Chapter 164 - Chapter 163: That Experience Wasn't in Vain
The first day of the Fire Month, the fourth week.
It has been a cool day, not very much like summer.
It is pleasant and good, though.
After school, Mika and the others had come to the Fifth Knights Order's quarters for practice.
Because of the commemoration of twenty years on the throne, a festival-like commotion continued even in the town, but things had finally settled down, so this was a rare practice session.
"It has taken quite a shape."
After ordering something to the knight who was acting as Mika's opponent, Ozendorwa spoke up.
By the way, currently, Mika is lying flat on his back, knocked out.
"Whatever it is, we've been doing this for about a year now."
Strictly speaking, maybe about ten months?
Mika's knife skills have finally reached the level where Ozendorwa can give passing marks.
Mika was given permission to use knives that break during the academy's practice games, and the short sword is currently sealed away.
But, it might be time to resume practicing with the short sword.
By incorporating the way of fighting with a knife, the way of fighting with a short sword will also change.
Ozendorwa crossed his arms and made a face as if pondering.
"You've reached a level that works against professional knights. Isn't it unbeatable at the academy?"
"In practice games, individual wins and losses aren't valued much, so I do lose sometimes. Well, I haven't been knocked out yet."
Mika didn't value himself performing well in the practice games.
If Mika got serious, he wouldn't find it difficult to wipe out an entire enemy team by himself.
In fact, he had done that several times.
The level gap had already opened up that much against apprentice mages and knights.
Even without using [Physical Enhancement] or magic.
A professional sports player wouldn't feel proud winning against a children's team.
For Mika, the academy's practice games had become just that.
So, what Mika does is strictly winning as a team.
Keeping the ally mages alive and destroying the crystal.
In other words, it's like escort practice.
He won't be taken down himself, but protecting someone other than himself is quite difficult.
Fighting while protecting an ally mage while five or six people attack simultaneously with only one knife.
Still, since Mika has an ally knight, the mage is rarely knocked out.
So, the win rate is comfortably over ninety percent.
And the defeat rate is zero.
It was only that very rarely, before Mika's team took down the enemy base, their own base would be taken down first.
"Even now, what can I say... This isn't a mage's practice."
Hearing Mika's explanation, Ozendorwa said with a look of exasperation.
"Well, that's because the adventurer is just imitating a mage."
"Fu... Indeed. But then, it isn't even imitating a mage."
That is true.
However, if he focused solely on the mage's role, there would be no meaning in participating in the practice game at all.
He must set his own objectives at least.
"By the way, you were at the commemorative party. What's the matter?"
"What do you mean by that..."
Ozendorwa asked if Mika had attended the King's twenty-year commemorative party.
He only participated because he was told to.
That is the case, but he cannot say anything improper.
Whether he participated reluctantly or happily.
If he is thought to be allied with the Leventein family, hostile forces would identify him as an enemy.
Mika doesn't even know if such forces exist.
And in reality, Mika doesn't have any strong ties with the Leventein family.
There is only a very unreliable connection of being good friends with the Marquis's daughter.
If he is glared at by some noble family in this state, he would be finished.
On the other hand, if he is taken to have participated reluctantly, it would soil the Marquis's face.
No matter that he is a Marquis, he wouldn't take a commoner to such a party on a whim.
There must be some intention behind it.
If he shows an attitude that he just followed along unwillingly, the Leventein family might turn into an enemy.
"Do you have some connection with the Leventein family?"
To Ozendorwa's question, Mika made a face with no emotion.
"...I am a commoner. As an honor, the Marquis gave me the opportunity to meet His Majesty."
A passing grade answer, thanking him enough for the honor given.
Nothing more, nothing less.
It can be taken that way, but it could also be taken that there is more or less.
Maybe he thinks it is the highest honor and is very grateful to the Marquis for giving him such an opportunity.
Without saying it out loud.
Perhaps sensing Mika's painful inner thoughts, Ozendorwa smiled bitterly.
"I see. I'm sorry. Forget what I heard just now."
Ozendorwa also thought, "Please forget that I was at the party too," as Mika lifted his heavy body.
On the way back from practice, Mika stopped by the Guild and looked at the request board.
Since he couldn't identify the curse this week, he was thinking of going on a beast extermination quest.
(B-rank beast extermination requests are all far away.)
It is a C-rank after all.
He searches, wondering if he should try taking a request for a beast one rank higher.
(There aren't many, and this might be impossible?)
Well, if there were B-rank beast extermination requests everywhere, it would mean the same thing as those beasts being everywhere.
The world would be quite desolate.
Mika is already fully satisfied with the desolation of this world.
By the way, Kaerya's party is currently out on that distant B-rank beast extermination.
There are several B-rank requests in the mountain range separating the Kingdom of Ektrem and the Gronoir Empire, and they plan to go around those.
He watched them off the other day, biting his finger and thinking, "How nice."
Since there was no choice, he decided to look for normal C-rank requests again and turned his neck, which he had been looking up at for a long time.
As he lightly loosened it, he spotted Trys.
Unusually, she was in the back bar lounge area.
There was a section there where many adventurers gathered, and a gloomy atmosphere hung over it.
(...What is it? Something wrong?)
Curious, he went to Trys.
"Hello, Trys. Is something wrong?"
"Hm? Ah, Mika-chan. Are you going on a beast extermination tomorrow?"
"I was planning to... Is something wrong?"
When Mika asked that, Trys's expression darkened slightly.
She then led Mika away from the corner where people had gathered.
It seems difficult to say there.
Mika struggled to sit on the bar counter stool that Trys led him to.
Trys stood right next to him.
"A shot of tree wine. And some juice for this kid."
Trys ordered alcohol at the Guild bar, which was unusual.
Surprised, Mika widened his eyes and looked at Trys.
Trys smiled bitterly, looking lonely, at such Mika.
"...It's a custom, or a style, to send off a deceased adventurer companion."
At Trys's words, Mika involuntarily turned around.
All the adventurers gathered had solemn expressions.
Even if they knew it was a life-or-death business, even if it was a daily occurrence.
That doesn't mean they don't mourn when someone dies.
(...So. Someone died during a quest.)
He had been active as an adventurer for over four years, but he had never encountered such a scene.
Or maybe he had, but he had been active almost completely detached from the connections between adventurers.
That is why he hadn't noticed.
(I did report that an adventurer might have died during the Agu Bear incident, but I don't know what happened after that.)
When the shot glass filled with tree wine arrived, Trys made a gesture of prayer.
Then, she lifted it lightly and drank it all at once.
Mika also mimicked Trys, lifted it lightly, and drank a little juice.
It was a juice with a very strong sour taste, making him grimace involuntarily.
Mika looked again at the corner where people had gathered.
Through the crowd, he saw an adventurer sitting at a table.
The female adventurer seemed to be crying with her face buried in the table.
The other male adventurer was staring blankly at the magic bag placed on the table.
And that magic bag seemed to be terribly stained with blood.
("...They will have a hard time for a while. Losing the leader and the combat class attacker. If there is a party that will accept them, that would be good, but it's probably difficult with both gone.")
As Mika watched the crowd, Trys also looked at the crushed adventurers with a pained expression.
No party accepts surplus people.
It is a very simple matter; if one person is added, their share decreases by that amount.
Every party tries to maximize effects with the minimum number of people.
The ones who died this time were adventurers in a four-person party, and they seemed to have accepted a request to exterminate a somewhat ferocious beast in the deep mountains.
Still, their skills were sufficient.
It should have been a quest they could handle without problems.
No, they actually completed the request itself.
They exterminated the beast and obtained the beast's fang and magic stone, which were the achievement conditions.
But----.
("Encountered a pack, huh...")
("Yeah. There's no way to say it other than bad luck.")
The rank dropped, but it seems they encountered a pack of monsters.
("They seem to have managed to defeat them, but the leader... while fighting the pack... The combat class attacker also received fatal wounds, so it seems there was nothing to be done.")
This was after the battle with the ferocious beast they had accepted the request for.
No matter how much preparation was made with plenty of margin, there are limits.
The potions ran out, and the remaining two returned barely alive.
In this world, there seems to be no so-called resurrection [God's Miracle].
As long as the light of life hasn't gone out, [Heal] can cure it.
But, the light of life that has gone out once cannot be lit again.
(...I should review my preparations just in case.)
Not just for himself, but for someone else, he should put in more numbers for recovery and healing items.
(I have extra tagged bags. I'll do a rolling stock.)
Paralysis antidotes and wake-up potions are difficult to consume normally...
But discarding them is unavoidable.
While thinking such things, the crowd started collecting donations.
Trys also seemed to be donating.
She prepared a large silver coin.
A condolence money?
"Um... this is my first time, but are everyone putting in money to do something?"
"Hm? Ah, no. They have become penniless."
Trys smiled bitterly like that.
Penniless?
("The leader who managed the money died, and it seems they have almost nothing left. The request items were also inside the magic bag, and that magic bag seems to have originally belonged to the leader.")
They couldn't take them out, making it impossible to complete the request.
Beast extermination, part collection.
If these two are the conditions, achieving one of them doesn't count as half success.
Exterminate the beast and bring back the specified parts.
Only when both are achieved can the reward be received.
(That's why I told them so many times to manage money individually!)
The sad feeling from before blew away, and he wanted to lecture them head-on.
(I knew this from Ninetiana! People who really become penniless exist! Aren't they idiots!?)
Knowing it is a dangerous business, why do they entrust it to just one leader?
Mika was dumbfounded.
(Well, it's fine if I donate a little bit, but what are grown-ups doing?)
While thinking that, when he reached into his magic bag, he suddenly had an idea.
Registered magic bag...?
Mika jumped down from the stool and pushed his way into the crowd.
But, the difference in physique was too great.
For Mika, it was no different from a wall.
"Mika-chan? Is something wrong?"
"Trys. Can you let me pass for a moment? Maybe something can be done."
"Something can be done?"
Mika didn't understand the meaning of what he was saying, but Trys still nodded after seeing Mika's serious face.
Parting the crowd, Mika tried to advance.
"What is it? What is it?"
"What's the matter?"
"Hey, hey, don't push."
Thanks to Trys, Mika reached the table where the two adventurers were sitting.
And on the table was the magic bag stained with blood.
(I failed with Zureept. But this time, I have to be a bit more careful.)
Well, that is if the other party agrees.
When Mika came close, he made eye contact with the male adventurer who was staring blankly at the magic bag.
"If I said I might be able to take out the contents of the bag, what would you do?"
"Mika-chan...?"
What are you talking about all of a sudden?
The surrounding crowd made noise, and Trys called out to Mika as if confused.
But, the male adventurer sitting on the chair showed no reaction.
He was just looking at Mika.
(It came too suddenly, I don't get it. I can't do it without permission, and I can't say it will definitely succeed.)
From the previous failure, he got a feeling of "maybe?".
So, if it goes well, it might succeed.
That is the only confidence he has, so Mika cannot explain arrogantly.
But, if you say "just do it," he will do his best.
The eyes staring fixedly at Mika had no vitality at all.
They were like glass marbles.
(...Was it an unnecessary kindness?)
Just as Mika thought about returning, the female adventurer who was crying with her face on the table lifted her head.
("...Don't joke. Is it fun to say ridiculous things and tease people!?"
In the woman's eyes, there seemed to be clear hatred.
Indeed, it is not a conversation to start with someone who just lost a companion.
(Well, that's true.)
Even if he explains here and says "then try it," it is not guaranteed to succeed.
In the end, it might result in [Lost] and make him hated.
"...I'm sorry."
Mika bowed his head honestly.
And, just as he was about to return, a whisper reached his ear.
("Can you...?")
It was the male adventurer who had been blank.
("Hey, what are you saying!?")
The female adventurer raised her voice, but the male adventurer just looked straight at Mika.
His eyes were still like glass marbles, but a little bit of vitality seemed to be returning...?
"It is not absolute. In fact, when I tried before, I failed and [Lost]."
"Mika-chan!?"
"Hey, hey, what is that?"
At Mika's words, Trys let out a foolish voice, and the crowd's murmur grew even louder.
"But, if you ask if it is absolutely impossible, I cannot assert that either. I think I can do it. ...I just think so."
No track record yet.
Not yet.
("That's not a conversation!")
The female adventurer slammed the table with a bang.
But, the male adventurer indicated the seat opposite with his eyes toward Mika.
He indicated it, but...
(The woman is glaring at me fiercely...)
He noticed now.
It was an unnecessary thing.
He moved with his usual tone again because it might work.
You're late, me.
Not being able to take it out and [Lost] have the same result.
You cannot get the contents, and you cannot complete the request.
(...Is it because I can think that way only because it's someone else's business?)
When he actually finds himself in that position, can he say the same thing?
While Mika stood frozen, Trys placed her hand on Mika's head and patted it.
("It can't be done, it's impossible. Everyone thinks so, but this kid has achieved many such things. I have seen it with my own eyes. If you bet on the 'Dispeller', it's not a bad bet, is it?")
Looking up, Mika saw Trys smile.
("I won't force you. But, if it were me, I would bet on this kid. Right, Mika-chan.")
"Trys."
Trust is welcome, but please don't raise the bar too high.
Looking up at Trys, he thought such things.
("Indeed, unsealing a curse is incomprehensible.")
("But, it's a completely different thing, right?")
("Hmm. If it fails, it's nothing to lose, so that's true.")
The crowd started saying various things freely.
("I'm betting. What about you?")
The male adventurer asked quietly.
The female adventurer twisted her face and trembled her lips.
Soon, she turned her head away without saying anything.
("'Dispeller'. Please.")
He felt as if the bar had been raised incredibly high.
He really shouldn't have said unnecessary things.
Mika held back a sigh and sat in the seat in front of the man.
Before his eyes was the magic bag covered in blood.
(...I'm scared of infection.)
He thought such things even now.
Mika silently took a face towel from his magic bag and roughly wiped the blood.
He could buy high-alcohol alcohol at the bar to wipe it, but it was too difficult to do so while being watched like this.
Later, he would tell Trys to buy the bottle whole and wash only his hands.
Using the towel, Mika tried not to touch it directly as much as possible, and directed the location with the interfering magic stone toward himself.
Then, he touched it lightly with just his fingertips.
(Hmm? The structure is a little different...? I don't remember well.)
He searched for a place where he could send magic power and interfere, but it felt a little different from the Zureept bag in his memory.
But, he was able to find the target location quickly.
There were slight differences, but it didn't seem to differ that much.
(What is this difference? Difference in manufacturer? Or difference in manufacturing lot?)
Are they making improvements little by little?
Anyway, Mika gathered his magic power around the place where he could interfere.
(If I push in even a little, it gets crushed and disappears.)
The Zureept magic bag stopped moving because of that.
At that time, Mika felt a familiar sensation when the magic power disappeared.
Magic bags can be registered with magic power.
He doesn't know how the Guild Card stores the magic power of monsters and beasts.
He doesn't know how the Adventurer Guild identifies monsters and beasts with magic power.
But, the magic bag probably holds the registered magic power.
The magic power that disappeared then was probably Zureept's magic power.
A very small amount of registered Zureept's magic power had disappeared.
He felt a slightly similar sensation to when he usually chipped away at the 'Wraith's' magic power.
Magic bags move even without registering magic power.
But, once magic power is registered, if that magic power disappears for some reason, the function is designed to stop.
From the previous result, Mika deduced that specification.
So, this time, he would slowly replace the held magic power with Mika's magic power.
Scrape a little with the tip of a needle, and place Mika's magic power in the scraped amount.
And as an insurance just in case, if the magic power gets crushed and disappears, rush the Mika's magic power he had gathered around.
Replace it all at once with Mika's magic power before the magic bag stops functioning.
(I don't know if this trick will work, but I'll try as much as I can.)
Thus, Mika slowly scraped away the magic power as if doing the "cookie cutter" stall at a festival when he was a child.
At the same time, he placed his own magic power directly on the scraped part.
(If I try to scrape it all at once out of laziness, it always breaks.)
By the way, no matter how simple the shape comes out, I have never succeeded, so what?
Making a child do such a painstaking job, there is no way it will succeed!
While remembering the grudges of his childhood, he kept scraping frantically.
(If it were an adult, well, if you think of it as work, you can endure a painstaking job, yeah.)
He is not particularly good at it, but if it is work, he will do it.
He will finish it.
Thus, for ten minutes, then twenty minutes, Mika continued to concentrate and keep scraping and placing.
("What are you doing?")
("I don't know?")
The gallery seemed bored with Mika who didn't move at all, chatting or going to the bar to drink.
The male adventurer sitting opposite watched Mika silently.
Trys also watched Mika with a worried face.
The female adventurer who had turned away was also looking at Mika with an anxious face without her noticing.
And, about thirty minutes later.
(...Has it been replaced now?)
He thought that all the magic power had become Mika's magic power.
Mika let out a big breath, "Phew...", and slowly reached his hand into the magic bag.
Without any resistance, his hand went in smoothly, and he took out the bag where he put the cash.
Thinking of what is inside, naturally floating into his head when he puts his hand in, he thinks it is a really amazing mechanism.
("Eh?")
("Hah!?")
("Hmm?")
Thus, he took out everything and anything, just taking out the contents one after another.
("It's magic stones!")
("The fangs came out too!?")
The items taken out piled up so much they seemed unable to fit on the table.
Of course, Mika's hands couldn't reach that far, so from the middle, he handed them to Trys to place them.
("Isn't this quest completion!?")
("It seems there was a wallet too, so they won't be in trouble right away with this!")
Everyone patted the male adventurer on the back who had been watching blankly and spoke to him.
The female adventurer was also shedding tears while stunned.
("It seems all the contents are here.")
Saying that, Mika handed the bag to the male adventurer.
("U... Ah... Ah...")
The male adventurer groaned while staring blankly at the piled-up items.
At that time, a somewhat imposing adventurer slapped his cheek.
("Hey, pull yourself together! It's not the time to be spaced out! Go report the completion immediately!")
Saying that, he shoved the magic stone and fang into the male adventurer's hands.
("Ah, ah... Ah, thank you. I-I'm going!")
Holding the magic stone and fang, the male adventurer stumbled and headed for the report.
("You did it, Mika-chan.")
Trys smiled and rubbed Mika's head with both hands, squishing it.
Maybe he is excited, but stop it.
("Isn't this amazing!?")
("What is this, hey! 'Dispeller', can't you do even this!?")
The excited gallery made a huge commotion.
Thus, adventurers who had not been in the bar lounge until now gathered, wondering what was happening.
In a flash, the crowd became more than double what it was before.
(It's out of control. What do I do with this.)
If he causes a commotion again, will it be the scolding room?
Anyway, Mika asked Trys to buy a bottle of high-alcohol alcohol.
Of course, for disinfection.
He was misunderstood that Mika would drink it, and Trys got a little angry at him.
If I can drink, I want to drink too!