Discrimination Was the Last Thing I Wanted
Discrimination? I didn't want that either.
Something had changed. She first realized it the moment the thick stench of blood assaulted her nose and eyes right after leaving the gate. Next came Alkahest's attitude toward her, and finally, after examining the items he had laid out before her now.
"Your reaction isn't very good."
"It's quite different from what I expected."
Mir answered Alkahest's question in a cold tone. This wasn't what she had wanted. At her direct words, he smiled as if finding it amusing and crossed his arms.
"I don't know what kind of expectations you had, but I'm sorry."
"Alkahest."
"What is it?"
"Weren't you clearly interested in my power?"
"...Yes, that's right. That's why I made that bet with you."
It possessed a uniqueness somehow alien to ordinary light attributes. When Alkahest first witnessed that power, his alchemist's curiosity drew him to make her an offer. One of the reasons he had come all the way to this mountain path was to say that if she cleared the gate within the time limit he set, he would treat her as a guest.
"But for someone who found it interesting, your attitude seems a bit off?"
And the result was a success, as could be seen. Mir had earned the right to be treated as Alkahest's guest. If things had ended there, the situation before her wouldn't have posed any particular problems. That is, if the unexpected existence known as Zeon hadn't appeared.
Aah... It's still vividly etched in my mind.
That power which felt both beautiful and dangerously overwhelming, as if every darkness in the world had been condensed into one place. The sight of a crude kobold dagger transforming into a magnificent treasured sword.
Certainly, this girl's power is incredible too......
Yes, he admitted it. He acknowledged the greatness of the power Mir possessed and her talent. If she continued growing at this rate, she would undoubtedly make a name for herself with tremendous fame in the near future.
That's why it's such a shame.
Tap.
If she hadn't met Zeon, if he hadn't witnessed that power, if Mir had cleared the gate just a little faster—it would have been perfect. No matter how remarkable and outstanding she was, compared to Zeon her evaluation could only fall relatively.
It's regrettable. Truly regrettable.
He had already placed his bet on Zeon. Of course, that didn't mean he wouldn't sell her anything at all, but he couldn't help paying her less attention than Zeon.
"You made me that proposal just to show me these kinds of items?"
Unable to accept this truth, Mir's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
"Your treatment of a guest is rather disappointing."
"It can't be helped. These really are all the items I currently have."
It wasn't a lie; it was the truth. Most of what he possessed had been bought up by Zeon.
Honestly, this wasn't the picture Alkahest had envisioned. His original plan was to sell items to Zeon at half price while gifting him a subspace-enchanted backpack. The remaining goods were meant to be sold to Mir at full price, unlike Zeon. But somehow, Zeon had purchased everything.
I didn't realize he had that much money.
He had taken a solid hit. Even at half price, the value was considerable—how could a student carry around that much wealth?
Even though he had bet on Zeon, he hadn't intended to create such a stark difference. Yet the situation had twisted in a strange way, causing his treatment of Zeon and Mir to diverge significantly.
"Don't be too disappointed. I'll prepare better items next time."
"That's hard to believe. I'm already somewhat disappointed."
No matter what, I have no use for those things.
Mir shook her head, gazing at the items before her with icy eyes. They were things she only knew from theoretical knowledge. Although she had recently studied alchemy in the library, these objects offered her no real benefit.
"Then you won't be purchasing anything?"
"...Unfortunately."
In the end, Mir expressed her regret and gave up on buying the items. As if in exchange, she looked around at the surrounding scenery that had been bothering her since earlier and asked.
"By the way, what is all this? Did an attack happen while I was inside the gate?"
"Hmm, you mean this?"
At Alkahest's somewhat reluctant demeanor, Mir's eyes gleamed.
As expected, something had occurred.
Blood droplets still dripped from the leaves without having dried. The fact that they hadn't coagulated meant not much time had passed.
Who came here?
She wondered if Alkahest had created this scene, but this was clearly the aftermath of a sword fight. It had nothing to do with Alkahest, who wielded magic.
"Who came here while I was clearing the gate?"
"Hmm? What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb when you don't even use a sword."
"Haha, fine. Since I feel somewhat sorry, I'll share a little. While you were conquering the gate, someone came here. And that visitor was an academy student just like you... Is that enough to satisfy you?"
"Someone who attends the same academy as me?"
At Alkahest's words, Mir's mind began organizing her thoughts at incredible speed. Looking at this scene, there must have been more than just a few opponents. Who at the academy possessed this level of skill? And among them, who used a sword?
Thud.
"Hmm?"
While pondering and walking, something caught her foot.
"This is... a sword hilt?"
It was an object with no blade, as if it had been snapped off—nothing but the handle remained. It could hardly be called a weapon. Mir carefully picked it up, examined it from various angles, and quickly realized what it was.
"This is one of the swords kobolds carry."
They were the creatures she had sliced apart countless times inside the gate just ten minutes ago. Recalling the characteristics of their weapons, Mir wondered why this was here and why only the hilt remained without its blade.
It's most likely that person from the same academy as me.
Lowering her gaze to examine the ground more closely, she discovered several more hilt-only remnants scattered about. Multiple bladeless handles, not just one...
Looking at the several sword hilts, the corners of her mouth twisted faintly.
Did they steal and use the opponent's weapons because they had none of their own? Whether it was truly because they lacked weapons or simply didn't want to stain their own with blood, the seized weapons couldn't withstand the user's power and ended up like this.
Just how much strength had they wielded for even low-quality kobold weapons to have their blades vanish so cleanly? Among the academy students—not even the professors—the only sword user who could accomplish this was one person who came to mind.
Zeon.
Her speculation was perfectly correct. But since she didn't know that, she couldn't place full confidence in her thoughts and merely settled on Zeon as the prime candidate.
***
She's not paying me any attention at all.
Alkahest rubbed his chin as he watched Mir completely ignore him, lost in deep thought.
Truly remarkable concentration.
She was so focused that she wouldn't notice even if he slipped away quietly. In that case, there was no reason to remain. Alkahest carefully packed his belongings without making a sound.
Huh. She hasn't glanced at me once while I packed everything?
Even though he had moved quietly, this seemed excessive.
Hmm. Leaving like this feels a bit wrong.
Especially after failing to show her proper items because of Zeon's ostentatious spending.
Sigh... My personality has really dulled quite a bit.
To be this concerned over a mere academy student.
"Why don't you show me a little interest too? I was planning to give you one last piece of information before leaving."
"Information?"
Mir widened her eyes as if she truly hadn't known. If it was information from him, it would certainly hold value.
"What information?"
"The great serpent of the night sky appears to be reaching for the stars. And taking advantage of that crisis, the lion is slowly beginning to awaken from its slumber."
"...Is that certain?"
"Of course."
It was top-secret information among confidential matters. Yet Alkahest shared it with Mir without hesitation. He felt a slight curiosity about how much she would understand. At her expression that grew serious in an instant, he let out an admiring breath.
She comprehends it fully.
But even so, not much would change. No matter how talented and outstanding she was, she was still just an academy student.