Chapter 158 - Chapter 157: Relocation
The second month of Water, the third week, the Day of the Sun.
Early morning, before the night had fully broken.
Mika and the others had arrived at the horse-drawn carriage stop in District 3.
"Mika-kun. Thank you so much. Please take good care of Kistil."
With those words, Kistil's mother bowed her head.
Kistil's younger brother mimicked his mother, bowing his head to Mika as well.
"Such... please raise your heads. I am practically family now, after all. Right?"
Mika spoke to Kistil standing beside him, but Kistil was a mess of tears.
"...Mika-kun... thank you... thank you..."
Nerisfeene leaned close to such Kistil and stroked her back.
Mika looked at Kistil with a bitter smile, then walked over to where Gaeras and the others were watching from a slight distance.
Gaeras, Kaerya, Salomrassa.
The three members of Kaerya's party.
"Thank you for taking this on. We are in your debt."
As Mika bowed his head, Salomrassa spoke with a bright voice.
"There is no need to be so formal. We are comrades, after all."
When Salomrassa smiled, Kaerya leaned forward slightly and patted Mika's head.
"Don't worry. We will surely deliver you safely."
"Thank you, Kaerya."
Mika offered a smile, and Kaerya smiled back.
"It's been a while since I've done escort work. Well, it's a good choice. If Kaerya is here, no one will dare approach."
With those words, Gaeras pointed at Kaerya.
A massive, muscular giant. ...No, not a giant, just a man.
Those who think ill of things, even they choose their targets.
Even with power, if the appearance doesn't intimidate, one can still be targeted.
But no one would think of stealing anything from what Kaerya guards.
"You prepared a high reward and asked us to do this. We will meet your expectations."
"Besides, we are here? It's useless to worry."
"Leave it to us."
Mika nodded strongly at the confident words of Kaerya and the others.
■■■■■■
One month ago.
An abandoned house in District 3.
Gaeras had summoned Mika, who had contacted him through the information broker's window.
"A runaway!?"
At Mika's sudden news, Gaeras raised a bewildered voice.
"...Is the young master running away?"
"It's not me. Besides, can you escape the Academy that way?"
When Mika said that, Gaeras made a complicated face.
It might be possible, but he would likely end up walking the path of the shadows.
"I want to get my fiancée's family away from that father (scum)."
"Fiancée!?"
Is it that again!
If I'm surprised every time, the conversation won't progress.
"I considered killing that father (scum), but I thought that might be the last resort."
"...So it is included in the methods, then."
Well, it is the quickest way. And the most certain.
"There are many legal aspects regarding moving to another place that I don't understand, so I'd like to ask Gaeras-san for consultation and preparation regarding that as well."
"Haa... haa..."
Gaeras looked somewhat exasperated.
"What do you normally do when moving to another land?"
"Normally? People don't normally do that."
That's what I thought, but without that, the conversation won't progress.
"If there is a need to move?"
"By law, you need the lord's permission."
"So permission from the lord is indeed required."
What happens in the Royal Capital?
Do you need the King's permission?
No way.
"Residing in District 3. What about moving to a frontier settlement village?"
"Just go straight there, right?"
"Just go?"
What does "just go" mean?
"For residents of District 3, depending on how you look at it... or rather, there are many people without even a household register."
"Really!?"
"People who build new houses or start businesses on their own get dragged off, but for residents living in shacks like this, many just come from somewhere and settle down without permission."
Shabby houses not much different from the Noisheim family's or Kistil's family's.
Could it be that Kistil has no household register?
"What do people without a household register do about marriage?"
"What else? They just do it normally, right?"
"Without reporting it?"
Is that the de facto marriage thing?
"No, no, they report it normally and get it accepted."
"Whoa..."
Is that okay?
Isn't the household register management too sloppy?
When Mika made an exasperated face, Gaeras gave a bitter smile.
"You know there used to be slums and Barrack Towns in Sarbengeal, right?"
"I know that."
"Do you think residents of those places have their household registers properly managed?"
"Well... that's suspicious, isn't it?"
When Mika muttered with a difficult expression, Gaeras nodded.
"In short, just think of District 3 as that, but bigger."
"No, no, no, that's too big!"
At such a wild theory, he couldn't help but retort.
How many millions does he think are in District 3?
"The country is also at a loss regarding District 3. It keeps growing as people pour in. They say it's becoming a slum, so they make them get construction permits, but controlling the flow of people is just impossible..."
"Is that really okay...?"
"It's not okay. But we aren't completely unaware."
Apparently, they are making efforts to grasp the residents.
"There is a church in District 3, right? The Day of the Sun schools are naturally operating, so they grasp roughly all residents, including children. Which house had a child born. Who died in which house. Who married whom. Since the church is involved in everything."
"So they grasp it indirectly through the church."
It seems they are trying to grasp it through information provided by the church, even if strict management as a household register isn't possible.
In Rish Village, there was some ritual for children born in the year during the Harvest Festival.
If there is a similar ritual, they can grasp the children's ages.
Then, they can at least attempt the mana measurement at age seven.
"But is it really okay to just move around and settle down without permission?"
"Of course, the law prohibits it. I think it's flogging and sending them back to their original territory."
"In that case, people without a household register or those who moved without permission can't get married, right? If they report it to the Government Office, they'll get caught."
"Well, that's what the law says."
What the law says?
When Mika tilted his head, Gaeras gave a bitter smile.
"The laws themselves are old. Things made over a thousand years ago remain as they are. Moving residences across territories is also one of those old laws."
If there are no problems with that, then it's fine.
There is no need to bother fixing it.
"But, more than fifty years ago, that became irrelevant."
"It became irrelevant?"
When Mika made a suspicious face, Gaeras let out a large sigh.
"The Fifty-Year War. After that, it seems everything was turned upside down."
"Did they move freely?"
"They had to, to survive. It was desperate. Above all, there weren't enough soldiers to enforce the law."
I feel like I learned that in class.
Wasn't it nearly a million deaths in the decisive battles alone?
For about thirty years after the war, many people moved without permission.
Especially in the Royal Capital, where there was plenty of work, people seemed to gather constantly.
I heard that during the war and after, the demand for female servants increased due to the curse on servants.
Many of those people were likely in large cities like the Royal Capital without permission.
"During all that, once each territory settled down a bit, they re-examined the household registers. Since then, unauthorized relocation has been enforced again. Except for District 3 and some other areas."
"Except? Why?"
"By then, enforcement had become so bloated that they couldn't even do it properly. Now, it is estimated that there are tens of thousands of people without household registers just in District 3. I personally think it easily exceeds one hundred thousand. Rather than remaining unregistered, the country is better off if they report marriages or whatever."
Those without household registers are often in a state of poverty.
Regarding those other than those with high utility value, such as knights with magic, they are basically left alone in the current situation.
(Even fifty years after the war... I wonder if it's because I was born in Japan. Normally, they just struggle to live on broken rubble for a hundred or two hundred years.)
Even in modern times, post-war reconstruction is often left alone without being done in many parts of the world.
And that reconstruction isn't self-help.
It takes nations at a much higher standard cooperating just barely.
Thinking about it, District 3 maintains some order to a certain extent, but is essentially a slum.
Most seem to have moved with proper reporting, but the city has become so huge that it seems to have fallen beyond control.
(Chirensta-san said the Adventurer's Guild doesn't have a branch in District 3, could this be related?)
It felt like I had seen the dark side of the Royal Capital.
The conversation had gone quite off-topic.
"So, when moving, is it just my luggage?"
"That would be fine, but if the destination is a settlement village, it becomes a bit of a problem."
If the relocation destination is a place like District 3 where household register management is not thorough, it seems they can manage with just the things needed for their lives.
But in a small village, that won't work.
In Rish Village, the Village Head grasped the residents firmly.
It might be possible to just settle down without notice, but it would be better to prepare for a smooth acceptance.
"...Can you make a household register?"
When Mika said that, Gaeras made a grim face.
"Indeed, saying 'I moved from such-and-such' and 'I have permission' would make things faster."
That's right, Gaeras muttered with a sigh.
Originally, Mika's plan also included household register laundering as one option.
Make the father (scum) disappear in District 3 so he can't track them, and process them as someone moving from a different place at the destination.
This is not an era where you can search instantly via network or make a quick phone inquiry.
He thought there would be room to deceive.
"Is a document enough?"
"..."Yes."
"Can you prepare it?"
"...................."
When Mika asked that, Gaeras closed his eyes and pondered for a moment.
But eventually, he nodded as if giving up.
■■■■■■
At Kistil's family home, Mika and Kistil's mother sat facing each other.
"The matter we discussed the other day seems to be working out."
Mika looked at Kistil's mother with a serious expression.
After talking with Gaeras, a rough outline of the plan was established.
When Mika reported the engagement, he had advised Kistil's mother to leave the Royal Capital.
He couldn't abandon the mother who had decided to cut ties so as not to drag Kistil in any further.
Mika himself had told himself many times, "It's not my business," "It can't be helped," and looked away.
But now that Mika and Kistil were officially engaged, he had gained the justification of "for the sake of family."
This caused the suppressed frustration to burst out all at once.
"...But, is it really okay to do something like this?"
With an anxious face, the mother looked down.
(I don't know if it's okay or not either.)
Mika couldn't give such a guarantee.
"I don't intend to force you. But if you want to live peacefully, I think the environment there is better than here."
He wants to do something for Kistil's family.
But that is Mika's one-sided thought.
It cannot be done ignoring the family's will.
"I will prepare an escort to the destination, so you should be able to move safely. I will explain everything well to the destination as well."
Mika said that, but the mother remained looking down, lost in thought.
Kistil and Nerisfeene know that Mika can fly, but she certainly didn't want him to know that.
It would be faster to fly and take them, but he didn't want to use that method.
In that case, it would be a considerable burden, but they had no choice but to choose travel by horse-drawn carriage.
Mika let out a soft sigh.
"...You don't have to answer right now. Either way, the execution will be after I and Kistil formally sign the contract."
Saying that, Mika stood up, making the chair creak.
"I will proceed with the preparations on my end. If you feel like it, please be ready to go at any time. It is possible to execute the day after signing the contract. Please prepare with utmost care so as not to be noticed."
Mika bowed politely, then turned his back and walked toward the entrance.
"Mika-kun!"
A voice called out to Mika's back.
When Mika turned around, the mother was looking at him with a determined, pained expression.
"...Ah, um..."
But no more words followed.
"There is still time. You can think about it slowly."
When Mika said that, the mother pressed her lips together and shook her head.
And then,
"Please take care of us."
She bowed her head politely like that.
■■■■■■
Mika had Kistil's mother sign the contract to formally engage to Kistil.
At that time, he told her, "Execution is on the next Day of the Sun."
And today was that execution day.
Watching Kistil and her mother hugging and crying as the horse-drawn carriage departure time approached.
A thought lingered in Mika's heart: Is this really right?
(Using such a troublesome method, spending a lot of money, and in the end, it's an illegal method. What am I trying to do?)
It would be far easier to just kill that father (scum) quickly.
While preparing the plan, he had felt this all along.
(The family doesn't need to leave the Royal Capital. There's no need to fear being found someday.)
But this is the normal response.
No, it's even more forceful than normal.
Normally, no one kills someone and says, "Here, problem solved," and celebrates freely.
...I think.
Prompted by Gaeras and Salomrassa, the mother and younger brother boarded the horse-drawn carriage.
All luggage was put into Salomrassa's Magic Bag.
However, furniture would basically be left behind.
If the father (scum) heard about them leisurely moving out luggage and found them, it would be quite troublesome.
Kaerya and Salomrassa sat on either side, with Gaeras opposite them in an alert formation.
"Kistil, you should have come too, you know?"
Mika walked alongside Kistil and spoke.
He had proposed that Kistil live in Rish Village with him for a while.
But Kistil shook her head to that proposal without hesitation.
And so, the horse-drawn carriage departed, and Kistil continued to see them off from that spot until they disappeared over the hill.
Now, Mika is extremely busy.
He would drop off Kistil and Nerisfeene at their home, run back to District 3 again, and then pass through District 3 to Modesse Forest.
Once in Modesse Forest, he would take to the sky and fly straight to Rish Village.
With "Absorb Wing," he could fly there in under four hours.
That's easily over one hundred kilometers per hour.
Since it's in the sky, he doesn't really feel the speed.
"Please take this."
"..."Huh?"
The Village Head's mouth hung open at Mika's sudden appearance.
Still, he somehow explained the situation regarding Kistil's family.
They have already departed, so please prepare for their acceptance.
And so, he handed the Village Head the relocation permit prepared by Gaeras.
This permit.
It is a forged document of the highest quality.
Paper used for real documents, ink used for real documents, signed by a real official, prepared by a real official.
Isn't it just a real document?
It was a somewhat expensive purchase of eight gold coins, including various expenses, but it is a permit from a territory next to the Seven Duchies Federation.
The territory at the far northeast corner.
Incidentally, the Baron Limpēre territory is at the far southeast corner.
Even if they inquire, it will take two months to reply, and a perfect response saying "We issued the permit" will come back.
What a good purchase.
...There are rotten people everywhere.
Mika went to the church and spoke to Kifrod and Radi about Kistil's family.
Since the mother is slightly weak, he especially asked Radi.
In Rish Village, they can receive Radi's [Heal] regularly, so they can live with peace of mind.
And he also made a donation.
He had donated just about two months ago, so they were reluctant to accept it at first, but somehow he forced it upon Horatio.
Horatio, the workaholic, is often at the factory even on the Day of the Sun.
In reality, there is probably just a pile of work waiting.
Mika had asked Horatio to find work for the mother and younger brother.
Since the mother is weak, he asked if there was any work with less burden.
He also begged to find some work in the cotton fields for the younger brother.
"Also, please take care of this."
Mika handed Horatio a bag containing gold coins and a bag containing large silver coins.
"Such a large amount of money? What are you going to do?"
"I want you to adjust and hand it over so that it becomes an amount sufficient for living every month."
They cannot earn enough to live immediately in a different environment.
The mother is weak, and the younger brother is still a child.
Well, even if he is a child, he should be eleven this year.
For early developers, it is the age to start working as an apprentice.
Still, Mika thought he would need to support the younger brother for a few years until he can do adult work.
Normally, he shouldn't be asking Horatio for this.
But Amalia would dislike holding such a large sum of money, and sending money every month by letter carries the risk of it not arriving.
He considered flying over every month to deliver it, but depending on the Academy or adventurer activities, it might be difficult to do it on the same day every month.
So he thought it would be best to ask Horatio, who is in a position to grasp the two's wages.
Horatio made a difficult face.
"Is Mika-kun going to go to such lengths? ...I don't think it's a very good method."
"Yes. If I were closer, I would have considered a different method..."
When Mika hung his head, Horatio placed a hand on his shoulder.
"But I am happy you asked me. Leave the two of them to me. No, since Amalia-san and the others are there too. I will take good care of all four of them."
"Sorry. Thank you."
Mika bowed his head politely.
And then Mika headed for his home last.
Amalia is usually at home on the Day of the Sun.
I hope she is there.
"I'm home."
"Mika!?"
Amalia and Loretta were surprised with wide eyes at Mika entering normally.
It seems they were preparing lunch.
"What's wrong, Mika? The Academy?"
"I have a document that needs Mother's signature, so I had to rush back."
"Rush back..."
They looked blankly, unable to understand.
Well, saying he came just to get a signature for a distance of eleven days one way would be meaningless anyway.
Leaving those two blankly staring, Mika prepared two engagement contracts on the table.
"Sign this. Here and here."
Mika led Amalia to sit at the table.
And pointed to the signing spots with a tap.
"Engagement contract... Engagement!?"
Loretta, looking at the contract from the opposite side of the table, raised her voice in surprise.
"Eh!? Kistil and... this one is Nerisfeene!?"
"Mika! What is going on!?"
What is there to say? These two were the first ones treated as future wives, after all.
What are they surprised about?
(Ah, geez, why do I need to explain this!?)
He thought that, but he also had to ask about Kistil's family.
Explaining to the two so they would understand, rushing back to the Royal Capital, and the Academy is tomorrow...
Mika thought of the things he had to do today and hung his head a little.