It was the day after Arx had played with Lisha.
　The next day, Arx was summoned by his mother, Celine, to her room, where she was shouting hysterically at him.


I told you to stay away from Risha!


　The screeching voice came from above his head.
　The reason for the reprimand was, of course, that Arx had played with Lisha the other day.
　This was overheard by Celine and she was being yelled at like this.
　In this situation, there are only a few actions that Arx can take.

　The only thing he can do is to turn his head, shrink back, and apologize.


"I'm sorry.

"This is not a problem that can be solved with an apology!　What if an incompetent like you gets close to Lisha and infects her with your incompetence?


　Are you saying that incompetence is contagious?
　How can that be?

　Immediately after I thought that, I received a slap on the face.
　I was filled with regret and sadness, but there was nothing I could do about it.


"I'm sorry, .......

"Look!　Like you!　You filthy dog!　Stay away from Risha!　Get away from me!


　Immediately after those words, another slap came, again and again.


"......ts


　I bite my lip and endure the pain.


"Oh ...... why did God give me such incompetence ...... when the heir of the Razrael family is so blessed with magical powers?


　Celine makes a gesture of wiping the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief.
　In addition to her words, it seems as if she is comparing herself to a tragic heroine.


　But Celine is not so sorrowful, she squeaks again.


I'll make you a magic target.　I'll make you a magic target!

"Yes .......


　...... Eventually, when he was free of his mother's distraction, Arx left the room.
　On his way to his room, he could hear the whispering of the servants.


"Look, there's the bastard.

"Look at that face. Look at his face. He's about to cry because the mistress is mad at him.

I hate it. I can't believe he was born into a family with so much history and so little magic.

Why can't they just get rid of that disgrace right now?


　Even the servants are like this. Even the servants are like this. Just because you are not good at magic, they talk about you behind your back and even show their attitude.
　The good thing is that not all servants have this attitude. It is the servants who can use magic who are the ones who humiliate Arx. The rest of the non-magical servants are sympathetic.


　As I returned to my room and closed the door, I suddenly felt the strength drain from my legs.
　Perhaps it was because the tension had been released. My legs start to shake.


It's no big deal. It's ...... nothing.


　...... Yeah, it's nothing. I've experienced more than twenty years of life once.
　Once you've experienced more than twenty years of life, it doesn't matter if you get beaten up or if your parents hate you.
　Never.
　Nothing.
　You don't feel a thing.
　Just think of your mother as a stranger.
　The kind mother who raised the man is Arx's real mother. There's nothing sad about that. I'm not jealous. Not even a little. Not even a little bit.


"......


　Suddenly, my eyes are burning.
　Once the sobs escaped my mouth, there was no stopping them.


"Uh-uh-uh ......


　The voice of sorrow overflowed from my mouth. Why is he being so cold to me? Just a month ago, she had been so loving to me. Patting me on the head, hugging me. You smiled and forgave me when I was selfish. And yet... And now you're looking at me like I'm worthless and unwanted? Don't you have any compassion for a child with a stomachache?


　Is it right to yell at a child just because he is not talented?
　Is it normal to raise one's hand and make him the target of violence?
　I was reliving a man's life. I'm not who I used to be. And yet. I can't put up with things now that I can put up with in men.
　Why is that?
　I've followed a man's life.


　I've had a lot of bad times in my life as a man.
　I was bullied in elementary school, became a mopey clown in middle and high school, and had to put up with it all through college until I finally started to be taken seriously.


　I'm used to putting up with things.


　I should be used to it, but why can't I endure Arx (myself)?


"Uhhhhhhhh!　Aaahhhh!


　The uncontrollable emotions overflowed in the form of screams and tears.
　Even though my voice became hoarse and my tears dried up, I kept cowering in front of the door.










　I wondered how long I had been doing that. ......


　When I came to my senses, the sun was already high in the sky and it was dark outside the window.
　When I opened the door, I found a meal on a cart.
　I guessed that the servants who were on my side had taken care of me.
　Perhaps she was tired of crying and hungry, but she didn't mind taking a meal.


Magic, or ......


　I muttered to myself as I dipped a piece of black bread into the cooling soup.
　Magic, yes, magic. The reason I was in this situation had everything to do with magic. Because of my lack of magical talent, I was ousted as heir. My parents' love for me waned because of my lack of magical talent.


　When I thought about it, there was one thing that came to my mind.
　One day, I would become an amazing mage and show back my parents who had been so cold to me.
　He roughly bites into a loaf of black bread.
　It was a childish idea, but it didn't seem so bad.


　It was just that


"I want to eat a ...... hamburger.


　I wonder if he'll forgive me for thinking like that.