Chapter 261 - Chapter 260: Restoration of the Capital
Royal Castle, late night.
Prime Minister Dedoderic was overwhelmed by the monster attack that occurred in the morning and the subsequent response efforts.
The "Monster Attack Countermeasure Headquarters" was established in the grand conference room within the Royal Castle to deal with various issues such as confirming damage conditions, rescuing victims, and restoring the city streets.
Fires also broke out across the entire capital, but these were successfully extinguished without spreading significantly.
Fortunately, the rain that began to fall prevented the fires from spreading further, and the firefighting activities carried out amidst the chaos went surprisingly well.
The monsters had already been defeated by adventurers.
Many adventurers acted voluntarily, so it could be said that the damage was kept to a minimum.
Minimum.
Yes, it is estimated that there were thousands of casualties and tens of thousands of people were forced to abandon their homes.
Nevertheless, the extermination of the monsters was completed by morning, and the damage was kept to a minimum.
If this had not been exterminated, the scale of the damage would have increased by one or two orders of magnitude.
"...Is it a problem of direction?"
Reports stated that almost all who defeated the monsters this time were adventurers.
Against monsters exceeding a certain level, knights and soldiers of the Kingdom Army cannot match them.
An organization that abandoned individual strength and specialized in group tactics.
They displayed their greatest strength in group combat against humans, and as a result of seeking efficiency, there were almost no individuals with overwhelmingly superior strength.
Because the army's policy was deemed "acceptable," they struggled to exert their power against monsters like this, especially in urban areas where group combat was difficult.
Exterminating monsters is the domain of adventurers.
Yes, they had drawn a line and separated the two completely.
The fact that there were almost no monster habitats around the capital also played a large role.
There were no monster incursions.
Even if one or two came, adventurers would eliminate them on their own.
While they were overconfident, they received a crushing blow.
Who could have imagined that someone would use monsters to launch a simultaneous attack on the capital from all directions?
It was clear that this was not a spontaneous incident.
It was clearly an attack orchestrated by someone.
"You're doing it...!"
Although there was no evidence, surely no one would be so carefree as to think this wasn't the work of Gronoir.
This forced them to finally get moving.
Although there were mountains of problems like [Divine Wrath], they could no longer afford to remain inactive.
They would likely throw their entire kingdom's strength into the conflict, even if it meant total war.
Dedoderic lifted his gaze from the documents in his hand and rubbed his eyes lightly.
In the headquarters, over a hundred officials were moving busily, working through the night to handle the situation.
Many citizens whose homes were destroyed and thrown outside were still in a state of barely eating.
The Kingdom Army stationed around the capital was providing food distribution, but it was difficult to say that it reached all the affected citizens.
Currently, the capital's food reserves were not that large either.
This was because supplies were being arranged to be sent to the front lines.
Currently, the Kingdom Army stationed in the Leventein territory to guard against a renewed invasion by Gronoir exceeded three hundred thousand.
Although supplies were being transported from the northern part of the kingdom at all times, for a while, they would have to use a portion of that in the capital.
They did not want to make the soldiers on the front lines dissatisfied about food, but for now, they would have to endure it.
As Dedoderic lightly loosened his neck, the officials working all at once began to salute.
Looking in the direction the officials were facing, Crown Prince Cranzard had entered the headquarters.
Dedoderic stood up and called out to Cranzard.
"This is Your Highness. Visiting at such an hour――――."
"It is fine. Do not mind me. Continue your work."
Cranzard spoke to the officials, then came to Dedoderic.
"Dedoderic. How is the situation afterwards?"
"Do not worry, Your Highness. Everything is proceeding smoothly."
Hearing Dedoderic's reply, Cranzard's expression turned slightly grim.
"Do not spout such trivial nonsense. I came to hear the specific situation. How many people died? How many have lost their homes?"
"That is..."
The damage situation was only roughly understood at this point.
Knowing this, Cranzard did not press him persistently.
"...I have no authority. But names can be used for something. Use them as you please. If there is anything else, say whatever you wish."
"We are grateful for your generosity."
As Dedoderic bowed respectfully, Cranzard nodded.
"I have caused trouble. I brought some smelling salts as a gift... but it seems unnecessary."
Cranzard smiled bitterly, looking at the empty bottle of smelling salts placed on Dedoderic's desk.
"I would like to tell you not to overexert yourself... but... if you do not overexert yourself, the burden will fall on the people. I am sorry, but please endure it."
"I understand, Your Highness."
After such exchanges, Cranzard left.
Dedoderic rubbed his eyes again and let out a light sigh.
Although he had no great insight or authority and insisted on trivial matters, giving annoying instructions here and there, Cranzard understood this side of things.
To say "use names" meant "I will take responsibility, do as you please."
If they demanded detailed reports during an emergency and required permission for every single action, nothing could be done.
Unlike the current King Kurnils, Cranzard had a somewhat rough side, but he was not a bad king to serve.
There was a danger that he could become a good or bad king depending on the ministers serving him, but for those serving, it was a blessing.
"We must save those who can be saved... As many as possible."
Muttering so, Dedoderic glanced quickly at the order sheet brought by an official and signed it.
■■■■■■
A glowing insect flying in the summer night sky... Mika, who glowed like a firefly from a distance, looked down at the ground searching for a signal.
He was currently executing [Heal] for the critically injured, as requested by Sevvero.
Sevvero, consulted by Mika, asked skilled adventurers to cooperate through personal connections.
In that process, Yaroibarov also joined, and with the cooperation of many adventurers, they gathered the critically injured by area as much as possible.
The strategy was to have Mika come to the location for those who were too difficult to move.
Since this operation required manpower, they had to ask acquaintances of acquaintances to lend a hand.
"Ah, that one."
The flying insect... Mika noticed an adventurer waving a torch to send a signal.
When Mika descended to the ground, two adventurers ran down to him.
"'Dispeller', this way."
"Sorry, but hurry up."
Following the adventurers into a makeshift hut, the smell of death filled the air.
About twenty people were crammed inside.
Some thought, upon a single glance, that they were beyond saving.
(...Even so, with [Heal]...)
Even people whom modern medicine cannot save can be saved with this [God's Miracle].
A woman who seemed to be his family clung to a man who had already lost consciousness.
"Apostle-sama! Please... I beg you! Please... how...!"
The woman's tearful, agonized scream tightened his chest.
The man lying there had lost his right arm.
(...If he had an arm, I might be able to heal it.)
But more than half a day had already passed.
Mika did not know if he could heal a necrotic arm.
(...It might not be the best, but even so...)
He could not take responsibility for this man's life after losing an arm.
This was, after all, just self-satisfaction.
Nevertheless, he wanted as many people as possible to survive.
"O vast source of life, Great God of Water. O God of Healing, whose great subordinate deity fills with moisture and heals. ――――."
As Mika chanted the [Heal] spell, particles of light floated throughout the man's body, healing his wounded flesh.
"Ah... Gods... Thank you..."
Wounds on his whole body healed before their eyes, and the woman offered prayers to Mika.
Mika gave [Heal] to the person lying next to him and continued treating the injured one by one.
Normally, he should wash the wounds before performing [Heal], but he did not have the luxury of that now.
There should be dozens of places like this in the capital where the critically injured were gathered.
If arrival was delayed by even one minute, some might lose their lives because of it.
Thinking of that, it was a practical difficulty to carefully treat each person one by one.
Thus, using [Heal] one after another, when it was a certain girl's turn, [Heal] did not react.
The father holding her hand stared steadily at Mika.
Mika involuntarily lowered his head and squeezed his eyes shut.
(...I'm sorry... I'm sorry for being late...)
This was something he knew all too well.
He never thought he could save everyone from the start.
Nevertheless, if he had been even a little sooner, he might have been able to save them.
At that fact, Mika could not hold back his tears, dropping them one by one.
His chest churned with the grief overflowing in his heart.
But soon, the Tranquilizer reacted, calming Mika's mind.
"...Lighting Ball."
Mika whispered softly, lifting a marble-sized particle of light from the girl's body.
Startled by the sudden event, the father's eyes widened as he stared fixedly at the light.
Mika moved the Lighting Ball onto his own hand and guided it toward the sky.
The particle of light pierced through the roof of the makeshift hut and rose up.
Mika said nothing and moved on to the next person's [Heal].
The father who had been holding the girl's hand began to offer prayers to Mika while shedding tears.
A performance that was undeniably meaningful.
But in reality, it meant nothing.
'The girl's soul has been guided to the gods.'
A performance designed to make people misunderstand, as if to say that.
A fraudulent technique.
He felt like he was going to vomit at his own actions.
(Even so...)
If it helps the remaining people move forward.
If it brings even a slight comfort.
(Then I will become a fraud!)
Having finished all [Heals], Mika left the makeshift hut.
An adventurer who followed Mika out muttered with a bit of excitement.
"It's rude to say 'as expected,' but the rumors about the Apostle were true, weren't they."
"I couldn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes, but after seeing this..."
Here too, there was a victim who had fallen for the scam.
"Is there anywhere else to guide?"
"Ah, ah... this way. They are a bit immobile."
When urged, the adventurer guided Mika to a house a short distance away.
Regardless of District 2 or District 3, they gathered as many critically injured as possible, and if they saw light flying in the sky, they waved a torch to send a signal.
By doing this, many of the critically injured who would have died until now managed to keep their lives.
However, many had lost hands or feet, and thinking about the future hardships for those people, doubts arose as to whether his actions were truly correct.
Nevertheless, thinking he wanted to save lives that could be saved, Mika flew around the capital at night.
"Over here, Apostle-sama."
Dawn was already near.
He had circled the capital many times and probably visited almost every place.
Mika was also staggering from fatigue, but to save as many lives as possible, he pumped himself up and cast [Heal].
Once it became bright, the torch signals would disappear.
Was it time for the last round?
Critically injured people were gathered in an empty house in District 5 of District 2.
There, he saved some lives and watched over others until they passed, and was then guided to a place where immobile critically injured people were located.
In one house, a young boy was lying in bed.
A girl wiped his sweat with a wet towel, nursing him with a sorrowful expression.
When Mika peeked into the bed, he recognized the boy with a pained, blue face.
"Basal!?"
For some reason, Basal was lying in bed with a severe injury.
Beside the bed, Basal's Sword was propped up.
It was Basal's sword, which Mika had gifted him with a Magic Bag a little while ago, and he had started managing it himself.
"Why is Basal in a place like this...!"
As Mika muttered so, Basal let out a voice in pain.
"...Mika... wh...ere...?"
Basal seemed to be conscious and noticed Mika's voice.
"...Such a... pitiful... place..."
"Stop it! Besides, what happened! Why is Basal here!?"
Basal seemed unable to open his eyes, so he turned his face toward Mika relying on his voice.
And thus, he explained bit by bit.
That he was conducting rescue activities outside the Academy by the Academy Director's order.
That the scope of rescue activities was initially limited to the surroundings of the Southeast Gate, but expanded to the South Gate and East Gate.
That while conducting rescue activities around the South Gate, a scream was suddenly heard.
That amidst people fleeing in panic, a knight making strange movements committed atrocities.
That seeing this, his mind went blank, and he fought without being able to restrain himself, and so on.
"...Such a pitiful thing... I challenged myself and ended up like this."
"That is not so! Basal-san was very admirable! You bravely faced a knight who could only run away even as an adult!"
The girl nursing him said she was about to be slashed by that very knight and was saved by Basal.
However, it seemed Basal had gone down in a mutual kill against that knight who was beyond human.
"I raised [Physical Enhancement] too much, and my mana ran out immediately... It is truly something that I couldn't even use [Heal]..."
The mana recovery potions given during rescue activities had been used up, and he had to manage with the remaining mana.
However, under the pressure of actual combat, it seemed he could not fight as usual.
Mika listened to Basal's story and scratched his cheek lightly.
(...Was Basal's lack of actual combat experience a complex?)
In training, Basal boasted a win rate of five minutes or more against Mika, but as soon as [Physical Enhancement] was applied, he suddenly lost.
At the root of Basal was a school of thought from a family that pursued strength in actual combat.
He must have had a strong desire to know actual combat and become stronger.
Basal smiled painfully.
"...I am glad to have met you, Mika-dono, in the end."
"Idiot! Do not say such things!"
"Mika-dono... I leave the rest to you..."
"Basaluuuuuuuuuuuuuu......!"
Mika called out the name of his worthy rival with all his might.
"...................."
"...................."
Only the sound of the girl's sobbing echoed.
"................Mika-dono..."
"What?"
"...[Heal]?"
"I already used it."
Of course.
Before having time to chat, I used it quickly.
Basal sat up abruptly.
"Haa... I am grateful. I realized my own immaturity."
"You are overdoing it, Basal... The knight Basal fought was probably a Chimera, right?"
"...Chimera?"
Basal's face went slack.
"I only saw it from a distance, but I heard from an acquaintance who is a former adventurer that such things exist."
As Mika told him, Basal's face twitched slightly.
"I thought it was something that moved beyond human limits..."
"Yeah, it wasn't human. Probably."
Thus, the two shared a bitter smile.
"I thought it had an terrifying presence... but I never thought it was a type of monster."
"Your first battle was against a Chimera, and you took it down in a mutual kill, even without [Physical Enhancement]. As expected, you're amazing, Basal."
While talking to Mika, Basal began to prepare to leave.
And thus, he bowed politely to the girl who had been nursing him all this time.
"I am indebted to you. It is thanks to you that I kept my life."
"That is not so. Basal-san is the one who saved my life."
The girl smiled with an expression showing some fatigue.
Mika used [Heal] on the girl as well.
"Um... if you would like, please come again. That is, this time, let's have tea together..."
"I am grateful, but please do not worry too much about it."
"Do not say such things, please..."
"Oh my, oh my, is this?
Could it be that a so-called flag has been raised?
As Mika grinned and watched, Basal made a strange face.
"What is it, Mika-dono? It is disgusting."
"What is it? Do not fool me like that."
"What is it? It is really disgusting, you know?"
"Oh my, oh my, you are blushing... Why don't you go out and play properly?"
While talking about such things, they walked through District 2 at dawn.
"Haa... I am defeated."
"What? Having a girlfriend is normal, isn't it?"
"What are you talking about!?"
Hmm?
Is it different?
"She went missing during rescue activities. There must be a huge commotion."
"Ah, that's what you mean."
That might indeed be bad.
"The Academy is strict about unauthorized actions, so I wonder what kind of punishment awaits..."
Strict about unauthorized actions?
I did a lot of unauthorized actions, but I never received any punishment.
"Well, if you get scolded, you can say I dragged you along because I needed help."
"That cannot be done. Then Mika-dono would become the villain."
Mika offered a helping hand, but Basal seemed reluctant to blame Mika.
Really, he is a serious guy.
"Indeed, we might have caused trouble for the Academy, but how many victims would there have been if Basal had not fought? Basal's actions were not wrong. If you say that violates rules, then the rules are wrong."
"Mika-dono..."
I understand the meaning of setting rules, and I think there are many cases where rules are correct.
Above all, rules are absolutely necessary to control the masses.
However, forcing everything to fit into rules rigidly is wrong.
A ruler is, after all, for the measurer.
Forcing parts that stick out of the ruler to fit is because it is easier for the measurer.
Mika did not want to deny the action of saving those who would be abandoned or cut off by that.
"I will tell the truth to the Academy Director myself. I will not let them punish you, and I think the Academy Director probably won't. So, just say you were helping me."
At Mika's persuasion, Basal's expression twisted with worry.
Soon he sighed and slumped his shoulders.
"I am grateful. I will rely on Mika-dono here."
"Yes, do that."
Saying so, Mika thrust his fist toward Basal.
"Good job, Basal. You are admirable."
"...My strength is still not enough."
Basal shook his head weakly, but then his face became clear.
"I understand a little why Mika-dono gets excited about being an adventurer."
"Right?"
They tapped fists.
"...By the way, I have been wondering since earlier... what are those wings on your back?"
Yeah, you were looking at them from time to time.
I left them alone because you didn't ask.
"Well, there are various reasons."
"I cannot even imagine what happened to make it so. You are still incomprehensible, Mika-dono."
Nevertheless, the fact that he did not persistently ask anything showed that Basal truly had a large heart.
If it were me, I would be curious and ask persistently.
"Then, I am going."
"I understand. Please be careful."
"Yes."
Saying so, Mika took a light running start and jumped up, waving to Basal as he spread his wings and flew into the morning sky.
After that, Mika flew busily around the capital for about five days, casting [Heal] on the injured and dismantling collapsed dangerous houses.
He frequently broke into the Crown Prince's room, ordering "increase the number of food distribution sites" and "build temporary housing."
Regarding Mika's requests, even though he had no authority, he spoke to the Prime Minister and relevant ministers to provide convenience as much as possible.
The Church also performed [Heal] for many people free of charge and conducted their own food distribution.
They also called for donations from believers throughout the kingdom, working to rescue those who had suffered damage.
The sight of the "Apostle of the Gods" rushing to rescue was noticed by many, and unprecedented amounts of donations were collected from those who heard the rumors.
However, most of those donations were for "building a statue of the 'Apostle of the Gods' as a symbol of reconstruction."
Naturally, the person himself (Mika) rejected it, and the funds were used for supplies such as food distribution, medicine, and bandages.
Later, an apology stating "A statue of the 'Apostle of the Gods' cannot be built" was posted in all the Great Cathedrals of the kingdom in the Pope's name.
Although the capital was struck by an unprecedented disaster, the pace of restoration was faster than anyone imagined.
It was clear to everyone that the driving force behind this was the "Apostle of the Gods," who flew around without sparing himself any rest.