[Elmer]

“Next is~ right here~”

I displayed my palm not grasping anything, and then gripped my right hand tightly. Suddenly, a small bird appeared on my hand when I opened it. The little bird spread its wings with a flapping sound, when it finished wandering around the ceiling it went back to my left hand.

“Then, please have a look.”

Saying that, I placed the little bird on the window pane steadily.

As for this, I am a magician, and the audience for my magic show is Kioran. After completing Formation Z, I gave up. The book has been reduced to a tragic condition. Or perhaps I should say, the only thing left on my hand were several pieces of paper.

That’s why, an impromptu magic show is being held. Or should I say it’s the commemoration of Kioran’s birth?

The little bird made of ice flew out, and headed towards the windowpane. It’s the place where the bird cannot cross awhile ago. However this time, it was able to go through the window pane smoothly.

“What is this! The little bird has flown away!”

It’s a success. Kioran clapped his hands repeatedly… wait a minute!? His tail also repeatedly hit me. That’s why, I said it hurts! I really need to change this.

Still, he appears to be truly pleased.

Of course, it isn’t just about the little bird going through the closed windowpane. When the little bird hit the windowpane, I turned the ice into water vapor. Then, it was reshaped on the other side. Nevertheless, I still think the trick I did was splendid. Though it’s actually real magic.

Suddenly, I realized. The things I consider to be amazing might just be perhaps something normal in this world… I forgot! Magic is common sense in this world. Even the origins and mechanisms are different, this is not the same situation. Could it be that my training until now is meaningless!?

I was intending on doing the trick on a customer’s gla.s.s… it will be a big hit for children, that’s what I thought. I even made the shape of the little bird cute.

“Kioran… it’s no good…”

I let a little bird with all my heart out of the window. Because it’s ice, it’s a little painful in the eyes to look at.

*Click*

I had been preoccupied by the little bird and noticed too late that the door was opening.

I hurriedly made Kioran disappear, and crushed the corpse (that is what I think of it) of the Economics book.

“It’s time for the evening meal.”

It was Maid-san and Matthias.

The day already pa.s.sed by?

Probably because I now have Kioran, the night felt like it came earlier than usual.

[Unknown’s POV]

“You’re f.u.c.king kidding me, that d.a.m.n Old Geezer, pus.h.i.+ng another troublesome work to me.”

Feeling annoyed, I kicked the puddle of water at my feet. Mud spilled onto my clothes which made me even more irritated.

“Daaamn!”

The rain made me even more frustrated.

To begin with, that d.a.m.n Old Geezer is the one at fault. I was just fooling around a little but I didn’t expected him to be that angry. Though I knew he’d be angry, I didn’t think he’d increase the amount of my work.

I only filled the high-quality dress of that stupid n.o.blewoman with hairy caterpillars for revenge, but I was punished to watch a foreign country’s n.o.ble for years?

Which reminds me, Piett mentioned something about Old Geezer making a blunder during a guard duty while I wasn’t here…

I can’t believe it. It’s true that I’m annoyed with that Old Geezer, however I knew his ability is reliable. Yet, he lost to an infant prince. Piett began to talk, but I ran away in the middle of it. That guy’s stories are always long. It becomes troublesome, so it’s a common knowledge for every Shadow to run away.

The Prince he mentioned, was it the Old Geezer’s master Matthias’ new Master… Wait, isn’t he a child? Is there such a thing? Well, it doesn’t have anything to do with me anyway.

I want to return to the house quickly today, let’s cross the corner of the garden…  I thought.

Even if I said that, the corner I walked through isn’t really a corner, though. The place was just a blind spot that’s why it was called that way. Since I understand the layout of the place, I only have to confirm that no one is there and then walk by.

Only someone like me with great potential and reflexes is able to accomplish such a thing easily, it’s the reason why I can claim to be on the same group as Master.

Even so, despite being qualified, I am still an apprentice.

I’m thankful for the Old Geezer, who is also my Master, for picking me up. My parents sold me off, and when I was living a half-dead life like s.h.i.+t, I was saved by that man. He also taught me how to find a job. Even though the Old Geezer was just training me, I had thought about it, I really think that working as a Shadow is my calling. I don’t have to worry about daily necessities and I like the work.

Matthias will surely become my Master if I go with it. I don’t dislike him in the beginning. But when I played a prank on that guy, I was unable to stomach the insanely long sermons.

Because of my work, I’ve seen a lot of n.o.bles and learned that his good nature is different from other n.o.bles. That’s why, if I was asked if I’ll pledge allegiance to be a Shadow under Matthias’ direct control, I’ll say yes even now. But things didn’t really go that way.

When we were still in a rocky start, Matthias only talked to me once.

‘Your Master works for me, but I will not demand anything from you. At the same time if you sell off any information it would be a problem, so I’ll make sure you’ll never see my Master. Also, I will not name you so you decide your name by yourself.’

There aren’t usually n.o.bles who say those things. In the first place, we aren’t even named, because we are shadows and not human. Old Geezer’s name Ieden means 1. When Matthias named him, Old Geezer insisted in having a name with a number, in the end Matthias gave in and used a foreign language to name him.

That’s why the Old Geezer and the others will follow him no matter what.

Would I encounter someone like that someday? Or am I going to be working under Matthias, too? Whatever is fine. However, the former needs to be someone who isn’t hostile to Matthias.

I went to the corner while thinking these things.

The Green Water Palace Garden is something that the public is not allowed to see.

Suddenly, something heavy fell on my head.

“Oww-!”

It hurts. I grimaced with the pain and instinctively crouched down.

“What!?”

I’m not under attack. It wasn’t a fatal wound, and I can’t feel any killing intent. Then, it must be just an accident.

I squatted down on the ground. Before my eyes, a clear figure of a bird laid right in front of me. When it fell, it had been tainted by the mud in the ground.

I rubbed the figurine clean with my clothes. I was fascinated by its beauty, it’s as if it was alive. I looked around carefully but saw no signs of anyone present.

If it’s something this beautiful, it might belong to a n.o.ble’s daughter.

If they’re throwing it away, then I’ll keep this, that was what I thought as I sneaked the small bird in my pocket.

Aa, it might have been just a good day. While thinking something like that, I continued on walking.