A Non-combat Magic Artifact Researcher ー Actually Was an Extroadinary S-rank Mage～ Though He Worked Overtime Without Compensation and Contributed Greatly, He Was Labeled as Incompetent and Was Fired

have to sleep outside.

 

I would risking my life doing so.

 

I could consider going back to my parents’ home, but my father and brother were never supportive of my Magecraft Tool research.

 

I’d like to keep going home as the very last resort.

 

Werner: “Maybe the Merchant’s Association will help me find a room….”

 

While I was a Teaching Assistant, I visited the Gerald Merchant Association who handled the resale of my Magecraft Tools.

 

The Gerald Group is quite a large organization.

 

They handle daily living Magecraft tools, jewelry, and even armor and weapons.
On top of that, they also handle real estate.

 

The Gerald Group and I have been working together for a while now.

 

Since I was about 10, I used to go there when my Master, Professor Kay, would send me on an errand.

 

The previous Group’s President used to give me snacks as a kid and looked after me.

 

After I graduated and became a Teaching Assistant, the President of the Association changed.

 

Even so, we had a good relationship thus far.

 

I entered the Gerald Group’s building as I usually did in the past.

 

Werner: “Excuse me.”

 

“………………”

 

The Merchant Association always had a lot of busy workers doing this and that.

 

But unlike before, no one came to greet me.

 

Normally, someone who works there would notice my presence and come speak to me.

 

Werner: “Excuse me.
My name is Strout, and I have some business here.”

 

“There is nothing we can do for you here.”

 

One of the managers spoke up.

 

Among the people working there, he has some clout and authority.

 

Werner: “Huh?” “We don’t have time to deal with lousy people who got laid off by the Academy is what I’m saying.”

 

I wondered if they mistook me as trying to fake my association with the Academy.

 

Werner: “No, I’m not here on the behalf of the Academy, but I had personal business….”

 

“I’m～ telling～ you～! We don’t have any time to do business with miserable scum like you! Get out of here!”

 

One of the workers chuckled quietly as they disdainfully looked my way.

 

The President who was in the far back was looking coldly in my direction.

 

It appears that the Gerald Group as a whole decided to cut business ties with me.

 

It’s even possible that the President of the Academy worked up some deal with them behind the scenes.

 

Werner: “If that is the case, I understand.”

 

It’s a business’ right to decide who they want to work with.

 

It’s upsetting and incredibly unreasonable, but there’s nothing I can do about it right now.

 

I give up and leave the store, and walk back under the cold winter sky.

 

<<<<>>>>

 

Seeing that Werner left, one of the workers spoke up to the manager.

 

“Wow, did you see that? What a miserable sight.”

 

“Yeah, I would never want to become like that.”

The manager responded and laughed arrogantly in Werner’s direction.

 

“This means that we’ll have explicit rights to all of the superior quality Magecraft Artifacts from the Mages Academy, correct?” “Yeah, it’ll be a hefty profit for us.
Although, I heard he was one of the researchers at the Magecraft Artifact Research Division.”

 

“But wasn’t he just someone sitting at the bottom?” “That’s right.
Apparently, he only became a Teaching Assistant because he knew that famous Professor, but he has no actual skills himself.”

 

“(Sigh)….I guess you’ll find one in every industry.
Those useless idiots who only get to where they are by using their connections.”

“Yeah, with the Head of the Magecraft Artifact Studies’ support and the researchers that work under him, our Magecraft Artifact division might sit at the top in no time.”

 

“That means a higher bonus, correct?!”

 

“Yeah, that would be the case.”

 

As they watched Werner pitifully leave their building, everyone who worked at the Gerald Group thought so.

 

Looking forward to their end of the year bonus, they all had their hopes high.

 

And more than anyone else present, the President of the Group smiled darkly to himself.

 

But there was no one there who knew that over 90% of the Magecraft Tools that were developed at the Mages Academy were developed and designed by Werner alone.