Chapter 135 - Chapter 134: Alarm Clock
The 5th day of the 1st week of the Month of Fire.
Bikaaaaaah!!!
"Gyah!?"
Mika, who was asleep, was almost purified by the sudden, dazzling light that burned his eyelids.
He tried to open his eyes to see what was happening, but it was too bright to open them.
Shielding his eyes with his hand, he slowly opened them just a crack.
A room he wasn't used to.
Even though the window shutters were still closed, it was as dazzling as if a light had been shone directly in front of him.
A scene from an old detective drama.
Like when a detective shines a stand light on a suspect and says, "Spit it out." That kind of feeling.
Mika couldn't help but jump out of the room, rolling away.
Then, the intense light from before vanished, and a sphere of light floated past in front of Mika.
Mika followed the sphere of light with a squinting gaze.
"Oh, Fee-chan. You woke up Mika-kun."
From the dining room, Kistil's soft, bright voice could be heard.
Mika rubbed his sleepy eyes and let out a long sigh.
He closed the door to Kistil's room, which he had just burst out of, and entered his own room.
And changed into his academy uniform.
Last night.
The first night after moving into the new house.
He was thinking about various things for the future in his own room.
Then, that annoying sphere came into the room.
He looked at the door, and it was properly closed.
It seems that if he wanted to enter, he could get in through even a tiny gap.
"Hey, don't just come in without permission."
Mika said in an unhappy tone, but the sphere of light, Fee, came right in front of Mika's eyes.
When he waved his hand to shoo it away, Fee returned to the front of the door.
But it didn't try to leave.
It repeated blinking with a slightly stronger light.
"What is this?"
When Mika said that, Fee came in front of him again.
And then returned to the front of the door.
"......? Are you telling me to follow?"
Fee briefly intensified its light, then went out of the room through the gap in the door.
Mika sighed, scratched his head, and stood up.
When he left the room, Fee was found immediately.
It was natural, since it was the only thing glowing in the pitch-black hallway.
Fee was floating in front of Kistil's room.
Mika didn't want to make too much noise and wake Kistil up, so he quietly approached Fee.
Then, he could hear a faint sobbing sound.
It was coming from Kistil's room.
(Did it come to teach me this...?)
It's surprisingly useful, isn't it?
Mika pointed to his own room with his eyes at Fee, and Fee obediently entered Mika's room.
Communication of wills was perfect.
Well, being able to communicate with such a suspicious thing made him feel a bit strange.
Knock, knock.
Mika lightly knocked on Kistil's room door and opened it without waiting for a reply.
"Eh, ah, M, Mika-kun!?"
Kistil wiped her eyes in surprise.
Mika didn't say anything and climbed onto Kistil's bed.
"It's lonely sleeping alone, isn't it? Let's sleep together."
He had ignored it as if it didn't matter, but Kistil had said she was crying from loneliness even while Mika was back at the dormitory.
Kistil had always lived close to her family.
A house with only a bedroom and a dining room.
The family always spent time in the living-dining room, and when they slept, the three of them slept in just two beds.
Just like the previous Noisheim family, her younger brother must have been squeezing in between.
When Mika urged her to lie down, Kistil, though confused, obediently followed.
And when he held her hand, Kistil fell asleep after a while.
(Was she the same age as Loretta when I started going to the academy? Loretta had time to prepare mentally, but even then she cried her eyes out. ...Kistil must be more shocked.)
She was suddenly about to be sold by her father and separated from her family.
It wasn't a wound that could heal in a day or two.
It would be a trauma for life.
(Time is needed...)
To rest the heart.
To heal the heart.
Unlike physical wounds, it can't be fully healed in one shot with [Heal].
Looking at Kistil's sleeping face, he thought such things.
"Good morning."
"Oh, good morning, Mika-kun."
Kistil returned the greeting with a soft smile.
Mika changed into his uniform and went to the dining room, where breakfast preparation was already mostly done.
"Thank you, Kistil. The food looks delicious."
The amount was perfect.
Previously, when he was given a meal allowance or treated for a nickname celebration, Kistil knew that Mika ate an amount unimaginable from his physique.
How much was appropriate had been discussed yesterday.
He also made requests like wanting to use more beans, and planned to order in detail from now on.
After all, she is a dedicated cook.
Mika sat down at the table and glared at Fee, who was floating around Kistil.
"If you do it again, I'll really exterminate you."
When Mika muttered, Fee jumped in fright and trembled weakly behind Kistil.
"I'm sorry, Mika-kun. I asked Fee-chan to come and wake you up. Please don't get angry at Fee-chan."
Mika probably didn't know what had happened to him, but Kistil apologized while shielding Fee.
It seems that when Kistil was trying to go wake Mika up, Fee was making a huge fuss.
(I would have rather been woken up by Kistil than by Fee, that thing.)
Well, she must be busy preparing breakfast, so he wouldn't ask for luxury.
And then, he thought of something good.
"Hey, sphere-head."
When Mika called out, Fee, who was trembling behind Kistil, peeked out half its body.
"Mika-kun, it's pitiful to call it like that."
Ignoring Kistil's words, Mika proposed the idea he just thought of.
"From tomorrow on, come wake me up fifteen minutes earlier than today. At first, make it dim, and over fifteen minutes, gradually brighten it to about half of today's brightness. Can you do it?"
When Mika said that, Fee flashed its light strongly once, then hopped onto Kistil's shoulder.
Probably meaning "Yes."
(Alarm clock acquired.)
It was an alarm clock with a light that he used in his previous world.
Since it wasn't mechanical, he was a little anxious, but if it worked well, it might be surprisingly convenient.
(Yeah... I should teach it signals like 'Yes' and 'No' later.)
If he set up other means of communication, it might be surprisingly useful.
Let's think about a non-verbal communication method for a bit.
(No, since it understands language this well, verbal communication should be enough. Once I prepare the output from Fee...)
While thinking such things, he ate breakfast with Kistil.
It was about four kilometers from Mika's new house to the academy.
Until now, since the dormitory was within the academy grounds, it was only two to three minutes on foot to the school building.
But from now on, he had to run to the academy every morning.
Even so, even in the morning crowd, Mika's legs were more than enough to cover the distance.
He moved smoothly through the people on the street and arrived at the academy.
"...So, I rented a house."
"I don't get it at all!"
During lunch break, after eating lunch as usual, he told the Leventein Group that he had left the dormitory.
At Mika's sudden declaration, Cecilia raised a voice of protest.
"Are you going to live alone?"
Cleiria's question was reasonable, but for Mika, it was the last thing he wanted to be asked.
"...No comment."
"Huh?"
Even though everyone had expressions of dissatisfaction, Mika did not explain.
There was no need to convince them.
He was just informing them as a personal matter that he wouldn't be at the dormitory for a while.
"It's a personal matter. ...My place of residence has changed, but nothing else has changed particularly. I'm just waking up a little earlier."
Mika looked at Rimliche.
"Special training will be the same as before."
"Yeah."
Rimliche nodded honestly.
For now, the Leventein Group should be fine with this.
After school, he stopped by the dormitory.
"You're here."
When he knocked on the door of the dorm mother's room, Paraleira came out immediately.
It seems she hadn't been drinking yet today.
He was led into the room.
The dorm mother's room was, frankly, messy.
In terms of size, it was even wider than the room shared by two dorm students.
Several desks and tables were placed there, all filled with documents and things like experimental equipment.
"Don't touch. If you do something unnecessary, I'll kick you out of the dorm right now."
Paraleira threw some strange threats.
Well, he already had a house, so being kicked out wouldn't be much of a problem.
"So, you're kicking me out?"
"That's natural. Do you need to secure a dorm room?"
"I was thinking I'd like to stay if possible."
He tried saying something unreasonable.
Saying it costs nothing.
"Why?"
Paraleira moved the documents placed on a chair and indicated for him to sit there.
And she secured her own chair, sitting opposite him.
"I'm commuting from home for now due to circumstances, but it's more convenient to live in the dorm to attend the academy. I plan to return to the dorm eventually. Rather than getting another room then, I'd prefer this one."
"You're asking for something quite unreasonable."
I know.
I think so myself.
At that moment, a book that caught his eye slightly among the piled documents.
The title was "The Depths of Alchemy."
"Are you researching alchemy?"
"Hm? Ah, yes, but... Hey, that doesn't matter."
"By the way, you have a registration at the Court Magic Institute, right?"
He tried to bait her a little.
He had heard she was once at the Court Magic Institute, but didn't know the current situation.
"Listen..."
"You said come back, didn't you? Why is that? You drove them out yourselves."
"Hey, that's enough—-"
"Did someone ask you to take over their research? Or maybe someone went somewhere, and only you are left who can continue the research?"
Interrupting Paraleira's raising voice, Mika threw out his guess.
He said his guess, which was just a random shot, with a very confident expression.
Of course, it was bluffing.
He just thought that since a few people disappeared from the Court Magic Institute, maybe they had contacted Paraleira.
"Y-you... where did you find out...!?"
But upon hearing Mika's guess, Paraleira's face froze.
(Bingo!)
He had thought it was close in timing to the disappearance of mages from the Court Magic Institute, but it seems there was a connection.
"Hey! How do you know that!?"
Paraleira's expression became stern.
Could he be suspected of being an agent of the Court Magic Institute?
"Separately, I am also involved... no, maybe a third party caught up in it. From that angle, the Court Magic Institute's shenanigans... that's the feeling."
Mika smiled brightly.
Paraleira was still looking at Mika with suspicious eyes.
But if he handled this well, it might be usable as material for a deal?
"Please forgive me from here on. I'm being threatened too, you know. It would be bad if I leaked it."
"Threatened...?"
Well, actually it was probably a warning.
(Now, what should I do from here?)
He didn't need such a big material.
To keep a connection for future insurance.
With a reason like this, couldn't he somehow keep the room as it is?
"Paraleira-san, do you know the words Artorum or Filius Dei?"
"Artorum? Fi... What did you say?"
"Filius Dei. Don't you recognize it in alchemy or anywhere else?"
"No, I don't know, but... what is that?"
Mika shook his head.
"It's a separate matter I'm involved in, but it seems related to that. By the way, Filius Dei means Son of God, and Artorum seems to be something like a black cocoon."
Mika revealed the random hand he had.
He thought it might be a technical term of alchemy or something that could be a hint, but it seemed to be a miss.
"The shenanigans of the Court Magic Institute and my separate matter might involve the same person. So, I might have heard something or not from that side?"
When Mika said that, Paraleira shrugged and sighed.
"I heard there was a dorm student doing something strange, but it was you."
"It's rude to call it strange. I'm just an adventurer."
"An adventurer? You're doing that, you?"
Paraleira said with a look of disbelief.
Mika cleared his throat.
"Well, that's why, if something happens, I might just mutter or whisper something I overheard, how about that?"
Saying that, he grinned.
Paraleira's face became even more incredulous, but soon she gave a bitter smile.
"Can't you ask normally? Even if you didn't make such an offer, I would have kept the room if you had just asked normally."
"Eh, really!?"
He thought he was definitely kicked out!
It seems he did something unnecessary.
When Mika put his hand to his forehead and hung his head, muttering "I messed up...", Paraleira let out a chuckle.
"Well, it's fine. I'll fall for your words. But, tell me one thing."
Paraleira's expression became serious.
"What happened to the mage who disappeared. Do you know?"
Mika silently shook his head.
Paraleira's expression became gloomy.
"I see..."
She muttered only that.
Was there someone close among the several missing people?
"......I was thinking of killing them with my own hands for sure."
"Huh?"
He heard something dangerous muttered.
"What you said just now was half right."
Saying that, Paraleira turned her sharp gaze toward Mika.
"You're right that they told me to take over the research and continue it."
There, Paraleira slammed the desk nearby with a bang!
The documents on top collapsed with a thud-thud-thud...
"But! That research was mine! They stole it and kicked me out! And now the Court Magic Institute is telling me to take over it!"
Saying that, Paraleira trembled her fist.
Flames of hatred were lodged in her eyes.
(...I understand why she said she'd kill them.)
After treating them like that, now come back and continue the research?
Even I would pour ale on them.
Or rather, don't throw the mug itself.
Paraleira took a deep breath, huuu..., to calm her excitement.
"...If you get any information, let me know. I'll keep the room as you wish."
"Understood."
Mika saluted sharply.
(I feel like I've taken on something unnecessary...)
As intended, he was able to secure the room, so he would consider it a success.
Mika hurriedly headed to his next appointment.
And he arrived at Yaroibarov's inn.
Thanks to the earlier time than yesterday, it was empty.
Mika sat on the counter in the lobby and spoke in a low voice with Yaroibarov.
Well, the height difference was too great, so it was impossible to have a secret conversation while standing.
So, he was lifted up by Yaroibarov and made to sit on the counter.
"—That's the situation, so I'm currently staying in the house I rented."
"I see."
He explained the events of yesterday and looked at Yaroibarov, whose skin had turned quite red.
When he talked about his father, he seemed very angry, and his face turned red in an instant.
As expected of "Shuzen."
He didn't know what the MAX state was, so he didn't know what percentage of anger it was, but he seemed very furious.
"I was thinking I'd like to work hard at Yaroibarov-san's place again if possible, but I don't know how that will turn out. I can't say much at this stage..."
"Well, that's natural."
Yaroibarov crossed his arms and thought.
"For now, you should consider Kistil first. The inn is fine. But someone will have to be hired to fill the gap."
"That can't be helped."
Originally, Kistil was hired because there was a shortage of hands.
Replacement was unavoidable.
"You shouldn't look so sorry, boy. Of course, Kistil shouldn't either. When you calm down, bring Kistil and come play. ...Well, I won't force you."
"Yes. I'll convey it when the time is right."
"Ah, I'm counting on you."
Kistil must think she did something wrong to Yaroibarov.
He wanted to firmly tell her "Yaroibarov isn't worried about it" and hoped that one day Kistil could come here again.
"Anyway, it's good that you were safe. It seemed quite tight."
Saying that, Yaroibarov patted Mika's head vigorously.
"I'm glad I asked the boy. Thank you."
Mika felt a little proud of the thanks from Yaroibarov.
While patting his head, Yaroibarov looked at Mika with a serious face.
"You seem to feel guilty because you used the means of 'buying', but you shouldn't worry about that."
And, as if to cheer him up, he slapped his back with a bang.
"For an adventurer, the most important thing is the result. Not the means. I've done plenty of things that can't be resolved with pretty words."
"Yaroibarov-san..."
"You're not wrong. There might have been better methods. But you shouldn't care about the words of those who weren't there at that time and place."
Yaroibarov smiled broadly.
"More than anything, if the person themselves is grateful, what else is needed? Right? That's all."
He declared it powerfully.
"...Yes."
Mika felt that his heart became a little lighter with Yaroibarov's words.