Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world - - Chapter 59

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 59   It’s a temporary beginning

The clamor is deafening. As if the events of about a month ago have been forgotten, residents continue their daily lives as if nothing extraordinary happened. Engulfed in the busyness of their daily routines, they are unwilling to acknowledge the abnormal occurrences. Everyone thinks the same: it doesn’t concern them.

The existence of the Wraiths is still not understood, and all the lightning lamps have been removed. Despite my protests to Duke Balkh, there’s a limit to what he can do. It’s been about a month without any changes. It’s not surprising if people start feeling safe again.

Rafina, Brigit, Cole, and I, an unusual quartet, walk through the town.

“There are no more lightning lamps, it seems,” I mutter with disappointment, and the three frown.

“They must have judged it not to be dangerous. People just won’t believe your words,” Rafina says.

“People don’t believe until the situation becomes dangerous,” Cole adds.

“That’s true. It can’t be helped,” Brigit remarks.

If someone else were told the same thing, they probably wouldn’t believe it either. To gain someone’s trust, evidence and credibility are necessary. Unfortunately, I have neither.

“That Wraith might not necessarily appear when the monsters show up. Besides, I don’t believe in the effectiveness of lightning lamps either.”

“Cole! Do you dare to claim that Shion is lying!? Look at everything he has done! Shion has put in so much effort for the sake of those with Lazy Syndrome! Sacrificing sleep, caring for his sister, helping his mother, conducting research on Lazy Syndrome, even hunting monsters. Despite facing pressure from other doctors, he remained unbroken and achieved results! While doctors around the world have been powerless, Shion alone found a way to treat Lazy Syndrome! It couldn’t have been a mere coincidence. There must have been effort and hardship to reach that point! You, at least, should have witnessed some of it!”

Rafina glared at Cole, her face red with anger. In response, Cole wore a grim expression, and Brigit nodded several times without saying a word.

Uh, um… What are you talking about? When did things become like this? It’s a bit glorified, isn’t it? I’m not that great of a person.

“Uh, well, I didn’t mean it that way.”

“I’m not belittling any decent doctors, nor am I disregarding their efforts! However, it’s thanks to Shion that we’ve come this far with Lazy Syndrome. We might even be able to treat it in the future. We can develop countermeasures for the Wraiths because of Shion’s magic and the lightning lamps he created. Can you not believe in those achievements!? Is that what you’re saying!?”

Um… wait a minute. Why are these two getting so passionate? Even though they’re talking about me, I feel like I’m being left out.

“So, I’m concerned…”

“Yeah! I get it! This guy, Shion, is advancing the research on Lazy Syndrome because he’s around! No matter what we did, there was no response from the patients. But magical reactions are undeniably affecting the patients. It’s certain that they’re ‘starting to react!'”

Recently, I started supplying magic to mild Lazy Syndrome patients, of course with the families’ permission. By pleading with Duke Balkh, I somehow managed to transfer one mild patient to the Alfonse Clinic. Of course, it was not done without permission; it was discussed with the family in advance.

With that person as the focus, we’re supplying magic and monitoring the progress. Thanks to Rose, I know that supplying magic to the human body is not an issue. It’s uncertain whether it applies to people other than Rose, so I can’t be too careless. Based on the amount and duration of magic supply deemed safe through Rose’s judgment, I’m treating mild patients.

I don’t even know if they’ll recover, but there have been slight changes. Very minor changes. But definite ones. The patient ‘blinked.’

Lazy Syndrome patients, even in mild cases, don’t blink. They may close and open their eyes, but only when sleeping or waking up. In their usual state, they never blink voluntarily. However, while supplying magic, they blinked multiple times. It was a small change, but it was a definite reaction.

So, Cole acknowledges this. However, it’s not acknowledging me but simply recognizing that magic affects Lazy Syndrome patients. It doesn’t mean he recognizes me. The fact that they blinked doesn’t necessarily lead to a cure. Still, there’s a potential connection. Just having a lead in treatment from a state of no clues is a significant progress, in my opinion.

“Hmph! Well, if that’s the case.”

Rafina, for the time being, sheathed her spear, but Cole doesn’t seem entirely satisfied. It seems like he’s grappling with complex emotions about an amateur like me attempting to treat the disease, bypassing him, a medical professional. It might be a mix of professional joy, consideration for pride as a doctor, and his role as a mentor. I don’t really need credit for the accomplishment, but if I were to say that, Cole might get angry.

However, Rafina and Cole don’t seem to get along, frequently ending up in arguments. In my case too, it feels somewhat awkward and uncomfortable. In this tense atmosphere, we continued walking.

I wanted to ease this awkwardness. Thinking so, I opened my mouth.

“Brigit, how about the monsters from other countries?”

“…Except for the Wraith, the situation seems the same. There are no eyewitness accounts of new monsters, but there are many strong monsters. It’s information from the Monsterology Association, so it’s reliable concerning monsters.”

“I see. Is the Wraith limited to this region? I wonder why.”

“I don’t know, but I’ve researched a bit. Perhaps the Wraith might be a pre- Rugure War monster. It seems there were more monsters a thousand years ago, and within them, there might have been similar forms.”

“…Have there been any sightings in the last thousand years?”

“I don’t think so. At least, the Monsterology Association has no such information.”

I wonder what that could mean. Is it believable that a monster that hadn’t been sighted for a thousand years suddenly appeared? While there’s a possibility, it’s hard to believe outright. If that’s the case, it might be more plausible to say it’s a sudden mutation of some monster that was born recently or emerged. It didn’t look like a living organism at all.

Anyway, the current situation remains unclear.

“Well, for now, let’s put that on hold. Since then, no Wraith has appeared. Changing the subject, what’s this Rugure War?”

“A war a thousand years ago… each country cooperated to fight against a race called the Demon Tribe. Before that, there were more monsters than now. The Rugure War defeated both monsters and the Demon Tribe, bringing peace, apparently.”

“Apparently?”

“Don’t know? The Rugure War is treated with skepticism. It’s like a legend, and there’s supposedly little historical evidence.” Hence, ‘apparently,’ as Bridget said.

“Is this story famous?”

“It’s famous enough to become a picture book. If not commoners, nobles should at least know about it.”

Even if asked why I didn’t know, there simply wasn’t an opportunity to learn.

“So, what does ‘ Rugure ‘ mean?”

“…I don’t know.”

Rafina looked awkward, averting her gaze.

“…It’s not just Rafina; it’s not known worldwide. There are various theories, like someone named Rugure leading each country or being the name of a lost country.”

The loss of history from a thousand years ago. Come to think of it, even in Japan, it’s unclear whether the history from a thousand years ago is well-documented. There are cases where new information emerges, altering the content of Japanese history. But does it apply to a war that could engulf the world? Perhaps because it was such a massive war, records are lacking, and over time, it faded from people’s memories. Rafina looked uncomfortable. On a whim, I crafted some words.

“Ignorance is not shameful. What’s shameful is not knowing that you’re ignorant.”

“What’s that?”

“I adapted a famous saying that I vaguely recall into my own words. I just thought it might be okay now that I know. Well, I don’t know if it’ll be useful in the future.”

“Hmph, what a strange way of thinking, Shion.”

It was unexpected coming from Rafina. She likely had her knightly pride, acting in accordance with it. As we walked, we observed the state of the town. Then, a voice caught our attention.

“It seems the lightning lamps were finally removed.”

“Yeah, it was really annoying. Using torches is better than those fragile things. Especially for us who wander around.”

Two patrolling guards seemed to be having a conversation. It was surprising to hear them openly discussing internal matters in such a crowded place. Whether it was an issue with the quality of Istria’s soldiers or just their personalities, we silently listened.

“There’s been a notice from Duke Balkh about the ‘invisible monsters’ or something. Like hell that’s true. If they existed, there would have been more reports in this past month.”

“Exactly. We were just made to do pointless things. The higher-ups always make unreasonable demands. Well, at least this time it’s just a hassle and nothing serious.”

“…I’ve had enough. I hope the Duke stops making these unreasonable requests.”

While complaining, the soldiers left. We moved on to another location, gathering information from guards’ conversations and rumors. We checked the city walls, main streets, guard stations, patrol routes, gate areas, back alley entrances, and more. After spending a few hours confirming what we needed, we moved to the edge of the road.

“It seems there are no lightning lamps anywhere. The complete absence of them is quite challenging. Also, the number of vagrants has decreased. We didn’t encounter anyone with magical power, and there didn’t seem to be anyone resembling a Lazy syndrome patient.”

“In that case, it suggests a decreasing trend in patients. The number of patients being brought to the clinic is low, so there’s no doubt.”

Cole lowered his gaze with a serious expression. With the one-month mark approaching, the number of patients developing lazy syndrome has sharply decreased. While it’s good that the existing thousands of patients aren’t increasing, it doesn’t necessarily mean the situation is improving.

“There seemed to be quite a few people among the citizens discussing lazy syndrome. However, rumors or conversations about the invisible monsters, the Wraith, were almost nonexistent. And, inconveniently, not just ordinary citizens but even knights, gatekeepers, patrol soldiers, officials, and even members of the extermination squad—there were almost no individuals ‘vigilant about the Wraiths.’ This information comes from informants and well-informed sources within the knight order, so it’s almost certainly accurate. Many of the soldiers we passed by earlier also seemed quite relaxed. If there were invisible monsters, it wouldn’t be like that.”

Rafina was more knowledgeable about the soldiers’ information than we were. She succinctly shared the information she had gathered during our walk through the city and the details she had requested earlier.

“If people believe in the invisible monsters appearing at night, they should be vigilant during the day as well. There’s a possibility of different monsters showing up, so it’s only natural to stay cautious. However, there’s no sign of such a situation. It’s not just about the presence or absence of lightning lamps; the soldiers’ mindset is also dangerous.”

“At this rate, if the Wraiths appear, we won’t be able to handle it for sure.”

If Duke Balkh couldn’t stop the withdrawal of the lightning lamps, there’s little we can do. Even if we appeal directly to the soldiers, it might be futile. Whether it’s to earn through trade, ingratiate with the Merchant Guild, or purely provide support to other countries or domestically, I don’t know, but Duke Balkh instructed me to produce lightning lamps. Originally, for over two years, Glast-san and I had been making lightning lamps and spark stones. They were exported to Istria and Sanostria within the city and were being produced in considerable numbers. Perhaps due to being sold at a price that even common citizens could afford, there were quite a few people using them indoors. However, they weren’t strong enough to be used as street lamps, so they were treated more like interior decorations. In other words, although lightning lamps weren’t placed outside, it meant that the inside of houses was relatively safe. Intrusion by the Wraiths could be prevented. However, soldiers outside didn’t have lightning lamps, so they had no countermeasures. They would be attacked unilaterally, and not everyone in the city had a lightning lamp. If the Wraiths invaded, the entire city would turn into hell.

“I’ve requested the production of lightning lamps, and a certain number is stored in the warehouse. We might not be able to respond immediately if something happens, but I’ve made preparations to distribute them a bit.”

“It would be good if nothing happened…”

“Yeah, I like researching monsters… but monsters are dangerous.”

“If something does happen, and if what Shion says is true, when the time comes… I’ll help too.”

Each person showed a different reaction. However, probably everyone wishes for peace. Today, we all acted together to understand the current situation. I thought that with these three, if something happened, they might take action. Even though their appearances and personalities are different, I believe their hearts are the same. If possible, I hope that the events of that night were a one-time occurrence. Establishing a treatment for Lazy Syndrome and curing everyone would be ideal. It’ll be okay. Surely, such a future awaits us.

○●○

On that night.

I woke up in the assigned room, feeling heavy with fatigue. I lifted my body from the bed. I wanted to go to the bathroom. I left the room with sleepy eyes. When I tried to descend to the first floor, my eardrums unexpectedly trembled.

“It’s about time to switch.”

“Oh, thank you.”

It was Dad and Mom’s voices. Today was the day Dad came every few days. Despite being tired, he took the initiative to take care of my sister to give Mom a rest. I sincerely felt grateful for this family and these parents. Thanks to everyone, I feel happy. Even though I’m such a strange child, I knew they loved me. For the sake of these two, I have to cure my sister. With that thought in mind, I slowly proceeded down the hallway.

“Shion…”

When I heard my name, I involuntarily stopped. Unconsciously, I pricked up my ears.

“Is Shion disappointed in me?”

“Why would you think that?”

“…I, as a father, haven’t done anything for Shion. I must have made him suffer with my selfishness. Relying on the magical power, burdening him with hardships. Shion is just a ten-year-old child.”

At the pained voice, I frowned. Did Dad really think that way? I wanted to deny it. But my feet wouldn’t move.

“Well, it’s true. We rely on Shion-kun too much. That child is truly kind and can do various things more than others. We tend to depend on him, but he’s still a child. Yes, it’s probably relying too much, but it’s not just you. It’s me, Glast-kun, Balkh-sama, and probably others, even this ‘world.’ We’ve all become reliant on that child.”

A heavy silence weighed down on us. The ‘world’? Could it be about the Lazy Syndrome?

“Will Shion come to resent me someday? Will he hate me or look down on me? Pathetic as it may be, I’m terrified of that day coming…”

“You know, I feel the same way. I’m scared too… of my own inadequacies. All we can do is continue to love that child. So, let’s keep loving him. No matter what happens, no matter when. Let’s live for Shion and Marie.”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s right.”

Their voices, weaker than I had ever heard, instantly unsettled me. Perhaps it was a conversation I shouldn’t have overheard. I didn’t understand what they were talking about. What I did understand was that both of them seemed saddened. If I were the cause of it, what should I do? I didn’t want to see my beloved parents looking sad. Quietly, I left the scene.

Surely, I’m afraid too.

Whatever my parents are hiding, the fear is stronger than my desire to know what it is.

If I were to bombard Mom and Dad with various questions, and if the answers were something that would jeopardize our relationship.

If it were something that would hurt them.

Thinking about that, my legs become weak.

That’s why I don’t ask anything.

I’ve accepted this cowardly side of myself.

I shook my head.

There are things one should know, and there are things one is better off not knowing.

I convinced myself that this must be the latter.