Chapter 176 - Chapter 175: The Power to Grant Wishes (With Date Supplement)
As if it were too late, a supplement on the dates...
Spring: Month of Water, June 4th to June 6th. ※End of fiscal year, enrollment season.
Summer: Month of Fire, July to September.
Autumn: Month of Wind, October to December.
Winter: Month of Earth, January to March. ※New Year.
In terms of feeling, it is close to Japan's four seasons.
The week consists of Sun Day, Moon Day, Fire Day, Water Day, Wind Day, and Earth Day.
The unfamiliar ones are Sun Day and Wind Day.
Sun Day is Sunday.
Wind Day is around Friday, the day before the weekend, so please grasp it that way.
Moon Day, Fire Day, Water Day, and Earth Day are simply Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
【Royal Capital Istora, Magic Academy, Girls' Dormitory】
"Hey, what is this!?"
A girl let out a bewildered cry.
She had gone to visit a friend's room on the same floor, and was returning because it was almost curfew time, only to find the room flooded with water.
Saying the room was flooded might be an exaggeration, but the area around the window was soaking wet.
And her roommate, Rimliche, had a pale blue face, tears in her eyes, and was wiping away that water.
The girl stared blankly at the scene for a moment, then finally let out a sigh.
"Did you just tip over a bucket? Really..."
"Uu... I'm sorry..."
For some reason, that bucket cannot be found.
Rimliche wiped up the water, then reached her hand out the window and wrung it out.
"That method will take too much trouble. Wait a moment. I'll help too."
"I'm sorry... thank you."
Rimliche looked dejected, yet she did not stop her hands from wiping and wringing the water.
Seeing her figure, the girl let out another sigh.
"If you look closely, Rimliche, you're soaked too. I'll go get a bucket, so you change your clothes too. You'll catch a cold, you know?"
"Y-yes..."
It was already getting quite cold, and here she was, soaked and with the window open.
The girl instructed Rimliche to change clothes, then went herself to the cleaning supplies closet to fetch a bucket.
■■■■■■
Month of Wind, 2nd, Week of 5th, Moon Day.
In the morning, when Mika arrived at the Academy, Rimliche was waiting in front of the gate.
She looked around restlessly, glancing this way and that.
Noticing Mika running toward the Academy, Rimliche dashed out as if propelled by a spring, coming straight toward him.
"Good morning, Rimliche. What's wrong?"
Mika addressed the slightly out-of-the-ordinary Rimliche, trying to keep his tone exactly as usual.
However, that did not clear the anxious expression on Rimliche's face.
"What should I do, Mika-kun... It happened..."
Rimliche, with a pale blue face, was on the verge of tears, looking desperate.
Yes.
Depending on what one imagines upon hearing Rimliche's line, one can tell if their heart is stained.
Of course, I, who possess a pure heart, do not imagine anything at all.
Yes, of course.
I just thought, "What is it?"
"...What's wrong, Rimliche? Did something happen?"
Mika asked, but Rimliche remained silent, gripping Mika's hand.
Passing through the gate, she led him to a spot slightly away from the flow of people.
Turning her back to the crowd, Rimliche brought her palm to her chest.
Then she muttered something quietly.
That is the correct answer.
Mika stared intently at Rimliche's hand.
No, strictly speaking, at the "thing" floating above her palm.
There, a mass of water the size of a volleyball floated.
Rimliche is a very excellent and straightforward girl.
Serious, earnest, and hardworking.
That is the correct evaluation everyone holds for the girl named Rimliche.
However, there is just one thing.
Just one, very regrettable point.
Everyone thinks, "If only this didn't exist..."
That is...
"Mika-kun's words are correct."
Yes, she believes it blindly.
Everyone feels a bit regretful about Rimliche, who admires Mika.
"Sure, he might be amazing, but is it really okay to believe him that much?" they think.
When she first entered the Junior Division of the Magic Academy.
With magic power far exceeding others, Rimliche was highly expected for her talent.
Rimliche herself still remembers very well how proud she felt about that.
But after that, she would struggle quite a bit.
She had plenty of magic power, but in the aspect of "growth" afterward, she barely grew at all.
While everyone else moved forward, she alone continued to stand still.
Days of worrying that she might be driven out of the Academy by her own despair.
Amidst such suffering, a hand was extended.
Thanks to the existence of Mika, she was able to move forward, even if just a little.
Though the pace was slow, she could realize for herself that she was growing.
If she followed Mika's advice, she could indeed move forward.
As a result, she achieved the major goals of participating in and completing the school trip.
And, the acquisition of [God's Miracle].
Mika, who acquired [God's Miracle] as if it were nothing, while everyone else took over half a year to finally master it.
By offering magic power exactly as advised, she managed to acquire [God's Miracle].
Moreover, that method was known by some.
"See, Mika-kun is amazing! Just as Mika-kun said!"
Through such experiences, [Imprinting] had been instilled into Rimliche.
Then, Rimliche saw Mika's magic.
Mika's magic, used as naturally as breathing, without needing incantations.
And not only that, Mika claimed he had been using it since before entering the Academy, without being taught by anyone.
"I just worked hard."
Watching Mika speak like that, Rimliche thought.
"If I work hard, can I become like Mika-kun?"
Rimliche's earnestness, her straightforward and hardworking nature, was put to use here.
However, it did not become easy to do so.
It has been nearly two years since the day she first saw Mika's magic.
She spent that much time practicing in secret.
"Will you tell no one?"
Asking that confirmed to Mika that she probably only told trusted people.
While happy to be trusted by Mika, she paid extreme attention so as not to be caught, so no one would see.
Even so, after a year passed, she still felt she couldn't do it at all.
Mika says "I just worked hard," but perhaps it requires talent like Mika's to do it?
Suppressing that feeling, she just wanted to be like Mika.
Wanting to get even a little closer to Mika, she continued practicing in hiding.
And thus, she finally succeeded last night.
There was no particular trigger.
She had simply practiced toward the outside through the window as usual, when her roommate was not there.
It was supposed to end with "As usual, I couldn't do it again."
But last night, a mass of water like Mika's appeared.
She never thought she could really do it.
Of course, at first, she thought, "It would be nice if I could make it like Mika."
But she couldn't do it for two years.
She had just done it as a daily routine, just like usual.
She had just visualized the mass of water Mika created and did it as usual.
But because she succeeded, Rimliche ended up confused instead.
"What should I do... It happened..."
Probably, Mika has not shown it to anyone else from the Leventein Group either.
No matter how troubled she was, she could not consult Cecilia or Charl.
Thinking that, Rimliche waited for the morning with a heart praying for tomorrow to come quickly.
After school, during the special training on Earth Day, Mika and Rimliche decided to talk at the edge of the field they always used.
Naturally, such a topic could not be discussed during magic control practice time.
Actually, it wasn't magic control practice time, but [God's Miracle] acquisition practice.
As usual, Rimliche had already acquired the two assigned [God's Miracles].
When told she would listen to a proper explanation after school, Rimliche first sighed in relief, her face showing a sense of security.
However, she still seemed unsettled, and today she had been asked many times by Cecilia and Charl, "What's wrong?" and "Are you okay?"
In the end, Cecilia explicitly accused Mika, saying "Mika did something."
Of course, I gave that Cecilia [that person] a fairly serious slap.
I actually intended to flick her forehead, but I restrained myself, thinking, "Is it okay to flick a girl's forehead with full force?"
Good job, me. I am restraining myself properly.
However, the gazes from everyone in the Leventein Group, including Cleiria, somehow became very cold.
I cannot understand...
Anyway, Mika heard from Rimliche the story of how she came to be able to use "Waterball".
Well, I thought anyone could use it as a matter of course, and rather wondered why no one used it, but seeing it with my own eyes is quite moving.
(Second after the reddish-haired young man... If I count myself, I am the third user.)
Rimliche looked at Mika with a very anxious expression.
So, Mika made a smile to reassure her.
"You don't have to look so anxious. What are you anxious about?"
"B-because..."
It seems she had targeted only Mika, looking only at him, but now that she actually succeeded, she became anxious.
About obtaining a secret power that no one else can do, a power no one knows about.
"Yes, I don't think you should take it so exaggeratedly. Though I think if it gets known at the Academy, it might cause trouble."
"Right... it is..."
At Mika's words, Rimliche's expression darkened rapidly.
What am I doing, making her depressed?
Failure, failure.
"Well, even if you don't use it openly, it's convenient. Just having water secured raises the survival rate instantly."
"Survival rate...?"
Rimliche tilted her head.
"You should carefully check if Rimliche's water is drinkable. At first, I just held it in my mouth and spat it out, or drank a little and observed for a day, to confirm it was water that wouldn't cause problems."
"...I see."
Rimliche blinked her eyes.
"If you can make harmless water as much as you like, you won't need water bags anymore. Well, I use water bags usually to avoid being caught, but in an emergency, that doesn't matter."
"Emergency? What kind of time?"
Mika roughly explained the assumed situations.
"In cases like getting lost in the mountains or retreating from a battlefield, securing water is usually difficult. But with 'Waterball', you can secure as much safe water as you want. We can use [Heal]. If you can secure water on top of that, don't you think the survival rate becomes impossibly high?"
"...I see."
Rimliche fell into thought.
Usually, Rimliche rarely goes outside the Academy grounds.
Unlike Mika, who wanders around here and there, going to mountains and such, one must normally keep securing water in mind.
Just being able to avoid thinking about that shows how much more blessed one is than ordinary people.
"Well, in the worst case, if you get caught, just play dumb. 'Huh? What are you talking about? That's impossible, right?'"
When Mika said that, Rimliche made a strange face.
An expression of being troubled, surprised, and wanting to cry, added together and piled on.
She must be imagining a situation where she is being interrogated.
"Rimliche, if you are interrogated, you might confess easily."
"...Yes."
It seems she lacks confidence herself.
She looks downcast.
However, even though she saw Mika's magic with her own eyes, it is surprising that she managed to do it on her own relying only on that.
This might mean that if the existence of magic were announced on a grand scale, the number of users might increase instantly.
(Well, I won't do such a thing.)
I will not throw away my own advantage.
I think it would be interesting if everyone could use it, but the impact would be too great.
Above all, if an unkind person obtained this power, the damage would not be limited to [God's Miracle].
Mika avoided creating things like poison gas because if control failed, the damage would be huge, but there might be those who spread it from upwind and commit indiscriminate terrorism.
However, I also feel that putting too many shackles on it just because it is dangerous is not good.
Mika extended his left hand, showing his palm to Rimliche.
Rimliche stared intently at that empty palm.
"Stone Bullet."
When Mika muttered that, a pebble appeared on his palm.
Rimliche stared at that stone with wide eyes.
"It's not just water that can be made."
When Mika said that, Rimliche looked at Mika with a startled expression.
She probably hadn't thought of that far until now.
It seems she had aimed only for the "Waterball" Mika created.
Mika threw the stone as hard as he could toward the field.
"Stone Bullet."
Clang...
The newly created "Stone Bullet" hit the thrown stone in mid-air, and a faint sound of breaking was heard far away.
Rimliche watched that scene with a dazed expression.
"Things like this can be done too. This is one of the reasons I could continue as an adventurer."
"A... ah...!?"
At Mika's words, Rimliche let out a faint sound as if groaning, her body trembling.
Then, she squatted down right there.
It seems she was so surprised she lost her footing.
Did I teach too much at once?
"Well, I didn't survive just with 'Stone Bullet'. Actually, I nearly died a few times."
So, he smiled bitterly.
"There are times when I survived purely by luck. When I first fought a magical beast, it was terrible."
Still, the big reason an eight-year-old child could fight a magical beast was this "Stone Bullet".
Even now, this "Stone Bullet" is Mika's main weapon.
Considering the required magic power and the effects obtained, it is the most balanced in various ways.
Mika squatted down next to Rimliche, who had squatted, and squatted himself.
Then, he spoke to Rimliche, who was still dazed.
"You don't have to force yourself to use power. There is no need to become an adventurer. But..."
Mika paused for a breath.
"This power is the power to grant wishes. The power to fulfill desires. I think it is a very excellent means to that end."
Rimliche slowly turned toward Mika.
"...The power to grant...?"
"Yes, I think so."
Mika smiled at Rimliche.
"I am greedy, you know. I have granted many things, this and that. Even now, I am doing it secretly behind the scenes."
Saying that, he put his index finger to his lips.
The thing I want to grant this time might take some time and effort.
Still, someday, surely, with these hands! Rare metal!
"I thought Mika-kun was always busy with various things. But at the Academy, it seems a bit boring."
At Rimliche's words, Mika involuntarily smiled bitterly.
"At the Academy, there is a set curriculum. I can't use this power openly... well, I do use it quite a bit. Things I can do at the Academy, and things I can do outside. I do various things separately."
Like drawing circuit diagrams for magic tools during class, for example.
"So, if there is something you want to do or something you want to grant, using this power to grant it might be good, right?"
"I see..."
Muttering that, Rimliche looked down and thought.
But soon she smiled bitterly.
"I probably haven't thought about it much. About what I want to do."
"Indeed, that might be true."
Basically, Rimliche is passive.
She rarely says things like "I want to do this" or "I want to do that" actively.
That is why, when she sometimes asks for advice like "I want to do this" or "I want to become this," I feel like lending a hand.
Mika stood up and looked up at the sky, which was... not cloudless.
Even if it is an autumn clear day, a sky with not a single cloud is rare.
"It's fine to take it slowly. Don't rush, think well. Then, secretly, without being caught, grant your wish."
"That sounds a bit like cheating, with that phrasing."
Rimliche also stood up, looked at Mika, and made a slightly troubled face.
"If you aren't caught, it's not cheating."
"You admit it's cheating then?"
I admit it myself, that it is a somewhat cheating power, yes.
Mika and Rimliche looked at each other, exchanging direct gazes.
Then, both of them smiled without prompting.
"Take your time thinking about it. It's just that you have one more option."
"Yes... Thank you, Mika-kun."
Saying that, Rimliche showed a refreshed smile.
She had thought too much since morning, and if anything, since last night, so today a sense of tragedy had been floating around.
Not to the extent of her eye highlights disappearing, though.
Seeing Rimliche off, telling him to consult her if anything else happened, Mika also left the Academy gate.
"...What kind of power usage will she do?"
With this power that seems omnipotent, what will Rimliche grant?
It is a bit exciting...
"She'll probably say she didn't have anything she wanted to grant that much, Rimliche."
She'll probably think that cheating is not good.
Well, if that's the case, that's fine.
It is just one option.
Whether to use it or not is up to her.
Mika involuntarily smiled at his own imagination.
But immediately, he looked straight ahead.
"Well then, shall I cheat to my full capacity?"
I will cheat with all my might.
Since I have it, I might as well.
With such determination in his heart, Mika ran off.