Chapter 282 - Chapter 281: One-Person Time Lag
The first day of the fourth week of the Month of Water.
In the morning, carriages were coming and going at the Academy's main gate.
Reconstruction of District 2 was progressing, and noble children were commuting to school by carriage.
When Mika arrived at the Academy, the Academy Director Maurice was waiting in front of that main gate.
Mauris was wrapped in an unusual atmosphere and beckoned to Mika.
"Good morning, Director. Is something wrong?"
When Mika offered his morning greeting, Maurice looked around and whispered into his ear.
"...Go to His Highness immediately."
It was a voice quite desperate.
Did something happen to Cranzard?
"Did something happen to His Highness?"
"That is not it. Anyway, hurry."
Rather than arguing here, it meant he should go to Cranzard as soon as possible.
When Mika showed a slightly confused expression, Maurice nodded with a serious face.
I don't quite understand, but it seems some terrible situation has arisen.
"I understand."
"Yes, do not go from your room, but properly from the entrance of the Royal Castle."
"U... I understand."
Mika turned his back to Maurice, took a few steps of running start, and then leaped away.
Maurice watched Mika off with one eye open.
"...I'm counting on you, Mika Noisheim."
Maurice's mutter was drowned out by the sound of carriage wheels.
■■■■■■
When Mika landed in front of the Royal Castle entrance, the guarding Royal Knights became slightly flustered.
"Apostle-sama. His Highness is waiting for you."
But it seemed the news had already been passed, and the Royal Castle itself seemed to be waiting for Mika.
Guided by the Royal Knights, he was led not to the Regent's office on the third floor, but to the conference room on the first floor.
Knights and officials came and went hurriedly, and a tense atmosphere could be felt.
"You're here. I've been waiting."
"Did something happen?"
"Yes, of course. As you can see."
Saying that, Cranzard left the conference room and entered the empty conference room next door.
"No one is to enter except for urgent matters."
"Yes!"
The Royal Knights ordered by Cranzard stood by the side of the door and took up guard.
Prompted by Cranzard, Mika entered the room and took a seat.
Inside the room, there were only three people: Mika, Cranzard, and an old knight who usually served as Cranzard's guard.
"What on earth is this? Did there be movement on the front lines?"
"That is not it. It is Margrave Yusdin's domain. The capital city Wyedges."
Where?
Mika was stunned.
"Don't you know!? It is the second largest city in the Kingdom!?"
"Ah, I think I learned it in class... I don't know, maybe?"
I don't go there.
To be honest, I wonder if I can even remember it.
In this world, maps are treated as major military intelligence.
Therefore, the instructor would draw a very rough sketch on the blackboard and tell us to memorize it.
I memorized the Hailhord Region, including Baron Limpēre's domain and Marquis Leventein's domain, but I don't know other regions.
(If you want me to memorize it, just send a simple map!)
I was thinking that.
There was hardly any information about regional characteristics, and it was unreasonable to just say "memorize this bad drawing."
Reform of the Magic Academy is necessary.
By the way, it would be good to include morality too.
That said, once the keyword "second largest city in the country" came out, there must be at least a little related information.
"Um... I think it was a port city. It is located on the western coast of the Kingdom."
"I see you knew at least that much."
With Mika's answer, Cranzard sighed with relief.
"...I thought even the Academy's education needed improvement?"
Please do so if you wish.
I can't memorize it like that.
"The population is second only to the capital city. ...Well, that's about all I know."
As Sarbengeal is said to be the third largest city in the country, the population of the capital city Wyedges is larger than Sarbengeal.
"What happened to that Wyedges?"
When Mika asked that, Cranzard grimaced.
"It was attacked."
"Attacked!? Is it the Empire's attack!?"
Mika raised his voice in surprise, but Cranzard shook his head.
"I don't know... I don't know, but it is probably so. All I know is that it was a single man."
"A single... man?"
When Mika gave a suspicious look, Cranzard grimaced even more, as if he had chewed on bitter paste.
"He went around blowing up the town all by himself. Casualties are unimaginable, but surely not less than a million."
"A million!?"
Stunned by the magnitude of the damage, Mika was speechless.
But soon, one possibility floated up in Mika's mind.
No way!
"Has no description of that man been conveyed? Isn't he a man with long black hair?"
When Mika said that, Cranzard nodded.
"It seems there is a match. It seems he was a man wanted by order of the authorities for some time. There are many eyewitness reports, so it is certain."
Hibujiza!
Mika unconsciously clenched his hands placed on his knees.
His vision turned red with anger, and his heart jumped with a thump.
The old knight who had been holding back behind Cranzard as a guard suddenly shielded Cranzard.
"Guh... kuuu..."
Mika pressed his chest and groaned.
A strong impulse surged up inside Mika.
"Your Highness!?"
The Royal Knights on guard outside the conference room rushed in in a panic.
They sensed the abnormality in the room due to the sudden killing intent.
"...Guh... ugggh..."
"Please step back, Your Highness!"
"Apostle! What are you doing!?"
The Royal Knights drew their swords and stepped back to shield Cranzard, seeing Mika crouching while pressing his chest.
But Mika could not hear the voices of those Royal Knights; he was desperately suppressing his destructive impulse.
The knights in the next conference room also noticed the strong killing intent and gathered.
"What is going on!"
"Protect His Highness!"
Royal Knights kept jumping into the conference room one after another; some tried to escape Cranzard, others surrounded Mika, and the room became chaotic.
"Stop! You lot, calm down!"
"Get His Highness outside!"
"Your Highness! This way!"
"I told you to calm down! Ugh, will you wait!?"
Cranzard raised his voice, but the Royal Knights were overwhelmed with caution toward Mika.
Royal Knights trying to escape Cranzard, and Cranzard trying to stay, fell into great confusion.
And thus, Mika finally suppressed the seizure.
As the destructive impulse weakened, his heart calmed down rapidly by the Tranquilizer magic tool.
Slowly lowering the hand that had been pressing his chest, he raised his body.
But because Mika moved, the Royal Knights' alert level jumped up even more.
"Don't move!"
"Stay quiet!"
Mika leaned against the backrest and looked up.
He exhaled deeply and relaxed his body's strength.
"...I'm sorry for the commotion. I apologize."
Looking at the Royal Knights overflowing around him, he grasped the situation.
It seems the killing intent had jumped to a level that could not be hidden.
"Is it okay now?"
Cranzard, shielded by many Royal Knights, spoke to Mika.
"...Probably."
"So... I see..."
Cranzard pushed aside the Royal Knights who were desperately trying to shield him.
"It is okay now, get back to work."
"Your Highness!?"
"It is impossible, Your Highness!"
The Royal Knights desperately tried to hold back Cranzard who was trying to approach Mika.
"It is fine here. Get back to work quickly."
"B-but!"
The Royal Knights trying to protect Cranzard persisted.
"I understand what you want to say, but time is precious."
And thus, Cranzard looked at Mika with serious eyes.
"As for you. If there is a problem, just think of another method. Can you really do it?"
At Cranzard's words, Mika shrugged his shoulders.
"I am fine. But do you have any other methods?"
"If there were, we would have used them from the beginning. We will think about it from now on."
Mika and Cranzard smiled bitterly at the same time.
"...We were still in the middle of the conversation. Let's hurry."
"Yes."
And thus, Cranzard sent the Royal Knights out of the conference room.
The Royal Knights resisted strongly, but reluctantly yielded to Cranzard's consistent attitude of "time is precious."
However, it seems the guard in front of the door was increased.
Starting over, they resumed the discussion.
"So, what should I do? Is the attack still continuing?"
"No, the attack itself ended in a very short time."
It seems Hibujiza's attack on the capital city Wyedges lasted at most about two hours.
With that two-hour attack, the second largest city in the country seems to have suffered devastating damage.
The attack occurred on the Wind day of the third week.
Since today is the Moon day of the fourth week, it is a story from three days ago.
Antennas for the communication devices developed and researched by Mika are laid out between the front lines and the capital city.
But that is only laid out between Marquis Leventein's domain and the capital city.
It is not spread throughout the entire Kingdom.
In the first place, such a number of antennas cannot be made easily.
Even the antennas Mika laid out first were produced with considerable difficulty.
Production is still being continued now, but the production pace is slowing down.
I think I might sell the rights to the country eventually, but currently, I am holding onto it for self-preservation.
Therefore, it took time to transmit information.
It is said that the information arrived using the fast horse messenger network, taking almost three full days.
(I was able to move for rescue immediately when the capital city was attacked, but if three days have already passed...)
Seventy-two hours.
In disaster relief, the seventy-two hours from the occurrence are the most important.
It is also called the so-called seventy-two-hour wall, but once you cross this wall, the survival rate drops drastically.
The number of cases where they were found but were already dead increases.
Of course, it will change greatly depending on conditions such as whether there are injuries or keeping warm.
But it is used as a benchmark for the limit of how long a person can survive without water.
Mika closed his eyes and regretted.
The first time Mika saw Hibujiza was when Paraleira suddenly attacked.
At that time, I didn't understand anything and suddenly stopped that violence in the middle of the town.
(There was no way I could know it would turn out like this!)
I am not a god.
There is no way I can see everything and foresee it.
Even so...
(If I had stopped him back then, this damage might not have happened.)
It was something pointless to think about.
Or rather, I don't think that Hibujiza would be taken down so easily.
By stopping Paraleira, it should be considered that it led to saving the lives of Paraleira and the people around him.
I know that.
Even so, I can't help but think that if I had killed Hibujiza back then, the subsequent damage might not have happened.
Kistil and Nerisfeene might not have been kidnapped.
Mika might not have stuck one foot into the "Cursed Child".
The destruction of the city this time might not have happened either.
Even though I know I can't kill them just by killing them, frustration rises up as I wonder if I couldn't do something at that point of contact.
When Mika remained silent, Cranzard also remained silent, waiting quietly.
Mika took a deep breath and switched his mood.
"What should I do? You called me to make me do something, right?"
"I want you to deliver relief supplies."
Relief supplies to Wyedges are currently being gathered.
"We are putting the currently gathered supplies into the Kingdom-owned Magic Bags. I am urging them, but it will take a few more hours. I want you to deliver them as quickly as possible."
Using the fast horse network, information arrived in three days.
Naturally, delivering relief supplies would also take three days, no matter how hurriedly.
In other words, the relief supplies will arrive six days after the attack.
But if it is Mika, it is possible to deliver them in a few hours.
The effect of shortening three days to a few hours in an emergency is huge.
"I understand. If that is fine, I will make as many round trips as you want."
"That would be a help... but is that okay? Saying things like that."
Perhaps feeling a little relieved that Mika accepted, Cranzard relaxed his expression.
He had a face that said, "How many round trips shall I make you?"
It seems the attack on Wyedges this time targeted the commercial district and the area where administrative agencies gathered intensively.
"On the contrary, the damage to the port was relatively small."
If the aim was to paralyze urban functions, they should have targeted the port rather than the commercial district.
It is true that the port where large ships can dock was hit, but the damage was not that great.
Rather, the target was...
"Probably, they targeted places where many people gathered."
It is said that they were seen laughing loudly while watching people fleeing in panic.
What can I say, it gave the impression that while they kill people as a means, killing people itself is not the goal.
"It seems they caused explosions near squares where many people fled."
There are those who lose their lives as collateral, but it seems they did not explode in the very center where people were gathered.
Hearing that story, Mika pondered.
I might not understand the thoughts of a madman, but can't I see some kind of principle of action?
The Empire's aim.
The "Cursed Child"'s aim.
Hibujiza's aim.
(What have those guys been doing until now...?)
The first time I met the red-haired youth Ecrease was in Modesse Forest.
The battle with the Chimera composite monster.
It was probably Ecrease who set up that Chimera.
And the first time I saw the black cocoon Artorum was also at that time.
The next time I met him, it was in the capital city, I think.
He was working.
He said he was managing the black cocoon.
What did he call the black cocoon?
Mika tried to recall that time well.
"Artorum is Artorum. Gathering Voluntas."
The words that surfaced in his mind made Mika startled.
(Gathering Voluntas...?)
Mika crossed his arms and put his hand to his chin, immersed in thought.
"...What is wrong with you?"
Seeing Mika start to ponder, Cranzard spoke.
However, Mika, who was concentrated on his own thoughts, could not hear it.
Seeing that, Cranzard shrugged his shoulders.
Mika remembered the conversation with Warterelam.
Warterelam also said he did not know much about Voluntas.
But he probably guessed that it was human will or emotions.
To use the magic Vocabulum, Voluntas is important.
That is human will or emotions.
Based on my experience, I also thought this hypothesis was probably not wrong.
And the stronger the emotion, the greater the influence.
The influence of magic pollution.
From these things, Mika had decided that Voluntas was the emotion within himself.
But, gathering...?
Isn't it just squeezing out the emotions within myself?
Not only that, but gathering someone else's emotions (Voluntas)?
The emotions of an unspecified majority, the majority of people...
Gathering?
"...No way."
Mika was stunned and muttered.
If the purpose of the "Cursed Children" was to gather these emotions, did the Empire start a war against the Kingdom for that reason...?
"How ridiculous... Ridiculous, right!? What are they thinking!?"
Bang!
Mika involuntarily slammed his fist onto the table.
At that sight, the old knight became slightly alert.
"You... what on earth happened?"
Cranzard asked suspiciously, but Mika was completely immersed in his own thoughts.
(The country the church destroyed. Could that also be just to gather emotions?)
No, there must have been other purposes as well.
But this "gathering emotions" might be a very large factor for the "Cursed Children".
(I don't know if it is a strategy of killing two birds with one stone, but was the war and making the common people shed blood just a bonus for them?)
It was more convenient to start a war.
So they started a war.
To gather emotions!
"...They are not sane."
Then, were the forty million people of the Empire hunted out to squeeze out emotions?
Over ten million lives scattered in the fields, left unburied.
Was the Kingdom invaded to gather emotions?
Throwing away their lives and fighting desperately was to offer their emotions (Voluntas) to them.
"You are joking..."
Strong anger rose up in Mika again.
Noticing that, Mika shook his head and forcibly cut off his thoughts.
"...Did something happen?"
Cranzard, who had been watching Mika silently, spoke.
Mika hesitated for a moment whether he should talk about what he noticed here.
It is still just a guess.
Even so, it might be better for Cranzard to know.
"Your Highness. This is still just a guess, but..."
When Mika opened his mouth, the other side of the door became noisy.
"...I apologize. His Highness is in a meeting now. Unless it is an urgent matter..."
"It is urgent! Let me through! Your Highness! Your Highness!"
A man's voice calling for Cranzard on the other side of the conference room door.
"Tsudazen? It doesn't matter! Let him in!"
Hearing that voice, Cranzard raised his voice.
The Minister of Military Affairs, whom Mika had met before, rushed in opening the door in a flustered manner.
"H-hello, Apostle! You were here!"
Tsudazen's expression relaxed for a moment when he saw Mika.
But soon his face stiffened.
"What is it, Tsudazen. What is urgent?"
Tsudazen closed the door with his back hand and took a deep breath.
And thus, while looking at Mika a little, he whispered into Cranzard's ear.
Hearing that, Cranzard gasped.
Cranzard held his head as if bowing his neck.
Seeing Cranzard's unusual state, Mika hesitated to speak.
Cranzard held his head for a while, but soon raised his face.
His expression was extremely painful.
"...The plan mentioned earlier is out of the question."
"Eh!?"
Does that mean the story of delivering relief supplies?
Seeing the confused Mika, Cranzard continued.
"The protective wall on the front line has been broken. Go to rescue immediately."
"The protective wall has been broken!? ...So it came to that after all."
Even with the Mage's [God's Miracle], there is a possibility that the protective wall could be broken, but it is not something that breaks easily.
If a message was to come, it was supposed to come at the stage where it looks like it will be broken.
Before that, if the crowd surged again, the message was supposed to come at that stage.
Because if only mages approached the protective wall, they would be good targets for the archers.
If the protective wall was to be broken,
- The crowd surges.
- A mage disguised in the crowd uses [God's Miracle].
I expected it to be at that stage.
And thus, even if the crowd surged, they would not let them approach the protective wall so easily.
Longbowmen, archers, and mage teams cooperate to buy time.
If such predictions could not be made, there would be no reason to judge that Mika should leave the front line and rest.
Of course, as the worst prediction, there was also the possibility that the "Cursed Child" who shoots lasers would appear again.
But if they appeared again, I should exorcise that one next time.
Although I took a slight disadvantage due to being late, if I can kill him here, the significance is great.
Mika made up his mind and looked at Cranzard.
But Cranzard's expression was grim.
"It seems we have confirmed a man who appears to be the same as the man who appeared in Wyedges. Long, black hair."
Hearing Cranzard's words, Mika slammed the table with a bang and involuntarily stood up.