Chapter 1

"Damn it!"

I slammed my fist on the desk in my room and downed a glass of alcohol in one go.

In the dimly lit room, where only the indirect lighting I installed was on, my dispirited figure was reflected in the window.

"Sir Sieg... Aren't you drinking too much? You'll ruin your health."

The black cat in the room jumped onto my lap as I sat in a chair.

"Helen, what did I do wrong? Why do I always have to be resented?"

I was just doing my job normally.

Yet, I was removed from the team developing the military airship.

That effectively meant I was off the path to promotion.

"Sir Sieg isn't at fault... Probably August pulled some strings."

August...

The second son of a noble family who was competing for a spot on the military airship development team.

His family background was top-notch, but his skills as an alchemist were far inferior to mine.

In terms of qualifications, I am a 3rd-class national alchemist, while he is only a 5th-class national alchemist.

There should have been no competition.

I should have been the obvious choice.

Yet...

"He resented me and applied pressure... Damn it!"

I poured more alcohol into the empty glass and downed it again.

"Sir Sieg... That's enough, please."

Helen climbed up my body and perched on my shoulder.

I stroked her.

"In my past life too... I was resented and killed."

I have memories from my past life.

I was born and raised in a country called Japan.

Being smart, I graduated from the top university in Japan, joined a major corporation, and climbed the ranks.

However, I was resented by a colleague who lost in the promotion race and was stabbed to death in the office.

I still have nightmares about that time and can't forget the gleaming knife and the colleague's murky eyes.

"I understand. It's the one who resents you who is at fault."

That's right...

It should be that way.

But, thinking that I shouldn't repeat the mistakes of my past life, I studied not only alchemy but also magic to prepare for any eventuality.

However, this time it's the power of the nobility.

What a joke!

"Always something other than ability gets in the way! You incompetent fools!"

In my past life, I wasn't from a wealthy family.

So, I worked harder than anyone else and won with my effort and talent.

In this life, I was an orphan and lived in extreme poverty.

But, I still won.

Even though I won, I was crushed by an incompetent noble with a good birth...

"Helen, what did I do wrong? Where did I fail?"

"Sir Sieg did nothing wrong and didn't fail. It's the other person who is at fault."

Hmm...

My familiar is cute and smart, but she only gives compliments...

"Be honest. I need to consider this a failure and learn from it for the future."

Anyone can complain, but the important thing is to connect it to the future.

"But... "

"Speak."

"... Sir Sieg is smart and, as an alchemist, combined with the knowledge from your past life, you are undoubtedly the best alchemist in the country. You also have high magical power and excellent magical skills. Getting the qualifications of a 3rd-class national alchemist and a 5th-class national magician at the age of 22 is unprecedented in the long history of this country."

That's a given.

"I'm not like those idiots. I have talent and should be in a leadership position."

I graduated top of my class from the best magic school in the country and obtained the national alchemist qualification at the youngest age in history.

I am truly an elite with a promising future.

"That's where... Sir Sieg naturally looks down on others and lacks teamwork. You are strict with yourself and others. It's only natural to be resented and to lose in the promotion race. As just a cat, I don't care, but I think you should be a bit more gentle with others."

... You're being blunt.

"You thought that about me..."

I couldn't say anything in response.

"Because... Be a bit nicer to others. Like how you pet me."

"You're cute."

A familiar I contracted with as a child.

Although she doesn't do anything special, just being with her makes me feel at ease.

"Others are cute too."

"Not cute. Humans are ugly. Underneath, they are demons who only think about their desires and stepping on others."

"..."

Helen looked at the window, which reflected like a mirror, where a demon possessed by ambition was reflected.

"Damn! I understand! I understand... That demon is me. Ugly, thinking only about promotion... It's only natural to be resented."

I can't be friends with such people.

Especially, being colleagues with them is the worst.

Everyone must think that.

"Sir Sieg, you were removed from the airship development team, but that doesn't mean you're completely off the path to promotion. There are other ways. Reflect properly and try to be more considerate of others. If you keep this up, you'll end up alone for life."

Being single is fine, but I understand that the current situation is bad.

I should know after failing twice.

"Being considerate of others... How do I do that?"

"Are you a sad monster..."

I don't understand... I don't know what being considerate means.

"Ha... I get it. I'll try."

"I'll help you. I'm a cat specialized in being loved and understanding human hearts completely."

Cats know more about human hearts...

Sad...

◆◇◆

The next day, I had a headache from a hangover, but I took a hangover remedy I made and went to work at the Alchemists' Guild headquarters.

When I entered the building, I headed for the stairs to go to my studio on the 3rd floor.

"Mr. Siegwalt, can I have a moment?"

As I was walking, a red-haired woman at the reception desk called out to me.

"What is it?"

"Sir Sieg, Lesson 1: Polite language is important."

Helen whispered in my ear from my shoulder.

"I know that."

I tightened my resolve and headed towards the reception desk.

"Greetings are important too."

Sure, sure.

"Good morning. What's the matter?"

Following Helen's advice, I greeted and used polite language.

"Huh? Oh, yes... The head of the guild has called for you... What's going on?"

The receptionist looked surprised.

"What do you mean?"

"You never greeted anyone before."

Huh? Is that so?

I've been working here for three years...

"Yesterday, my cat told me I'm unpleasant. Is that true?"

When I asked, the receptionist's face turned serious and she didn't say anything.

"Sir Sieg, you should understand, right?"

Yeah...

I'm really resented...

"...... What did I do wrong?"

I asked Helen in a low voice.

"Ignore greetings, look down on others, and most importantly, you don't even know my name, do you?"

The receptionist answered instead of Helen...

"......"

Because, I don't need to remember the receptionist's name...

No, I understand.

That's the problem.

"Ha... The head of the guild has called for you. Please go to his office as soon as possible."

The receptionist pointed to the stairs, and I walked over.

"Is it too late?"

I'm more resented than I imagined.

"It's okay... I'm with you, Sir Sieg!"

No, are you okay?

I climbed the stairs and knocked on the door of the head's office on the 5th floor.

"It's Siegwalt Alexander."

"Come in."

I heard a woman's voice from inside, so I opened the door and went in.

There was a black-haired woman with her elbow on the desk.

"Good morning, Head."

"Ah, good morning."

"I was told to come here from the reception. What's the matter?"

"What's the matter... You're quite relaxed the day after being removed from the military airship development team."

I'm not relaxed.

I'm still deeply hurt.

But, something more serious happened.

"It's probably because I lacked the ability."

"You're right. You're incompetent."

Ouch.

"I'm sorry for not meeting your expectations."

I bowed my head, still hurt.

The head of the guild recommended me.

"Ha... Did you know August pulled some strings?"

"I had an idea. That man has first-class pride."

"You're right... I wanted to say that this kind of thing happens and to learn from it for the future."

Huh?

"What's the matter?"

"August seems to resent you quite a bit. I tried to place you in other teams, but all of them refused."

What?

"All of them?"

How many teams are there in the guild?

Easily over a hundred.

"Yes. August applied pressure."

"I see..."

To go that far...

"But, Sieg... His family is powerful and can apply pressure. However, if you want to, you can push back. This is the headquarters of national alchemists."

I understand... I know that too.

"Perhaps I didn't have the strength to push back."

"You're smart. Really smart. So, I'll be blunt. Yes."

I know.

"It's all because I lacked the strength... I'm sorry for the trouble."

"You're right. I had high hopes for you. You were outstanding since childhood, coming up with ideas no one else could and making them possible. Your insatiable drive for improvement was impressive. Among my many disciples, no one surpasses you."

I was an orphan who was discovered by the head of the guild as a child and became his disciple.

That's why I could attend the capital's magic school and work here.

All of this was possible because the head of the guild recommended me.

"That's an exaggeration."

"Indeed. It's quite impressive that a 3rd-class national alchemist was turned away by over a hundred teams. You've really tarnished my reputation."

"I'm sorry."

I couldn't think of anything to say in response.

I learned alchemy and magic from her and was recommended by her.

She is my benefactor and mentor.

"Ha... I should have taught you the ways of being a person before alchemy and magic. It's too late now."

Ah, it seems it's really over.

"I'm really sorry."

"It's fine, fool. Here's your next job."

The head of the guild took out a piece of paper and placed it on the desk. I stepped forward and took the paper.

Then, I read the transfer order written on it.

I see...

A transfer to the town of Riet...

"Sir Sieg, where is Riet?"

Helen, who was looking at the transfer order with me, asked.

"It's a town in the south."

I know the names of all the towns in this country.

So, I understood the meaning of this transfer order.

"It's a good town. Peaceful, close to the sea... Well, it's quite far from here."

The head of the guild took out a cigarette, lit it, and told me.

"Why here?"

"There aren't enough alchemists there."

"I see..."

"Your travel expenses will be covered, so you can use an airship if you want."

That's very kind.

It's far, so the moving expenses will be significant.

"For how long?"

"Is it written?"

"No..."

It's blank.

"So, that's the case... Start over from scratch, foolish disciple."

The head of the guild waved her hand dismissively.

"Excuse me."

I bowed my head, left the room, and went down the stairs to my studio.

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