Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world

Chapter 197 Winona would not hesitate

The area near the former Abyss had suddenly become lively.

Amidst the bustling energy, everyone focused on their tasks.

There were people clearing away rubble and transporting it.

Others brought in relief supplies.

Some raised their voices to boost morale.

And then there was Winona, who took on the role of supporting the workers.

“Here you go.”

“Ah, thanks a lot.”

Winona was distributing water to the workers during their breaks.

When she handed it to them with a smile, the exhausted workers’ weary expressions softened immediately.

Rescue operations were physically demanding work.

Naturally, this led to an increase in the number of men involved.

It was a rough but reassuring sight.

“Excuse me, where should I place this?”

“Please leave it over there!”

Handling the workers delivering relief supplies was also part of Winona’s duties.

She checked the boxes of food, clothing, and household items, recording the inventory accurately.

It wasn’t a business, nor was it her job.

But with a large amount of money involved, Winona felt that problems could arise if this part wasn’t handled properly. Thus, she took the lead in managing the supplies needed for the rescue effort.

The finances were safely handled by Count Goltba and Carla, so there was no need to worry about that.

“Excuse me, please put this over there, and that and this over here.”

“Got it.”

A few assistants who also worked as laborers helped with organizing and managing the goods.

Winona’s instructions to them were brisk and efficient.

The older men nodded in approval as they watched her.

“Winona-chan is really dependable.”

“N-no, not at all.”

“My daughter, on the other hand, spends all her time fooling around with boys and acting silly. I wish she could be as independent as you, Winona-chan. Haha!”

Winona returned the boisterous laugh of the worker carrying supplies with a smile.

When he walked away, her smile turned faintly melancholic.

“…I’m not as dependable as they think.”

That small murmur went unheard by anyone.

- 〇●〇

The sun began to set, marking the end of today’s work.

“Great job today! Let’s do our best again tomorrow!”
“““Thank you for your hard work!”””

At Marie’s cheerful farewell, all the workers raised their voices together.
The resounding chorus, which likely echoed throughout Alsphere, lingered pleasantly in Winona’s ears.

“See you all tomorrow.”
“We start early in the morning!”
“Let’s work hard again tomorrow.”
“Yes, let’s!”

Count Goltba, Carla, and Dominic waved with bright smiles.
Marie, returning the gesture with a similar smile, had a shadow of concern on her face.
Everyone likely understood Marie’s feelings.
Winona felt the same.

“Alright, let’s rest for today.”
“Yes, after all, our bodies are our greatest asset. Rest well and prepare for tomorrow—that’s what’s most important.”
“Hehe, I’ll cook dinner tonight.”
“Really!? It’s been so long since I’ve had Mom’s cooking—I’m excited!”

A genuine smile blossomed on Marie’s face.
It was likely a smile from the heart.
Winona’s face naturally softened in response.

“Winona, join us for dinner!”
“Thank you.”

Winona remained calm, her smile natural.
Marie, Gawain, and Emma seemed delighted, yet their expressions carried a faint shadow.
Even in this conversation, their thoughts were on Shion.
Winona understood this.

That’s why she smiled.
That’s why she kept saying it would be okay.
Because if she didn’t, her heart felt like it might break.

Winona followed behind Marie and her family as they headed to the temporary housing.
Most of the workers would return to the city, but Marie’s family and Winona lived in the temporary housing in Alsphere.
It was to start work early in the morning and continue as much as possible.

Winona knew.
Even at night, Marie and Gawain continued their rescue work.
Emma was probably supporting them too.

But there was nothing Winona could do.
She knew she’d only be in the way.

Because they were family, they could work without hesitation.
If someone like her, an outsider, were to join, they’d only end up being considerate, holding back.

And so, Winona pretended not to notice.

- 〇●〇

After finishing her meal, Winona returned to the front of her room with Marie.

The temporary housing was cramped, consisting of simple wooden structures lined up in a row.
The kitchen area had only a basic oven, resembling more of a campsite than a proper home.
Still, it was functional enough to live in.

“Good work today, Winona. Let’s do our best again tomorrow.”
“Of course. Thank you for your hard work as well, Lady Marie.”

Winona replied with a smile, and Marie stared at her for a moment.

“Uh, is something wrong?”
“Oh, sorry. It’s just… I was thinking how you seem to be doing better lately.
Not that I’m one to talk, though,” Marie said, laughing awkwardly.

“Well, you know, back in the beginning… we were both… like that.”

When Shion disappeared, Marie had lost all sense of reason.
Winona, too, had been deeply affected, her mind weighed down by the dire situation of her beloved master.
Though she hadn’t outwardly fallen apart as Marie had, perhaps Marie had sensed something in her.

“Shion is definitely alive. So… so let’s not give up and keep pushing forward.”
“Of course. I won’t give up. Not until we find Lord Shion.”
“You’re so strong, Winona.”
“…I’m not strong at all.”

Winona shook her head firmly, and Marie responded with a wry smile.

Marie’s feelings were a mystery to Winona.
But at the same time, Marie likely didn’t fully grasp Winona’s emotions either.

A brief silence fell between them.
It was an oddly awkward moment.

Now that she thought about it, almost every time Winona had been with Marie, Shion had been there too.
It wasn’t that she disliked Marie, but without Shion, there was an undeniable discomfort, a sense of being out of place.

“Well, I guess… I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, see you tomorrow.”

Winona watched Marie’s retreating figure before stepping into her room.

Closing the door gently, she leaned her weight against it.
The small room was enveloped in darkness.

There was only a simple bed, a small closet, and a desk.

As soon as she was alone, silence descended, and a faint ringing filled her ears.

There was no one.

It was just her.

Winona slid down against the door, sitting on the floor.

“…Lord Shion.”

It felt as if the taut thread holding everything together had snapped.

“Lord Shion…!”

Tears streamed down her cheeks, unstoppable.

“Shion… Lord Shion… Shion… ugh, ahh…”

Am I composed?
Independent?
Recovered?
Strong?

“That’s… not true… that’s not true at all… ahh… sniff… ugh, ahhh!!”

Winona covered her face with both hands.
The tears continued to flow, unrelenting.
Her entire body felt feverish.

Loneliness, sorrow, fear—
A torrent of negative emotions poured out of her.

One image consumed her mind: that of a single boy.
Shion’s smile remained burned into the back of her eyelids.
His face refused to leave her thoughts, so vivid it felt like he was right beside her.

But Shion wasn’t there.
She didn’t even know if he was alive.

No, the chances of his survival were slim.

I’m not like Lady Marie, Winona thought bitterly.
She couldn’t stay positive like Marie.

By nature, she was an introverted, dependent person.
It had been thanks to Shion that she’d managed to move forward at all, but she was far from being capable on her own, and she knew it.
Perhaps this was simply her true nature.

Shion had helped her improve, but deep down, her fundamental personality hadn’t changed.
So her thoughts often turned dark and pessimistic.

She couldn’t bring herself to truly believe Shion was still alive.

Sure, he was remarkable, but in this situation, how could she blindly believe in his survival?
She wanted to believe—she desperately wished to—but her mind rejected it.

She couldn’t help but think Shion was gone.

But Marie was different.

Even in the face of despair, Marie kept moving forward, kept believing.
Winona found that both enviable and terrifying.

Why couldn’t she think the same way?
There were moments when she blamed herself for it.

“Ugh, Lord Shion… Lord Shion… sniff… hic… sniff…”

Her whole body trembled, and her throat spasmed.

The tears wouldn’t stop, streaming endlessly down her face.
Her heart ached—so deeply, so unbearably.

The pain didn’t fade; it constantly tormented her.
She couldn’t escape the suffering.
No matter what, her thoughts returned to Shion’s death.

If that’s the case…
If I can’t believe he’s alive, then at least I can pretend.

To convince herself that everything would be okay, she resolved to play the part of a composed person in front of others.
Maybe, just maybe, it would become a reality.
Maybe Shion would come back.

That was all Winona could cling to.

But whenever she was alone, waves of anxiety crashed down on her.
The more of a facade she put on during the day, the more the emotions she had suppressed overwhelmed her in the quiet solitude of night.

She had been repeating this every day since Shion disappeared.

I want to see him.

I want to see that beautiful smile just once more.
I want to watch him immersed in his magical research, pure and focused.
I want to be by his side.

I love him—his adorable and cool self.
I want to love him.
I want to give him everything.

If he would just stay with me, I wouldn’t need anything else.
I wouldn’t mind any hardship.
I would endure any misfortune.

I’d do anything.
I’d overcome anything.

As long as he was by my side, I wouldn’t be afraid of anything.
If he desired it, I could do anything.
Not even death would frighten me.

I want to give him my body and my soul.
I want to become the person he desires me to be.
Without him, life has no meaning.

This loneliness, this anguish, this hollow void in my heart—if it were to persist—
Then I’d rather go to him.

But even as she thought that, Marie’s unwavering belief in Shion’s survival made Winona want to believe as well.
To believe that Shion was alive.

A sliver of hope.

That tiny flicker of hope was the thread keeping Winona’s heart intact.