Chapter 173 - Chapter 172: The Path Everyone Walks
The 1st Month of Wind, the 2nd day of the 1st week.
According to the calendar, autumn had arrived, but there was no sign of the heat easing.
Recently, the amount of the adventurer guild's "apology money" for Mika was finally decided.
15 million Rats.
This included the portion the guild tried to pay to the victims to settle things, plus a bit taken from the side and added on.
It seems the Information Broker Guild's person in charge worked incredibly hard.
With that, after deducting the reward to be paid to the Information Broker Guild, Mika's take was 12 million Rats.
After subtracting the taxes paid, the net gain was just under 4 million Rats.
Even though he hadn't lost out, considering the trouble involved, his feeling was "Is this all there is?"
On the other hand, the Information Broker Guild made a huge profit.
The total reward paid by Mika exceeded 10 million Rats.
Although many people were mobilized in connection with the fake "Dispeller" incident, the period was short.
They must have made quite a profit, didn't they?
Fame tax is expensive, isn't it?
Maybe I was a bit too generous.
And...
Regarding Yorkades' death, there was no movement around Mika in particular.
Doesn't anyone care about a city rat that died in an alleyway?
I don't even know if someone who saw the body reported it.
Since it's not a world where news or TV would report on it, such information would only spread to a limited extent.
If it were the Information Broker Guild or the Assassin Guild, some might have suspected something, but in the end, it's only circumstantial evidence.
Not even a proper autopsy was performed, and there were no external wounds.
Rather, even if someone had witnessed it, Mika simply turned his back and suddenly vomited blood and collapsed.
Trying to arrest him on suspicion of murder with this is, as expected, a stretch.
With everything settled and daily life restored, Mika came to Paraleira's room after school.
He had finished reading the provided materials and was now studying the "circuits" of magic tools.
It was something like an electronic circuit board, adding or subtracting the powers of various gods to manipulate phenomena.
Well, in reality, it had nothing to do with gods; there existed substances in this world that stored special powers like fire or water, and they used that power as their motive force.
To people of this world, it seemed that "storing special powers" was interpreted as being the power of the gods.
Creating these circuits required a technique called [Enchantment], derived from alchemy, and he was practicing that as well.
Mika was currently staring intently at the circuit design he had drawn himself.
Tracing the lines representing the flow of various powers with his finger, he muttered.
"Prehistoric civilization, circuits, [Enchantment]? The materials are expensive... People doing alchemy are probably all idiots, right?"
There was too much specialized knowledge required, and it cost too much money.
Even if they were smart, only someone whose screws had come loose would touch something like this.
"You're one of those idiots too, aren't you?"
"Eh, yes, that's right!? So what!?"
Mika crumpled the circuit design he had drawn halfway into a ball, slammed it onto the floor, and scratched his head.
"I can't do this anymore!"
"Hahahaha."
Seeing Mika throw a tantrum, Paraleira burst out laughing.
"You've become quite the proper alchemy researcher, haven't you?"
Paraleira crossed her arms, grinning as she looked at Mika.
"That is the starting point. Welcome to the world of alchemy."
Hello World, huh?
The world's most famous program floated into his mind.
Apparently, anyone who steps into the world of alchemy is said to inevitably shout "I can't do this!" at least once.
It was that incomprehensible.
"Normal magic tools make sense, so why does it fall apart the moment you get into alchemy!?"
"Well, since you're doing things that go against logic, it's only natural that logic breaks down, isn't it?"
Yes, that's true.
Alchemy: turning base metals into precious metals.
Rare metals that contain mana yet cannot be detected or extracted at all.
Eternal life: giving immortality to those with a lifespan.
All of it is detached from reason.
If you think it through logically, it's only natural that it can't be done.
Mika had already mastered creating circuits for normal magic tools to a certain extent.
It was unexpected, but most of the magic tools currently in use were not that complex.
If you had the experience or knowledge to build an electronics work kit you were made to do in school during your student days, it wasn't that difficult.
To put it crudely, the flow of electric current had simply been replaced by the flow of various powers.
As long as you memorized the types of powers housed in each material and the rules for combining them, you could understand it properly.
With the materials in hand, of course.
However, the "Bracelet of Conversion Light" used at the academy and the magic tools used for mana manipulation seemed quite complex and difficult.
Those were apparently related to secrets, so circuit blueprints were unavailable.
"Rather, it's surprising that you've understood that much in such a short time. What kind of head do you have?"
"Even if you ask me what kind..."
Mika lowered the hand that had been scratching his head and let out a sigh.
He had borrowed a book containing circuit diagrams of circulating magic tools from Paraleira and looked through it for about a week.
Once he had roughly understood it, he tried drawing a circuit diagram himself.
A small box that constantly leaked a very weak cold air.
"What would you even use something like that for?"
Paraleira asked with a puzzled face, but he was considered to have understood it thoroughly for now.
And that was the assignment given to try it out.
"Conceal the mana existing within matter."
This succinctly represented the current interpretation of the "state of rare metals."
Previously, it was thought that they possessed no mana at all, but the existence of mana was confirmed by Paraleira's component analyzer.
So, why had mana not been detected until now?
Paraleira seemed to think it was "concealed by some kind of power."
"By the way, how does the component analyzer detect mana in the first place?"
"That doesn't directly detect mana."
Mana within people and objects has its own unique wavelength, so to speak.
This allows individuals to be identified, but it seems that where mana exists, a slight "fluctuation" also appears around it.
It seems the fluctuation differs depending on the wavelength, and Paraleira indirectly proved "there is mana there" by detecting that fluctuation.
"What kind of fluctuation is this 'fluctuation'?"
He asked, but was given a very unpleasant look.
It seemed to be a phenomenon that was still difficult for Mika to understand.
Was it different from the distortion of spacetime caused by mass?
Paraleira cleared her throat lightly and continued explaining the component analyzer.
"Even high-purity rare metals have some impurities mixed in. The mana contained in those impurities was interfering, so the fluctuation of the rare metal itself couldn't be seen."
The component analyzer was apparently a magic tool that detected and analyzed that fluctuation.
If you removed the fluctuation caused by the impurities, the remaining fluctuation was the fluctuation possessed by the rare metal itself.
Since matter was identified by fluctuations, it seemed one could tell what was contained and in what quantity.
Incidentally, Paraleira was the one who discovered the phenomenon that mana "fluctuates."
And since these were troublesome matters, no reports were filed, and the research was stolen by the genius boy.
If anything, the Court Magic Institute might not even be aware of the existence of the genius Paraleira.
Because the genius boy had conspired against them and stolen all these achievements.
"Didn't you say armor made of pure 'Gold-type Rare Metal [Hihiirokane]' was found in ruins before? Couldn't you have just checked that?"
"Where do you think it is?"
Paraleira asked with an exasperated face at Mika's casual question.
Where...
"A museum?"
"What is that? It's definitely in the Royal Treasury."
"I want to do an experiment, so lend it to me for a bit."
"............Do you think I'll lend it?"
Right.
Mika gave a bitter smile.
When it was first discovered, it was apparently investigated with great joy, assuming it must contain immense mana.
But the result was zero mana.
They investigated various other things, but all results were unsatisfactory.
However, since [Appraisal] revealed that various effects were [Enchanted], it was certainly valuable.
Therefore, it was said to be stored deep, deep in the treasury.
He didn't know if it was actually that deep, though.
"Money also contains rare metals, right? Like large copper coins or large silver coins. Can't you separate copper from 'Copper-type Rare Metal [Orichalcum]'?"
"If it gets mixed with copper, there's nothing we can do about separating 'Copper-type Rare Metal [Orichalcum]' for now. Same with silver and 'Silver-type Rare Metal [Mithril]', and gold and 'Gold-type Rare Metal [Hihiirokane]'."
Of course, others had thought of what Mika had thought of.
When he was reading the alchemy book he borrowed from Paraleira, it was written there, and he felt a bit crushed.
He should think of refining techniques himself, but he originally didn't have much knowledge in that area.
It seemed he would just repeat the same failures as his predecessors.
Mika placed a new sheet of paper on the desk and thought about the circuit again.
What he was thinking about now was a method to conceal the mana within copper placed in a specific location.
Mana was contained within the copper, but he wanted to make it impossible to extract and undetectable.
If that were possible, that state would be close to the actual state of rare metals... maybe.
(In the end, Paraleira's component analyzer told me 'there seems to be mana,' but it's not directly detecting it, is it?)
Well, the development of science is that experiments from hypotheses and inferences based on accumulated circumstantial evidence are what's important.
There are cases where a prediction was made but took a hundred years to prove.
Even in the modern era where various fields progressed explosively, it was in such a state.
It wouldn't be strange if research in this world stagnated or wandered for a hundred or two hundred years.
(But, in reality, if science develops, alchemy becomes possible.)
He was sure he could turn mercury into gold.
Something about mercury isotopes that are easy to transmute into gold, or whatever.
He felt like he had seen something about adding or subtracting protons and neutrons to do such things.
But wasn't it something about unstable radioactive substances?
Could they make stable gold too?
If cost was disregarded, gold itself could be made with the power of science.
(Well, I can already make gold directly with mana.)
In Mika's mind, alchemy was already realized.
He knew that making and selling it would bring money, but selling too much in bulk would raise suspicion.
If he had to sell secretly and sneakily, it was better to earn normally and use it openly.
And compared to alchemy, rare metals were significantly more difficult.
Regarding these, it was like knowing almost nothing.
(Concealing the mana in copper itself isn't that difficult. But...)
Using a substance said to house the power of the God of Darkness would make it possible in itself.
Substances belonging to the God of Darkness have several powers related to space.
The "Space Expansion" of the Magic Bag was also said to use a substance housing the power of the God of Darkness.
The Magic Bag was also a secret, so he didn't know the details.
And, just as there was a [False God] among the familiars, powers related to concealment were also within the God of Darkness's jurisdiction.
Using that power, one could conceal the mana in copper.
However...
(The power of concealment itself can be detected by existing magic tools.)
The mana in the copper was hidden, but the trace that something was hiding it would be exposed.
In the first place, if some kind of power was applied from the outside, it was possible to detect it.
There was no way this could be done.
They were trying to force their way through this impossible thing by combining substances housing the powers of other gods and using every trick in the book.
That was current alchemy.
After throwing a tantrum about three more times, Mika decided to go home.
(This is definitely the wrong approach!?)
Because they tried to explain it with the logic they knew, it became impossible.
Just as quantum mechanics was born from physics, a new perspective was needed.
"Ah, take this."
As Mika slung his bag over his shoulder, Paraleira handed him a bundle of papers.
"What is this?"
"What? It's the materials."
She said it so casually.
"The ones I couldn't find when I tried to give you the ruins materials before. I found them recently."
Saying that, Paraleira cast her gaze toward the pile of materials in the corner of the room.
A large number of books were piled there, but part of it had collapsed.
"............Let's clean it up."
"None of your business."
Paraleira waved her hand as if shooing away flies.
Mika also had no energy to argue today.
Leaving the dormitory, he loosened his stiff body while walking.
Then, he ran towards his home.
■■■■■■
【????????】
Gronoir Empire, the Emperor's castle. Audience Chamber.
A slightly small man sat on the throne, wearing decorations that must weigh half his body weight.
Half was probably an exaggeration, but the amount was enough to make one ask, "Isn't that heavy?"
Each of those jewels was worth more than a lifetime of earnings for ten commoners.
The small man glanced irritably at the man in bishop's robes standing below the dais, then whispered to an elderly man waiting nearby.
The elderly man listened to the small man's whisper and nodded once.
Then, straightening his posture, he conveyed the message in a deep voice to the man standing below the dais.
"The Emperor's position of respecting the divine oracle remains unchanged. However, preparation is necessary for that. When the time comes, the Emperor will order the Church to send troops. Until then, he says to wait a little while."
Hearing those words, the man standing below the dais lightly shook his head in disappointment.
"Prime Minister, I have heard those words many times already. When will that time come? The Church is already prepared. We are waiting for the Emperor to give the order with a day feeling like a thousand years."
Perhaps not expecting a rebuttal, the Prime Minister looked surprised.
Usually, he would quietly withdraw here.
But the Prime Minister immediately assumed a stern expression.
"Even for His Holiness the Pope, such words are somewhat rude, are they not?"
Even being told that by the Prime Minister, the Pope stared straight at the Emperor and stood motionless.
The Prime Minister glared at such a Pope, but the Emperor in question was pushed by the Pope's presence and his face twitched slightly.
No matter that he was the Pope, it was a rather rude attitude towards the Emperor.
But the Emperor could not punish the Pope.
If he did, the people of the Empire would not remain silent.
Of course, if there was clear insult, the entire Empire would be in turmoil, and the Pope would have to be punished.
Allowing such things would cause the Empire itself to collapse.
However, the situation was slightly unfavorable now.
The Pope was pressing for whether the invasion of the Kingdom of Ektrem had not yet begun.
One might wonder why anyone would willingly desire war, but this Emperor's thinking was a minority view in the Gronoir Empire.
More than 30% of the citizens actively supported the invasion of the Kingdom of Ektrem, and nearly 50% supported the war passively.
In fact, 80% of the citizens supported the war.
The reason was, of course, the divine oracle.
For the sake of some ridiculous divine oracle from over a hundred years ago, why did he, the Emperor, have to worry about it?
The Emperor spoke quietly to the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister listened to those words and nodded again.
"The Emperor's position of respecting the divine oracle remains unchanged. When the time comes, the Emperor will order the Church to send troops. Until then, he says to wait a little while."
The Prime Minister spoke words almost identical to the previous ones.
Hearing those words, the Pope closed his eyes and stood still for a while.
Soon, he bowed respectfully and left the Audience Chamber.
"His Holiness the Pope."
As the Pope walked through the castle with a knight's guidance, a single knight came from the opposite direction.
Armor and a cloak clearly worn by someone of high rank.
It was Scholstov, the Knight Commander of the Imperial Army.
"Sir Scholstov. Are you in the castle today?"
"Yes, there was a meeting. Your Holiness the Pope, ...again?"
The Pope, asked by Scholstov, gave a bitter smile.
"Judging by your appearance, it seems the results were not very satisfactory."
Scholstov signaled with his hand to the knight accompanying him that it was okay to proceed.
Normally, the security of the Emperor's castle was under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Guard.
No matter that he was the Knight Commander, he could not give orders without permission.
However, the Pope coming to petition the Emperor was not the first time.
He was earnestly preaching the invasion of the Kingdom of Ektrem for the sake of the divine oracle, but the listless Emperor brushed him off as usual.
In short, everyone was sympathetic to the Pope.
They were thinking, "Why is the Emperor so listless?"
And the one most sympathetic to such a Pope was Scholstov.
An ardent follower of the Church of Light, he visited the Holy Land of Uup Saktu once a month, squeezing time out of his busy schedule.
Even though the capital and the Holy Land were a hundred kilometers apart.
Every time, he went to worship on a forced march.
The Pope and Scholstov became close, and whenever they met at the Great Cathedral or the castle, they often chatted happily.
The Imperial Guard knights didn't leave, but they kept their distance and only watched from afar.
"I cannot directly tell the Emperor political matters myself. It is only painful."
"It is fine, Sir Scholstov. Just that feeling of yours is enough to make me want to come again."
"Hahaha, as expected of His Holiness the Pope. I will also go to the Holy Land for worship next week."
At Scholstov's words, the Pope nodded with a smile.
The two began walking side by side.
"When you arrive, please let me know. I have prepared some good red wine waiting for you."
"How kind. To receive instruction directly from Your Holiness."
Saying that, Scholstov tightened his expression slightly.
"With my limited strength, I am also working on my friends. Due to our position, we cannot speak too loudly, but internally many support the divine oracle. Everyone thinks Your Holiness is doing the right thing."
At those words, the Pope nodded firmly.
"It is so reassuring. I cannot accomplish this great war... fulfill the divine oracle with just my strength. Many people's power is needed."
Scholstov nodded.
For a while after that, they walked side by side talking about trivial matters.
"Well then, here. After this, are you returning to the Holy Land?"
When they reached the castle entrance, Scholstov asked.
"No, I plan to stay for a few days and meet with several Dukes and Marquis."
"I see."
Scholstov bowed his head lightly, and the Pope made a gesture of prayer.
"Then, Sir Scholstov. Let us meet again at the Holy Land."
"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope. At the Holy Land again."
The Pope joined the Temple Knights waiting at the entrance, boarded a carriage, and left the castle.