Chapter 48 - Chapter 47: The First [God's Miracle]
The third day of the first week of the third month of wind.
This is the last month of the year. In the world before, this was called "Jushigatsu."
By the way, in this world, there is no concept of a New Year's holiday, nor even a summer break.
Damn it.
Today, for the first time in a while, the morning will not be training in magic control, but a class in the classroom.
In the classroom where the teacher has not yet arrived, a somewhat restless atmosphere floats.
"...I wonder how to do [God's Miracle]?"
Rimliche, sitting next to him, spoke to Mika in a low voice with an unsettled feeling, but Mika returned an ambiguous smile.
Rimliche made a face that mixed expectation and anxiety, but Mika could only feel a bad premonition.
That's right.
Today, we finally learn [God's Miracle].
Well, apparently just being taught won't make you able to use it immediately, but until now, there wasn't even a single character "ka" of [God's Miracle].
When it comes to classes, it's mostly Kingdom History.
Yesterday, Dagny suddenly said, "Starting tomorrow, we will begin classes on [God's Miracle]," and everyone became agitated.
Eight full months since enrollment.
Until now, there had been absolutely no classes on magic or [God's Miracle].
It's no wonder everyone is losing their composure.
After waiting for a while, Dagny and Naporo entered the classroom together, and the children naturally straightened their postures at the serious atmosphere of the two.
"Good morning, everyone. You have worked hard well these past eight months."
Dagny sent her gaze to each of the children with a smile.
"Starting today, we will begin the [God's Miracle] class that everyone has been waiting for. ...Well, first, you will learn about the prerequisites such as magic."
At that, Dagny's expression cooled in an instant.
"From now on, I forbid the disclosure of any content of the classes you will learn. Especially if you disclose anything about [God's Miracle], you will inevitably receive a life sentence. You will be subjected to punishments more painful than the death penalty for fifty or sixty years."
Hearing Dagny's words, someone let out a sharp gasp.
(...As I thought.)
Looking at Dagny's cold eyes, Mika let out a quiet sigh.
Mika had thought that there must be some meaning behind the academy's unnatural stance of not trying to teach about magic or [God's Miracle] so much.
Mika has experiences that the other children do not know, experiences unique to him.
"Escaping the academy."
Just because Mika showed he could use magic, there was such a huge commotion.
Even though it was to save villagers from a fire.
Messerite said that malicious violators at the academy are sent "somewhere."
When I asked Radi about the chant for [God's Miracle], she said, "It is strictly forbidden."
Kifrod said that the destination of "escaping the academy" is a "forced labor camp."
And the academy's unnatural stance of not touching upon magic or [God's Miracle] at all.
And yet, the children were gathered by law, forced to learn this [God's Miracle].
...It's easy to guess.
But... I also think so.
Perhaps there is some elasticity in the actual application of "disclosure."
Otherwise, Mika would never have learned about magic.
Most of Mika's knowledge about magic came from Radi.
Perhaps the state and the church have slight differences in how they handle information about magic and [God's Miracle].
Above all, if it were "forbidden to disclose under any exceptions," they couldn't even handle it in class like this.
Perhaps Dagny's words were just a bit exaggerated to keep the children from speaking lightly.
Or perhaps the law is strictly defined, but its application still has elasticity.
Mika glanced at Rimliche sitting next to him and saw that the expression of half-expectation and half-anxiety from earlier had clearly turned pale blue.
The other children's reactions were similar to Rimliche's.
(You... don't teach such things to children.)
Mika couldn't help but think that, but the country and the lords must have their own reasons.
They want excellent mages, but if information spreads recklessly, it leads to worsening public order.
If villains gain great "power," the side that suppresses them won't just have trouble.
People might lose their lives.
However, to increase magic capacity, it is better to start as early as possible.
So, they threaten with severe punishments to expect a certain deterrent effect against the spread of information.
"Then, let's first learn about magic."
Perhaps the children's shock is usual for her, Dagny started the class calmly without paying special attention.
The content of the magic class was almost entirely already taught by Radi.
Magic is filled throughout the world and resides in everything.
"It resides in this blackboard, in this writing stone, in the desks and chairs you are using. Of course, it is also in the air we breathe. It is contained in the air we exhale as well."
Hearing Dagny's words, the children looked around in surprise, wondering, here and there.
"First of all, what is magic? Research continues on this, but it is said to be the 'residue of the 'Power' used when the Gods created the world.'"
Mika didn't know this either.
In fact, it seems there are people who have the question, "What exactly is magic?"
Unfortunately, it seems it hasn't been clarified yet, but I hope the smart geniuses... I mean, the geniuses will do their best.
And the topic extends to monsters and beast-monsters.
"Monsters and beast-monsters are thought to be animals that have mutated or metamorphosed after taking in excessive magic."
It seems beast-monsters were originally ordinary beasts that mutated and metamorphosed due to excessive magic.
By the way, the metamorphosis in this case is not the "gentleman" kind.
It's the kind where tadpoles become frogs, and caterpillars become pupae and then butterflies.
(Ninetiana said 'Beast-monsters like places where magic gathers,' is that the reason?)
Mika recalled a story he heard before.
There might be such a reason why beast-monsters like places where magic gathers.
However, he had also heard that ordinary beasts dislike such places, so he wondered how they become "magic-overloaded."
(But, saying they were originally ordinary beasts is a nasty story. I can guess from that form... but...)
Basically, they don't mutate suddenly one day, but gradually "evolve" over several generations.
Something like that.
The beast-monsters Mika has seen so far took the forms of bears, rabbits, and snakes.
They underwent a nasty way of "evolution."
Also, it seems beast-monsters breed and increase their numbers among themselves.
He didn't say it clearly, but it seems there are species that increase by attacking humans.
(In this world too, the female knights have a hard time.)
Well, actually, it's not limited to female knights.
It seems there are even monsters that lay eggs in human bodies.
It's like a movie depicting a battle with a certain space creature I liked watching decades ago.
(In "1", one monster caused a huge commotion, but in "2", there were mountains of them. Among many bad sequels, it was a rare masterpiece that surpassed the original.)
However, many species cannot be explained by the metamorphosis or mutation of these monsters and beast-monsters.
The most popular are the so-called "spirit-type" monsters.
"Skeletons" and "Wraiths" seem to exist in this world, and these are entities that fall outside the previous examples.
There are also reports of monsters and beast-monsters that change their appearance suddenly, and it seems "evolution" alone cannot explain many things.
It is certain, however, that magic is involved.
(Well, that's what academia is like. Propose hypotheses for everything, and verification comes later. Contradictions appearing is natural. That's what it's like for a developing field.)
Should I call it Monster and Beast-Monster Studies?
For Mika, who loves fantasy, it is a wonderful research where he can't help but look forward to future development.
And after teaching these contents over several days, they finally reached the explanation of [God's Miracle].
■■■■■■
"As I told you the other day, please pay special attention to handling the [God's Miracle] I am about to tell you. ...I sincerely hope none of you will be held criminally liable."
Listening to Dagny's words with an expressionless face, he quietly peeked around.
Rimliche seemed completely frightened by Dagny's threatening words.
All the other children had similarly pained expressions.
"However, if you use [God's Miracle] in public, people will hear the chant. It is not forbidden to do everything like that."
Dagny's expression softened slightly.
That makes sense.
Mika himself has seen Radi use [Heal] several times.
The church provides [Heal] for a fee.
If they forbade people from hearing the chant, they wouldn't be able to use it properly in the first place.
"It simply means you must not tell others about the chants necessary to manifest [God's Miracle], how to offer magic, how to pray, etc. Please rest assured about that."
But, Dagny tightened her expression there.
"...However, several people are held criminally liable every year and actually receive life sentences. If anyone asks you what [God's Miracle] is or how to use it, you should answer only 'It is strictly forbidden to teach it.'"
Mika couldn't help but grimace.
Indeed, Mika had said those exact words to Radi.
Mika's way of asking was completely "out."
And it seems Radi's answer of "It is strictly forbidden" was a manual-like response.
"What you will learn from now on is [God's Miracle] called [Physical Enhancement]. Please consider that being able to use this [God's Miracle] to some extent by next autumn is the goal at Leventein Magic Academy."
It seems Mika's first [God's Miracle] is [Physical Enhancement].
Mika couldn't help but make a victory pose at this.
Of course, secretly so that no one around would notice.
(This is a nice choice! Isn't this the most useful [God's Miracle] for me?)
For Mika, who has already mastered the magic of the four great elements on his own, gaining [God's Miracle] like "blasting" or "burning to ash" now doesn't mean much.
He can handle such things on his own anyway.
Radi's [Heal] seems useful, but if it's just healing himself, there is healing magic for that.
In the first place, the scenes where [Heal] is used are limited.
But, wouldn't [Physical Enhancement] be very useful for activities as an adventurer?
He is curious about the details of what is enhanced to what extent, but Mika couldn't help but smirk.
[Physical Enhancement].
A [God's Miracle] that enhances physical abilities such as stamina through the blessing of the God of Power, the subordinate deity of the Fire God.
It enhances not only simple arm strength and leg strength, but also endurance and explosive power evenly.
It is a very excellent [God's Miracle].
However, it seems you cannot allocate the portion of arm strength not needed for long-distance running to endurance and leg strength, for example.
In fact, when he asked this question, Dagny and Naporo looked at him as if saying, "What is this guy talking about?"
He just asked because he was a little curious.
The abilities enhanced by [Physical Enhancement] increase by a percentage.
Depending on how magic is offered, it could be a 10% boost or a 50% boost. Enhancements over 100% are also possible.
However, it is a bit complicated, but magic consumption happens in two stages.
The magic offered at the moment of manifestation of the [God's Miracle], and the magic consumed continuously thereafter.
As a rough image ————.
The magic consumed at the moment of manifestation requires a minimum of "10", but it doesn't matter how much more you add.
"11" is fine, or "20" or "100".
The magic consumed here relates to the basic "output".
If you pay a large amount initially, it is easier to get "high output" through enhancement.
The continuously consumed magic is the magic that is consumed every second, or rather, constantly.
If you want to extend the enhancement time, naturally, the magic consumed here should be as small as possible.
If it can be done with "1", he wants to do it with "1".
However, depending on the situation, there may be times when "I want higher output just for now."
In such cases, consuming "2" or "3" magic, or even "10" in some cases, is fine.
But in that case, the amount of magic consumed becomes incredibly large.
It seems the percentage of enhancement can be calculated by applying the "Magic at Manifestation" and "Continuously Consumed Magic" to an equation.
Dagny's words about "being able to use it to some extent" mean getting used to the relationship between the "output" of this enhancement and the consumed magic.
The amount of magic within each person is different.
It seems you are supposed to feel your way through the magic you initially consume, the continuously consumed magic, and the required output while consulting with the magic inside you.
"I'll say this beforehand, but if you use too much magic, you may feel sick or faint. Do not push yourself; stop the [God's Miracle] before you feel sick. Grasping your own limits is the minimum condition for a full-fledged mage."
Naporo gave advice with a serious face.
(I wanted that advice much sooner, Naporo...)
As someone who has already collapsed by exceeding his limits, even though he knows it's impossible, he has to think he wanted to be told sooner.
"Well, today should be fine. But please do not forget that [God's Miracle] requires extreme caution from those who handle it."
Dagny nodded at Naporo's warning but smiled at the children, saying today would be okay.
"Then, in today's class, we will memorize the chant to be recited. How to offer magic and prayer will be done in the next class. You all know that [God's Miracle] cannot be used without memorizing the chant, right? Please memorize it thoroughly."
Thus, all the children in the class read aloud the chant offered to the "God of Power," the subordinate deity of the "Fire God."
"
"O Great Fire God, the spark of creation. O God of Power, your great subordinate deity, overflowing and surging. Hear my prayer, cast away hardships, and grant me the mighty power to crush suffering."
"
They read aloud the chant written on the blackboard by Dagny in unison.
(Indeed, just reading this won't manifest [God's Miracle]. ...However, the way of praying?)
While reading the chant along with everyone, Mika thought such things.
(As I thought, prayer is necessary. ...Well, I'll try it.)
Mika couldn't help but tilt his head when told to offer prayers to the gods, thinking "Hmm..."
There is a part of him that thinks, "If it could be solved just by praying, I wouldn't be in trouble!"
Even at this point, he was thinking, "Can't something be solved with just a superficial prayer?"
(...Hmm?)
At that moment, Mika noticed that the magic within him was moving, albeit very slightly.
(What is this?)
Since he is currently in "Limiter On," he can easily suppress it, but he twisted his neck at the sudden phenomenon.
He looked at the children around him, but everyone was making noise, trying hard to memorize the chant while looking at the blackboard.
It was such a tiny movement that if told to ignore it, he could ignore it, but Mika is a person with a "bad disease."
(Shall I try to find the cause...)
He thought such things.
Mixing in with everyone making noise, he whispered softly, "Limiter Off."
To grasp the movement of magic properly, it is easier with "Limiter Off" than with the state of "Limiter On."
But now, the movement of magic stopped, and searching for the magic within him yielded nothing.
(What is this?)
It became even more incomprehensible.
For now, he decided to wait until it moved again and read the chant aloud along with everyone.
"The Great Fire God, the spark of creation ————."
Then, changes began to happen immediately.
As he read the chant, the magic within Mika moved quickly.
Rather than moving, it felt more like being pulled.
(Wait, wait, wait!?)
Panicking internally, but pretending nothing was wrong on the surface, he continued to read the chant along with everyone.
Until the end.
"—Grant me the mighty power."
At that moment, the magic within Mika was taken away wholesale.
(Wha-!?)
He tried desperately to hold back the magic, but Mika was bad at "holding back magic."
In vain, he was robbed as if it were a complete stripping.
"Mika-kun!!!"
He heard Rimliche's voice like a scream.
Turning around, he saw Rimliche's figure distorted.
No, it wasn't just Rimliche that was distorted.
Mika's field of vision was distorted.
Looking, he noticed his whole body was wrapped in something like a heat haze.
"What!?"
"Mika-kun!?"
"Mika!?"
"
"Kyaaaaaaah!"
"
Dagny and Naporo widened their eyes in shock, and Cecilia and the others screamed.
At that moment, Mika's consciousness cut off.
■■■■■■
When he woke up, he was lying in an unfamiliar place.
Turning to the side, he saw two beds besides the bed he was using.
(The infirmary...?)
With a vague atmosphere, he felt that way.
His whole body was lethargic, and he had no memory of why he was in such a place.
"You're awake."
Dagny came to the side of Mika's bed.
It seems she had been standing in a position invisible to Mika.
"How do you feel?"
"Um... I'm lethargic."
"Well, that's to be expected."
Dagny smiled bitterly.
"Anything else?"
"Nothing else, really..."
When Mika said that, Dagny sat on the bed next to him.
"Do you know why you are here? How much do you remember?"
When Dagny said that, Mika remembered.
"In the classroom, when I was reading the chant..."
My magic was stolen.
Stripped bare.
Mika remembered immediately.
"Mika-kun manifested the [God's Miracle] of [Physical Enhancement]."
"......Eh?"
Mika looked bewildered.
"I saw a very strong heat haze around Mika-kun. That is a phenomenon that appears when [Physical Enhancement] is manifested. Mr. Naporo agrees, so it's probably correct. You offered too much magic and became magic-deficient."
Mika covered his face with both hands, telling himself, "Calm down... calm down..."
[Physical Enhancement] manifested...?
Why?
Mika had no intention of manifesting such a thing.
As he was told, he had just read the chant.
"......Shouldn't offering prayer be necessary to manifest [Physical Enhancement]?"
"Yes, that's right. Mika-kun is very devout. Also, it seems you are loved by the gods very much. I envy you."
Have mercy...
He has no memory of believing such things, nor of being loved.
"Normally, prayers don't reach that easily, and you can't offer magic so easily either."
Dagny smiled brightly.
(...I won't say I offered such a thing. I'll say I was robbed.)
Mika let out a big sigh.
"If your body is still lethargic, you can rest here. Everyone is in afternoon exercise time, so I'll wake you up when it's over?"
"...No, can I rest in the room?"
"That's fine, but are you okay alone?"
"I'm fine."
Mika suppressed the strong lethargy with sheer will and got up.
Seeing off with Dagny's worried face, Mika returned to the classroom.
Collecting his belongings, he returned to the dormitory with heavy footsteps.
Carrying a sense of despair he hadn't felt since the first time he manifested magic.