Chapter 225 - Chapter 224: The Forbidden Request
"This is a title held by the Royal Family. Mika."
Cleiria looked straight at Mika with a serious gaze.
Hearing those words, Mika leaned back against the chair and let out a deep sigh.
"............Lately, it's all just this kind of thing."
Seeing Mika hang his head, Cleiria spoke to him with concern.
"Are you alright, Mika? What on earth are you getting involved in?"
"It's not so much getting involved as it is mostly self-inflicted?"
Mika smiled weakly at that, and Cleiria reached out her hand smoothly.
"Mika."
Prompted by Cleiria, Mika placed his hand over hers.
Cleiria took Mika's hand and cupped it with both hands.
"I do not know what you are doing, Mika. But you are someone I have decided to be my partner. No matter what happens, that will not change."
And so, she squeezed Mika's hand tightly.
"Cleiria......."
For the first time, Mika realized the weight of Cleiria's resolve.
The engagement pushed forward forcefully by the Marquis.
Without regard for Cleiria's wishes, a future partner was decided.
Even so, Cleiria did not waver.
(In the end, we never had time to talk properly, and it just ended up like this.......)
He learned for the first time that she was thinking about him so seriously.
(Thinking about it, it's only natural.)
There was no way Cleiria would stay with casual feelings.
She must have been watching Mika, who was resisting the forceful engagement, with a sad heart.
She would never say it out loud, though.
"I'm sorry, Cleiria. I'm always just causing trouble."
When Mika said that, Cleiria smiled softly.
"I am not being troubled. ..........I am just a little surprised. Always."
At those words, Mika couldn't help but laugh.
After that, he was taught various things about how to handle the title.
It was common for high-ranking nobles to hold multiple titles, and the Royal Family was the same.
"The names of noble houses.......The total number of noble houses naturally increases and decreases. They are granted titles, or heirs die out. Or they are merged and cease to exist."
Cleiria looked slightly upward and explained while recalling memories.
"When heirs die out, the Royal Family holds them, or they are placed under the state's custody, depending on the situation. The rules are set by law, but honestly, it is so complex that even I cannot fully understand it."
Managing titles was one of the duties of the Royal Palace, involving very complicated laws.
"Do you consider the Royal Family's holdings and the state's custody separately? They seem like similar things to me."
"Yes. However, for example, when granting them to vassals, it seems they are often given from the state's custody. And when lending to royalty, they lend from the Royal Family's holdings."
"Lend? Titles?"
Mika asked back, and Cleiria nodded.
"The Viscountcy of Mumbaro is likely a title lent out in that manner."
Normally, a noble house's name and their lands come as a set.
But when a noble house's name falls under the Royal Family or state custody, it is said to be separated from the lands once.
All lands become directly controlled by the Royal Family, and stewards are appointed.
When these noble houses under the Royal Family or state custody are formally granted or transferred, they are linked to lands again or new lands are designated and given.
However, "lending" means lending just the name, while the lands remain under direct Royal Family control.
It seems to be permission to "use that name" when hiding one's identity as royalty and doing something privately.
"............So, this is a case of going incognito?"
Mika muttered that, and Cleiria gave a bitter smile.
(To a commoner, it doesn't matter if it's royalty or nobility, they're all the same.)
It was a system hard for Mika to understand, but he understood that was just how it was.
"......So, then. Who is the one using the name Mumbaro?"
When Mika said that, Cleiria shook her head.
"I am sorry, Mika. Even I cannot go that far......."
It seemed she did not know.
"However, there was a brief mention of this at a tea party before. There is a member of the royal family who goes out incognito like that."
"Um.......I don't know if that refers to this Viscountcy of Mumbaro, but there is a rumored person who actually goes incognito.......is that what you mean?"
When Mika confirmed, Cleiria nodded.
"By the way, who is that person?"
"His Royal Highness Crown Prince Cranzard."
"Oh......!?"
Mika was speechless without meaning to.
A huge figure was brought up, and his vision spun.
Don't tell me the Crown Prince is wandering around using a fake name!
At that moment, the room door was knocked on.
"Miss Cleiria. Did something happen?"
A knight's voice came from outside the room.
(Crap.)
It seemed his voice had gotten too loud.
"N-no, nothing at all."
Cleiria answered in a panic, but through "Big Ear", he could tell the knight in the hallway was somewhat suspicious.
"Thanks, Cleiria. You saved me."
Mika whispered that and stood up, rushing toward the window.
"Mika! Be careful!"
Cleiria called out in a low voice, clinging to Mika who was trying to go out the window.
Mika smiled, put his index finger to his lips, exited the window, and slowly floated up into the air.
Cleiria covered her mouth with her hand and stared at Mika with wide eyes.
"Good night. See ya."
Leaving those words behind, Mika soared up into the sky at once.
■■■■■■
The next morning, Mika went to the South Gate as instructed and showed his crest.
Immediately, a carriage arrived, and he was instructed to get on.
The carriage was a bit shabby for a noble to ride in.
Still, it was a box-type passenger car, quite grand enough for a commoner to ride.
Mika got on the carriage as instructed, and it departed immediately.
There was one driver in the carriage, but the driver's seat was outside the passenger car.
Only Mika was riding inside.
(No explanation at all?)
There was no explanation of where they were going.
Considering what Cleiria taught him yesterday, it wasn't hard to understand why he should be on maximum alert, but what about calling him here like this?
(......Well, let it be what it will be.)
With a somewhat reckless feeling, he gently stroked the bracelet on his left arm.
Mika had already raised [Physical Enhancement] to four times.
He was ready to increase output at any time and jump out of the carriage.
He wondered if he was being too cautious, but the opponent was royalty.
Moreover, the Crown Prince was the most likely possibility for now.
Considering the possibility of being summoned by one of the three people in this country not subject to the law, he could not afford to be careless.
Especially since it was using the name of the incognito version, not as the Crown Prince.
Thus, the carriage arrived at a somewhat dilapidated mansion on the edge of District 1.
Saying "arrived", he meant outside the grounds.
Arriving at the gate, the carriage stopped there.
The driver opened the door and silently urged Mika to get off.
Getting off the carriage, the gate in front was slightly open.
Indicating to enter with his hand, Mika followed with a sigh.
As Mika passed through the gate, the driver closed it without saying a word.
It made a clattering, ear-piercing sound, a chain was wrapped around the gate, and it was locked from the outside.
And so, the carriage drove away right there.
Mika watched that scene in silence.
(............Is this a performance......?)
If they truly intended to harm Mika, they could have simply invited him for tea and poisoned it.
If it was truly the Crown Prince, they would not be guilty even if they did that.
To go through such a performance and still not be wary of someone like that means they are not someone who places themselves on a battlefield in the first place.
(I'm going to attack now. Be on guard.)
It felt like he was saying that.
Due to his position, Mika had no choice but to comply.
Whether it was the Crown Prince or another royal, he had no choice but to accompany them until they were satisfied.
Mika extended his magic range to twenty meters.
The filled mana was a bit thin, but he maintained it at a level where he could grasp the surrounding situation.
(These magic tools for stabilizing mana are wonderful.)
He could grasp this range even without deploying "Absorb Wing".
And he had a heavily reinforced bracelet for increasing durability.
With this, it was almost impossible to be dealt with by violence.
Mika left the gate and walked toward the mansion.
(......Four...... five...... six people.)
And so, he counted the number of people hiding in the garden bushes.
Since he had deployed his magic range of twenty meters in radius, it was obvious who was hiding.
Shhh!
Something entered the magic range from slightly above diagonally.
Mika lightly moved sideways to dodge it.
It was an arrow.
(......This is terrible, man. From the mansion's balcony?)
There was a shooter near the second-floor balcony of the mansion in front.
Continuing, two more arrows flew, but he dodged one and caught the other with his bare hand.
When Mika tossed the arrow aside, the people hiding in the bushes revealed themselves.
Everyone was dressed like bandits, but their posture was clean.
Judging by their movements and formation, they had received formal training.
Several people jumped out from behind the building and joined the encirclement.
Surrounded by six, with four positioned outside the circle.
(......Is this everyone?)
Including the shooter on the balcony, the opponent was eleven people.
There might be others hiding.
He must not be careless and deal with them.
(It's foolish to get hurt by this.)
While Mika was thinking that and looking at the bandit on his side, the bandit on the opposite position charged with a sword.
As one charged, the surrounding bandits cooperated and charged one after another.
Mika quickly dodged them, broke the encirclement, and approached the mansion.
However, the bandits waiting outside the encirclement covered in, and the encirclement was repaired immediately.
(Their skill level is surprisingly high.)
Honestly, it was higher than the knights of the Fifth Knights Order.
Each individual bandit possessed sword skills equivalent to a captain rank in the Fifth Knights Order.
While dodging the approaching swords one after another, Mika also paid attention to the shooter on the balcony.
The balcony was already within his magic range, and he had grasped the shooter's movements.
However, the shooter seemed to have no intention of shooting anymore, just standing still without nocking an arrow.
Mika dodged many swords while paying attention to positioning himself toward the thinner parts of the encirclement.
(Even with the same all-around attack, a swarm of En Batamos is scarier.)
Beasts that relentlessly rush forward and attack with their appetites laid bare are far more terrifying.
The bandits had a nasty habit of taking advantage of Mika's openings, but he didn't feel fear.
(......It's annoying though.)
Mika, who had only been dodging until now, briefly showed a sign of counterattacking.
At that moment, the bandits became wary, adjusted their stances, and took distance.
At that movement, Mika almost laughed involuntarily.
"Which do you prefer? Shall I crush you? Or shall I crush you?"
Mika looked up at the balcony and spoke.
On the balcony, besides the shooter, two people were hiding.
Probably, one of these two was the Viscountcy of Mumbaro.
When Mika spoke, the bandits were confused, but they immediately pointed their swords at Mika again.
"......Understood. That's enough. Stop there."
A voice came down from the balcony, and the bandits sheathed their swords.
One of the bandits opened the mansion door, and four followed around Mika.
The rest seemed to have gone back to guarding the grounds and the mansion.
Guided by the bandits, they went to the second floor.
Inside the mansion, knights were everywhere, and at least ten knights were guarding just by sight.
Arriving at the balcony, there was a well-dressed old man who looked very much like a warrior, and many knights protecting him.
Mika followed the guidance to the front of the old man and knelt there.
He recognized this old man's face.
He remembered seeing the Crown Prince at the twentieth-anniversary party, and he had this kind of face.
"When did you notice?"
Such a voice fell from above his head.
Mika answered without raising his head while kneeling.
"About what? About the Crown Prince? Or about the bodyguard knights pretending to be bandits?"
"Everything. When did you start suspecting?"
The Crown Prince seemed somewhat frustrated.
That could be heard from his voice.
"Regarding 'when'.......I suspected from the very beginning. I realized immediately that they were setting a trap. I was certain it was a test with the arrows."
"Arrows? What about the arrows?"
"The arrowheads were round."
When he caught the flying arrow, the arrowhead he happened to see was a round sphere.
Even so, if it hit, he would be injured, and if it entered his eye, it could go to his brain.
Well, he vaguely understood that they were considering something.
The fact that he thought this was consideration made him want to punch him.
It seemed the Crown Prince, only watching from the balcony, did not realize he had caught the arrow, and he was speechless.
An old knight waiting diagonally behind the Crown Prince spoke in a low voice, and he finally came to his senses.
The Crown Prince cleared his throat lightly and started saying something strange.
"You. Will you come to me?"
At the Crown Prince's sudden recruitment, the knights present stirred a little.
"Is today's purpose about that?"
"No, that is another matter."
"I see. If it is your command, I cannot refuse, but I cannot judge which takes precedence: the mage's duty or the law. I am sorry, but I cannot answer immediately."
When Mika answered that, the Crown Prince grunted slightly.
I will obey the Crown Prince's command, but I do not know which takes priority, the law or this.
It was a safe answer meaning, "It's difficult to break the law even for that."
The Crown Prince himself was not bound by the law, but his vassals were not exempt from the law either.
Furthermore, the knights present here were not all vassals of the Crown Prince.
They were knights who swore loyalty to the King.
Even though the next king was decided, he would not have his own vassals yet.
Although there might be knights secretly swearing loyalty.
And so, the location moved from the balcony to the room, and people were dismissed.
In the room were Mika, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Cranzard, and an old knight who seemed to be the person in charge of the Crown Prince's protection.
"I would like to ask you for this."
What the old knight placed on the table was a Magic Bag.
"I had heard about someone with a unique [Skill], but I could not bring myself to believe it. While I was watching and waiting, I was forbidden from making requests."
The Crown Prince explained the situation simply with a guilty-looking face.
"It is said that in the Royal Castle, many contents have already been taken out, and there has never been a failure. So I decided to try, and when I consulted about wanting to make a request no matter what, this plan to summon you was presented."
Hearing the Crown Prince's story, Mika hung his head with a "what a bother" feeling.
(......So that's why the Guild said nothing.)
Once the request content is known, it cannot be accepted.
It would be clearly ignoring an order from the country.
So, they took the form of "I don't know the request content, but I was forced by a noble."
Damn it......, you should have told me about that kind of thing!
Shesbarno must have figured out that the Viscountcy of Mumbaro was the Crown Prince.
Noble house names used by royalty to hide their identities are likely only revealed to those of relatively high rank.
Shesbarno should have been in a position to know originally, but he probably only remembered after asking other captains.
Information brokers probably couldn't easily talk about the noble house information the Crown Prince was using as a disguise.
They could talk about the crest, but they wouldn't sell information linking it to the Crown Prince for money.
They might have exchanged it for other, more valuable information.
Like the true identity of the rumored alchemist, for example.
Mika recalled the unease of the past few days and grimaced.
He understood the reason and accepted it, but his anger would not subside.
Really......, causing trouble for me.
While Mika was breathing somewhat roughly, the old knight placed three large gold coins on the table with a clink.
Three coins.
"The reward is three large gold coins. I absolutely want you to succeed."
At the Crown Prince's words, Mika was a little surprised.
It seemed they would actually pay the reward.
Even so, three million Rats was an extraordinary amount for a Salvage request.
(Salvage in the Royal Castle is free to skip, but the Crown Prince intends to pay.)
He honestly felt impressed by that.
Seeing Mika's reaction, the Crown Prince gave a bitter smile.
"It seems they did not pay rewards in the Royal Castle. Well, academy students and court mages are people who think obeying orders is natural. They might have heard reports of commoner life, but they have never seen it themselves."
"Has Your Highness seen it?"
When Mika asked that, the old knight grimaced.
"I rarely go these days, but in the past, I often went drinking with knights while pretending to be a commoner. Getting drunk at a tavern in District 2. I once got into a massive brawl with other drunks and was thrown into the Knights Order's dungeon. Hahaha."
"Eh!?"
What are you doing!?
Throwing the Crown Prince into a dungeon, or throwing him in, is making me turn blue!
The Crown Prince laughed it off as youthful indiscretion, but it wasn't a laughing matter for those around him!
The old knight behind him looked tired, and he must have been serving since then.
He didn't seem to be the Crown Prince back then, but he was a prince who did quite reckless things.
With that, how did he become the Crown Prince?
While Mika looked at the Crown Prince with a stunned expression, the old knight cleared his throat and brought the conversation back.
Mika came to his senses and reached for the Magic Bag.
"Indeed, there have been no failures so far, but that does not guarantee absolute success. If you dislike even a little Loss, I think you should stop."
Saying that, he confirmed again what to do.
The Crown Prince made a pained expression and hesitated.
"......Please."
"Understood."
If he paid extreme attention, Mika thought he would not fail.
But he did not know what would happen.
Therefore, he had to make them prepared for Loss regarding that.
Mostly, no matter how much he confirmed, they probably couldn't actually prepare for that.
This was merely a reminder so that Mika could say "I told you so."
And so, he interacted with the Magic Bag, and it ended safely as usual.
When he put his hand inside the bag, it felt strange.
(This is.......)
And so, Mika placed the contents on the table.
Brooches, hair ornaments, necklaces, and other decorations.
Many dolls and stuffed animals, music boxes, instruments, books.
What was inside were things for children.
Moreover, they seemed to be items owned by girls.
The Crown Prince touched the items placed on the table one after another with trembling hands, and the old knight made a face as if enduring pain.
(Maybe.......your daughter?)
The Crown Prince looked to be in his early forties.
Not even a child, it would not be strange if he had grandchildren.
The Crown Prince could not speak, only letting out a hot breath, picking up the brooches, and stroking them as if cherishing them.
Mika was urged by the old knight to leave the room.
As Mika followed the old knight toward the door,
"......Thank you.......I will never forget you......."
A voice whispered softly reached his ears.
Turning around, the Crown Prince held a doll and quietly shed tears.
Mika could say nothing, just bowed his head slightly, and left the room.
Although he was somewhat led around, he successfully completed the mysterious designated request.
Mika decided to spend the remaining two weeks of vacation slowly.
However, a few days later.
The Imperial Army is moving———
News was brought to the capital.
Finally, the peaceful era lasting over fifty years was coming to a close, and they were about to plunge into war.
Thank you for reading this far.
Chapter 4: Magic Academy Intermediate Course Arc is now complete.
From the next time, Chapter 5: Magic Academy Advanced Course Arc will begin.
I am so happy that so many people have read it.
Yet, I feel terrible with my clumsy writing as always.......
I cannot express the images in my head well in text, and I am tilting my head every day.
Even so, I will try my best to write so that those who took the trouble to read can enjoy it even a little.
Then, please continue to support Chapter 5 as well.