Chapter 131 - Chapter 130: The Epithet is "Dispeller"
The first day of the month of Fire, the second week.
The season has officially become summer, but for these days, the temperature simply refuses to rise.
Having finished special training with Rimliche and Basal, Mika was running through the capital city toward the Adventurer's Guild.
Rimliche had already mastered the two 【God's Miracles】 she was instructed to learn this year.
She had given up on learning them normally so early on, opting for a full-all-in approach to master them.
It seems everyone else in the Leventein Group will learn them the same way from now on, and they decided to master them early to spread out the timing.
As Mika ran through the town, he spotted several knights.
These were knights standing at street corners or patrolling for the security of the capital city.
Among the knights he saw, there were a few who looked extremely exhausted.
When he happened to ask Shesbarno about it, it turned out all those exhausted knights were from the Fifth Knights Order.
"The current Knight Commander's training is truly merciless..."
Even Shesbarno himself seemed somewhat exhausted.
However, his exhaustion wasn't from the training.
"Have there been any developments since then?"
"..................."
Shesbarno shook his head weakly.
Searching for the young man with reddish-brown hair, running all over the capital city.
Since it involved searching for a missing mage, it seemed Shesbarno's squad was currently moving mainly on this lead.
Even so, it seemed quite difficult as they were searching while conducting patrols within the capital city.
They were also monitoring the forests and ruins within the forests, but there was absolutely no clue.
Upon arriving at the Guild, he found Rosalinde just finishing posting new request sheets and returning to the counter.
"Oh, Mika-kun! Yaho!"
Rosalinde noticed Mika and waved her hand vigorously.
"Just in time. Can you lend me your Guild Card for a moment?"
"Huh? Your Guild Card?"
Mika took out his Guild Card.
Rosalinde reached out, but the moment she tried to grab the card, Mika deftly dodged it.
"Hey! Why are you being mean?"
"I'm not doing anything mean. I wouldn't lend it without asking the reason first."
How much money do you think I have in my account?
Nowadays, Mika handles commission requests as a matter of course, and his assets have exceeded twenty million Rats.
He puts four large gold coins and fifty gold coins in cash into his Magic Bag, and the rest is all pooled onto the card.
Mika said something perfectly normal, but Rosalinde puffed out her cheeks with a "mouuuu."
"Really! I was going to do the procedure for you first! If you don't want that, just stand in line! I'm an older sister, I don't know you!"
"Procedure?"
"Yes. I thought it would be pitiful to make you stand in line at the counter, so I offered to call you out."
Hearing that, Mika looked at the line of adventurers waiting at the counter.
It had become much shorter, and the flow was smoother, but there was still no lack of waiting time.
"Is there some procedure I need to do?"
"I just told you. I was going to do it for you first because you had to renew it."
It seemed Rosalinde was thoroughly pouting.
Mika let out a bitter smile.
(So Rosalinde was trying to be considerate in her own way.)
If she had explained a bit earlier, Mika wouldn't have had to be on guard like this.
"Sorry about that. Can I ask you for a favor?"
Mika said that and held out the card, but Rosalinde's mood was still off, and she turned her head away with a "pui."
"Rosalinde-san. Please."
Mika looked up at Rosalinde with a steady gaze.
Rosalinde glanced at Mika, and her mood improved just a little.
"If you ask me, Mika-kun, I can't refuse, big sister."
Rosalinde took the card and was about to return to the counter immediately.
"Well then, I'll go do the procedure. Oh, if Chirensta-san is free, I think he'd probably want to talk to you. I'll let him know just in case."
"Chirensta-san?"
Saying that, Rosalinde walked away.
What is this?
Is it another consultation about efficiency proposals?
The Second Branch (here) is already a comfortable environment for Mika where procedures proceed smoothly enough.
I don't think further improvements are necessary.
At least, as an outsider.
While thinking that, Yunressa came out from behind the counter.
"Good. You're still here."
"Huh? Yes, I just got here a moment ago."
She seemed flustered, or rather, she had come rushing with her breath a bit short.
"Chirensta-san wants to talk to you, Mika-kun. Is the time okay right now?"
"Yes, it's fine."
I've already left my Guild Card with Rosalinde.
I can't just go home like this.
"Oh, that's good. Then I'll guide you. Follow me."
Saying that, Yunressa went inside the counter.
They went up to the second floor, to the usual Vice Branch Manager's office... or so I thought, but they were led to the room just before it.
"Huh? This is?"
"I'll go call Chirensta-san now. Please wait a moment."
"Oh, no, wait a minute!?"
Mika tried to stop Yunressa as she left the room, but she had already gone.
"............What is this?"
While standing there in a daze, Mika looked around the room.
A room decorated with luxurious furniture, a large landscape painting, and shiny statues of gods.
It was a reception room for VIPs.
Standing around was pointless, so I thought about sitting on the sofa, but it was too luxurious to feel like sitting.
If anything, the rank might be higher than the sofa at the Marquis (old man)'s house.
No, at this level, Mika doesn't know which is better or worse, so he can't compare.
It might just be that this one looks slightly more flashy, so it appears that way.
Knock, knock.
While thinking such things, the door was knocked on, and Chirensta entered.
"Yo, Mika-kun. Sorry to keep you waiting. It was sudden."
"Oh, no, that's fine."
What is this treatment?
Encouraged by Chirensta, Mika sat on the sofa, and Yunressa immediately brought tea.
After placing the tea in front of Mika and Chirensta, she quietly left.
It seemed she wouldn't be participating in the conversation today.
"First of all, congratulations. It took a little time, but you were finally recognized."
"Oh, is that so?"
Come to think of it, Yunressa mentioned something like that before.
Something about promoting to C-rank, or whatever, about a month and a half ago.
Chirensta was working hard on it.
"Be happier. It's an exception among exceptions to be recognized at Mika-kun's age."
"Ah... well, I guess I just can't quite feel it yet..."
Let's go with that.
Honestly, C-rank or not doesn't matter to me.
"Ah... that might be true. There were many stubborn people in the upper echelons. It's natural to think so considering the track record."
Chirensta started muttering like he was complaining.
But, when you become C-rank, does everyone get celebrated in a VIP reception room like this?
(...No way.)
There must be something.
The reason for leading him to such a grand reception room.
Mika spoke to Chirensta, who was still muttering complaints.
"Um... Chirensta-san."
"It's already spread this much... oh, oh, yes. Well, that's it. Finally, I got it approved today. It was decided just now in the morning meeting."
Chirensta turned a full smile toward Mika.
"Dispeller. That is Mika-kun's epithet. Truly wonderful."
"............Huh?"
Epithet?
"Hmm? Um, is this about my promotion to C-rank?"
"Of course, that's included. And at the same time, the Guild has officially recognized your epithet as well. Ah, it was hard to convince those stubborn people. Even though your name has spread this much and you have a track record, they said you were too young, too early, and so on..."
Eh, wait a minute!
What are you talking about!?
"Chirensta-san! What is this epithet thing!? I don't remember agreeing to this!?"
"That's natural. You don't give yourself an epithet. It's something that others recognize and it comes naturally. The Guild just ratifies it."
Chirensta said it casually, as if it were perfectly normal.
Mika wanted to hold his head.
Or rather, he did hold his head.
"The requests for 'Curse Removal' that Mika-kun has already achieved exceed thirty. Moreover, ten of those were commission requests. And there are no failures. Now, the name Dispeller is widely known as the last hope left for those troubled by curses. Isn't it natural for the Guild to recognize it?"
Chirensta's passionate speech dealt the final blow to Mika's heart, which was already on the verge of breaking.
Mika collapsed onto the sofa, lying down.
"In fact, it seems inquiries for requests addressed to Dispeller alone came to about thirty from the First Branch in the capital city. Until now, since the epithet wasn't recognized, they were passed around to the Second Branch and kept watching. But from now on, they can be accepted at Guilds nationwide, so requests will pour in."
That's right, Chirensta was celebrating as if it were his own thing.
Mika started to dislike Chirensta a little.
(Could it be that Chirensta-san was working hard to convince them not for my C-rank promotion, but for the epithet?)
Mika cried bitterly.
He accidentally wet the sofa a little with tears.
"That's why, I'd like to renew Mika-kun's Guild Card. It won't take long. Can I borrow it for a moment?"
"!?!"
Hearing Chirensta's words, Mika trembled.
(...No way!?)
Just as Mika's bad premonition woke him up, the door to the reception room burst open with a bang.
"Sorry for the wait! Mika-kun, it's updated!"
Rosalinde was the one who came.
She was holding the Guild Card in her hand.
"Rosalinde! What is this, you didn't even knock! I was explaining to Mika-kun just now—!"
"So I did the procedure first!"
Rosalinde argued back against Chirensta's warning, and Mika snatched the card back from her.
And then...
Name: Mika Noisheim Dispeller
The epithet was carved perfectly behind Mika's name.
He collapsed in defeat.
(I... I was tricked...!)
Even though I trusted her and handed over the card thinking Rosalinde wouldn't do anything strange, this is how she treated me.
Well, it wasn't anything strange, just normal staff work.
While Mika hung his head, everyone at the staff sent him off with applause as he returned to the lobby.
And he was sent off with applause by the adventurers who were just there by chance and didn't understand the situation.
(Damn it! I won't forget this grudge!)
Mika ran out of the Guild as if escaping, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Buwa-ha-ha-ha! Seriously, hey!? That's amazing, you!"
Yaroibarov held his stomach and laughed while holding Mika's Guild Card.
"This isn't a laughing matter! They gave me such a name without permission! I'm so embarrassed I can't even pay with the card!"
Mika ran out of the Adventurer's Guild as if escaping and headed for Yaroibarov's inn.
He wanted to tell his senior about his indignation, but this was the result.
"I also got an epithet at C-rank, and there are rare cases like that, but I've never heard of it happening at the same time as promotion. Ku ku..."
Yaroibarov wiped his tears while returning the card to Mika.
You don't have to laugh that much...
Mika reached out to take the card, but the card passed right through Mika and was handed to Kistil, who had come next to him.
Kistil took the card without understanding much and looked at it curiously.
"But, a monk having such a special skill, huh."
"No, well, it's not really a special skill."
I was just playing puzzles.
"There's only one in the Kingdom... or maybe even the only one in the world with this special Skill? You should act more impressive."
"Skill?"
Only then did he realize.
(So that's how it looks to others.)
To Mika, it was just playing around, but it's not strange that it looks like a Skill to those who don't know.
Since the parameters aren't explicitly shown like in a game, I didn't notice, but maybe my parameters are written with Dispel or something.
Well, assuming it's a game.
Kistil returned the card saying "Thank you."
"By the way, Kistil. Make something to celebrate."
"Is that okay?"
"No, no, no, it's fine, really!"
Mika hurriedly refused Yaroibarov's proposal.
"I've been a bit curious about this, monk. You're holding back too much. At times like this, you should just accept it honestly."
"Yes, Mika-kun."
Even Kistil joined in with supportive fire at Yaroibarov's words.
"Kistil, you have something you're making now, right? Bring that out."
"Okay!"
Kistil replied happily and went back to the kitchen.
Mika watched Kistil off with a slightly troubled expression.
"You do all sorts of things for others, but you hate it when it's done for you."
"Huh? No, that's not really the case..."
Her reply trailed off somewhat.
"No, you seem to dislike having things done for you more than is normal. ...Is there something?"
Is there?
Being reserved and humble are certainly habits I've picked up.
It might be an exaggeration to say modest, but I'm not good at acting superior.
This is caused by the environment I grew up in and the moral values I cultivated.
Since I've lived in a world where this is normal, my sense of this world might be a little off.
"There's nothing specific, but yes, as Yaroibarov-san says, I might not be good at being praised too much. It feels uncomfortable."
"What a troublesome personality. Even though you're still a kid."
"That might be true."
He couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.
"Both I and Kistil have been helped by you. Thanks to you introducing Kistil, I was really helped, and Kistil always says she was really helped by your mother and the stable income."
Yaroibarov patted Mika's head vigorously.
"I'm not saying anything about debts or loans, but it feels gross to just receive without giving back. So if you feel gross about receiving, pay it back in another form. Isn't that fine?"
"...Yes."
At Yaroibarov's words, Mika nodded obediently.
(Maybe Chirensta-san felt the same way.)
When he was worried about how to fix the crowded Guild in the capital city, Mika's proposal somehow managed to improve it.
At that time, Yunressa was in a state where she was about to have a nervous breakdown.
Mika just said what he thought, like "I don't like waiting too much myself" or "I'm not the one executing it."
But even so, the congestion was resolved, and Yunressa regained her energy.
He heard that Chirensta's evaluation from headquarters also went up.
(Did I do something bad?)
Should I properly thank Chirensta next time?
(...But I wish he had worked hard in a different direction, Chirensta-san.)
He was happy with the feelings, but to be repaid with an epithet of all things.
While thinking such things, Kistil returned.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mika-kun. Please, this way."
Saying that, Kistil guided Mika.
As soon as he sat in the seat he was guided to, a dish like roast beef was served.
"What is this!? It looks so delicious. Or rather, it looks incredibly expensive."
Thick meat was cut so it was easy to eat, and plenty of sauce was poured over it.
"I decided to leave this dish to Kistil from now on. Kistil has basically become able to cook our dishes."
"Is that so!?"
Isn't that very fast!?
It's been about seven months since Kistil started working at Yaroibarov's inn.
Less than a year.
"Thanks to Mika-kun. But my cooking is still not something I can serve to customers..."
Kistil said with a happy, shy face.
"I've already entrusted a few dishes to her. I thought I'd leave this one to her from now on. It's one of our popular dishes."
"Haa~~..."
A sigh-like sound slipped out involuntarily.
Mika was encouraged by Yaroibarov and Kistil and brought the food to his mouth.
"Delicious~~~! Eh, really, what is this!? It's so delicious!"
Yaroibarov looked at the surprised Mika with a smirk, and Kistil became even more shy.
"I even admitted I could serve this to customers! Of course it's delicious."
"That might be true, but it's too delicious! What, do the guests at this inn eat such delicious things!?"
Unforgivable...
If I just keep borrowing Yaroibarov's inn, can I eat such delicious food every day?
Mika involuntarily calculated his current funds and the rewards he could earn consistently every month in his head.
(I don't know how much it will cost for rent and daily meals, but I can afford up to a million Rats...?)
He was calculating like that.
"Don't hold back, eat as much as you want. I made plenty. One monk eating won't take away from the other guests."
Yaroibarov stuck his chest out.
"And pay it back in plenty in another form."
"Really, Yaroibarov-san!"
Mika understood that Yaroibarov was saying that on purpose so Mika wouldn't hold back.
Kistil probably felt the same.
Mika scolded Yaroibarov while laughing.
"Thank you. I won't hold back."
Mika said that and bowed his head, eating until he couldn't eat dinner anymore.
Yaroibarov got carried away and started serving other dishes, and Mika enjoyed the meal, drumming his tongue.
■■■■■■
【Wagnare Shubeist's Perspective】
The Great Cathedral of Sarbengeal.
A mass was being held in the chapel, and many believers gathered, listening to Wagnare's sermon.
And when the mass ended, the believers performed gestures of prayer all at once.
Wagnare descended from the pulpit and walked toward the entrance of the chapel, and many believers gathered around Wagnare.
The gathered believers were overwhelmingly female.
Almost all women.
Older women.
"Your sermon was wonderful today, Archbishop Wagnare."
"I was captivated."
It's not like that... thinking that, Wagnare put on a smile full of compassion befitting an Archbishop.
Wagnare's gaze was too sharp, but his smile was surprisingly gentle.
The gap between his usual dignified appearance and the gentle atmosphere when he smiled was a common opinion among the gathered women.
Among them, he noticed a man watching Wagnare from a slightly distant place.
"Excuse me. I have many matters to attend to today. I apologize."
"No, no, an Archbishop who comes to the weekly mass without fail despite being so busy is only you, Wagnare-sama."
"Please take care of us again next week, Your Eminence."
The women were well-behaved and left the chapel.
After Wagnare saw off the women, the man who had been watching Wagnare had disappeared.
Wagnare silently entered the confessional.
Inside the confessional, two chairs are placed, separated by a wall in the center so the other person's appearance cannot be seen.
However, countless small holes are drilled, and voices pass through normally.
There are also holes large enough to exchange letters.
Wagnare sat on the chair and lightly tapped the central wall with the tip of his fingernail.
Tap, tap, tap.
Then, the other person tapped lightly in response.
After repeating such exchanges a few times, a letter was suddenly handed over.
Wagnare quickly glanced at the contents of the letter and was speechless.
(...The Saintess of Runesarm has died?)
It seems it happened almost a month ago.
It seems the information was being concealed.
Wagnare met the Saintess of Runesarm about three years ago.
He only met her when the Saintess visited the Great Cathedral of Sarbengeal.
They were not particularly close.
They had a proper conversation only once.
However, that Saintess should have been around thirteen years old.
He was at a loss for words at the sudden death of a Saintess who was not yet of age.
The letter contained a simple explanation, but there were unnatural points.
(...The residents' petition... The Saintess leading the Church Knights Order Temple Knights? No, this is...)
Probably, murder.
That possibility is high.
And, if this is murder...
"Wash the bishops thoroughly. And also the one who led the Church Knights Order Temple Knights who accompanied them."
He gave instructions in a low voice while returning the letter.
The man who received the letter left the confessional as is.
Wagnare stayed in the confessional for a while, unable to stop praying that the Saintess would be guided safely to the gods without getting lost.
■■■■■■
【Kistil's Perspective】
"I'm home."
Kistil felt a little tired, but she made an effort to speak brightly.
So as not to cause unnecessary worry to her mother, who always cares about Kistil.
(...!)
The moment she entered the house, she saw it.
There was someone who was usually not there, someone she didn't want to see.
Thinking like that, she felt a little guilt and a fluttering in her chest.
"...I'm home, Father."
With a throat that suddenly felt dry and stinging, she managed to squeeze out her voice anyway.
"You're finally back. You're late. Making me wait."
"............I'm sorry."
Kistil apologized to her father, but she was worried about the person behind her father.
He was quite small, and he had a very unpleasant face.
The man's eyes were looking at Kistil from top to bottom as if licking her.
"Now, now, don't get angry. You must have been working all day. It was hard. Good job."
The smirking man nodded yes and yes, but still observed Kistil.
As if appraising her.
"Well then, I should be going now. Sorry for staying too long."
"...Is it okay now?"
The father suddenly looked anxious and whispered something to the smirking man who was leaving.
And after the man really hurriedly left the house, the father also went out with him.
What was that?
My chest feels very uneasy.
"...I have to make dinner."
By speaking aloud, she deliberately directed her consciousness elsewhere.
She had to make dinner, clean the house, and rest her body for tomorrow.
"Okay."
Today too, one more push.
Switching her feelings, Kistil began to prepare dinner.