Chapter 246 - Chapter 245: Close in on Hibujiza
Month of Water, Week 5, Day of Water. Morning.
Gakon, goton, gotsun...
Mika walked down the hallway of the Fifth Knights Order's station, his boots making noise.
There were many knights in the hallway, but everyone cleared a path and stood frozen with dumbfounded expressions.
There were several reasons for this.
That Mika, who had been missing for a month, suddenly appeared.
The terrible killing intent radiating from such a Mika.
And...
Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!!!
It was a Sou-Labi, captured alive with its limbs bound, held in his left hand.
"...Honestly, bringing in a Sou-Labi is a problem."
Ozendorwa placed a hand on his forehead and muttered weakly.
In the commander's room, besides Ozendorwa, were Yaroibarov, Shesbarno, and Lebrantes, the contact from the Information Broker Guild.
Everyone there was someone who thought Mika was necessary and called him.
"I just caught it for an experiment."
Mika said it so casually that even Yaroibarov and Shesbarno, usually unflappable, looked dumbfounded.
He had gone early in the morning to the mountains north of the capital specifically to catch it.
To confirm something.
At first, I thought about catching a stray dog or cat around here, but it was pitiful, so I stopped.
If it were a magic beast, well, my heart wouldn't hurt that much.
"Is the item I requested here?"
"Yes, this is it."
Saying that, Ozendorwa picked up the magic bag he had placed on the desk.
This magic bag was what the young man with reddish-brown hair was wearing.
"Yaroibarov-san. Open your mouth and hold it."
"...Hey, hey, spare me. I have a bad feeling about this..."
Even while saying that, Yaroibarov took the magic bag and spread it open in front of Mika.
"Don't let it bite me, okay?"
"You should tell that to the Sou-Labi, not me."
At Mika's harsh words, Yaroibarov grimaced.
Lebrantes found it amusing and grinned.
Mika brought the Sou-Labi over the magic bag and slowly lowered it.
It struggled and squeaked, but Mika didn't care.
As the Sou-Labi was slowly swallowed, everyone was speechless.
"As expected."
Looking at the magic bag that had completely swallowed the Sou-Labi, Mika muttered.
"Why... does it fit inside?"
"Magic beasts are alive too, right...?"
Lebrantes and Shesbarno said it as if groaning.
"Yes... magic beasts don't fit in magic bags. I tried it before."
It seemed Yaroibarov had tried to put a magic beast in before.
Was there a quest to capture them alive or something?
"...What does this mean, Mika-kun?"
Ozendorwa asked with a serious expression.
But Mika didn't answer that, and instead confirmed with Ozendorwa.
"Twelve knights. ...They went missing, right?"
This was what Lebrantes told him after Yaroibarov returned yesterday.
The twelve knights who were guarding the area around Mika's house disappeared when Hibujiza kidnapped Kistil and Nerisfeene.
"The culprit is a mage named Hibujiza, a former member of the Court Magic Institute. At least one of the knights was taken out of Hibujiza's magic bag. ...He was killed on the spot."
The room fell silent at Mika's words.
"I had you prepare this magic bag today because I wanted to confirm if the young man with reddish-brown hair and Hibujiza were using the same magic bag."
"The same... illegally modified magic bag?"
Shesbarno muttered.
"It seems impossible to modify commercially available items. If one were to make one, it would be from scratch."
I asked Adelriese and Nozzemueller and confirmed this.
If these two say it's impossible, then it's practically impossible.
Well, there's no denying the possibility that a terrible genius exists and managed to modify one.
Ozendorwa turned a sharp, glaring gaze toward Mika.
"The one you saw... is it... that one from the Viscountcy of Braikosloa?"
When asked by Ozendorwa, Mika nodded heavily.
Seeing such a Mika, Ozendorwa let out a large breath and leaned back against the chair's backrest.
This was also something Lebrantes told me yesterday. Many massacred bodies were found in the Viscountcy of Braikosloa.
Heads blown off, holes punched in torsos.
Of course, the bandits Mika killed.
It had already been discovered that a knight was mixed in among those massacred bodies.
Mika explained the series of events in order.
Kistil and Nerisfeene were taken away, and he was summoned.
There were hundreds of bandits drinking at the designated location.
The next morning, Hibujiza appeared, having put Kistil and Nerisfeene into the magic bag.
"Wait a minute, Mika-kun. The next morning...? The designated location was the Viscountcy of Braikosloa, right? He appeared there?"
Ozendorwa interrupted, surprised.
"Yes, I don't know how, but he appeared the next morning. I searched the highway during the night but couldn't find him. Probably a different route, but he seems to have run here."
The speed when he ran up that mountain path.
It wasn't normal physical strength.
It would be nearly impossible without conditions like Mika using the impossible-to-have [Physical Enhancement] and having unlimited magic power.
Or perhaps he flew here.
"Yaroibarov. If one goes from the Viscountcy of Braikosloa to the Am-Tast Trade Alliance, how long would it take?"
Yaroibarov, asked by Ozendorwa, frowned and thought.
"One day is impossible. No matter how rushed, I'd need at least half a day more."
Even that is enough to be a monster.
Normally, it takes about ten days to cover that distance.
"Wait, wait, wait, hold on. Why does the monk know that? 'Appeared the next morning'... doesn't that sound like the monk was there beforehand?"
Shesbarno raised his voice at the abnormality that no one pointed out Mika going ahead.
Well, Shesbarno doesn't know facts that others already know regarding the "Orichalcum" matter and the Soiree matter.
Lebrantes glanced at Mika.
Mika nodded silently.
Confirming this, Lebrantes explained to Shesbarno.
It is known that Mika is the "Dispeller," but also that he is a rumored alchemist and an "Apostle."
"...Eh? So the Apostle who appeared on the battlefield is the monk...?"
Hearing Lebrantes' explanation, Shesbarno's face went slack.
"For now, it's still a case of 'known only to those who know.' Please don't talk about it loosely. ...I'll seal your mouth, you know?"
When Mika said that, Shesbarno's face twisted.
Ozendorwa smiled bitterly.
East or west, the way to seal mouths always leads to one destination.
Not an uncertain method like threats, but an abso-lute-ly cer-tain meth-od.
"Well, that aside, what happened next?"
Showing no interest whatsoever in the threat happening right in front of him, Ozendorwa urged him to continue the story.
Mika took one deep breath there.
From here on, it was a painful story for Mika as well.
Hibujiza appeared at the designated location and took Kistil and Nerisfeene out of the magic bag.
Then, he took out a knight and blew his head off.
He forced Mika to fight the bandits and threatened the lives of Kistil and Nerisfeene.
Speaking up to that point, Mika felt his heart fluttering.
At the same time, tension ran through everyone present.
Those present were all sensitive to presence and such to some degree.
Even Shesbarno, despite his words, was a veteran.
"...I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine... I'm the one who should apologize. For the painful story."
When Mika apologized, Ozendorwa said as if comforting him.
Mika took several deep breaths and continued.
Mika killed all the bandits, losing control at that time.
From then on, something inside Mika went wrong, and killing intent came out even without conscious thought.
It took some time to regain sanity, and because his body and mind were weak, he had been hiding and recovering until now.
Hibujiza disappeared without anyone noticing and is still at large.
Mika roughly conveyed what happened in this one month and took a breath.
And thus, he consciously calmed his heart.
Ozendorwa tapped the desk with his fingertips, pondering.
Then he looked straight at Mika.
"First, regarding the killing of the bandits, that shouldn't be a crime. It has been about four weeks since the large number of dead bodies were discovered, and identification has progressed significantly during that time."
It seems that after the large number of bodies were discovered, a large-scale identification operation was carried out.
Well, given the numbers.
It seems there was quite a commotion.
"I know this is inappropriate to say... many bodies are so damaged they cannot be identified. But, those bandits were likely from the Viscountcy of Braikosloa and its neighboring domains. Bandits and mountain robbers who were active in the Earldom of Latajis and the Viscountcy of Orcosa. They were all bounty targets. Rather, it's like a great cleaning, and the security in the surrounding area will improve dramatically."
Ozendorwa said that if Mika's involvement could be proven, a significant amount of bounty money would come in.
Mika made a dejected face and asked, "I don't need money, so please, don't make this public."
He didn't want to take on any more unnecessary problems.
Already, ordinary villains avoided getting involved with Mika.
By signing an agreement with the Soiree, he had become someone whispered about as "Don't get involved with Mika (that guy)," even if the reason wasn't known.
Yaroibarov crossed his arms and thought.
"I don't know if they have the same source, but both have illegally modified magic bags... Is there some connection between that reddish-haired guy and that Hibujiza?"
"I thought they probably belonged to the same organization or group. At least, it wouldn't be strange if they knew each other."
"What is the basis for that thought?"
Ozendorwa asked as if probing.
"The way they called me."
"The way they called you...?"
Shesbarno frowned.
"They called me 'Te-chan.' I only know the young man with reddish-brown hair who calls me that."
"So... Hibujiza heard something from the young man with reddish-brown hair... Indeed, only those people would know what to call Mika-kun as Te-chan."
At Ozendorwa's words, Mika nodded as well.
"Also, Hibujiza blew off a knight's head with just words. Didn't the young man with reddish-brown hair try to kill one of the knights before?"
"Yes, so he's using some kind of technique similar to that... troublesome."
At Ozendorwa's exasperated face, Mika couldn't help but smile bitterly.
But, he quickly tightened his expression.
"...So, how about the investigation you asked for?"
"Hm? Oh, that matter. NG (No Good)."
At Ozendorwa's answer, Mika's eyes widened for a moment.
Then, he crossed his arms and thought.
Yesterday, through Yaroibarov, Mika had asked for one thing besides the magic bag.
He had asked to investigate an event from over a month ago: "The theft or robbery of a large amount of red wine from the Church."
"Before Mika-kun told me, we already knew there were large barrels of red wine at the scene of the bandit killings. It seems they investigated where the theft or robbery came from. For now, no such incident has been found..."
It seems they inquired with the domain armies and the Kingdom Army of even quite distant domains, not just neighboring ones, to see if such an incident occurred.
But, no such incidents were recognized.
"That much red wine... and red wine with the Church's seal, I can't think they obtained it properly... Where did it come from..."
"If it's not the Kingdom, maybe another country?"
Shesbarno said casually to the thinking Mika.
"The location is near the border with the Trade Alliance. And they have illegal magic bags, right? Normally, such large barrels wouldn't fit, but they have someone who isn't normal using a magic bag that isn't normal. Didn't that person bring red wine obtained from another country?"
"Another country..."
Did they obtain it in the Trade Alliance?
However, the Church of Light has churches widely across the continent.
There is a possibility it is the church of the Seven Duchies Federation or the Empire.
And, if it is from the Empire, no matter how much they investigate, they cannot find the source.
The Kingdom and the Empire are currently at war.
If they inquire, only the heads of the officials who went to inquire will return.
"In that case, it's that... Hibujiza, right? We have to catch that guy."
Ozendorwa nodded at Yaroibarov's opinion.
But, he soon made a grim face.
"However, we have no idea where he is. Moreover, judging by the story, he isn't normal either. Might he be more troublesome than the young man with reddish-brown hair?"
Running nearly five hundred kilometers in less than a day is not humanly possible.
Even if found, he doesn't seem catchable.
Ozendorwa made a face as if chewing bitter pills and looked at Shesbarno.
Shesbarno had a thoroughly disgusted look on his face.
"...Even so, we have no choice but to do it, right?"
"Yes. Damn it..."
Agreeing with Ozendorwa's opinion, Shesbarno looked resigned.
If they un-luck-ily dis-cov-er him, he won't have a life.
"However, thanks to Mika-kun, we found a way to distinguish them. Go to the Kingdom Army Headquarters and issue a notice to the entire army."
Prepare cages with rats at checkpoints nationwide and test if they enter.
If they enter, it is confirmed to be an illegal magic bag.
Anyone possessing such a thing cannot be normal.
Even if not Hibujiza, there is a high possibility they are related.
Well, actually, it's possible that such illegal items aren't widely spread.
"Give him good advice? With the resolve to cut him off immediately once discovered. It's better not to think about catching him. Probably, even I might give up on catching him."
Ozendorwa nodded silently at Yaroibarov's advice.
After hearing the story, Yaroibarov also said catching him might be impossible.
Well, it's just shifting from giving up on catching him alive to taking his life.
"In that case, this might be useful."
Saying that, Lebrantes took out several sheets of paper from his satchel.
Mika took the papers and checked them one by one.
As he flipped through them, his heart jumped when he saw a certain paper.
Mika turned his face away and closed his eyes involuntarily.
"Monk!?"
"M-Mika-kun!?"
At the sudden burst of killing intent from Mika, Yaroibarov and Ozendorwa stood up and instinctively took a stance.
Mika exhaled deeply and desperately calmed his heart.
"Phew... I think this looks very similar."
And thus, Mika placed one sheet of paper on Ozendorwa's desk.
It was a sketch.
Hibujiza, a mage of the former Court Magic Institute.
There would be plenty of people who knew his face if they searched.
However, Paraleira said his appearance had changed.
But, if one knew his original face, it was a change that would identify him as the same person.
For example, he had become extremely thin.
Mika instructed Lebrantes to have him interview people who knew the former Hibujiza and create a sketch.
On that, he added the characteristics Mika saw: sunken cheeks, eyes sunken and bulging.
His hair was long, tied at the back of his neck.
He had prepared several patterns of sketches taking these characteristics into account.
If there was nothing he could say "This is it!" to in today's finished product, he intended to have it retaken.
"This is Hibujiza..."
"He looks quite disgusting."
Ozendorwa and Shesbarno stared intently at the sketch.
As if memorizing the characteristics perfectly.
"In fact, his complexion looks sickly."
"Someone so unhealthy went to the Viscountcy of Braikosloa in less than a day? What's going on? He's not human, that guy."
At Yaroibarov's comment, Mika frowned as well.
Thinking about it that way, perhaps he didn't run, but used another means.
Could he fly like Mika?
"Also, this."
Saying that, Lebrantes handed Mika a bundle of papers tied with a string.
"I didn't have time, so I couldn't get anything substantial. Well, it's better to go through the Knights Order for that side."
"Hm..."
Mika glanced at the bundle of papers he received.
Was this the Court Magic Institute's diary?
"What is that?"
"Hmm..."
When asked by Yaroibarov, Mika pretended to glance at the diary and evaded the answer.
If he answered "The Court Magic Institute's diary," the question of how he got it would arise.
Probably, he borrowed the hands of the Thieves' Guild.
Including that, he couldn't say it at the Knights Order station (such a place).
Mika had instructed Lebrantes to obtain some material that would reveal Hibujiza's character if possible.
In other words, this diary was a "diary written by Hibujiza while he was employed at the Court Magic Institute."
He had also ordered materials connected to the organization or group Hibujiza belonged to, but these materials might be better gathered with the help of the Knights Order.
Well, since he only had one night, it was better than coming back empty-handed.
"Hm...?"
While looking through the diary, Mika suddenly noticed something.
And thus, he reached into his own magic bag and took out the note left by Hibujiza.
'I'm waiting. Come alone.'
He shifted his gaze to the diary.
"...Waiting for the ex-per-i-men-tal re-sults, if the re-sults are good... ..."
"...To pro-mote si-mult-a-neous-ly, we plan to re-quest one or two as-sis-tants on a fu-ture date... ..."
Comparing the written characters.
Or rather, there was no need to compare them closely; the handwriting in the note and the diary was completely different.
"What is this..."
As Mika stood frozen, Yaroibarov peeked in.
"What's wrong?"
Mika confirmed with Lebrantes with his eyes.
Lebrantes nodded silently.
Well, it might have been part of the plan from the beginning to show this to Ozendorwa and the others.
After all, he had brought it to the Knights Order station.
"Please look at this. This is Hibujiza's diary from his time at the Court Magic Institute. And this is the paper Hibujiza left at my house."
Everyone peered at the diary and the note left on the desk.
"The handwriting is completely different."
"But, how would anyone know who wrote it?"
As for the diary, but regarding the note, it wasn't clear who wrote it.
That was certainly true.
It might have been written by someone beforehand, or even if written on the spot, there might have been someone other than Hibujiza.
But, at that time, the area around Mika's left shoulder flickered.
Everyone was shocked at what happened.
Of course, without needing to confirm, it was Fee.
"You! At a time like this..."
As he started to say that, Mika realized something.
"...Fee, could it be that you saw Hibujiza writing this note!?"
When Mika confirmed that, Fee briefly intensified its light.
(Yes! At that time, Fee was at home! I saw when Kistil and Nerisfeene were kidnapped!)
Fee would prove that Hibujiza wrote this note at that place.
It would be a proof that wouldn't work on anyone other than Mika.
But, that didn't matter.
As long as it became a basis for Mika to believe, that was enough.
And that was important, and everything.
"...I understand. Thank you, Fee."
When Mika said that, Fee intensified its light once and then vanished with a whoosh...
Everyone except Yaroibarov who saw it yesterday looked stunned, but Mika confidently declared.
"This note was written by Hibujiza. Please consider it on that premise."
Seeing such a Mika, Yaroibarov smiled bitterly.
"You say crazy things... But, well, fine. The same person should have written it, but the handwriting changed completely. What possibilities are there?"
"Well..."
As Mika thought, everyone made slightly awkward faces.
But, for now, it seems they would set aside objections.
"There's no denying the possibility that his habits simply changed... but the most likely is impersonation?"
Someone else pretending to be Hibujiza.
"...Does that mean we've lost the clue?"
Shesbarno muttered while stroking his chin beard.
(That's right. Originally, I was the one who brought up Hibujiza. It has to be that it was wrong.)
At Shesbarno's retort, Mika pouted his lips and made a slightly sulky face.
At that time, he noticed Ozendorwa, who had fallen silent.
"What's wrong, Ozendorwa-san?"
"Hm... No, it's just..."
Ozendorwa made a difficult face and continued to ponder.
All gazes focused on Ozendorwa.
"You don't have to look at me like that; I have no good ideas."
Saying that, he smiled bitterly.
"But, you're thinking about something, right?"
"I'm not thinking, but there's something that concerns me."
Saying that, Ozendorwa picked up the note.
"May I keep this? I want to investigate something."
"Yes, that's fine..."
"Thank you."
Saying that, Ozendorwa put the note away on the desk.
And thus, he smiled bitterly again at still being the center of attention.
"That's why, even if you look at me, I have no good ideas. I'm just curious."
So, he made a troubled face.
After the discussion ended, only Ozendorwa and Shesbarno remained in the commander's room.
Ozendorwa tapped the desk with his fingertips.
Shesbarno silently watched such Ozendorwa, but dropped his shoulders and sighed.
"...Really, was it okay to stay silent?"
When asked by Shesbarno, Ozendorwa remained silent.
Only tapping the desk.
"Shouldn't we have told him..."
When Shesbarno said that, Ozendorwa turned only his gaze.
"...What would telling him do? 'The residents of the house Mika-kun lived in before were massacred. The victims were a young boy and his mother. Probably, shortly before you attacked this house.' Would we say that? Mika-kun already recognizes the danger sufficiently. Telling him this story would only give him meaningless guilt."
Ozendorwa said irritably and pointed at Shesbarno.
"Now, he is suffering too. There is no need to burden him further."
The Information Broker Guild probably doesn't grasp the details of this incident accurately either.
Because Ozendorwa sealed the information.
He deliberately did not have the Fifth Knights Order handle the case, but transferred it to the Kingdom Army Headquarters.
Even if they thought something happened, something was moving, the information brokers shouldn't pursue it carelessly.
"If we speak, it must be after Mika-kun asks. Understood?"
Pressed by Ozendorwa's sharp gaze, Shesbarno tightened his expression and straightened his posture.