I thought I would be transferred to the Royal Academy right away… but that didn’t happen.
First reason: It’s vacation time.
The schools in the capital are all on break around the same time, and it’s currently summer break. By the way, both the Royal Academy and the school Victoria attended, the Clockwork Knight Academy, are in the capital.
And the second reason:
To commend those who helped people during the incidents in Bern City, they invited them to the royal castle. Including Victoria and others.
Just giving out awards like this improves public morale, so it’s a win-win for maintaining order, or so they say.
However, it’s annoying that the media is only covering the tragedy and the acts of heroism from those who helped, completely skipping the part about why the incident occurred in the first place, focusing only on individual stories.
In other words, the events in Bern City likely point to something being manipulated or a dire problem that won’t be resolved anytime soon.
As I thought about the possibility of a second incident, I was “delivered” to the royal castle.
Yes, delivery.
On the afternoon the letter arrived, a literal airship hovered above my house. And people dressed in exoskeletons poured down to pull me aboard.
They said they were there to serve me, but considering I had no right to voice a different opinion, it was more or less an act of kidnapping.
I was led to the capital in just one day.
From the airship, I looked down at the royal palace.
The walls painted like wood, decorations and structures made of brass, and windows made from large glass interspersed throughout the building.
Contrastingly, tall spires built from stone with pointed roofs, arches extending in all directions.
Two different styles of architecture harmonized in the vast garden, surrounded by military barracks.
The airship landed at a dock somewhat distant from the castle.
As I descended, I stole a glance at the airship.
It had propellers, but they seemed too small to be lifting such a large vessel. It probably uses a lightweight gas. I thought it would be interesting if it were hydrogen, though I didn’t have time to analyze further, so I followed a man in bulky armor.
By the way, they resembled faded memories of space marines. Apparently, people’s sense of aesthetics doesn’t differ too much after all.
Anyway.
I arrived at a certain place in the palace.
It looked significantly sturdier than other places. A building that minimized aesthetics and maximized practicality.
Just as I thought I was being dragged away to drink some spicy broth through my nose, that didn’t happen.
After passing through several doors, with fewer and fewer people following me until only one remained, I met a tired-looking man.
I recognized him from TV. He is the king of this country.
“Hello.”
Upon greeting, his eyes slightly narrowed. His face was filled with disdain.
But looking at his expression, it felt closer to a fleeting disdain when someone breaches etiquette rather than a personal hatred.
Originally, etiquette is a means for those in higher positions to control those beneath them and to differentiate levels between people.
It’s what we call avitus behavior.
The reason why a suddenly wealthy person is regarded as a nouveau riche is simply because they don’t know the behavior patterns of true wealthy people, thus ending up as moneyed ruffians.
So, it’s natural for one to frown at seeing someone behave inappropriately for their status.
I must seem like such a person to him.
“Are you Bel? The outsider who bestowed the miracle of blessings upon people.”
His speech was strange.
He must have received a report about me, so why does he say it like that?
Or is it some kind of test?
I don’t know much more than reading emotions.
Well, I should do what I was doing. No lies, staying consistent. Just one action.
“I go by the name Bel now.”
It implies that it’s not my real name.
“What is your original name?”
“I don’t have one. When alone, names are unnecessary.”
There can be phrases that describe me, but there aren’t any callers for that vast ocean.
Ah, of course, if I leave the lower ones alone for a long time, some might assume they are part of my kin, but I’ve killed all those who dare steal my warmth, and I’ll continue to do so from now on.
Steal my warmth?
I can’t let that slide.
Meanwhile, he was intently observing me.
He scanned me from top to bottom, and I stared back blankly.
There’s no reason to be nervous. Of course, with the harvest season looming ahead, I have to somehow coax and negotiate a contract to create an automatic harvesting system.
But I don’t plan to do that.
No matter how dull-witted someone can be, they know what they know.
The moment I show any desire, it will strangle my neck.
I don’t pride myself on being able to fight an expert who wields social prowess as a weapon. One slip-up could be fatal.
Therefore, I have to hold my breath, waiting until I can surely bite down on the crucial moment.
Humans age and weaken eventually.
Will I be able to hold off just once until then?
It’s extremely difficult. Most humans would submit.
Creatures can resist pain and belittlement, but resisting personal growth is nearly impossible. It’s not about others; it’s about oneself getting better, right?
You can’t even feel jealousy because it’s yourself.
If one were fully fleshed out and suffering from lifestyle diseases, the duration would be shorter.
Is this person excessively trained for a powerful figure?
What a shame.
“Right. I’ve heard several tales about you. The blessing. Do you intend to use it for our royal family?”
I barely managed to suppress a smile.
You’re asking if I want to become a harvest season? I want to say, “of course, go right ahead.” But I have to hold it back. Not yet.
A little longer.
“I’ll do it if I want to. Do you desire it?”
The choice is yours, and I’m just a simple vending machine that produces what you ask for.
It’s a question that pushes the subjectivity entirely toward you.
The king responded to my query.
“I desire it.”
“Yes, understood.”
I nodded. Originally, they claim to create three per day, but in this world, I’ve already produced thousands in a day.
Saying three is partly to control the harvest production but also because from the perspective of someone who has me in their grasp, after creating three in a day, they won’t have to worry about me until the next day.
In other words, vigilance lessens.
Having gained a lot of memories and understanding, I realized that Yasle had left me quite free because he could rest assured after producing three harvest seasons.
The outsider who follows orders isn’t really a problem. The issue is when others approach that obedient outsider.
The target of vigilance has shifted from me to those approaching me.
In that sense, it was a good choice.
But it’s too late to dwell on what could have been.
Anyway, the king calmly explained what I would be doing here. He said I was to obey his commands, attend the Royal Academy, and learn whatever was necessary in the future.
There was no explanation anywhere about why I should do so. It felt like the speech given to a slave.
And he said:
“From now on, you will reside in the palace. If you follow our words, we will help you achieve what you wish.”
What they desire from me is what I desire. But I swallowed those words. Everything was flowing too smoothly, making me question if this was alright.
Then the king called over a man standing at the door. Surprisingly, he’s a general.
Isn’t a general supposed to be decked out in armor in a command center somewhere? Why is he wearing such heavy armor?
Or is the world exhausting even generals?
While I pondered such trivial questions, they exchanged brief words, and the king left the room with him.
Huh? Am I not being sent off to a livestock cage?
As I was told to follow, I headed somewhere with them.
After leaving that building, we headed to the palace outskirts, which seemed to be a military base, along with dozens of soldiers.
And we entered a uniquely white building there.
Upon entering, the people inside initially saluted the foremost man, but then knelt and bowed upon seeing the king behind him.
The king wore a tired expression, saying “your majesty,” and led me inside. He halted in a certain place.
This was just an area with chairs, but I could see long hoses and strange devices hanging from the windows.
Ah ha.
So this was a hospital.
I thought magic could solve issues even if limbs were lost, yet there are quite a few people severely injured here.
Some were covered in blisters, while others had severed limbs colored green. Some appeared to be soldiers, while others were children who couldn’t be categorized as such.
Then an old man came out through the glass door.
“Your Majesty. You cannot go in any further.”
“Still as stiff even after leaving the medical field, huh.”
It was a rude comment, but neither the king nor the doctor seemed particularly bothered.
The soldiers behind stared daggers at the doctor, but when the man who seemed to be the general turned back with a glance, everyone lowered their eyes.
“I’m merely doing my duty as a physician.”
The old doctor paid them no mind.
Then the king gestured inside and said:
“Those patients inside. Please allow him to attend. Perhaps he can heal everyone.”
At the king’s words, the doctor fixated on me. His face was wrinkled, but his eyes were clearer than those of the young.
The doctor outfitted both me and the king in special garments. After fully bundling us up, we went inside together.
It was said that all patients who couldn’t be cured by magic were here.
I recited the contract document.
It’s fine even if they are unconscious. I can convey it through light.
Every person’s hair inside turned purple. And almost 90% of their skin turned blue.
But they all regained their health without exception.
While the old doctor looked at me with examining eyes, the king said to me:
“Thank you.”
So I replied:
“You desired it.”
The responsibility falls entirely upon you. I have no intention of taking on any responsibility myself.
Some were shocked to be revived, others were amazed at their skin turning blue, and some shed tears and prayed while looking at me.
But I glanced at the king.
In his expression, I read a peculiar yearning.
The attempts to validate my abilities are proceeding too quickly.
Is there someone out there?
Someone who needs me.
Hehe.
I think I can worm my way in easily.
