Chapter 5

"Ah!!"

Mina had a smile on her face, but she was angry. For some reason, despite her beautiful smile, I could tell that anger was seeping through. So I immediately—

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to upset you! I'll leave right away—"

I started to stand up while apologizing. But before I could finish, Mina grabbed my sleeve and made me sit down.

"Huh? A, ah? Did I do something wrong?"

"What's wrong? Mina, it's rare for you to get angry, especially at a first meeting. I didn't see anything particularly rude about him?"

I was confused. The red-haired beauty also looked puzzled. It seemed that Mina was usually as gentle as she looked.

"Ah, Jade? Why can't you tell why I'm angry?"

"Ah!! I'm sorry!! I have no idea—wait, how do you know my name...?"

"Hehe, did you really forget? Maybe you studied magic so much that you lost other memories?"

"No! I'll remember! ...Ah, I'm sorry. I only know one Mina, and she's a little girl—"

I was frantically trying to remember, but all I could picture was a lively and mischievous girl who only came up to my waist.

"Is that the Mina from how many years ago?"

"Um, it's been sixteen years since we last met, so, ah, you've grown—wait, whaaaaat!? M, M, Mina!?"

"Yeah, that's right. This is Mina after sixteen years."

I looked at her again, trying to process the situation. It felt like I was watching a play from a distance.

"Wow... No, I mean, you've become so beautiful, it's like you're a different person, yes."

But it seemed that Mina was indeed my childhood friend from the countryside. If you thought about it, the color of her hair and the features of her face were familiar. However, the last time I saw her, she was eight years old, and I was thirteen. It's not surprising that I didn't recognize her after sixteen years. Well, it seems Mina recognized me right away...

"What, what? You know Mina?"

"Yes, that's right. Though, I'm the kind of friend who can be forgotten."

"Ugh. I'm sorry. Yes, I'm Jade. I'm from Purge Village and Mina and I were childhood friends."

"Hmm, so you're that childhood friend—"

"Scarlett?"

"Hehe, sorry. It's nothing. I'm Scarlett. I work at the same place as Mina. Nice to meet you."

Scarlett said this and extended her hand. After the introductions, Mina immediately—

"So? Why are you here?"

She asked with a smile. Naturally, I was stammering.

"Um, well, I was on my way back to the countryside—"

"Didn't you get into the Magic Bureau?"

"No, I did. But I got fired because of a little trouble, hahaha."

"It's not funny. I didn't know what you were doing for sixteen years. Jade never came back here or sent any letters."

"Huh? If you say that, Mina, you never sent me any letters either, did you?"

"I didn't want to interfere with Jade. You said you had to work really hard to get into the Magic Bureau."

"Ah, that's right. I entered the Royal Capital's Magic School and studied and trained in magic until I graduated. Then I joined the Magic Bureau and continued my research, training, and work. And then, I got fired. Hahaha, I spent sixteen years on this and ended up getting fired, it's kind of funny, isn't it?"

"It's not funny! I was worried about you all this time!"

I tried to keep the atmosphere light, but Mina was serious.

(Ugh, Mina has always been sensitive when it comes to me. And since the reason is about me, but she won't tell me, I don't know what to do...)

As I was at a loss and my gaze wandered, I met Scarlett's eyes.

"Come on, Mina, calm down. It's no use saying that now. Besides, going from Purge Village to the Royal Capital's Magic School and then working at the Magic Bureau, you must have worked really hard, as you said. Don't blame him. Instead, there are other things to talk about with someone who's unemployed, right?"

Scarlett calmed the angry Mina and steered the conversation in another direction. The word "unemployed" stung a little, but I couldn't argue. It was the truth.