Chapter 8 - Chapter 7: First Magic Power 2
The next day, I was at the church from morning.
Looking up at the roof, the "Six Rings
Amalia and Loretta had gone to work, and it was time for me to help the neighbors in their fields, as usual.
But today, there was something I absolutely had to ask Radi to do.
I wanted her to do "that" again.
(This is a bit... I can't do anything about it on my own.)
No matter how hard I tried to concentrate, there was no response at all.
Due to the lack of response, I gave up on practicing alone quite quickly.
If only I could get used to it a little more, maybe I could grasp something.
That was why I came to the church, but unfortunately, Radi was not there.
I received permission from the elderly priest Kifrod who was at the church, and Mika decided to wait beside the building.
Two people live in the Rish Village church: Kifrod and Radi.
Originally, Kifrod was a priest dispatched from the Great Cathedral of the diocese, but it seems Radi just showed up from some convent and settled down.
Kifrod has been dispatched to Rish Village for decades, so he is deeply trusted by the residents, and he has known Radi even before she became a nun.
Or rather, surprisingly, this Kifrod seems to be the oldest person in Rish Village.
An elderly priest with pure white hair, a long beard, a wrinkled face, and a cheerful smile, he looks anywhere from seventy to a hundred years old.
While waiting, I noticed Radi walking down the main street.
Radi must have noticed me too, as she smiled brightly.
(As always, she looks like the Virgin Mother. Maybe I should call her "Laughing Virgin
Thinking such a rude thing that doesn't seem like I'm here to ask for teachings, Radi came up to the front of the church and said, "Good morning, Mika-kun."
Mika replied and bowed lightly.
"What are you doing here? Please, come inside."
Prompted by Radi, Mika entered the church.
He was told to sit in the very front seat, just like yesterday, but Mika did not sit down and kept his head bowed.
"Sister Radi, please do what you did yesterday one more time."
Waiting for Radi's reply with his head still bowed, there was no answer of "okay" or "no."
Continuing to wait in that posture, a voice called out after a while, "Please raise your face."
Since that voice was by no means bright, Mika timidly raised his face.
There, as expected, was Radi with a troubled expression.
"Mika-kun, don't panic. Magic power grows little by little, and you can learn how to handle it once you enter the academy or the church, you know?"
"That may be true, but..."
There was nothing urgent happening right now.
When the time came, they would be measured again, and if they had "potential," they would go to the academy; even if not, they could learn at the church.
Mika knew this, but he couldn't help but feel restless.
How should I put it? He was fidgety.
It could be said to be a desire to find a new hobby and immerse himself in it.
His inability to switch gears was showing itself here as well.
Staring up at her with a fixed gaze... Radi let out a sigh.
"Really. Don't look at me like that."
With an even more troubled expression, Radi ruffled Mika's head roughly.
It was a slightly rough way of patting, different from her usual self.
Against this rare, conflicted-looking Radi, Mika continued to stare without caring.
"...Alright, alright. It can't be helped."
Saying it as if giving up, she carefully smoothed down Mika's messy hair and extended both hands just like yesterday.
"I don't know what you want to do, but Mika-kun, your magic power is by no means abundant. We know that from the measurement. Forcing yourself now won't mean much, you know?"
Radi spoke with a slightly stricter voice than usual.
"Yes," Mika replied, placing his hand over Radi's.
"Then I'll begin. Concentrate your mind. Do not force yourself."
At Radi's serious voice, Mika nodded firmly.
Closing his eyes, he concentrated his awareness on his hands and ears.
The sound "Kiiiii...n" came immediately.
Following that, ripples spread from both hands, resonating throughout his entire body.
(It's here, it's here. This is it.)
A clear sound and ripples resonating pleasantly inside his body.
An exhilaration that made him shiver.
He almost lost consciousness right there, wanting to surrender his body to the pleasant resonance.
Suddenly, he remembered Radi speaking about God's love while having a blissful expression.
If Radi had experienced a similar sensation, he felt he could understand why she acted that way.
(...This isn't the time to be immersed. I have to grasp some hint.)
It was like trying to grasp the "sound" echoing throughout his body.
He perceived it, but it wasn't something he could touch.
Simply directing his consciousness aimlessly only made him feel the sound and ripples echoing in his body; he couldn't do anything.
(What should I do? How can I move "this" with my own will?)
He concentrated his consciousness further, chasing the "something" resonating.
But it spread and resonated on its own, regardless of Mika's will.
Frustration rose at getting no clues, and he involuntarily tensed his body.
"Are you alright, Mika-kun?"
Noticing Mika's tense body due to frustration, Radi called out to him.
"Yes... I'm fine."
Keeping his eyes closed and concentrated, Mika answered.
Watching Mika's state carefully, Radi continued the "Rite of Secret Perception
Mika continued to concentrate his consciousness.
The waves of magic interference felt in both hands. The ripples.
Radi had said "flowing magic power" yesterday, but he hadn't asked specifically what method she was using to interfere.
"...What are you doing, Sister Radi?"
Suddenly, those words slipped from Mika's mouth.
It was a terribly vague question, but Radi understood it correctly.
"My magic power is weak and thin, touching your hand like a thread. It feels like I'm pushing it in a little. It disappears quickly, though."
"...Weak."
Mika repeated Radi's words.
"Can you make it stronger?"
"Yes, of course. Shall we try various things?"
Saying that, Radi gradually increased the magic power sent to Mika.
Though, it was truly only a tiny amount at a time.
In this way, she began to change things up.
She changed the strength of the magic power sent with her left and right hands, trying several variations.
Unlike the beautiful resonance until just now, various sounds and ripples were now flying chaotically inside Mika.
In a word, it was "a mess."
It wasn't exactly noise.
The sound wasn't loud.
It was just a state where completely unharmonized sounds were resonating freely.
Those sounds, sometimes leaning to the right, sometimes to the left; sometimes heard from the front, then from the back.
An incomprehensible flood of sounds, along with ripples, rushed toward Mika.
Involuntarily, when he directed his consciousness to push back against the rushing sounds, he felt a slight resistance, a tiny bit.
Wondering what it was, he directed his consciousness there, but found nothing.
However, by directing his consciousness to push back against the rushing sounds several times, he occasionally felt some resistance.
(...Is this the clue?)
After pushing back several times, he tried not just pushing back the rushing sounds, but adding his own consciousness to their momentum.
Pushing to the right if it went right, pushing to the left if it went left; as he did this, the resonance grew stronger, and the momentum increased steadily.
Slowly releasing his hands from Radi, he concentrated on the flow of sound and ripples inside himself.
Moving his consciousness so as not to lose momentum, pushing right, pushing left, the resonance continued without weakening.
"Mika-kun?"
Radi called out, but Mika could not reply.
He was focused too much on the resonance and ripples inside himself, so he couldn't hear.
The image of what he was doing under his consciousness right now was like paddling water with his hands.
Like mixing bathwater with his hands.
It didn't have the solid feel of water's resistance, but it was like paddling the bathwater to the right, to the left, interfering with the magic power inside himself.
By doing so, he was able to maintain the resonance without weakening it.
Slowly opening his eyes, he saw Radi looking at him with concern.
Mika, being careful not to let his consciousness scatter, bowed his head to Radi.
"Thank you, Sister Radi. I feel like I've gotten a little clue."
"That's good. But don't do anything too reckless. If it's you, Mika-kun, you'll surely be able to handle magic power even without panicking."
Replying "yes," while being careful not to let his consciousness drift too far outward, Mika moved the magic power inside him to the right and left.
"Be careful on your way home. Handling magic power is very tiring; you might feel dizzy by the time you notice."
"Yes. I'll be careful."
Saying that, Mika left the church.
Seeing Mika's body swaying slowly left and right, Radi wondered if she should walk him home and felt worried.
■■■■■■
On the way back from the church.
As I walked, my consciousness was still directed toward the magic power inside me, moving it right and left.
It felt like the water in an aquarium was swaying greatly.
As the water swayed to the right and then to the left, I moved my consciousness left and right to match it.
The fluctuation of the magic power became stronger and weaker, moving as I wished.
It was no longer ripples, but something like a large swell of water.
"This is magic power..."
The response was still thin as always, but I was able to maintain the fluctuation.
I had no idea how to use this to become a "God's Miracle," but for now, I thought I should practice moving it a bit more.
Thinking that, I walked toward home, but it was still early.
Considering it strange to go straight home, I decided to go for a walk.
Since I hadn't finished exploring the east side of the village yet, I headed straight for the fence on the east side.
On the east side of the village, at the northeast corner, was the textile factory where Amalia and Loretta worked.
The textile factory, which protruded east from the village along the northern river, was quite large up close.
Four buildings stood side by side, with roofs slightly higher than ordinary houses, as wide as a civic gymnasium.
I had seen them when I went to the north gate, but since they were far away, I hadn't paid much attention.
(They call it a textile factory, but the spinning factory is attached too, right?)
Cotton fields lined both sides of the road connecting Rish Village and Kotontesse.
Some areas near the village had vegetable fields, but everything else was cotton fields.
It seems Rish Village was developed for the production of thread and textiles.
Managing the vast cotton fields, Rish Village was sustained by the industries of spinning and cotton weaving.
In fact, it seems almost 100% of Rish Village's working population was engaged in cotton fields or textile factories.
They did not dye anything, delivering "undyed" thread and fabric to the lord, earning a living by receiving wages.
Since livestock farming was hardly done, it seemed they bought everything they needed from Kotontesse.
It seemed like a precarious living and economic foundation, but considering the cultural level of this world, perhaps economic activity itself was still developing.
The current situation of Rish Village, where the lord held all money and supplies, was chilling, but perhaps that was normal in this world.
(One twist of the lord's wrist could make us live or die... There are no options since the roads don't connect to anywhere outside Kotontesse.)
Thinking about my future, I felt a gloomy mood.
Freedom of occupational choice would not exist as long as I was in this village.
At worst, it might be "in this world."
(I really hate a complete hereditary system.)
While moving the magic power inside me, I pondered what to do.
Then, a man came out of one of the textile factory buildings.
He seemed to be heading to the next building, but upon noticing Mika, he put down the box he was carrying and came toward Mika.
The man was short but sturdy, with a figure somewhat reminiscent of a barrel.
Mika approached the man he recognized.
"Oh, isn't this Mika-kun? What are you doing here? Do you have something for your mother?"
"Hello, Horatio-san. Thank you for helping me the other day."
Bowing politely, Horatio looked at Mika with surprise.
Horatio was an acquaintance from before the swap.
As the person in charge of Amalia and Loretta's workplace, they had met many times before, and he sometimes gave them sweets.
(...It's no exaggeration to say I was saved thanks to this person's judgment back then.)
It was Horatio who discovered Mika collapsed from heatstroke and protected him.
But it wasn't a simple story of being saved because he was protected.
The place where Mika collapsed was the road connecting Rish Village and Kotontesse, but the location was overwhelmingly closer to Kotontesse.
And Kotontesse also had a church and users of "God's Miracle."
However, Horatio immediately decided to treat Mika in Rish Village.
The reason was simple: money.
Normally, "Heal" via "God's Miracle" was paid.
Although the nominal purpose was a donation, there was a high possibility that "Heal" would not be performed without a donation.
And naturally, the required donation amount increased with the severity of the illness or injury.
Considering the risk of being refused "Heal" if a donation wasn't paid on the spot, Horatio decided to return to Rish Village without hesitation.
If it were Radi, she would absolutely never abandon a village child.
Knowing this, he judged that returning to Rish Village, even though it was far, was more reliable than going to the nearby Kotontesse.
I had met Radi many times since being helped, but I hadn't met Horatio yet.
Basically, Horatio was stationed at the factory, so there were no opportunities to meet.
"You've become quite polite in just a short time. I'm surprised, old man."
Saying it with admiration, Horatio laughed, "Ha ha ha."
Despite looking like he could beat a bull to death, Horatio, who liked children, was popular with them too.
I often saw him playing with the children during village festivals like the Harvest Festival, squeezing time out of his busy schedule.
Of course, children meeting him for the first time invariably cried at his appearance.
Of course, the former boy Mika was included among those children.
Horatio lightly confirmed Mika's appearance and muttered, "You seem much better now."
"I was really surprised back then. I thought your heart had stopped."
"...I'm sorry."
Mika apologized honestly.
Without this person, he would have truly lost his life.
"It's good that you're healthy, but it's not good to worry your mother and sister too much."
Mika replied "yes..." and hung his head.
Loretta had explained what happened back then, and he knew how much worry and trouble he had caused everyone.
"So, what are you doing today? If you have something for your mother, I can call her."
"I'm fine. I'm just taking a walk."
"Oh, is that so? Well, if anything happens, tell me immediately. I'll call her."
Saying that, Horatio turned to go back, but stopped and made a slightly suspicious face.
Staring intently at Mika, he suddenly lifted him up.
"Eh?"
"Still not feeling well, it seems. Rest a little while."
"Wait... why?"
"Don't you know yourself? You're a bit unsteady. I can't just send you home in that state."
Saying that, Horatio carried Mika into one of the buildings.
Walking briskly down the hallway, they entered a large room.
It looked less like a break room and more like a staff cafeteria.
There was a long counter, and behind it, several women were busily preparing lunch.
More than ten tables were lined up in the cafeteria, and there were several long benches in the corner of the room.
Sitting on one of those long benches, an old woman who was wiping the table spoke up.
"My, my, Factory Manager. What's wrong? Is that child... Mika-kun? Is something the matter?"
"He didn't seem to be in good shape, so let him rest a bit."
"Oh my, oh my. Just a moment."
Saying that, the old woman brought a glass of water.
When she said, "Just watch him for a moment," Horatio went somewhere.
Mika, who had no idea he was feeling unwell, found this treatment unbearable.
"Um... I'm fine, really."
"Hush, hush, hush. Children shouldn't be so reserved."
Saying that while taking the glass, it didn't get through to the old woman at all.
The old woman's warm, watching gaze made him want to escape even more, but he couldn't actually move.
Worrying about what to do, he drank a sip of the water in the glass anyway.
Directing his consciousness inward to search for the magic fluctuation, it had weakened slightly.
Surprised by the sudden event, he had completely forgotten about the magic.
Concentrating again and swaying it right and left, the magic fluctuation returned to normal immediately.
"Mika!"
While killing time by swaying the magic for a while, Amalia came into the cafeteria.
It seemed Amalia had rushed over, as she was slightly out of breath.
(Hey, Horatio-san! Did you even call Amalia!?)
Calling a parent who was working, how exaggerated was he being?
Interpreting Mika's dejected appearance as being due to poor health, Amalia's worry seemed to be nearly at MAX.
Horatio also returned and started consulting about "walking him home," "going to the church," or "having Radi use God's Miracle."
"Wait, wait! Don't worry like that! I'm fine! Really, nothing is wrong!"
"There's no way it's nothing. You're so unsteady."
".................................................... Unsteady?"
He was bewildered.
Now that he thought about it, Horatio had said something like that just now.
As he wondered what it meant, he realized his own body was swaying.
When he moved the magic power to the right, his body moved to the right along with it; when he moved it to the left, his body moved to the left.
(Guh!? When I swayed the magic, my body was swaying unconsciously!?)
At such a ridiculous reason, Mika became embarrassed and his face turned red.
"See, you're turning red like that. You should really let Sister Radi check you out—-"
"Really! Really nothing at all! Um..."
He had to come up with an excuse.
But what to say?
Honestly speaking felt somehow embarrassing, and the words that slipped out were—-
"I have a bit of muscle pain, and I'm just restless..."
"Eh?"
"Huh?"
Amalia and Horatio stared with blank expressions.
For some reason, only the old woman was smiling.
The awkwardness of the excuse that had involuntarily come out made him feel even more embarrassed.
Plus, it sounded a bit like an old man's excuse.
Seeing the blushing Mika, Horatio also made a slightly troubled face.
"Ahh... um, well. So, it was my misunderstanding. ...Sorry, I made a big deal out of nothing."
Horatio had already heard that Mika was fine, but since there had been an incident a week ago, he seemed to have panicked in case something was wrong.
Even if it was a premature conclusion, Horatio, who thought so seriously about the village children, was truly a kind person.
"I'm the one who should say... sorry."
Amalia, as if relieved from the bottom of her heart, let out a long sigh and gently hugged Mika.
"Really... don't make me worry so much."
"I'm sorry."
Feeling even more embarrassed, he felt like he wanted to crawl into a hole.
Amalia seemed to have been agitated by worries like "Mika-kun's condition is strange" and "there was the incident before."
Realizing it wasn't a big deal, she truly sighed with relief.
"Yes, yes. Since we know nothing is wrong. Come on, work, work."
Clapping her hands and changing the atmosphere was the old woman who had been smiling.
Horatio was pushed on the back by the old woman and went back to work, while Amalia saw Mika off to the exit.
"Stay quiet at home today, okay?"
Being told that by Amalia, Mika decided to go home, thinking well, it can't be helped.
Even though it wasn't intentional, he had caused a commotion, so his mood was like a minor house arrest.
Since he was going home anyway, he walked a little out of his way along the village fence.
The east side of the village was no different from the west side; there was nothing special.
There were just houses scattered sparsely over a wide area.
Like the west side, there was a forest beyond the fence on the east side.
"...It's strange, isn't it."
He had looked around the village, but there was something that didn't sit right.
The village was too large.
Rish Village had over 200 residents, but the village area was too vast for that.
Even with one-third of the current area, or one-fifth excluding the textile factory, it seemed enough to secure area per household.
Moreover, despite having such a large area, the vegetable fields were outside the village.
The houses were not gathered in a certain range but distributed throughout the entire village enclosed by the fence.
It was far too inefficient.
Although the village was completely surrounded by a fence, that alone must have required considerable labor.
If the village area were one-fifth of the current size, that labor could have been reduced.
He couldn't understand at all what they were thinking to design it this way.
Rish Village was developed with considerable labor, but it didn't seem to have "something" to match it.
Apart from the textile factory, it was truly a village with nothing.
"...Did they really not think about anything?"
He didn't know local history, so he didn't know when the village was developed, but it might have been started with a very unplanned whim.
With nothing here, the prediction that it was a village developed for thread and weaving was probably correct.
They started with big plans, but settlers didn't gather as expected, leaving them with useless land.
The fact that the textile factory protruded from the village was to secure the village area.
Maybe they planned to build more than the current four buildings.
He didn't know if it was the current lord or a previous one, but their domestic management skills seemed quite sloppy.
Well, even so, it was praiseworthy that they managed to avoid collapse somehow.
Whether that was due to the lord or the effort of someone else, he didn't know.
"Well then, let's start practicing properly."
After observing the village for about 20 minutes and returning home, Mika sat in his usual seat.
Closing his eyes and concentrating his consciousness, he moved the magic power inside him.
...While being careful not to move his body.