.

I'm sure I won't.

Characters who have no role to play are usually scraped off and disappear.

I will be left behind.

I'll be left here.

”But you're nothing, little girl. No rapport, no bond, no fate, no power, no nothing.

I have nothing to offer.

I don't have the perfection of Mr. Rastiala. I'm not beautiful. Nor am I of good character. I am not a young lady, nor do I have a past that involves the state. I have no talent, no power.

I am nothing, and there is no way I could be next to my master.

'All that's left of you, little girl, is a unilaterally installed master-servant promise. It's also a promise of which I doubt your brother in Christ is even aware. As for the little girl herself, she has nothing.

I know that without being told.

Because I know, I asked for an alternative connection.

I asked for power.

What the master would want most of all - at any cost.

I repeat my shallow breaths and say back to the man in front of me.

'Well, it's still ....... I'm still okay. As long as the magic, my magic, is strong enough ......

I show the potential I have.

I retort, so as not to be crushed by the words.

But the man continues to speak ruthlessly.

'Do you think there won't be a more capable wizard than you in the future?'

The man tries to destroy my potential.

He would happily confront me with reality.

I couldn't deny that.

The more time that passes, the more people the master knows. And it's not necessarily true that a wizard that surpasses me will not appear among them. If that happens, I'm sure that I will--

I shake my head and search desperately for my whereabouts.

'I'm ......!　I was told I could stay here: ......!　I just want you to cook for me here--

You know what I'm talking about.　It's pity. He just told me I could stay in pity. Cooking is of no importance to him. He's good at it himself and there are plenty of alternatives.

I knew that.

I knew that was a role I had given myself to care for.

I wasn't really needed to cook.

I didn't really want my master to--

The truth is, the truth is--!

--Uh, ugh: .......

The words that followed were too horrible.

I burst into tears inside.

'Well, it's still ......!　I haven't said I'm going yet: ......!　I haven't heard of going to Mr. Rastiala's place yet: ......!

I didn't want to acknowledge the reality of the lineup.

I continued to deny it, hoping for a sliver of hope.

'Can I be so optimistic?'

'I'm not listening, I'm not listening, I'm not listening!　Master didn't go to Mr. Rastiara!　Tomorrow, it's just the two of us again!　We'll be back in this house, exploring the maze together--

Seeing me repeat myself stubbornly, the man cowered his shoulders in dismay and turned his back to me, leaving me with the last word.

'You can believe it. But if you're not good enough, you could be left with this whole house.　You think about it a lot.

With those words, the man left this place.

I didn't have anything to say in response to those last words.

For the past few days, I've been out of the mosquito net. Today, I was home alone.

I can't keep up with him and he ”leaves the whole house”. That's all.

I mean, I'm alone again.

The horror I felt when I fell into slavery returns.

I will lose my ■■ again.

We will lose it.

I will lose my master as I once lost ■■, ■■, and ■■.

That fear spreads through my entire limb and I poke my knee into the ground.

Then, in my dazed consciousness, I stand up and, like a ghost, I walk away.

I roam the streets of the Valt, looking for my master. I see where the master might be headed. A tavern, a church, a store that supplies the labyrinth with what I need for the labyrinth, and I've gone cold turkey.

But he's nowhere to be found.

Which meant that the Master was headed somewhere that wasn't the Vault.

I face the reality that I didn't want to admit it, and wander towards Hoosier's in a huff.

Desperately trying to hold back the desire to not go to the Hoosiers, I move my feet, trying to control the nausea.

I want to see her.

Anyway, I want to see her.

I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you.

I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you, I want to see you.

I don't want another one.

As I repeated this in my head, I met a familiar face.

It was a girl with red hair, Alti-san.

'A, Alti-san ......?'

I found someone to cling to and approached him, tears welling up in my eyes.

Arti-san greeted it with compassionate eyes.

...... Maria, are you okay?

'Mr. Alty, ......!　If you keep this up, your master will have to go to ......!　Master!

I couldn't articulate the feelings I wanted to convey, so I just repeated, ”My master.

'I know. I know, Maria, I know. Calm down. It's okay, just calm down. ......

Mr. Arti holds my confused head and strokes it.

As he repeats the process, I gradually calm down.

'Arti-san ....... The master is going to go away with Mr. Rustyala and I, so I--

It's okay. Mary. I met Christ earlier.

'Gentlemen, your master and ......?'

Someone I trust gives me the name of the person I'm thinking of, and I get some relief.

'I haven't gone anywhere yet. He'll be home soon. Don't worry about it, Maria.

Coming back ......?

That little bit of relief increases in volume in my mind.

'But from the looks of it, I'm sorry to say (・・・・・) I don't know if Christ is going to help Lastiara (・・・・・・・・) either. If not tomorrow: .......

...... tomorrow, right?

I feel a sense of discomfort.

That's what it feels like when the Eye finds a discrepancy.

But I don't want to doubt Mr. Arti, who I trust, so I don't pursue it. Above all, it's also because nowadays you can't trust the Eye.

The only person I can trust is Mr. Alty, who has worked for me until today.

''Oh. If you want to help Rastiara, it's early tomorrow morning. The middle of the ritual is the best time to do it. That's the only time you'll be able to help. Listen, Mary. You must be with Christ early tomorrow morning. And we'll find out. All of it.

Ms. Alty is serious about teaching me how to understand my master's feelings. Always, she's all in for me. There is no way for me to doubt those feelings.

'I understand ....... Tomorrow. ......

'Yeah, tomorrow, ....... Everything will happen after that.

With that, I went home with Mr. Alti.

Then Mr. Arti promised to come back tomorrow and leave.

I waited for my master in the empty house with what little hope I had.

The knight of the Hoozeyards was proud and said that the master would definitely help Mr. Rastiara, but that was something I didn't know yet. Even that Arti-san said he didn't know, so of course there is still hope.

I am alone at home, agonizingly repeating my magic training and cooking - the master returns.

I greet it with a smile.

I'm back .......

I'm back ......!

I knew it wasn't going to happen.

We can go back to our lives together again.

I smiled at the master with that assurance.

There was nothing funny about it.

We both had dinner and talked for a bit.

After that, Master went back to his room.

Mr. Rastiara was not mentioned.

I went back to my room, believing that things would be back to normal.

-- It was in the middle of the night when there was something unusual.

I was curious about my master's condition, and as I passed near my room, I found cold air leaking from a crack in the room.

I focus my consciousness on the interior of the room.

I remembered that flow of magic.

It was the same as when I was practicing fire magic.

The master is practicing freezing magic inside the room. It's also trying to create a level that has never been seen before. I knew that because I was doing the same thing.

If that's the magic for the labyrinth, fine.

But I still don't know.

Will the master go to the labyrinth tomorrow?

Or will he go to the cathedral?

I did not sleep a wink that night.