Chapter 11: Everyday Events
Since the beginning of his time at the academy, Ren has visited the church chapel every day. After his classes at the academy are over, he makes a routine stop on his way home.
Ren is alone in the chapel, kneeling in prayer. In reality, he spends only a short time in prayer and the rest of the time talking with his friends. What they talk about is exclusively the events that took place in the church that day. Not all of it, but Ren is able to get quite a bit of information from his friends.
"Ren-kun"
A voice interrupts that precious time. Without even needing to check, Ren knows who it is.
"Bishop Mikhail"
“I see you are here again today.”
"Yes, I was on my way home."
"Still enthusiastic. How is the academy life?"
"...Bishop Mikhail may get angry, but it's more boring than I thought."
"Do you dislike studying?"
Bishop Mikhail understood the meaning of Ren's words.
"I like studying."
Ren immediately denied it.
"Then why? I think there are many things to learn at the academy."
"That's... can I talk about the school in my original world?"
"Yes. I'm interested in the story of another world, whatever it is."
The summoning ritual is an old tradition in the Church, but for Bishop Mikhail, it is a new experience. It is impossible not to be intrigued by the knowledge of another world.
"Then. The elementary school in the other world is where students study for six years from the age of six."
"Eh? From the age of six?"
"To be precise, from April of the year in which you turn six years old."
“…Was Ren-kun and the others descendants of nobles?”
In this world, receiving an education from an early age is unthinkable for anyone other than nobles. That is also limited to fairly wealthy noble families.
"No, it is not. Elementary school is a school where all children, regardless of status or wealth, learn. It is called compulsory education. Obligation does not mean that they have to be educated, but that they have to be made to receive it."
"What do you mean by receiving it?"
"The parents, if the parents can't do it, the country has to get their children educated. If they are poor, the country will subsidize them."
"……Amazing"
Only one word of admiration escaped from Bishop Mikhail's mouth. It's unthinkable in this world so much that he can't say anything else.
"Don't be so impressed. I can't say it's all good."
"But every child should have access to an education."
“Yes. It is great. But we took it for granted. That's why I feel ashamed when I see the general admission students at the academy who are happy to be able to study.
"I see. You've lost your appreciation for what you're given."
Able to study. Few people know how great this is. Even in their former world, there are many people of their generation in the world who are envious of them.
“Yes. Let me return to the story. After elementary school comes middle school. This is three years, which is also compulsory education."
"Nine years of study."
"In addition, there are three years of high school. This is not compulsory education, but a considerable percentage of them go on to senior high school."
"Twelve years..."
"Then there is the university school. This is four years. As one would expect, the number got reduced, but still."
"Sixteen years as a student?"
It is not only the number of years. The age of adulthood in this world is fifteen. He is amazed that they can stay in school past the age of twenty and still do nothing but study.
“Yes. That's the way the world is. But how much of that sixteen years are spent seriously studying? And how much of that is spent on studies that will be useful in the future?"
"...You're rich, aren't you? The fact that you are allowed to waste your time is proof that you are rich."
"Yes, except for the mind."
"I see……"
“In terms of the school I just explained, we are high school students. I was a student at a high school that was considered excellent, if I do say so myself."
"Is that so?"
“In other words, we have already learned a large part of the academy's curriculum. In the first year of school, you will learn a few general subjects, except for the history of this world."
Other subjects include political science and accounting. But you don't learn those until later in the school year.
"And that's for everyone?"
"Yes. We all went to the same school."
"That's good to hear. We need to review the classes. I don't want them to waste their time."
"But do they all want that?"
Ren knows that there are students who definitely don't want it. Quite a few people.
"Is that so?"
“Some people don’t like studying. It's one thing to be able to study, it's another thing to like it."
"But"
“This is my personal opinion, but I think it would be better if I had more free time. I'm happy to have time to learn what I want to learn."
Ren has no idea of not learning what he can learn. He is willing to learn many things, thinking that he never knows what will be useful in the future.
On the other hand, those who don't have that inclination are also pleased with the suggestion. All you have to do is what you like to do. To take it to the extreme, they can even play. It is none of Ren's business what happens to those kinds of students in the future.
"Hmm... I'll think about it."
"Thank you."
Ren wanted to end the conversation with this, but Bishop Mikhail would not allow it.
"How's your necromancy? Is your training going well?"
“Yes, it's going well. I can do simple jobs by myself now."
"Eh?"
"The work in the Adventurers' Guild. Didn't you know?"
"I know that Barbara-dono is working in the guild. Necromancy is a special skill. However, I didn't know that Ren-kun was already working for the guild."
Even while saying this, Bishop Mikhail's face was satisfied. He thought he understood why the countries had inquired about Ren's abilities.
"Little by little, but I've gotten used to it."
"I see. Have you learned anything?"
"I think the necessary skills for a necromancer are given from the beginning. I just have to master them."
Ren casually answers Bishop Mikhail's question in a casual manner. The appeal is that he hasn't found any new skills.
“I see...... At any rate, does that mean things are going well for you, Ren-kun?”
"Yes"
"Do you still have the desire to become a hero?"
"No. I'm just trying to get a little more experience. I think that with a little more experience, I will be able to earn more money from my work as an adventurer. I'm beginning to have a better idea of how to make a living, so I think I'll just keep going."
This is not a lie. As long as he can continue as an adventurer, Ren will have no trouble making a living. This is partly due to Ren's character, which is not interested in luxuries.
"Is that so... It's complicated for me, but I am happy that you have found a way to make a living in this world. I do have the debt of forcibly summoning you."
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't care about that, but it's not that much. I think it's not just me, it's the same for many students."
"That's surprising."
No student actually worries about life in another world. Bishop Mikhail, who says it is surprising, really knows it.
"Didn't you get summoned because you have that kind of aptitude? I think so."
"As the one who summoned us, I would like that to be the case. This is a selfish statement."
"No."
“To tell the truth, I want everyone to live freely. But that is not allowed. We have an obligation commensurate with the blessings we have been given."
"I am waiving that obligation."
"I will say that it was worth the blessings given. Ren-kun, who has been blessed as a necromancer, is doing a job that matches it. That's the right thing to do."
Bishop Mikhail really believes this. Ren is the only one who is using his talents to help people at this point.
"I'm glad to hear you say that."
"......I spoke a little too much. I tend to show my weakness in the chapel. As a believer it is the right thing to do, but as a bishop it disqualifies me."
"Bishop-sama is also one of the believers. And as a human being, it is natural to have weaknesses. Hiding and misrepresenting them is a distortion. Isn't that distortion an incorrect form?
"Ren-kun?"
"I remember learning something like this from a priest in the original world, although the doctrine is different."
"Oh, is that so? …It is a splendid person. A person who can admit his weakness is a strong person."
"Yes"
"...Thank you. Ren-kun taught me some good words."
"No. I'll leave you to it then."
“Okay. I'm going to stay here and think about that a little longer."
"Yes"
As long as they are talking like this, Bishop Mikhail does not seem like an evil person. But Ren knows that Bishop Mikhail's actions are definitely evil.
A world that forces good people to do bad things. Once again, Ren came to dislike this world.
◇◇◇
He went out the back door of the church and walked about ten minutes to get to the house.
Because of his talk with Bishop Mikhail, he was a little late getting home today. And when he says late, it's only for a short time. But there are people at home who will not allow him that little time.
"You're late."
As expected, as soon as he entered the entrance, Babaa complained.
"Sorry"
"The soup has cooled down. Do you want me to reheat it?"
"No, it's fine."
“See, that's what you always say. Then the boy will have to eat soup that doesn't taste good."
"No, it's still warm and delicious."
"Is that so? Then eat it."
"Thanks for the food."
As soon as he gets home, he eats. This is because there is a training session waiting for him afterward.
In the beginning, it was not unusual for him to spit out everything he had eaten during the training. That's where this habit came from.
"How's life at the academy?"
"Boring"
“…Academy life, right?”
"Studying is fun"
“No, I mean, don't you have someone you play with?”
"I'm not that old"
"What a dull man. What about women?"
To Ren, who doesn't show his childish side, this time she asked about love. She is extreme.
"Bothersome"
“…What's a man do if he's not interested in women?"
"There's Luna"
"Certainly, compared to her appearance."
"Inside too"
"...This is impossible, huh?"
Babaa knows how ugly people can be. Not because she is a necromancer, but because she has had the life experience to think so.
"I have known it from the beginning."
"Have you forgotten your mother?"
"...I'm not trying to be a mother's boy."
"Mother's boy?"
"An otherworldly language. I guess you could call it a preoccupation with mothers."
Even Ren didn't really know how to explain a mother's boy.
"...You mean you can't leave your parents?"
"Well, something like that."
He made a compromise in a similar way.
"Are you separated from your parents?"
"I haven't had parents for a long time."
"Mentally. You're stuck in your feelings for your mother for some reason. I think it's the same as not being separated from your parents."
"...I can't deny it."
A mother who was afraid of him and tried to kill him. Ren knows that this is a big part of what makes him who he is today.
"She is a sinful parent. Couldn't she have thought about her children a little more?"
"It wasn't just my parents who hated me."
"But it's their job to protect you from that."
Instead of protecting him, his parents worked together to deny that Ren was Ren. The only being who supported him was the spirit. Only spirits can be trusted. Ren's belief in spirits was firmly established at an early age.
"It's already in the past. There's nothing I can say."
"Well, that's true."
"Besides, Babaa can't speak for everyone."
"Why?"
"You're not childless. And your daughter hasn't left her parent."
"...That's certainly true. This is a problem."
Next to Baaba, who smiled embarrassedly, her daughter's spirit also made a troubled face.
“Why can't you just let go of her?”
"It's too late now."
"This shouldn't be said in front of your daughter, but..."
"What?"
"I can take her to heaven"
"...You mean she's going to die?"
"Why use that expression?"
In other words, just as Babaa thought, it means dying.
"It doesn't matter what I choose. It's all the same."
"Then, yes. I think your daughter's thoughts are much clearer now, thanks to you, Babaa."
"Is that so?"
Babaa, also a necromancer, was unaware of this. This was not because Ren was better.
"But then it would be harder to stay in this world."
"Will there ever be a day when she ascends to heaven?"
"That's a good thing, but it's a problem that Babaa, who is alive, is obsessed with it."
"...Oh, I see."
If you don't want to be separated from the dead, you have to die too. Death is what the Babaa wants.
"You both will ascend to heaven together. Is that what you want?"
"It's a long-cherished desire. Originally, I'm not old enough to live for a few decades."
"I see. Then I won't say anything."
Ren doesn't say don't die. For Ren, death is something to celebrate.
"But do you know how she feels? I didn't know."
"If I understand your daughter's feelings, I can understand what will happen to Baaba. It seems that she didn't want to make you sad."
The daughter desperately hid her feelings from Baaba. This is the reason why Babaa never found out.
"...Why are you telling me that?"
"If your family can't tell you, then someone else will have to. It's like a doctor telling someone when they are dying."
It's time to tell her, even if it means ignoring her family's feelings. Babaa's time to die is near.
"What do you think...... I should be prepared?"
"It's troublesome to have unfinished business in this world."
"...It's not that I don't have any."
"Can you make it happen?"
"It's difficult"
"Then you have to let go of your attachments. Just because you have unfinished business in this world doesn't mean that it will change anything significant. Most people don't have the power to change the times or history."
Even if there are things they have left unfinished, it is for themself, at most for their family. That doesn't mean it's useless. Ren himself just doesn't see the value in it.
"You're telling me not to get carried away."
"Simply put, yes."
"...I feel like I can die peacefully when I'm talking to you."
"I don't feel like that's a compliment."
"No, that's a compliment. Did you forget? We're necromancer."
"I can't cast down a spirit."
"Then do you want to change it to a spiritist?"
"Not bad"
Ren is oblivious. He is unaware that these ordinary days with Babaa are giving him a sense of family happiness that he did not have in his original world.
He is completely unaware of it, but he doesn't realize that he is starting to change just a little bit.
◇◇◇
After taking a break after eating, training begins.
First, he runs as fast as he can around the cemetery. Keep running until he fell down. Even if he fell down, he stood up again and keep running. Keep running until he can no longer stand up after falling down.
After that, he carries the gravestone and walks. After running until he can no longer stand, it is hard to even walk. Eventually, his legs shake and they can't stand up again.
That's the end of the basic training. By that time, the sun has completely set and the cemetery is shrouded in darkness. Then comes the master. The master's teachings begin with the training of bare swing.
(No! It's no good! The tip of the sword is shaky!)
(Yes!)
(No! There is a lot of wasted movement!)
(Yes!)
Effortlessly and accurately. That's the theme of the bare swings, but even after more than a year of training, Ren has never received a single pass.
(Erase your preliminary movements! That is the basis of my sword! How many times have I told you!)
(Yes!)
Before one move, there is always a preparatory movement. Like sinking your body before jumping up. Alexis taught him to eliminate that. The only way to achieve this is to eliminate all wasted movements.
Only the minimum necessary parts of the body are moved with force. The rest of the body will not move at all. It does not mean that there will be no preliminary movements at all, but it will be extremely difficult for others to recognize them.
And if you can do that, you can read your opponent's movements. For more than a year, Ren has been training to acquire this ability.
(Stop those mannerisms!)
(Yes!)
(Next is receiving!)
(Yes!)
When the practice swing is over, he and Alexis have a fight. The only thing that happens is that he hits Ren one-sidedly. The purpose of this is the same as in the bare swing.
(Receiving is slow! Read ahead!)
(Yes!)
(Look, you're slow again! It's not the sword! Read the body movements!)
(Yes!)
Read Alexis' movements and receive the sword. He has never received a pass on this either. Still, he got a lot better. At least he was now able to receive the sword.
However, it was the result of magic training, not with the sword.
Sword training ended at 10:00 p.m., and from then until 2:30 a.m., it is time for rest, or rather, sleep.
This is Ren's insistence. He would sleep during this period, when growth hormones are secreted. He did not compromise on this. Unfortunately, it hasn't paid off. Ren is still small.
Although he remains small, his entire body is covered with well-trained muscles. Just enough where needed. He is not needlessly fat. His muscles are toned and supple.
It has not occurred to Ren that this fully formed body could prevent him from growing.
After a period of sleep, Rudolph's magic training begins. It is still basic training. Activate and circulate the mana. He continues this for half an hour. And while being instructed to make extremely subtle adjustments.
(There is a lot on the left. Narrow it down.)
(Yes)
(That's too much. Learn to feel it instead of being told to)
(Yes)
(Does it feel even?)
(No, a little too much on the right.)
(Fix it then)
His tone is polite, but Rudolph's words have a pressure that makes you say whether you want to or not. The delicate, nerve-wracking training, which is different from sword training, continues.
After half an hour of this, they move on to the next training. It is the practice of basic attribute magic, but Rudolph's demands cannot be ordinary.
(Fire on the right, wind on the left)
(Yes……)
Simultaneous activation of multiple attributes. All that is required is to handle it at will.
(Strong fire)
(……Yes)
(It's not a question of mana, it's a question of mastery or unskillfulness. Eliminate both gain and loss. Wind in both hands)
(Yes)
(What if they have the same attribute but different momentum?)
(It is a difference in mana.)
(If you know, align them. What were you training for earlier?)
(Yes)
(Water to the left)
(Yes)
(Fire to the right)
(Yes)
If this continues for half an hour, his mana will run out and the magic training will come to an end. Five o'clock in the morning. He drags his limp body back to his room.
"Thanks for your hard work."
"Good night."
"Muu. Lately, Ren hasn't been talking to Luna."
"That's because I have to go to the academy, so my time has decreased."
The time before bed is a time of relaxation for Ren and Luna. But now that he spends his days at the academy, they don't have the same amount of time as they used to.
"I'm lonely though."
"...That's right. Then let's talk. What was Luna doing yesterday?"
It's hard for Ren to hear Luna say she's lonely. He decided to try a little harder here.
“Luna is also training. Luna is getting a little stronger again."
"I see. It's not good. Luna is going to leave me behind."
"Luna will become stronger and help Ren."
"Yeah. I'll become stronger and help Luna."
"Hehe"
Hearing Ren's words, Luna has a big smile on her face.
"What?"
"Ren's feelings make Luna stronger."
"Is that so?"
"That's right"
Using the power of spirits, the contractor exercises magic. Not out of malice, but many contractors do not think of giving their power to the spirits.
But Ren is different. He helps Luna. This desire of Ren's gave Luna power without him knowing it.
"I'm glad to hear that. I'm helping Luna a little, too."
"……Ren"
"What?"
"I love you."
After saying this, Luna hugged Ren with all her might.
"Y-yeah"
Ren, a little embarrassed by this, gently pats Luna on the head. Their lovey-dovey time would continue until it was time for Ren to go to the academy.
Thanks for the chapter
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