An Unconscious Genius Magic Tool Maker Wants to Live a Leisurely Life

Chapter 38: Who are you?

A gaze.

The Mystic Will (Audiobook)

At first, I didn’t pay much attention to it.

But gradually, I became aware of it and it started to scare me a little bit.

Morning, noon, and night, constantly.

It feels like someone is watching me.

Even when walking down the hallway, I can’t help but be conscious of the gaze of others.

Although I understand that it’s probably because of those rumors, I occasionally feel a sharp gaze pierce me and I suddenly turn around.

But one day, it suddenly disappeared.

I suddenly stopped feeling that gaze.

I thought maybe I had just gotten used to it, but it was unnatural for it to suddenly disappear.

The rumors are still going on.

Even so, I was happy that the unpleasant gaze had disappeared.

Finally, I can work in peace of mind.

Or so I thought…

“…I feel it again.”

As I walk down the hallway, someone glares at me.

“Are you okay, Mama?”

“Yeah.”

Nero walks next to me, looking worried.

Since he’s with me, I don’t want him to worry unnecessarily.

I tried not to think about it.

His Highness also seems busy lately.

I wanted to talk to him, but I didn’t want to give him any unnecessary work.

“If you’re not feeling well, let’s take a break. Papa is worried too.”

“Thank you, but I’m okay. Tomorrow is a day off after today, and I’ll feel better if I get a good sleep.”

“Mama… then I’ll work hard and finish my job quickly!”

“Thank you, Nero.”

Yes, everything will be fine if I get some sleep.

Before, I slept with anxiety, and when I woke up in the morning, the gaze was gone.

I don’t know why, but I expect it.

After finishing work, I go to bed at night.

And then I wake up.

“…it’s gone?”

The gaze was really gone.

I had felt it all morning yesterday, but it was completely gone now.

It’s the same as last time.

But I still couldn’t feel at ease.

A few days later——

“…again?”

I feel it.

A sharp gaze… from various directions.

Have the number of gazes increased?

Or am I just getting nervous?

I don’t know anymore.

This is the first time I’ve experienced something like this, so I don’t know how to deal with it…

“Hey, Nero, do you feel like someone is watching you lately?”

“Watching me? Sorry, I can’t feel the gaze with my body.”

“…I see.”

“Can Mama feel it?”

I nod.

When I was working in the lab, the words slipped out of my mouth.

I had been trying not to say anything to Nero so as not to worry him.

“It’s probably because Mama is famous! Lidoria-san said so too! Mama is a really amazing person. That’s why people are paying attention to you!”

“…Maybe you’re right.”

“Yes! It will surely disappear eventually.”

“That’s true.”

I regretted talking about it, but I was happy that Nero cheered me up.

Thanks to him, I felt a little better.

That’s right.

It’s just that people are paying attention to me because of the rumors, and it’s only for now.

I only feel a sharp gaze, and I won’t be harmed.

This is the royal castle, right?

His Highness is here, and Nero is with me now.

I don’t need to feel anxious.

Telling myself that, I focus on my work today as well.

At night.

I feel the most uneasy before going to bed.

The quietness of the room makes me feel like I’m being gazed at even more.

Sometimes I feel anxious that something might happen while I’m asleep.

“It’s okay, Mama! I’m here with you. I’ll protect you, Mama.”

“Nero…”

It’s pathetic. I’m making Nero worry too.

I need to stop worrying and just go to sleep already.

After that, I’ll talk to His Highness.

It’s not fair to burden him with my problems, but I can’t continue like this.

Even with Nero’s comfort, I can’t stop worrying.

I can’t concentrate on work like this.

“Tomorrow…”

I’ll go to His Highness in the morning.

I think this and drift off to sleep.

Tick tock, tick tock…

I wake up immediately.

The clock’s hands have only moved an hour.

“Huh?”

I notice it right away.

Nero, who was supposed to be sleeping with me, is not there.

“Nero?”

I look around the room.

He’s nowhere to be seen.

Then I notice that the window is open.

I remember locking it before going to bed.

“Could he have gone out from here?”

Did he go out alone?

Even though I told him not to go out alone, did he go against my words?

Suddenly, anxiety wells up within me.

Alone, my body trembles.

Before I know it, I’ve left the room and headed outside to find Nero.

Outside the window, the garden stretches out.

The late-night royal castle is dimly lit, and I don’t pass anyone as I run down the hallway.

I reach the courtyard.

“――They’re really troublesome.”

Nero’s voice.

He was in the courtyard after all.

I peeked at them from behind the trees.

And the sight I saw――

“What…?”

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Standing there was unmistakably Nero.

But his usual demeanor was different.

What surprised me most was the man who had collapsed in front of him.

“Ggh… Shit.”

“When are they going to give up? No matter how many times I repel them, they keep coming back. Where does that persistence come from?”

“Who…Who are you…?”

“I have no intention of telling you that. Just hurry up and… disappear.”

As Nero touches the man’s forehead, the man disappears in an instant.

That was undoubtedly a teleportation magic.

He moved the man somewhere else.

“Why can Nero use magic…”

I didn’t give that command.

In the first place, I’ve never heard of a golem using magic.

Nero lets out a small sigh.

The boyish innocence is gone from his profile.

“Hm? What, there’s someone else?”

Did he notice?

“Is turning you away not enough? If you’re too persistent, then your life will be——?!”

“Nero…?”

“You are…”

Our eyes meet.

It’s definitely Nero.

But, different.

It’s Nero, but not the Nero that I know.

“…Who are you?”