Chapter 1

In hindsight, I think this was for the best. Life, especially the connections we make with others, is a strange thing. Not everyone around me is a good person, but I can certainly say that I have been blessed with good connections with people. My life, which had been gray, suddenly became colorful. It all began on a certain winter day –

"Good work, Jade."

"Thank you, Mr. Darvitz."

"Mm. Your reports are always so meticulous. I wish the others would take a leaf out of your book. Well, you're done for the day, right? Don't stay any longer and go home early."

"But –"

"No buts. You work too much. Here, go on, go home."

With those words from my direct superior, I couldn't think of a reply and started to gather my few belongings. I greeted my colleagues, but most of their responses were perfunctory, and many didn't respond at all.

I'm used to such things, so when I left the workplace, I began to walk slowly through the town below the castle. Looking back, I could see the huge, magnificent castle – my workplace. My job is to guard the palace, a so-called court mage. I've always loved magic, moved from the countryside to the capital when I was young, and after sixteen years, I finally got my dream job, thinking it would be smooth sailing – but reality isn't that sweet.

(Ugh, it's cold. Well, well, being a disliked person is tough...)

As the sun set and the streetlights illuminated the bustling town below the castle, seeing people enjoying themselves made me feel down. On a day like this, I have no desire to cook, so I stopped by my regular tavern. After visiting so many times, I've become familiar with the faces, and sure enough –

"Hey, it's the elite mage. Good work, come over here."

"Cut it out, Alk. I'm not an elite or anything."

A scruffy, bearded man named Alk, who is far from well-dressed, called out to me. He was already quite drunk, his ears red.

"Ha, if a court mage isn't an elite, what is? I'm just a day laborer mercenary who might die tomorrow or the day after."

"Hey, Alk, stop it. You're making Jade uncomfortable. Jade, good work. What will you have today?"

"Haha, thank you, Mallet. I'll have my usual."

"Sure thing."

I'm used to Alk's drunken ramblings, so I'm not too bothered. Mallet, the tavern's proprietress, understands that this is just a greeting. I enjoy Alk's exaggerated and often fictional mercenary stories, which I can only hear here. The people from the magic bureau are mostly serious and don't chat during work, and few go out for a drink after work. There's even a trend that drinking is bad. That's why I frequent this cheap tavern on the outskirts of the town, where court mages definitely don't come.

"– So, hey, Jade, are you listening?"

"I'm listening, I'm listening. So, what did you do with the behemoth with the broken horn?"

"Right. The behemoth with the broken horn, known as Abyss. I stood at the front and said, 'I'll buy time here! You guys run!' I readied my Buster Sword, and Abyss, enveloped in purple lightning, got into a battle stance. I charged at the behemoth, which was several times my size! What do you think happened?"

"Who knows? With the famous Abyss, it was probably hopeless. Did it eat you?"

"Idiot, if that were the case, I'd be dead, wouldn't I? I'm alive, so I can tell the story!"

"Ha, just kidding. So, did you cut off the other horn with your Buster Sword?"

"Hey, that's a good one. That's exactly what happened! I dodged its rock-like fist by a hair, climbed up its arm, which was thicker than a log, and with a shout, I delivered a powerful blow. It hit the behemoth's left horn clean at the base! The horn spun and stabbed into the ground. The raging Abyss. I jumped back and kept my distance, watching it. Then, it must have realized it was at a disadvantage. It ran away with its tail between its legs."

"Wow. That's impressive. So, what did you do with the horn as a trophy?"

"Hmm? Oh, the horn. Ah, right, I remember. The people I was guarding were from a certain noble family? There was a five-year-old girl, and she wanted it, so I smiled and gave it to her as a present."

"What a touching story. Not like Alk at all. But, surely, you must have received some thanks for the horn? Are you being treated to a meal today?"

"Hah, you're an idiot. I did it out of kindness for the girl. I refused any reward."

"Ha, that's quite something. Mallet, a toast to this hero."

"Hey, you got it. Then, to the hero –"

"To the hero –"

"Cheers."

And so, that day, Alk and I drank while sharing tall tales.