Chapter 301 - Chapter 300: A Certain Day of the Apostle, Part 3
After exchanging a few light blows with the Special Operations Regiment at the Fifth Knights Order outpost, Mika headed for the Adventurer's Guild.
As soon as Mika entered the Second Branch building, a slight murmur arose.
"Oh, he's here."
"It's the 'Dispeller'."
Adventurers who had heard the rumors were waiting in the lobby.
Mika walked straight to the counter and called out to Yunressa.
"Hello, Yunressa-san. Please."
"Mika-kun. Well then, I'll take your card right away."
Mika handed his Guild Card to Yunressa and turned his gaze to Chirensta, who had appeared behind her.
"Chirensta-san, you're here."
"Of course. Now that Mika-kun is finally accepting the promotion."
Chirensta smiled proudly.
It seemed he was genuinely happy about Mika's promotion.
Recently, Mika had informed the Adventurer's Guild of his intention to accept the rank-up he had been holding off on.
At that time, he was told, "Please complete the cancellation procedures at the headquarters first," so he went home as is.
He asked the Second Branch to contact headquarters, completed the cancellation procedures, and received word that preparations were finally ready the other day.
Through Lebrantes, he was told to go today to complete the procedures, which is why he came to update his card.
"I never thought that boy from back then would become an A-rank adventurer in just a few short years... I never dreamed of it."
Chirensta narrowed his eyes nostalgically and looked at Mika.
He might be remembering the day Mika first visited the Adventurer's Guild.
The day Chirensta interviewed him and allowed him to register as an adventurer.
"'Those without the resolve to lose their lives will die first.' I was taught that. ...It still hurts my ears."
"Hehe... If it hurts, then I'm glad. Once you lose your life, you can't feel pain anymore, after all."
It couldn't really be said that he listened to the advice too well, but even so, Chirensta's words from back then remained engraved in Mika's heart as a golden saying.
While talking like that, Yunressa handed over the Guild Card.
The item indicating the rank had been rewritten to 'A'.
"Congratulations, Mika-kun. Now you are also an A-rank adventurer."
"Congratulations, Mika-kun. You've grown splendidly."
As he took the offered card, Chirensta clapped his hands.
Many adventurers gathered in the lobby followed suit, clapping along.
Even the staff members who were working stood up, and the applause spread in the blink of an eye.
"Hey, hey, stop it!"
"What are you blushing for? Be confident."
Surrounded by unremitting applause from the adventurers and staff, Mika panicked.
Yunressa scolded such a Mika.
"You should be used to this kind of thing by now, right?"
"I'm not used to it!"
As always, he was bad at being the center of attention or being praised.
He was often lifted up as the Apostle or whatever, but the discomfort never changed.
"Then get used to it. You'll be the center of attention even more next week."
"Ugh..."
Chirensta hit a sore spot, and Mika made a grim face.
"Really, don't make such a face on such a special day. Come on, smile, smile."
Told by Yunressa, Mika made a stiff smile.
"Hey, 'Dispeller'! What's with that disgusting face!"
"If you make a face like that at the ceremony, the kids will start crying!"
"Hey, everyone! The Apostle is in trouble! Give him more applause!"
Boos flew from the adventurers who saw such a Mika.
That's right, it was already decided that he would receive even more attention next week.
Next week, Cranzard's accession ceremony and coronation ceremony would be held.
Cranzard had been performing duties as king up until now, and had actually acceded to the throne.
However, that was only a matter of practical affairs; he had not yet been officially presented to the public.
Since the previous king, Kurnils, had passed away and the accompanying funeral was held under emergency conditions, it was conducted relatively simply and quickly.
However, since there was no time for accession or coronation ceremonies, those were put off.
Externally, if they claimed to be 'in mourning,' understanding would be easily gained.
Therefore, while he had succeeded to the throne in terms of practical affairs, no ceremony had been held.
If it were just an accession or coronation ceremony, Mika wouldn't necessarily be in trouble.
Cranzard was the main character, so even if Mika had to play a role in the ceremony, he would just fulfill that role.
But in fact, what was happening that day was not just the accession or coronation ceremony.
There were several other ceremonies held as well.
One of them was the award ceremony for rewards from the previous war.
Prioritizing reconstruction and lacking war experience, the merit-based rewards had taken some time.
A year had passed since the end of the war, and finally, the contents were decided, and a grand award ceremony was scheduled.
Also, on this day, a memorial service for the victims in the Royal Capital and Wyedges, as well as knights and soldiers who died on the battlefield, would be held simultaneously.
The plan was to somehow fit the busy schedules of the King and the Pope and finish everything in one day.
While Mika was feeling down, Rosalinde suddenly appeared.
"Alright, everyone! We're ready! Unlimited drinks today!"
"Oooooooh!!!"
As Rosalinde raised her voice, cheers rose from the adventurers.
"It's on the 'Dispeller'! Everyone, thank the Apostle properly and savor this long-overdue drink! It's expensive these days, so you haven't been able to drink much lately, right?"
"Wow, the Apostle is amazing!"
"We'll follow you forever, 'Dispeller'!"
But Mika raised a protest against such Rosalinde.
"Hey, Rosalinde! What are you doing without asking!"
He hadn't said he was treating anyone, and there was no prior coordination or anything.
As always, she was living by her own whims.
Ignoring Mika's protests as if they were blowing in the wind, Rosalinde incited the adventurers.
Seeing that scene, Mika put his hand to his forehead and hung his head weakly.
Rosalinde was a member of the previous king, Kurnils's information organization.
To escape Mika from the pursuers' eyes, she leaked information despite the danger.
Minister of Military Affairs Tsudazen had predicted that Rosalinde would go into hiding to escape retaliation.
But Rosalinde was not such a virtuous person.
It seemed she had a collaborator in the same ear, and she successfully deceived everyone.
Mika tried to save Rosalinde somehow, but even that wasn't necessary.
Looking at the adventurers swarming the bar counter, Mika couldn't help but sigh.
Rosalinde was inciting the adventurers, looking happy.
(...Is the truly Rosalinde the one who is completely foolish, or is it the tough Rosalinde who can even smoke the underground organization?)
Well, either way, it was Rosalinde.
As Mika looked at Rosalinde with a dumbfounded expression, Chirensta and Yunressa turned pale.
"......Mika-kun... this is...."
"Hey, Rosalinde... What are we going to do about this...."
Currently, alcohol in the kingdom was ridiculously expensive.
With no way to stop the adventurers swarming like a mob, the staff were stunned.
Mika smiled bitterly and shouted at Rosalinde.
"Rosalinde! There won't be a next time!"
When Mika said that, Rosalinde winked back with a smile.
"Alright! The Apostle has given his permission! This is a one-time-only great service!"
"Oooooooh!!!"
Interpreting "there won't be a next time" as "you can do whatever you want this time," it seemed Rosalinde was truly crazy.
Chirensta, who agreed with Mika, timidly asked.
"Is... is it okay, Mika-kun...?"
"If we don't, it won't just be Rosalinde's neck on the line, right?"
He didn't know how much damage it would cause, but firing Rosalinde wouldn't cover the amount.
If things went badly, the Branch Manager might be fired, and Chirensta, who was there and couldn't stop it, might be held responsible.
"Please pay close attention so no one tries to inflate the numbers or take whole barrels home."
"O-of course, but...."
"Also, I won't take responsibility for any fools who get drunk and act up. If they break things, claim it from those adventurers."
"U-um..."
Mika asked Chirensta to handle the aftermath and decided to leave.
Whether it was a blessing, a way to vent, or perhaps hatred, he was beaten up by the adventurers as he made his way to the exit.
Even though his height had increased, there were many burlier adventurers than him.
Rather, it might have become easier to beat him up because he was taller.
Being thoroughly manhandled, Mika somehow managed to exit the guild building.
Chirensta.
Chirensta, who advanced the reform of the Adventurer's Guild, also created a long-distance communication network using flags.
Since the military possessed the technology for communication devices, which Mika held, it had been kept secret for over half a century.
Unless a pure "Orichalcum" material like the Underground Magic Tool Association was used, even if the communication technology was discovered, it couldn't be put to practical use due to distance limitations.
The flag signal and flag semaphore Chirensta devised would later be applied to communication methods on ships.
It became one of the important technologies supporting the Great Age of Discovery that would arrive about a century later.
Chirensta himself was appointed Guild Master a few years later.
Although he was a Guild Master without noble backing, his strong connection with the Apostle allowed him to repel all improper interventions.
He introduced various mechanisms to eliminate opaque parts that could become breeding grounds for corruption, and as a result, reduced the guild's operating expenses.
With that portion, he created a system to raise staff salaries and slightly increase adventurer rewards.
For example, issuing bonus rewards when a certain number of points were achieved.
He gained great trust from staff, adventurers, and clients, and served the Adventurer's Guild for a long time.
Yunressa.
One year later, she retired after giving birth to a child.
She named her first child 'Mika'.
"Really, he's so mischievous. Is it because of the name?"
She spent happy days saying that while laughing.
When that child said, "I'm going to become an adventurer in the future," she supposedly had a very complex expression on her face or something like that...
Rosalinde.
After Yunressa retired, she retired for a while.
She went into hiding afterwards, but three years later, she suddenly showed up at Mika's house and became a lodger.
She stayed for a few months, then went into hiding for a few years, repeating this cycle.
She displayed the spirit of a wanderer that even the Information Broker Guild couldn't chase away, making Mika envious in a way.
■■■■■■
After leaving the Adventurer's Guild, Mika headed for the Court Magic Institute.
The Court Magic Institute was located next to the Royal Castle.
From the outside, it was hard to tell because it was surrounded by castle walls, but it was a separate building from the Royal Castle.
Entering the Court Magic Institute also required strict checks, just like the Royal Castle.
Originally.
"Is the Director General here? I have an appointment."
"Apostle-sama. We are aware. Please come in."
The guard knight on duty saluted and let him pass smoothly.
Well, even without an appointment, he could normally enter.
He was, after all, a related party.
Special Consultant to the Director General of the Court Magic Institute, after all.
Thus, he visited the office and had a few talks.
One of the agenda items was Paraleira.
Paraleira was still the dorm mother of the Magic Academy boys' dormitory, as always.
To let the 'Knowledge of the Wild' lie buried like that would be a loss to the nation.
So, they were trying to get her to return to work, but...
"Did it fail again?"
He continued to persuade her, but Paraleira refused to nod.
That stubborn old woman.
"Well, even if we take some special measures, please let her use a laboratory as a researcher instead of staying like this."
The Director General nodded at Mika's suggestion.
He wanted to pull her out of the dorm and shove her into a laboratory as soon as possible.
Otherwise, Paraleira's research was too dangerous.
Even if she got injured in an experiment accident, it was her own responsibility, but accidents in the dorm were bad.
They must absolutely avoid any harm coming to the children.
They had to find out how the people who were Paraleira's superiors were involved in driving her out and make her understand.
For now, they decided to continue handling Paraleira's case, and also discussed incorporating morality into the education of the Magic Academy.
It seemed they were already aware that there were mages with unusually short tempers among the mages.
However, it seemed they recognized it as a problem of individual personality, so he suggested reviewing the educational policy.
He proposed distributing magic tools that stabilize the mind to all mages, but it seemed there were various difficulties.
First of all, it wasn't a big enough problem yet.
Even if someone had some difficulty in their personality, that was something everyone had.
If a high ratio of mages were going to meet destruction, measures would be necessary, but it wasn't to that extent.
It was a problem that could be settled as an issue of individual personality.
Also, even if someone had a bad personality, there hadn't been anyone who just went wild with [God's Miracle] so far.
In terms of using [God's Miracle] without permission, Mika was actually the worst offender.
Yes, sorry...
Next, the cost.
This reconstruction was halfway, or rather, the situation was not progressing well compared to the total damage, so budget couldn't be allocated to such things.
If it wasn't a big problem, investing money there was the worst in terms of cost-effectiveness.
Well, as a future issue, it was shelved for now.
Morality education at the academy, which cost the least money, was the realistic option for now.
However, educating too much on humanitarianism there would lead to a troublesome situation.
Because, no matter how much they patched it up, mages were soldiers.
"You must not hurt people. Let us have a heart of consideration."
No matter how much they educated them like that, the next class would be about blasting [Explosive Flame] or practicing beating people to death with a Mace.
Well, it was about preparing for war to protect and for peace, but on the surface, it would look like contradictory actions.
Especially for the immature minds of children, performing these contradictory thoughts simultaneously would rather cause confusion.
So, perhaps the procedure should be to teach morality first, and once it takes root a bit, move to combat training, but frankly speaking, there was no merit for the country.
Rather than teaching contradictory things and confusing them, it was better to teach fighting thoroughly and suppress prohibitions with penalties.
In other words, the current method was the fastest and most reasonable.
(Hmm, this is quite difficult...)
In reality, what was required of mages was performance as weapons.
If there was a high risk of accidental discharge, measures would be necessary, but that wasn't the case.
So, if they said, "Isn't it fine as is?" then that was correct.
(...I should think of an approach.)
The current method of persuasion wouldn't work.
(Do I need an approach from a higher perspective?)
Not as a mage, but as a human.
As myself, a human.
As myself, a citizen of the kingdom.
As myself, a soldier and a mage.
(Instead of the Magic Academy expecting a role as a soldier, maybe I should try working with the Church.)
However, the public schools were also responsible for the minimum education.
For a country with this level of culture, the Kingdom of Ektrem had an incredibly high literacy rate.
Reading, writing, and calculation were skills that almost all citizens possessed.
As evidence, even local magic academies did not have reading, writing, and calculation classes.
The magic academies existed on the premise that they could already do these things.
Just how amazing that was.
Apparently, for children who couldn't do it, they allocated part of the mana manipulation time to teach them.
But at least in the class Mika was in, no children were taught again.
The children of the Leventein Group could all do it.
(...Really, it's difficult.)
Mika also advised the Director General of Magic about other [God's Miracles] to acquire, and the discussion for the day ended.
Agreement was reached that, like [Physical Enhancement], [Heal] should be acquired by everyone, and [Abundance] should be encouraged to be acquired more.
They also discussed whether [Divine Wrath] should only be acquired after becoming a regular soldier.
Mika slipped into a room within the Court Magic Institute.
"Yo."
"Mika!?"
He came to disturb Cleiria while she was working.
"Miss Cleiria. May I cut down this suspicious person?"
"You're the suspicious one. Don't draw your sword, idiot."
Mika sighed at Virone, who stood between him and Cleiria, pointing a sword at Mika.
Actually, Virone had recently returned as a bodyguard attached to Cleiria.
The Marquis Leventein had evaluated Virone, who had fought bravely in the previous war and fulfilled dangerous missions.
"If the territory is ever exposed to danger again, I will recall you."
"If you leave the border and become useless, I will never move you from the border units again."
Under conditions like these, he was allowed to return as Cleiria's bodyguard.
...Isn't that too lenient?
It seemed that thinking of Cleiria, who had been worried about Virone through visits home and letters, was also a big factor.
...Still, isn't that too lenient?
Also, it seemed that his role as a messenger from Mika had been received in a somewhat positive light.
Virone in the past would never have done that.
And, thinking that it was a restraint on Mika, who was now ready to talk about "marriage..." now that he had graduated from the academy.
This might just be victimization on his part...
By the way, the wedding schedule was not decided.
It wasn't due to Mika or Cleiria's convenience.
It was due to the convenience of national heavyweights like King Cranzard and Marquis Leventein.
For some reason, it was decided that a reception, or rather a presentation, would be held at the Royal Castle, the Great Cathedral of the Royal Capital, and the Great Cathedral of the Leventein territory.
Why do it three times? Once is enough.
I don't get the meaning.
Well, it was a happy matter during a difficult time.
You could see the scheme to utilize it to the fullest, but there was no point in throwing a tantrum.
"Since I'll adjust to your schedule, you decide."
He just threw it back.
It seemed various lords from different places were raising their hands saying, "Come to our place," but he naturally rejected that.
Hearing that story, Cardinal Brahoslav strangely seemed regretful.
Was he planning to present it at Great Cathedrals all over the country?
Thinking such things, Mika looked around Cleiria's private room.
It was a room of about four and a half tatami mats, not very large, but it was a private room.
Providing a private room to a newcomer, what do you think?
It seemed that relatives of noble families were prioritized for private rooms.
Otherwise, if you applied based on research content, a laboratory would be prepared.
Cleiria's research was not yet at the level where a laboratory was needed.
Therefore, there was only a private room for daily use.
By the way, Stellan also had a private room because he was related to a noble family.
Charl and Polnard were said to be working in booths in a large room.
Since they were newcomers, shouldn't everyone be in booths?
Maybe I should mention this to the Director General next time.
"How is the research going?"
When Mika asked that, Cleiria shrugged her shoulders.
"Even for you, that's too early, Mika. I'm still in the stage of cramming necessary knowledge? If it could be done so easily, someone would have achieved it long ago."
"Well, that's true."
Mika gazed at the numerous reports placed on the desk.
What Cleiria was researching was the generalization of [Heal].
With [Battle Fervor] and [Archery Enhancement] existing, it was possible to apply [God's Miracle] to multiple targets.
Naturally, many predecessors had challenged this much.
However, everyone had failed to realize it and given up.
These predecessors' reports were stored at the Court Magic Institute, and if a Court Mage applied, they could be viewed.
They would learn how previous people thought and approached it, and then proceed with their own research.
Stellan, from the beginning, was researching what [God's Miracle] was.
It seemed he was researching the clarification of its mechanism.
(...Aquu said it was a [Skill].)
He said it was a modification of the world's principle.
It was something only those with special [Skills] could do.
But Mika had not told this to Stellan.
Of course, not to Cleiria either.
Since Aquu's hypothesis might not be correct, giving unnecessary preconceptions might hinder the research.
Therefore, he was thinking of telling them that there was such a thought when they hit the same wall themselves.
If they didn't give up and challenged, there might be a possibility of awakening to [Skills].
It wasn't an impossible story that someone who actually had [Skills] gave up early saying "I don't have [Skills]" and thus failed to bloom and remained asleep.
If there was a possibility, he wanted them to try hard and challenge.
(I'd like them to make [Dispel] if possible, though.)
Regarding [Dispel], there was still too little information.
At least if a fragment of the spell was found, he wanted someone to research it.
Well, he intended to research it himself too.
Charl was currently reading various reports and looking for interesting research themes.
And Polnard's research theme was, surprisingly, monsters and beasts.
An extremely dangerous research theme unlike the timid Polnard, but indeed, almost nothing was known about monsters and beasts.
He really wanted to open a clue to clarify them.
After lightly talking about recent events with Cleiria and teasing the bitter-faced Virone, Mika left the Court Magic Institute.
Paraleira.
Given a branch office of the Court Magic Institute, she shut herself in a laboratory at the edge of District 3 and dedicated her life to research.
She published papers in various fields such as physics, mechanics, thermodynamics, chemistry, and meteorology.
She established them one after another as academic disciplines.
After her death, she was called 'Mother of Learning' and 'Giant of Knowledge'.
Her falling out with Mika was famous, and it was said that it was never resolved during her lifetime.
In her later years, she left a book that could be said to be the culmination of her life's research, and the dedication read 'Dedicated to Mika Noisheim'.
Even when asked about it, Mika himself answered nothing, and the true state of their relationship was known only to the two of them.
Stellan Segerbaum.
As Mika's Buattre Heed companion, he formed a long friendship.
He dedicated his life to the research of [God's Miracle].
He clarified part of the mechanism of [God's Miracle] and succeeded in modifying several [God's Miracles].
Praised as a genius since the first Segerbaum, a genius surpassing the first, he made great contributions to magic research.
However, his research results were classified as secrets of the Court Magic Institute, and the specific contents were kept secret.
Polnard.
He classified the ambiguous monsters and beasts into certain categories.
Until the concept of genes was established, Polnard's classification would become widely popular in the world.
Molecular biology and magic biology were established and some changes were made, but he left his name as the ancestor of monster and beast studies.
He proposed that the cause of monsters and beasts becoming ferocious was "influence by mana," causing controversy.
This paper published in his later years was later stored deep in the closed stacks of the Court Magic Institute and designated as a dangerous document requiring the permission of the Director General of Magic to view.
Charl.
A genius who dedicated his life to creation.
His perverted worldview was enthusiastically supported by some, exerting a tremendous influence on a certain circle later on.
When same-sex relations were prohibited by law in later generations, most of his works were designated as forbidden books.
However, since they were originally of a nature that was exchanged secretly, most of the works continued to be traded in the shadows.
He established a special genre called Charl Literature, and the remaining 801 works were commonly called "Ya○i," and the name of the genius who created a genre was told forever.
Some say that the works left in his lifetime exceeded a thousand, but considering the works designated as forbidden books and lost to the public, it cannot be said to be an exaggerated interpretation.
It is said that the last work left in his later years was written with trembling hands, and he collapsed and exhausted his strength the moment he finished writing.
However, contrary to his tragic death, his face was strangely peaceful...