My week of freedom had flown by.

As instructed, I had walked to Violet’s office to get my briefing about the job.

I knocked and waited. Then knocked again and waited some more.

Oh no, Violet isn’t here…

She was probably still on the eastern border.

Would I get punished for not reaching my workplace, even if I didn’t know where the place was?

I walked back down the stairs and asked the clerk for information.

Once I mentioned my name, the clerk walked off and came back with a sealed envelope addressed to me. It was from Violet.

How thoughtful. I thought as I opened it.

I scowled as I read the contents. I was supposed to show myself at the outer gate to the royal palace. A location I was hoping to avoid.

Well, it was probably for the better that Violet wasn’t here to see how I had crippled myself with emotion magic.

While walking back to the inn I made a few stops.

Not because I was feeling particularly sociable, but because I needed to recover my stamina and mana. The pain ring was the only thing that allowed me to walk such unbearably long distances.

Also, I was trying to do better. Back in my world, the stress had turned me into a social recluse. I could endure my social quota at work with no problems, but the moment I walked out those doors, the only thing I sought was blissful solitude.

I had expected to eventually become sad or depressed, something to put me back on the right track, but the years passed and no such thing ever happened. Before I realized it, the fun things had become annoying, traveling had become boring, and parties were just a bother. I often wondered if I was still human.

But now I was in another world. A chance for new beginnings.

I think I was doing pretty well. I even had people praising me non-sarcastically, although my cynicism would always make me doubt their motives. But that’s just common sense.

* Knock Knock *

「Elaida: Allen! Nice to see you.」

Elaida smiled as she opened the door.

「Allen: Morning.」

「Elaida: Please come inside.」

She invited me in. I walked inside and sat down at the table.

「Elaida: What are you up to?」

「Allen: Recovering.」

I replied.

「Elaida: Recovering? From what?」

She said, lifting her brows.

「Allen: Long walk.」

I turned off the ring and relaxed as the thousands of needles stopped prickling my body.

「Lena: Lala, I’m bored…」

Little Lena showed up from the other door. Upon seeing me she smiled brightly.

「Lena: Uncle Allen!」

「Allen: Not yo–」

I was surprised by a hug-attack.

「Allen: Hrm.」

I administered one head pat and went back to vegetate, closing my eyes.

「Lena: I want a story!」

The child tugged my sleeve expectantly.

「Elaida: I think Allen is tired, you should let him rest. He said he had a long walk.」

Relatively long at least. It was all a matter of perception.

Even through closed eyes, I felt the pout on Lena’s face.

「Lena: But…」

「Elaida: Come now, show Allen hear what you have learned. Tell me the measures of time and month names.」

「Lena: Boooring…」

She pouted.

I fully agreed.

Lena sighed and spoke to show off her knowledge.

「Lena: A Respite is… twenty-eight Breaths. Forty-two Respites make a Repose. Twenty…five Reposes make a day…」

I still had to look those up, remembering numbers was never one of my strong points. My brain just throws all the similar things in the same pot.

「Elaida: Yes, go on.」

「Lena: The months are… Alderath, Malkadreth, Eraikrath… Lumarith? Saldareth, Rixoruth, Zalmerith and… Niveroth!」

I didn’t even try to memorize them, somethingrath, whateveroth. They all sounded the same to me.

I should really look into making a working calendar app.

「Allen: Better than me.」

I muttered a praise, keeping my eyelids closed.

「Elaida: Well done Lena, now you should go finish your exercises.」

「Lena: But… I wanted to ask Allen a question…」

Lena said with an imploring voice. I lazily opened my eyes and glanced at her.

「Allen: Yes?」

She was looking at me expectantly.

「Lena: If… If I study hard… Can I learn magic too?」

「Allen: Of course. But you need motivation.」

Becoming a magician meant being good at meditating. It all seemed a piece of cake on paper, yet it was surprisingly hard to get results. It doesn’t surprise me that normal people give up, it takes strength to break free from the addictive internal dialogue.

「Lena: And… if I become a strong magician…」

She averted her gaze, fidgeting with her fingers.

「Lena: Can I… Can I bring mama and p-papa b-back?」

Her voice started quivering and her eyes became watery.

Oh no.

「Lena: A-and big bro… and l-little b-bro… oou-uuuuh…」

She began sobbing, her face screwing up with sorrow.

I felt bad about seeing her like that. I wrapped my right arm around her and she buried her face against my shoulder. Elaida stared with a sad expression on her face.

「Allen: Sorry. Magic… can’t fix everything.」

Lena kept crying, trying to silence her sobs. I could feel she had more she wanted to say and ask but could not find the words. I felt compelled to say something.

「Allen: They... still live… as long as you remember them.」

I never thought I’d say a line like that, but it felt right. The girl did not reply and kept quivering as she let it all out.

We remained like that for a few minutes, until she stepped back, sniffing.

「Lena: Sowwy…」

She said weakly, wiping the tears from her face.

「Allen: It’s okay to cry…」

… While you’re still able to.

She nodded while struggling to hide the grief from her face and walked away to the other room.

I felt like I had been tricked into these feels. But how could I blame that child? She had put a brave face so far, but her loss was still fresh and I understood her pain.

「Elaida: She’s trying to be strong…」

Elaida said looking toward the other room.

「Allen: Hnn.」

I resumed my rest, now weighed by the sad atmosphere.

The next step was Vargas.

When I reached him I found out he had hired two guards to look over his merchandise, they looked familiar.

「Vargas: Allen! How can I help you?」

He was pacing around the place.

「Allen: Guards?」

I asked pointing at the guys outside.

「Vargas: Ah yes, I was about to tell you. I’m thinking of leaving for some time…」

He turned serious and sat down at his usual desk. I joined him, sitting in the other chair.

「Vargas: I’ve been having a bad feeling lately. I no longer feel safe here in Valarest.」

He looked left and right, a slight frown perturbing his chubby face.

「Allen: Hnnn.」

I could relate, I always have bad feelings.

「Vargas: I’m planning to travel long and far, see exotic locations, and of course…」

He brought up a familiar bunch of papers.

「Vargas: … Look for your ingredients.」

「Allen: Hnnn.」

I nodded appreciatively at his dedication.

「Vargas: If they are out there, I will find them. You can count on me.」

「Allen: I do.」

I took out something from my pouch and extended it to my merchant friend.

「Allen: For you.」

Vargas examined the object with curiosity.

「Vargas: What is this?」

He asked poking at the object with a puzzled look.

「Allen: Calculator.」

This one wasn’t just a ring. I had actually built the hardware beforehand, giving it a more classical shape. Basic illusion magic had been used to make the numbers appear on the display. It had been waiting on the drawer of my desk for the day I’d be able to put a processor in it. That day had come.

「Allen: Does the four basic math operations.」

I punched the keys to show him how to use it.

He was staring speechless.

「Vargas: This… this…」

I had promised it to him. Grohm had also been fascinated by the idea of making a calculator anyone could use.

「Allen: Uses small Aetherium crystals. Easy to recharge.」

I showed him how to open the slot containing the crystal and pushed some extra mana in them.

「Vargas: How… how can I thank you?」

「Allen: Adamantium ring?」

I asked. I had plans for a second ring, possibly to match with my awesome 【All-ring】.

He shook his head.

「Vargas: I’m sorry, I ran out of them. Adamantium is a rare material and highly sought. But…」

He stood up and opened a crate next to him. He rummaged for a minute before his face lit up.

「Vargas: Ah, here it is.」

He showed me a silvery ring.

「Vargas: This one is a mithril ring. They aren’t visible but there are fragments of Aetherium crystals embedded inside. I was assured it could hold roughly two-thirds of an adamantium’s magic potential. It’s yours.」

I plucked the ring from his hand and quested it with my mind. He seemed right, there was plenty of magic potential to go around inside it.

「Allen: Thanks.」

I nodded.

「Allen: Had long walk. Rest.」

I relaxed on the chair. I was actually taking it easy. I was anxious about tomorrow, I wanted to show up in decent conditions at my new workplace.

Or as decent as I could since I had barely begun recovering from the Resolve abuse.

「Vargas: Suit yourself! I’ll put on some tea and try out this calculator you gave me, in the meanwhile.」

I took a sigh of relief. I was thankful he didn’t start talking about food.

The soft taps on the calculator keys reminded me of my old workplace sounds.

Tomorrow was the big day.

I was secretly thrilled about developing weapons against the demons.

They were gonna regret stepping foot on this soil and involving Erne's family.