Chapter 51 - Chapter 50: The Kingdom's Slave System
Tuesday, Month of the Second Earth, Week One.
Next month marks the end of the first year in the Magic Academy's Junior Division.
There is a long vacation of about four weeks, but it seems there will be an exam before that.
It is said to test the results of this past year.
Dagny explained it during morning homeroom, but the tasks themselves were not particularly grand.
It seems they will test knowledge of Kingdom history, magical power capacity, and how much one can perceive and manipulate the magic power within oneself.
It is no different from regular classes or training.
Well, if they suddenly tested things we haven't trained on, it would be troubling, so I reconsidered that this is what an exam is.
【Physical Enhancement】under【God's Miracle】is also included in the exam items, but it seems it is not necessary to be able to use it yet.
Only Mika, Polnard, and Charl in the current class can manifest【Physical Enhancement】, so the other children were visibly relieved.
Although, it seems the two besides Mika can only manifest it, not yet reach the level of actually using it.
After such explanations, the lesson on Kingdom history's "Fifty-Year War," which is also part of the exam scope, began.
Fifty-Year War.
It refers to the war lasting a full 51 years, from Kingdom Year 1427 to 1478, with the neighboring Gronoir Empire.
The official name is the Sixth Daburandoru War.
The plains spreading near the border are called the Daburandoru Plains, and all previous wars with the Gronoir Empire have occurred on these Daburandoru Plains.
The First through Fifth Wars all occurred after establishing a border on these Daburandoru Plains, and "Fifty-Year War" refers to the sixth military conflict and all subsequent series of combat actions.
Who started it first probably doesn't matter much.
Both sides have their own arguments, and surely both will say "The other side started it!"
During peacetime, both nations kept armies stationed near the border to watch each other, and minor skirmishes occurred countless times.
That usual minor skirmish happened to escalate into a full-scale military conflict.
Conflicts continued intermittently, crossing into the next year, until finally the year 1428 arrived.
"It is the will of the gods to destroy the Kingdom of Ektrem."
The Pope of the Church of Light brought up a divine oracle and said such a thing.
To Mika, it was just a foolish remark that he would dismiss with a laugh, thinking, "Are you an idiot?" but this became the catalyst for the military conflict between the two nations to intensify.
As expected of the state religion, the Pope of the Church of Light, which nearly 100% of the citizens believe in, had immense influence.
As sentiment grew within the Gronoir Empire that "Ektrem must be destroyed," the military forces deployed increased steadily.
The Kingdom of Ektrem, confused by the Pope's sudden divine oracle, was pushed back unilaterally.
However, one man serving as Archbishop within the kingdom at the time directly refuted this.
"A false prophet bringing forth a false oracle, spreading evil teachings! We must not be misled by the ramblings of the head of heresy! We must part ways with heresy and, under true teachings, purify the calamities from the wicked!"
These words from the Archbishop spread rapidly among the citizens of the Kingdom of Ektrem, who were being unilaterally labeled as "evil" and were confused.
Thus, the relationship between the two nations, which was already not very good, deteriorated to a level where it was completely irreparable.
It seems the full-scale military use of mages began around this time.
Even before this, there were those who used【God's Miracle】, and military use existed.
However, it was from the "Fifty-Year War" that the nation officially began training them as a specific troop type, putting serious effort into securing both quality and quantity.
Before that,【God's Miracle】was passed down only through oral tradition, but if taught to talented individuals in the form of an academy, one could expect a certain number of them.
Someone realized this.
No matter how excellent a knight is,【God's Miracle】cast by a mage can blow away ten people at once.
They are agile, and if taught to ride horses, they possess excellent mobility, capable of traversing terrain on foot where horses cannot go.
As long as food and a bed are provided, no maintenance is needed.
They won't stay silent like siege rams or catapults, but they move easily with just verbal instructions.
Mages were deployed as convenient self-propelled artillery.
Mika secretly let out a sigh without others noticing.
Through Kingdom history, it is clearly stated that one must fight for the country.
If they do nothing, they will be unilaterally trampled and taken.
Since it is a fact, he couldn't help but sigh.
The Empire's goal isn't to rule the Kingdom. It is to destroy it. Even ruling is tragic, but if the Kingdom loses, I can imagine without even trying how cruel a fate awaits. ...No, surely my imagination can't even conceive how terrible it will be.
Mika also has things he wants to protect.
Even though he was suddenly thrown into a world where he had no connections, he believes his feelings of cherishing his family, Amalia and Loretta, are real.
And he truly wishes that nothing tragic would happen to the people of Rish Village, including Rad, Kifrod, Horatio, who helped Mika, and everyone in the Vigilance Committee like Ninetiana, Dur, and Diego.
Although his life in Rish Village has been less than a year, he thought he could fight for the sake of his hometown's people.
But... he also thought that.
He is aware that his experience living in a peaceful world far removed from war makes him view war with a cold eye as the height of foolishness.
War did not not exist in his original world either.
Still, in the 'narrow world' where Mika lived, war was something only found on TV or in movies.
He knows that turning a blind eye to the crisis right in front of him is the most foolish thing.
Even if he looks away, the crisis will come to him anyway.
Still, he couldn't help but let out a sigh at where the track he had boarded was heading.
Morning classes ended, and everyone returned to the dormitory together.
Just as Mika was leaving the classroom with Rimliche, he was called out by Naporo.
"Mika-kun, is it okay if I talk to you for a moment?"
"Yes?"
Naporo was beckoning him.
Mika told Rimliche to go ahead and went to Naporo.
"What is it?"
"I have something I want to confirm. Regarding the afternoon exercise..."
Naporo's proposal was that Mika could have a separate menu for the afternoon exercise.
He said that for those who can use【Physical Enhancement】to some extent, such accommodations are sometimes made.
"In the second year, menus based on using【Physical Enhancement】will appear. If you get used to it now, it will be easier later. What do you think?"
I see.
Indeed, getting used to it beforehand is not a bad idea.
But, he declined.
"No. I am fine with the same menu as everyone else."
"Oh? If you are fine with that, then that is fine. Well, if you ever feel like trying it, just let me know."
"Yes, understood."
Mika had already started using【Physical Enhancement】in actual combat as an adventurer.
Training on the level of class content now would not bring significant benefits.
Rather, Mika wanted to train his physical body in its unenhanced state.
He believed that to greatly expand the benefits of【Physical Enhancement】, one must raise the baseline of the unenhanced state, so he decided to decline this proposal.
When Mika left the school building, Charl was walking a little ahead.
Everyone else had already gone ahead, so perhaps Charl had stayed behind for some reason.
As Mika walked while vaguely watching Charl, he noticed something had fallen.
It seemed Charl had not noticed.
"Hey, Charl. Something seems to have fallen."
When Mika ran to pick up the fallen object, it looked like a hairpin.
Seeing Mika pick up the hairpin, Charl seemed to realize for the first time that his hairpin was missing.
"Here, this."
"...Thank you."
When Mika handed over the hairpin, Charl remained looking down as usual.
His expression was hard to see because his bangs hung down to his nose, but perhaps he was a little embarrassed.
"You use a hairpin, huh?"
"...Y-yes. ...Sometimes, though."
Well, if the bangs were that long, they might get in the way sometimes.
At that moment, he remembered that it was Cecilia who fixed Rimliche's hair.
Cecilia seemed to have younger brothers and sisters, and she often fixed their hair.
She had forcibly cut Rimliche's hair, saying, "Let me fix it for you."
So that's why she suddenly ended up with such a bowl cut. If it was her own wish, she definitely wouldn't have cut it that short. It suits her, though.
Cecilia is a bit forceful, but regarding this matter, he would praise her with a "GJ."
Though he would never tell her, since she would get conceited.
Looking at Charl's bangs, he tried saying something that came to mind.
"Charl, why don't you let Cecilia fix your hair? Her skills don't seem bad."
When Mika made such a proposal, Charl's face immediately turned red, and he held his cheeks with both hands.
"...No, that's embarrassing..."
Mika was slightly charmed by Charl's unexpectedly cute reaction.
Watching the fidgeting Charl, thinking, "You're at that age, aren't you—"
"If they find out where you're looking, it will be embarrassing."
Is that what you're worried about!
The reason for being embarrassed is way off!
It seems it is not such a cute reason like being embarrassed to be stared at.
Learning the true reason why Charl was growing out his bangs, Mika trembled.
No good, this guy. He's still rotten...
Touching upon a glimpse of the darkness that should not be touched, Mika regretted his rash words.
■■■■■■
Tuesday, Month of the Second Earth, Week Four.
Exams will begin at the academy next month, but Mika ignored that and went out gathering as usual.
It seems that at the Magic Academy here in Sarbengeal, exams are held, but there are no failures or anything serious due to them.
It is strongly meant as a confirmation of the results of this past year.
The real stage for academy students is the Magic Academy in the Royal Capital, and no matter how poor the grades here are, it is just a matter of "Do your best in the Royal Capital."
It seems the academy here in Sarbengeal holds a preparatory school position.
Mika was walking smoothly on a road one street off the main avenue.
The main avenue was still overflowing with people, making it difficult to walk.
But just going one street off the main avenue, the number of people decreased significantly, making it very easy to walk.
Mika, having gained【Physical Enhancement】, got carried away and had traversed almost the entire Northwest Area of the city.
He had recently been able to visit the Leventein Marquis's mansion.
Well, he hadn't intended to go, but he had just happened to end up in front of the mansion while wandering around.
Until now, Mika had prioritized walking the shortest distance possible between the dormitory and the guild, etc.
With【Physical Enhancement】, the distance he could walk had more than doubled.
Thinking about trying to go to places he couldn't reach before is not such a strange thing.
"There aren't many shops here either. Maybe I should go back and try the other way."
Mika had a general grasp of the Northwest area, so he was walking around thinking about going to the Southwest area next.
However, in the Southwest area, if one strays from the road even a little, the atmosphere quickly turns bad.
It is still closer to the main avenue than the road he passed on Yaroibarov's shoulders before, but depending on the alley, the atmosphere can be quite bad.
Just as he was about to turn back, thinking there was nothing worth seeing here, he noticed something.
A group of men and women wrapped only in tattered rags deep in an alley.
Even though it was still a cold season, they were outside dressed like that.
Leg irons connected by chains on both feet, shackles on their hands, and those shackles connected by chains to the person next to them.
They were a group of slaves.
The Kingdom of Ektrem recognizes slavery.
The reason for becoming a slave seems to be mostly debt.
It is said that people are sold for a small amount of gold coins, not even a million yen in Japanese currency.
Of course, there is a reason why slaves traded for such amounts are relatively cheap, but with one large gold coin, one can buy a slave with decent selection.
Previously, when returning from gathering and passing through the West Gate, he happened to see slave merchants inspecting a carriage.
It was then that Messerite taught him about this country's slave system.
Messerite's family runs a trading company, and even trading companies commonly use slaves.
Most slaves are called labor slaves; the initial investment is high, but subsequent costs are almost non-existent.
It seems many trading companies choose slaves over hiring normal people, valuing low running costs.
Mika had frequented weapon and armor shops, but when he said he hadn't seen any, he was told, "They wouldn't show slaves off."
It seems they are often assigned to back-end manual labor.
When it comes to slaves, curses like the Subjugation Curse may be cast, and a mark indicating slavery may be engraved.
Many trading companies do not go that far, but the more dangerous the work content or the worse the labor environment, the more likely they are to use this Subjugation Curse to engrave the Subjugation Crest.
Once engraved, it is said that one absolutely cannot disobey the master defined by the Subjugation Curse.
And if such a thing exists, human desire will not stop there; some women are bought for sexual purposes and subjected to the Subjugation Curse.
"If it's Mika, you can sell him to someone with such tastes for a high price."
Mika thought about seriously punching Messerite, who said that with a laugh, but he knew doing so would be meaningless.
Buying and selling slaves existed in his original world too, and his era came after that dark age.
People of this world are not particularly barbaric.
He knows that, but seeing it with his own eyes makes him think about various things inevitably.
Especially hearing stories like "If a master kills a slave, they are not charged with a crime unless intent is proven."
Moreover, if they seriously say that proving intent requires the "slave who suffered the victimization," he somewhat seriously thinks such a country should be destroyed.
When his activity range was in the northern part of the city, he never saw such a sight.
Perhaps there were slaves among the people Mika saw, but at least they were not treated in a way that was obvious from their appearance.
As Mika watched the slaves with a frustrated feeling, a man who seemed to be a slave merchant came out of a building and bowed repeatedly to a well-dressed man next to him.
Then, the slave merchant watched with a broad smile as the man who had arrived loaded the slaves onto a carriage and left.
"Limiter Off, Stone Bullet."
Mika whispered quietly and flicked a small stone, no bigger than the tip of his little finger, into the air.
Turning back the way he came, Mika walked while sighing. Far behind him, the slave merchant who had a small stone fall on his head looked around frantically.
■■■■■■
[Leventein Cleiria's Perspective]
Cleiria of the Leventein Marquis's private room.
In a room decorated with somewhat childish pink-themed furniture, there were a girl and an old woman, the master of the room.
"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher."
Cleiria bowed gracefully to the old woman, the instructor of【God's Miracle】.
"Miss Cleiria has also become very skilled at handling magic power over this past year. It is a bit early, but let us test how much of the target assignment you have achieved next time. If you try it and find something still difficult, that can become your future assignment."
"Yes, please take care of me."
The old woman smiled politely, nodded once, and left the room.
Entering in her place was the attendant, Bogeiza.
He had left Cleiria's room so as not to interfere with the instruction, but he had timed it to bring tea just as the teacher exited.
Cleiria moved from in front of the desk to the table and sat down somewhat informally with a thud.
"You must be tired, Miss. Would you like milk today?"
"Add more. And put one extra spoon of sugar."
"Understood."
Bogeiza prepared Cleiria's tea with practiced movements.
Normally, there are specialized parlor maids to brew tea and serve, but Bogeiza learned how to brew tea from those maids and mastered it quickly.
After Bogeiza said, "I want Miss to grade me and polish my skills," he began brewing tea for Cleiria.
The tea Bogeiza brewed was satisfactory from the start, but recently, he has mastered Cleiria's preferences so completely that no other maid can catch up.
When Cleiria took a sip of tea, the sweet milk tea seemed to seep into her tired head.
Cleiria couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"It's delicious. Your skills have improved again."
At Cleiria's praise, Bogeiza bowed respectfully.
He drank the milk tea while picking at a cookie, but before he knew it, his hand had stopped.
"...It's still boring, isn't it?"
He muttered softly.
Cleiria recalled the magic instruction of the past year.
Learning unknown things is fun, and being able to do things one couldn't do before is happy.
But that is something that remains contained within oneself.
There is no competing with someone, no regretting losing, no rejoicing in winning; none of that exists.
If only there were even one person here to learn magic alongside Cleiria...
"...Magic Academy..."
He couldn't help but dream.
If he had convinced Father a year ago, he would be studying now at the academy with many children of the same age.
Could Cleiria be the best among those children?
Perhaps there were children more talented than Cleiria, and he might be regretting it?
He dreamed of that "now" that could not be realized.
"...That's enough. Put it down."
Cleiria put down the cup and instructed Bogeiza to take it away.
Bogeiza placed the remaining cup of tea and the cookies on a tray and bowed.
Usually, he would leave immediately, but for some reason, he stayed there today.
Cleiria turned her violet-blue eyes toward Bogeiza.
Unusually for Bogeiza, he had an expression as if he were troubled by something.
"What's wrong? You can leave now."
Cleiria spoke, but Bogeiza seemed to hesitate to say something and did not move from his spot.
Bogeiza's attitude like this is rare.
Cleiria became slightly interested and wanted to hear what he had to say.
"Do you have something to say? A report? Or perhaps a consultation?"
Cleiria tried to make a soft expression.
This is something like a hobby for a noble lady.
One must always maintain composure; no matter what the heart feels, it must never be shown on the face.
Even with some strengths and weaknesses, it is a skill that one belonging to the blue blood must naturally possess.
Mother scolded him quite a bit until he could do it naturally.
Bogeiza glanced at Cleiria and pressed his lips together.
"...This is, well... it is not yet clear what will happen, so..."
"Oh? If so, wouldn't it be better to wait until it is clear?"
"...Perhaps. But, regarding the Magic Academy..."
"...Academy?"
Cleiria tried to keep his expression from changing, but the unexpected words from Bogeiza caused a slight surprise to appear on his face.
"You might scold me for 'doing things on my own,' but... I have been asking Master for a year..."
"Ask...? What did you ask Father?"
At that, Bogeiza hesitated again.
Cleiria became slightly irritated.
Hesitating after speaking that far seemed like he was being dramatic.
"Bogeiza. Speak clearly. What did you ask Father? And that, a year ago?"
Cleiria could not hold back, and his tone became stronger.
"...If it is not possible to send Miss to the academy, then at least, even if it is just a chance to speak with the children of the academy..."
"What did you say!?"
Cleiria was surprised, and his voice unintentionally grew loud.
Bogeiza put a finger to his mouth, urging Cleiria to quiet down with a "Shh..."
"It was difficult to get permission... No, I have not yet received clear permission, but it seems Master will grant it soon."
"Really!?"
Cleiria stood up involuntarily.
Still trying to suppress his voice, he covered his mouth with both hands.
"If you wait a little longer, I am sure you will receive permission."
"Really? Hey, is it true that Father will allow you to meet?"
"Yes, it will surely be fine. I will definitely persuade him."
"Bogeiza..."
Cleiria told Bogeiza "Thank you. Thank you" many times.
The Magic Academy he had dreamed of.
Even if he cannot attend, he can meet the children who attend there.
He can talk with them.
Right now, even that is enough.
Meeting directly and exchanging words.
Meeting children who are learning magic and sparring with each other, just like Cleiria.
Just that is enough to last another year.
He can say, "Let's meet in the Royal Capital."
Cleiria was so happy that tears seemed to overflow.
"Thank you, Bogeiza... You have been persuading Father for a year."
"No, this is also for Miss."
Bogeiza smiled brightly.
Cleiria was grateful that the young man Bogeiza truly served him for his sake.
He could not wait for the day he could meet the children of the Magic Academy.
He felt like he might burst into dance.
Seeing such Cleiria, Bogeiza smiled bitterly.
But, he immediately tightened his expression.
"Miss, please calm down. Master is still wavering. If you take rash action here, he might change his mind."
Bogeiza's precise advice poured cold water on Cleiria's feelings that seemed to reach the heavens.
Indeed, if I am too elated, Father might change his mind.
Cleiria's face turned pale in an instant.
The hobby of a noble lady had gone somewhere far away.
"Miss must pretend to know nothing. I will do the persuading. ...Yes, it is better not to speak to others either. If others say unnecessary things, Master might change his mind. If that happens, I will not be able to persuade him no matter what I say."
Bogeiza was right.
Persuading that stubborn Father is normally impossible.
It took a year, and only because Bogeiza was careful did he reach the point of "a little more."
If this opportunity is missed, there will be no more chances.
"I understand. I will not tell anyone. So, please persuade Father for sure."
"You must not even hint at it in front of Virone or other servants. I do not know whose mouth will convey Miss's condition to Master."
"Y-yes. I must be careful."
"Especially Virone has a strong connection as a knight. Miss's condition will be conveyed to Master immediately."
Cleiria nodded.
"Please wait a little longer, Miss."
"Yes, understood. I leave it to you, Bogeiza."
Bogeiza bowed respectfully, took the tray, and left the room.
Cleiria enjoyed the garden visible from the window with a bright feeling.
The scenery, which should be no different from usual, seemed vividly colorful to his eyes.
...At this time, no matter how much attention Cleiria paid, he would not have noticed.
The corner of Bogeiza's mouth as he left the room was twisted, and his eyes harbored an ominous light.