Chapter 232 - Chapter 231: Those Who Risk Their Lives
The first day of the Month of Water, the third week. Wind Day.
After spending several days helping with the mopping-up operations in the Leventein domain, Mika returned to the Royal Capital.
News of the Imperial Army's defeat had already spread throughout the capital, intertwining with the earlier information about the Domain Army and Kingdom Army's retreat, causing quite a bit of chaos.
Kistil and Nerisfeene were being protected by Cleiria.
It seemed Cleiria had moved immediately after Mika had rushed out.
When Mika returned to the Royal Capital last night, he went to see Cleiria first to report on his family's safety.
The moment she saw Mika appear from the window, Cleiria was startled, her face twisted, and then she slapped his cheek with all her might.
After that, she clung to Mika and cried.
I knew this would happen, but it seems I caused her quite a lot of worry.
............By the way, using [Heal] has been forbidden.
No, I wouldn't use it anyway for something like this.
Kistil and Nerisfeene were also very worried about Mika, but once the rumor of "an Apostle appearing on the battlefield" spread, they quickly realized it was about Mika.
"Finally, everyone knows about the existence of the 'Messengers of the Gods [Apostles].'"
With that, Nerisfeene seemed a little proud.
Since the capital was still unsettled, Mika had thought about having Kistil and Nerisfeene stay at Cleiria's mansion, but they refused to return with him.
"I think Fee-chan is at home."
Kistil said she was a little worried about Fee, who wasn't showing up.
(Probably, I think she's just acting normally.)
Even while Mika was in the Leventein domain, Fee kept draining his mana from time to time.
Really, no matter the distance, that person [Fee] sucks up my mana.
What kind of logic makes that happen?
And so, when Mika and the others returned home, Fee was expressing joy with a mirror ball.
Seriously, that's making my eyes twitch, so stop it.
By the way, there was no summons from the Royal Palace.
Well, they are probably still verifying the information.
Eventually, the information that the Apostle appearing on the battlefield = Mika will reach them, and the Academy will likely summon him.
So, for now, we decided to leave it alone.
And, when he went to the Academy, he was told all sorts of things by everyone.
Well, since everyone still didn't know why Mika had been absent, it was more like "skipping class" and such.
However, amidst all that, one child noticed that the rumored Apostle was Mika.
Rimliche.
"Of course, that was Mika-kun."
Rimliche seemed to have immediately connected the Mika who had been absent from the Academy with the Apostle who appeared on the battlefield.
She quietly told him so, so no one else could hear.
"Because, there were wings. There's no one else but Mika-kun."
Saying that, Rimliche giggled quietly.
It seems she hadn't forgotten the wings of Mika she saw during the commotion over the "Black Cocoon [Artorum]."
"Of course, Mika-kun was amazing. Ah, I should call you Mika-sama or Apostle-sama, but――――."
"Stop that. Just be normal, be normal."
When Mika said that with a sigh, Rimliche laughed again as if it were funny.
Rimliche seemed to have worried about Mika, but more than anything, it seems she thought, "Mika-kun couldn't possibly lose!"
Trust is appreciated, but it's a bit heavy...
And, immediately, he was summoned to the Academy Director's office.
Homeroom Teacher [Colina], the Physical Education teacher [Kefkof], and several other lecturers were gathered.
It seems Mika's unauthorized absence during this period is being taken quite seriously.
Well, the 'Order Prohibiting Movement Outside the Royal Capital' hasn't been lifted yet, after all.
They must be suspecting he went somewhere on his own.
"Dismiss everyone."
When Mika said that, Academy Director [Maurice] raised one eyebrow, hesitated, but then agreed.
The lecturers gathered there were surprised by Maurice's response, but it seems they had no intention of objecting to the Director's decision.
They obediently followed.
Once the lecturers left the room, only Mika and Maurice remained in the Director's office.
Maurice opened one eye and glared at Mika.
"......What happened?"
"I went to the Leventein domain."
"To the Leventein domain...!?"
Perhaps he didn't think Mika had gone to the battlefield while he was absent, as Maurice's eyes widened.
He remained frozen for a while, but then seemed to start thinking deeply.
That's natural.
Today is Wind Day.
Even if Mika headed to the Leventein domain on the afternoon of Earth Day, there is only about four and a half days of time.
Normally, it is not a distance one could travel there and back.
"............What is the meaning of this?"
"There is no 'what' about it. The front line collapsed, so I went and scattered the Imperial Army."
"Impossible!? What are you saying――――!"
While Maurice was raising a voice of surprise, Mika manifested "Absorb Wing [Absorb Wing]."
Seeing the wings appearing on Mika's back, Maurice was speechless.
(It's only a matter of time before it's revealed anyway. Hiding it here is pointless.)
Mika remained silent, waiting for Maurice to calm down.
There is no way this old man would remain in a state of confusion forever.
He will accept what happened before his eyes and surely derive an appropriate answer.
"............I cannot believe it. However... there is no other way...!"
While Mika waited, Maurice muttered something to himself.
As expected, he seems to have formed his own hypothesis, accepting the facts as they are.
"......The Apostle who appeared on the battlefield..."
"As you suspected."
When Mika confirmed it, Maurice made a difficult face and grunted.
"......You said you scattered the Imperial Army."
"Yes."
Maurice closed his eyes and started dozing off.
No, it just looked like that.
He isn't actually sleeping while talking, is he?
"How did you do it? It was an army of tens of thousands?"
"I just rained down stones and crushed them."
It seems he was properly awake after all.
Hearing Mika's reply, his expression turned grim.
"Impossible... you... used... that...! No, however..."
He muttered it as if whispering.
"I didn't use [Divine Wrath], you know?"
"Hah...!?"
Maurice was startled when Mika casually mentioned the Taboo.
Seeing that, Mika felt a little relieved that his prediction was, at least, not completely off-target.
(This reaction. As I thought, the Director knows.)
A terrible Taboo like "Execution even if you talk or listen."
But, considering the execution aspect, there must be someone in the Academy who knows about it.
Otherwise, it would be a hassle to throw a student who committed a serious violation into a research facility.
There must be collaborators on the Academy side.
And, the possibility that it is the Academy Director, the top of the Academy, is the highest.
Even if the actual work was handled by someone else, it would be unnatural for the Director to know nothing at all.
I don't know what happens at regional Academies, but well, they are probably managing somehow.
If there are collaborators in the upper echelons of the Kingdom Army, or rather the Ministry of Military Affairs, it should be manageable.
In stark contrast to Mika's untroubled expression, Maurice was trembling so much it could be called terror.
"Y-you!? Where did you learn that!?"
Mika deliberately took on the risk and spoke of [Divine Wrath].
This was because there was one thing he absolutely wanted to confirm before being summoned to the Royal Castle.
"That doesn't matter."
"How can it not matter!? To speak so lightly of that――――."
"That's why it doesn't matter. After all, the Aca──de──my──Di──rec──tor is on that side, isn't he?"
"Hah!?"
Maurice was speechless at Mika's words.
He stared at Mika for a while, then exhaled deeply.
"............What is the meaning of this? How much do you know, you...!"
"I don't know. But, it would be strange not to think that way."
Maurice made a pained expression at Mika's words.
Right now, he is probably desperately calculating how to deal with this in his head.
One of those options should be eliminating Mika.
Until now.
(But, you can't choose that anymore, can you?)
Maurice is one of those who would even sacrifice his own life to protect this country.
He must have that resolve.
("Execution even if you talk or listen." The one who ordered that is likely the King.)
So, what is the research facility for [Divine Wrath]?
They sealed all mouths and didn't even use it on the battlefield.
Even knowing the possibility that the Empire would use it.
And yet, behind the scenes, the King is continuing the research?
That is not impossible, but there is another scenario that is easier to accept.
That is, "Continuing the research secretly, even hiding it from the King."
For some reason, the King is turning his face away from this Taboo.
He must want to erase it from his mind entirely.
However, there were those who felt a sense of crisis about this.
Those were Maurice and the others "those who continued the research."
Knowing that if caught they would be executed, they continued the research anyway.
To protect the Kingdom of Ektrem.
(Perhaps Baron Limpēre doesn't know the circumstances to that extent.)
Otherwise, he wouldn't have told Mika about the research facility.
Both [Divine Wrath] and that research facility are Taboos without change.
Even if the opponent was Marquis Leventein or others, he wouldn't have dared to ask properly, would he?
He probably only knew that the research was continuing secretly.
(Baron Limpēre said, 'I couldn't do anything.' Perhaps Marquis Leventein or someone similar had subtly advised the King to restart the research on [Divine Wrath]. If there is the fact of restarting research, it can be used in an emergency.)
There must have been others who gave such advice as well.
As news of the Empire's unsettling movements spread, those movements should have accelerated.
However, the King stubbornly refused.
Perhaps he even told Marquis Leventein or the ministers, "Shut your mouth or I'll cut off your head."
Because of that, [Divine Wrath] could not be prepared for this battle.
The Empire will eventually use it, but they don't necessarily use it from the first battle.
(Worse case, it could be a repeat of the Dies Irae [Day of Wrath] right away. There was a possibility the Empire would hesitate to use it.)
However, that prediction was easily betrayed.
Or rather, it was natural.
There is an effective weapon.
Then, it would be strange not to use it.
Prefacing it as "just a guess," Mika told Maurice his thoughts like this.
(Even so, it shouldn't be that far off.)
Hearing Mika's story, Maurice neither affirmed nor denied it.
He just listened to Mika's story intently.
After listening to the story, he let out a long sigh.
"......Did you tell anyone about that?"
"No. It's a bit too heavy for casual chat."
"Fufu... I see."
Maurice let out another deep sigh and leaned back against the chair.
He seemed to relax his shoulders a bit.
"The fact that you told me this means it's not just a check of answers. What do you want to know."
Maurice seems to have seen through Mika's intentions.
As Maurice said, Mika had something he urgently wanted to confirm.
"There must be someone pushing forward with that research. Who is it."
Mika asked that, but Maurice remained silent with a grim expression.
Then, he muttered softly.
"............I cannot say that."
"I see."
Hearing Maurice's reply, Mika slumped his shoulders.
It was regrettable for Mika, but it couldn't be helped.
He had thought the possibility of this was high.
"............You give up so easily."
"Well, I thought you wouldn't be able to say it."
He is disobeying the King's order.
If it leaks, it won't just cause trouble; it will be disastrous.
(............His Royal Highness the Crown Prince or Her Majesty the Queen. I think it's one of them.)
As a Shinto shrine priest, that level would be insufficient.
More importantly, Maurice and the others are risking their lives for the kingdom.
Even if the research is exposed and all involved are executed, they will not reveal the name of the ringleader.
If one of these two is the ringleader and they are executed due to association, the country would shake.
Knowing this, Maurice and the others would not leak it.
"What do you intend to do from now on?"
While Mika was thinking, Maurice asked such a thing.
"What do you mean...?"
"If what you said earlier is true... No, it is probably true, but then you..."
He is saying that Mika will be put in a very severe position.
However, Mika smiled at Maurice.
"I'll just do what I can. Would I quietly offer my neck for such a foolish reason because someone doesn't want to see or hear it?"
"T-that's right..."
Although not named directly, Maurice's face twisted at Mika's open criticism of the King.
Well, if Mika speaks, Maurice and the others will have no life either.
Let's just be glad he understands that.
I hope, if possible, that Maurice and the others do not become the opposing side.
(...Considering my usefulness, they shouldn't take that stance... Probably.)
Those who risked their lives to continue the research on [Divine Wrath] to protect the kingdom would not choose to discard Mika, who defeated the Imperial Army alone.
That is why Mika talked to Maurice.
Before the summons from the Royal Palace regarding the battlefield incident.
Mika looked straight at Maurice with serious eyes.
"I might be busy moving around for a few days. To struggle on my own."
"......Hmm. Yes."
"I intend to come to the Academy as much as possible, but well, don't worry if I'm absent."
"There is no way I wouldn't worry."
Maurice gave a bitter smile at Mika's words.
"......But, I understand the situation. Don't worry about the Academy."
"Thank you."
Mika bowed politely and left the Director's office.
As Mika's figure disappeared beyond the door, Maurice let out a sigh.
"............I can't just leave it as is."
Turning the chair, he looked out the window.
"Everything is for the sake of the kingdom..."
Muttering that, Maurice began to prepare to leave.
■■■■■■
After finishing his talk with Maurice, Mika decided to leave early and move immediately.
First, he went to Adelriese's magic shop to check if thread made of pure "Copper-type Rare Metal [Orichalcum]" was ready.
He was told that all ten ingots had already been turned into thread and were being held, so he collected them.
In exchange, he deposited twenty ingots.
Since he hadn't put them all in the Magic Bag, he generated them on the spot.
Mika was quite surprised when he showed "Absorb Wing [Absorb Wing],"
"......Could it be that the boy who is the rumored Apostle recently?"
He was asked.
Well, it's only a matter of time before it's revealed anyway.
I'll do whatever I want with full force.
And so, holding the collected thread, he flew straight to Rish Village.
"Here you go, please!"
He suddenly barged into the textile factory and entrusted the "Copper-type Rare Metal [Orichalcum]" thread to Amalia, who was working.
Seeing Mika appear frequently, Amalia seemed a little worried.
I got a little scolding.
After entrusting the thread to Amalia, Mika returned to the Royal Capital like a dragonfly.
Arriving in the Royal Capital around evening, he headed to the Great Cathedral next.
And, at the Great Cathedral, Kifrod prostrated himself before Mika.
"Are you alright, Kifrod-sama?"
Hearing Mika's story, he spoke to Kifrod who had collapsed to the floor.
However, Kifrod did not reply.
Silently, he stood up swaying.
"......I don't know anymore. Do as you please."
"Wait, wait, Kifrod-sama!? Don't abandon me!"
"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know anymore. Do as you like."
"Kifrod-samaaa!"
Mika's voice echoed in the quiet chapel.
Several priests and deacons gathered, wondering what was happening.
Surrounded by the gathered people, they moved to a separate room.
At Kifrod's instruction, Pope Blahoslav and the Cardinal were urgently summoned.
And so, in the room, Mika, Kifrod, Pope Blahoslav, and Cardinal Wagnare were gathered.
It seems to have become quite a big deal.
"Mika, the talk can wait for later. First, show us."
Told by Kifrod to "show it," there was only one thing that came to mind.
Mika muttered "Absorb Wing [Absorb Wing]" and manifested the wings of light.
At that moment, the Pope and Cardinals all stood up from their chairs at once and knelt right there.
Then, each of them began to pray.
Ah, some people seem to be crying.
Why?
"This is the situation, Your Holiness the Pope. What shall we do? I think we should throw him out that window..."
"W-what are you saying, Kifrod-sama!?"
"How presumptuous!"
"Even for Kifrod-sama, such a thing is not permitted!"
At the simultaneous outcry of condemnation, Kifrod shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh my, oh my... Mika, speak."
Told by Kifrod to "speak," there was only one thing that came to mind.
The content Mika had just told Kifrod.
"............Just as is?"
"Just as is."
He confirmed it just in case, but Kifrod's answer was heartless.
Mika frowned and grimaced.
"........................Isn't this bad?"
"That is what you caused, isn't it? Well, just speak as is."
Told by Kifrod, Mika told Kifrod a slightly stimulating story, exactly as he had heard it.
Going to the battlefield and burying about seventy thousand Imperial soldiers.
Running around the battlefield and burying the Imperial Army.
Thinking that the Apostle rumored in the Royal Capital might be me.
[Divine Wrath] and Dies Irae [Day of Wrath] contain various troublesome problems, so I skipped them.
However, he conveyed that Mika's overwhelming power was causing suspicion in the country.
That he might be summoned to the Royal Castle soon and punished.
"......Seventy thousand, you say...?"
"Alone, just one person..."
Hearing Mika's story, the Cardinals turned pale.
How could one do such a thing?
There is a monster before their eyes who has taken seventy thousand lives.
Thinking that, turning pale is a normal reaction.
However, among those Cardinals, there was one person who reacted differently.
Wagnare.
Wagnare stood up smoothly and stepped forward before Mika.
Then, he knelt respectfully.
"By the power of the 'Messengers of the Gods [Apostles],' the lives of many were saved. The beasts hungry for blood must have known the weight of their sins with their own blood. They are surely repenting their foolishness deep in the earth right now. ............Provided that even a shred of human heart remains."
Wagnare was in Sarbengeal until half a year ago.
If the Imperial Army had not been stopped, the people living in Sarbengeal would have been the first victims.
Among those present, Wagnare must feel the threat of the Imperial Army most closely.
His gratitude was conveyed very sincerely.
At Wagnare's words, the expressions of the other Cardinals also stiffened.
Just a few days ago, they were worried about the threat of the Imperial Army approaching and the hardships to come.
Blahoslav also stood up and knelt beside Wagnare.
"We give thanks for the depth of the Gods' mercy... That we were able to welcome the 'Messengers of the Gods [Apostles]' in this time of hardship is the best evidence that the Gods are reaching out their hands to us."
Saying that, Blahoslav looked straight at Mika.
"Holy judgment has been passed upon those dominated by heresy and defiled by sin. From now on, please save us from calamity [wazawai]. Please, guide us."
As Blahoslav bowed respectfully, the Cardinals all bowed their heads at once.
Seeing that, Kifrod shrugged his shoulders saying, "Oh my, oh my..."
(Indeed, I thought I'd borrow the Church's power a bit. Guide? What does that mean?)
He had even been certified as a "Messenger of the Gods [Apostle]" by the Pope.
(...It's starting to look like a religious war.)
Originally, the Fifty-Year War had a strong color of being a religious war.
Thinking such things, Mika made a complicated face.