Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world - - Chapter 194

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 194   My Younger Brother

“Shion!!”

Marie shouted as she sat up.

Marie awoke in a hospital room.

She seemed to have been lying in a bed, and someone had carefully changed her into sleepwear.

Suddenly, Marie recalled the time when she had contracted the laziness syndrome.

It was the same back then, she thought, and quickly got out of bed.

She had to go to Shion.

She quickly changed into her regular clothes, took her sword, and was about to leave the room.

Just then, there was a knock, and someone entered.

It was Winona.

She had dark circles under her eyes and looked lifeless.

It was far from her usual lively self.

Winona was holding a tray with food on it.

“G-good morning, Lady Marie.”

“…Good morning. Have they found Shion?”

“N-no, not yet.”

“…I see.”

Winona seemed somewhat distant, and Marie was in a foul mood.

If Shion had not been found yet, it was even more urgent to go immediately.

Shion was waiting.

Amid the strange atmosphere, Marie tried to leave the room.

“U-um, your meal…”

“I don’t need it. I have to save Shion.”

She was hungry, but that didn’t matter.

Her body moved effortlessly.

If she could move, there was no time to waste.

With that thought, she started walking but suddenly felt weak and stumbled.

Winona caught her just before she fell.

“This is reckless! You’ve been asleep for an entire day, Lady Marie!”

“An entire day…? You mean I slept that long?”

“Yes. That’s why you need to eat first… At least take this.”

Winona handed her a flask and a sandwich.

“…Thank you, I’ll take it.”

Marie hesitated for a moment but accepted the food and began walking while eating.

Winona hurriedly followed behind her.

Though she knew it was improper, Marie walked while eating, her thoughts racing.

Even while she was asleep, the rescue mission for Shion should have been progressing.

There’s no way they would abandon Shion after all he had done.

Shion must be alive.

He couldn’t possibly be dead.

After all, it’s Shion.

He wouldn’t have stayed behind without a plan.

He must have had a strategy to survive and allowed them to escape.

Marie was convinced of this.

As she chewed on the sandwich, another thought crossed her mind.

She remembered Shion talking about something involving the Earl.

Her younger brother often said strange things, so it wasn’t surprising, no matter what he said.

As she washed the sandwich down with water, strength returned to her body.

Although it shouldn’t be possible to recover energy just by eating, Marie genuinely felt herself regaining strength.

Some nurses and doctors said something to her, but she brushed past them and left the hospital.

Winona apologized to the doctors, but Marie didn’t have time for that right now.

She felt a bit sorry, but the most important thing was Shion.

She knew she was acting blindly.

But for Marie, prioritizing someone important was the natural thing to do.

After all, Shion had always done that for her.

So, she felt she should do the same, and she wanted to.

When she stepped outside the hospital, a carriage was waiting.

There was no driver, but she saw Dominic and Count Goltba through the carriage window.

As soon as they noticed Marie, they quickly got out of the carriage.

“Lady Marie, you’re awake!”

“Oh! Lady Marie, how wonderful. We were worried you wouldn’t wake up.”

“It seems I’ve caused you worry. I’m sorry, but there’s no time right now. I need to go to Shion.”

Dominic and the Count exchanged glances and then turned back to Marie.

“W-well, there isn’t another carriage at the moment, so how about you come with us first? We have a small errand on the way to Ralfgang.”

“Y-yes, after we finish, we can take you to Alsphere. You’re just recovering, and it’s too far to walk, isn’t it?”

“But, there’s no time…”

“W-well, it’ll be over quickly. Please, come on in. The carriage seats four, so there’s plenty of room.”

Count Goltba, in an oddly cheerful manner, invited Marie into the carriage.

Marie was worried about Shion.

However, she didn’t have the strength to walk to Alsphere.

She decided that it would be best to rest and recover her strength while traveling.

Winona climbed onto the driver’s seat and began to move the carriage.

Marie felt a small sense of worry, wondering if Winona was really okay, as she didn’t look well.

The Count and Dominic seemed to share the same concern and watched Winona’s movements closely.

But that concern only lasted a short time, and then Count Goltba scratched the back of his head as if trying to cover something up.

“W-well, I’m terribly sorry. We were thinking of visiting you, Lady Marie, but we simply had no time… Since Lady Winona was bringing you your meal, we decided to leave everything in her hands.”

“I don’t mind.”

The hospital did serve hospital meals, but they were usually tasteless and unappetizing.

So, it wasn’t uncommon for family members to bring food. Of course, depending on the patient’s condition, some might not be allowed to eat certain things, so the meals were restricted accordingly.

They had probably prepared a simple sandwich and water for Marie to eat as soon as she woke up. Winona was kind to have done that, despite not knowing when Marie would wake up.

Thinking about that, Marie gazed out the window.

Despite everything that had happened, the town seemed perfectly peaceful.

The blazing sun, the red monsters, the demons.

Considering the danger had been so close, the lack of a sense of urgency was surprising.

Perhaps they were merely enjoying the benefits of Shion having solved everything.

That very peace felt strangely infuriating, as if they were ignoring Shion’s efforts.

But she also felt that they were safe because of Shion’s hard work.

So, Marie kept her irritation from showing.

Swaying in the carriage, Marie spoke up.

“How far has the rescue operation for Shion progressed?”

“Well… It hasn’t progressed at all yet.”

Winona had also mentioned that Shion hadn’t been found yet.

It seemed the progress wasn’t very good.

However, blaming someone for that would be misplaced.

After all, she herself had been asleep for an entire day.

So, she was in no position to criticize.

Even so, she felt frustration and anger.

Why hadn’t they been able to rescue her dear brother yet?

She could say the same thing to herself.

All kinds of emotions were running through Marie’s body.

But she had gotten used to controlling her feelings.

She took pride in the fact that she had changed in that way.

Marie took a small breath and calmed herself.

“I see… Well, then, we need to try harder to rescue him.”

Count Goltba and Dominic sighed with relief.

It was a calm, mature response, different from before.

This was the more grown-up side of Marie, which she had started to show since she reunited with Shion.

Normally, she would have wanted to cry out, grab them, and ask why they weren’t rescuing Shion, why they weren’t trying harder, why they were here instead.

But Marie had learned how to suppress those impulses.

How to hold back her childish, selfish self.

The carriage proceeded toward Mediph Castle.

The four of them smoothly entered the castle, handed over the carriage, and were escorted by a maid to the King’s office.

Inside the office, the scene was the same as before.

King Ralfgang, the Kingdom’s Knight Captain Reinhardt, and Chancellor Utz were all present.

Since it wasn’t in the conference room, it might not have been a matter of great importance.

It was likely a private discussion, Marie thought.

Inside, she wanted to go to Shion immediately, but she held herself back.

She guessed it would be about Shion’s and their accomplishments.

If so, they would likely talk about the rescue of Shion as well.

“Welcome, Dominic, Goltba, and Mariann Ornstien.”

Marie bowed and stood back, keeping her place behind them. The ones with business here were Dominic and Count Goltba. She was just accompanying them.

Internally, she felt restless but managed to steady her nerves.

“Your efforts in the recent mission were commendable. You did well to rescue the fairies. The fairies have already been returned to Alsphere and are reported to be safe in their habitat. I have also heard of your success in halting the advance of the Scarlet Sun and defeating the monsters and demons. The collapse of the Abyss has already been confirmed.”

“Hmph.”

It was Chancellor Utz who let out a small snort. He looked like he had some objections, but Marie decided to ignore him.

“While the presence of monsters and demons at the Scarlet Sun could not be confirmed, I have judged it to be a fact based on the testimony of the knights. Therefore, in recognition of your achievements, I will grant you a monetary reward. Furthermore, I am lifting all research restrictions in Alsphere and granting you unlimited access. You may conduct your research on the fairies at any time. There will be no obligation to report your findings. If there is anything else you desire, I will fulfill it to the best of my ability.”

“Your Majesty! That is far too generous! Furthermore, there remains a question of why some people can see the Scarlet Sun while others cannot!”

Unable to hold back any longer, Chancellor Utz interjected.

“I, too, have said that I can see it. Are you doubting me?”

“N-no, I would not go so far, but still, there are parts that lack credibility! Additionally, while there were corpses of the so-called red monsters, the demons not only did not cause any damage but did not even show themselves! How can you expect us to believe in something like that?”

There was no doubt they had defeated the monsters and demons. However, in their desperate struggle, they hadn’t managed to gather any proof. In the first place, the only proof of the existence of demons was their corpses. Chancellor Utz’s argument made sense. However, his strong objections were likely fueled by personal dislike.

The King of Mediph’s stance was weak on evidence, while Chancellor Utz’s words were rational yet emotional.

The one who interjected between the two was the Knight Captain Reinhardt, who had remained silent until now.

“Are you suggesting that my knights are lying? Are you saying that our proud elite knights are seeking rewards through deceit?”

“N-no, I am not saying that. But, judging based solely on testimony is premature. We need more persuasive evidence to satisfy everyone.”

“The word of the king is the truth. Whether you are satisfied or not is irrelevant.”

It was an outrageous argument.

Yet, it had a strange persuasiveness.

Chancellor Utz tried to say something, but swallowed his words.

Watching the exchange among the three, Marie wished for it to end quickly.

She was fed up with it.

“Enough. I understand your positions,” the king said. “However, this is already a settled matter. I cannot let Shion Ornstein’s death be in vain. I will honor his achievements and grant rewards. This decision is final.”

“…Huh?”

While Chancellor Utz and Knight Captain Reinhardt bowed their heads to King Ralfgang, Marie let out a small gasp.

What did the king just say?

“I have already rewarded the knights,” continued the king. “Mariann Ornstein, what is it you desire?”

“W-what? What are you talking about…?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’? I said I would reward you for your achievements.”

“No, that’s not it. What are you saying…? Shion isn’t dead. Why are you declaring him dead?”

Marie trembled violently.

Under normal circumstances, the mature version of herself would have chosen polite language.

But she was too shaken to control her emotions.

Chancellor Utz stepped forward angrily, but King Ralfgang stopped him with a gesture.

“Due to the collapse of the Abyss, Shion Ornstein has passed away. There is no need to confirm it. He is not alive.”

“He is alive! Shion is alive! How can you assume that without even checking?”

“We cannot allocate a large number of people solely for searching for a body. To remove the debris from the collapsed cave would require not only personnel but also a vast amount of time and money. Regardless of Shion Ornstein’s contributions, we cannot conduct a rescue.”

“W-what are you saying…? Shion, Shion fought for you… He risked his life to protect everyone… And now you’re saying you’ll abandon him?! Deciding he’s dead and not rescuing him?!”

Marie looked desperately at Dominic, Goltba, and Winona.

The three of them averted their eyes.

Marie realized they already knew.

Her blood began to boil.

“Don’t mess with me!!!

You used Shion, and now that you don’t need him, you’re throwing him away?! My family… my brother… someone so precious to me…!!!

What do you think Shion is to you?!”

She bit down hard and tasted blood.

It was the first time she had ever felt such intense emotion.

A dense, overwhelming anger surged up inside her.

As she clenched her fists with all her strength, power surged through her entire body.

Magic flowed out, forming a barrier that enveloped the entire room.

Within her, a fierce battle raged between the part of her that wanted to explode in fury and the part that knew she must remain calm.

Marie held herself back at the very last moment, just before her emotions could burst out.

This wasn’t a desire to appear mature.

It was her rationality prevailing, knowing she couldn’t afford to throw away any chance to save Shion.

Marie barely managed to suppress the murderous intent that made her feel she could kill everyone in the room.

No one seemed to notice the single bead of sweat that trickled down Knight Captain Reinhardt’s forehead.

“…Fine. Then, I’ll tell you what I want,” she said, her voice strained. “I want support for Shion’s rescue. As much as you can provide.”

“…Very well,” the king replied.

Upon hearing King Ralfgang’s response, Marie immediately turned on her heels.

“Um, wait—” Winona called out to her, but Marie ignored her.

She had thought they were comrades.

Comrades who cared deeply for Shion.

But she realized that was a mistake.

She knew now that she was the only one who could save Shion.

The only one who truly loved him, who cherished him more than anything.

Without Shion, there was no point in anything.

Without Shion, she couldn’t go on living.

And so, Marie set off alone for Alsphere.

If she found out that Shion was truly dead, she decided she would die too.

That was her resolve.