Chapter 149 - Chapter 148: The Bride Has Arrived!
Ninetiana and Horatio paid a visit to say hello for the return home, then headed toward the church.
Arriving at the church, they found Sister Radi just about to leave.
"Hello, Sister Radi. Long time no see."
"Oh my, isn't this Mika-kun? You've returned."
When Radi saw Mika's face, her smile shone brightly.
Combined with her beautiful, sparkling hair, she radiated an overwhelming sense of the Virgin Mary.
It seems the "Smiling Virgin Mary" is still in good health.
"You were about to go out, weren't you? I'm sorry for stopping you. I brought some souvenirs and came to make a donation as usual, but shall we do it another time?"
"Hehe... It's fine. But you come to donate every year like this, Mika-kun. You are truly a devout person."
The eyes of the "Smiling Virgin Mary" Radi became filled with love.
(...That's not exactly the case. Well, since the objective is achieved, maybe it's fine this way too.)
Mika was only making donations as a means to please Radi and Kifrod.
He could not easily forget the debt of having his life saved; doing so would lower the value of his own life.
He felt that admitting to such a low value was unacceptable.
Mika took out a small bag for donations from his Magic Bag.
However, Radi's expression darkened slightly at that moment.
"It's very kind of you to always donate, Mika-kun... But are you overdoing it? Last year you donated such a large sum of money, so I couldn't help but worry."
Yes, she was worried about Mika's livelihood.
Hearing this, Mika's hand, which had been reaching out to give the bag to Radi, stopped.
(Last year I had some extra income, so I donated an additional gold coin too.)
He had tried to earn a little extra, but ended up earning over ten million Rats from the bounty on the Zureept Bandits.
So he donated one extra gold coin, but apparently, it only made her more worried.
(Well, whatever.)
Since it was awkward to take back something already offered, he simply placed the bag into Radi's hand.
Radi held it up grandly as usual and made a gesture of prayer.
"May the merciful gods' protection be upon the pious. May warm hands reach out to the lost child. May guidance be granted."
She prayed thoroughly for Mika.
Mika couldn't help but give a bitter smile at such a Radi, but since she seemed happy, he decided to let it be.
After finishing the prayer, Radi opened the bag while still smiling, but her expression suddenly stiffened.
Shining and sparkling, reflecting the sunlight just as Radi's hair did, were five gold coins.
This year's donation was fifty thousand Rats.
(I spent quite a bit preparing for the return home, but I had over fifty million before that. I decided on the donation amount based on about one percent.)
Was it too much?
Even he couldn't help but think, "Maybe that's a bit too much?", but surely donating one percent of his assets was within the acceptable range?
He could earn that much easily anyway.
"............Mika-kun......"
He heard Radi's whisper.
"Yes? What is it?"
When Mika replied, Radi smiled brightly.
"Come here, just for a moment."
Saying that, Radi walked inside the church.
Why was that?
It looked as if Radi was carrying something like a heat haze on her back.
When had she learned [Physical Enhancement]?
Also, didn't it feel like he could hear some ground-shaking sound effects like
Gogogogogogogo...
Is he imagining things?
And once inside the church, he received a thorough scolding for the first time in a year.
What Radi shouted,
"Do not donate to the church! Use it for yourself!"
Was quite the famous saying, wasn't it?
Can a Sister really say something like that?
■■■■■■
"I'm home."
Having received a full scolding from Radi, he had returned later than expected.
Inside the house, Kistil and Nerisfeene had neatly cleaned everything, making it spotless.
"Oh, welcome back."
"Welcome home, Mika-sama."
As Mika entered the house, Kistil and Nerisfeene turned around.
And for some reason, the familiar light sphere Fee was floating around~
"W-what!? Why is Fee here!?"
Isn't Fee "something" that possessed the house in the Capital?
Fee, spotted by Mika, flinched for a moment, then hurriedly jumped into a bottle on the table.
Next to the bottle lay a travel pack.
Wasn't that the travel pack Kistil had been carrying?
Mika glared at Kistil with a suspicious look.
Kistil averted her eyes awkwardly, stammering, "Um... uh..."
It seemed the reason she didn't want to put the travel pack into the Magic Bag was Fee.
The Magic Bag cannot hold living creatures.
Well, whether Fee was actually a living creature was debatable, but she likely avoided it just in case.
"Go back."
"W-wait, please, Mika-sama."
Fee trembled inside the bottle at Mika's cruel words, while Nerisfeene intervened with a "wait".
"It's pitiful to leave Lady Fee alone in that house for a month."
It seems Nerisfeene knew about this too.
She must have predicted Mika would say "leave them behind" if told directly, so the two had conspired together.
Well, he would say it anyway.
Leave them behind.
Even Mika, nowadays, didn't think of Fee as something that dangerous.
However, she was undoubtedly a suspicious existence, and he didn't know how people would react if they saw her.
So, he didn't want to let her out in the open so brazenly...
Nerisfeene gently took the bottle containing Fee and hid it behind her back.
Kistil stood next to Nerisfeene, ready for a total resistance.
Now it looked like he was the bad guy.
Mika let out a long sigh.
Well, since he had brought them along, there was no helping it. Besides, he didn't think Fee could return to the Capital alone.
It would be better to keep her hidden here than to cause trouble for others.
"Put the bottle in that travel pack and make that Fee's house. Make sure no one sees."
"What are you trying to hide?"
"What? Fee is—!?"
Just as he was about to finish that sentence, Mika suddenly turned around.
There stood Ninetiana, holding Dur.
"Fee?"
"W-w-w-w-what!?"
Why is she here!?
He had just gone to give her the souvenirs a moment ago.
More importantly, this wasn't the Noisheim household.
It was a different house he had just rented!
"Oh my~ Bringing two cute children along~ You've learned some bad habits in the Capital, huh~!"
Ninetiana said happily, looking at Kistil and Nerisfeene.
Mika kicked out his foot to deter her as she took a step toward the two.
Of course, he had no intention of actually kicking her.
But as a master of [Detect Presence], she should definitely notice his intent.
And as expected, Ninetiana noticed the presence and stopped taking a step.
"Mika-kun? That's not very nice."
"Did something happen? I haven't done anything yet, right?"
He left the implication that he might.
Mika and Ninetiana exchanged sparks with their eyes, both smiling.
While buying time this way, Mika signaled Kistil and Nerisfeene with his hand to go to the back.
Ninetiana probably noticed this too, but hiding Fee was the top priority now.
If she thought he was instructing them to go to the back to hide them, that would be quite convenient.
Receiving Mika's instruction, Kistil hurriedly collected the travel pack from the table.
Nerisfeene also retreated into the room, keeping her back hidden.
"...What is it, Mika-kun? Aren't you going to introduce us?"
Ninetiana said with a dissatisfied look.
Mika, sweating profusely, tried to spin his brain cells at full speed.
(Think! Come up with a good excuse to send them away!)
However, Mika's brain cells were already on the verge of crashing from overwork.
(I've been flying all night, so I'm tired! How can my head work!)
But then, Mika suddenly realized.
Couldn't he just use that as an excuse?
Mika put on a slightly tired smile.
Not that he was pretending; he was actually tired!
"I'd love to introduce them, but I'm exhausted from the long journey... I even cleaned this place right after arriving, so I'm completely drained. I'll introduce them properly another time. For today, I'm sorry, but..."
When Mika said that, Ninetiana looked somewhat suspicious.
However, she didn't seem to have the intention to press the issue stubbornly.
"Well, I suppose so. Regardless of you, Mika-kun, those two girls must be tired."
Why "regardless of me"?
He couldn't help but think that, but now wasn't the time to say anything unnecessary.
"I'll introduce them once you've calmed down a bit."
"Well, I suppose that can't be helped."
Ninetiana looked disappointed but obediently returned to the entrance.
"Haaah..."
Watching Ninetiana's retreating back, Mika let out a deep sigh.
■■■■■■
"So, Mika. Which one is it?"
Loretta grabbed Mika firmly from the front, staring at him with a serious expression and questioning him.
Amalia looked a bit flustered, watching over Mika and Loretta.
This was the Noisheim family's bedroom.
After Ninetiana left, Mika had a light meal, took a nap, and since it was a good time, he headed to the Noisheim household.
Amalia and Loretta had heard from Horatio that Mika had returned to Rish Village and rushed back.
But since Mika, who should have been waiting at home, was missing, they seemed quite worried.
Then, Mika arrived.
He brought Kistil and Nerisfeene, saying they wanted to greet the family.
That was when the flustered Loretta dragged him into the bedroom, and Amalia followed.
By the way, Kistil and Nerisfeene were left behind in the dining room, confused.
"Which one? What do you mean?"
When Mika asked, Loretta tightened her grip on Mika and leaned her face closer.
"Which one is the bride?"
Mika slapped Loretta's hand away.
"Don't be ridiculous! How old do you think I am!"
"It's not about right now! But if I don't know which one is the main one, I might do something rude!"
Don't call it the "main one"! That's already rude!
"That's not it! Both of them have some circumstances, that's why they are at my house."
"............? House? Mika, isn't it a dormitory?"
Damn it!
Seeing Mika's expression of "I messed up," Loretta's eyes narrowed.
"Mika."
At Loretta's call, something crawled up his back, and goosebumps rose instantly.
It seems the rare Loretta alarm has been issued.
She must have sensed a dangerous signal in Mika's voice.
But—
"I have my own thoughts! Even if we are family, interfering too much in this is not good!"
Mika was no longer someone who would just take it lying down.
He had spoken sharply.
"Fuu~n."
But Loretta's narrowed eyes did not change.
And then,
"Alright."
Saying that, she turned to leave the bedroom.
Mika also tried to follow Loretta out of the bedroom, but he was easily made to turn around.
"Mother, come too. Mika, wait there."
"Hey!? Tyranny!"
Mika raised a protest, but it was ignored.
Seriously, Loretta's narrowed eyes are terrifying.
This is the first time I've seen Loretta like this.
Thus, Mika was locked in the bedroom for a long time.
Now, there was a clattering sound coming from the dining room. Were they cooking?
However, being locked up like this might be the first time.
(...No, wait. After the discussion about "escaping the academy," I was sent to the bedroom like this too.)
Back then, Mika had discussed his subsequent treatment with Radi.
While Amalia and the others were working, a secret agreement was made for the church to take care of Mika.
(...Could there be another secret agreement being made now?)
Well, Kistil and Nerisfeene wouldn't make strange agreements even if they were Mika's family.
(I've told them to keep quiet about magic-related things, so it shouldn't be anything strange.)
He had told them to keep quiet because if someone heard about him flying or growing wings, it would be a problem.
Kistil had found out various things because he hadn't told Nerisfeene to keep quiet, but if these two stayed, it was fine.
Mika had told many people to keep quiet and then showed them magic.
Mika didn't mind being seen by acquaintances.
He was only worried that rumors would spread on their own and be interpreted maliciously.
He thought that even if he was exposed a little, he could just bluff his way through.
The fact that Mika attended the Magic Academy and was called a prodigy who easily learned [God's Miracle] was, in a way, a good camouflage.
Suppose someone said,
"I saw wings! I saw him flying! He was shooting fire!"
Then,
"Even if I'm called a genius or a prodigy, I can't do such things. Rumors are interesting, aren't they?"
He thought he could get away with it by laughing it off.
While Mika was thinking such things, the bedroom door opened.
Loretta was smiling brightly, unlike before.
It was a bit scary, the contrast...
"Sorry to keep you waiting. It took a little longer, but let's have dinner."
Released, Mika went to the dining room.
A pleasant smell filled the room, and preparations were being made to serve the food on the table.
However, the Noisheim household only had four chairs.
"I'll run and get some."
"Sorry, Mika-sama."
"Be careful, Mika-kun."
Loretta grinned at Kistil and Nerisfeene, who were worrying about Mika, while Amalia looked at them with warm, affectionate eyes.
To be honest, it was very uncomfortable.
The distance between the house Mika rented and the Noisheim household was at most about five hundred meters.
With [Physical Enhancement] and a little use of "Low Gravity", he could go back and forth to get a chair in less than two minutes.
Since it wasn't as cluttered as the Capital, visibility was good, and he could run almost at full speed.
"I'm back."
"Isn't that too fast!?"
Loretta widened her eyes, but since Mika was holding a chair, she didn't doubt that he had gone back and forth.
"Evidence that I'm seriously attending the academy. [God's Miracle] and all that exercise they made me do. Well, even now."
"Does going to the academy make you that strong?"
"I've said it before, it's a super strict place. The academy in the Leventein territory I attended was especially strict."
Mika explained the academy with words, but Loretta probably didn't truly understand how much Mika had been trained.
Loretta kept her eyes wide with surprise.
"Alright, preparations are done. Let's eat."
When Amalia said that, everyone took their seats.
Naturally, or rather, inevitably, Mika was given the seat of honor.
And thus, an embarrassing dinner began.
While Mika was in the bedroom, it seemed Kistil and Nerisfeene had been cooking.
Just like they did at home, Kistil was the main cook and Nerisfeene was the sub.
It seems Amalia and Loretta were checking on them while they were actually cooking.
"Their cooking skills are good, and they seem to be able to do all kinds of housework. Big Sister doesn't object."
During the meal, Loretta kept saying things like that over and over.
"So, the two of them—"
"Work hard, both of you. Oh, you can call me Big Sister."
"That's too fast! The two of them—"
"I'd be happy if you called me Mother too."
"Even Mother!?"
Kistil and Nerisfeene turned bright red with embarrassment.
Mika felt the most uncomfortable he had ever felt in his past.
He never expected that Amalia and Loretta, who doted on Mika so much, would push him this hard.
It was a dinner that seemed to deliver the final blow to his exhausted body.
■■■■■■
The next morning.
While having breakfast at home...
Dondondondon!
The front door was knocked on.
"Who could it be?"
"Oh, it's fine. I'll go."
Mika stopped Kistil from standing up and headed to the entrance.
Kistil and the others still didn't know most of the villagers.
It would be faster if Mika went out.
Dondondondon!
"Yes, yes, I'm coming, hold on."
Mika muttered at the door being knocked on urgently.
You're not going to rush me just because you came this early in the morning, really.
Mika silently pointed at Fee, who was floating around, and commanded, "House."
Then he opened the door and was startled.
"Yo, kid. Long time no see."
Diego was standing at the entrance.
Diego was standing at the entrance, but...
A crowd of villagers, numbering at least a hundred, had gathered a short distance away.
"Why are so many people gathered!?"
"Why? Well, it's because of you."
Saying that, Diego peered into the house.
He beckoned to Kistil and Nerisfeene, who were peeking at Mika from the table.
While Mika stood there dumbfounded, wondering what was happening, he noticed Ninetiana among the crowd.
Ninetiana was waving her hand.
(Ninetiana! You bastard!)
Ninetiana must have enjoyed spreading something!
(This is bad!)
Mika had a bad feeling and tried to turn around and tell the two not to come, but it was too late.
The two appeared at the entrance.
"Ooooooooooooooh!!!"
At that moment, the gathered crowd erupted in murmurs.
"Just as Ninetiana said!"
"Aaaah, so cute!"
"Those kids are Mika-kun's brides!?"
"Haaah... They are quite something."
Yesterday, Ninetiana must have spread something to the whole village.
A "Mika's Brides Viewing Tour" seems to have been organized immediately.
Mika collapsed right there.
"Hey, hey, what's wrong, kid? Don't be so embarrassed."
Seeing Mika collapse, Diego chuckled and teased him.
"When I brought Ninetiana, there was quite a commotion too. If it's you, kid, it'll be even more exciting."
He smiled with a bad expression.
It seems that since they had been played, he wanted to give Mika the same baptism.
Kistil and Nerisfeene, just like yesterday, turned their faces red and bowed their heads.
But even that sight was just essence to make the villagers happy.
Originally, the village was extremely lacking in stimulation.
The villagers were starving for stimulation.
And so, just as Diego predicted, this "Mika's Bride Has Arrived" whirlwind would enliven Rish Village for a while.