Chapter 187 - Chapter 186: The Ideal Adventurer's Life
The third day of the third week of the month of Earth.
Mika was in Sarbengeal.
During his return home, he had spent fulfilling days learning about Spaelement while playing with magical beasts in the forest.
But, as he learned about Spaelement, he began to want to try it out a little.
So, while learning how to install it from a book, he actually tried it a little.
That was the reason he came to the magic tool shop to buy materials for that purpose.
"Never thought I'd see you using Spaelement."
The old man at the magic tool shop was surprised.
"Do you have an interest in making magic tools?"
"Hmm, this is interesting in its own way, but magic tools are just a means, right?"
"That is certainly true. Do you have something else you want to do?"
At the old man's question, Mika grinned.
Seeing Mika's expression, the old man suddenly realized something.
"Could it be... you're getting into Alchemy!?"
"Ahahaha, well, it's within the scope of my hobbies, my hobbies."
Speaking of which, he had warned me before not to get too obsessed.
The old man let out a sigh.
"Try not to go overboard? I've seen several people get hooked and meet their ruin."
People who had visited this magic tool shop diligently would suddenly stop coming one day.
Later, through rumors... it seemed to happen many times.
"I can't get hooked even if I wanted to, because I have the Academy. I have no choice but to focus on the Academy (that side) during normal times."
"As long as you can think like that, you are fine."
"Will I reach a point where I can't think like that?"
Mika gave a bitter smile.
Attending the Academy, handling commissioned requests, and making magic tools would come after that.
Mika still seemed fine.
If the priority rose, a little caution might be needed.
And so, for a while, he and the old man discussed magic tool making.
They talked about mixing this attribute with that attribute, causing attenuation or disturbance, getting into slightly niche topics.
Mika laughed until tears came to his eyes at the old man's past failure stories.
Regarding rare metals, the old man took the stance that they "do not contain mana."
I thought about telling him what Paraleira had taught me, but decided against it.
It would be bad for Paraleira, and more importantly, for the old man, alchemy was a hobby.
It would be better to enjoy being immersed than to know the facts.
Even if I taught him "the fact is this" now, it would only make him depressed that his past research was ruined.
After leaving the magic tool shop, the next stop was the Adventurer's Guild.
That said, I wasn't there to accept any requests.
I was just there to settle the mana accumulated in my card.
Last year, when Yunressa saw the mana left inside the card, she was terribly surprised.
Well, with nearly three thousand slaying records, it wasn't surprising.
So, when coming to buy materials for magic tool making, I decided to stop by the Guild on the way.
And so, without waiting in line at all, I quickly handed over my card at the counter to settle up.
It amounted to two gold coins or more.
(...Just by hunting magical beasts, I seem to be able to easily earn a month's wages for an average adventurer.)
It was because I had hunted that many, but even just hunting, without any requests, it was quite a profit.
(————Huh!?)
At that moment, Mika's body was suddenly lifted.
Mika twisted his body in a flash and escaped from the arm holding him.
"Oh? Isn't this the young master?"
Gaeras's carefree voice was heard, and the identity of the person trying to lift Mika was revealed.
It was Kaerya.
"Kaerya! That scared me! Stop trying to carry me suddenly!"
At Mika's fierce protest, Kaerya just made a disappointed face.
She definitely doesn't understand.
Definitely don't do that again, with that face.
"I thought something happened when Kaerya suddenly moved, but it was just you, Mika-kun."
Salomrassa walked over with a bitter smile.
Gaeras was also by his side.
"Why are the three of you in Sarbengeal?"
"We were just moving around various places for work."
That was what Gaeras answered.
Indeed, Kaerya's party should have been heading towards the mountain range spanning the border, seeking B-rank requests.
I heard that story half a year ago already.
"It's awkward just standing here, shall we talk while eating somewhere? I also have things I want to ask Mika-kun."
Salomrassa proposed such a thing.
"Things you want to ask me?"
"Well, let's do that while eating."
At Salomrassa's proposal, Kaerya and Gaeras nodded.
And so, they moved to a nearby restaurant.
During the move, Kaerya tried to carry me many times, but I managed to avoid it.
"Were you traveling around so much?"
While eating and listening to the three of them talk, Mika muttered like a sigh.
I had almost finished eating, but Kaerya still seemed like she was going to eat more.
Kaerya, Salomrassa, and Gaeras had traveled through various lands in the last six months.
Their target was B-rank requests, but if there were no B-rank requests, they went to the next town.
Moving to the other town while doing escort work, moving to this town while guarding mail transport, and so on.
It seemed they had fought various monsters and magical beasts in many towns, met and parted with various people, and finally arrived in Sarbengeal.
(Damn it, I'm envious! That's the ideal adventurer's life!)
This was one of the images of an adventurer Mika aspired to.
Always being rootless was one thing, but sometimes, an adventure journey that flows as one pleases, as the wind blows.
Completing requests in the towns along the way to earn money, then moving to the next town.
A wind-blown adventurer who wanders from town to town.
(Too cool! I want to go on such a journey too!!!)
I wanted to travel for half a year like Salomrassa and them, or preferably for about a year.
Mika groaned "Kii!" while biting a handkerchief, shedding tears of frustration.
Inside his heart.
"The young master must have had a hard time too? We were traveling, so we couldn't do anything about it."
"Hmm? Hard time?"
What is that?
At Gaeras's words, Mika tilted his head.
"A fake 'Dispeller' appeared, and it seems various things happened involving the Guild headquarters."
Salomrassa said to Mika like that with a bitter smile.
"Oh, yes, there were such things."
"There were such things, young master..."
Gaeras looked at Mika, who said it so casually, half-closing his eyes and muttering in disbelief.
"It wasn't that difficult. I had extra trouble because of those fools, but..."
I ended up paying a high tax, but I was able to recover it, and I made a little profit.
I am a little surprised at my own sense of money that I can call nearly four million Rats "a little."
"Through the Information Broker Guild connections, I also heard various things later, and I was surprised that you managed to get through safely."
"It must have involved the Guild headquarters, specifically the upper echelons, right?"
"Yes. The father of the main culprit was a Guild executive. Well, rather than being involved, it felt more like being caught up in the main culprit's rampage."
If they could impose disciplinary action on Mika even with a stretch, when similar damage occurred, they could easily pin the blame on "that guy again."
Since they genuinely thought they could get away with it, they must have been able to do whatever they wanted up until now.
They were so convinced that it was fine even though others had overlooked it out of consideration.
"Anyway, please tell me more about the travel. What kind of magical beasts were there?"
When Mika urged them with sparkling eyes, Salomrassa and Gaeras looked at each other and gave a bitter smile.
Then, they told Mika in detail about this trip.
■■■■■■
[Capital City Istora, Royal Castle]
Knock knock.
A light knocking sound echoed in the room, but there was no answer.
That was unavoidable.
The master of the room was still asleep.
Creak.
After a few beats, the door opened.
Entering were six maids.
Behind them followed eight knights.
The maids opened the curtains, wiped the table, replaced the flowers, and moved briskly.
One of the maids.
An elderly woman quietly approached the bedside and gently spoke to the master of the room.
"Your Majesty. Good morning."
The name of the elderly man sleeping in the large bed was Kernils Ektramze.
The current King of the Kingdom of Ektrem.
This was Kernils's private quarters.
Even calling it private quarters, the space was wide enough to easily fit a commoner's house.
Royalty.
Those called Your Majesty or Your Highness, in particular, hardly have any private life.
In this private quarters, there was a table with enough space for meetings, and a sofa that could seat ten people.
This was not only a place for Kernils's life but also a conference room, a reception room, and an office.
Kernils kept his eyes closed and did not move.
He was quietly breathing.
Seeing such a scene, the elderly maid let out a soft sigh.
"Stop pretending to sleep, Nieslaza."
Lowering her voice so as not to be heard by others, she whispered softly.
Kernils, who should have been sleeping until then, suddenly opened his eyes.
"This is the worst awakening. I opened my eyes and there was a frail old woman. ...Is this the afterlife?"
Muttering such a complaint, Kernils sat up.
The elderly maid did not retort to Kernils like that but silently put a gown on his shoulders as he got off the bed.
"Dedoderic. Why is Nieslaza here? I thought it was a continuation of a nightmare."
The man in his forties called Dedoderic respectfully bowed his head.
"Of course, because I wanted Your Majesty to regain your energy. You seemed a bit tired recently."
"...Do not do unnecessary things."
Saying that, Kernils waved his hand at Dedoderic as if to drive him away.
Taking that as a signal, all the maids and knights in the room exited.
When Dedoderic exited last, he glanced at the elderly maid Nieslaza.
Dedoderic was the Prime Minister steering this country.
He gave appropriate advice to the King Kernils, sought the most desirable results for the King, and worried every day.
The development and peace of the Kingdom of Ektrem were ultimately for the King Kernils.
He was a wise man who could always place the King at the center and manage state affairs above that.
And then, the maid Nieslaza.
A maid who has served since Kernils's childhood, almost like an older sister.
Nieslaza herself wanted to be a maid serving His Majesty the King, but Kernils would not allow it.
He would pretend to sleep like just now, or play pranks to make Nieslaza's calm face crumble over small things.
At his age...
But, Nieslaza was originally retired.
She had already been given leave, but she didn't go to a leisurely retirement.
She was often called by Dedoderic and made to be a conversation partner for His Majesty the King.
...Such was the arrangement.
Confirming that everyone had left the room, Kernils's expression changed to serious.
"Is there a report?"
While taking his seat, he spoke to Nieslaza who was brewing tea.
"It seems that unscrupulous people are entering and leaving the Earldom of Latajis and several other territories."
Unscrupulous people in this case did not mean thugs.
They were entities harmful to the Kingdom, and by extension, the Royal Family.
"What about the lords?"
"Perhaps the lords are just unaware. It doesn't seem like they are colluding..."
If the lords were just unaware, I could inform them and have them suppress it.
But, if they were colluding by any chance, it wouldn't end with just beheading the head of the house.
In the worst case, the house would have to be abolished.
"Proceed with the investigation carefully. If the lord's loyalty is not shaken, we may handle it generously before it becomes a big issue."
"Yes."
If it became a big issue, there would be a need to make them take some responsibility.
That was unavoidable.
That was what it meant to serve as a lord.
If "I didn't know" was enough, there would be no need for lords.
"However..."
"What is it?"
Drinking a sip of the tea brewed by Nieslaza.
The aroma spreading throughout the mouth and the refreshing acidity made me feel better despite hearing a dark report.
Basically, most reports brought by Nieslaza were not good.
This was because she was gathering such information.
It was not an organization of the Royal Palace or the Royal Family.
It was an information organization personally organized by Kernils.
The Royal Palace and the Ministry of Military Affairs also had departments for intelligence activities and information gathering.
And Kernils's organization had people infiltrating even those places.
It was not Kernils's unique idea.
Previous kings also created their own if they felt it was necessary.
An organization that the common people called the King's eyes or the King's ears.
Everyone knew of its existence through rumors.
Believers believed, non-believers did not.
Such an organization whose very existence was vague.
Kernils put down the cup.
Then, he signaled Nieslaza with his eyes to continue.
Nieslaza looked straight at Kernils and continued the report.
"There is a high possibility that the Church is involved."
"The Church? At what level?"
"Probably... a Bishop."
Nieslaza let out a breath.
For the pious Nieslaza, this reality must be mentally taxing.
"A Bishop... Which faction is that Bishop from?"
"The Pope's faction."
At Nieslaza's reply, Kernils shook his head.
"Pity, but a Bishop is not enough to discuss. I want deeper information."
He muttered that.
Kernils's information organization had gathered quite excellent personnel.
He was reasonably satisfied with the information brought, but there was one dissatisfaction.
That was that the organization itself was young.
No matter what, they could not penetrate deep into the ancient, huge organizations.
They could get information by bribing and bringing them in, but such things were prone to leaks.
There was still room to infiltrate the Guild, but the Church was a troublesome entity.
Still, they could infiltrate more than before...
"Continue to strive for infiltration."
Kernils rested his arm on the armrest and propped his cheek with his hand.
Nieslaza respectfully bowed her head.
"Is there anyone who has infiltrated the Church within the Ministry of Military Affairs?"
"The Ministry of Military Affairs is basically directed outward."
The intelligence agency within the Ministry of Military Affairs mainly conducted sabotage and information gathering within the Gronoir Empire.
The department within the Royal Palace aimed at information gathering did not have the Church as its main purpose.
"I can't use Dedoderic for information gathering (this side) either."
Of course, Dedoderic the Prime Minister was given a mountain of more important work.
Information gathering (this side) was like Kernils's hobby, so he wanted to keep it separate if possible.
When Kernils finished his tea, Nieslaza poured a refill.
"This one is not yet clear movement, but..."
With such a preamble, Nieslaza reported a movement that concerned her.
"Some Archbishops and Bishops of several dioceses are making somewhat suspicious movements. However, it is not clear what they are doing... The movement seems to be spreading to the Pope as well."
"Ho..."
Kernils stopped propping his cheek and sat up.
"What kind of movement?"
"Up to that point, it is still... However, they are gradually becoming active, and it looks suspicious."
"Is there ever a time when those guys are not suspicious?"
Kernils lightly raised the corner of his mouth.
"Keep a close watch on that movement."
"Yes."
Kernils lightly rubbed his stomach.
He felt a little hungry.
"Is that all for today's report?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Nieslaza respectfully bowed her head.
"Then, see you again. And, you are not His Majesty, right?"
When Kernils said that, Nieslaza helplessly gave a bitter smile.
"At the latest, I will come again next month. Nir."
At Nieslaza's reply, Kernils nodded satisfactorily.