All Attributes

Three days have passed since I returned from the central district.

I decided to tell Marcel-san about my attributes, so I came to the workshop. He would find out eventually even if I kept it hidden, so I figured it would be better to tell him myself from the start.

Besides, I didn't think Marcel-san would find me creepy... Probably...

We were sitting across from each other in the work area, but now that I was actually about to tell him, I was getting nervous and couldn't organize my thoughts.

Maybe I should forget it... But Marcel-san should be all right, shouldn't he...? Yes, I'll trust him.

"So, what brings you here today? Have you come up with a magic tool?"

"I've thought of several magic tools, but before that... Could you hear me out about my attributes?"

"Leon, your attributes? You had the healing attribute, if I remember correctly."

"That's right, but it seems I can use other attributes too..."

"Other attributes...? Other attributes, you say!?"

Marcel-san stood up from his chair and shouted.

Perhaps because I was nervous, I flinched and actually jumped slightly in my chair.

"Ah, sorry about that. I'm not angry. I was just surprised."

I felt deeply relieved when I heard Marcel-san say that.

Thank goodness... At least he doesn't seem disgusted.

"Then what other attributes can you use?"

"Um... all of them..."

"Wha..."

This time, Marcel-san seemed unable even to speak. He stood there frozen in shock.

As I thought, being able to use every attribute really was strange. It was normal for one person to have one attribute, and apparently the church hadn't even considered that someone could use multiple attributes.

Then why can I use them?

I think it probably has something to do with my reincarnation, but I don't even know why I was reincarnated in the first place.

"All of them? Is that really true!?"

"Yes. Would you like me to demonstrate?"

"Do it!"

Pressed by Marcel-san's desperate expression, I demonstrated magic from every attribute.

"You must be an Apostle-sama..."

Marcel-san froze again after saying that.

What's an Apostle-sama supposed to be? Marcel-san, don't just freeze up—tell me already!

"Marcel-san. Marcel-san! Marcel-san!!"

"Huh!? I'm sorry, Apostle-sama."

"I'm Leon! I'm not an Apostle-sama!"

"But you can use every attribute..."

"At any rate, please calm down. I'm Leon."

Marcel-san remained confused for a while after that, but he finally seemed to calm down.

"I'm sorry for losing my composure. I thought only an Apostle-sama could use every attribute, so I was confused."

"What's an Apostle-sama?"

"An Apostle-sama is a person sent by God who can use every attribute and possesses all sorts of knowledge. Apparently, records remain of an Apostle-sama who appeared several hundred years ago."

"So records of that history really do remain?"

"That's right. Since then, no one besides an Apostle-sama has ever appeared who could use two or more attributes, let alone all of them. That's why I thought you were an Apostle-sama, but are you really not one?"

There really was someone like that...? Am I an Apostle-sama?

I can use every attribute, and as someone who was reincarnated, I do possess various kinds of knowledge.

But I don't know anything about God, and my knowledge is all half-baked. Besides, an Apostle-sama would be someone who had met God, right?

If so, I couldn't be an Apostle-sama. I didn't know anything about God.

"I wasn't sent by God, so I'm not an Apostle-sama."

"I see. I thought that if another Apostle-sama appeared, people's faith would increase..."

"Faith?"

"That's right. This world worships Mishurine-sama, but several hundred years have passed since an Apostle-sama appeared, and few people still have any faith left. I think people ought to have more faith, though."

So this world's god is called Mishurine-sama. The statue at the church had been a goddess, so that meant God was female.

Come to think of it, Marcel-san was a very devout person. Personally, I preferred religion to have less power...

"How much power does the church have now?"

"The church has practically no power now. All churches are state-run, and most of the people working there are government employees."

"Oh, so that's how it is."

So the churches in this world were state-run! They were little more than churches in name only.

Thank goodness. That made it highly unlikely that troublesome conflicts between religion and politics would arise.

"Since I'm not an Apostle-sama, I can't increase people's faith."

"That's right. Well, it's all right. Sorry for getting us off topic."

"No, I'm glad I got to learn about the church."

Marcel-san seemed a little disappointed. Religious matters were complicated, so it was probably best not to meddle.

"Anyway, about my magic..."

"Right. If you're not an Apostle-sama, then how can you use every attribute?"

"I was wondering about that too, so I wanted to ask you, Marcel-san. So in all of history, no one other than an Apostle-sama has ever been able to use two or more attributes, right?"

"That's right. No one besides an Apostle-sama has ever been able to. I don't know why you can use every attribute, but you shouldn't tell anyone."

"So it really is best to keep it hidden?"

So I really did need to keep it hidden. Powerful abilities could certainly become the source of conflict.

"Once you have the backing of a noble you can trust, it might be all right to reveal your ability. However, if you reveal it carelessly, other countries or dangerous nobles may start moving to acquire you—or eliminate you—because they want your power. Some people desire great power, while others want to get rid of it. In the worst case, your family could be targeted. You should keep it hidden until you have enough power to shelter your family."

That's terrifying! I'm still just a child, and I don't have the power to protect my family. Until I gain power myself or meet a noble I can trust, I absolutely have to keep this hidden.

"Given all that, you absolutely have to attend the Royal Academy. If your ability became known while you remained a commoner, you would either be kept like a caged animal for the rest of your life or be eliminated by a noble who decided you were in the way. However, if you became a civil servant, earned people's trust, and then revealed your ability, you might have the chance to become a close aide to the king or even a noble. You have to graduate from the Royal Academy to become a noble, so for now, make absolutely sure you pass the entrance exam."

I absolutely don't want to be kept like a caged animal for the rest of my life. If it were only me, I might be able to run away, but there were already so many people dear to me in this world. I couldn't abandon them...

For now, I'll keep it hidden until I enter the Royal Academy and become a civil servant! No, not until I become a civil servant—until I gain power and earn people's trust.

"I understand! So I should keep it hidden for now, and it will be all right to reveal it once I've gained power?"

"That's right. Absolutely."

"Yes. I don't want my family to be put in danger."

Marcel-san and I looked each other in the eye and nodded firmly.

Marcel-san really was a good person... I was glad I had decided to consult him.