Chapter 138 - Chapter 137: Good Night
Mika went to the Academy after receiving the request for "Saintess Rescue" at the Guild.
Checking the details of various information, such as the location of that mining site, made it completely late.
The sun was already setting, and it had started to get a little dark.
Since the location was Runesarm in the Earldom of Latajis, it was somewhat far away.
It would be good if I could figure out the way within one or two days, but I really can't be optimistic.
So, I have to take a slightly longer break from the Academy.
(Homeroom Teacher Colina or PE teacher Kefkof won't do, will they? I should probably talk to someone higher up.)
While heading to the Academy, Mika considered who he should talk to.
Still, he didn't know anyone in such high positions.
(...Except for one person.)
Mika arrived in front of the Academy Director's office and slowly adjusted his breathing.
"There is no way I would approve. You fool."
Yeah, right.
Mika went to the Academy Director's office and first knocked to check if Academy Director Maurice was there.
It wasn't strange that he might have already gone home by this time.
But there was a reply from inside.
Mika entered the room, walked straight to the desk where the Academy Director was, and unilaterally slammed down his request.
"I'm taking a break from the Academy for about two weeks starting tomorrow."
That response was the "not approved" from earlier.
"I come in suddenly thinking something, and you say such foolish things... If there are unavoidable circumstances like illness or injury, that's different, but you look perfectly fine."
Maurice, with his usual sleepy face, raised only one eyebrow.
"There are unavoidable circumstances."
"Then, tell me about them first."
"Ahh............"
But Mika got stuck there, unable to reply.
(Is it not a good idea to leak the details of the request?)
It wasn't absolute.
For example, when a rookie adventurer consults with a veteran.
At such times, they are told to blur out details that could identify the client personally.
The details of the request as well.
In this case, the client probably couldn't be identified, but the request content was too special.
Also, Mika's Dispelling would become known to the Academy.
Probably, the Academy hasn't found out that Mika is an adventurer called "Dispeller" yet, but what do you think?
"I can't say."
When Mika said that, Maurice shook his head weakly.
"This makes no sense. The Academy won't approve it. That's all."
"I don't need your approval."
"............What did you say?"
One of Maurice's eyes opened slightly.
"I came to report that I'll be taking leave without permission, thinking it might cause you worry. I didn't come to get permission, nor to get your approval."
"............Brat."
Maurice began to wrap himself in a menacing atmosphere.
But Mika, as if nothing were wrong, didn't move from the spot.
I suppose it doesn't matter if it ends in a stalemate like this, but being glared at by the Academy might make things difficult in the future?
Thinking that, he decided to talk a little more.
"It probably looks like you're slacking off from the Academy's perspective, but I'm not taking a break just to play."
"......Then, can you explain the reason?"
"I can't say."
"Why?"
Maurice closed his eyes, which had been slightly open.
Then, he looked as if he were truly asleep.
Thinking such trivial things, Mika continued the conversation.
"Even the Academy Director, you can't talk about everything related to the Academy to just anyone, right?"
"Of course. The responsibility we bear is different."
"It's not different."
One of Maurice's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"Normally, children don't bear such great responsibility. But Academy students are different, aren't they? They are burdened with a very heavy responsibility that doesn't match their age. Isn't that right?"
When Mika asked that, Maurice's face became somewhat thoughtful.
"......Indeed. The responsibility borne by Academy students is heavy. I will admit that."
If information leaks, they are threatened with "You'll be in the asylum for life," and they strive day and night to manifest [God's Miracle], training with small swords and the like.
Maurice must understand the weight of that pressure.
"Depending on the person, there may be a difference in judgment on who is above or below, but to fulfill a responsibility equivalent to that of a mage, I need to leave the Royal Capital for a while."
Mika intended to tackle his activities as an adventurer with that much resolve.
Well, sometimes the "play" gets a bit too big.
Listening to Mika's explanation, the menacing atmosphere from Maurice thinned out a little.
"The responsibility borne by a mage is heavy. You claim it is equivalent to that?"
"That's what I think."
"Fumu......"
Maurice thought for a moment.
Mika waited quietly for Maurice to gather his thoughts.
"......Indeed, you have already mastered all of [God's Miracle] within two years, haven't you?"
"Eh? Yes, I mastered them."
As you instructed.
I properly responded to orders that were essentially commands in the name of instructions.
I'm an honor student, right?
"Fuu...... So, what exactly do you want to do? You came to talk to me directly like this. I understand you have made up your mind quite seriously. But is it really that much?"
It seems the Academy still doesn't have much information about Mika's adventurer activities.
A bit relieved.
But then, Maurice muttered softly.
"............Fifth Knights Order."
"Huh?"
He felt a slight jolt.
Why did the name Fifth Knights Order come up here?
"Early this year, there was an inquiry from the Court Magic Institute regarding Academy students. It seems the Fifth Knights Order was sniffing around about Academy students."
Maurice stroked his goatee while talking to Mika.
"It was a question to the Upper Class: 'Is there an Academy student with such characteristics?' But there was no one matching. ............To the Upper Class."
He felt a cold sweat trickle down.
Ozendorwa had said that the Fifth Knights Order couldn't inquire with the Magic Academy, but it seems they did inquire with the Court Magic Institute.
"It seems your characteristics match those of the Academy students at that time."
"N-no, that has nothing to do with this!"
Maurice opened one eye slightly and stared at Mika.
"So, you are not denying the connection with the Fifth Knights Order's inquiry?"
"Ugh......"
He had slipped up.
He desperately tried to hold back from grabbing his head.
Maurice let out a sigh.
"What exactly are you doing? Even though you have already mastered them, training is important. I won't say don't go out and play, but......"
"I'm not playing......"
Well, sometimes the "play" gets a bit too much.
"Not playing...? Then, can you tell me what you are doing?"
"I can say if it's just about me, but I can't chatter on about something important to someone else."
If questioned further like this, he might accidentally say something extra, so he put up a defensive line.
Whether it's useful depends on Mika.
"To someone? This break is not for your own convenience, but for someone else?"
"............"
Dangerous.
If he goes any further, he might really say something extra.
Mika closed his mouth and stared at Maurice.
Seeing Mika's state, Maurice shrugged his shoulders as if saying "Oh dear..." and sighed.
"......This time only. I'll approve it for one week."
"Is that okay!"
"Okay or not, you'll go anyway, won't you? Honestly... It's the first time an Academy student has come to negotiate directly with me about slacking off at the Academy openly."
"A, ahahaha... Sorry."
One week would be quite a forced march in terms of form, but he somehow managed to get the Academy's permission.
Well, it might take more than a week if he takes his time, and he'll think about what to do after actually trying it.
"Yo!"
"Mika!?"
Messerite was startled by Mika suddenly appearing from the window.
Since it was summer, all windows were wide open in every room.
He shouldn't shout too loudly or others might see.
"Shhhhhhh......"
Mika put his index finger to his mouth, gesturing not to make a sound.
"Yo."
With a light greeting, Mika sat on the window frame.
This was the third floor of the boys' dormitory.
Messerite's room.
It seems his roommate was somewhere else.
Lucky.
"I'm taking a break from the Academy for about a week starting tomorrow. Sorry, but tell everyone."
"Haaaaa!? One week!?"
Without saying anything, he simply told Messerite that everyone would worry if he took a week off suddenly.
"The Academy won't allow that!———."
"I already got the Academy's permission."
"You got it!? From whom!?"
"The Academy Director."
Hearing Mika's words, Messerite's eyes widened further, and his mouth opened and closed.
Then, he put his hand to his forehead and sighed, "Haaah......"
"As always, you're reckless......"
"What's reckless?"
He just followed the proper channels.
"Well, never mind. Anyway, tell everyone."
With a "Tora!" shout, Mika jumped out from the window frame.
Messerite hurriedly jumped onto the window frame and looked down, but Mika was already running.
"............Still, isn't that reckless?"
Messerite muttered softly.
■■■■■■
Day of Wind, Week 3, Month of Fire 3.
Mika, who left home early in the morning, arrived over Runesarm around noon.
The mining site requested seemed to be a mountain on the border between the Viscountcy of Braikosloa and the city of Runesarm, to the southeast.
Mika didn't stop by Runesarm and headed straight for the mining site.
Last night, on his way back from the Academy, he stopped by Yaroibarov's inn, caught the busy Yaroibarov, and briefly explained the situation.
He asked him to check on Kistil once a day.
Actually, he wanted to wait a bit longer and repair the relationship between Kistil and Yaroibarov while observing the situation, but the circumstances had changed.
Since he didn't know how many days it would take to return, he had no choice but to rely on Yaroibarov.
Kistil seemed to feel truly sorry for suddenly quitting Yaroibarov's inn.
There was a feeling that she was afraid to meet Yaroibarov.
Well, he does look scary actually.
However, since he was a bit worried about leaving Kistil alone for so long, he told Kistil that he had asked Yaroibarov to "come and check on her."
Seeing Kistil's slightly pained expression after hearing Mika's words, his heart ached, but he couldn't just leave her alone.
When Mika bowed his head saying "Sorry," Kistil somehow agreed.
The entrance to the mining site was somewhere on the middle slope of the mountain.
Since there were no trees there at all, it was immediately visible from a distance.
But it seemed people were patrolling around the mining site.
They didn't seem to be stationed at the entrance, but with this, they might be seen landing.
Since he didn't want to be seen flying, he decided to land in a forest a little way off first.
He climbed down to a high tree branch and jumped to the ground from there.
"Who's there!"
Huh!?
He was found immediately.
Am I bad at sneaking?
"What is it? A child...?"
Mika slowly turned towards the voice.
Standing there was an old man in armor, looking like a knight in his late forties.
However, the armor felt different from the knights seen in the city.
Most importantly, a large "Clio" (six rings) was painted right in the center of his chest.
(......Could it be the Church Knights Order? The armor is flashy!)
Mika's evaluation of the Church Knights Order dropped significantly in his mind.
The knight, who had his hand on his sword, relaxed his guard upon realizing Mika was a child and walked closer.
"A girl? What is a child doing in such a place? It's dangerous."
"Um......"
Now, what to do.
He didn't want to say anything unnecessary if possible.
But he wanted to know what the Church Knights Order was doing.
He was thinking such convenient thoughts.
"Are you a person from the church, Uncle?"
Mika smiled brightly, pretending to be an innocent child.
"Yes, that's right. Are you a child from a nearby village?"
"What are you doing in such a place, Uncle?"
He tilted his head cutely.
Mika didn't answer the knight's questions, but threw out random questions instead.
"We are watching so that no one approaches this dangerous place. You are———."
"Is the dangerous place the mining site?"
"Yes, yes. You know it well."
It seems the Church Knights Order was watching so that no one approached the mining site.
"The mining site is where the Saintess-sama is, right?"
When Mika asked in a bright voice, the knight's face showed a momentary shock.
But he quickly turned his head and made a frustrated expression.
Then, he closed his eyes as if enduring something for a while, and then offered Mika a stiff smile.
"Yes. Even now, the Saintess-sama is praying to the gods."
"I want to meet the Saintess-sama."
"That cannot be done. I'm sorry."
The knight's face tried to maintain a smile, but his lips trembled slightly, and he seemed to be desperately enduring something.
(Is this person also one of those mourning the Saintess?)
Well, it would be natural for anyone related to the church.
At that moment, another knight came with a loud rustling sound.
He looked to be around thirty years old.
He wore the same Church Knights Order armor, but this one had a short mantle-like thing that reached about the middle of his back.
"Hey! What are you doing!"
"Ah, no, I'm sorry......"
The young knight shouted at the old knight, and the old knight apologized.
It seems the young knight was higher in rank.
"Hm? What is this brat?"
"Ah, that... It seems he is lost......"
"Lost? Just leave him!"
"But, it's not like that......"
"Hmph."
What a rude knight.
Even Shesbarno was better than this.
............No, maybe he's similar?
But this was quite a surprise for a church person.
There are rotten people everywhere, it seems.
"Hey, brat!"
The young knight shouted at Mika.
"It's because you guys did unnecessary things like petitioning that the Saintess died! Do you understand!? If you understand, get out of here quickly!"
"T-that is too much to say!"
"It's the truth, isn't it! Thanks to you, we were dispatched to a place like this! How long do we have to stay in a place like this!?"
The young knight kicked a stone at his feet towards Mika.
But the stone flew in a strange direction.
"Hmph. Get back quickly! If you don't come back, we can't rotate shifts!"
Saying that, the young knight left in a direction different from where he came.
Looking at the old knight, he was glaring at the young knight's back with eyes full of hatred.
"Traitors who abandoned the Saintess......!"
He muttered, spitting the words out.
(This......)
Some interesting words came out.
He really wanted to hear a detailed story about this.
"Did that person abandon the Saintess-sama?"
When Mika tilted his head and asked, the old knight's face showed a shocked expression.
"Ah, no, that's, well, a matter of wording or......!"
The old knight started to panic.
"No, no, let's talk honestly here."
When Mika said that with a fearless smile, the old knight's expression instantly turned to alertness, and he moved away from Mika.
"Y-you... Who are you!?"
"I apologize for the delay. I am this kind of person."
Saying that, Mika showed his Guild Card.
The old knight looked at Mika's card with a suspicious expression, but his face was soon dyed with shock.
"!? 'Dispeller'!? Such a child!"
"Shhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Mika put his index finger to his mouth, indicating not to make a loud sound.
The old knight, still with a shocked expression, covered his mouth with his hand to keep from making a sound.
"I had heard people in the city talking about 'The Dispeller is being requested to rescue the Saintess-sama'...... But I never thought you would really come."
He said it in a low voice.
Mika looked up at the old knight with a serious face.
"There are a few things I need to confirm to execute the request. Can you cooperate?"
When Mika said that, the old knight hesitated but nodded with a serious face.
"What you said earlier, 'abandoned the Saintess', what does that mean?"
"What meaning? It means exactly that."
The old knight spat out bitterly.
It seems the young knight from earlier was one of the Church Knights Order who accompanied the Saintess.
The old knight seemed to despise and hate that knight who was protected by the Saintess and escaped, leaving the Saintess behind, from the bottom of his heart.
(......Indeed, when I heard that story, I felt a bit strange.)
Would a knight who accompanied to protect the Saintess simply leave her and go back?
Well, the actual situation might not be that simple, but when I heard Chirensta's explanation, it was a bit of a snag.
(I heard that this story happened three months ago, and my attention was drawn there, but...)
Thinking about it, it felt a bit strange.
"That knight said earlier, 'If you hadn't petitioned', did someone petition for something?"
"It wasn't just 'something'. The people of the city asked the Saintess to purify the mining site, and that's why she went. She led the Church Knights Order herself."
Huh?
Wasn't that the story?
(When Chirensta explained it, he said 'The Saintess offered to purify the mine herself' and 'The Bishop assigned the Church Knights Order'. The Church Knights Order were supposed to be guards, not leading them themselves, or so I thought.)
It was undeniable that the Saintess and the Church Knights Order went to the mining site, but the circumstances were quite different.
(Information manipulation...? Or maybe the rumor just got twisted?)
Something smelled a bit fishy.
Mika rubbed his nose lightly.
"Why are you watching the mining site? Is it because it's dangerous?"
"Yes. It seems the inside of the mining site is filled with 'Unclean Ones'. That's why we are watching so no one approaches."
I see.
If that's the case, it wouldn't be strange to watch.
It wouldn't be strange, but......
(Well, I'll find out when I go there.)
Mika smiled brightly and thanked the old knight.
"Thank you very much. Regarding the Saintess, I will do everything I can. I can't guarantee absolutely, but......"
"No, it's fine. Even when I heard that the people of the city were asking the 'Dispeller', I thought 'They won't accept it' or 'They can't do it'...... I'm sorry to you."
Saying that, the old knight made a slightly awkward face.
But he quickly turned to a serious expression and made a gesture of prayer.
"Just do what you can. Give it your all. Please."
And so, he bowed deeply.