Let’s Play Minecraft in a World of Swords and Spells

(Krya)

The beginning of the story takes place in an orphanage.

There is a boy and a girl.

The boy is ordinary, and if you have to point out any specialty, it would be that he worked as a blacksmith's apprentice for a few years, just enough to make a living.

The girl is dazzling, with talents in various elemental magics. Even at the age of ten, she already had a proficient mastery of water magic. With just a chance, she could soar to great heights and shine brightly.

Despite the stark difference in their abilities, the two, like characters from a fairy tale, innocently fell in love.

The girl harbors a grand dream: to study at the Magic Academy in the capital and become the most renowned powerful magician.

So, to fulfill the girl's dream, the boy worked hard from the age of fifteen when he left the orphanage. Despite the hardships, seeing the girl's joyous smile as she progressed in magic was enough to satisfy him.

After several years, the girl successfully entered the Magic Academy.

However, ideals are beautiful, and reality is often harsh.

A girl from the countryside, uprooted and alone, with no resources whatsoever. All she could do was look up to those students from prestigious families in the academy, lamenting her own misfortune while struggling to survive in the fierce competition.

Then, one day, wearing an apron and looking at the impoverished students in a cheap restaurant just like her, she thought about her dream of becoming the most famous powerful magician.

Without money, what kind of leverage did she have?

She had talent, potential... and a noble youth who had put a lot of effort into courting her.

...Several years later, she had an outstanding fiancé who loved her dearly, endless resources from her soon to be husband, and, through her relentless efforts, gained the qualification to skip grades. She truly became someone to be admired.

Rising from the ashes like a phoenix, it's a story about a hardworking genius girl and an infatuated young man with a keen eye.

As the saying goes, "When one prospers, the whole village thrives." When she returned home with her fiance, the noble boy brought a lot of resources and development to her hometown. The villagers felt happy and proud, considering her the pride of the village.

With a nervous heart, she visited the humble cottage where she had lived five years ago.

Two wooden beds, two wooden chairs, a small table, and a dusty forge - everything was the same as back then, except for the absence of a shy and hearty smile.

At first, she thought he was just not there, but after a few days, she realized something.

She had already lost the one who, no matter how tired or frustrated she was, would silently open his arms for her.

He disappeared without a trace, leaving nothing behind.

...She truly sacrificed a lot to achieve what she has today.

Achievements always come with sacrifices, and she endured the pain, though she could only endure.

Now that she has fulfilled her dream and become one of the prominent figures in the academy, but... a year later, among the new students, two freshmen appeared.

Like herself in the past, they came from a poor village. So, she invited them to join her faction, to be her followers... only to be rejected.

Unappreciative and self-righteous, this dissatisfaction arose in her at that time... Later, she learned that they did have the qualifications to be proud.

After that incident, they became heroes who saved the capital, radiating a dazzling brilliance that completely overshadowed all other students, including herself.

Especially her, a wielder of elemental magic similar to hers.

The [Black Dragon Mage], Grace.

Cold, arrogant, and disdainful of associating with others.

Both coming from remote areas, how much did they sacrifice to possess such powerful abilities?

Recently, there has been widespread news about the massive production of the magical metal [Inferno Aurum]. Many adventurers have come here, drawn by this opportunity.

In order to create better equipment and staves, as well as to gain more experience and opportunities, I followed Guxin—my fiancé—to this place.

Unexpectedly, she came too.

"I didn't expect to see you here! Grace, are you also here for the [Inferno Aurum]?" My immediate reaction was to smile and approach her.

So, we stood at the exit of the arena, and the surrounding crowd split into two streams like water hitting a rock.

"Krya-senpai." Grace said slowly.

Consistently cold, consistently slow... consistently irritating.

Looking into her eyes, I could faintly sense that she had become even stronger since the last time we met.

I've already sacrificed so much, married a man I don't even like to gain the resources of nobles– Isn't it enough!?

Her finely crafted equipment doesn't match any styles seen before; it's customized using advanced rare materials.

Not only that, she's here now! To compete for [Inferno Aurum]!

After exchanging greetings, the atmosphere became somewhat strange, freezing in place.

Why did I even greet her? I asked myself that question.

When we were at the academy, our relationship was very unfamiliar... no, it could be said we were enemies.

...After she rejected me, I didn't hold back in pressuring her.

Thinking about it, my cheeks suddenly felt hot.

"Huh? Do you know each other?" A somewhat childish male voice appeared.

"...Yeah." Grace took her eyes off me, looked in the direction she had been looking, and I noticed there was always a person beside her, or rather, someone she was holding onto.

About 1.6 meters tall, dressed plainly, with messy brown hair—a boy.

I recognize this person; he's the owner of the [Dog House] restaurant, a [Villager].

"Uh... I'm Walson, nice to meet you." He blinked and greeted me.

"Oh my, Grace, is this your little brother?" Finally coming back to my senses, I smiled again and said.

At these words, Grace looked at me, then at the boy beside her.

Then, she squinted her eyes, raised the boy's hand, shook the dazzling bracelets on it, said a few words, and angrily pulled the boy away from the scene.

"...Not a little brother, childhood friend, and also my fiancé."

I froze.

Bracelets...?

... Childhood friend? Fiancé? A [Villager]? Fiancé from an orphanage?

The [Black Dragon Mage] and a [Villager]?

Suddenly, I remembered a story with a very similar beginning but a completely different ending.

...

...

I seemed to hear some fragmented sounds, followed by an inexplicable burst of anger.

"This is unfair, this is unfair..."