Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world - - Chapter 78

Magic Maker – How to make magic in another world –

Chapter 78   Rumors tend to grow tails and fins.

Ten days later.

After traversing treacherous mountainous terrain, fending off monsters, we finally arrived at the royal capital, Sanostria.

It felt long.

Although not that much in terms of duration, each day felt incredibly lengthy.

Most of the time was spent inside the carriage.

As a result, I was mentally exhausted.

“Look, Shion! The royal capital is in sight! Come on, cheer up!”

“I-I can see it… Yeah, I see it.”

I was gazing diagonally ahead from the window.

From a weary state, a surge of vitality filled my heart.

Rafi, beside me, happily patted my shoulder.

“Good for you! You’ll be liberated from this life! Right!?”

“Y-yeah… I’m glad.”

I genuinely felt that way.

Captain Goht and the members of the escort unit were good people, but due to their strictness, I was forced into a confined life.

Being treated as an important person, I was in a semi-restrained state under the pretext of protection.

Understanding that they had their own reasons and harboring no ill will, I subtly suggested for more freedom, only to be rejected, leaving me with no choice but to accept.

And so, these ten days were challenging. Too uneventful.

Ah, the royal capital is visible. It’s shining.

That is the city of my aspirations.

With a sense of longing, I gazed at the royal capital.

“Shion-sama, the royal capital is in sight! We will arrive shortly!”

Captain Goht knocked on the door and shouted.

When I heard his deep voice, I couldn’t help but have a bad premonition, but today, it was a welcome announcement.

Usually, it starts with “Shion-sama! It’s dangerous outside!” and ends with “Please don’t leave the carriage!” Today, that annoying… I mean customary practice was absent.

I’ve had enough of the carriage. I want to return alone.

Without expressing that wish aloud, I spent time eagerly anticipating the gradual approach of the royal capital.

And it arrived.

The grand gate.

It loomed right in front of me.

The surroundings were filled with people.

What a number.

There must be at least a thousand people here.

They were coming in and out through the main gate, undergoing inspection by the gatekeepers.

There were quite a few, but the gatekeepers themselves exceeded a hundred.

The pace of immigration inspection was fast, swiftly completed.

I thought we would join the line, but the carriage continued without stopping, overtaking the crowd.

“Huh? Aren’t we supposed to line up?”

“There’s no way we would. This carriage is a reserved transport allowed only for the upper class.

There’s no way it would be treated on par with ordinary people. If we were to line up, the captain would be punished.”

“…But I’m not upper class.”

“It’s probably because you’re considered an equally important person.

Since it’s the queen’s orders, no one would object.”

The queen’s orders, huh.

According to Duke Balkh’s story, the queen had instructed them to bring me to the royal capital.

It seemed she wanted me, to teach the treatment method for healing.

Of course, I knew about it in advance.

Well, there are various thoughts, but for now, it’s fine.

I understand my position to some extent.

For now, only I can use proper magic, and only I can treat the lazy syndrome

Demons can’t be defeated without magic, and lazy syndrome can’t be cured without magic.

In other words, if something happens to me, demons can’t be defeated, and lazy syndrome can’t be cured.

This has been emphasized repeatedly.

So, being treated as an important person and being invited to the royal capital like this is not strange.

I don’t have a clear idea of what to do next.

Well, there have been more than ten days, so I’ve made some preparations based on my predictions.

The problem is whether it will turn out as I expect.

I have no choice but to do it.

“Oh, hey, isn’t that…”

“Ah, yeah, first time seeing it. The rumored one.”

“…So, that rumor was true?”

“The Istrian, right? So, is that person riding it?”

Voices could be heard from outside.

What?

Istrian? What’s that?

A rumor?

Is it really becoming a rumor?

No, wait. It’s not that strange.

The fact that I treated lazy syndrome and repelled demons is well-known in Istria.

For those who didn’t witness it, it might just be a rumor.

A considerable amount of time has passed since then.

It wouldn’t be surprising if information from Istria reached the royal capital.

I don’t know if information is accurately transmitted to other countries, but the citizens of the royal capital should be aware.

While the surroundings continued to buzz with excitement, I…

“What’s wrong, Shion? Your face is turning pale.”

I began to tremble as if suddenly remembering something.

My limbs were shaking with spasms.

What’s happening?

I had forgotten.

I really remembered now.

I am ‘shy.’

During the research on lazy syndrome treatment, I attracted attention from doctors and various people, but I didn’t care much.

Because they hated me.

I don’t try to be liked by those who dislike me, and I don’t care about any evaluations.

Because they are people who are irrelevant to me.

Moreover, my mind was occupied with treating my sister and patients.

So, I didn’t have the luxury of caring about such things.

Later, during the Demon incident, I attracted even more attention.

But I was desperate at that time.

Therefore, I didn’t have the composure and time to exhibit shyness like now.

Considering all this, you might not think that I’m actually shy.

But that’s not the case.

There are two types of shyness: the type that is shy anytime, anywhere, and the type that is shy only when the conditions are right.

It depends on the time, place, and person.

In my case, shyness strongly emerges in situations when I am ‘approached positively’ and when ‘I feel I have to be liked by the other person.’

How am I right now?

The people around me are strangers.

But I don’t mind if they dislike me, and rather, since this is a new environment, I think I should try to make a good impression as much as possible.

After all, I’m going to interact with many people from now on.

Due to this incomprehensible sense of pressure.

As a result, I activated my shyness ability more than usual.

“Shion!? Y-your body is shaking violently!?”

“N-no, R-Rafi. I-I’m, uh, not shaking or anything. I-it’s just, um, a little, you know.”

“Y-your eyes look bloodshot! Are you going to die!? Shion! Are you going to die!?”

I don’t want to die.

But Rafi, being disturbed by my unusual condition, made me more unsettled.

The inside of the carriage became chaotic.

Rafi grabbed my shoulder and shook me vigorously back and forth.

I might vomit.

I might throw up!

“H-hey, stop it.”

“Don’t die, Shion!”

It’s your fault that I feel like dying!

“Le-let go!”

“S-sorry! Are you okay!?”

I took a deep breath, trying to regain my composure somehow.

“S-somehow.”

“S-sorry. I, uh, lost my composure… ”

“I-it’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Just, um, step back a bit? Just for now.”

I’m strong against attacks because of the shield, but who would have thought that I’d be weak against being shaken physically?

Well, I guess so.

Magic isn’t some convenient power that naturally protects my body.

I need to be careful.

Anyway, let’s calm down.

I’ve been in the spotlight like this before, right?

Being looked at with disdain, talked about behind my back, and still, I’ve lived without caring.

Even so…

“Oh, is that the hero who saved Istria?”

“Yeah, no doubt. I heard it as a rumor.

Tall and incredibly handsome, supposedly a manly hero.

It’s said he defeated dangerous monsters and treated lazy syndrome patients!”

“I heard that too. They say he’s incredibly handsome.”

“I heard she’s a woman.”

“Huh? No, no, you’re wrong. I heard he’s a sturdy and robust warrior.

He supposedly killed thousands of monsters in just a few minutes.”

Ah, the rumors have gone awry.

It’s fine to share information.

At least get it right!

Feeling the heightened expectations from those around me, the tension increases even more.

Rafi, beside me, watches me with a worried expression.

She may not understand my state of mind, but she notices how I am.

I shouldn’t get too agitated and worry Rafi; I need to stay composed.

As I’m thinking about these things, the carriage comes to a stop.

“I am Goht Fals, formerly the captain of the Istria Second Royal Guard, now the captain of the Istria Escort Unit!

By the order of Queen Milhya, I have come to fulfill the duty of escorting a certain individual. Here is the letter. We request permission to enter the royal capital.”

Looking out from the window, I saw Captain Goht taking out a paper from his pocket and showing it to the gatekeeper.

It feels like the situation is getting more and more significant.

No, maybe it was significant from the beginning.

I just didn’t realize it.

Ah, it’s starting to feel scary.

But there’s no turning back now.

“Hah! W-we’ve been waiting for you! Please proceed.”

The carriage moved forward once again.

Leaving the people waiting in line behind, we passed through the grand gate.

The scene expanded before us.

The cityscape within the royal capital was not much different from Istria.

It’s the same country, so the culture is the same, and that’s not surprising.

However, there are a lot of people.

There are overwhelmingly more people.

The streets are crowded with pedestrians, and it’s challenging for the carriage to navigate through.

Stalls line up, and everywhere is blocked by passersby.

The population of Istria is around fifty thousand.

The population of the royal capital, Sanostria, is about three times that, around a hundred and fifty thousand.

The total population of the Lystia Kingdom is said to be about four hundred thousand, with nearly half gathering in Sanostria.

In addition, there are travelers, traders from other countries, and so on.

Even compared to the present day, it’s a considerable number of people.

The carriage moves along the road.

Despite stepping into a new territory, for some reason, the tension has increased.

I don’t really understand the reason for this tension myself, but perhaps it’s anxiety.

A new land, new encounters, and an audience with the queen of my homeland.

That would be the first and most significant hurdle.

If the Queen is a frank person like Duke Balkh, I probably wouldn’t feel this nervous.

That’s probably not the case.

After all, she is the head of a country.

I’ve been trying not to think about it, but the tension is undeniable.

I need to stay on guard, regardless.

Because I don’t know what awaits.

And if my instincts are not wrong,

there won’t be an easy future ahead.

“Are you okay? Feeling better?”

“Yeah, I’m fine now.”

There was tension.

There was anxiety.

In my mind, the shy me kept glancing over here.

But…

The heartbeat gradually slowed down.

As the moment approached, a determination was forming within me.

The carriage was heading towards the castle in the distance.

The winding path seemed to symbolize the journey I was about to undertake.

That’s fine.

Because there’s nothing more boring than a future that is easy and predictable.

For now… if I can just be liberated from this situation, anything will do!

While screaming internally, I patiently waited for that moment to arrive.