Chapter 13 (2/2)

“With you so far.”

“However, there is a problem. Thing is, there hasn’t been any news of large-scale anki armies or nests within the last 10 years. As a result, there are those in the Council and Knight Order who have grown to think lightly of their duty to eliminate anki.”

“Well, it's a fact that a large-scale anki army did appear……”

“Question is, will they believe that?”

So said Sedam unpleasantly. Claura is nodding in agreement with a sour look on her face.

“Eh? But, I mean……”

“You planning on saying something like ‘There was a huge army of anki, but a meteor fell and wiped them all out’? Who would believe that?”

“Ahh, so that’s what you meant.”

I’d forgotten, but this is not modern-day j.a.pan. The fact of the anki army’s appearance is now nothing more than information that hasn’t even been reported yet. Evidence that the army had even existed and that I’d dropped a meteor on it can only be found back at the site. Things would be altogether different if the army did manage to reach Yuule or someone from the Knight Order had witnessed it firsthand……

“We do have a certain amount of trust from the Knight Order and the Council. However, they won’t believe this story. And even if they do, there is a high chance that they will look at the situation too lightly and not take the necessary countermeasures in time.”

Unnn…… this kind of thing happens a lot in j.a.pan too……

Ah.

If that’s the case…… ah, a lightbulb just went off inside my head as I realized what he is getting at.

“Then I simply have to drop another meteor and prove that I really do possess the power to wipe out an entire army—is that what you want to say?”

“Our conversation from a while back was already alluding to this.”

…… I see. Whether or not this incident is believed hinges on whether or not the existence of an irregular such as myself is believed. Furthermore, if I am thought of as a dangerous (or perhaps unreliable) person with the power to annihilate an army of anki, then all is lost. That’s where the “act like a hero” advice ties in.

“Uumu……”

I understand what Sedam is saying. My own thinking was far too lenient. Even in regards to destroying the anki nest, I was just thinking that I could tag along with Sedam’s party and secretly use a spell or two when needed.

♥♦♣♠

After becoming employed, I have lived through twenty years of the stormy waves within my company.

Going off of my experience from those years, this conversation is now on the creation of a ‘persona.’ And I’m not referring to that power that you discover upon absorbing your shadow and whatnot. No, I am talking about ‘bringing out the part of myself relevant to the role a.s.signed to me.’ Up until a few days ago, I had been wearing the persona of ‘a veteran company employee with 20 years of continuous service.’ When off the clock, I was ‘a gentle middle-aged guy who loves gaming.’ What persona should I adopt in which situations? Having the discernment to answer this question correctly can almost be said to be the deciding factor between good and bad company employees.

“That might be the reason why I have been feeling flighty and unsettled ever since coming over here……”

I murmured to myself while looking up at the ceiling. Indeed, after opening my eyes and finding myself in a jail cell, I’ve been my bare self the entire time, without a single persona to put on. In other words, I was without a foundation upon which to base my existence.

“I understand fully now.” (Gio)

“Very relieved to hear that.” (Sedam

“Do you really, fully understand?” (Claura)

“...... For now, I’ll work at acting more the part of ‘a great wizard.’ Me saying this about myself is a bit, you know, but it’s the truth after all. However, whether I’m a hero or not is a completely different question. ‘Hero’ is a t.i.tle that can only be granted by other people, right?”

Well, I’ve already been given this power, so there’s no helping it. Let’s put on that exaggerated mask of ‘a great wizard.’ But still, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I have to give up my dream of a laid-back early retirement life.

“For now, please do that.” (Sedam)

“...... Well, that should be enough at this point in time.” (Claura)

It appears that I have successfully managed to appease both Sedam and Claura for the moment.

♥♦♣♠

First of all, we need to go to White Sword Castle, the base of the Carbanera Knight Order.

It fell to Sedam, Claura, Torad, and I to borrow horses and make the urgent trip.

But as usual, while everyone is busy going around making all the necessary preparations, I alone have nothing at all to do. Seeing that, Claura comes over to talk to me.

“Do you have some time to spare?”

“Ah, but of course.”

This is most likely about the magic vs wizardry thing from before. Something about blowing apart the Magician Guild……?

“It would be more appropriate to put on more airs when you speak, ‘oh great wizard.’”

“...... Ahh, I don’t mind.”

Doesn’t hurt to put her precious advice into practice. But rather than putting on airs, I enter my ‘when a new employee wants to ask me a question’ mode.

“That's not bad at all.”

Claura laughs a little. This might be the first time that she’s shown me her natural laughing face.

“So, what is it that you wish to ask?”

At the company, “what do you want to ask” would have sufficed, but I’m ad-libbing here.

“There is a lot, actually, but we are in a state of emergency right now, so I’ll limit it to one.”

She looks straight into my eyes, and quietly poses her question.

“It has been 200 years since the first magical academy headmaster founded the academy. Magic, as a system, has been developed and built upon from generation to generation, all the way down through the ages, uninterrupted. I, too, have devoted much time and effort to reach where I currently am. However, the combined might of the entire Magician Guild probably is still no match for your ‘wizardry.’ So my question is, is ‘wizardry’ something that only you alone have been blessed with? Or perhaps——”

Her voice cracks up. When she continues, it is in a shaky voice like that of a child who has just heard a frightening rumor.

“Is it a set of techniques that can be learned and acquired by other people?”

“............”

It’s just a bunch of settings that my friend and I made up because it used to be a game.

I can’t bring myself to tell her that, though.

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