As Suimei envisioned that scene in his mind, he remembered what it was like when he had first started to learn magic.
That was a thing already many years in the past. When he was young, his father had brought him to the one room in their house where entry was forbidden, and there—
“…My father wasn’t the type to talk much. I never had an experience like yours. It’s just that, from the very start, he told me that this was something I had to master.”
“He didn’t even give you a reason?”
“Well, that much he did. It wasn’t a reason that a young child could understand, though. Moreover, I never had any intention of asking, and so he never spoke about it. Unfortunately, for that very reason, it wasn’t until very late that I heard the answer from my father.”
His tone was nostalgic as he spoke, as the scene from his memory replayed itself before his eyes.
Indeed, by the time he’d heard the reason, he’d already long since begun to tread the path of a magician. It was entirely possible that had “that incident” not occurred, his father would have taken that answer with him to the grave.
Thinking along those lines, it occurred to him that perhaps the reason his father had taught him magic was that he had seen it as the one thing he could do for his son as a father.
“Is that really alright?” Lefille asked next.
“Yeah. I enjoy learning magic. It’s not something I at all resent. Although I have to say it’s brought on its fair share of hardship as well.”
“Is that so?” Lefille said with a laugh, thinking to herself that what had just been said was of interest.
“…Mm? Did I say something strange?”
“Not at all. I was just surprised to find that there’s someone like me.”
Indeed, that was it.
“That we’re both burdened people is something I can definitely agree on.”
“Definitely.”
Lefille nodded. It looked like his words had been spot on. She must have also encountered more than a few obstacles as she advanced down the path of swordsmanship.
As he mused, a thought seemed to have come to Lefille’s mind.
“—That reminds me, Suimei-kun. In the end, what rank did they give you?”
“Ahh— I was given a D-rank.”
His answer left her stunned.
“…Why? I, who defeated them in succession, was given a B-rank. How is it possible that you, who defeated them simultaneously, are a D-rank?”
“Yeah, about that…”
What had his words made her think? Suddenly, as if she’d come to a conclusion, her gaze sharpened. The laughing tone she’d used until this point suddenly turned frigid.
“So that’s how it is. So even an organization as renowned as the guild would pull something like this. Hmph. I would never have imagined that they’d straight up manipulate guild ranks just to save some face…”
“Wha…?”
Her sudden and complete misunderstanding left Suimei flustered. He would never have guessed she’d arrive at such a conclusion.
“Well, isn’t that what happened? That seems like the only logical conclusion?”
“No, no. While I can’t deny that reasoning, but still…”
“No, I can’t accept such a thing. Once we get to Kurand, let’s head to the branch office and raise a complaint. Don’t worry, I’ll go with you. If they try to pull something again, I’ll act as the witness and have them perform the exam once more.”
With that, Lefille mumbled, “Right, let’s do that,” and other such things to herself.
This totally isn’t her problem, why does she care so much? It looked like Lefille was the kind of person who wouldn’t let acts of injustice stand.
In the end, what it came down to was the fact that she was serious about helping Suimei “bring the truth to light”, something that he could not allow her to do.
Instead—
“…To be honest with you, my D-rank is something I personally requested of those three. That’s why rank’s so low.”
What he had said was so nonsensical that Lefille, frowning, looked at him in confusion.