Chapter 6: Life is so cruel (2)

As I finished preparing to go to the Magic Tower, the crystal ball suddenly turned black again, and I secretly received a call alone, without Ariina knowing.

As expected, it was Sylvia’s call.

Wondering how much she would complain this time, I sighed inwardly, and Sylvia’s image appeared.

She was dressed up, unlike her usual self.

Her messy hair was neatly styled, and her hollow eyes were hidden, making her look innocent.

‘Is something wrong?’

Sylvia looked fine, to the point where it was hard to imagine she had been crying and throwing a tantrum just yesterday.

This was different from the Sylvia I knew, my disciple.

Normally, she would have been sulking, refusing to answer calls, and trying to separate us using a wish.

But today, for some reason, she was wearing a relaxed smile.

“Hello, Sylvia.”

[Hello, Ain.]

After realizing I was alone, Sylvia let out a sigh of relief.

There was a soundproof barrier around me and magic that would signal if someone approached, so there was no need to worry.

Even so, I am the Tower Master.

Yes, I’m the Tower Master.

I’m not someone who gets swayed by women.

‘Now, how should I explain myself…’

Sylvia must have been greatly shocked to hear that Ariina and I were dating.

But Sylvia is as important to me as Ariina.

She’s the next Tower Master, and my one and only disciple.

I had to convince her somehow, or at least make an excuse.

I wasn’t confident I could convince her, so I had to make an excuse.

Sylvia suddenly smiled sweetly.

[Don’t try to make excuses.

I already know about your relationship with Ariina.]

“H-How did you…”

[It’s been over 10 years since I’ve been with Ain, so I should know that much.

He’s ‘my’ master.]

Sylvia emphasized the word ‘my’ and tilted her head as if asking, ‘Isn’t that right?’

She’s cute.

She’s cute but scary.

I’m not so foolish as to not notice that something in the atmosphere has changed.

Sylvia continued to smile, staring intently at me.

I could feel the chilling emotions lurking in her eyes, which were darker than usual.

A shiver ran down my spine, and I asked.

“Sylvia. Are you okay?”

At my words, Sylvia placed her index finger on her lips and smiled slyly.

[Hmm, actually, I’m not okay.

You could say I’m a bit disappointed… He’s ‘my’ Ain.

If some woman suddenly tries to take him, no one could say they’re okay with that, right?]

“…”

Now I understood.

This wasn’t the Sylvia who usually liked to act spoiled.

This was her appearance when she was plotting something.

Sylvia isn’t stupid.

No, she’s rather intelligent.

It’s just that she acts cute and spoiled like a puppy in front of me… Don’t be mistaken, she’s an Archmage.

She couldn’t possibly be stupid.

[Ain.]

“Huh?”

Startled by the sudden voice, I replied.

Sylvia narrowed her eyes and looked at me with an amused expression.

Her blue eyes gleamed with an alluring light.

[What was it about Ariina that made you start dating her?]

“Th-That… I can’t tell you…”

[Really? I’ll use a wish.]

A wish.

Normally, Sylvia would ask for light physical contact, like a head pat or a secret kiss on the cheek, but this time she was asking for something problematic.

I couldn’t help but be flustered.

Damn it, is this a checkmate?

“Sy-Sylvia…”

Sylvia wore a faint smile, as if my flustered state amused her.

She’s cunning.

It was as if I was dancing in the palm of Buddha’s hand.

[Or, I could ask for a kiss, just like Ariina did.

Is that what you want?]

“W-Wait a minute.

I’ll tell you.”

Sylvia made a disappointed expression.

The way she clicked her tongue, saying ‘Too bad,’ was chilling.

What are you saying, Sylvia, Sylvia…

I explained what had happened with Ariina.

Sylvia listened to my story with a calm expression, without showing surprise or distorting her face.

[To summarize, Ain ‘saved’ someone else besides me.]

“Saved?

That’s too grand a word…”

There was no salvation in my actions.

Ariina, Sylvia, and even the Oracle… I just did it because I wanted to.

There was no particular reason; I just felt sorry for them.

If I had to make a reason, it would be hypocrisy.

Because I changed the future.

Although it ended up like this.

‘The Hero and the Saintess lived happily ever after’ only applies to the Hero and the Saintess.

Were the other heroines happy?

But I’m the same.

Dating Ariina is nothing short of betrayal from Sylvia’s perspective, as she had liked me from before.

That’s right.

It’s hypocrisy.

A lump of unadulterated hypocrisy, and ultimately, ‘everyone’ won’t be happy.

I was exactly the same.

So, all I can do is apologize.

Even that’s a lie, and nothing will change, but…

“I’m so-”

[Don’t say you’re sorry.

Ain merely helped someone else, just like me.]

“…”

Helped?

Can I say I ‘helped’ a future I changed to my liking?

Wasn’t it just meddling?

Countless questions arose and sank into my mind.

[Ain.

If Ain hadn’t been there, I would have frozen to death on that cold winter day.

Or perhaps I would have hanged myself?]

“No…”

You wouldn’t die.

You would be given to a wandering wizard from the White Magic Tower, suffer all sorts of persecution, and painstakingly learn magic to become an Archmage.

But you would live with a huge scar in your heart.

There’s even an episode where the Hero heals her inner wounds.

Sylvia is mistaken.

The world wouldn’t let you die anyway.

Because you’re a heroine.

[Even if I had been given to that wandering wizard that day, I would have died.]

“…What?”

I asked, more flustered than ever.

Sylvia was smiling just like before.

But her eyes were different.

Cold, as if seeing through everything, yet infinitely calm eyes.

[Ah, my Ain… Ain, do you believe in miracles?]

“Miracles…?”

What was that supposed to mean, all of a sudden?

No, how did she know about being given to the wandering wizard in the first place?

I didn’t understand it at all.

My mind was a mess.

Sylvia.

Sylvia.

Something was wrong.

[It’s okay.

I think it’s natural to be flustered.]

Her voice was relaxed.

Sylvia snapped her fingers.

The crystal ball began to distort.

It reflected my image like a mirror, then the screen changed to a winter day.

The crystal ball could do this too?

Even I, the Tower Master of the Blue Magic Tower, didn’t know.

I stared blankly at the crystal ball.

There, a young Sylvia was looking at the Blue Magic Tower with empty eyes.

Sylvia let out a hollow laugh and mumbled.

–…Yes, it wouldn’t be there.

It was different.

It was different from reality.

At that time, I knew Sylvia had arrived, so I came down from the tower and took her in.

However, this wasn’t the Sylvia from the crystal ball.

She turned her back on the Magic Tower.

It was then that a man who appeared to be a drunkard grabbed Sylvia’s shoulder.

–…Hey, want to learn magic under me?

Sylvia turned her head and looked at the drunkard with lifeless eyes.

Her gaze was chilling.

–Go away.

I’m not that kind of person.

–Tsk tsk, why don’t you try learning it first, then decide?

The drunkard said, grinning unpleasantly.

The crystal ball distorted.

This time, Sylvia’s appearance, looking like she was in her early teens, was visible.

Her entire body was covered in bruises.

The drunkard wizard, expelled from the White Magic Tower, distorted his face in rage and beat her indiscriminately.

–You can’t even do *this* properly?!

–…Cough, cough!

Sylvia was kicked in the abdomen and tumbled to the floor.

Her eyes were unfocused.

Blood trickled from her mouth, and she could barely twitch a finger.

The drunkard wizard was still fuming, huffing and puffing.

–I’ve never seen such trash!

–S-Sorry…

Thud!

Another kick landed on Sylvia.

Cough! She spat out blood.

A mixture of saliva and dark red blood flowed onto the floor.

Her internal organs seemed to be damaged.

Sylvia breathed heavily and mumbled.

–I disappointed him again…

The surrounding mana, reacting to her emotions, began to writhe.

It was her first time sensing mana.

The basics of magic.

Sylvia stared blankly at the sight.

Surprise, confusion—such emotions were clearly displayed on her face.

–Ah, ah… This time.

I didn’t disappoint him.

That day, the drunkard wizard died by magic.

His corpse, pierced by countless low-level spells, was unrecognizable.

The crystal ball distorted once more.

In the scene of the Hero’s wedding, Sylvia looked at the happily smiling Hero and Saintess with a chilling smile.

–How foolish…

I was disappointed again.

In myself.

–Perhaps my life is…

A series of disappointments.

Life is truly this cruel.