At the same time, Hepsiba’s hand firmly grasped my small and white hand. She brought my hand to the Refined Mana Stone.

It was significantly different from the casual hold earlier. Along with the feeling of crumbling to the ground, unlike before, my vision flickered in the darkness. And I became a very young baby, in other words, a baby swaddled in cloth, squirming.

‘What is this!’

I was amazed silently, but only the high-pitched cry of a baby was heard from my voice.

Feeling absurd, I tried to burst into laughter, but at that moment, a woman who looked exactly like me breathed warm air into my ear. She was dying, but her words were clear.

“Baby, my daughter. You can change your destiny. My name is…”

She engraved a small pattern on my hand.

The moment I heard the voice of the woman whispering into my ear as a very young baby, I opened my eyes.

“…Yuela?”

Hepsiba looked at me as if I was more bewildered.

“Why did you suddenly mention Yuela’s name…”

Hepsiba looked at me with an expression that seemed to have gained some insight.

“Could it be… did you see Yuela’s memories?”

Holding the Refined Mana Stone again, I closed my eyes. The memories of that time were still appearing in front of me. The time when a pattern was engraved on my hand.

I stared at her again, holding the Refined Mana Stone.

“Headmistress.”

“Seriously… what’s going on, Sian?”

“When I touch the Refined Mana Stone, only one memory keeps coming up. Yuela…”

I hesitated to speak and stared intently at Hepsiba.

It was a look to gauge whether this person was trustworthy or not.

‘Can I trust Headmistress Hepsiba now? Isn’t she just a pawn of the saint or the pope?’

But I decided to tell her about my symptoms.

I decided to trust about half of her trembling voice when she talked about Yuela. I also decided to believe in the fact that she has a friendship with the Duchess Lucella.

Moreover, since Hepsiba already knows that I don’t know how to use magic, it seemed okay to tell her a little more.

After finishing the rationalization process, I opened my mouth.

“…So, it’s a scene where Yuela, as a very young baby, is holding my hand.”

I decided not to mention the part about engraving a pattern. But just saying that much made Hepsiba murmur with a trembling voice.

“It’s not certain, but as far as I know, this Refined Mana Stone is like an answer sheet for people without mana. It tells you why the flow of mana was abnormal.”

“…”

“Perhaps, Sian, you might not be without mana.”

“Yes? Really?”
I grinned, and Hepsiba spoke hesitantly, like someone unsure of what she herself was saying.

“I’m not sure exactly what it is, but Sian, you might have depleted all your mana at that time.”

“So, it’s not that I don’t have mana…”

“There might be mana, but at this point, it could be depleted. Think carefully about what happened.”

I felt like I knew what had happened. It must have been because of that ‘symbol’ Yuela carved on the back of my hand that I had exhausted all my mana.

‘What exactly does that symbol mean?’

With a complex feeling, I stared blankly into Hepsiba’s eyes. Then she handed me the donated Refined Mana Stone and whispered.

“I hope I can be of some help to Sian in reclaiming the past.”

It was like a wise smile. She spoke as if comforting an old person who hadn’t completely saved that child as Yuela’s mentor.

After the conversation with Hepsiba, I decided to go and see Ambassador Heinrich.

Since Ambassador Heinrich is the key figure in the distribution of Refined Mana Stones, he might know more about it than even Hepsiba, the headmistress.

Fortunately, Ambassador Heinrich had come to the top to deal with the contract between our upper class and the empire, waiting for me. I ran towards him and greeted him with a bow.

“Hello!”

“You’ve grown up so quickly.”

I responded playfully.

“Ambassador has grown a lot too!”

Ambassador Heinrich chuckled in response.

“That’s true. Haha, but it’s more comfortable to get to the point, isn’t it?”

“Of course, Ambassador!”

“Refined Mana Stones should naturally be in contact with the Sian upper class.”

I smiled as if I expected that. As I did, a servant holding a contract approached from outside the door.

“You are still as thorough as ever.”

“Of course!”

Though I may be distracted now with my relationship with Yuela and the flow of mana, I never miss out on gaining benefits! I laughed mischievously, and he laughed in response, checking the pen near the table.

“In addition, a few years ago, the ‘patent’ system you mentioned has settled, and even the emperor praised that part.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He was so pleased with the system that protects technicians. So, as a token of gratitude, I’ve received permission for an exclusive contract with the Sian upper class for this ‘Refined Mana Stone.'”

Ambassador Heinrich smiled gently and opened the cap of the fountain pen. I looked at him and spoke warmly.

“We sincerely thank the country that does not forget kindness. Sian Upper will repay the favor twofold!”

Wait for it, Ambassador.

I’ll make the ‘Refined Mana Stone’ very famous in this empire.