Chapter 306 - Chapter 305 Epilogue
Mid-month of the second month of wind. Evening.
A carriage, guarded by a cavalry squad of several dozen riders, arrived at Mika's residence.
As the carriage pulled up to the front entrance, Virone opened the carriage door.
Mika walked toward the carriage and extended his hand.
Cleiria took the outstretched hand and stepped down from the carriage.
"Welcome back, Cleiria."
"I am back, Mika."
With that, they exchanged a brief embrace right there, then entered the residence.
She deflected Virone's glaring gaze with an easy smile.
Currently, Mika and Cleiria were living apart.
It wasn't because they were fighting or anything like that; it was simply a matter of commuting circumstances.
The Leventein Marquis family's separate villa was located in District 1 of the capital.
And the Court Magic Institute, where they worked, was just over ten minutes away by carriage from that separate villa of the Leventein Marquis family.
However, Mika's residence was located on a plain several kilometers away from the capital.
To go to the Court Magic Institute, one had to cross not only the distance issue but also the Second Wall and the First Wall.
These gates were incredibly crowded during morning commuting and school hours.
Noble carriages were given priority over commoners, but even so, it was quite a struggle because it was crowded in the first place.
Especially during this time, it was smooth to go out from inside the First Wall, but coming in from the outside was terribly difficult.
Therefore, Cleiria had been living in the separate villa on weekdays and returning on weekends.
Well, one might think, "Is it really okay to live apart right after getting married?" but Mika didn't want to live in the Leventein Marquis family's separate villa.
Kistil and Nerisfeene would likely feel cramped and uncomfortable there too.
Considering all that, the current method was chosen.
However, such cases are actually not that rare.
When a local lord works for a central administrative agency, it is common for the wife to take charge of everything at home.
Of course, they hire a steward or place a deputy to support the wife, but it is said that the husband being in the center while the wife is in the province is quite common.
Thinking about that, if she can come back every weekend, it is not a big problem.
Above all, they can contact each other every day via communication devices, and if necessary, they can meet immediately using spatial movement.
Actually, Cleiria could solve everything without using a carriage if she used Mika's spatial movement.
However, that was only considering Cleiria alone.
Mika had no intention of taking care of the escort knights from start to finish.
He didn't mind sending and picking up Cleiria for her daily commute, but he had no intention of dealing with the escort knights who would follow in a crowd.
There was also the reason that Cleiria chose the current method, considering the knights of the Leventein Marquis family as well.
Upon entering the residence, Kistil and Nerisfeene came out to welcome them.
"Welcome back, Lady Cleiria."
"Welcome back, Lady Cleiria."
When the two welcomed her, Cleiria nodded with a smile.
"I am back, Kistil. Nerisfeene."
"Welcome back, Cleiria."
Then, Rimliche also greeted Cleiria.
Cleiria smiled at Rimliche as well.
"Thank you as always, Rimliche. Is everything unchanged?"
"Yeah."
They exchanged their usual conversation like that.
Before dinner, Cleiria went to the bathroom to wash off the sweat.
Her face was slightly flushed, and she let out a sigh...
"Indeed, a bath is a wonderful thing. ...Should we put one in the separate villa too?"
Mika was also vigorously wiping his wet hair with a towel.
Naturally, he had come in with her.
After all, they were husband and wife.
"If you're going to make one, I'll order it for you."
Because the bathtub was made of silver-type rare metal [Mithril].
It has high heat retention, and if someone is skilled in magic manipulation, they can use the re-heating function.
Well, since people who can use this bathtub can make hot water themselves, it is a useless function, but.
There is only one reason it is not made of copper-type rare metal [Orichalcum].
It is based on the arbitrary prejudice that bathtubs should be white, not black.
The bathroom is set up so that only those permitted by Mika can use it.
Currently, it is just Mika, Mika's three wives, and Rimliche.
Rimliche is receiving special treatment.
In fact, Rimliche is treated almost exactly like family.
She has a private room within the residence and eats meals together with them.
She is treated differently from the other servants.
Mika had told the other servants to treat Rimliche as if she were part of Mika's family.
Heading to the dining room, the preparations for dinner were ready.
Today's meal was made with extra effort by Kistil and Nerisfeene.
There is a dedicated chef, but to be honest, Mika prefers the meals made by Kistil and Nerisfeene.
"Come on, let's eat."
At Mika's call, dinner began.
After everyone prayed, the parlor maid poured the aperitif.
In Mika's house, they use a sparkling wine-like drink as an aperitif.
This culture of aperitifs does not exist in the Kingdom of Ektrem itself.
In the port city of Wyedges and the Trade Alliance, cultures from other continents had entered, and they happened to serve it at a restaurant they entered.
By incorporating it into the course, they probably raised the customer unit price, but of course, Mika didn't think such vulgar thoughts; he simply adopted this wonderful culture.
By the way, this wine is a smuggled product.
The handling of sparkling wine is currently only in Shaksara, and Mika is just buying it personally, but since it hasn't passed through border checkpoints, it is undeclared.
Breaking rules casually because it was troublesome was still the same as ever.
While drinking the aperitif, they chatted lightly.
Each enjoyed the conversation in their own way.
"I'm thinking of starting repairs on the residence soon."
"Yeah, that's not bad. Aren't most of the surrounding residences already underway?"
The residence where Cleiria lives, it seems, has finally started repairs four and a half years after the capital suffered damage.
Well, the reason it took this long is Mika's fault.
It is very large that Mika worked on King Cranzard to postpone the reconstruction of District 1.
Because of this, repairs beyond temporary sealing, like the walls of the Royal Castle and the Audience Chamber, could not be done.
Many voices reached King Cranzard, Cleiria, and the Leventein Marquis saying, "Stop the Apostle's rampage," but unfortunately, they were on Mika's side.
Therefore, a groundbreaking shift was made where the common sense of "nobles first" was changed to "commoners first" for the first time through policy.
This caused great backlash from the nobles, but for King Cranzard, the Leventein Marquis, and Margrave Yusdin, it was a reasonable policy.
From the King's perspective, even if District 1 was reconstructed, tax revenue would not recover.
The taxes brought from District 2 and District 3 were the source of income.
There was no reason to oppose Mika's policy proposal to replant the money-making tree.
The Leventein Marquis and Margrave Yusdin shared the same situation, so they took the stance of defending Mika.
Furthermore, even high-ranking nobles at the center of central administration, who had no direct damage, thought the same way.
Therefore, no matter how much local nobles objected, it did not become a major movement, and they had to reluctantly obey.
Mika lifted the ban on the reconstruction of District 1 about two years ago.
Many people are still living in temporary housing, but the town itself has recovered to some extent.
Main roads have been improved, and buildings have started to rise on empty lots.
However, even after the permit for repairing the residence was issued, Cleiria waited quietly while observing the surroundings.
And it seems she finally judged the timing was right.
Mika started building his own residence six months after issuing permission to nobles.
Cleiria continued to wait quietly after that, looking for the right timing.
For Mika's sake.
If the Leventein Marquis family, which had close ties with Mika, started repairs immediately upon permission, it might have caused backlash.
Due to issues with manpower and materials, not all noble families could start repairs at once.
Therefore, prioritizing the surroundings, the Leventein Marquis family, being a high-ranking noble, waited for other nobles to start repairs.
If Cleiria had an ordinary character, it wouldn't be strange to think, "I am enduring, but is Mika building his residence first?"
However, Cleiria never thought such a thing at all.
Until then, Mika had been living in temporary housing.
At the request of the King and the Pope.
For the people of the capital.
Rather, that was something absolutely impossible for Cleiria to imitate.
Had there been any noble other than Mika who moved to temporary housing for the sake of those who lost their homes and families?
Just by Mika visiting the temporary housing and helping with the soup kitchen, people were comforted.
Mika was shoulder-borne the duties that rulers should normally perform.
Mika's policy proposal was simply to reconstruct the town as much as possible while suppressing the populace and buying time in that way.
Before the gap between commoners and nobles caused by the unprecedented disaster became a fatal wound.
Considering it that way, Mika's proposal should have come from the nobles rather than Mika himself.
Cleiria felt ashamed of herself, yet she felt proud of her husband [Mika]'s greatness.
"It seems the number of immigrants has increased again recently...."
"We should probably do something before it causes trouble."
"The security personnel also seemed a bit troubled."
Kistil, Nerisfeene, and Rimliche were discussing something.
Hearing that, Cleiria turned and nodded toward the three of them.
"I felt that too. I almost had the road blocked today. ...Perhaps intervention is necessary after all."
All eyes gathered on Mika.
Receiving that gaze, Mika raised one eyebrow and crossed his arms.
He frowned slightly and pondered.
Actually, a problem had been occurring recently.
The immigration issue.
People had started moving in around the land Mika rented without permission.
Probably most of them were people from the temporary housing, but they had followed Mika when he moved.
It wasn't that many yet, but if left as is, it could turn into a slum or Barrack Town.
"Since they are just settling in on their own, there shouldn't be a problem even if we forcibly remove them."
"Even so, I think it would tarnish Mika's name...."
Others are just raising him up as the Apostle or whatever, so whether his name gets tarnished or falls to the ground, I don't care.
I don't think that, but well, let's think of a peaceful method.
Part of my name value is being used conveniently.
"The best would be to report it to the administration."
"Yes. That would be best to start with."
It is undeniable that it is better to just dump it on the administration rather than Mika thinking about it alone.
On top of that, if they ask for help, I can lend a hand.
While talking about such things, they enjoyed the meal with topics about what happened this week.
It was a time of family gathering, only for the weekend.
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The next day.
They came for a picnic to the river near the residence.
The weather was good and warm, so everyone came to play.
The guard unit sent escorts, who scattered around the surroundings to keep watch.
Mika's residence was built on a slightly elevated spot.
Going down that hill, a river about twenty meters wide flowed.
There was a forest on the other side of the river, and with the chirping of small birds and the babbling of the river, it was a location that greatly calmed the heart.
"............I can't catch anything at all."
Even in such a location, Mika stared at the water surface with a glare.
Sitting on a rock, he dangled the fishing line for nearly two hours, but the fish wouldn't say a word.
Could it be that I'm bad at fishing?
"Maybe there are no fish here? Is it a River of Death?"
"...Even so, isn't that rude to the river?"
Nerisfeene retorted to the words Mika muttered unintentionally.
Turning his head toward the voice, Nerisfeene had come close.
"Would you like to take a break and have some tea, Mika-sama?"
A little distance away, Kistil and Cleiria were chatting while boiling water over a campfire.
Since they had been staying by the riverbank all this time, it seemed to be an invitation for tea.
Mika stood up with a sigh and jumped down from the rock.
"Since I can't catch a single fish, this river must definitely be a River of Death."
To Mika who pleaded like that, Nerisfeene pointed downstream.
There, Rimliche was in a state of catching fish non-stop.
Rimliche had started fishing by imitating Mika, but for some reason, she was catching fish in abundance every time.
"It's a setup. It's common on TV."
"Tele...vision...?"
Nerisfeene tilted her head at Mika who seriously pleaded something he didn't understand.
Well, Mika was also dangling the fishing line and had noticed fish swimming leisurely.
However, for some reason, the fish never bit Mika's bait at all.
To be honest, he could surely catch them if he used [Ice Javelin].
"Rimliche! Let's have tea!"
"Yes!"
When Mika called out, he put the freshly caught fish into a net and immersed it in the river.
Then, washing his hands with [Waterball], he appeared by Mika's side in an instant.
With a beaming smile, Rimliche looked up at Mika.
"Fishing is fun, isn't it."
"...Indeed."
Well, if you catch that much, it would be fun.
Seeing Mika's complicated face, Nerisfeene chuckled.
"Yummy."
For lunch, everyone enjoyed Rimliche's catch.
Skewered, salted, and grilled over the campfire.
It is the true joy of river fishing.
"Rimliche is really good at fishing."
When Cleiria praised her, Rimliche smiled shyly.
"It's because Mika-kun taught me well."
Rimliche looked at Mika with pure, sparkling eyes.
(...Stop it, stop it. Don't look at me with those eyes.)
Rimliche had no ulterior motives.
He knew that.
However, even if Rimliche, who caught so many fish, said that, it was unbearable for a bald-headed Mika.
"Maybe I should have made fewer sandwiches after all."
Thinking about the time when the catch was small, she had prepared sandwiches properly, but every time she caught a number of fish that seemed to laugh off such worries.
All of it was the result of Rimliche.
"Well, it's fine to have this much. I'm not going to waste it anyway."
There were two graduates from the Magic Academy in the Leventein territory.
Even if they prepared extra, it wouldn't be a situation where they couldn't eat it all.
(Oh yeah, the Magic Academy in the Leventein territory is unusually strict. I should say a word to the Director General of Magic.)
The education plan [curriculum] there is not something suitable for a nine-year-old child to do.
They produce results, and since it is something high-ranking nobles do, no one says anything, but that is really too much.
Should I pull a muscle as a senior for the sake of the juniors?
(...Well, it is a fact that they are managing somehow even with that.)
No one is losing their lives.
Above all, if I meddle improperly, that method could become the standard education plan [curriculum] for local academies.
For the time being, the Leventein territory [that place] is famous as a local educational institution that produces excellent mages.
As an academy established voluntarily, it was within the scope of the lord's discretion.
(I'm sorry, juniors. Do your best.)
If I poke the bush improperly, a snake might come out.
Mika gazed at the distant clouds and sent cheers to the juniors who were working hard in his heart.
Seeing such Mika, Kistil made a strange face.
"What's wrong, Mika-kun. ...You look like you have a melancholy air around you."
When spoken to like that, Mika laughed to cover it up.
"No... now that you mention it, it's field trip season, isn't it."
"Field trip season?"
Kistil had an expression of not understanding well.
However, Rimliche, who correctly understood the meaning of Mika's words, smiled bitterly.
"Now that you mention it, that time was also a warm day like today."
He told them about the nostalgic yet hair-raising story of the field trip that happened exactly ten years ago.
"At nine years old...."
"...Fifty kilometers, right?"
At that unimaginable harsh training, Kistil and Nerisfeene were taken aback.
It was a normal reaction.
Cleiria lowered her shoulders and let out a sigh.
"I have told Father many times...."
It seems Cleiria had been working hard to reduce the casualties.
However, it seems the Marquis did not listen.
Rimliche made a face as if thinking for a moment, then nodded once.
Then, she looked at Cleiria with a bright smile.
"I think it was good that I went on the field trip."
"!!!?"
Everyone raised voices of surprise at that.
Perhaps not expecting everyone to be so surprised, Rimliche also looked surprised.
"Why is that, Rimliche? I'm sorry to say this, but I heard you had a hard time...?"
"Hmm...."
When asked like that by Cleiria, Rimliche looked up slightly and pondered.
"I always thought, 'I don't want everyone to participate and leave me behind.' But Mika-kun helped me, and I was able to participate. It was certainly tough, but I was happy because I could participate with everyone."
"...Now that you mention it, only Rimliche was excited that day."
Mika remembered being scolded when he sighed many times.
"When I first entered the Magic Academy in the Leventein territory, I was full of anxiety. Even after entering, I was. But Mika-kun gave me strength, and everyone was there. So, I was able to do my best."
Rimliche looked straight at Mika with an unclouded expression.
"If there was no academy, I would surely have... . So, I am very grateful to the academy in the Leventein territory. I met Mika-kun, I met everyone, I realized so many precious things."
Saying that, Rimliche smiled shyly.
"That's why I love that academy very much. Only Mika-kun and I met the requirements for the field trip. That is my greatest pride."
That small pride was the core of Rimliche.
It was the pride that supported a mage who boasted a magical power said to be the best in the kingdom.
"...Only you and Mika-kun?"
"Please tell us in more detail about that part. Rimliche-san."
However, Kistil and Nerisfeene bit into the wrong part.
"Yes. I have heard a little about the time at the academy in the Leventein territory, but... . Can you tell us in detail, Rimliche?"
Cleiria smiled brightly like that, but the atmosphere was a bit... .
Sensing the change in the wind, Rimliche quickly moved away.
She took a distance of nearly ten meters in an instant.
"Oh, I'll go check around. Mika-kun, please explain."
"Huh? ...Eh?"
Suddenly left behind, Mika couldn't move for a moment.
Not missing that moment, Cleiria grabbed Mika's arm.
While he was distracted by that, Nerisfeene grabbed his other arm, and finally, Kistil pressed down from behind.
"...I heard that Mika-sama went to a local academy."
"I don't think I heard it in detail. Right, Mika-kun."
"I am also very interested. Mika."
Mika was surrounded by his three wives and sweat poured down like a waterfall.
No, there was nothing guilty.
Not a shred of it.
And yet, what was this pressure [pressure]!
"F-Fe! I'm leaving it to you!"
"Yes? Eh, wait, Mika!?"
Fee, who suddenly switched places, raised a voice of confusion.
"Mika! What are you rejecting! Come out!"
"Mika-kun, it's cheating to push it onto Fee-chan!"
Under the clear autumn sky, that noisy voice continued forever.
F I N
Leventein Cleiria.
The first wife of Mika Noisheim.
She supported Mika well, who carried the expectations of many people as the Apostle.
She often worried for Mika, who frequently clashed with the nobles.
However, what Cleiria consistently maintained was never to deny Mika's actions.
Even if she admitted some faults in Mika's actions, which were often excessive, she never denied the reasons for those actions.
She devoted herself to bridging Mika and the noble society, striving to prevent a decisive break.
There were nobles who tried to draw Cleiria in, but her criteria for judgment never wavered.
First, for Mika; second, for the Leventein territory.
She always acted so that these two never conflicted, and on top of that, she continued to defend Mika's position in noble society.
The King and high-ranking nobles evaluated her as a heroine who reined in Mika.
She was highly praised for her skill in patiently and carefully listening to the reasons for Mika's eccentric actions and finding a compromise point.
Kistil.
The second wife of Mika Noisheim.
Kistil was Mika's spiritual pillar.
If Cleiria protected Mika from noble society, Kistil could be said to have protected 'Mika as a monster' from becoming 'Mika as a human'.
Although Fee suppressed the symptoms of magic contamination, the addiction itself was progressing.
Exposed to the malice of those who sought to use Mika, and continuing to resist it, Mika would likely have fallen into the 'Cursed Child [Imprecatori]' without Kistil.
The existence of Kistil, who was weak and relied on Mika honestly, kept Mika's mind sane.
Mika had them do the housework themselves instead of servants, along with Nerisfeene.
Keeping such communication from ceasing led to protecting Mika's heart.
Nerisfeene.
The third wife of Mika Noisheim.
She spread Mika's divinity to the world.
She always respected Mika as a special being, yet also accepted Mika as a human.
She got along very well with the second wife, Kistil, and together they devoted themselves to taking care of Mika.
She was the founder who laid the foundation for the faith of 'Apostle [Apostle]' that would later arise.
She is also called the first Saintess, the guiding Saintess.
She proposed a Trinitarian [Trinity] interpretation that regarded Mika, who was God, the 'Apostle [Apostle]', and a human, as the same without contradiction.
Placing Mika Noisheim above the six pillars of gods in the Church of Light, while simultaneously being the 'Apostle [Apostle]' and a human, this special interpretation caused controversy.
This idea, which arose as a sect of the Church of Light, would completely swallow the Church of Light hundreds of years later and be called Mikaelaism.
This is a name derived from one aspect of the god Mika being feared as the God of Wrath [Mika Ira], and it is also sometimes called Mikaelism.
Often depicted as a beautiful figure with twelve or six to two wings, but her wrath was terrible, and the anecdote of destroying seventy thousand invading armies alone is famous.
Also, the image of her wielding a sword on the battlefield and fighting evil beings appearing above the Royal Castle became popular motifs as religious paintings.
Many episodes, such as Flesh Creation (also known as the Miracle of the Four Maidens), Incarnation (Resurrection), and Saintess Rescue, were widely loved.
Rimliche.
She dedicated her life as Mika's guard.
She always followed Mika and eliminated many dangers that fell upon Mika.
It is said that she could use the special power given by the Apostle to teleport even short distances.
That strength, unimaginable from her figure of less than one hundred and fifty centimeters, was feared as the 'Divine Weapon' that eliminated all obstacles.
However, contrary to such rumors, Rimliche was often smiling by Mika's side.
Rimliche's wish was for Mika to be safe and to be able to stay by his side.
She did not care much about anything else.
She was a simple woman who was happy that the robe made of pure copper-type rare metal [Orichalcum] given by Mika was "matching."
When Rimliche retired, Mika did not place a replacement guard.
Even if he kept a protection team nearby, he treated the guard as only Rimliche alone.
[Author's Note]
Thank you very much for accompanying me until here.
With this, this work is complete.
T-h-i-s... t-h-i-s... w-o-r-k... i-s... c-o-m-p-l-e-t-e.
I said it twice because it is important.
It was long... really...
I had no plot, I just output the story in my head, but naturally, that was not enough as a story.
Therefore, I added various elements while writing, but in the end, it became messy.
It feels like it became a work that has volume but... .
Regrettable.
I cannot express enough gratitude to everyone who accompanied this humble work until the end.
I hope to be able to use the failures and reflections of this work for the next one.
I don't know if there will really be a next one, but I have started thinking about various things for the time being.
I would be happy if you could read it again.
Due to Ruito's lack of ability, there were many parts where I couldn't convey what I wanted to say in this work.
However, I can say that I gave everything I could give now.
"What happened to that?"
"Isn't XX unresolved?"
Some of you may think that, but I think I have included a certain answer to the major mysteries of the story (including side stories).
Although I haven't explicitly stated some things,
I have tried to make it so you can think,
"Was that it?"
If there really were any omissions, I am sorry.
What to explain and how much.
This was really difficult.
Since I tend to make the text verbose, I wrote explanatory text that dragged on for fifty lines, a hundred lines,
"Who would read this!"
And cried as I scraped it all off countless times.
Still, quite a bit of that kind of text remains.
............Otaku tend to want to display their own knowledge and thoughts, you know. (Sweat)
Writing in the first person is also difficult, but since I decided to publish it on "Narou", I wanted as many people as possible to read it.
Thinking that, I tried writing while thinking about various things, albeit unfamiliarly.
............I stopped thinking quickly and started writing casually, though.
I am truly sorry for my poor writing.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the wonderful site "Shousetsuka ni Narou" which provided a place to show my work to amateurs like Ruito, and to Hinaproject Co., Ltd. which operates the site.
Thank you very much indeed.
Ruito Knight
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Addendum:
Ruito is currently writing a work called "Broken Sword Euryalus" on Kakuyomu Next.
This will be a paid service, but you can read the first twenty episodes for free as a trial.
It is a story about a young master of a noble family loved by everyone getting caught up in a civil war and growing into a hero.
Like Ruito's works, it is serious but has some joking parts, so I think those who enjoyed this work will enjoy it.
I would be happy if you could come and read even just the trial portion.
Sometimes, they run campaigns where the number of free episodes expands.
Last time, it was free up to three hundred episodes.
(-.-).○ (...Targeting the year-end and New Year holidays is a good idea)
Please do your best.
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Addendum 2:
I am sorry, but I decided to delete the side stories.
Some mysteries will remain mysteries, but I judged it was better without them even now.
I hope that someday I can clarify those mysteries in some form.