Chapter 35: Surroundings Ten months have pa.s.sed since I"ve been summoned.
Some time has pa.s.sed since the subjugation in the West Forest.
It has become noisy around me since then.
That was inevitable since I went all out when I used my 【Saint】ability.
The mysterious magic I used at the subjugation was appraised and it seemed that it was the technique that was used by the 【Saint】.
The demons and the miasma swamp both disappeared because of that technique.
I remembered that the technique used by the 【Saint】was used to annihilate demons, but I never thought that the swamp would be gone too.
I don"t know anything about the swamp yet.
The Head Magician and I talked about various things inside of the carriage, on our way back to the Royal Capital, and we also spoke about the swamp.
It was only speculation but there was a high probability that the swamp was made from miasma; because of the demons gushing out of it and how it disappeared without a trace because of my magic power.
To his knowledge, the Head Magician had never heard anything about that swamp before.
The Head Magician and the Captain were also talking about the swamp when we had first encountered it and that was the first time both of them had seen something like that.
The Captain also agreed that the swamp had been made from miasma.
The cl.u.s.ter of miasma disappearing meant that this was probably the effect of the purifying 【Saint】technique that was recorded in doc.u.ments.
The Head Magician had said that.
We also talked about the technique that the 【Saint】used inside of the carriage and not just about the swamp.
The Head Magician"s excitement didn"t show in his words.
His eye colour had already changed so he was already a little interested.
It felt like his excitement was from being able to see rare magic and not from finding out that I was the 【Saint】.
In other words, he was the same as always.
It wasn"t just the Head Magician, the Captain was also the same as always.
So I was a little optimistic.
I hope that everything remains the same when we return to the Royal Palace.
My delusions were destroyed a week after we returned from the subjugation.
I noticed that the att.i.tudes of the people around me had changed on my way to the Royal Palace library to return a book I had borrowed.
An example was people coming my way.
The corridors of the Royal Palace were wide so I didn"t need to avoid people, even if they were coming towards me.
The only time I needed to avoid people was around corners, because it seemed like people were likely to b.u.mp into each other in that short distance.
Despite that, I suddenly noticed that people who walked past me avoided me and walked while looking at the ground.
It was as if they were pa.s.sing someone important.
I was usually in deep thought when I walked so I never noticed my surroundings before, but I don"t think that something like this has happened before.
I became anxious when I noticed it, so I paid attention to see if anything else had changed.
I noticed that something had changed when I did that, even though it wasn"t noticeable.
For example, I would normally chat with the librarian behind the desk whenever I went to return my book but now they would receive me by saying, "An important person has arrived", at the librarian"s antechambers.
The room where I had my lectures had also changed; it was now conducted in a more extravagant room.
The person who informed me about things related to my lectures was still the same Civil Official, but now he always seemed nervous when talking with me.
That type of action wasn"t limited to the Civil Official, there were a lot of knights and mages who acted that way also.
Ah, but the att.i.tudes of the 2nd Knight Order knights, who appeared whenever I went to the library, hasn"t changed.
They worshipped me from the beginning.
The researchers also acted the same as before.
It might be because a lot of them weren"t interested in anything but research.
Or maybe they didn"t know about the subjugation rumours. Even if they did, it didn"t have anything to do with research, so they probably didn"t care.
It would be great if it was the latter.
If it"s the former then they might not act the same way anymore.
"What"s wrong? You"re s.p.a.cing out."
"Ah, Director."
I zoned out a little whenever I recalled the recent changes.
The Director had called out to me because I had stopped in the middle of making potions.
How should I answer?
I didn"t tell the Director that I had used the 【Saint】technique in the subjugation.
He was glad that I had returned safely and didn"t ask me anything about the subjugation.
The stories about the subjugation seemed to have spread very widely, judging by the state of affairs in the Royal Palace.
The Director probably knows about it already.
"People around me have changed a little recently."
"The people around you?"
"Yes. It"s like I"ve somehow become someone important. They treat me really respectfully whenever I go to the Royal Palace."
"Ah……"
I said that and he had already guessed what I wanted to say.
The Director"s face changed from his usual laugh to a wry one.
"Well, the topic of how amazing the 【Saint】technique was, is currently the hot topic in the Royal Palace."
"So they also talked about who used that technique, right?"
"Of course."
"I knew it……"
"I heard about the subjugation from Al. It would have happened eventually, considering your achievements."
The Director was right, but if possible, I wanted everyone to act like they have been up until now.
I think they"ve been courteous thus far and was happy about it.
"If you weren"t there then the guys who went on the subjugation would have been annihilated."
"That might be true."
"This wasn"t the only time you helped them out. The closer the guys were to the scene the more grateful they are to you."
"They don"t have to be. I was just doing what I could and I was also in danger at the time."
"Even if you say that……"
"Honestly, if you"re thankful then I want you to treat me like you always do. I"m not used to it……"
"Well, you"ll get used to it."
"I don"t want to."
I sullenly said and the Director laughed as if he was troubled.
We left it at that and the Director muttered, "Sorry".
I glanced at him and he looked serious for once.
Why was he apologising?
Was he apologising because of the situation?
I don"t think it"s something he should apologise for.
I was the one who didn"t refuse when they requested for support.
I was confused and he told me the reason:
"Even so, I"m still grateful to you. I"ll want to grant your wish as much as I possibly can."
"Director……"
"But things will be a little difficult from here on out. I probably can"t grant all your wishes. You probably can"t understand this, but the 【Saint】is a very special existence for us."
I"ve heard this before and experienced it a little, but the 【Saint】was a special existence to people in Slantania after all.
I didn"t experience it much with the researchers or the 3rd Knight Order because they treated me normally, but the 2nd Knight Order worshipped me a lot.
This was all the more true when I saw how people"s att.i.tudes towards me had taken a complete 180° change.
Furthermore, the next words that came out of the Director"s mouth were too much.
"By things getting harder, do you mean that I have to stop working at the research inst.i.tute?"
"I don"t intend to ask you to stop, but if you get invited to subjugations then your time at the research inst.i.tute would decrease."
"That"s true. I was away for a few days this time also."
"The West Forest is still close by. They"ll probably recruit you for subjugation in rural areas. That takes more time."
"Rural areas?"
"Yes. There"s a large outbreak of demons in rural areas and the people are worn out. They requested for the Knight Order many times."
"So the capital"s outskirts aren"t the only place with an overflow of demons?"
"That"s right. You can"t just leave it be. They will proceed to the rural area after the demon outbreak in the capital outskirts settle down.
A rural area, huh?
I"ve heard that it took a week to get to a neighbouring kingdom.
That was probably the shortest time it could take to get to a neighbouring kingdom. It could possibly take longer depending on where the place was.
The subjugation probably wouldn"t finish in a day.
The outbreaks probably wouldn"t occur in the same places.
If it was like that, then a round trip plus subjugation could take up to a month.
"If I go to a rural area then would I be gone for more than a month?"
"Yes."
"1 month, huh……? I don"t know how often I would go there to subjugate but it"s highly possible that I won"t be at the research inst.i.tute much."
"Well, I think you would rest at the capital, but it would be like that until things settle down in the rural areas."
That"s right.
I wouldn"t be at the research inst.i.tute much and I don"t know how long it would continue.
There was no telling when things would settle down in the rural area.
I don"t think I can continue to be a researcher in that situation.
It was inexcusable to be a researcher when I don"t work.
If it was like that then it"s better to change my workplace to the Court Mage Division.
Because subjugation would also be considered work there.
But the research inst.i.tute was a good place for me to work.
It"s fun to research about potions.
My thoughts apparently showed up on my face.
The Director called out to me worriedly.
"What"s wrong?"
"Nothing. I"d like to keep my job but it doesn"t seem like I would be able to do my work so……"
"You feel bad about it?"
"Yes. After all, I would have to move to the Court Mage Division or somewhere else."
"Isn"t it fine?"
"What?"
"There are medicinal herbs and potions unique to each region. Inspecting them could also be considered working, so I don"t see a problem with you being employed at the research inst.i.tute. "
"Is that alright?"
"I"m saying it"s fine. You don"t have to worry about it."
The Director, who said that while he narrowed his eyes and laughed, looked like he had a halo on his head.
If I wished to remain a researcher then the Director would make it happen.
Even if the people at the top said that I had to transfer, the Director said he would use every means to keep me here.
Director, thank you!
Well, why is it that this wish of mine keeps getting harder and harder to bring about?
"Ah, that is……"
I asked him about it and he shut his mouth as if it was a little difficult to say.
I was curious so I wished he"d tell me sooner.
"Didn"t you say before that you wanted to live your life as an ordinary person?"
"I did."
"I don"t think that"s possible now."
Come to think of it, I remember having this conversation with the Director before.
He clearly said it was impossible and I thought so as well.
It was impossible to have my way after coming this far.
"That"s already something that can"t be helped. I"ve already half given up on that."
"Only half?"
"Yes. I wanted to live a quiet life if I could."
"I see. I"ll try my best to fulfil your wishes."
He lightly retorted as he laughed wryly.
After that, he told me that he would do his best but……
Director, did you really want to fulfil it?
He said it kind of seriously and kind of like a joke but I"ll trust that he"ll fulfil it!
Translator: Blushy
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Synergy Filip D. Jenny T. Enjoy the chapter!