Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 45 Everyday life is falling apart

It had been a while since I went to help in the village.

Maron and Red no longer came for sword practice while helping around the house, and Rose seemed to have some business, as I hadn’t seen her around.

I couldn’t help but feel a bit heavy-hearted.

I like everyone, but it’s become awkward to face them since the goblin incident.

Although there’s no issue in my feelings, it’s that awkward feeling that makes things distant.

I am the lord’s son.

I will continue to associate with everyone, and ideally, I want to build a smooth relationship.

“Come to think of it, it’s been a while for me too.”

My sister said with a somewhat complicated expression.

Like me, my sister seemed a bit awkward since that incident.

We talk normally during practice, but it doesn’t feel as casual as it used to.

It’s been put off for a while, but it’s a good opportunity.

It might be difficult to talk openly, but we should dispel some of this awkwardness.

“Talking with each other has become less frequent… there are various circumstances in each of our homes. I don’t think it’s just because of that incident.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not like we’re not on good terms. I don’t think we need to worry too much about it.”

“Right, let’s not make a big deal out of it and just help out.”

“Hehe, I didn’t expect to hear such words from Shion. You used to be extremely shy at first.”

“Sis, people do grow, you know.”

“So, are you going alone?”

“I’m sorry. Please come with me.”

I immediately bowed my head.

She probably anticipated my reaction. My sister chuckled.

“Okay, okay. Let’s go together.”

I don’t feel uncomfortable being teased by Marie.

It’s our usual banter, and I know my sister isn’t genuinely making fun of me.

As always, we walked through the forest road and headed to the village.

Even though we’re just helping in the village, our attire is the same as when we head for a subjugation mission.

Marie carries a sword on each side of her waist, and I have Raika hanging from my waist.

During combat, we can both draw our weapons and take a stance.

In a world where the safety of the village is not guaranteed, it’s common sense to always carry weapons.

Of course, the thought that if we can fight, we should fight comes to mind.

As adventurers, we are reasonably skilled in combat, so we always carry weapons.

Naturally, we have permission from our father.

Even with the power to fight, we are still children, and we are not in a position to make judgments on our own.

Regardless of what we do, it’s normal to seek our father’s judgment.

Still, for nobility, he’s quite frank.

I had thought that nobles held social events, exchanged pleasantries with other nobles and relatives, put on a facade, and connected faces.

But at least, we have never participated in such events.

Whether it’s because we’re lower nobility, or we’re not in that position, or there’s no such system in this country, I don’t know.

Although it’s a bit strange since we are technically local lords.

Either way, it doesn’t concern us yet.

As we continued along the ridge road, we saw the houses of the village.

In the distance, fields were visible, and the villagers were diligently tending to the fields.

It was a picturesque scene, and I quite liked this view.

Perhaps it was because I had lived in the city for a long time; there was a longing for the countryside.

“Oh, there you are.”

In the shadow of lush, ripened crops, the figures of two people came into view – Red and Maron. Rose seemed to be absent.

Red had grown faster than me and was slightly taller. Maron, on the other hand, gave the impression of remaining unchanged – a petite figure as always.

As the two noticed us, they waved, and we reciprocated, approaching them.

“Ah, is Rose not with you?”

“Yeah, she said she has some business. Lately, Rose has been quite busy, not doing much in the fields. She helps the village chief and all, so technically, she doesn’t need to work in the fields.”

Rose seemed to be the daughter of Ted, the village chief. As the son of the lord, I had spoken to him a few times. He seemed to be a quiet person.

“Well, I guess we’ll manage with just the three of us. Today’s task is just pest control.”

Red shrugged his shoulders. While I didn’t particularly dislike insects, I wasn’t fond of them either. I could handle touching them with my bare hands if needed, but I’d rather not. In this world, rich in nature unlike the modern era, insects were abundant. Although I had grown accustomed to encountering them regularly, I still didn’t like them.

“Alright, we’ll help too.”

“Yeah, appreciate it.”

To Red’s awkward smile, I responded with an equally awkward one. Well, for now, this should be fine. With time, I might be able to relax a bit.

“Shion, you can work with me, and Marie, you’ll be with Red, okay?”

For a moment, my sister made a dissatisfied expression, but when I conveyed with a glance, “Don’t be selfish,” she reluctantly turned away. Seriously, my sister never strayed too far from my side. I couldn’t say much, though, as I had my own dependency issues.

I moved with Maron to the depths of the field. We looked at the plants stretching out several meters.

There’s no handy effective pesticide; it’s mostly a mixture of natural substances. It has some effect in repelling insects, but it’s not sufficient. Manual pest control seems to be the basic method.

Without it, the crops could be ruined, resulting in significant losses. We eliminated the insects and removed any laid eggs. It was a labor-intensive but crucial task.

We continued the pest control work silently. Even beyond noon and into the evening, our efforts remained steadfast.

“Hey, Shion.”

Immersed in our work, Maron timidly spoke up from behind. I responded without shifting my gaze.

“What’s up? Is something wrong?”

“Um, well… you see…”

She was clearly finding it difficult to express herself. Just from that, I could guess what she was trying to say. However, I said nothing and simply waited for Maron to continue.

“…The Lord, about that day… he told me not to talk to anyone about it. Since then, I’ve been avoiding bringing it up, but… I’m starting to wonder if that’s really the right thing to do. I don’t know how to say it, but…”

She was careful in choosing her words. She must have thought about it a lot in her own way. Otherwise, there’s no way she would have refrained from touching upon this topic for two years. Unsure of what to say, I remained silent.

“Oh, um, sorry. It’s not like I’m just curious and want to know or anything.

…No, maybe I do want to know. But not in a way that forces you to talk about it.

If you don’t want to share, that’s okay. But, honestly, it’s still on my mind.”

All the villagers have been instructed by my father not to disclose what happened that day. Maron and Red are no exceptions. And I believe this has been adhered to until now. Even if someone were to mention it, it would likely be dismissed as mere delusion. However, the fact that I defeated the goblins is undeniable. Although it’s not an issue now, just as with the processing of thunderstone, magic has some impact on its surroundings.

If it can change things for better or worse, it might be better not to casually share or mention it. But can Maron be trusted? Glast-san was informed about magic, and my father deemed him trustworthy due to their long acquaintance. What about Maron, Red, and Rose? Can they be trusted? Being children, they might inadvertently let things slip. However, the three have already glimpsed a part of magic. And for about two years, they have refrained from talking about it. So, maybe it’s okay to share.

But…

Is it okay when we don’t know what kind of impact it might have on them? Following my father’s thinking, limiting information might be a good thing for the three. Currently, there are no issues. But I can’t assert that there won’t be any in the future. That’s why my father enforced the silence.

Lost in uncertainty, I halted my work.

“…Guess you really can’t talk about it, huh? Ahaha. Yeah, it’s okay. I didn’t want you to force yourself to talk. I just wanted to know.”

I glanced at Maron’s profile as she softly said this over her shoulder. She seemed to be sadly looking down. It might be lonely not to be able to confide secrets in someone you thought of as a friend. My chest ached, but I couldn’t make up my mind.

In the midst of such hesitation, I noticed a sound and turned my gaze in that direction.

“Oh, Shion. How unusual. Did you come to help today?”

Rose spoke with a dignified tone, standing tall as if guarding something. Rose had also grown, her height and femininity much more noticeable than before. Beside her stood Lia, the one who had performed surgery on Mom’s wound. It was an unusual combination. Or perhaps they were close friends, and I just didn’t know.

“Hey, Rose. And Lia, hello.”

“Um, hello.”

Lia, looking timid, bowed her head slightly. Her appearance hadn’t changed much from before. Apparently, she had already finished her growth spurt by the second year. Braids and freckles – she gave off the impression of a village girl. I wouldn’t say that out loud, though, as it might hurt her feelings. Sister and Red must have noticed Rose’s group arriving, as they approached.

“Rose. Is your business finished?”

“Is Lia here too? Did you and the village chief go to Istria?”

“Oh, Maron and Red are here too. Yes, we went to Istria for a bit. We needed to wholesale crops and purchase tools for the village.”

“Well, I went to buy sewing tools and fabrics.”

Rose, the village chief’s daughter, occasionally had the freedom to go to Istria. Both I and Marie frequently went to Istria since we had horses, often visiting the guild for missions.

However, we hadn’t shared this information with everyone. It would be noticeable if we, a ten and twelve-year-old, talked about going on monster subjugations in the village, and it might become gossip. It wouldn’t be a big deal if it stayed within the village, but it could be a bit troublesome if rumors spread to traders or people outside the village.

Well, since we openly take requests at the guild without concealing our identities, it might not matter much. However, the information that we were the children of the lord of a rural village wasn’t known within Istria.

It wasn’t something that absolutely had to be kept secret, but there wasn’t a need to disclose it either. However, it seems that rumors are starting to circulate within the guild. It’s not unusual for two children like us to be subjugating monsters, but while I use magic, my sister utilizes incredible physical abilities.

“By the way, Shion and the others also go to Istria frequently, right?”

“Eh, yes. Well, you know.”

Marie seemed slightly flustered, probably associating it with our frequent visits to the guild. Really, my sister is just too easy to read.

“Recently, it seems there’s a strange illness going around.”

“Illness? What kind?”

“Well, about that… Oh?”

Just as Rose was about to say something, the sky suddenly darkened. Looking up, I realized that the clear sky had been replaced by overcast clouds.

In a moment, raindrops began to fall, turning from small to large in no time.

“Today’s work is canceled! Everyone, let’s head back home!”

As I shouted, everyone started running. Dealing with pests wasn’t something that could be delayed. In this world, even catching a cold could lead to a fatal outcome. Being wet in the rain was dangerous.

In a hurry, we distanced ourselves from the fields.

And then, a moment later, a thudding sound echoed from behind.

I turned around.

Without thinking.

“What’s that sound?” was the only thought in my mind, and I turned around.

And then.

What I saw in my field of vision made me doubt my eyes.

Someone was lying on the ground.

It wasn’t a fall.

That person wasn’t moving.

So, it wasn’t a stumble.

She.