[Rokudenashi] Eve's Official Short Story

—After classrooms are over, inside the Alzano Empire Imperial Mage Academy’s school building
“Thanks for the class, Eve-sensei !”
“See you tomorrow, Eve-sensei !”

The students greeted me with zeal.

“Hmph. Be careful along the way back.”

I harshly replied, without looking at them.

Strangely, this doesn’t feel bad at all

“…A teacher, huh…”

I looked down at my instructor’s uniform while whispering.

A noblewoman and heir of a leading figure in empire’s military, the House of Ignite.
A leader of the empire’s most powerful imperial mage court, Number 01 “The Magician”

Those brilliant titles are long gone.

Now I already ceased being “Eve Ignite”, becoming just “Eve Distrei”.

Being exiled from the house after failing to answer my father’s expectation and getting my status as a noble rescinded.


There’s a sense of loss

Also a sense of regret

Even now, just thinking about the reality that I’ve lost everything is enough to make me cry myself to sleep.

But, even with all of these—

“It’s strange. There’s a part of me that thinks “This lifestyle isn’t that bad”.”

Recalling my time in military service, a time when I was constantly pressured by the duties of Ignite.
Father’s expectation, family’s expectation — To flawlessly answer them, I was constantly exhausting myself only aiming for perfect results.
When looking back at me from that time, I saw myself feeling suffocated, constantly being tormented by something, having no room to catch any breath.
But what does it look like now?

“I feel…relaxed. It isn’t suffocating anymore”

At a price of losing everything, I earned a freedom that I didn’t imagine I would have.
Now it’s time when I can finally start thinking about myself.

“Hmm”
I stretches my back and shoulders, feels the wind blowing through the window and looking at the scenery outside.
A giant phantom castle floating in the sky — “Megalius Floating Castle” — shines brilliantly while bathing in the radiance of the sun.

“Ahh…This lifestyle is not that bad after all.”

Released from the restraint of the family, I am living freely as an instructor in this academy.
Helping with students’ growth, watching over their progress and sending them off to their own future.
An existence akin to a bridge that connects to the future.
A lifestyle like that sounds pretty good in it’s own way.
But—

“For me, is it okay to just stay like this?”
Another me from the deep inside protests.
—I can’t end up here.
—I must return to the House of Ignite.
—I must become a “true” Ignite.
Of course, it’s because—
—That time, I made some kind of promise with “that person”.
The recollection of that time becomes blurred

“Haah….”
I feel tired and sighed after trying to recall a vague memory.
My thoughts don’t take shape properly.
I am confused and don’t know what should I do next.

“What’s becoming of me lately?”
As I am complaining to myself

“Hey, Eve. What the hell are you doing here?”
A voice next to me.
As I turn, I see Glenn standing there.
Until just now, he was probably playing with students. His cloth looks like it has been hit by some kind of wind magic.

(Ahh, Meeting a bothersome guy on such a bad timing)

The feeling of irritation I constantly felt when I was in the military service is gone, but…
It’s still undeniable that I feel somewhat awkward towards him.

“Hmph…What I do and where I am shouldn’t be your concern, Am I right?”
“Sigh…You doesn’t change, huh.”
“About your look, did you make Sistine angry again?”
“Shut up. Leave it alone”
“Haah…It’s good to be as carefree as you, eh?”
I turned away from Glenn again.
“What? Are you saying that you’re worrying about something?”
“……….”
I didn’t reply
Only looking at the sky and the floating castle mindlessly.
“Well…Um, you see…”
Glenn walked to me and started looking at the sky together
“Unlike me, it seems that you’ve a lot of worries.”
An oaf like him just tried to be considerate and worried about my well being.
Even though it’s apparent that he will listen to my worries.

“Hmph…As if someone like you will understand me”
I can only lashed back at him like that.
Like usual, as he saw my unapproachable attitude, he letted out a big sigh.

“…Sigh. It seems that I bothered you.”
And just like that, he turned around and left.
If it’s like the usual, it should end like this.
Someone like me who can’t behave too girly and just ask him to stay to listen to my worries.
Even for Glenn, seeing me like this shouldn’t be unusual.
But, this time—
Is it the fault of that giant castle? It feels like everything doesn’t matter compared to it’s grandeur.
With that, I finally speak—
“Hey. Glenn. Are you really okay staying like this?”
The words struck Glenn who’s trying to leave
“!”
“Even you should have something that you can’t give up on. Even you should have felt “I can’t just stay like this forever”, right?”
“……….”
“Are you really okay with your current status? Doesn’t you ever want to return to the army? Haven’t you ever felt that you shouldn’t remain like this forever?”
I know that I’m saying somethings really rude.
It’s as if I’m saying his current lifestyle is pathetic. It’s natural even if I get punched back in the face.
But, even knowing that, I still—
“About your worries, well, I can only imagine but—“
Glenn words interrupted my speech
“I don’t think that titles are of that much importance.”
“!”
“The important thing is “what are you going to do?”, right?”
“……..”
“A “Mage of Justice” who will make everyone smiles…..recently I feel that fighting and killing aren’t the only methods available”
As I turned silent, Glenn continues speaking
“You too, if you want to return to the army, just return. If you want to stay here, then stay. But, don’t ever forget “For what’s sake I will do this?” It will become troublesome if you forget.”
Strangely, Glenn’s words resound deeply within me.
As if I was reminded of something really important.
But, even with that—
“Hmph. Are you trying to be cool?”
—As expected, I can only reply like that.
As now, my clumsiness and rudeness level is probably unrivaled. Even I am surprised by that.
But,
Even with this, Glenn still probably understands me.
He smiled wryly.
“Well, think carefully by yourself then.”
With that, he leaves.
As his presence goes away further and further
“………..”
I was looking at his back.
And, eventually, I whispered.
“…Thank you…”
———
A small kindle that continues burning in my heart.
A weak, powerless ember.
When, and how, can I rekindle that flame again.
At that time, what kind of flame I will become. Or should I ever become?
As I keep thinking about it.
I was looking at the sky outside—


Note: This was written by the author as a reward for the character who won the last popularity vote. Original can be viewed in the link below by clicking on the red bar locating below Eve's picture.

https://fantasiabunko.jp/special/201411rokudenashi/2020_touhyou.html