Chapter 7
“Noah, play inside today. Don't go outside.”
Mother said that, then hurriedly left.
It seemed the priest's advance party had arrived, and all the adults had been put to work preparing to welcome them.
Of course, I couldn't just sit quietly at home with a chance like this.
I slipped out of the house and climbed a tree with a view of the village gate.
Hidden among the branches, I watched the road beyond the gate. Before long, a group accompanied by guards appeared.
The person on horseback wore clerical robes, surrounded by guards who looked like adventurers.
I appraised the priest.
【Name】Chris Dalisia
【Rank】Ⅱ
【Mana】C
【Skills】Light Magic
【Magic】Heal
A little underwhelming.
His Mana is C, and Heal is the only magic he can use?
And... Light Magic?
How is that different from the Life Magic I use?
I appraised the adventurers, too.
【Name】Roy
【Rank】Ⅱ
【Mana】D
【Skills】Swordsmanship
【Name】Jake
【Rank】Ⅱ
【Mana】E
【Skills】Iron Wall
【Name】Agatha
【Rank】Ⅱ
【Mana】C
【Skills】Fire Magic
【Magic】Fire Arrow Fireball
Roy wore leather armor and carried a greatsword.
Jake carried a massive shield.
And the woman in the robe was Agatha.
They were here as guards, so they should have been reasonably capable, but they didn't have many Skills.
Was this what an ordinary adventurer was like?
Or had they sent people who weren't very capable because this priestly party was visiting such a remote village?
The village chief welcomed them at the gate, and they went straight to his house.
My parents came home in the evening.
Both of them looked distressed.
“What's wrong?”
“Tomorrow, they're going to gather all the children and test them for aptitude in Light Magic.”
My father's voice was tense.
“They've never done anything like this before.”
Mother rushed over and hugged me tightly.
“What are we going to do...? They'll take you away, Noah.”
So they were testing for Light Magic.
Maybe Life Magic wouldn't set it off.
If the test didn't detect it, I could try another way.
◇
The village chief's table was laid with the best meal the village could manage to prepare for the priest.
The food was simple, but every dish showed how much care had gone into it.
“Chris-sama, how is the meal?”
As he gazed at the steam rising from the bowl offered to him, Chris inwardly clicked his tongue.
So this is the best they can do.
But his face wore the gentle smile befitting a priest.
Chris needed to make a name quickly and escape duties like touring remote villages as soon as possible.
“Yes, thank you.”
Chris picked up the bowl and gave a slow nod.
“I give thanks to God, who has bestowed this bounty, and to all of you for your thoughtful hospitality. May God's blessings be upon this village.”
“I hear that, starting this time, you'll be using a precious magical tool to assess the children's talents.”
The village chief asked hesitantly.
“Yes. It seems my predecessor relied on intuition, but with a magical tool, we can check everyone without missing anyone.”
Chris replied without losing the gentle smile.
Chris's Skills weren't developed enough to sense another person's aptitude for Light Magic, unlike those of the predecessor.
But relying on such vague intuition was inefficient.
To begin with, the old method was far too lax.
Checking for talent during a health checkup was far too halfhearted.
This time would be different.
Chris had pressured his family to send him a magical tool.
Chris would gather all the children and test them with the tool.
That way, no one would be overlooked.
If Chris brought back even one child with an aptitude for Light Magic...
I should be able to return to the city, too.
“All talents are bestowed by the will of God. From now on, we will be able to discover every bit of that grace without fail. This, too, is God's guidance.”
“...That is certainly a blessing.”
The village chief bowed as he spoke, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
◇
The next morning, the children were gathered in the village square.
A simple platform had been set up in the center, with a white cloth spread over it.
On the platform sat a magical tool that looked like a crystal ball.
The children stared at it curiously, while the adults behind them whispered among themselves.
Standing behind the platform, the priest slowly surveyed the crowd.
Then, wearing a solemn expression, the priest quietly began to speak.
“Thank you all for gathering. Every talent bestowed upon us is the will of God.”
The priest gently gestured toward the magical tool on the platform.
“And we mustn't overlook that grace. With this magical tool, we will be able to discover every blessing God has bestowed upon the children.”
The children tilted their heads.
They still didn't really know what was going to happen.
“One at a time, hold your hand over this orb.”
The priest held a palm over the crystal ball, showing them how its light shimmered softly.
“This orb will react to the mana of anyone with an aptitude for Light Magic and begin to glow. Anyone whose orb lights up will have their talent recognized by God.”
The village children looked a little nervous, clasping their hands or fidgeting.
“We'll go one at a time. There's no need to rush. Don't worry; just hold your hand over it calmly.”
While the other children hesitated, I stepped forward and held my hand over the orb.
The magical tool didn't react at all.
As the children around me began to murmur, the priest said matter-of-factly,
“You have no aptitude for Light Magic, but God is watching over you. Next, please.”
As I thought, Life Magic didn't make it react at all.
Behind me, my parents looked relieved and exchanged a small nod.
I left the square and made my way to the gap in the wall that led to the secret base.
All the villagers watching the square were focused on the priest and the magical tool.
Not a single person was watching me.
Perfect.
I spread my mana toward the forest with all my might.
As if drawn in by my mana, the forest began to stir.
I checked the forest's reaction and grinned.
No one had noticed what I was doing.
Keeping my footsteps quiet, I returned to the square.
Gelt, who had just finished his test, came over.
“I didn't have any talent either. I'm glad I don't have to leave the village.”
Gelt said with a relieved sigh.
“Lisa was fine, too!”
Lisa came running over after finishing her test, smiling brightly.
“It's pretty rare for someone to have Light Magic. There aren't any in this village.”
Mark came trotting over as well.
A sense of relief spread through the square. Everyone was glad the children were safe.
“If they took you to the church, you wouldn't be able to become an adventurer.”
The other children giggled at Tom's comment.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted behind us.
“G-Goblins!”
“Where the hell did they get in from?!”
“Damn it! There are too many of them!”
The adults shouted in alarm, and the children screamed.
The villagers' footsteps echoed through the square.
The priest's guards leaped in front of the goblins.
Jake banged on his shield to provoke them, while Roy seized an opening and cut them down with his greatsword.
Agatha's Fireball blasted the goblins in the rear.
“Wow! That's so cool!”
Tom's eyes were shining.
But there were too many goblins.
One goblin slipped past the adventurers and came toward us.
The goblin raised its club and charged at Tom.
Gelt rushed in front of him to protect him.
“Tom, run!”
Gelt shouted.
At that moment—
The goblin's club slammed into Gelt's head.
“Gah!”
Gelt collapsed.
A pool of blood spread across the ground.
“Gelt!”
Tom's anguished cry rang through the square.
“Take that!”
The stone Lisa threw hit the goblin, finally bringing one of them down.
“Gelt!”
I ran to Gelt and shouted.
I glanced around.
The priest was watching me.
Good. Just as planned.
I shouted even louder.
“Heal!”
I placed my hand on Gelt's wound.
In an instant, brilliant light poured out.
Gelt's wound began to close before our eyes.
The bleeding stopped, and the wound sealed shut.
Everyone around us held their breath.
“That light just now...!”
The priest rushed over.
“You... You used Light Magic...!”
I nodded with an innocent expression.
Just as planned.
Everything had gone exactly as I wanted.