Chapter 218 - Chapter Twenty-Two: Farewell Party
=== CHAPTER 218 ===
On the day before the departure ceremony in the Royal Capital, they held a send-off party for us in Regnentes village.
Those who participated were: the Lord, the Bishop, the lumberjacks, the guard unit, five bandits from the border guard, and the villagers.
On our side, there was Paul-san, the landowner Beatrix, and Lyudmila, who had worked hard tilling the fields. Mary, who acts as a broker for medicinal herbs, told me she'd do anything for me when I gave her the male flower stone. There were also Dune, Mel, Flora, Fiona, and the Chururi couple. And me, wearing my ritual vestments.
The food was, of course, cheese hotpot. Since we haven't even planted wheat yet, it was rye bread, but it was delicious enough.
We toasted with the fizzy cider given to us by the Dryad. The children toasted with diluted honey mixed with crushed strawberries.
"Make sure you come back safely. We've only planted clover in the fields of this village so far. No, of course, I believe in you, but without you all, no one will know what to do."
Starting with the Lord, all the adults looked anxious. However, there were still no villagers who would raise their heads and look Beatrix directly in the eye.
After all, the closest thing they have to agriculture is letting goats eat the weeds. Five more households are coming in the summer. Right now, they are in the middle of building houses for the current five households every day.
"It'll be fine since the three heroes are with us. It's a feint, so if there's someone strong, we'll just run back. Well, we can't come next week, but we can come the week after."
By the middle of May, the clover will have increased quite a bit.
According to Lyudmila, they plan to till ten more plots and sow turnip seeds by autumn, so it'll be fine as long as they cut the grass and burn it by then.
"If things go well, after we harvest the clover seeds from the first ten plots, we can sow wheat seeds in the autumn. Do you have seeds?"
Since there are five households, it'll be fine as long as there are two plots' worth per household. That would be about two hemp bags per household.
"We have half a bag per household," they said timidly. Since they can't use magic, their cultivated area is small, and it seems half a plot for tax wheat was the best they could do.
"Then let's use that for next year's bread. We've prepared ten bags here, but since it's a new variety with a high grain count, let's all work hard to use it for seeds and bread. After that, we can just use it as a seedbed for clover."
The villagers buzzed at Lyudmila's words.
"Um, what about oats and rye..."
"We'll use them for fodder. There are plenty of places where weeds are growing, so let's plant them with clover next year."
"We're not going to eat them?"
"You can eat them. But wheat is tastier."
"Um, how much of a harvest is the Chief expecting?"
Lyudmila is called "Chief" here too.
"I'd like at least five bags per plot."
"S-so many?"
"In the experiments in the Sertoria Royal Capital area, they used a lot of fertilizer, so it seems they had more, but this is only the first year."
Unless the conditions are exceptionally favorable, it's usually about four bags. Even so, it's apparently better than it used to be.
It's a rough estimate, but assuming one and a half plots for wheat per household, with two bags left over after keeping seeds, and an expected harvest of two bags from what the villagers brought, a total of three or four bags of wheat per household will become bread as next year's autumn harvest. If one person eats a little over three bags a year, a family of four would be able to eat wheat bread for roughly one meal a day.
"Can such a thing really..."
"It depends on the weather, so I can't make promises, but it's a plan, not just a goal."
They were skeptical, but their smiles clearly won out. After all, we are a group of magic users. In fact, we have almost all the intermediate magic necessary for agriculture. Since we also have Mary, an advanced mage, if we put her to work, at least the time for watering will be halved.
"Um, is the Chief also going on the Demon Lord subjugation with the Landowner?"
When she said she was going, they clung to her, crying for her not to go, which made things quite difficult.
Dune's fluffy flight, Mel's bubble sightseeing flight, Paul-san's bowl, and Lyudmila and Mary's double rainbow passing. As the Lord and the other adults watched the children playing their hearts out with wide eyes, a report of a monster appearing came in from the bandits who were acting as lookouts.
"A bear has come. Just one."
The Bishop and the lumberjacks stood up. The guard unit took up their shields and spears. The Jaegers climbed onto the roof with their bows. What a reckless bear.
"Mary. This is your first actual combat deployment. Go for it."
Glacio is overkill for a single bear, but water magic is very popular. It'll be perfect for education.
"Is it okay? Taking the Landowner's spotlight?"
"It's fine. You don't have to worry about me. Show them the difference in class."
"Okay."
Mary stood up and told the children to watch their big sister's magic closely.
The bear approached slowly. It was dragging its right hind leg. It seemed to be wounded. Did a Sertorian hunter mess up? In that case, it's better to put it out of its misery quickly for everyone's sake.
In contrast, Mary walked toward the bear while chanting. A slight tension could be heard in her voice, but she wasn't panicking.
She was originally gentle and soft, but before I knew it, she had acquired the composure and dignity of an advanced mage. Her presence closely resembled her late mother, who was an excellent priestess.
The bear stood up. When it let out a roar of intimidation with both paws raised, the children clung to the parents around them.
Mary thrust her right hand forward.
"Glacio!"
It was a perfect hit.
A beautiful mountain of ice, shaped like an overturned bowl the size of a house, was formed, and the bear's pain was removed.
The children, and the adults too, raised a cheer.
For some reason, Mary just stood there in front of the ice.
Since she seemed strange, I went to see her, and she was crying.
"I'm sorry. When I cast it with the feeling that I had to protect the children, for some reason, I remembered my mother."
I'm sure her mother was watching over her daughter's fine moment.
I was present at Mary's mother's deathbed along with the Headmistress. Like Mary walking slowly toward the bear, she had been undaunted and calm even in the face of death.
"When you were chanting the magic, Mary, you looked just like your mother."
When I said that and hugged her, she leaned her forehead against my shoulder and said, "Thank you."
Mary cheered up, the bear was successfully defeated, and she was welcomed with a round of applause.
Around Mary and Dune, a group of girls who wanted to learn water magic had formed. Furthermore, around Mel, a group of boys had formed as if in competition. It seems humans love factions.
By the way, the young men of the guard unit were standing behind the water faction and gazing at Mary, but this likely has a different meaning.
Well, it's fine. It would be unbalanced with just water. For now, wind is dominant at about two to one. This is because there are twice as many boys as girls. Eventually, some of the boys should switch to earth or holy magic.
Dune called me over, so when I went to see, she pointed to one of the children.
It was the oldest girl, thirteen years old. Since the other children were all ten or younger, she naturally seemed to be looking after those around her.
"She'll learn water magic. I don't know how far her grade will rise, but she seems to have been inspired by Mary's magic just now."
As expected of the Four Great Spirits. They can tell.
"Water is inspiration. But if we don't hurry, idle thoughts might arise."
This won't do. The sooner, the better.
I hurriedly called the Lord to the side and explained the situation.
"Is it urgent?"
"Water is inherently individualistic. But that girl is looking after the children around her, so idle thoughts might arise. The sooner, the better. Now is the certain time."
"But there is no Ordainer in my territory."
There is a small shrine, so they apparently have one visit once a year. It's said to be at the end of summer. We can't wait that long.
If we're in a hurry, the bowl is faster, but Paul-san is only of a status for the managed lands, and after all, he's a foreigner. Apparently, he has to pass through a checkpoint to enter other territories. No one in the Class of 175, who have the right of free passage, uses Wind Barrier. Furthermore, if a serf leaves the village, they'll be interrogated everywhere they go, which becomes a nuisance.
"Then, hey. Let's make that girl a clerk for the Class of 175's second shop. The one in charge of managing the medicinal herbs that Mary brokers."
She just needs to go to Nakanohara. As long as she crosses the border checkpoint, there's no problem. Since it's not even noon yet, she should make it in time for the afternoon ordination.
At Beatrix's nice suggestion, the Lord also gave his OK. Of course, the fact that she is a serf doesn't change, so the Lord's prior approval is necessary to leave the village, but the Lord in question is right here.
Immediately, parchment was brought, Beatrix wrote the clerk's contract, and the Lord made the travel document. A Jaeger immediately issued the permit. The girl herself, who was bewildered, couldn't read or write, but she could write her own name clearly.
We had Paul-san make a bowl, and it was decided they would fly immediately. Mary would go along too, so as not to break the image of water.
After everyone saw them off while Dune sent water orbs flying, we decided to move to the shrine and pray.
On the way, Mary would likely talk to her about the image of water magic.
When I asked her parents about her personality, they said that while she is calm, she is by no means quiet. As the oldest sister among the children, she is good at looking after them, but she likes to ponder various things, and it seems she had said that if she learned magic in this village and life became easier, she wanted to save money, buy land, become a free farmer, and go to the Regnentes Royal Capital with her whole family.
"She liked fairy tales and studied reading and writing diligently. She was bad at calculation, but she was forming the image of the water magic you all showed her quite well. She also liked to draw pictures."
The pictures the Bishop showed me were of living things like flowers and birds, and scenes from fairy tales drawn from her imagination. The princess's dress was quite elaborate.
"She's somewhat like Mary. She's settled and calm, but she's whimsical and acts on impulse. she only thinks about fun things and forgets unpleasant things immediately. Despite that, she's surprisingly stubborn and single-minded."
"Exactly like water."
Dune nodded at Beatrix's words.
"Is that so? Even she's quite scary when she gets angry. She definitely gets her revenge."
"Exactly like water," Mel nodded this time.
The spirits were giggling among themselves.
"What about wind? Is there anyone who looks like they'll learn magic?"
Dune was asking, but unfortunately, it seemed there was no one. Wind wasn't very popular to begin with. This is because their own work takes priority.
"Do you know people suited for wind magic? They don't have to be children."
According to Mel, wind has the fastest mental rotation among the Four Great Elements.
When Beatrix asked, an answer came back immediately.
"The first would be Paul-san."
I thought so.
"Does Bonnie seem like wind too?"
That's an unexpected choice. Normally, she's the most easygoing person. I thought she'd be earth, which seems the most slow-paced.
"She thinks about many things simultaneously, so even if she reaches a conclusion once, it changes midway. The weaknesses of wind are fickleness and indecisiveness. That's why she takes her time when thinking seriously."
Apparently, she jumps on new information when it comes in. Mel said it nonchalantly, as if she didn't think of it as a flaw. Come to think of it, Bonnie didn't mind no matter what the conclusion was. She seems to get along very well with Paul-san, so they must have something in common.
Among the other companions, Beowulf and Lyudmila are earth, Beatrix, Will, and Matilda are fire, and I was told they didn't really know about me.
"Jeanne is the fifth one."
According to Dune, there is a fifth one. It's said to be the first and the fifth of the pentagram.
"You can do anything, but you can do nothing. In short, it's about what you want to become. The First King was like that."
I feel like I was told I had an atmosphere similar to a Dwarf too... I don't really understand.
"Isn't it fine? Jeanne is Jeanne."
Mel and Flora said that for me. If that's how it is, then I suppose it's fine.
Near evening, Paul-san and the others returned. I feel like it took quite a while, but...
The girl, who had been wearing plain commoner's clothes, was now wearing marble-dyed clothes with light blue as the main color.
Which means...
"She successfully became a mage. She learned Water."
At Paul-san's words, a great cheer rose from the villagers. The person crying and hugging the bashful girl must be her mother.
After receiving the ordination, they went to the Ghost Mansion, learned the chant while being guided by Mary, and she apparently became able to actually produce water with magic.
"Can results come this quickly?"
The Lord shook his head from side to side, unable to believe it.
"This time was special."
According to Dune, while she was already forming the image of water magic on a daily basis, she was shocked by the Glacio she saw for the first time.
"Water is inspiration. You heighten the image instantaneously and release it all at once. When Mary released her magic, I saw various images. She released the magic as if condensing all her thoughts until then. That Glacio was a masterpiece of the highest perfection that might never be done again. Inspired by that special Glacio, the image of magic activation was properly organized within that girl. I'm sure she'll get along with Mary."
She became proactive toward magic as if inspired by Gladys-sama, who fought monsters with a spear. But it was all for the sake of the brothel, and she didn't think of herself. The thoughts of her mother, who loved peace, tranquility, and above all Mary as an excellent priestess, were likely passed down beautifully.
"She was aware of being the oldest among the children and worked hard for the village, and she also actively engaged in training on a daily basis. Since she always seemed to think of something for a moment before drawing water, she might have been practicing heightening her image at every opportunity."
From what I heard from the Bishop, she might be completely the Mary type.
"I'm making this girl my disciple."
Even though she had only just become an advanced mage, she had already brought a disciple. Mary had apparently given her the clothes as a present too.
"She seems interested in medicinal herbs too, and above all, the way she forms her magic images is just like mine. Her goal is good too. She wants to lead a fun life with her family."
Her strong longing for the city is the same, her lack of desire for promotion is the same, and above all, her love for family and peace is the same. It's like Mary, an only child, got a younger sister.
"I'll report to Harris-san immediately. I'll tell him that for the Mary type, we should put someone skilled in water magic as an instructor and prioritize raising them."
"If you'll just pay the expenses, I can be a teacher in the Royal Capital once a month."
When Beatrix said that, Mary bit.
"You just want to go to the Royal Capital, don't you?"
"You caught me?"
She's quite calculating. Even so, Beatrix said, "I'll tell them the teacher candidate is Mary," so Mary hugged her.
Now, as for the girl who learned magic herself, it seems she wants to learn Freeze next. Since intermediate magic is impossible all of a sudden, she'll receive an ordination when she turns fourteen. Until then, she'll be in charge of drawing water and distributing it to the households.
"Wait a minute. Water for five households? Her body won't hold out."
Beatrix called a halt. For a single beginner spell user, five or six times a day is the limit.
In fact, because she had been pestered by everyone to show them her magic and had filled many buckets, she was exhausted. It would be impossible for her to do any more today.
Furthermore, the magic of villagers must be placed under the management of the village as corvée labor and reflected in the taxes.
When I asked the Lord, he hadn't thought of anything yet. It's no wonder. Not even a month has passed since the village opened.
"It's simple. She'll be in charge of watering the livestock. Normally you let them drink from the river or pond, right? So, she just needs to draw water into the troughs in the evening when they return from grazing. Let's see, three times' worth. Other than that, she mustn't use it except in emergencies."
The children were visibly disappointed at Mary's words, but if they want to take it easy, they have no choice but to learn magic themselves.
Besides, goat cheese helps with the taxes. The Lord also agreed.
"If we build a two-story stone water tank and run pipes from there, it'll become a water supply. Let's all work hard to increase the harvest and save up everyone's money to build a water system once we're wealthy enough to pay plenty of taxes."
A mage emerged from the village less than a month after its opening. The villagers, who had witnessed this miracle-like event, responded to Beatrix's words with applause and toasted once more.
Seen off by everyone, we returned riding in Paul-san's bowl.
The sun had completely set, and it was now night. It was a half-moon, so it wasn't pitch black, but since we were flying over the forest, I couldn't tell where we were.
"But it was good, wasn't it? One person learned it."
It was said to be one in fifty, but one has already learned it. I'm sure Beatrix is happy too.
"That's right. But there are twelve children. We need to have at least one or two more learn it."
She's greedy to the end. If that many learn it, the world will change.
"Who was it that interviewed the children?"
Come to think of it, that's right. Three super-advanced mages had chosen them. When they chose the thirteen-year-old girl, I honestly tilted my head, but they might have seen through to her talent after all.
"However, you all are quite carefree. Tomorrow is finally the departure ceremony."
There's that too. We have to go to the Royal Capital. However, we're just participating. We'll move to the Western Plains and go to the Dryad's Forest in the bowl.
"When did you find out, Paul-san? About Henry-sama and the others' plot."
"Last week. It seems it was after you all."
It seems the three of them plotted it completely.
"Bishop Harris was quite motivated. He said we might even be able to fight against Demon Lord's Army executives, let alone the Demon Lord."
"What was everyone else's reaction?"
Did no one object?
"Angelica was happy. She said it saves the trouble of commuting. After all, once you get to the Jaeger fortress, it's just a hop, skip, and a jump in the bowl. To go from the main route, you have to use Teleport and change carriages. The exploration time would inevitably be limited. That said, the feint is only about two hours at a time, so it's not that long."
There are twenty groups in total for the feint. They depart every two hours, and for every two groups, the main force and the rearguard go out. They avoid the middle of the night when monsters are active, so there are ten groups a day. In other words, the last group will depart on the fifth day. We intend to steal a march during that time.
"But no one is coming after us, right?"
"That's why it seems we'll be divided into several squads. After all, if you include Flora and Fiona, there are twenty-one of us. If we don't go in separate groups with some time in between, we'll cause a traffic jam."
I haven't heard this. I thought we were all going together.
"How will it be?"
"Basically, Bishop Catherine will build a base with a simple magic circle, and Marcelo will connect them with Teleport. If we cover the simple magic circle with Camouflage and Magic Reflection, the monsters won't find it. That way, we can advance while taking turns resting. They've thought it through well."
"How long will it take to connect to the other side?"
"If we walked, it would take a full three days even on a flat, straight line, but since we're going in the bowl, it'll be quick. After that, it depends on how many branches there are."
The results of our training will be tested, but I've only learned a strange spell. I'll just have to do my best as the lighting person.