Chapter 208 - Chapter Twelve: The Magic Textbook
=== CHAPTER 208 ===
The children were called and sat in chairs lined up. The parents who came along were waiting right behind them. Since Emily-sensei was leading them, they weren't particularly scared and were calm.
The parents were all smiles, hearing that they could receive a magic lesson from a hero before receiving their revelation. Moreover, it's free.
The round of self-introductions ended. All of their parents can use magic. The children themselves are full of motivation to learn.
According to Eleanor-sama's investigation, few children who received their first revelation this week learned magic; numerically, it wouldn't be strange if all four of them learned it.
First, we asked what kind of magic they wanted to learn. The two girls wanted water magic, which is popular among girls. Of the boys, one wanted [Holy], and the other wanted [Fire Ball].
Next, we asked for the reasons. One of the girls' families is a farm, so she wants [Water]. She usually helps with fetching water, but if she could use magic, she'd only need a bucket. She has a craving.
The other is a merchant's child who likes beautiful flowers and wants to water the flowerbeds in the garden, so she also wants [Water]. As a craving, it's a bit weak.
The goals of the two boys were clear. They want to become strong.
Both are small, so they probably can't match larger kids in strength. However, if they learn magic, they can turn the tables.
The boy who wants to learn [Fire Ball] is from a bathhouse family, and his father is also in the vigilante corps. It's like a combination with the family business. It's not a craving, but the goal is clear.
The boy who wants to learn [Holy] naturally aspires to be a priest. Wanting to learn it is his parents' intention; they want him to become an acolyte in a state where he has learned [Holy] so he can protect himself if possible. No particular craving for [Holy] is felt from the boy himself, and his goal for learning magic is also unclear. If he wants to be strong, there's also staff techniques.
The third question was: what was the most impressive experience of seeing someone use magic?
Respectively, they were: when the mother next door easily filled a bucket with water; the memory of the mother starting a fire in the hearth when they first saw magic; the moment the father put fire into the boiler; and the moment Angelica-san made an earth dragon during a past exercise and received a great cheer.
"Oh," Angelica-san said with a grin, and the boy turned red and was fidgeting.
For someone aspiring to be a priest, doesn't he have too many worldly thoughts?
Fidgety-kun aside, there are two who match. Of them, one has a daily craving.
Originally, only about one in ten can learn it. There's a possibility of total failure. However, at least one might learn it.
"Now, let's actually try using magic."
From here on, it became a practical demonstration outdoors. Since it's better to be in a place with no people, the two girls went to the old Lyudmila Agricultural Testing Ground, which has become a clover cultivation site, with Eleanor-sama, Mary, and Lyudmila for the demonstration.
One boy watched the scene of starting a fire in the boiler at the Ghost Mansion, and after that, both of them watched the actual process of exterminating mice in one hole.
When that was over, we had them imagine themselves using it, and then they went to the oracle master.
"How do you think it will turn out?"
After seeing off the children, Beatrix immediately asked.
"The farm child and the bathhouse child seem like they'll be fine, though."
As expected, the garden-watering child and the priest-aspiring child didn't match the image.
"I think the priest-aspiring child will learn it."
It was the Headmistress.
"Is that so?"
"Because he aspires to be a priest, right? He has a clear image of his future. Even if [Holy] is no good, he might learn [Heal]."
I see. That might be a point.
"For me, it's the farm child. I felt a strong will to learn magic. That's how it must be."
It's Eleanor-sama. This part of her is like a former Magic Corps commander. Her way of thinking is like a soldier.
The genius, representing the opposite view, started saying something different.
"But the child who waters the garden was the only one trying to learn magic for someone other than themselves. I think the Goddess will listen, though."
A new perspective. Come to think of it, Mary has always learned magic while thinking only about improving the brothel.
"I'd like to agree with that thought."
It's Harris-sama. Mary gave him a smile.
"The first thing I learned was [Holy]. But as I continued monster extermination, there were naturally many times I had to heal my allies, and as a result, I learned high-level magic as if forced by that necessity. At that time, I felt like I understood the essence of the Goddess's teachings."
"Around the time you became like a priest."
The Headmistress's eyes were drifting in the air. She must be remembering.
It seems Harris-sama was famous back when he had a menacing air.
"It's quite embarrassing. When I was allowed to fight alongside Roberts-sama and Bishop Harrison, I was struck by the strength of those who fight to protect something. Since then, I have been admonishing myself against fighting for my own sake."
"No need to worry about it. Those two are special. But isn't it good that you were able to become a good priest?"
Harris-sama bowed deeply to the specially-made Headmistress.
"What was the trigger for everyone in the Class of 175 to learn magic?"
Taking this opportunity, Eleanor-sama asked.
Mary was to provide water for her older sisters. Lyudmila apparently watched her grandmother doing open burning because it was interesting and she watched it all the time. She only became interested in agriculture after coming to the orphanage; when she tried doing what her grandmother taught her, she was praised for everything, so it became interesting.
"As for me, you know, I was called a genius girl?"
Beatrix learned four types of elemental magic simultaneously.
At that time, there was a stir in town that she was a future hero. After that, she entered the Marcelo Company as an apprentice and didn't receive a revelation until she became a monster hunter.
"For me, anyway, I just wanted to learn magic. It was like proof of my reason for existence. Well, I think it's a special case, though."
Since the story was getting a bit complicated, she seemed to have brushed it off as a special case.
"It was the same for me. It was proof of my own existence."
It's Eleanor-sama. She said something unexpected.
"My family has been a lineage of Magic Corps elites for generations, producing many Magic Corps commanders. The current Magic Corps commander is also my nephew. Since I was trained quite strictly from a young age, I was quite relieved when I learned magic for the first time at the age of ten."
Since she became the Queen, she was in a sense relieved of her family's duties, but instead, she apparently exercised strong authority to carry out major reforms. After all, she's the hero who defeated the Demon Lord. No one could have opposed her.
"It was a youthful indiscretion, so to speak. Thinking about it now, I might have gone too far, but fortunately, I didn't lose a single inch of land in the war with Engrio."
She reminisced with deep emotion. It seems it was also by Eleanor-sama's initiative that everyone became able to receive revelations at the country's expense once they turned ten. Until then, it was at one's own expense, so everyone was scattered. In short, it's the result of prioritizing the efficiency of farm work. Anyway, children are made to help once they turn five or six. If they've learned magic by the age of ten, it's easier. Unintentionally, Beatrix's idea was proven correct in Sertoria.
"Originally, priest magic is for healing and monster extermination, and mage magic is for farm work. It's by no means a tool for war. Beatrix. I think what you're trying to do in Regnentes is correct. But don't forget to always save face for the Lord."
Harris-sama made eye contact with Beatrix.
"Thank you. I'll be careful. I have to work hard and let the Lord earn too."
She was hugged by Eleanor-sama, who told her to work hard.
"How was it for Jeanne?"
Harris-sama asked.
I learned [Holy] and [Heal] at the same time.
In my case, I aimed to become like the Headmistress. As the aliases of Benevolence and Precept-Breaking indicate, she is the best mage, especially regarding holy magic, being ultra-high-level in attack magic in addition to recovery and support magic.
The Headmistress stroked my head in a good mood.
"As expected of Catherine and Jennifer's student. I'm looking forward to what's next."
Eleanor-sama said that, but unfortunately, I've started learning many strange spells, and it seems my path is diverging...
"In your case, take your time. Since you seem to learn magic you feel a necessity for at each moment rather than magic you want to learn, anyway, do your best with what's in front of you."
According to the Headmistress, I'm apparently the craving type.
After that, Marcelo-san, who wanted to treat a child who got injured while at the orphanage; Paul-san, who was moved when he first saw [Wind Cutter]; Angelica-san, who was taught various things to catch up to her older brother who could already use magic; and Robinson-san, who liked animals and often looked after livestock and dogs, shared their experiences.
Respectively, they were all different: for someone's sake, a vivid image, training. Especially in Robinson-san's case, it's difficult to explain since it's a special magic.
While we were talking about old times, the children came back. The result was two, and they were the two girls. The two boys were disappointed, but it's generally said that girls learn magic faster. It's said in the world that it's because they have superior imagination compared to boys, who are theory-centered. Of course, it's not that boys don't learn it. That's because there's a comeback. If they receive it twice or three times, boys overwhelmingly learn it. It's not well understood what this difference is.
This time, both the children and the parents seemed to know that, and they were cheering up, saying they'd try their best next time. From next time it's paid, but Eleanor-sama said it was a reward for cooperating and gave each family one gold coin.
After the children went home, we continued the reflection meeting.
"First, interest in magic. The desire to learn and the confidence that you can learn. A vivid image and concentration. Next, craving. And using magic not just for yourself. Catherine, anything else?"
Eleanor-sama and the Headmistress began to summarize. It would be the first stage of the textbook Harris-sama is making.
"That's right. After that is the person's own personality. The four in the Class of 175 all have different personalities, ways of thinking, and triggers for learning. So, it might be better not to force them into a mold."
She made a quite difficult demand. Everyone must be different.
"Hmm. It would be good if the instructor could see through it well..."
"It's easy. Just let them choose for themselves. If they try something and it doesn't work, let them choose another method. Any method, if it suits the person, they can continue training. Some children learn without training, but for those who want to learn, training is the shortcut. That's what the textbook is for, right?"
"It's as you say. Then, let's summarize it so they practice all the training methods at first, and for suitability... no, it might be likes and dislikes, but let the person choose that. However, let them practice creating a clear image and mental concentration as essentials."
It seems it will work out somehow. There's no harm in doing image and concentration. It would just be the difference between trying to do it intentionally or it happening naturally.
"Come to think of it, how did the Headmistress learn magic?"
As Beatrix said, we hadn't heard.
"Me? I learned it naturally while fighting foxes and boars that attacked livestock and ravaged fields in the village where I was born, using a wooden stick. Just like Jeanne, it was [Holy] and [Heal]. That's why I became a priest. That's right, I guess it's the feeling of how Matilda learned magic."
Matilda hasn't learned magic. She herself doesn't even care about it.
Eleanor-sama looked away, and Harris-sama stopped recording and looked down.
It seems there's an exception to everything.
"Harris. Organize what happened this time and submit it as a report. Then, deliver a copy to the Class of 175."
"Understood. Is it alright to deliver it to the Class of 175 through Bishop Kevin of the Nakanohara Great Church?"
"I don't mind."
Eh? I unintentionally exchanged glances with Beatrix.
"Beatrix. Please use it as a reference when instructing children in Regnentes. And if possible, could you summarize the results and contact Bishop Kevin of the Nakanohara Great Church? I want you to cooperate with the work of creating the textbook for learning magic that I've requested from Harris."
"Sure. Exchange of information is welcome. Can I tell the Lord about that?"
"Once it arrives from Harris, you may hand it over. I'll contact you later regarding the timing. At this stage, you may speak that far. We are allied countries, after all."
With this, she's gained a powerful backer.
Beatrix is also bowing happily.
Next week, the first group will move in. It seems the Lord will hold an opening ceremony for the village. I'm looking forward to it.
At night, Beatrix came to my room. She must be worried about the village.
"I wonder if the children who move in will learn magic?"
She's the one who called them, and now this.
"Who knows. I don't know. But you know, just the Bishop teaching them reading, writing, and arithmetic will make a big difference."
That's not all. There's the farmland development plan based on Flora's inspection results, the wheat variety with a high grain count developed in Sertoria, and Lyudmila is eager to immediately test the results of the agricultural testing ground in practice. They are going to introduce things that are different from the previous ways.
It's not just magic.
"That's true. But the children who move in all come thinking they can learn magic. It would be pitiful for the children who can't learn it."
That's certainly true. We didn't say they could learn it, but we did say we'd educate them. That said, if we say there's a high possibility they can't learn it, everyone will go into resignation mode. That would be meaningless.
"If even one person learns it, that's good, but that child will end up going to the upper village as soon as they become an adult."
This can't be resolved. The system of Regnentes must be followed. I've thought of countermeasures for now, but a status difference will emerge in a few years at the earliest. This isn't the form of the village Beatrix desires.
"As Harris-sama said, now the goal is for the villagers to live better lives than before and be able to eat their fill, right? Even if a status difference emerges, if their lives become prosperous and they can save money, there's a possibility they can become free farmers. If everyone works hard together to increase production efficiency, it will become a little more prosperous. Let's work hard for three years first. It'll be fine. We'll manage somehow. It'll be fine."
When I hugged her, she clung to me.
"That's right. I shouldn't become weak-willed. Sorry."
"That's right. The landowner has to pull them along."
"I understand. I'll work hard."
"I'll help. Let's work hard together."