Chapter 24 - Chapter 23: Re-measurement of Magic Power
About ten days had passed since the meeting at the Meeting Hall.
Amalia and Loretta returned to work the day after the meeting, and Mika was left at the church from morning until evening.
It seemed a secret agreement had been reached between the Noisheim family and the church, where Kifrod and Radi were waiting for him.
Mika left the house with Amalia and the others every morning to be left at the church, spending the time there until the two came to pick him up.
I had thought about storming into the church, but instead, I was being left there.
"I don't understand."
I couldn't help but mutter it, but in reality, I thought it was unavoidable myself.
I had successfully upgraded from a "person of interest" to a "person under surveillance," and over these ten days, I was taught various reasons why.
First, the suspicion arose that I had fraudulently fudged the spring magic power measurement because I could use magic.
This was "escaping the academy."
It is considered a national obligation for selected children to attend the Royal Capital's Magic Academy at age ten, but apparently, it is the obligation of the subjects to attend the Marquisate's Magic Academy at age eight.
When I heard that, I didn't remember it well either, but I thought Radia had said something about the age-eight Magic Academy being optional or something like that.
But that was a memory error on my part; apparently, whether the "Lord establishes a Magic Academy" is optional.
In the Hailhord Region, where Baron Limpēre's domain is located, it is stipulated by the laws of each territory that one must attend the Magic Academy established in the Marquis Leventein's domain.
And this obligation to attend the Magic Academy.
The punishment for violating it is incredibly severe.
The person themselves is put into some kind of specialized "forced labor facility."
Kifrod himself seems not to know what kind of things are done there, or what kind of things are made to happen there.
And he has never heard of a sentence length either.
Is it like they drain your magic power until you die, or are they brainwashing you? It seems to be a complete mystery.
Or rather, rumors say you hear about it occasionally, but apparently, no one has actually seen anyone who was put in there.
That is how rare "escaping the academy" is.
And the punishment does not stop there.
The parents are sentenced to three years of forced labor.
The Village Head is not subject to forced labor, but he will be deemed incompetent and unqualified to manage the villagers and will have to resign as Village Head.
In a small village where basically every day is a repetition of the same things, a major incident suddenly came to light.
It is understandable that the villagers are making a huge fuss.
(If I heard this, Amalia would surely be in shock. I can understand why Loretta would go half-mad.)
Even though I didn't know, Mika was in a very dangerous position.
But then, shouldn't Amalia and Loretta have given me advice? I thought.
Since it is a fact that I learned magic after spring, if they had told me that sooner, Mika wouldn't have been troubled during the meeting.
But Kifrod says that was probably impossible.
Perhaps Amalia and the others did not understand what constituted "escaping the academy."
Apparently, there is no situation in the villagers' daily lives where they worry about the country's or territory's laws.
They spend their days following the "village rules" acquired through daily life.
Even without knowing about laws, as long as they follow the rules decided in the village, that is enough.
Unless it was someone like the Village Head, Horatio the Factory Manager, or the former adventurer Diego, there would be no one in the village living while conscious of the laws.
Nevertheless, there were some who knew a little about "escaping the academy," and only that image spread among the villagers.
Kifrod felt anger toward the villagers who irresponsibly told Amalia and the others about the "worst-case scenario."
(Is that the cause of that week-long shut-in life...?)
Mika remembered the week where the three family members lived huddled together.
They were terrified of the "punishment" that would come in the near future, yet they tried to act strong in front of Mika.
I feel truly sorry for Amalia and Loretta.
I was also told the aftermath of the fire.
Regarding the factory fire, a report had been made to the Lord while Mika and the others were shut in.
Normally, Horatio, who caused the fire and inflicted damage, should be dismissed and given a severe punishment, but apparently, fires have been occurring throughout the country this year.
It was judged that a large part of the cause of the fire was due to weather, so Horatio remained in his post.
Probably, there would be some punishment like a pay cut, but it seems he did not receive a severe punishment.
They decided that restoring the spinning factory's function as quickly as possible would serve as a substitute for punishment.
So, after Horatio went to report to the Lord, he seems to have rushed to restore the factory's function immediately upon returning.
Despite having just suffered such severe burns.
(Just because you healed it with [Heal], can you really move around that quickly? It's physically impossible, or rather, mentally impossible...)
I am dumbfounded by Horatio's toughness, but thanks to that, he has returned to almost 70% of his original production capacity in just over two weeks.
No matter how much Horatio rushed, the spinning factory should have been almost completely burned down.
How are they producing?
You could say it is thanks to the factory being built unnecessarily large.
It seems the function as a spinning factory is also equipped in the remaining buildings.
The breakdown of the factory is as follows.
・Office, cafeteria, warehouse, etc.
・Weaving factory
・Spinning factory 1
・Spinning factory 2 (the building where the fire occurred)
Originally, there were two spinning factory buildings.
Since there was a need for materials to use as fabric and for raw silk to be sold wholesale, perhaps one building was indeed insufficient.
In fact, the initial plan seemed to be that way.
But the reality seems to be a little different.
The two spinning factories were equipped with all stages of the production process in their respective buildings.
However, until now, the processes were divided, and the two buildings worked in separate divisions.
Why do such a thing?
Of course, because it is known that fires are likely to occur.
It was well known that a large amount of cotton dust would swirl during work, making fires likely to occur, so it seems they decided to separate them as a countermeasure.
Rish Village did not have enough personnel to run both factories at full capacity.
Therefore, it seems they used to produce with just one building.
The remaining one was just equipment left to sleep uselessly.
If so, wouldn't dividing the work between the two buildings reduce the amount of cotton dust?
The previous factory manager seems to have thought so.
This idea hit the mark; until then, small fires [Boya] occurred frequently, but after dividing the work between the two buildings, they hardly happened at all.
But if everything is done in the remaining one building, won't a fire occur again?
Horatio naturally thought of this as well, and it seems he is making efforts such as performing some of the work that generates particularly large amounts of cotton dust outdoors.
Still, it is not something to be safe about, so they are suppressing production and watching the situation while thinking and devising various things.
(In the world I came from, there are dust collectors, but reducing dust in this world is an extremely difficult task.)
These are lives that were saved.
I really want Horatio not to collapse from overwork or stress.
After the meeting at the Meeting Hall, Ninetiana sometimes came to check on Mika's condition.
Bringing Dur along, she would stop by as if on a walk, talk a little, and then leave.
Since Kifrod and Radi were nearby, they couldn't talk much about adventurer stuff, but still, the existence of Ninetiana, who came to see Mika out of concern, was truly a blessing.
The village children stopped approaching Mika, so I felt that even more.
I wasn't really taking care of the children to begin with, but the fact that they were openly avoiding him was probably because their parents said something to them.
"Alright, Mika. Let's have a match."
Kifrod came to where Mika was sitting on the long bench in the chapel, staring blankly... up at the statues of the Six Gods.
He was carrying a large object like a chessboard under his arm and holding a wooden box in his hand.
(He says "have a match," but he just wants to play himself, doesn't he?)
Seeing Kifrod come over with a cheerful air, I couldn't help but give a wry smile.
What Kifrod was holding in his hand was a board game called Buattre Heed.
It is like Shogi or Chess in this world, but the content is much more complex.
It is divided into a grid of 16x17 squares, but each row is shifted by half a square.
In other words, around one square, there are three squares above and diagonally above, and three squares below and diagonally below, totaling six squares.
And not only pieces are placed on the board, but also gimmicks like protective fences and catapults exist.
There is also a "reserve troops card," where you can choose one of the twelve spots in your own territory to place reserve troops.
By now, the feeling is closer to the combat part of a strategy simulation game than Shogi.
"Mika has quite a bit of talent, you know. You still have a long way to go to beat me."
Placing the board on the long bench, Kifrod happily arranged the pieces.
(He hasn't even asked if I want to play yet... Well, whatever.)
Thinking it would be bad to spoil Kifrod's fun, I reluctantly agreed to play along.
This game has complex rules, such as the ability to link multiple pieces or move them simultaneously, so it is not popular among commoners.
In return, it seems to be a hobby for soldiers and nobles.
(It would be more popular among commoners if it was as simple as Shogi or Chess.)
Buattre Heed is like a miniature battlefield.
It would be more acceptable to commoners if it had more of a game-like color.
And one of the difficulties of this game is that it is difficult right from the initial piece placement.
There are thirty pieces in total, and six of them can be placed anywhere within your own territory.
There is a sort of theory, like placing them around the King to solidify defense, or placing them at the front to launch a quick attack.
You are allowed to change depending on the opponent's placement.
(No wonder it's not popular. It's this complicated.)
Due to its complexity, it is assumed that players will play while thinking carefully, but commoners do not have such time.
Commoners are busy with various things.
Enthusiasts seem to play leisurely for a whole day with a glass of wine in hand from morning, but such a waste of time is an extravagance that commoners cannot believe in.
"...I am ready. How about you?"
"I am ready too."
"Good, let us begin. You can go first, Mika."
"Then, I will not hold back. Thank you."
Mika bowed and moved a piece.
Kifrod had a formation that solidified his defense, sitting firmly.
Mika had a quick-attack formation to finish quickly.
(As always, it takes a lot of effort to break this...)
As Mika and Kifrod took turns moving pieces, I secretly sighed in my heart.
Kifrod prefers a tactic of solidifying his territory steadily, and if I matched that, it would really take a whole day.
So, I keep hitting my army against his defense to chip away at it, but I always fail to break through and run out of pieces.
Well, it is natural if you think about it.
Even when attacking, I don't attack with all pieces.
I have some pieces placed for defense in my own territory too.
In contrast, Kifrod hardly moves pieces for attack, focusing them on defense.
There is a big difference in the number of pieces between the attacker and the defender.
(Still, if I don't show any gaps, he will shut himself in like a turtle... Well, I did set a trap today, though.)
Today, Mika deliberately kept the large pieces in a half-baked position without using them for a major attack.
To an amateur's eye, it looks like a clever move that can be used for both attack and defense.
But in reality, it is a half-baked move that is slightly off from both.
That half-baked position becomes slightly annoying for Kifrod when he attacks.
Kifrod saw that Mika's attack had stopped and switched to the offensive.
But the large piece Mika had placed near the protective fence was in the way, causing him to pause for a moment.
Forcefully break through, or go around?
Breaking through is possible, but it is certain that there will be some damage.
Kifrod chose to go around, disliking the damage.
"Ah, there. It's a reserve troop."
"What!?"
Mika showed the reserve troop card he had hidden.
A place completely meaningless for defense, far from the territory protecting the King.
Of course, it is also useless for attack.
If he hadn't chosen to go around, it would be a place that makes you want to provoke, asking, "May I ask why you hid it there?"
But a cautious person like Kifrod would read that this situation would lead him to choose to go around.
"There is no meaning in hiding it there..."
"But there was meaning."
Saying that, Mika crushed Kifrod's pieces, which were cut off by the reserve troop, by linking the reserve troop with the large piece.
With this, Kifrod's attack became non-functional for the time being.
"Mu... mu mu..."
Kifrod grunted as the advantageous board was turned upside down.
Turning it upside down meant returning from Kifrod's advantage to a five-fifty split.
Since the large piece moved to a position effective for attack, Mika might have become slightly advantageous.
It was at best that level of situation.
"Oh, how unusual. Seeing Lord Kifrod with such a serious face. Could it be that Mika-kun is winning?"
As noon approached, Radi returned from outside.
Every day, Radi goes around the village giving [Heal] to people troubled by injuries or illness.
She visits the homes of the elderly, acting as a conversation partner and listening to their consultations.
"Welcome back. It is almost a five-fifty split. My plan failed, and I am a little troubled."
"That is amazing in itself..."
A veteran with decades of gaming experience had his situation turned to a five-fifty split by a child who had been taught the rules for only ten days.
Indeed, just hearing that makes it sound amazing.
"Wait a moment. I will prepare lunch right away."
"Yes. Thank you as always."
Since being left at the church, Mika has always eaten lunch at the church.
Freedom was lost, but in return, he was able to eat a warm lunch.
Well, I can't say I don't think this is okay either.
While eating lunch in the dining room and chatting with Kifrod and Radi, a voice came from the chapel.
"Oh, who might that be?"
Radi stood up and headed toward the chapel.
(That voice...)
Mika guessed who had come to visit.
Waiting for a while, Radi returned.
On her face, unlike before, a dark shadow fell.
"Mika-kun... listen calmly."
Radi seemed to find it hard to say.
"Did the Village Head come to call you?"
When Mika spoke ahead of time, Radi hesitated but nodded.
"...What did the Village Head say?"
Kifrod seemed calm, but his voice felt a little stiff.
Radi looked at Mika, then at Kifrod, then back at Mika.
She seemed to find it very hard to say.
"He said to come to the Village Head's house immediately. It seems a messenger from the Lord is present, and..."
"I understand."
Kifrod stood up immediately and looked at Mika.
"I will go with you. You do not need to worry about anything."
"Lord Kifrod, I will go too."
Kifrod looked troubled for a moment, but then nodded immediately.
"...Mika, it is fine. We are with you."
Mika silently nodded and headed toward the chapel with Kifrod and the others.
Waiting there was the Village Head, looking uneasy.
When Kifrod informed him that they would accompany them, the Village Head hesitated slightly but immediately agreed.
"...Please do not be rude. Obey what is told to you obediently. Understood?"
Saying that to Mika, the Village Head quickly left the chapel.
Kifrod walked in front, and holding hands with Radi, they headed toward the Village Head's house.
Proceeding through the Central Plaza, they saw a group of several villagers.
They saw Mika and the others and seemed to be whispering to each other.
Over these ten days, I had seen this kind of sight from the villagers many times.
(I can't stand this kind of atmosphere in the countryside...)
The exclusivity of village society.
Against heretics, they are truly merciless.
They are kind to those "inside," but the moment you step outside, they arm themselves with thorns.
I can't help but have negative thoughts like, "I don't want Amalia and Loretta to be ostracized because of me."
Upon arriving at the Village Head's house, they were led directly to a room that seemed to be the living room, where three men were waiting.
All three were wearing fine clothes and looked like officials.
"...Only that child. No need for an escort."
The man who seemed to be the highest-ranking of the three men said.
Radi tried to resist, but Kifrod suppressed it with his eyes.
It seems it is better to obey obediently for now.
Letting go of the hand Mika was holding, Radi looked at Mika with concern.
"I am fine. I will go."
Mika obeyed obediently.
The thought of not wanting to make things bigger and not wanting to trouble the family was the foremost.
I do not intend to accept the false accusation silently, but if I do something rash now, it will become a real crime, not a false accusation.
Since I do not know what judgment the Lord made, I suppose I have no choice but to obey quietly for now.
Following the man's instructions, I sat on a chair placed alone in the center of the room.
One man stood behind me, one slightly ahead and to the side, and the man who seemed to be the superior earlier sat in front.
(They are so on guard. What is this? Isn't this just to convey the Lord's judgment?)
The tension and vigilance of the men were transmitted to Mika, raising my own vigilance.
"...Close your eyes and hold your hands out in front."
The man in front ordered Mika.
Nervous, Mika's heart rate increased just from this atmosphere.
(Hold out my hands? Do they intend to handcuff me!? Seriously? What should I do? Should I obey obediently? Or...)
Various thoughts swirled in my head.
Should I obey, or should I resist?
Will I be arrested?
Why do I have to be arrested!?
As Mika hesitated, the man in front ordered again in a cold voice.
"Close your eyes and hold your hands out in front. Or do you have a reason why you cannot?"
At that voice, Mika decided to obediently obey.
Doing something rash here is not a good strategy.
Even if something happens, I can only believe that Kifrod and the others will handle it.
When Mika obediently obeyed, a blindfold was placed from behind.
Then, a clicking sound was heard.
"...Raise your hands a little higher. Yes. Bring them a little closer to the inside. ...Do not move."
As I obediently followed the instructions, suddenly my hands touched something cold.
From the sensation transmitted to my palm, I realized it was a round object the size of a melon.
(This... A crystal to measure magic power?)
It felt like the same crystal I touched during the spring magic power measurement in Mika's memory.
Before, the atmosphere was not this intense, but the firm, cold sensation was exactly the same as that time's crystal.
(Are they re-measuring my magic power? Why?)
It should have been conveyed to the Village Head that Mika can use magic.
In other words, it is confirmed that Mika has enough magic power to use magic.
And the problem is always "whether Mika's magic power exceeded the standard in spring."
The meaning of re-measuring now is—
"...You may lower your hands."
The crystal in the palm is released.
After a clicking sound again, I was made to wait for a while.
Once the sound stopped, the blindfold was finally removed.
The crystal was already put away, and the three men were just surrounding Mika.
One of the men opened the room door, and there was Radi, looking worried.
"You may return now."
The men said nothing more, giving no information to Mika about whether the result was good or bad.
I looked around at the men once, but reluctantly followed the instructions and left the room.
Since I was sent out of the Village Head's house with Kifrod and the others, I decided to return to the church.
"What happened?"
On the way back, Kifrod asked in a low voice.
"I will tell you after we return," and Mika cut off the conversation for now.
(Probably, this is...)
On the way back, Mika silently organized the situation.
Radi watched Mika with concern.
"A re-measurement of magic power?"
Returning to the church's dining room, Mika told them what happened at the Village Head's house earlier.
"I was blindfolded, so I didn't see, but I think that's probably it. They surrounded me with three people, and they seemed extremely vigilant."
"Lord Kifrod, what does this mean...?"
Both seemed confused.
Mika was too, but I thought they had come to convey the Lord's judgment.
But waiting was a re-measurement of magic power.
What does this mean?
"The Magic Academy... Could it be that you will go starting next year?"
When Mika said that, Radi's confusion grew even larger.
"Huh? But, your magic power didn't reach the standard in spring? Even if your current magic power exceeds the standard, that is not a reason to go to the Marquisate's Magic Academy."
If the standard was reached in spring, it is guilty as "escaping the academy."
If the standard was not reached in spring, it does not matter even if magic grows later until the measurement at age nine. It is innocent.
I thought the Lord's judgment was one of these two choices.
That is why I thought they came to tell me one of these today.
"...But, if it is not so, I cannot understand the meaning of the re-measurement."
If it was judged that the magic power exceeded the standard in spring, they would only punish it as "escaping the academy."
There is no need to worry about the current magic power.
"This... probably, the Lord judged it as 'no'."
"Such..."
Kifrod tapped his fingers on the table for the first time in a while.
Radi lowered her eyes sadly.
"The Lord probably judged it as 'escaping the academy'. However, circumstances arose where he could not declare a guilty verdict."
"...Circumstances?"
"Probably, the church. That is why, reluctantly, they decided that the spring measurement was wrong. Mika's spring magic power will be corrected to what was measured today."
"It is certain that the magic power was insufficient, and what was measured today is the correct magic power."
"Probably, that is how they will decide."
Somehow, an unexpected ultra-C came out.
It means the Lord's intended judgment was forcibly twisted.
"But, why did the church do that much? Even the church, surely that is not right, is it?"
"Ah... well, you know. I did ask the Bishop a little favor, you know? Well, Mika doesn't need to worry about it."
Saying that, Kifrod laughed as if to deceive.
I pretended not to hear the mutter about whether I went a bit too far.
"...But, the Lord's judgment has not been issued yet. I am worried."
Radi made a gesture of a short prayer.
Kifrod laughed off such Radi.
"Ka ka ka ka. You don't need to worry so much. Since it has come to this, I will do my best. If this is not enough, let's take a second or third step."
Kifrod, saying that and laughing, seemed a bit desperate, but was that just my imagination?
For now, Mika and the others could only wait obediently for the Lord's judgment.