Chapter 270 - Chapter 269: The Black Telephone Connection
Month of Earth, Week 1, Day of Wind.
A hilly area stretching as far as the eye could see, with not a single soul in sight.
"Kraaaah!"
Zaku!
Mika drove a black stake into the ground with all his might.
Then he stomped on the stake, hard and fast.
The stake was about one meter long, but it pierced deep into the earth and was completely buried.
Mika took out an object that looked exactly like the handset of a black rotary telephone from his magic bag.
He removed the cover attached to the mouthpiece and spoke into it.
"Ah-ah, can you hear me?"
He pressed the handset to his ear and called out.
After a brief pause, a reply came back.
"Yes, I can hear you. ...Where are you now?"
The voice belonged to Adelriese-san, who lived in District 3 of the Royal Capital.
"I'm just about to cross the Leventein domain."
"You're already that far?"
"I said 'already', but it's been four days. Laying the antennas is really a pain..."
"Actually, it's more suspicious that you could lay them that far in just four days. Aren't the number of antennas getting low?"
At Adelriese's words, Mika reached into his magic bag.
"There aren't... ten left. I'll head back once I bury these."
"I understand. The remaining antennas have come online, so this should be enough."
"Understood. I'll be back by evening."
"Yes, be careful."
After such a conversation, he put the handset back into the magic bag.
They could converse with almost no lag.
The sound was clear.
"My, I never thought we could build communication devices this quickly."
Muttering such things, Mika headed for the next laying point and flew off.
Long-distance communication was possible.
Mika's proposed policy was immediately verified by Adelriese and the research team.
However, the principle behind it remained somewhat unclear.
The research team confirmed that magic power was being transmitted through something that could be called a magic power path. While working to clarify the principle, they also began research toward practical application.
They had first considered transmitting information like simple Morse code, but actually, that was the more troublesome option.
Sound is vibration of the air.
When explaining the shock wave, he had taught them the basic knowledge of sound.
Therefore, they could input voice directly into a substance possessing the power of wind, transmit it, and output it again using the power of wind.
When transmitting Morse code, one had to convert the content to be conveyed into text, then convert that into dots and dashes, creating extra steps.
No steps like converting to electrical signals were needed at all. A phenomenon occurred that would be unthinkable in his original world: simply transmitting sound directly was much faster.
Regarding information transmission, using materials possessing the power of wind allowed transmission through the atmosphere.
However, in that case, the distance could not be extended very far.
Using materials possessing the power of earth allowed information exchange to travel through the ground.
For now, this was deemed the most practical, so development proceeded with the direction of underground transmission as the temporary guideline.
The stakes Mika had buried in the ground were antennas made of "Orichalcum," a rare copper-type metal.
Using these antennas, a radius of about one kilometer could be covered.
Well, allowing for a margin, they buried antennas in the ground every eight to nine hundred meters.
From the Royal Capital to Rish Village, even the shortest distance easily exceeded five hundred kilometers.
Perhaps it was close to six hundred kilometers.
To keep the route as short as possible, they avoided the main roads when laying the antennas.
It avoided human eyes and reduced the risk of something being done artificially, so they simply hammered in antennas using this policy.
If they buried an antenna every eight hundred meters over six hundred kilometers, a simple calculation showed that seven hundred and fifty antennas would be required.
And so, they made antennas non-stop and laid them non-stop.
■■■■■■
Month of Earth, Week 2, Day of Sun.
"And so, here you go."
Finally having laid the antennas all the way to Rish Village, he immediately handed the black telephone handset to Kistil.
By the way, they had buried four antennas to cover the entire village.
Naturally, it was without permission.
In fact, they had buried over seven hundred antennas, and they had never received permission even once.
"...?"
"What is this, Mika-sama?"
As Kistil took the handset, she tilted her head.
The black, glossy handset made both of them wear slightly strange expressions.
Yeah, it really looks exactly like a black telephone handset, including that gloss.
"It is a communication device. It is a wonderful thing that allows you to talk to people in distant places using this."
"To people in distant places..."
Nerisfeene, who didn't quite understand, muttered.
"It means I can talk to Kistil and Nerisfeene in Rish Village while I am in the Royal Capital."
"Eh?"
"Hmm...?"
Even after hearing the explanation, the two of them did not understand.
People seeing a completely new concept for the first time were like this, huh.
Mika placed a black telephone-style stand for the handset on the table.
Naturally, this shape had no meaning.
"Place it like this on this... When it rings, ah... well, it makes a sound when I call. Then, lift the handset like this."
He placed the handset on the black telephone-style stand and lifted it.
"You can hear the sound from here, so put it to your ear. This side transmits what you say to the other person, so hold it near your mouth."
He demonstrated explaining the handset.
Then he returned it to the stand.
"Try it."
The two of them, timidly, tried to mimic what Mika had done.
After confirming this, he headed for the entrance.
"Well, I'll leave for a bit. If the black telephone stand makes a sound, take off the handset."
"O-Okay."
Nerisfeene nodded with a tense expression.
Mika went outside and moved to the southern wall surrounding the village.
Right beyond the originally existing wooden fence, a giant stone made by Mika was placed.
Mika climbed onto the stone and sat down.
While dangling his legs, he removed the cover attached to the mouthpiece of the handset.
This was like the call switch on Mika's side.
After pressing the handset to his ear and waiting a moment, a voice came through.
"...It really rang."
Beyond Kistil's voice, Nerisfeene's voice saying, "It's quite noisy," could also be heard.
"Hello? Can you hear me?"
"Eh!? Mika-kun!?"
Kistil's voice seemed to have gone distant.
Probably, she had moved the handset away from her ear and was looking around.
It was funny imagining the two of them reacting like that.
While holding the handset to his ear, Mika smiled to himself.
This feeling was a sensation he had forgotten for a long time.
This handset-type communication device.
It was dedicated to a direct line.
A method to call a specific partner by number had not yet been developed.
It was built to correspond completely one-on-one.
However, the antennas could be used for other communication devices as well.
He had not investigated the limit of how many lines could be connected for calls, but calls could be made without any cross-talk.
While enjoying the conversation with the two of them for a while like this, he taught them how to use it.
And, he decided to conduct regular contact from now on.
Every day at night, he would contact them to let him know if there was any abnormality in Rish Village.
The magic bag blocked sound.
Therefore, he had to carry it with him constantly, but to solve this, he attached a handset holder to the belt of the magic bag.
With the robe also completed, Mika's main equipment was now complete.
Previously, he had stored the "Orichalcum" short sword in his magic bag, but now he wore it at his waist, always ready to draw it.
He was bothered by the clanking of various things attached around his waist, but he would get used to it eventually.
If he didn't get used to it... he would think about it again at that time.
■■■■■■
Month of Earth, Week 2, Day of Moon.
"—There is such a wonderful thing. Do you need it?"
The Apostle suddenly appeared at the lord's mansion in Sarbengeal and demanded to be introduced to the Marquis.
There was no knight in the Domain Army who wouldn't know Mika, who had shown his worth in two battles.
Since the Domain Army headquarters was holding a meeting, he was immediately guided to the headquarters.
Marquis Leventein, who had been summoned in the middle of a meeting, came to a small conference room accompanied by Haiden and the Knight Commander Magnus.
To that Marquis, he blurted out immediately.
"Wouldn't it be convenient if we could communicate and talk with the front lines?"
"............What on earth are you talking about...?"
The Marquis gave a suspicious look at Mika, who had suddenly appeared and started saying things that made no sense.
Mika placed one set of handsets on the table.
"There is a wonderful thing that allows the soldiers guarding the protective wall to talk with the Domain Army headquarters (here). Do you need it?"
Even after the explanation, the three of them still did not understand at all.
It was troublesome, so he took them outside to demonstrate.
"...So, using that communication device, you can talk between communication devices, is that it?"
"That is correct."
Haiden frowned but managed to understand.
"However, it won't connect to the front lines as it is. Construction work is needed to connect it."
"So there is a limit to the distance?"
"Yes. It will take a few days to extend the distance."
Mika nodded at Magnus's question.
In reality, it could be done in one day, but well, he would exaggerate a little.
The Marquis crossed his arms and thought about Mika's proposal.
His face looked stern, as if he were angry, but this was likely just an expression of deep thought.
"............What is your request?"
He asked such a thing.
"You prepared such an outrageous magic tool. There must be something, right?"
But Mika shook his head.
"No, there is nothing at all. Right now."
"............Right now?"
Mika looked up at Marquis Leventein with cold eyes.
"I hate you, Marquis. Honestly, I still hold a grudge. ............You probably know why."
"Yes..."
Mika had not forgiven the Marquis for forcibly deciding the engagement with Cleiria even now.
Because of that, he had ended up faking a broken engagement with Kistil and Nerisfeene.
How could he forgive such a thing.
"Nevertheless, it cannot be undone now that the engagement with Cleiria has already been decided. It is not just the Leventein family's convenience. I do not want to make Cleiria sad as a friend."
Even if the Marquis had forced the engagement, if it were broken, Cleiria would be sad.
She would be deeply hurt.
"............I have many thoughts on this, but if the Leventein domain falls, the damage will be immense. Millions of citizens of Sarbengeal. The neighboring domains will be finished too."
"Yes, that is true."
Because of that heavy responsibility, he understood why they had tried to bring Mika in using that opportunity.
He understood why they had tried to incorporate him into the Leventein Marquis family.
But even so, Mika could not bring himself to forgive the Marquis.
"There is nothing I want you to do right now."
Saying that, Mika let out a soft sigh.
"So, consider this a favor. I will collect it back someday. I don't know in what form, though."
"Mika-kun..."
Haiden looked at Mika and the Marquis alternately with a worried expression.
Mika pointed the Marquis out with the handset in his hand.
"If you wish, I can make it usable. ...What will you do?"
When Mika asked with a glare, the Marquis nodded.
"I understand. That is fine."
Hearing that response, Mika let out a sigh.
"............I will make it usable soon."
Saying that, Mika turned his back to the Marquis.
Then, he took a few steps of running start and jumped into the sky.
Mika began laying antennas from near the protective wall toward Sarbengeal.
"This is so frustrating...!"
As he stabbed the antennas into the ground, Mika couldn't help but mutter.
Even though the Tranquilizer was working, his chest still felt restless.
Mika was overwhelmed by his own emotions.
Even so, as he laid them, he gradually calmed his feelings.
He stopped temporarily when he reached the point where only a few more antennas were needed to reach Sarbengeal.
He planned to take a few days on purpose before connecting it.
Above all, since there was one or two more business prospects, he would talk to them first before connecting it.
"Sigh... I want to live more casually."
Muttering such things, Mika flew toward the Royal Capital.
In the Royal Capital, he was introduced to the Crown Prince, and through the Crown Prince's mediation, to Tsudazen, the Minister of Military Affairs, to sell the communication devices.
From the border protective wall to the garrison of the Kingdom Army stationed in the Leventein Marquis domain.
And from the Kingdom Army garrison to a direct line with the Minister of Military Affairs in the Royal Capital.
He took orders from both of them as well, on the basis of "a favor."
Well, if they tried to renege, the communication devices would just stop working.
If he pulled out one antenna inside the Kingdom Army garrison base, it would become unusable.
Since they didn't know how it worked, they wouldn't have a clue why it stopped working.
Anyway, to reduce the damage as much as possible, he was doing what he could.
Mika had also heard that the Emperor of the Gronoir Empire was energetically running around the country, claiming a "Holy Crusade."
If this antenna network were extended even to the Empire, obtaining information in almost real-time would be possible.
But, honestly, that was too troublesome.
If Mika wanted money, producing and selling a large number of antennas would be an option.
They would make them lay the antennas themselves, and Mika would profit from selling the communication devices and antennas.
However, unfortunately, Mika had no interest in money.
Mika had already obtained about twenty billion Rats.
Even after spending a fortune on material costs, he still had that much money.
Now, the only thing Mika wanted was freedom.
■■■■■■
Month of Earth, Week 2, Day of Water.
In front of the Great Cathedral in the Royal Capital.
The scars of the attack on the Royal Capital were deep, and many people still depended on soup kitchens run by the church and the state.
He heard that many people had their homes in District 2 destroyed and were forced to move to District 3.
In District 3, those who had managed to secure their own housing were probably better off.
After all, there were even people still living in temporary housing.
The city reconstruction work conducted by the state mainly involved maintaining public infrastructure.
Clearing away debris to allow roads to pass, and restoring broken bridges and sewers.
It did not repair individual homes.
Therefore, Mika occasionally visited the church's soup kitchen location to encourage the people.
"I know it's tough, but let's do our best."
"Yes... Apostle-sama."
He spoke to the people lining up.
Seeing Mika's shining figure, people's reactions varied: some prayed, some bowed, some teared up.
What would happen to these people from now on?
Thinking that, his heart ached just a little.
Or rather, his eyes hurt a bit.
It was because Fee was possessing Mika's body and wrapping him in light.
He didn't need such a performance.
While thinking such things, Kifrod came from the Great Cathedral.
"Mika. It is hard work in this cold weather."
"Kifrod-sama. Is it okay that you are up already?"
Kifrod had caught a cold, perhaps because the cold was too much for him.
Well, he was old anyway.
If he wasn't careful, he would end up bedridden.
"Yes, I am fine now. I caused you worry."
Saying that, he laughed cheerfully.
With this attitude, he must have really recovered.
"Sorry, but come with me for a moment. I have something to talk about... or rather, a small request."
"......?"
Mika followed Kifrod into the Great Cathedral.
In the room they were led to, Pope Blahoslav was waiting.
""Messenger of the Gods" (Apostle). I apologize for summoning you."
"No, it is fine. Is something wrong?"
When Mika asked that, Blahoslav shook his head.
"No, that is not it. I just became anxious..."
"......Anxious?"
Blahoslav knelt before Mika and made a gesture of prayer.
"It is a shameful story, but I feel as if I am being crushed by anxiety. So, by praying to the appearance of the "Messenger of the Gods" (Apostle), I try to feel the Gods..."
"Ah, ah..."
Well, leaving aside whether Mika was actually related to the Gods at this point.
It seemed Blahoslav was about to break under the heavy burden of being Pope.
Due to his position, it was difficult for him to vent his complaints.
The Pope was in a position to listen to people's worries and doubts, and to teach and guide them.
If a Pope leaked his anxiety, the impact would be immeasurable.
Praying only to Mika was fine, but he could not express his feelings.
Therefore, he must have wanted to meet in a place where no one else was.
Kifrod was one of the few people Blahoslav could ask for guidance.
It seemed Kifrod had arranged this meeting, thinking that this much would be okay if he consulted him.
Mika shifted his gaze from Blahoslav, who was praying with all his heart, to Kifrod, and Kifrod nodded.
It was a sign to leave him be.
"............The Pope of Gronoir has started talking about a Holy Crusade and is inciting lost children. I fear that something terrible is about to happen..."
At Blahoslav's words, Mika also nodded silently.
The unprecedented disaster where the Royal Capital was attacked by a Chimera had just occurred.
He must be feeling anxious that further hardships would befall them.
"Worrying won't help..."
Kifrod spoke to such Blahoslav.
"We are not Gods. It is natural that there are those we cannot save. It is natural to make mistakes and to regret them. Even Mika, whom you pray to, is the same."
"But I don't make mistakes."
When Mika said that, Kifrod's expression suddenly became stern.
Yes, sorry...
"As long as we are human, we can only do our best with what we can do. Desiring more than that is beyond human hands. ...It may seem cruel, but this world is originally cruel. 'There are only two types of emotion: the love of the Gods and the love for the Gods.' Humans are merely imitating that."
Was there such a teaching?
Human emotions were not emotions, but just imitating the Gods?
When Mika made a slightly strange face, Kifrod smiled bitterly.
"It is the words of the "Messenger of the Gods" (Apostle) in Chapter Nine of the God of Water."
It seemed it was not the Gods' teaching, but the Apostle's line.
Well, that made it easier to accept.
Some angels had jobs like just praising the Gods.
"Let's do what we can. As much as possible."
"............Yes."
At Mika's words, Blahoslav nodded heavily.