Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world - - Chapter 173

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 173   Future with Winona

After finishing the research on fairy texts and languages and having lunch, there was some free time for a while.

Within the fantastical atmosphere of the fairy forest, everyone spent their time as they pleased.

Despite having just finished eating, my sister and Dominic began their training.

Count and Carla seemed to be engrossed in some conversation.

Winona was cleaning up after lunch.

I glanced sideways at Winona from time to time.

After a while, when Winona finished cleaning up, I seized the opportunity and began to act.

“Hey, Winona. Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Yes, what is it, Shion-sama?”

I could see a slight unease in Winona.

I was nervous too.

It had been like this since the day of the confession.

Whenever we talked or our eyes met, we both couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“I have something I want to talk about.”

“Something you want to talk about… um, I understand.”

“Thank you. Well then, shall we take a walk?”

“Y-yes.”

I walked away from the campsite with Winona.

Inside the fairy forest, Alsphere, there weren’t many proper paths. There were some small paths, perhaps for patrolling or guards, but they were not paved and merely cleared of obstructive bushes.

The scenes with magical lights floating here and there were still unfamiliar. It wasn’t unsettling, but the fantastical and beautiful sight captivated the eyes.

It was a strange space, exactly what I had sought in this otherworldly realm.

I sensed Winona, who was walking a bit behind me, come to a stop. When I turned around, I saw her mesmerized by the magical lights.

Winona snapped back to reality and, noticing my gaze, quickly lowered her head.

“Oh, s-sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Y-yes. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. Sometimes, I wonder if becoming someone with magical abilities is just a dream filled with wonderful things. Oh, I-I’m sorry for making you wait.”

“It’s okay. We’re not in a hurry. Let’s take our time.”

Winona happily narrowed her eyes and showed a smile. Seeing that smile, I thought to myself that Winona had truly changed.

The timid girl from the beginning was no longer there. Now, there was a girl appropriate for her age, who had become honest with her feelings and thoughts.

I savored that happiness and waited for Winona to run up to me.

With quick steps, Winona joined me at my side, and we began walking again.

Until recently, she seemed hesitant and often walked behind me. But now, she was walking beside me. Not boldly or assertively, but quietly and modestly, she stayed by my side.

It might not be entirely equal, but she seemed to be trying to meet eye to eye. Whether consciously or unconsciously, I felt pleased with that attitude.

I stole a glance at Winona’s profile as we walked together. The tension was palpable. However, it wasn’t directed towards me with consideration; rather, she was likely imagining what would happen next, just like me.

Because even I had no idea what would happen after we talked.

We walked for a few minutes and reached an open area. In the sun-dappled square, several tree stumps were arranged. Presumably, someone had cut down overgrown plants to prevent them from competing for nutrients.

Without saying anything, we both naturally sat on the tree stumps. Sitting face to face, a sense of awkwardness welled up.

In addition, my heart was loud. Really loud. Every time, my constant companion, my heart, would appeal to me.

I get it. I understand that I’m nervous, so I wish it would be a bit quieter.

I tried to calm myself by taking deep breaths several times. Regaining a bit of composure, I stared directly at Winona.

Then our eyes met sharply.

Winona, illuminated by the magical lights around and the sunlight filtering through the trees, looked divine and beautiful, like a fairy of the forest.

Her cheeks were faintly tinged with red. Her eyes, slightly moist, perhaps from nervousness. Her beautiful hair swayed in the gentle breeze.

All of these elements shook my heart.

I was taken aback and shook my head. This is what they mean by catching you off guard.

My heart, which had started to settle, began to thump again.

This can’t go on forever. I need to bring it up, even if it’s forced.

Summoning courage, I forced out my words.

“Um!”

Even to myself, my voice sounded surprisingly strained. The mix of the feeling of messing up and embarrassment was overwhelming.

However, Winona didn’t laugh or pity me; she looked at me earnestly. It seemed like she was urging me to speak, and that helped to slightly ease my tension.

“…Um, about that. When I say ‘talk’…”

“Y-yes.”

I took a moment before getting to the main point. Then, summoning my resolve, I spoke.

“About the confession the other day… um.”

“H-hai!”

Winona seemed to be at a loss for words. I felt that I might end up in the same situation if I let my guard down, so I continued with caution.

“After that, I’ve been thinking a lot. That’s why my response got delayed… I’m sorry.”

“T-that’s not… it’s okay! I-I’m the one who blurted out something like that in the heat of the moment…”

“Huh? So, you said it on impulse. Does that mean, um, maybe it’s better not to give an answer?”

“T-that’s not it! I mean, I, um, like you, Shion-sama! So, um, I want an answer, please.”

Winona, perhaps unconsciously, let out a variety of colorful mouth magic. That meant she was serious about it.

“Understood… then, I’ll give you an answer.”

Eyes rolling, face reddening, fingers fidgeting, gaze dancing in the air, body feeling the heat, heart pounding in the chest—wanting to escape but mustering courage nevertheless.

Both of us were probably feeling the same way.

I took another deep breath and made up my mind.

“I cannot respond to Winona’s feelings at the moment.”

I said it clearly and directly to Winona. Without hesitation, the words flowed smoothly, surprising even myself.

Winona’s expression froze. All the emotions she had seemed to come to a halt. The next emotion that surfaced was disappointment. She dropped her shoulders and lowered her gaze, a sight that tightened my chest.

“Th-that’s right… I-I was so presumptuous. I was trying to entrap Shion-sama for my own sake… confessing to someone as wonderful as Shion-sama… I-I’m sorry. I’ve caused trouble for Shion-sama… I’m truly, truly sorry…”

While speaking, Winona shed a single tear. This triggered a cascade of tears.

“N-no, that’s not it. It’s not a bother. I was happy to be confessed to, truly.”

Winona continued to cry. Feeling responsible for making her cry, I became uneasy. I wanted to console her somehow, but I managed to restrain that impulse. What I needed to do was provide a sincere answer, not offer comfort. Analysis, hypothesis, verification, and drawing conclusions – that’s my way of doing things. Now, let’s formulate my response to this confession challenge.

“First, I’m not good with emotions. Thinking emotionally makes everything confusing. So, let me approach this with logic.”

“L-logic?”

Winona managed to squeeze out her voice while wiping away tears. It was natural for her to feel unstable just after being rejected. She could have become emotional, aggressive, or desperate. Yet, Winona earnestly listened to my words, so perhaps I could continue behaving as usual.

“Yeah. I’ve been thinking about whether I like Winona or not. After considering various aspects, I reached a conclusion. I see Winona as an attractive person of the opposite sex, and I have positive feelings for you.”

“G-good feelings…? B-but, Shion-sama, about me…”

“I did say I couldn’t respond to Winona’s feelings at the moment. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t like Winona or don’t see you as a romantic interest. It’s just that I’m not sure if the affection I have for Winona is romantic. So, that’s why I said, ‘I can’t respond at the moment.'”

Winona seemed to have calmed down a bit, listening to my words with a serious expression. The tears had stopped.

“S-so, you mean there’s still hope?”

“Yeah, if you put it that way. Though I feel bad saying it like I’m talking down to you.”

“N-no, it’s not like that! If anything, it’s my impolite proposal… I see. There’s still hope, and you have positive feelings for me.”

Her face, once sad, had transformed into the expression of a maiden in love. Her rapidly changing expressions were charming, but it was a complex feeling to think that I was the cause.

“Now, onto the next thing. I mentioned this before, but I made a promise with someone that I wouldn’t marry anyone.”

“Y-yes, I remember.”

“Actually, that promise has been nullified, but it’s not something I can easily accept with a simple ‘okay.’ So, I want to confirm whether the promise has truly been nullified and understand why that person said such a thing.”

Marie’s feelings and my feelings. When it comes to love, understanding one’s own feelings is crucial. However, regarding the promise not to marry, the anxiety about losing magic after losing virginity, and my feelings about who I like and what I want, I need to make all of these clear.

“I can’t go into details, but I consider that being in a relationship with someone might make me unable to use magic. Although there’s no certainty, magic is like my life, so considering that risk, I can’t help but be cautious. Combining all these factors, I concluded that I can’t respond to Winona’s feelings in the current ambiguous state. So, it might be a selfish request, but… I want you to wait for about two and a half years. If, when I turn sixteen, if Winona still likes me, I will give you a proper answer. Of course, at that time, I may still not be able to respond to Winona’s feelings. Maybe I won’t be able to give the desired answer. However, I promise to give a clear answer at that time.”

During this period, I’ll clarify everything. In two and a half years, I’ll come of age and plan to tell my sister that we’re not blood-related. During this time, I’ll make my feelings for Winona clear, understand my sister’s true feelings, and resolve the question of whether magic becomes unusable after losing virginity. It’s all my circumstances, and it might truly be a selfish request. But this is my true feelings. In the end, I chose the option I initially considered, to ‘defer the answer,’ not choosing any of the four options. Even if I were to respond to Winona’s feelings in the current ambiguous situation, I don’t think anyone would be happy. Not Winona, not my sister, and not myself. So, as sincerely and audaciously as possible, I made this proposal. Yes, it’s a proposal. It’s quite incorrect as a response to a confession. I might be the only fool who explains emotions and situations logically in response to a confession, draws a conclusion, and communicates it.

I waited for Winona’s response. I was incredibly anxious. It was simply a feeling of concern about whether I had hurt Winona. Whether she would cry in sadness, express anger, or perhaps disdain me. I believed Winona probably wouldn’t blame me, but I also thought that was a convenient assumption. Assuming someone won’t get angry because they’re kind is equivalent to thinking of them as a convenient existence. That’s why I felt uneasy. What reaction Winona would have. However, Winona’s reaction was different from what I had anticipated.

“I’m glad… I’m really glad,”

She simply smiled happily while shedding tears. There was joy there, not sorrow.

“I’ll wait. Forever, for as many years as it takes, even if it’s a lifetime… I will keep waiting for you, Shion. Even if I can’t become your lover or wife, it’s okay. I don’t want to be a burden to you, so please don’t feel obligated to accept. I… I love you, Shion. So, please let me stay by your side, no matter the outcome.”

I was taken aback. Her feelings were so straightforward. It felt stronger and deeper than mere affection; it felt like love.

“I love you, Shion… I really do… I love you.”

Winona repeated those words, crying. The emotions were different from the initial tears; they overflowed with earnest feelings. Her sincere emotions conveyed a painful intensity, and my chest throbbed with a sharp ache. Why am I not responding to her feelings? I do have affection for her, I do find her charming. Right now, I want to hug her and comfort her. But I never budged from my spot. I just desperately suppressed a powerful urge. Reason anchored my emotions. Amidst the intense emotions, the rational thoughts lingering in the corner of my mind pleaded with me. If I accept her now, I will surely regret it. Both she and I will be unhappy. A relationship that began with ambiguous and impure motives will inevitably collapse. So, I continued to endure. Winona’s love was so compelling that it violently attracted me, nonstop.