Chapter 104 - Chapter 103: It's Not Just Me Doing the Crazy Stuff
2nd Month of Wind, 3rd Week.
The morning class was practice for manifesting [God's Miracle] in a mobile classroom.
Everyone here is a child aiming to master [Explosive Flame].
Everyone prays to God in their own way and chants spells.
During this practice, you don't need to sit quietly in your seat.
You can stand. You can sit.
Of course, no one is lying down, but the point is you can do whatever makes it easiest for you to concentrate.
And during that class, Mika sat quietly in his seat, deep in thought with his usual thinking pose.
(...Go to the bank and deposit some cash. Maybe put in three or four antidotes. Hmm... thinking about it just in case, should I bring spare armor and knives? That's probably too expensive.)
Frowning between his brows, he seriously considered what to put in the Magic Bag he had bought yesterday.
Clothes and towels were already inside.
If he just prepared and put in some cash, he shouldn't have much trouble anywhere.
But if he tried to cover every possible scenario that could happen on a quest, the necessary items would suddenly become massive.
Of course, he couldn't put everything in, so he would have to make choices...
(Considering the possibility of camping out in the future, I should probably put in a tent and a blanket. Cooking utensils, dishes, cutlery... Maybe salt and pepper at least. And then...)
He wrote down the possible Situations and the items needed for them on paper.
There were so many various situations and so many necessary items that he was starting to hate thinking.
This was going to be a bit difficult to organize by himself.
First, he should consult with an acquaintance adventurer and get taught something like a "Basic Set."
If he did that...
(Kaerya is out of the question... or is that rude? She seems to have been a solo adventurer before. But if I'm going to ask, maybe Salomrassa-san? And Trys was solo too, wasn't she?)
He would borrow the wisdom of predecessors and get taught the essential items that "everyone puts in."
"Hmm, hmmmm..."
He stretched widely and leaned back against the chair back.
Mika glanced briefly at the seat to his right.
Rimliche was standing up practicing [Explosive Flame].
With her eyes closed, she was chanting a spell in a low mutter.
Next, he glanced briefly at the seat to his left.
There, Cleiria was sitting in her seat, chanting a spell as well.
(...Can she really master [Explosive Flame] every year with this?)
The homeroom teacher, Colina, had said it took about half a year to master it, and that half a year was already right in front of them.
But considering that no one had manifested it until now, doubts arose: Do they really master it every year?
(If it's impossible no matter what, they'd be removed from the curriculum from the start, so there must be some track record.)
While thinking such things, a dazzling light suddenly flooded the classroom.
"!?!"
Immediately, the whole classroom became chaotic, and the children shouted in unison, "What!?" "What happened!?"
Mika instinctively turned around to find the cause of the light, but there was no need to search; he knew immediately.
Rimliche's Bracelet of Judgment.
Sucking in Rimliche's vast magic power, the Bracelet of Judgment was emitting light far stronger than when it happened to Mika.
"...Mika-kun... this..."
Rimliche showed the Bracelet of Judgment to Mika with a pathetic expression that looked like a mix of "surprise" and "about to cry."
"Heh... what kind of face are you making, Rimliche? Be happier about it."
Mika smiled wryly and stood next to Rimliche.
"Good job."
"Yeah..."
Rimliche crinkled her face and was half-crying.
"Sorry... Mika-kun, and... please..."
"Yeah, I understand."
Hearing Mika's reply, Rimliche gently closed her eyes.
At the same time Mika supported Rimliche's body, her strength suddenly vanished.
"Good night. You worked hard."
While supporting Rimliche's body, he whispered that.
Colina came rushing over, pushing through the gathered children.
"Mika-kun! Miss Rimliche!?"
"Probably magic exhaustion. Can I take her to rest?"
"Eh? You, Mika-kun?"
"Yes. Is that not okay? There's nothing much to do anyway."
Mika picked up Rimliche and told Colina he would take her.
Inside the school building, there was a treatment room for children who had collapsed from injuries or magic exhaustion.
It was less of a clinic and more like a simple rest room.
There were beds where one could lie down.
Injuries were healed with [Heal], so it was a room strictly for resting, not for treatment.
Colina thought for a moment, but gave permission for Mika to take her.
She knew they were close as fellow graduates from the Leventein Academy, and above all, Mika had already finished mastering his own spell.
Just as Mika was about to carry Rimliche and leave, Cleiria called out to him.
"Mika..."
"I'm going to let her rest for a bit."
Mika said only that and looked at Cleiria and Murt.
Both were probably worried about Rimliche, but surely it wasn't just that.
Probably, there was also frustration and impatience.
Mika smiled at the two of them.
(Rimliche has moved forward? What about you two?)
Thinking such things, he left the classroom.
The topic of lunch that day was, of course, Rimliche.
If it was just magic exhaustion, there was no need to worry; she would recover if she rested.
Everyone knew that, so they weren't worried about Rimliche's physical condition.
"...Magic exhaustion."
"Yes..."
Cecilia muttered, and Cleiria nodded.
"The light from the Bracelet of Judgment was amazing. We heard that Rimliche's magic power was exceptionally large, but it wouldn't shine like that if she only gave a half-hearted effort."
"...Considering she lost consciousness immediately after, it's certain she gave all her magic."
The Leventein Group's gaze, who had been silently listening to the two's conversation, focused on Mika.
Mika had told them to give all their magic only a few days ago.
There was no need to ask how Rimliche, who had been unable to progress at all until now, managed to take that first step.
With this, the second person in the class to master [Explosive Flame] was following Mika.
Probably, Rimliche would master [Heal] quickly too.
If she approached it with the same method, whether it took a few days, a week, or a month, he was sure she could master it.
Normally, even if told "You can master it if you give all your magic," no one would say "Yes, understood."
Doing so would certainly lead to fainting.
Since that was known, a psychological Stopper would work unconsciously.
Even if one thought with determination "All," few people could actually do it.
Moreover, it was a story where mastery couldn't be guaranteed.
It was only Mika's prediction after all.
Rather, Rimliche who could go all-in was the strange one.
"You should be happier about Rimliche mastering it. Well, with this pace, the next one will be soon too."
Mika smiled brightly and provoked everyone.
Everyone was not that anxious even as some children in the class started mastering [Heal].
They said various things out loud, but in their hearts, they were relieved with "Everyone else hasn't done it yet."
Especially since no one in the Leventein Group had mastered it yet.
Mika had mastered it early, so they were immersed in a vague sense of security: "Well, it's Mika."
But now, a masterer other than Mika had appeared from the Leventein Group.
"We might be in different classes next year. Ah, even if that happens, let's eat lunch together like always."
"Mika..."
By saying this, he voiced a future scenario that would likely happen in a few months.
Cleiria looked at Mika with a sorrowful expression.
"Ah, and I think you shouldn't tell anyone about this."
Mika silenced the secret of mastering [God's Miracle] proven by Rimliche.
Well, with just one case, there might be a possibility of coincidence, but if it was Rimliche, she would surely prove it again soon.
"...Why...?"
Charl tilted her head.
"What's the point of increasing your own rivals? Don't you think others can't do it just because you can't?"
Rimliche, who could actually execute just Mika's words, was certainly out of this world, but that didn't mean it was only Rimliche.
It wouldn't be strange if there were other children trying to master it regardless of propriety.
However, if mastery became easy with such a simple method, it would be strange if someone hadn't noticed.
Why hadn't this method become the standard way to master it?
Even if someone noticed, were they all keeping it secret?
(Since you can master it by doing it normally, people with real talent probably wouldn't use such an out-of-this-world method.)
Even if someone happened to master it by going all-in, normally they would think "I'll be careful next time."
At best, they would think "Maybe it's easier to master if I give more magic," and aim for the limit.
People who repeat it enough to realize it means nothing unless they go all-in probably have two or three screws loose.
Even if they knew chanting a spell made the magic inside them move, few people realized it was "trying to steal all the magic."
From the result of mastering it after going all-in, it was hard to notice.
"Well then, I'm off."
Mika stood up holding his tray.
"I'll check on Rimliche a bit before returning to the classroom."
Saying that, he left everyone behind and quickly cleared his tray.
(Being part of the "Best Friends Leventein Group" isn't bad either.)
Once the method was known, the only question was whether to do it or not.
Until now, he had kept an eye out thinking it would be pitiful if anyone was left behind, but if they chose "not to do it" by their own will, he should respect that.
Making a different choice from him didn't mean they would become estranged.
Instead of being nagged from the side, they should decide what to do by their own will.
Mika left the cafeteria and went to the treatment room to ask the teacher in charge about Rimliche's condition.
The duty of watching over this treatment room was rotated daily among the academy teachers.
It seemed there was no "clinic teacher" like in schools from his previous world.
"Miss Rimliche woke up once just now. She seemed very sleepy, so she went back to sleep."
"I see. Thank you."
For now, if she had woken up once, she should be fine.
Well, he knew it was just magic exhaustion, but he still felt a bit worried until she woke up.
Mika looked at Rimliche's face, who was sleeping soundly, for a moment, and returned to the classroom.
And two days later during class, Murt collapsed.
It was magic exhaustion.
■■■■■■
[Shesbarno's Perspective]
The Fifth Knights Order's station in District 2 of the Royal Capital.
There were several knight orders whose main duty was maintaining public order in the Royal Capital, and the Fifth Knights was one of them.
The Fifth Knights, with ten thousand knights, was relatively large among the Kingdom Army's knight orders.
Inside the station of that Fifth Knights, there were currently six knights on standby duty.
A large middle-aged knight had his feet thrown onto the desk, scratching his scruffy beard with his fingertips.
That middle-aged knight yawned and stretched widely.
"Faaaaah~~~... Naaaaaa..."
"...Um, Captain Shesbarno..."
A young knight sitting opposite spoke to that listless figure.
"You should be a bit more serious..."
"Ah, yeah... You might want to be a bit more serious yourself."
Shesbarno, who had no intention of listening to the young knight's advice, muttered while picking his ear.
The other knights in the station also mocked that young knight.
"There's no such thing as being serious on standby duty."
"You've been in the Fifth Knights us for half a year now, haven't you?"
"Well, it's fine to be like that when you're young."
"I had that phase too, you know..."
"When did you ever have such a phase!"
They laughed together and killed time with meaningless chatter, otherwise, they would have been bored for real with nothing to do.
"Captain Shesbarno's deputy, right? The thin guy. He was sighing. He said come back soon."
"Even if you say that. I'm not doing standby duty because I like it."
Shesbarno scratched his head while looking up at the ceiling.
At that moment, the door opened with a loud bang, and a knight wearing a blue mantle entered silently.
Clanking his boots, the knight walked straight toward the back room.
The knights who had been slacking off all stood up at once, saluted sharply, and froze until the blue mantle passed.
Among them, only Shesbarno remained frozen with his feet thrown onto the desk.
Although he had saluted with his hand at least.
The blue-mantled knight entered the back room, but the knights in the station did not lower their salute yet.
They waited a little while, observing the situation.
Suddenly, a terrible sound echoed from the back room.
Everyone present except Shesbarno flinched and shrugged their shoulders.
"Ugh..."
"Today he's in a worse mood than usual..."
"Scary..."
The knights whispered to each other.
At that moment, the back door opened with a clatter.
The knights saluted sharply again.
"Shesbarno, come in."
Shesbarno, who was named, made a face like "Oh no..." and slumped his head.
The other knights gratefully thanked the gods for the fact that the target wasn't them.
Shesbarno, who entered the back room, walked up to the desk, saluted, and glanced at the wall.
There, a hole in the wall that had just been patched was open again.
The cause of the sound was probably this.
Because the owner of the room often punched the wall, there were boards nailed to patch the holes, but one of them had broken and fallen to the floor.
This room was the Knight Commander's office of the Fifth Knights.
The knight in the blue mantle was Ozendorwa, the Knight Commander of the Fifth Knights, who commanded ten thousand knights.
He was Shesbarno's superior, who served as a Company Commander.
Shesbarno's company was in a somewhat special position; it was an independent company not incorporated into a battalion.
Therefore, Ozendorwa, the Knight Commander, was his direct superior.
"It's a request for investigation. I'm leaving it to you."
Ozendorwa, in his early thirties, stroked his hair, which had more white than expected for his age, and said to Shesbarno.
"Investigation...? Checking the contents of some idiot's head?"
If it was a job that could be finished by splitting a head with a sword, it would indeed be a job suitable for Shesbarno.
"Hmph... Yeah. If it could be finished like that, I'd feel relieved too."
Ozendorwa chuckled in his throat.
But immediately, he tightened his expression.
"There's no time to play with such a boring disciplinary action. Return to your duty as Company Commander from this moment."
Normally, standby duty was not work for someone in a position like a Company Commander.
The reason he was made to do it was, of course, for reasons that were unavoidable to some extent...
"Also, don't punch those guys from the Court Magic Institute just because you don't like their attitude? It took a lot of work to keep it within the order's disciplinary action?"
It was a reason that didn't matter at all.
He had completely forgotten.
No, now that he remembered, he was getting angry again.
That tone and attitude that treated that person like a fool.
Why were mages such annoying people?
"Are you listening, Shesbarno?"
Ozendorwa's cold gaze sharpened.
"Yes! I won't punch those guys from the Court Magic Institute just because I don't like their attitude!"
(Though I might kick them.)
Of course, he couldn't say that here.
Ozendorwa was quite younger than Shesbarno. There was a difference of nearly ten years.
If he were just a rookie, even if he was a superior, Shesbarno was not the type to obey obediently.
Well, he might not be able to say he was obeying obediently now either, but at least Shesbarno treated Ozendorwa with respect.
Shesbarno's sword skills were not for a position that would normally end at Company Commander.
He was quite capable of being made a Battalion Commander.
But his conduct was too bad usually.
He used to belong to another knight order whose main duty was border defense, but he was almost fired due to his terrible conduct.
Shesbarno thought, "If I'm fired, I'll do whatever I want," but it was Ozendorwa who picked up Shesbarno.
On the first day of transfer, he sparred with Ozendorwa.
Shesbarno, not hesitating because he was a superior, thought, "I'll knock down that annoying Ozendorwa."
But Shesbarno was the one knocked down.
Shesbarno had lost with a sword before.
Still, he bit his teeth, challenged again after losing once, challenged again after losing twice, and always overcame it.
Shesbarno's sword was not refined; it was a sword that recklessly crushed everything in its path.
That was how he had crushed everything until now.
Shesbarno, who had confidence in his own mighty sword, fell in love with Ozendorwa's sword skills.
With his own sword, he couldn't reach Ozendorwa.
He thought that.
What should he do, what experiences should he accumulate to become such a swordsman?
Ozendorwa was the only person who made Shesbarno think that.
Ozendorwa, despite having sword skills, ruined his evaluation with bad conduct, and suddenly made Shesbarno, who had never been appointed as a commander, a Company Commander.
Of course, while providing the education necessary for a Company Commander.
Normally, a company belonged to a battalion, but Shesbarno's company did not belong to any battalion.
Because Shesbarno only listened to Ozendorwa's orders.
Ozendorwa also found Shesbarno interesting and used him as a convenient piece under his direct command.
Thus, Ozendorwa began to gather rough knights who were ostracized throughout the Kingdom Army.
All of them as members of Shesbarno's company.
Ozendorwa placed a bundle of papers on the desk with a snap and pushed it in front of Shesbarno.
"Probably the Court Magic Institute is pulling strings from behind... but it's an official request from the Minister. You can't refuse."
Saying that, Ozendorwa creaked his chair and leaned back against the backrest.
Shesbarno glanced through the bundle of papers.
"...Investigation of Modesse Forest?"
"Yes."
Modesse Forest was a large forest a few kilometers south of the Royal Capital.
Generally, those living in the Royal Capital called it the Southern Forest.
Modesse Forest used to be inhabited by many beasts and monsters, but recently, one rarely encounters them.
As adventurers in the Royal Capital increased, most of the beasts and monsters living in that forest were hunted.
They were overhunted to sell fur and valuable parts.
Now, unless one goes deep into the forest, one won't encounter beasts or monsters.
"What... what do they want me to investigate there now?"
"I don't know."
"...Huh?"
Hey, hey, what is that?
"You know there are ruins deep in Modesse Forest, right?"
"Yes, well."
Even though they called it ruins, it was just a place with weathered, crumbling stone pavement and collapsed stone pillars lying around.
Only a real weirdo would have business in such a place.
"A few guys from the Court Magic Institute who went there haven't returned."
"...Is this a search for missing persons around the ruins?"
This wasn't about investigating Modesse Forest.
But Ozendorwa shrugged and sighed.
"They've already gone."
"Gone?"
"Yes. It seems the guys from the Court Magic Institute went to search for the mages who didn't return on schedule. And apparently, there were no traces at all."
Ozendorwa sat up, resting both elbows on the desk.
"I wanted to refuse, but... I refused many times, but it's an order from the Minister, so I can't do anything about it."
Ozendorwa sighed.
Then he straightened his posture and looked straight at Shesbarno.
"Anyway, the detailed contents are written there. Starting tomorrow, use your company to go investigate."
He made a somewhat complicated expression.
"Investigate the entire area of Modesse Forest and find clues for the missing mages."
"...The entire forest?"
The entire forest, that huge forest?
"You can use the company freely, but reinforcements are impossible. That's all. I expect your efforts."
Ozendorwa pointed to the room's door.
Shesbarno saluted, thinking about which was better, the boring standby duty or this.