Chapter 125 - Chapter 124: The Beginning of Lower Grade Year Two
Water Month, Week 1, Water Day.
It was the third day of advancing to Lower Grade Year Two.
Thirty-two students were in Class 1 this year.
A slight increase from last year.
And in the new Class 1, about ten children who were in Class 2 last year had moved up.
Children who could not acquire [Physical Enhancement] at regional academies, but had successfully acquired both [Physical Enhancement] and another [God's Miracle] over this past year, and had grown significantly since coming to the capital.
Conversely, about seven or eight children who were in Class 1 last year had fallen to Class 2.
Because they could not acquire either [Explosive Flame] or [Heal] during Lower Grade Year One.
The children currently in Class 1 are those who can use either [Explosive Flame] or [Heal], in addition to [Physical Enhancement].
And in Year Two, they will aim to acquire a new [God's Miracle].
By the way, regarding whether one is forbidden from acquiring a [God's Miracle] that could not be acquired in Year One during Year Two, the answer is no.
It is also permitted to say, "I couldn't acquire [Explosive Flame], so I will acquire it in Year Two!"
However, it seems [God's Miracle] has compatibility with the user.
[God's Miracles] with poor compatibility cannot be acquired no matter how much one tries.
Though it does not seem to mean they absolutely cannot be acquired.
In other words, if one clings to a single [God's Miracle] forever and keeps doing nothing but that despite poor compatibility, they will be unable to acquire anything else at all.
Therefore, it is advised to try various things.
But even with a [God's Miracle] of good compatibility, it takes about half a year to acquire.
Homeroom Teacher Colina told them that for [God's Miracles] they aimed for last year but failed to acquire, they should give up on the idea of poor compatibility and work on a different [God's Miracle].
Well, that advice probably applies to the children who fell to Class 2 this year.
She also seemed to teach that even the children currently in Class 1 might need to make such judgments in the future.
One cannot know if compatibility is good or bad without trying.
If one cannot acquire it after a year, the judgment becomes, "Ah, the compatibility is poor."
The instruction given to Mika and Rimliche last year seems to have been strictly "Acquire it if you can."
It does not seem to be a case of forcing them to do it endlessly despite poor compatibility just to make them memorize it.
Even so, one cannot help but think, "Isn't that a bit too much interference?"...
In Lower Grade Year Two, the newly presented [God's Miracles] were [Blizzard], [Battle Fervor], and [Abundance].
One can imagine the effect of all three just by hearing the names.
However, what surprised Mika was that [Abundance], a [God's Miracle] unrelated to war, was included.
Of course, everyone thought such a [God's Miracle] was unnecessary and didn't even look at it.
[Blizzard] was the most popular.
It seems to be number one every year.
The effect needs no explanation: it causes a blizzard within a certain range and freezes it.
Next, [Battle Fervor] is chosen.
This is a so-called buff that affects those around oneself, not oneself.
It does not merely raise morale; it seems to have a slight effect of [Physical Enhancement] as well.
It is truly a negligible amount, perhaps increasing power by ten or twenty percent, but since common soldiers and knights have no experience with [Physical Enhancement] without magic, they are greatly pleased with this.
It also has a slight effect of recovering stamina.
This [God's Miracle] is considered one that should be held by those standing above as leaders.
However, it takes time to acquire, and there are compatibility issues.
So, it seems few people actually possess it.
Finally, [Abundance].
Needless to say, it is completely useless on the battlefield.
It enriches the land and increases the harvest.
That is all.
Every year, almost no academy students choose this [God's Miracle].
Then, why is it taught at the academy?
It seems they are teaching it in hopes that students can acquire it later.
Therefore, the incantation for this [God's Miracle] is taught to all academy students.
Even though no one tries to acquire it.
(Well, considering the acquisition difficulty, there's no way I'd use a precious slot for [Abundance
Those who possess the [God's Miracle] of [Abundance] are useful at the Court Magic Institute or in the government official track.
Every year, they travel around the country in early spring casting this [God's Miracle].
There is a clear difference in harvest between land that has been cast upon and land that has not, and the few who have acquired it are said to go around every year saying "it's tough."
So, if one acquires it, they will be welcomed into government service with favorable treatment after retirement.
Even with such favorable conditions, no one even looks at [Abundance]... I feel a bit sorry for it.
Well, it might be difficult for children to understand the importance of increasing harvest.
Above all, everyone thinks, "Even if I don't acquire it, someone else will."
Perhaps there are not many children who think that far ahead as retirement.
Of course, the Leventein Group is all in Class 1.
No one else in Lower Grade Year One acquired both [Explosive Flame] and [Heal].
And to all of the Leventein Group, an instruction to acquire something came from somewhere.
"---Those listed above, please prioritize acquiring [Blizzard]. The rest of you, please think carefully about which [God's Miracle] to acquire."
When Colina called their names and instructed the Leventein Group to acquire [Blizzard], they made slightly awkward faces.
"...Well, I was thinking [Blizzard] would be fine among us, so it's okay."
"Yes, that's right."
Messerite and Cecilia said with a sigh.
It seems they have some thoughts, not about the acquisition itself, but about the pressure of being instructed.
"Also, an instruction has come for Rimliche-san to acquire [Battle Fervor] after [Blizzard], if possible."
When Colina said that, Rimliche's expression became even more awkward, and she looked at Mika.
Mika could only smile bitterly at this.
Whoever it was, it seems they are also looking for leadership qualities in Rimliche.
I bow my hands in prayer...
"Yes, an instruction has come for Mika-kun to acquire all three [God's Miracles]. It seems the order of acquisition does not matter."
"Haa!?"
Mika involuntarily made the chair creak as he stood up and looked at Colina.
The sympathy he felt for Rimliche vanished in an instant.
(Hey, wait a minute! If I'm going to acquire everything, the order doesn't matter, but!)
Stunned by such a merciless instruction.
"All of them...?"
"Yes. It seems Mika-kun is very much expected. The teacher is also expecting you. Please do your best."
Smiling brightly like that, Colina looked like a demon.
(Well, I can acquire them according to my specifications, but! The fact that they aren't specifying an order like they did for Rimliche means they are assuming I will acquire everything for real!)
He was not thinking, "I tried but couldn't acquire it."
He was being told to acquire them absolutely.
Not specifying the order meant exactly that.
(If you know my specifications, you should understand even with such an instruction. But you don't know, do you? Why give such an instruction then!?)
He was taken aback by such cruelty.
There is even compatibility. ...Normally.
(Still, maybe there is still some mercy in that the same instruction wasn't given to everyone...?)
If it were an all-in acquisition, all members of the Leventein Group could potentially acquire all three [God's Miracles] if they wanted to.
However, since there was a risk to life, they had not been forced that far.
He wanted to believe that even those giving the instructions had a shred of mercy left.
When Mika buried his face in his desk, Cleiria spoke to encourage him.
"T-That's amazing, Mika. Being given an instruction to acquire all [God's Miracles] means you are very much expected. Isn't this the first time since the academy started?"
That would be natural.
Basically, it takes about half a year to acquire even one, so a simple calculation means a year and a half.
Even if the acquisition period for all was shortened to four months each, they would not finish acquiring them within two years.
Because there is a long vacation, and strictly speaking, the period available for acquisition in one academic year is eleven months.
(...Should I deliberately delay the acquisition?)
Last year, I needed [Heal] desperately, so I acquired both in one day, but this year there is no particular [God's Miracle] I want.
At worst, I don't even have to take them all.
Or, if someone just taught me the incantation, I could acquire it secretly.
If such an unreasonable instruction comes out because I stood out too much, maybe I should lower my evaluation a bit to adjust.
"Oh."
Mika looked past Cleiria.
He looked out the window and let out a small voice.
Just as Cleiria and the guards turned their eyes toward him asking "What?", Mika lightly pinched Cleiria's cheek.
"Kyaa."
Cleiria let out a small sound, and by the time the guards turned around, Mika was already calmly attending class.
Cleiria puffed out her cheeks cutely in response to Mika's venting.
■■■■■■
Water Month, Week 3, Wind Day.
During lunch break, Mika was playing Buattre Heed with Stellan.
There were more than ten spectators interested in Buattre Heed.
Most of them were girls.
And mixed in with such spectators, for some reason, there was also the figure of an upperclassman girl.
Is she that interested?
"Ho... so you come like that."
Stellan, sitting opposite, muttered as he saw Mika's move.
Even after our first match, Stellan sometimes called out to me and played with me.
I accepted it, thinking it was fine if it was occasional.
Mika was not playing with the previous quick-attack strategy, but playing normally with a balanced style.
Since the lunch break would end forcibly anyway, he was trying various things, thinking he might as well play casually.
Stellan moved a piece, and it became Mika's turn.
As he was thinking about what to do, Stellan spoke to him.
"You can handle anything, can't you? Is there nothing you are bad at?"
"Bad at things? There are plenty."
Mika moved a piece with a clink.
"I find that hard to believe. You acquired all three [God's Miracles] for two consecutive years. And in just one day."
That's right.
Actually, Mika had acquired three [God's Miracles].
Acquiring them because he was instructed was annoying, but he acquired them thinking it wouldn't hurt to have everything.
So, he is currently updating the academy's legend.
"Ah... well, I guess I'm good at acquisition. But that doesn't mean I don't have things I'm bad at, right?"
"Normally that would be the case. But for you, it seems you don't have anything you're bad at."
Stellan tapped the table with his pieces and knocked over Mika's piece.
He then removed the knocked-over pieces from the board.
"...Who is the most amazing mage?"
Mika knocked over Stellan's piece, placed his own piece, and muttered.
"Most amazing? Well, normally it would be the head of the Court Magic Institute? ...Though it depends on what defines 'most amazing'."
"Do you think I am more amazing than that person?"
"No way. Ah... one could say they are amazing in a certain sense."
Well, acquiring many things in one day might indeed be amazing.
"So, I'm still far from it, then."
"Are you comparing yourself to the head of the institute? That is enough to say you are amazing, isn't it?"
Since a trainee who hasn't even graduated from the academy is comparing themselves to the top of the mages, it is indeed amazing.
The sheer absurdity of it.
"If I'm just comparing, I can compare with anything. No matter how much I am praised as amazing, it's ultimately a story within a narrow world. There is always someone above. There is nothing that can be number one, right?"
"You... your comparison target is not even a student of the academy."
"There's no point in comparing acorns within the academy."
Stellan stared intently at the board and pondered.
"Hm... I see."
Suddenly, Stellan muttered.
"You are right. Comparing who is up or down within the academy... or even within this classroom, has no meaning."
At that moment, children who had gone out into the hallway came rushing into the classroom.
"It seems we have reached the limit for today. Thank you, Mika-kun. It was a good study session."
"Likewise. Today there was neither advantage nor disadvantage."
"Yes."
Stellan put away the pieces and stood up from his seat.
The spectators also hurriedly scattered.
"Please play with me again."
"If I feel like it."
"Hm... yes, that is fine."
Saying that, Stellan returned to his own seat.
As Mika leaned back against the chair and stretched widely, voices came from both sides.
"It's over, Mika-kun."
"Who won?"
Rimliche and Cleiria, who had been watching Mika and the others from the seats on both sides, spoke simultaneously.
"Yeah, it's over. Or rather, I said there was neither advantage nor disadvantage, right?"
They had a small scuffle and ran out of time.
"That's right, what are Mika's weaknesses?"
Cleiria asked with sparkling eyes.
It seems she only heard that part of the conversation with Stellan just now.
Or rather, those eyes mean she is plotting something.
"I'm afraid of manjuu."
"Huh? Manjuu?"
"What is that?" Cleiria tilted her head.
"Actually, I'm not good with sweets."
"Well, was that so!?"
"Cakes make my hair stand on end just by looking at them."
"Well, well, well! So that was the case!"
The sparkle in Cleiria's eyes increased.
Later, I was invited to her home and treated to a mountain of cakes.
It seems she had been planning revenge for having her cheek pinched all this time.
It's been two weeks already?
She is surprisingly persistent.
By the way, I was made to eat until I really hated it.
I think the revenge was about half successful, yeah.
■■■■■■
Water Month, Week 5, Sun Day.
Mika had successfully completed both commissioned requests and had come to report to the guild.
And on his way back, he was being carried by Kaerya.
Despite her size, Kaerya was surprisingly fast and skilled at suppressing her presence, so he was caught off guard.
Salomrassa apologized with a bitter smile, but well, it was Kaerya's doing.
It was not something Salomrassa should apologize for.
Today, he was introduced to the third member of Kaerya's party for the first time.
His name was Gaeras.
He is also a member of the Information Broker Guild.
It seems Kaerya's party always challenges quests with these three.
However, even though he was introduced, Mika had no confidence that he would remember Gaeras's face by the next time they met.
What can I say, he is an ordinary person.
A very ordinary old man.
How should I put it? Like a salaryman on his day off.
He blended in too much with the surroundings and left no impression at all.
"No, I have heard the rumors for a long time."
Scratching his head, he spoke with a smile.
He was a humble old man.
"You heard about Yaunasun too, young master?"
"!? "
Gaeras's forced smile.
But only his eyes were not smiling.
No, the shape was smiling.
He was smiling, but it was clear that his narrowed eyes were observing Mika intently.
It seems he is a person one should not judge by first impressions.
(I haven't told anyone in the capital that I was active in Yaunasun during my vacation. Has the matter of Zureept spread, including my name?)
It seems Kaerya sensed that Mika's alertness level had risen, and she tapped Mika's back.
"It's okay, boy."
"My apologies. Perhaps my greeting was a bit too harsh."
Gaeras made a forced smile again.
"Don't worry, it's not being treated as such important information, so no one is paying attention. I noticed because I had prior information, but otherwise, no one would have noticed at this point."
It seems he noticed because he had heard from Kaerya and Salomrassa that Mika was visiting his hometown in the Limpēre domain, next to the Viscountcy of Orcosa.
Information like Mika's name was not flowing around; rather, fragmentary information such as "solo mage," "small like a child," etc., had come along with the information that Zureept's gang had been captured.
"If you are curious, I can investigate exactly what information is flowing. This is a double-edged sword, though. The more you dig, the more you are suspected. It is better to just listen quietly. I will tell you if anything happens."
"............Please."
Mika's face became somewhat complicated.
"Don't make such a face, young master. You are Kaerya's favorite and Salomrassa's junior. You won't be treated badly."
Gaeras laughed, "Taha-ha..."
At that moment, Salomrassa spoke up.
"Mika-kun. This guy might not be trustworthy, but you can trust him to a certain extent. At least, he is not the type to turn for money easily."
"Wait, wait, Salomrassa. Please support me a bit more firmly."
"It can't be helped. I don't trust him that much either."
"Wait a minute!?"
Somehow, a comedy routine seemed to have started right before my eyes.
However, if he was truly untrustworthy, Kaerya and Salomrassa would not have added him to the party.
They must have a relationship casual enough to say such things.
Mika looked at Kaerya.
"Do you think it's okay?"
"It's okay."
Well, if Kaerya says so, it must be okay.
"Oh, by the way, Mika-kun. Actually, there is one thing I have to apologize to you for...."
Salomrassa, who had been doing comedy with Gaeras until just now, suddenly became serious.
He whispered in Mika's ear.
"About after you graduate from the academy...."
After graduation?
Could it be avoiding military service?
"It seems money alone is not enough."
What did you say!?
Mika quickly looked at Salomrassa, and Salomrassa made an apologetic face.
"It seems there is an examination. They examine the validity of the reason and decide on exemption."
It seems military service cannot be exempted just by offering money.
(Well, normally speaking, that makes sense.)
It seems one cannot just say, "I paid back the tuition, so that's enough."
Mika slumped his head in disappointment.
"My apologies. I made you rejoice for nothing."
"No..."
It seems Salomrassa had investigated the military service system in detail using his connections.
And the result was that "one cannot escape it easily."
Mika struggled to hold back a sigh.
If he showed too much disappointment in front of Salomrassa, it would make him worry unnecessarily.
(I thought I had some extra money, and this is it. If I can't escape military service, does that mean the Court Magic Institute track?)
I don't know the details, but there should have been a path to the Court Magic Institute separate from the military.
Probably, it would be treated as a reserve force, but is it somewhat better than being a soldier?
(Or, I really have to drop out.)
Thinking such things, Mika thanked Salomrassa for investigating.