Exiled Alchemist’s Frontier Life: A Former Elite’s Fresh Start in the Backcountry After Failing Again - Chapter 1 : No Wonder You're Hated
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- Exiled Alchemist’s Frontier Life: A Former Elite’s Fresh Start in the Backcountry After Failing Again
- Chapter 1 : No Wonder You're Hated
“Damn it!”
I slammed my desk in frustration and downed a glass of liquor in one gulp.
In the dimly lit room, illuminated only by the indirect lighting I had set up, I saw a reflection of my disheveled self in the window.
“Zeke, you’re drinking too much. You’ll ruin your health.”
My black cat, who had been lounging in the room, leapt onto my lap, speaking to me as she settled in.
“Helen, what did I do wrong? Why do I always end up being resented?”
All I did was my job, yet I was removed from the military airship project team. In effect, this meant my path to promotion had been cut off.
“You’re not at fault, Zeke. Most likely, it’s August who pulled some strings.”
August…
The second son of a noble family, who had been vying for a spot on the military airship project team. Though his lineage was impeccable, my skills as an alchemist far surpassed his. I held the rank of a 3rd-class national alchemist, while he had only managed to achieve 5th-class. In terms of qualifications, there was no competition. It was only natural that I should have been chosen. And yet…
“He harbored resentment and exerted pressure… Damn it!”
I poured more liquor into my empty glass and drank it down in one go.
“Zeke… You should stop now.”
Helen climbed up my body and perched on my shoulder. I stroked her gently.
“It was the same in my previous life… I was resented and killed.”
I still remember my past life. I was born and raised in a country called Japan. I was smart, graduated from the best university in Japan, got a job at a major company, and steadily climbed the corporate ladder. But just like this time, I lost in the race for promotion and was stabbed to death by a resentful colleague. I still have nightmares about it—the gleam of that knife and the dull, lifeless eyes of my co-worker.
“I know… The one who harbors such resentment is the one in the wrong.”
Yes… Of course, that’s how it is. But I had vowed not to repeat the mistakes of my past life, so I studied magic in addition to alchemy, preparing for any eventuality. Yet, now it’s the power of noble status that’s getting in my way. It’s infuriating!
“There’s always something other than skill that gets in the way! Damn fools!”
In my previous life, I wasn’t born into a wealthy family. That’s why I worked twice as hard and continued to win with my effort and talent. In this life, I was an orphan, living in extreme poverty. But even then, I kept winning. And yet, I’m being crushed by some incompetent noble who was born into privilege…
“Helen, what am I doing wrong? Where did I fail?”
“Zeke, you’ve done nothing wrong, and you haven’t failed. The problem lies with them.”
Hmm… My familiar is cute and smart, but she only ever praises me…
“Tell me the truth. I need to recognize this as a failure so I can learn from it and move forward.”
Anyone can complain, but turning it into a lesson is what really matters.
“But… but…”
“Speak.”
“Zeke, you’re incredibly smart, undoubtedly the best alchemist in the country, especially with your knowledge from your past life. Your magic power is also high, and your skills in magic are extraordinary. You’re the only one in the long history of this country who has earned both the 3rd-class national alchemist and 5th-class national magician qualifications at the age of 22.”
That’s only to be expected.
“I’m different from those incompetent fools. I have talent, and I deserve to be in a leadership position.”
I graduated at the top of the best magic academy in the country and became the youngest person ever to obtain the national alchemist qualification. I’m an elite, a man whose future was assured.
“That’s exactly the issue… Zeke, you naturally look down on others and lack cooperation. You’re hard on yourself, but you’re just as hard on others. It’s only natural that you’re resented, and it’s no surprise you lost in the promotion race. I’m just a cat, so I don’t mind, but you should try to be a bit kinder to others.”
You sure don’t hold back.
“Is that what you’ve been thinking all along?”
I had no words to rebut.
“I mean… you should be kinder to those around you. Just like you always are when you’re petting me.”
“You’re cute, though.”
Helen, my familiar, contracted with me when I was a child. She doesn’t do much, but just having her around soothes my heart.
“Other people are cute too.”
“They’re not. Humans are ugly. Beneath the surface, they’re all just demons driven by their desires, ready to trample over others.”
“…”
Helen fell silent, staring at the window as if it were a mirror. Reflected in it was a demon consumed by ambition.
“Damn it! I know… I know… That demon is me. Hideous, obsessed with advancement… It’s only natural that I’m resented.”
I’m the kind of person no one would ever want to be friends with. It’s the worst case if I’m a colleague. Everyone must think so.
“Zeke, it’s true that you’ve been removed from the airship project team, but that doesn’t mean your path to promotion is completely blocked. There are other paths. Reflect on this and start caring for others. If you don’t, you’ll end up alone forever.”
I don’t care about being alone, but I do understand that I need to change. Failing twice has made that clear.
“Caring for others, huh… How do I even do that?”
“Are you a tragic monster?”
I have no idea… I don’t know what it means to be considerate.
“Fine… I’ll give it a try.”
“I’ll help you. Let this little cat, who specializes in being loved and fully understands the human heart, teach you.”
It’s sad… that a cat understands people better than I do.
◆◇◆
The next day, despite my pounding headache, I cured it with a hangover remedy I concocted myself and headed to work at the Alchemist Guild Headquarters. Upon entering the building, I made my way toward the stairs to reach my atelier on the third floor.
“Mr. Zeke, could I have a word?”
As I was walking, a woman with black hair, standing at the reception desk, called out to me.
“What is it?”
“Zeke, this is lesson one. Polite language is essential.”
Helen whispered from her perch on my shoulder.
“Alright, I get it.”
I composed myself and walked over to the reception desk.
“Greetings are important too.”
Yeah, yeah.
“Good morning. What can I do for you?”
Following Helen’s advice, I greeted her and made an effort to be polite.
“Huh? Oh, yes… The Chief wants to see you. But… what’s gotten into you?”
The receptionist looked surprised.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you’ve never bothered to greet me before.”
Really? I’ve been working here for three years…
“Yesterday, my cat told me, ‘You’re unpleasant.’ Surely that’s not true, right?”
When I asked, the receptionist’s expression turned serious, saying nothing in response.
“Zeke, I think you can figure that one out.”
Yeah… I’m definitely hated…
“Where did I go wrong?”
I whispered the question to Helen.
“You ignore greetings, look down on others, and most of all, you still don’t even know my name, do you?”
Though I asked Helen, it was the receptionist who answered…
“…”
But, I mean, why would I need to remember a receptionist’s name? No, I get it. That’s part of the problem.
“Sigh… The Chief is waiting for you. Please go to the Chief’s office immediately.”
She pointed toward the stairs, and I trudged off.
“Isn’t it too late to fix this?”
I’m way more disliked than I thought.
“It’s alright… Zeke, you’ve got me!”
No, isn’t your spirit being broken too?
I climbed the stairs and reached the Chief’s office on the fifth floor, where I knocked on the door.
“It’s Zekevald Alexander.”
“Come in.”
A woman’s voice called out from within, so I opened the door and entered. A woman with black hair was leaning on her desk with her elbows propped up.
“Good morning, Chief.”
“Ah, good morning.”
“The receptionist told me to come here. What is it about?”
“What is it about? You lost your place on the military airship project team, and yet, here you are, so relaxed.”
I’m not relaxed. Even now, I’m deeply hurt. But there was something even more pressing on my mind.
“My abilities must not have been sufficient.”
“That’s right. You’re incompetent.”
Ouch.
“I’m sorry I didn’t meet your expectations.”
Even though her words hurt, I bowed my head. After all, it was the Chief who recommended me for the project.
“Sigh… Did you think that August had a hand in it?”
“I had my suspicions. His pride is first-class, after all.”
“Indeed… Well, sometimes these things happen. I would have liked to tell you to move on… but unfortunately, there’s more.”
Huh?
“What do you mean?”
“August seems to hold quite a grudge against you. I’ve tried to place you in other teams, but every one of them has refused.”
What?
“Every single one?”
Do you know how many teams there are in the headquarters? There are easily over a hundred.
“Yes. August has been exerting his influence.”
“I see…”
Would he really go that far…
“But you know, Zeke… His family might be powerful, and he may have the ability to apply pressure. But if we truly wanted to, we could have pushed back. This is the Alchemist Guild Headquarters, after all.”
I know… I understand that.
“The truth is, it just wasn’t worth the effort to fight for you.”
“You’re sharp. Really sharp. Let me be frank—yes, that’s exactly the reason.”
I knew it all along.
“It’s all because you…”