031 Shari Elias

Shari of House Elias. A viscount’s daughter. A girl from a noble family. Elias’s child. Those were the labels the world gave me.

By all societal standards, my parents were a roaring success. They had married young, their careers were flourishing, and they were adored by everyone they met.

"We have a diplomatic gala to attend today, Shari."

"I’ve given the maid her instructions, so make sure you eat your dinner, Shari."

To me, however, they were simply parents who were far too busy for their daughter.

"Are you the Elias girl?"

"As expected of Elias’s daughter."

"Ah, so you’re the Elias child."

No one actually looked at me. No one ever bothered to see "Shari."

From the time I was small, my parents hammered the same lesson into my head: how precious it was to be born a daughter of the nobility. I had a life where I lacked for nothing, a secure home, and a guaranteed future.

Is it wrong to feel dissatisfied with all that?

I was grateful, truly. But... I just wanted memories with my father and mother. No matter how many times I look back at my past, I only see myself alone in that mansion. Even the simple act of eating brings back the image of that cavernous dining hall, where the only sound was the cold, rhythmic clink-clink of my silverware against the porcelain.

Butlers and maids stood at attention behind me. If I dropped a spoon, they would retrieve it instantly. They never raised their voices. They never scolded me.

...I knew I was being selfish. I was asking for the moon.

"Shari, your magic technique is wonderful. However, let’s try to suppress your mana a bit more."

"Yes! Thank you very much!"

In the midst of that hollow life, the only time I didn't have to think about unnecessary things was during my thrice-weekly magic training. Because it required such delicate technique, I could lose myself in the work.

In those moments, I wasn't the daughter of House Elias. I was Shari. Even when the teacher scolded me, it made me happy.

Yet, even that joy was tainted. I only had access to such training because I was a noble. That reality made my heart a tangled mess of contradictions.

Then, one day, I was kidnapped. All because I was a "noble's daughter."

"Haha! Ten million Pel for a brat like this? God, I love the nobility. You should be glad you're an Elias, kid, huh?"

"Hey... she's actually pretty cute, isn't she? Maybe we should have a little taste before we send her back?"

"Heh, you always were a pig. Fine—one hour."

I glared at the criminals as they discussed the ransom and reached out to touch me. So this is it, I thought. This is what it means to be 'glad' I was born a noble—

"—What the? You brat! GUGAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Tch, what are you—"

That was the moment I met Allen.

Like a prince on a white horse, he reached out his hand to me.

"Wh-who... are you?"

"I’m Allen. Shari, I’ve come to save you."

At the time, I had been volunteering at an orphanage soup kitchen whenever I could find a spare moment. It wasn't entirely out of the goodness of my heart; I simply hated the idea of being another arrogant noble sitting on a high horse. I had been kidnapped on my way home from the slums.

When Allen found out, he came looking for me.

A commoner. An orphan. Allen had absolutely nothing to his name, yet his convictions were stronger than anyone’s. Before I knew it, I was hopelessly drawn to him.

"I want to make this world equal."

Those words pierced me to the core. It was the very thing I had been thinking about since I was a child.

But I knew it was a pipe dream. It was impossible.

At first, I snapped at him. Even though he had saved my life, I was a total fool. But he never gave up. He met a mentor named Mr. Zebis and grew stronger with every passing day.

That’s when I realized the truth.

I was just weak.

I was all talk. I had never actually tried to change anything.

But he was different. Allen knew he was chasing an impossible ideal, yet he refused to let it end with just words. He was always moving forward. Always pushing his limits. Reaching out to grab hold of the future.

Eventually, I realized I wanted to be just like him.

"Here you go, it's your turn. Eat as much as you like!"

"Thank you, Shari-oneechan!"

"Hehe, you're a good boy."

I started lying to my parents. After the kidnapping, I spent my time with Allen, visiting orphanages and shelters for war orphans to run soup kitchens. It wasn't a facade anymore; I genuinely wanted to help people. It was hard work, but being thanked made my heart swell with genuine joy.

"Hey, do you think I could become like you, Shari-oneechan?"

"...Of course. You can become anything you want to be."

"Yay! Then I want to grow up and give food to everyone, too!"

One day, during that period of my life, I happened to mention Nobless Academy to him. The entrance requirements were incredibly steep and the student body was almost entirely noble, but its graduates were all legends who had shaped history.

I knew this world was far from equal. If Allen wanted to achieve his ideals, he needed authority that no one could question.

I never actually thought a commoner like Allen would try to enter an Academy full of stuck-up nobles. I had suggested it lightheartedly, but he decided to take the entrance exam on the spot.

I decided to enroll as well—partly to follow him, but also for myself. My parents were thrilled, though not because they cared about my education. It was simply because Nobless Academy was so prestigious that even applying was considered a mark of pride for the family.

When my acceptance letter arrived, the entire household went into an uproar. Strangely enough, I was truly happy that my parents were celebrating for me.

Allen was the catalyst, but this was the first time I had chosen my own path.

My perspective on the world had shifted entirely, and it was all thanks to Allen.

Then, after entering the Academy, I immediately found someone to loathe.

Weiss Fancent.

He was a notoriously vile noble, famous for all the wrong reasons. He never put in an ounce of effort, using his innate talent and family influence to do whatever he pleased. During the entrance exam, he had beaten Allen far more than necessary. Even during the Tag Tournament, he had used Carta-san and her Flight Magic just to snatch the top spot for himself.

And yet... I was a noble just like him. To an outsider, there was probably no difference between us.

I couldn't forgive that.

Allen clashed with him often, but he was the only one who told me his true thoughts on the man.

"He's amazing, Shari. Weiss is really something else."

"You think so? Isn't he just a spoiled brat doing whatever he wants?"

"We definitely don't get along, but Weiss has conviction. I can feel it."

No, Allen. You’re wrong.

Allen just didn't know how ugly the nobility could be. I had heard the rumors. Weiss treated slaves like trash and resorted to violence the moment something didn't go his way. He had no idea what it was like for a hungry child in the slums.

He was the lowest of the low. The absolute worst—

"Shari."

The day before the Monster Survival Training began, Weiss suddenly showed up at my room. I was baffled. We had barely ever spoken.

"Withdraw from tomorrow's training."

"...Excuse me? Why on earth would you say that to me?"

"...Because it's dangerous. I've seen what you can do, and I don't think you're cut out for this. You have enough points to spare, don't you?"

Something is wrong here.

My magic was perfectly suited for fighting monsters. Then it hit me. He was pretending to be worried to catch me off guard—trying to eliminate a rival.

Allen, see? He isn't the person you think he is.

"I’m not withdrawing. I don’t care who tells me otherwise."

"...Is it still a 'no,' even if I'm the one asking?"

Asking? The great Weiss Fancent is 'asking' me for a favor?

It made no sense. I was done talking to him.

"You’re wasting your breath."

"...I see. Understood."

It was a cowardly tactic—trying to appeal to my emotions after his arrogant posturing failed. He was exactly what the rumors said he was. If I weren't a noble myself, I’m sure he would have tried to use force or political pressure.

Before I met Allen, I was just a selfish, spoiled girl who was all talk. But I’ve changed. I have things I want to do, and dreams I need to fulfill. I want to create a world where every child has a safe place to call home. I want to see as many smiles as possible.

I am Shari Elias.

And no matter what anyone says, I will never let my convictions bend.