Transmutation Master Aria Is Doing Her Best Today ~a Happy Second Life for a Transmutation Master Who Had Her Results Stolen by Her Sister~ – Chapter 1

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Chapter 1: Court Transmutation Master, fired

About a year had passed since I became a court Transmutation Master.

Summoned to the throne room, I was told by His Majesty:

“Those who can’t produce any results as a court official are nothing but ‘wage thieves.’ We don’t need such people in our royal palace.”

That was the last thing I heard in this country.

For me, who had no place even in my mansion, the court was the only place to belong and rely on.

Having lost that, I left the capital without any destination.

“How do I…What should I do?”

No one replied to such a soliloquy.

There was no one to help me.

My family, who had served as Transmutation Masters in the court for generations, had been granted a noble title for their many contributions.

It seemed that I, born as a child of the head of the family and a commoner lover, also had the talent to be a Transmutation Master.

Because of this background, I wasn’t treated very well in the mansion. But I thought that as long as I could achieve clear accomplishments as a Transmutation Master, the people around me would surely recognize me.

For more than a decade, I diligently worked towards that goal.

However, all the new developments and achievements I made in Transmutation Art were taken away by my half-sister Celica, the daughter of my father’s legal wife.

She also had talent as a Transmutation Master, but disliked the hard work, so she simply reported my accumulated research results to Otoo-sama as if they were her own.

Even if I pleaded that they were my achievements, I received no attention.

Before I knew it, she was selected to be a part of the court earlier than me, and more than two years had passed since then. Finally, I was able to become a part of the court like I’d always wanted.

But even then, I continued to lose credit to her for my achievements.

I was even accused of being a “salary thief” and driven out of the palace for receiving pay without doing anything.

My mother was a commoner who disappeared somewhere after having a relationship with my father.

More accurately, my father probably distanced himself from his own blemish.

I found out about it when I was old enough to understand.

So, I have no one to rely on other than my father.

After losing my job and place to stay, I wandered around in despair.

And then——

“Here…”

Before I knew it, I had entered the forest that I felt nostalgic about.

Being born into a noble family of Transmutation Masters, I was not given much support from my family due to being disliked for my background.

Normally, if you say you need materials for Transmutation Art, you would be given them.

My sister was given them, but I wasn’t even given that…

Before I became part of the court, I used to gather materials from the forest or mountains myself.

This forest had many rare plants and was relatively safe and calming, so it was my favorite place.

“It feels so nostalgic.”

“That’s my line.”

“Eh——?”

Lost in emotions, I was suddenly addressed by a man’s voice.

A voice I had heard many times before in light conversation, causing me to quickly turn around.

“Long time no see, Aria.”

“Yuren-kun?”

The person who called out to me was Yuren, whom I had met when I first entered this forest.

He had silver hair and a mysterious atmosphere about him.

At that time, he was still young and aiming to become a Transmutation Master like me.

He came to this forest because good materials could be obtained here.

Perhaps because we had the same goal, we talked to each other, and since we met, we had run into each other in the forest several times without any specific plans.

Before I knew it, he had become the only one my age whom I could speak to with ease.

“Long time no see?”

“Yeah. It’s been a year, hasn’t it? The last time was when you came to report that you had been appointed to the court. I didn’t think I would see you again. What’s up? Did you come to look for materials you lack?”

“Um, well…”

The last time I saw him was about a year ago.

I went to report to him first when I was thrilled to be appointed to the court.

I ran through the forest, happy and stumbling, and scraped my knees.

Once I became a courtier, I no longer needed to go to gather materials, so coming to this forest was my last time.

Since then, I haven’t met him once.

I really wanted to see him, so the reunion was very happy.

But…

“Aria?”

“Yuren-kun, I…I’m thinking of quitting as a Transmutation Master.”

“Huh?”

I lost my reason to work hard.

I no longer had a place to belong.

The hesitant response led to a word of resignation.

Yuren-kun was also surprised as he probably didn’t expect me to say that, with a look of shock on his face.

“… Weren’t you supposed to become a courtier?”

“Yeah, I became one.”

Becoming a courtier was my ultimate goal.

I think every time I met him in the forest, I talked about my determination to become a courtier.

That’s why he was surprised.

On the day I reported that I became a courtier, I was so excited that I was embarrassed, and he was happy with me.

So why did it lead to the conclusion that I would quit?

He must have been wondering.

Nevertheless, he seemed to understand from my expression and tone, and he didn’t ask further.

“I tried my best… but maybe it’s already impossible.”

Since he didn’t ask, I spoke out my weakness by myself.

To achieve results as a Transmutation Master and to be recognized by my family and the people around me.

That was my ultimate goal, and being appointed to the court was like the first step.

But now I have no home, no work.

There is no reason for me to keep trying.

So surely, quitting is not the wrong choice.

But even though I think so, it’s hard to accept.

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