“–So, I was angry that my ex-boyfriend was taken by a saint at the worst possible time, one week before the graduation ceremony, and that the world prioritizes the selfishness of saints, so I decided to plan for the decline of saints. That’s why I activated this method. This method established a way that would allow people other than Saints to suppress or purify the maga. Therefore, the root of my desire to do this research is a plan to weaken Saints due to my personal grudge.”
The more I explain, the more embarrassed I become about how narrow-minded and selfish I am. If it was a relative, they would just laugh and let it go, but someone who is trying to do something outrageous out of a personal grudge would be seen by others as a pretty crazy woman.
Sorry, I’m crazy. But I can only live in a way that I am satisfied with.
“So, since I started this for this reason, I feel a little sorry when people come to me and offer to help out because they think it’s just amazing…”
“Can I ask?”
“Um. Please.”
Theo listened quietly to my explanation without interfering. I feel like I was a bit of a complainer, and I’m sure there were some objections. Still, since Theo said he was willing to listen, I decided to accept what Theo had to say.
“Do you still love your ex?”
“No way. Not at all. Of course, it’s not that there aren’t good things about him, and I don’t dislike him. But when I think about him, it makes me angry and makes me feel bad, so I don’t like him.”
It’s hard to say that I don’t like him because I don’t just have bad memories. I think it was the worst way to break up, and I hate the insensitive and arrogant part of him, but that’s not all. Still, I didn’t want to let my pride linger, so I decided to break up with him and keep my distance.
It would be easier if I could become indifferent, but I still need a little more time to get to that point.
“Good. I don’t like him, so if you liked him, you wouldn’t want me to say bad things about him, right?”
“Huh? Have you met before?”
“No. But from what I’ve heard, I don’t like him.”
“No. Wait. Well, it’s all just my subjective opinion, and I think he had his own reasons. So it’s not like I hate him because of my one-sided resentment…”
I don’t particularly want anyone other than me to hate my ex-boyfriend.
It’s a little different to empathize with people who say you should hate others because they don’t like them.
“Even if it’s only subjective, Amelia isn’t lying, right?”
“Yes. It all really happened to me, right?”
“Then, I still don’t like him. One. It’s the worst to dump someone a week before attending the graduation ceremony. He doesn’t care about Amelia. If you were dating before then, even if he found someone he liked, it’s the worst. You should respect the other person and talk to them. This is just a case of one-sided betrayal by the other party. You could have attended the graduation ceremony together and then broken up.”
I think so.
Since it’s not an engagement, there are no particular restrictions on breaking up. Even if there were rumors, I wanted him to break up with me after the graduation ceremony.
“Two. I don’t like that he thinks Amelia can do anything. Everyone can’t do something, so they need help. People who just have things done for them and have no intention of giving back are not sincere. That’s why I don’t like him. I think it was a blessing out of misfortune that you were able to part.”
He gave me a serious nod, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I don’t think I’m without problems either. I don’t think I have a personality that makes people like me that much, and I tend to have a narrow perspective when it comes to research.”
“But the reason Amelia is the first to speak up if something bad happens is because she understands that her perspective will be narrowed, and then she cares about the other person. I like it better.”
……like?
No. He was comparing me to my ex-boyfriend, I knew it wasn’t meant in a romantic way. I know, but I can feel the blood gathering on my face.
When Theo saw this, he blushed as well and shook his head.
“No. No!”
“I-I understand. It’s just a matter of human nature. Yeah, I understand.”
“No, you’re not wrong, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t like Amelia romantically. I’m not the type of person who takes advantage of someone who’s hurt from being dumped by a man. I don’t want to. I’ll wait until your wounds have healed and you’re able to make normal decisions… umm.”
Both of us were embarrassed, and a strange silence fell.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.
“You know. I was losing confidence in myself, so to be honest, I’m really happy that you told me that you liked me as a person.”
“That’s good.”
It was a strange honorific, but Theo answered in the same polite manner.
Then we look at each other and laugh. Theo’s embarrassed smile was because he was trying to get closer to me. That’s why I thought it was such a gentle smile.
“On top of that, once again, I want to help even if it’s just while I’m here. Even if it’s just a personal grudge, what Amelia is doing is amazing, and it doesn’t change the fact that I want you to continue your research. The progress of this research is of value to me.”
“I can’t pay your salary, right? All I do now is help my father and grandfather.”
Now that I’m not working properly, it’s like I’m getting some pocket money. That might change in a year, but I can’t afford it right now.
“I don’t need it. I see this as a return of favor and an investment.”
“In that case… I look forward to working with you.”
The completion of treatment is just around the corner.
Once that’s over, Theo will return to the capital with Alfie. So a few more times.
However, I was happy to receive support for what I was doing. I’m sad that it’s over so soon, but still.
“Ah. I look forward to working with you as a friend.”
“Yeah. As a friend.”
The current relationship is not one of benefactor and victim, but truly that of friends.
I grasp the hand that is offered to me. Although it’s through gloves, his hands, which are bigger than mine, give me a great sense of security.
“Okay. Anyway, let’s go back for today.”
“Eh?”
“You felt sick once. It’s best not to push yourself too hard. Mountains don’t run away.”
No. Yeah. I know, but…
Now that we have proven that you can see mana with the glasses, I should write down my findings on paper, write down the questions I have and where I will investigate from now on, and where maga has already been reported. There are many things I would like to do, such as being able to compare them objectively.
I just wonder how it would be to go home without collecting anything.
“But if possible, since I’m feeling better, I’d like to at least get the material for the lenses before heading home. I won’t be wearing the glasses anymore today.”
The reason I was feeling unwell earlier was because I kept looking at the flickering world through the glasses. I’m not feeling unwell right now.
When I said that, Theo looked thoughtful.
“Are you in such condition that you can safely collect the samples even if I’m not there?”
“…It’s okay. I can just collect it as usual. Besides, my father told me where to collect materials for the glasses lenses, so I don’t have to walk around looking for them.”
This doesn’t mean that Theo will really disappear, but this is just to make sure I’m not overdoing it. As long as I look at my physical condition objectively and limit it to the material of the lenses, there should be no problem.
“Hmm, I heard that the material for the lens is quite rare, but do you know where it is? I’m sure you find gemstones by continuing to dig in the places where they can be mined, right? Even if you know where they can be mined, you actually can’t find them. Isn’t it difficult to mine?”
“Actually, my father described it as an ore, but it is something that has hardened from the magic that has spilled out from the tree roots along with the moisture of the tree for decades or even hundreds of years in a mountain with maga. That is why it is so rare. There’s no doubt about it, and my father told me not to take too much, so he didn’t tell anyone else. Today I can only take two pieces the size of my palm. But if you want to pick them, it’s easy. It should be able to be collected.”
Mountain ecosystems are interconnected.
That’s why my father mines very carefully.
“Keep this a secret too. Don’t tell anyone.”
“I understand.”
After telling Theo, I headed to the cave that my father had told me about.
So… Theo just said he likes her romantically, right?
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading!
