Chapter 115 - Chapter 114: Whose Achievement Is It, Anyway?
The second month of the Earth cycle, the third week, the day of the Earth.
A very cold day where snow was fluttering down.
"You made it. Sorry for the sudden notice."
"No, it has been a while."
Mika had been invited to the Leventein Marquis's villa.
(Don't tell me this is going to become a regular thing...)
Mika swallowed a sigh and straightened his posture.
A few weeks ago, the Leventein Marquis said he would come to the Royal Capital before spring, and Cleiria asked for his schedule again.
"Oh, sorry, but I'm going back to my village for the entire second month of the Earth cycle. Ah, what a shame. Please convey my regards to the Marquis."
"Oh, is that so?"
Mika's words were not at all regretful, but Cleiria, who didn't seem to mind in particular, placed a hand on her cheek and said, "This is a problem," tilting her head slightly.
The academy in the Leventein domain had a four-week long vacation, but the academy in the Royal Capital had five weeks.
The entire second month of the Earth cycle was a vacation.
Regional academies gather children from neighboring domains, but the academy in the Royal Capital gathers children from all over the kingdom.
If that's the case, returning home is quite a hassle.
After all, in Mika's case, it takes eight days by shared carriage from the Royal Capital to Sarbengeal.
From there, it takes another three days to get to Kotontesse.
Eleven days one way. Twenty-two days round trip.
Even if there were thirty days of vacation, he could only stay in the village for eight days.
Moreover, even this schedule is cutting it close.
If he wanted to have some leeway for travel, he wouldn't be able to stay in the village for even a week.
...Normally.
Of course, Mika intended to return by "Flight," so one way would take one day.
If he leaves early in the morning, he thinks he might arrive by evening?
For that reason, almost all of the Leventein Group chose to stay in the dormitory without returning home.
The exceptions were Cecilia and Charl.
Those two were returning home.
Actually, he had intended for those two not to return home either.
It was dangerous for girls to travel alone for an eight-day journey by shared carriage.
He let slip during lunch that he wanted to go back but couldn't.
"That is pitiful... Oh, if you like, would you like to ride in my carriage?"
""Eh?""
That was the proposal from the very kind Cleiria.
Cleiria intended to return to Sarbengeal.
"I am also returning home to see my mother. The road will be safe as knights will accompany us, and it is faster than a shared carriage. Yes, let's do that."
She clapped her hands and smiled brightly at her own wonderful idea.
Hearing that proposal, Cecilia and Charl turned pale.
Everyone else was also grimacing.
(...I think it would be good if you became friends on this occasion, yeah.)
Cecilia and Charl sent looks to Mika saying, "Please stop Cleiria somehow," but he ignored them.
Although Cleiria and the Leventein Group had become friends, there was still a high and thick wall between them.
Maybe they should just talk slowly.
That's what he thought, treating it as someone else's business, but...
Later, Cleiria informed him that the Leventein Marquis had adjusted his schedule and managed to set up a meeting time sometime during the second month of the Earth cycle.
(If you're busy, don't force it!)
Mika almost shouted out loud.
And so, the day of the meeting with the Leventein Marquis was decided, and he came to meet him.
(...I can't calm down.)
Sitting before him was the Marquis, still with that scary face (old man).
And the reception room they were led to was the same luxurious room as last time.
On the table sat a teacup that looked like it would scatter several gold coins if broken, making him feel unable to quench his thirst.
"You seem to be working hard at the academy in the Royal Capital too. Although the final results aren't out yet, it's certain you will finish your first year as the top student."
"...No, not really."
He wanted him to stop praising him from the Marquis (old man), as it would just dig up his trauma.
When he first met the Marquis, he had done the same thing, lifting him up and then cornering him.
"You are also performing well as the class leader. The report from the academy (report) even wrote that you are gathering the children together very well."
"............Huh?"
Class leader?
Gathering the children together?
What are you talking about?
"Excuse me, but could you have mistaken me for someone else?"
I'm not boasting, but I haven't even made a proper friend since coming to the academy in the Royal Capital?
"What are you saying. You monopolized the top grades with your fellow villagers and set an example for those from other domains. Are you the one from the Leventein academy who is properly controlling those from other domains?"
The Marquis took a sip of tea.
To Mika, whose head was filled with question marks, the Marquis continued speaking.
"It seems there is some resistance every year, but this year it seems to be gathered together very well. That is impressive. You should be more proud."
So, this is what it was about.
All of the Leventein Group were getting along with children from other domains in the dormitories and at the academy.
But apparently, there were children who would normally resist.
"Don't act superior just because you're from Leventein," or something like that.
Even without intending to, being a conspicuous person makes one a target of resentment.
On the first day of enrollment, he had indeed beaten up such fools, but apparently, people like that appear several times throughout the year.
It was a struggle for dominance, or something like that.
However, nothing like that happened this year.
Everyone was just getting along with children from other domains normally, and children from other domains were afraid of Mika and had no intention of resisting.
After all, he was a prodigy who could mercilessly beat down eight people alone and mastered two [God's Miracles] on the first day.
To put it plainly, he was out of specifications. No one could seriously think about opposing him.
Because of this, a pyramid structure was formed with Mika at the top: the Leventein Group, and children from other domains.
...That's how it looked, from the outside.
(This is a typical case of "the subordinate's achievement belongs to the superior".)
Mika had no intention of that at all, but thanks to the Leventein Group communicating with children from other domains, his evaluation seemed to skyrocket.
Also, it seems that Mika greeting everyone normally was working on its own.
'He is intimidating others.'
It seemed to be interpreted that way.
(I don't know anything about that! Greeting is basic! If I just act normally and people get scared on their own, what am I supposed to do!)
He almost retorted in front of the Marquis, but held it back.
But, ignoring Mika's feelings, the Marquis seemed very satisfied.
"Cleiria also seems to have grown remarkably during this year. Competing with those from the same hometown has been a good stimulus."
He was praising her so much that he was on high alert inside, thinking, "Where are you going to drop me?", but the meeting ended without any such incident.
After the meeting, Cleiria invited him, and he was treated to tea.
Like the teacup served in the reception room, it was an expensive teacup he didn't want to touch, but not touching it would be too rude.
So, he hesitantly reached out and tried his best to respond with a smile.
Behind Cleiria, a refined elderly woman was observing Mika with a smile.
He was a bit curious, but this person was likely the "Nanny" she had mentioned before.
If she was someone who would firmly hold Cleiria's reins, she was an ally to Mika.
He should be polite.
Thus, seeing Cleiria off, he got into a carriage and left the Marquis's villa.
He was escorted to the First Wall, where he was dropped off saying, "I have something to do."
■■■■■■
On the way back from the Marquis's house, Mika was strolling down the Southeast Main Street.
It wasn't snowing now, but the sky looked like it would start snowing again soon.
It wasn't the kind of snow that would pile up, but maybe it would start snowing properly from now on?
"Haaah."
He exhaled a large white breath.
Since it was cloudy today, it might be near freezing even during the day.
Mika hunched his back and walked with his hands in his pockets.
With long vacation coming in about two weeks, Mika was looking for souvenirs.
Everyone was very happy with the smoked meat assortment, but he was worried every time if that was okay.
Well, it's once a year, so it's no problem if it's the same every time, but since moving from Sarbengeal to the Royal Capital, he had to choose shops again.
It seems Messerite isn't that familiar with the shops in the Royal Capital either, so he has to search for them himself.
As he walked looking at various shops, a blue-haired female knight came out of a shop that looked like a bookstore.
"Huh? Trys?"
"Hm? Ah, it's you."
Despite the cold day, Trys was standing straight.
It seems she wouldn't hunch her back like Mika or say things like "I'm lonely~."
"Are you going on a quest today?"
Since she was wearing equipment, she was either going on a quest or returning from one.
One of those two possibilities was high.
Considering the time, the possibility of returning from a quest was higher?
No, here it was probably the opposite.
Adventurers live quite irregular lives.
"No, I just got back. I finished reporting to the guild, so now I just have to go home and sleep. I walked all night, so I'm exhausted."
"Did you walk all night at this time of year!? Until this hour!? You'll die!"
How far had she walked?
"Hahaha, I'm not that soft. I am a bit tired though."
No, no, no, this isn't about being soft or not.
It wasn't even an irregular life; it was too much.
These adventurers of this world are too strong.
As Mika looked up at Trys with a dumbfounded expression, Trys smiled.
"Mika-chan, shall I tell you something good?"
Mika's name had simply become "Mika-chan."
The teasing at the guild had backfired, and Trys had become brazen.
It was his own fault, but he regretted doing unnecessary things.
He wasn't reflecting on it.
"If you see a bookstore like this, you should check inside. There might be a great treasure sleeping there."
"A treasure?"
Was it a rare book?
He understood there were enthusiastic collectors, but making a living from that was tough.
The amount of knowledge required to identify valuable books was too huge.
Even with fine art, sometimes paintings bought for pennies at garage sales turn out to be great treasures, and that becomes news.
But that would require a very sharp eye or a person with great luck.
"Yes, if you're lucky, it could be twenty or thirty gold coins."
Trys said that and grinned.
"...Isn't that the Great Secret Book of the Saint? Maybe."
Mika glared at her, and Trys gave a wry smile.
"Hehe... so you knew?"
"I saw a request posted before. About two years ago, maybe? It was somewhere in the Seven Duchies Federation or something."
"Yes, there was such a story."
Trys swept the hair covering her face back to her neck.
"Before that, it was found somewhere in Gronoir, and before that, it was definitely in the Great Cathedral of Sarbengeal. It's a story that comes out every few years as if remembering itself."
Apparently, no adventurers were seriously trying to find it even when requests were posted... mostly.
Sometimes fraud cases like this happened, so he had been warned, "Be careful."
No, there's no way I'd get tricked by something like that.
"So, Trys, you didn't come to buy that, did you?"
"Of course not. What I came to buy is this."
Saying that, Trys took out a thick book from her Magic Bag.
A leather-bound, very heavy-looking book.
Books in this world were still made of parchment with luxurious bindings.
Thin paper made from plants was used normally, but there was a strong attachment to the concept of "books."
It seemed like it would take a long time before magazines and paperback books could be bought casually.
Besides, printing technology didn't seem to be developed properly either.
"It's a book collecting the myths of the God of Light and the deities of the God of Light. I like myths related to the God of Light."
"Oh~... myths of the God of Light? Wasn't it the God of Truth?"
"Yes. Among the deities, the God of Purification also appears frequently in the myths."
While attending the church in Rish Village for about half a year, Radia told him various myths.
Since he had heard each story only once, he had already forgotten most of them, but the God of Truth appeared quite frequently.
The God of Purification also seemed to appear quite often.
"Trys, are you maybe related to the Church? Are you still affiliated?"
"No, I'm not affiliated now. I am a former Temple Knight."
The moment he heard those words, Mika's body trembled.
(T-Temple Knights... How cool!)
In game settings, they weren't that common, were they?
They weren't particularly strong, but he really liked the sound of the word.
He wanted the title or rank of "Temple Knight."
He didn't really want to become one, though.
(Because it would definitely be troublesome... Living according to dogma, I absolutely don't want to do that.)
Even academy life was tight; imagining church life made him depressed.
"I was picked up by the church as a candidate for a Healer, but I was more interested in this side."
Saying that, she tapped the long sword sheathed at her waist.
"Well, there were various things after that. Now I am a layman and an adventurer."
"Is that so?"
The "various things" part was a bit curious, but it might be bad to press too hard.
"Oh, sorry for stopping you when you were tired."
"No, it's fine. More importantly, what were you doing, Mika-chan?"
"Me? I was just strolling. Well, while looking for souvenirs."
"Souvenirs?"
Mika told Trys that he was looking for souvenirs for when he returned home next month.
"Every year I make smoked meat the souvenir, so I'm strolling while thinking whether to do that again this year."
"Oh, is that so? If it's smoked meat, I have a shop nearby that I often buy from. Shall I show you?"
"Is that okay?"
"It's fine. ...Hmm, maybe I'll have a drink with smoked meat today too. I just ran out."
It seems Trys's snack for today was smoked meat.
"...Moderately."
"Don't say that... I understand."
Trys grimaced.
While talking like that, they arrived at the shop.
Trying a little bit for tasting, it was indeed delicious.
It seemed to be even better quality than what he bought in Sarbengeal.
The price was fifty percent more than expected, but the quantity was large, and he liked it.
He paid the advance on the spot and reserved it to pick up in two weeks.
"Thank you for telling me about a good shop."
"I'm glad you liked it. Be careful when you return home."
And so, he parted ways with Trys and returned to the dormitory.
The worried souvenir was decided, and he was looking forward to two weeks later.
■■■■■■
After dinner, he washed away the sweat in the bath, and took a breather.
His roommate Basal was polishing his sword.
The sword Basal was polishing now was a training sword with the blade dulled.
Separately, he had one real sword.
But that sword was currently being kept by Mika.
"Basal, when should I return the sword? Shouldn't you carry it yourself during my return home?"
"That is so. Well, the day before is fine. Is the day you depart the day of the Sun?"
"The morning of the day of the Sun. Ah, wake me up."
"Well, well, it's fine. But Mika-dono should be able to wake up by yourself?"
Waking up before the sun rises? He can't do such a skilled trick.
In summer, it gets bright enough, but in winter, it's pitch black.
Basal, who can wake up every day at such a time, is the one who is strange.
Without an alarm clock either.
When Basal decided to walk the path of the sword again, he sent a letter to his family.
To send the sword he used for training.
'Although I will part ways with my family, I will seek my own path of the sword.'
He wrote that, and his parents seemed to be moved greatly.
They sent a very impressive sword, which could be said to be a family heirloom, along with it.
It seems Basal still couldn't handle it.
'I cannot accept such a thing!'
He exchanged letters with his family several times saying that, but it seems he was persuaded by his parents.
He decided to accept that sword.
But, a problem occurred here.
Where should he put it?
It was too big to fit in a locked drawer or chest.
Well, he could break such a simple lock if he wanted to, but he couldn't even put it in a drawer with such a simple lock.
So, Basal, who was troubled about where to put it, asked Mika if he could put it in Mika's Magic Bag.
"Is it okay if I can't take it out when I'm not here?"
"I will tell you in advance when it is needed."
"If I die, no one will be able to take it out? Is that okay?"
Due to the mechanism of Magic Registration, that would happen.
It might be safe, but another risk arises.
"Do you plan to die soon?"
"No! Of course not!"
What are you saying with a straight face?
"Then it is fine. I beg of you."
And so, he ended up keeping Basal's sword under these circumstances.
"Mika-dono is going back to your family from quite far away, yet you manage to come back often."
"Well, with determination."
Basal seems to not want to ride the shared carriage for six days anymore.
"If Basal can use [Physical Enhancement], it will be a bit easier."
"Will you use [Physical Enhancement] for that!?"
"Just use whatever you can use. I use [Physical Enhancement] almost every day?"
How could he not use such a convenient thing for moving in the Royal Capital?
"The use of [God's Miracles] outside of class is forbidden."
"Yeah. Well, there's no need to force it, right?"
"............"
"............"
Basal had been looking at Mika with a piercing gaze for a while, but then slumped his shoulders.
"...First, I must become able to use it."
"Yes."
Basal had not even reached manifestation within the year.
Well, this was still within the normal range.
Even all of the Leventein Group became able to manifest after rising to the second year, about half of them.
"Mika-dono is envious. It seems I lack talent."
"If there is a trigger, you can grow all at once from there. I didn't become able to do it immediately after birth either."
"Well, that is so. I want that trigger soon."
Saying that, he put the sword he was polishing back into its scabbard.
"Well, I will rest soon."
"Yeah. Good night."
Usually, Basal goes to bed before Mika.
Since he wakes up early every day, it is natural if you think about it.
Mika often stays awake without doing anything specific.
Maybe it's because of habits from his previous world that he doesn't feel like sleeping at such an early time.
He thought vaguely about various things.
About [God's Miracles].
About Alchemy.
About his own magic.
About Mana.
About the future.
Soldier, Court Magic Institute, Adventurer.
Or perhaps something else.
About money.
It had decreased to about half due to equipment updates, but now he had recovered quite a bit.
Currently, there was over five million Rats in his Guild Card.
Separately, several gold coins were also put in cash in the Magic Bag.
The funds to avoid military service were not a problem.
It was still far in the future, and he had a plan to earn money thanks to "Curse-type" requests.
And the black cocoon (Artorum) and the young man with reddish-brown hair.
The Fifth Knights Order.
"Haaah..."
Mika shrugged his shoulders and sighed.
Whatever he did, the status of a student was too tight.
And there were too many things he couldn't do with his personal power.
He was aware that he was protected by the system.
He also felt that he was bound by the system.
(Life in another world is surprisingly not going as planned.)
Thinking such things, he went to bed.