Chapter 20
Upon reflection, Dersia's condition for me to persuade her was difficult to understand.
Make your mark. Let news of me reach her ears.
Isn't that too vague?
To put it plainly, she wants me to be *a paragon among common folk*.
...But how?
If I were a student, the story would be simple. It would just be a matter of proving my abilities.
But my job is a Janitor at the Academy. An Aspirant Cleaner, at that. And an Orphan, to boot.
If I prove my abilities, by the time news of it reaches Dersia's ears, a lot of things could happen.
For example, what if Huins, who throws a fit just because Elisia, a Noble like him, can't use Magic, finds out that a Commoner Orphan Janitor can use Magic?
Hmm, no matter how positively I think about it, it doesn't seem like anything good would come of it.
It's an absurd demand for news to reach the ears of the Empire's Foremost Mage in this situation.
*...It must be part of the test.*
Of course, Dersia wouldn't have failed to consider such things.
It must mean that if I want to become her Disciple, I need to prove my worth beyond just Magic.
Then I had to do it.
There were no other options.
...I've written it all down.
Thank you.
I re-examined the simplified contract Elisia had diligently written in her notebook on the bench.
There were three points.
Make it appear as though she manifested the desired Magic during the Field Trip.
Next, arrange a private meeting with her father.
And during that meeting, she would speak highly of me.
Are you sure you don't want to add “teaching you Magic” to this?
It must be what she desires most.
At my question, Elisia snorted, as if dumbfounded.
Just getting through this Field Trip safely is enough, you know? I don't wish for anything like that.
...First, let me tell you something. Elisia, you are already manifesting Magic.
What? Me?
Yes. However, compared to other people's Magic...
It's similar to mine.
I didn't actually say that. It would only make her anxious.
And it's only similar, not a 'fall.' This girl, blinking with wide eyes, seemed perfectly fine.
She's clearly different from me, seeing that she has no burden. Even Dersia said she'd never seen another case like mine.
It's a slightly, shall we say, *unconventional* type of Magic.
...Even if it's just empty words, thank you.
Elisia replied with a slightly relieved expression.
Seeing that lukewarm expression, she probably thought I was comforting her.
Let her think what she wants. Anyway, once the Field Trip is over and I've persuaded her Father, I'll immediately take her to Dersia to find out what mechanism is at play.
I had to do it, if only for my own sake. Whether she was moved or not, I asked for details.
Could you tell me more about this Field Trip?
It's nothing special, just a trip. But the entire Children's Class goes, and there's an Annual Event where we show our progress on the Regeneration Stone.
Regeneration Stone?
What's that?
It's a stone that regenerates infinitely. We use Magic on it to show everyone how much we can carve away. Since everyone's only recently suffered from the fever, most are pretty similar, and it's only supposed to reveal a select few talents.
Why do they do such a barbaric thing?
Don't you know the legend of the Foundation Myth, that the First Emperor melted the entire stone when he was 10, and it took 10 years to regenerate?
I'm truly hearing this for the first time.
I just found out there's even a Foundation Myth.
In our lands, it'd be like a trial of fasting and prayer, I guess.
Anyway, I understood that it had some deep meaning and why Elisia was so downcast. If she even missed an event like that, she'd definitely get the Mark of an Inferior Student.
"But now I'm here?" I asked confidently.
Just trust me. Where is the location?
Roxfell Canyon. Do you know it?
...That's far.
Really? It doesn't even take two hours by carriage.
*What, is it a carriage pulled by a dragon?*
An Earth Dragon actually pulls it.
I see... Understood. I'll need to depart at least a day in advance, so I'd appreciate it if you could come tell me before then.
Huh? It's tomorrow?
...What?
I looked at Elisia, wondering if I'd misheard.
Tomorrow?
Uh, yeah. That's why I was *lamenting my fate* to you.
Elisia nodded, a slightly deflated expression on her face.
This is a problem. A regular carriage would only get me there by dawn.
...Could I perhaps borrow that Earth Dragon-pulled carriage?
I'm riding with a friend in my carriage, so I don't think that'll work.
You have a friend?
J-just a few.
Then there was no time to waste.
I quickly rose from the bench and bowed my head.
Understood. Then I'll see you tomorrow at the Canyon. I'll be counting on you.
Uh... will you be able to make it?
You don't need to worry.
I grinned.
Because I have a *Trump Card*.
***
Despite my confident words, I was thoroughly fleeced.
Thank you, customer!
...
The beaming Coachman left me behind. I could even hear him humming from here.
Well... he probably feels like he got an easy score, getting this much just for carrying one kid.
With a sour expression, I shoved my half-empty purse into my backpack and sighed.
There's nothing money can't do.
For instance, there are things like *swift-coaches* that can deliver important cargo in an instant.
Of course, the price is outrageous, but it's something I have to endure.
Let's see...
Even though the evening sun was already setting, I entered the bustling entrance of the Canyon.
Immediately, a Bouncer managing the entrance stopped me.
Kid, you have to pay an entrance fee to get in here.
...
*Fleeced again.*
I have to go in again tomorrow, so I'm essentially paying twice. But I have to. I need to scout ahead and find a place to hide and use Magic.
But—it had been unusual outside, yet once inside, there were simply too many people.
It's like a market fair on a holy day. I grumbled as I looked at the map; the Regeneration Stone was located high up.
Haa...
Seeing the crowds packed onto the bridge leading up to the Regeneration Stone made me feel sick.
Seriously, why are there so many people here?
It's closing for two days starting tomorrow, you know. The Young Nobles are coming for a Field Trip.
Listening to the complaints of people who thought similarly to me, I understood why it was so packed.
It's already a popular Historic Site, so maybe everyone rushed here today because it won't be possible to enter for a while.
What choice did I have? I took a deep breath and pushed my way through the wave of people.
Excuse me... please... let me pass...
Barely escaping the crowd,
The path to the Regeneration Stone was quieter than I expected.
Well, they're putting on a fire show down below. If Commoners who can't learn Magic were sane, they'd go see that rather than a legendary rock.
Indeed, when I reached the Regeneration Stone, there were only a few couples and I.
I looked up at it, slightly surprised.
Hmm. It's big.
The Regeneration Stone was truly a massive jade-like rock.
It was about ten feet tall, perhaps. Its bluish glow certainly suggested some magical influence at work.
It was fascinating, but I felt no particular emotion. I couldn't break it now anyway.
First, I surveyed the surroundings.
Places to hide—there were more than I expected. All were within range of my Magic, too.
*This should be enough...*
Just then, I found a small burrow nearby, as if dug by a fox.
I tried pushing my foot in, and it fit well, enough for my upper body to enter.
As a test, while inside the burrow, I very lightly touched the Regeneration Stone with Wind Magic.
*Crack*.
A small fragment broke off.
It works very well.
It's visible, but not easily found even if one deliberately searches. I won't be caught if I'm not noticed consciously.
This is why *Reconnaissance* is important. As I stood up with a satisfied expression—
A voice I'd never heard before called out to me.
Ah~ excuse me. Could I ask for directions?
...?
I didn't turn around, instead strengthening my Magical Perception.
*...He was so faint that I didn't notice him at all until he was right behind me.*
*What is this guy?*
Excuse me? Hey, you there. Kid.
...Ah, are you talking to me?
Still, there is no need to overreact. Whatever his method, he didn't seem to bear me ill will.
I turned my head to see a tall, red-haired man.
Flawless, clear skin and a handsome face. He looked like a First-rate Knight, though his gruff voice and frivolous manner didn't quite match.
He scratched his head and asked, with an embarrassed expression on his face.
Uh-huh. Nothing much, but do you happen to know where the Regeneration Stone is? The Regeneration Stone. They said it was around here.
That one, probably.
I pointed to the jade-like rock a little distance away.
The man made a dumbfounded expression, as if he hadn't expected it to be so close.
...What, that's it? It's a lot smaller than I thought? Thanks.
Don't mention it.
Even while we talked, I continuously scanned the man with my Magical Perception.
Truly faint—so faint that it would be hard to believe it was there if I weren't seeing it with my own eyes.
It would be hard to catch him with Current at this level.
*Though that shouldn't happen...*
Something felt unpleasant. Just as I was about to leave quickly, the man, looking like he'd remembered something, called out to me again.
Ah. But could I ask one more thing?
What is it?
The man asked casually, as if inquiring about the time.
Are you, by any chance, a Mage?
...
I wasn't flustered.
Instead, I laughed boldly and expressed my gratitude.
Do I look that wealthy? Still, it's a nice compliment. Unfortunately, I'm a Commoner.
Ah, really...? Tsk... that's strange.
The man clicked his tongue and scrutinized me.
I had a feeling about it, though.
As soon as the man turned his head, I grabbed the emergency medicine from my upper pocket and swallowed it all.
This was preparation for what I was about to do and the price I would pay.
...Ugh.
The medicine tasted like hell, so I covered my mouth to keep from vomiting and raised my Magical Perception to its maximum to observe the man.
The burden was immediate. My vision darkened further, and my body began to constrict.
However, my perception changed. My Magical Perception, which had felt like discerning shapes by touch with my eyes closed, shifted to a *Higher Level*.
All the seawater became my eyes.
I could even feel a single strand of the man's hair in my current state.
Of course, I wasn't complacent. I would crush him with Water Pressure the moment he showed even a hint of hostility towards me. Then I'd escape.
About 30 seconds passed until the man walked over to the Regeneration Stone.
It felt like 30 years, but in the end, nothing happened.
He didn't look back even once.
*Was I just overreacting?*
Still, if that's all it was, then it's a relief. Just as my entire body, drenched in sweat, was about to relax completely, I heard a faint whisper.
[*Tsk, I thought I'd get some work done early, but it was a false alarm.*]