Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I PAID A VISIT to the Sorcerers’ Guild the following day to observe the Mage Knights’ training. The school and adjoining training center were built on a small island on Lake Ryuse. I had to take a gondola to get there.

Gliding across the surface of the lake was truly refreshing. I’d enjoy this a lot more if I didn’t have to sit next to a man even older than me…

Yahman was in high spirits, but his incessant jabbering the whole boat ride drove me batty. It didn’t help that he mostly bragged about his personal exploits. If this had been modern Japan, he would definitely have been that guy—the one at the bar who talks the bartender’s ear off. All I could do was grin and bear it. Yahman’s (boastful) stories persisted until we reached our destination.

***

The sorcery school itself was an impressive structure that resembled a chateau, but the Mage Knights were trained in completely different facilities. Instead of making our way to the center of the island where the school was located, we steered toward the outskirts of the island once we disembarked.

We were met at the Mage Knights training center by the superintendent, a sorcerer by the name of Gilead. “I take it you’re that self-proclaimed wizard?” He didn’t even try to hide his condescension.

Yahman stepped forward. “W-watch yourself! Didn’t the branch president himself send a message directing you to treat Lord Margilus with respect?!”

“I am treating him with respect…after my own fashion,” Gilead replied. He struck me as the kind of headstrong man who only believed in what he could see with his own eyes. I don’t have time to win over every skeptic under the sun, I thought to myself, and decided against rising to his challenge.

“I appreciate that you’re taking time out of your busy schedule to give me this tour,” I said. “Now, would it be possible to observe the Mage Knights’ training?”

“But of course! Gilead, are you ready for us?”

“…Yes, right this way. I doubt you’ll find it terribly amusing to watch, though.”

As we made our way to the sorcery training field, Gilead explained how they conditioned the Mage Knights. Sorcery generally took a decade or more of study, but they condensed their curriculum into only three years. On top of that, students went through a kind of boot camp to hone their skills as soldiers. The basic concept had been proposed by Branch President Heridol, while the details—from experimenting with different training methods to overseeing their implementation—was left to Gilead.

I’d had some high hopes for this program when I arrived, but as it turned out, the school was a complete and utter disgrace. The first class eight years ago had been composed of nearly fifty children from nobility and the upper class, all of whom had volunteered. Of those fifty, only two had managed to complete their entire curriculum and meet the minimum requirements of a Mage Knight. The others were unable to withstand the program and dropped out, were forced to quit due to injury, or died. As a result, there were fewer than twenty volunteers for the second class. This time, only a single student had been able to withstand the training.

“This is even worse than I imagined,” I whispered.

“Come again?”

“Nothing, nothing… Tell me, how does the current class fare?”

“We are currently in the midst of training up our third cohort. We primarily sought volunteers among the common citizenry and farmers outside the city, but their initial lack of interest sadly drove us to begin offering enlistment bonuses, which brought in eighty volunteers. Not only is this our largest class to date, but we have also made substantial improvements to the training regimen after thoroughly reviewing the curriculum used with the first and second classes.”

In other words, no one financially sound was willing to sacrifice their children to your insane program, so you turned to the poor? I certainly hope you haven’t stooped to human trafficking… I felt gloom wash over me as we reached the sorcery training grounds. It’s just a big, empty field.

“These are our meditation cells.”

“What the heck?” I blurted out.

Gilead was gesturing toward rows of pits about two meters deep that dotted the grounds. Each was supplied with its own ladder for climbing in and out…and a lid. Roughly ten of the pits were covered. I guess that means they’re “in use,” so to speak.

A sorcerer acting in the capacity of something akin to a coach stood there, mindlessly “watching” over them.

“It’s vital for the caster to be able to thoroughly visualize their spells in order to use them without the aid of a sorcery frame. We’ve found that the training is most effective if conducted in a space that cuts off the five senses,” Gilead explained.

The cadets were given special herbs to relax their minds before burrowing into these pits to devote all of their attention to memorizing the image of a spell. Whoa, back up! The instructors here are giving kids drugs to relax?!

“We have found they form stronger mental images of the spells with the implementation of supplementary aids such as these, rather than simply meditating in the darkness,” Gilead went on proudly. He showed me a copper plate with an engraving that depicted the moment Falga Lans sprang from a sorcerer’s staff. By imagining the spell as they ran their fingers over the plate, the cadets’ mental image of Falga Lans supposedly grew increasingly distinct.

“Is that so…? Well…I suppose I’m not well-informed enough to have a strong opinion about the technique…”

When you get down to it, the theory behind my magic is nothing more than some backstory I concocted as a bored college kid to feed my tabletop RPG obsession. So even if I have a problem with the method just explained to me, it really isn’t my place to shoot it down, and yet…

“Sorry,” I said, “But would you mind if I asked something?”

“What is it?”

“In the practice of sorcery, you’ve explained that it’s vital to have vivid mental images of the spell, yes? In which case, wouldn’t actual demonstrations be more effective?”

“…Huh?”

Yeah, this is the part that makes absolutely no sense to me. Seeing as they actually have sorcerers on the premises, why don’t they show the kids some spells?! But my question earned looks from Yahman and Gilead that seemed to shout, “Is this fellow completely mad?”

“…Uh…well, if we used that method, it would require showing the cadet sorcery on a daily basis from the very beginning,” Yahman objected.

“Furthermore, we must ensure that the students are of suitable moral fiber before they begin to acquire skills in earnest. Sorcery, after all, is a dangerous weapon,” Gilead insisted heatedly. “All in all, it should be evident that our school’s basic principles prevent adopting such a method as you suggest.”

“Really…?”

I was less than impressed with the excuses they threw out, but the next words Yahman whispered under his breath were on a level far beyond anything I could have imagined. “Besides, how would we maintain our status if people could learn sorcery that easily…?”

Clang! Clang! While I stood staring at the sorcerer in shock, a piercing bell resounded in my ears. It must have been some kind of alarm. The lids that sealed the pits slid off from the inside. Exhaustion was plainly written on the faces of the young boys and girls as they climbed out of their cells.

“Excellent work. Take a three-hour break,” the instructor arrogantly ordered his students. The wilted cadets collapsed on the ground.

“Urgh…”

“……”

With unfocused eyes and pallid faces, the cadets fell in line and began to march in unison. It was almost mechanical—like a bunch of sleepwalkers. This isn’t training, it’s abuse…

***

Next, I was led to the outer periphery of the island. The beautiful sandy beach on the lake rivaled the classiest of resorts, but…

“I don’t see your feet moving! Hup, hup! The moment a soldier can’t walk, he’s DEAD!”

I was shown a group of about ten boys and girls carrying wood and rucksacks as a burly soldier drove them to march fervently along the beach.

“And here,” explained Gilead, “you see our ruck march training. Cadets currently undergoing instruction in the third class will be assigned to the Sorcerers’ Guild as Mage Knights after they receive one year of military training.”

“…As I recall, you said eighty children were recruited for the third class. How many are still left?” I asked.

“Eighteen have withstood the curriculum and progressed accordingly. It’s a testament to our improved training curriculum,” Gilead boasted. I didn’t even want to know what happened to the sixty-two children who couldn’t withstand the program.

“According to the plans I’ve devised with the branch president, we should be able to consistently produce Mage Knights capable of single-handedly defeating a fiend by the fifth class.”

“Quite the plan,” I said vaguely, nodding in response to Gilead’s ambitious claim. Inside me, strong emotions simmered.

“Tel! Not you again! On your feet!”

As I watched the children “train” with arms crossed over my chest, I noticed the smallest boy lagging at the end of the file collapse to the ground. Despite the soldier screaming in his ear, the lad showed no sign of budging. Fortunately, the large boy at the front of the line noticed and came running to the rescue.

“Tel, we’re almost done. You can do it! Everyone, give it all you’ve got!” The large boy shouted encouragingly before hoisting the scrawny lad across his shoulder to drag him the rest of the way. For the soldier to let it slide, this probably happened often. Seeing as the other cadets cheered in response to the large boy’s pep talk, it was probably safe to assume he was their leader.

“That one is Log, the most promising of our third class. I expect he will prove more beneficial on the front than anyone from the first or second cohort.”

I studied the boy’s—Log’s—face as I listened to Gilead’s explanation. He was enduring the brutal ruck march training…but there was more to it than just that. I could sense a strong will behind those eyes glaring straight ahead that would put most adults to shame.

***

“After this is combat training.”

“I’d like to ask another question… You’ve mentioned the program has improved since the first two classes, but what exactly have you changed?”

“Due to the majority of our cadets coming from noble families or the upper class, we were unable to implement any high-risk, high-yield methods. Naturally, we’ve applied a wide range of modifications since then, such as the copper plates you saw earlier.”

I don’t foresee this place “improving” any time in the future… No offence to the sorcerers, but I can’t envision anything decent coming out of this Mage Knight training center at all. But the cultivation of Mage Knights could be considered a communal undertaking by Relis as a whole, not just Heridol’s personal endeavor. Indeed, it might be widely supported within Relis City. After all, it was the result of desperate brainstorming over ways to contend with the daemon threat. As an outsider, was it really my place to bark protests?

…That’s right. I’m an outsider. I could tell they’d fought and struggled to develop an anti-daemon force. Their plan was perfectly reasonable, right?

No, it’s not. The thought struck me like a bolt of lightning. It’s reasonable to make children soldiers fight daemons? There is no way in the world that’s reasonable. I was merely tricking myself into going along with it. If adults called this “reasonable,” they only did it to protect their own interests. Situations like this were the very definition of injustice.

“What’s your next move?” The masculine voice of my old friend and trusted game master drifted across my mind for the first time in a while. Come to think of it, I’d been forced to make important decisions (in gaming sessions) on numerous occasions when he posed that very question. Those experiences with him came in handy now. Thanks to the memory of his haughty grin, I was able to calmly decide my “next move.”

“I have an idea. If combat training is next, perhaps I could offer some assistance of my own?” I waited for Gilead to respond, gathering my thoughts in the corner of my mind. It was mildly surprising how effortlessly I could multitask. I probably owed such impressive mental capacity to Geo’s 18 INT.

“Pardon?”

“I am able to conjure servants with attributes on par with fiends and imps. I would be willing to make some for the cadets to spar against,” I offered.

The hard truth was that in any world, there existed otherwise sensible adults who believed they had no choice but to reconcile the existence of injustices by calling them “reasonable” or “necessary.” In which case, the great magic user Geo Margilus will blow all those injustices away!

***

The cadets were allowed ample time to rest before we began. Yahman, Gilead, the eighteen children, and I all gathered for a mock battle at a field of packed dirt, generously referred to as the “military training field.”

The cadets were equipped with spears and plain armor. Uncertainty and fear filled the majority of their faces. Wait… The black-haired boy at the front of the column—Log—was the only one glaring at me challengingly. As I recalled, he was considered the top of his class.

“I bet he can’t really create daemons,” Gilead scoffed.

“Shh! What if he hears you?! Keep quiet and watch,” Yahman snapped, whispering.

Ignoring the two middle-aged sorcerers whispering literally right behind my back, I strode before the file of cadets.

“……!” Their nerves visibly grew taut. What in the world did they hear about me?

This takes me back to my old life in Japan… It’s like the times I spoke behind a podium during the training seminars for new employees. I wish they’d paid as much attention as these children are…

“Ahem…! I am the wizard Geo Margilus. I consider myself your ally; I harbor the same desire as all of you to protect the masses from the daemons.” Their eyes widened in surprise at my words. I raised my staff slightly to hush the whispers rippling between them. A testament to their military training: The buzz of commotion came to an instant stop.

“I genuinely appreciate the profound devotion you’ve displayed toward your training. As such, I would like to take the liberty to give you the opportunity to practice fighting creatures on the same level as daemons,” I continued.

“……?”

Not only Log, but several of the children narrowed their eyes suspiciously. The other cadets began to fidget nervously. They think I’m making fun of them. I could even feel Gilead’s icy glare against my back.

“As a consequence of this spell, I will create eighteen Level 1 goblins and one Level 6 ogre in this space under my command for a duration of one hour. Create Monster.”

At the very instant I completed the spell, a horde of small-horned, big-eared goblins appeared, along with an ogre with reddish-brown skin. The moment the children and sorcerers realized what was standing before them, the awkward silence was broken.

***

“…That’s enough,” I called out.

Combat training was over in the blink of an eye. Before it began, there was a little fiasco. Most of the cadets flew into a panic at the sight of the goblins and ogre. Gilead outright fainted from fear!

Needless to say, the kids weren’t able to put up much of a fight in the end. Unlike Create Ogre Platoon, Create Monster was capable of creating most basic monsters without any special attributes. In exchange for its versatility, the effect of the spell only lasted for an hour. But the goblins and ogre didn’t even need five minutes to pin down the entire third class.

The goblins and ogre fought barehanded (with orders to hold back substantially, of course), but most students were taken down before anything resembling a “fight” took place. The only exceptions were Log and a blonde girl, both of whom used their magic to defeat one goblin each.

I ordered my obedient monsters to fall back and approached the cadets before asking, “Did anyone get hurt? Feel free to let me know.”

“…Excuse me, but I think he hit his head,” Log said, carrying over a moaning boy with his head in his hands.

“I see. Sorry about that,” I apologized. As I helped the boy drink a potion, the blonde girl (called Daya, I later learned) glared silently at me.

“…Th-they are still in the middle of their training! They couldn’t hope to fight against actual daemons like these! Besides—” Gilead began to plead his case, his face ghastly pale.

With a shake of my head, I cut the sorcerer’s tirade short. “At any rate, I have seen the best Mage Knight cadets the Sorcerers’ Guild has to offer. I shall inform Lord Heridol of my opinion at a later time. If possible, could you go on ahead? I would like to have a brief word with the cadets in private.”

***

I plunked down before the cadets, still sprawled out in exhausted heaps across the ground. “I swear not to repeat any of what we are about to discuss to the Sorcerers’ Guild without your permission. I want to make myself very clear on that before we proceed.” I spoke quietly. As I continued, the children began pushing themselves up into whatever sitting position struck their fancy. Although hardly surprising, nothing but uncertainty showed on the expressions they directed toward me.

“All I ask is that you answer my questions truthfully. To begin with, do you honestly want to fight daemons? For the record, real daemons are several hundred times more terrifying than the monsters you just fought.”

My question made the majority of cadets drop their heads to look away from me. Only two in the entire class raised their heads boldly.

“I’m gonna avenge my Pa!”

“Me, too.”

Daya and Log were the only ones to look me straight in the eye and proclaim their desire to fight. There were a few others who nodded in assent.

“Now, let me ask those of you who want to fight daemons: Do any of you have your heart set on becoming Mage Knights?” I asked. All of them seemed conflicted over this one.

“I-It’s not like I have my heart set on it… But this is the only place that will train kids like us how to fight…”

“And if you manage to survive, at least they give you food and a bed here…”

These were the timid answers of Log and another boy. As I suspected, they were orphans.

“Do any of you wish to go back home to your parents?” I asked.

Nearly half of the kids raised their hands. But based on their expressions, they knew that no one would welcome them back with open arms if they did return.

“From the explanations I’ve heard and the observations I’ve made, I’ve determined it would be extremely difficult—no, impossible—for you to put up a decent fight against real daemons as Mage Knights.”

Nevertheless, they doggedly endured that nightmarish curriculum. Log and Daya bit their lips as they glared balefully at me. My heart went out to them, but I wasn’t about to mince words.

“I intend to negotiate the temporary closure of the Mage Knight training center with the Sorcerers’ Guild. I will personally give anyone who wants to go home a one-time payment to ease the financial burden. If you have nowhere to go, I will set you up with jobs or a spot at an orphanage or…well, somewhere for you to go! And if you truly wish to fight daemons, I will make arrangements for you to enter the Order of the Calbanera Knights. Of course, you will have to work your way from the bottom up.”

I’ll have to rely on Ild or Chairman Brauze yet again to find the children jobs. Even though I haven’t cleared this with the Calbanera Knights, they owe me a favor or two. I honestly doubt they could turn my request down, especially not if I offer to cover the cost of training the children for a while. As I was working out the plans in my head, Log slapped his hands on the ground.

“H-hey, Mister! Er, I mean, Lord Wizard! I-I’m begging you! Teach me magic…please!” The lad lowered his bushy black hair to the ground as he kowtowed.

I was afraid of this… The kid wasn’t lying when he said he wanted to fight daemons.

“…Even if I imparted my knowledge, it’s highly unlikely you’d be able to use magic. We wouldn’t even know one way or the other until you’d invested years into training,” I answered truthfully. Besides, I can’t pit a child against daemons. Taking him on is a completely different story from teaching Clara. Even if I swap out sorcery for magic, it doesn’t somehow make it all okay.

“I don’t care how many years it takes! I’ll do anything, even menial labor! It’s not like I have parents to go back to. Besides…”

“……”

Not only strong hatred for daemons, but something else glimmered in Log’s eyes as he stared into mine. Inwardly, I felt overpowered by the pure strength of his will. If I’d had to face him when I was in Japan, I probably would have wanted to turn tail and run. Perhaps the only reason I could stand my ground now was because I was forming a strong will of my own, a resolve that I’d never possessed before.

“Besides, aren’t you also trying to exterminate the daemons, Lord Wizard? I want to help you! I have a feeling I’ll get to fight a whole lot more daemons with you than I would as a Mage Knight or a knight!”

“I want to become a knight…but wizards seem far more powerful…”

“I want to stay with Log…”

“I was originally left to die in a ditch, anyway…”

As if Log’s passion was contagious, Daya and several other cadets began begging me to take them under my wing as apprentices.

“Ugh…”

Evidently, I’d taken their resolve too lightly. No matter what, I absolutely refused to even consider it an option to place them under my care only to repeat the Sorcerers’ Guild’s atrocities. But at the same time…

“…Then just don’t repeat their mistakes,” I mumbled to myself as I rose to my feet and brushed the sand off my legs.

“Hm?”

The kernel of an idea was beginning to take form in my mind. There were more ways to fight daemons than launching direct attacks like cleaving or incinerating them.

I’ll let them join my retinue. They might be young, but they still have the right to choose their own path in life. Now I just have to convince the Sorcerers’ Guild…namely Heridol. I doubt he’ll willingly give up his boot camp, even if I point out how flawed the Mage Knights are as anti-daemon forces. My nascent plan might be just what I needed to persuade him. I decided to use the gondola ride back to the Sorcerers’ Guild to organize my thoughts.

***

“…Given their current condition, it is highly unlikely they would survive actual combat. I believe cultivating Mage Knights should be suspended,” I declared to the officers gathered in the great hall of the Sorcerers’ Guild.

Hearing my brazenly harsh critique of a project that spanned a decade put sour expressions on all—or, well, almost all—present. Heridol and Yahman were definitely as sour as vinegar. Especially Heridol. He was trying his hardest to maintain the semblance of a smile, but it was painfully obvious he was grinding his teeth.

On the other hand, Nasaria and Clara were nodding with furrowed brows. Tasim was champing at the bit, eager to hear what I would pop out with next.

“I’ll admit the current Mage Knights might not be what you’d call a valuable asset on the battlefield. However, their strength can be improved upon through further research,” Yahman said, trying to play the mediator between Heridol and me, his head swiveling back and forth between the two of us. Apparently, the children who’d been killed or maimed during the course of such research were irrelevant to these men.

“Wouldn’t boosting their strength prove difficult? I mean, the whole point of this plan was to mass-produce soldiers capable of using weak spells, wasn’t it? If you start mass-producing soldiers who use strong spells, wouldn’t it undermine the very premise of the project?” Tasim argued in a somewhat squeaky voice as he pushed up his glasses. I knew he was the absent-minded professor type…and he spoke right on cue!

“But…”

“I realize how cruel this must sound after all of the hard work you have invested in the program, but I want you to face reality,” I said sternly.

Everyone present knew how the “mock battle” with the monsters I’d created had ended. No one could argue with me on this.

“……”

“We can’t shut down the Mage Knight training program after all these years!” Yahman barked out a protest that was truly in character for the vice president. “All of the money that has gone into it would be for nothing.”

Heridol continued to glare at me with his lips firmly pressed together. They’re worried about profit, huh? Well, if I think of the Sorcerers’ Guild as a commercial organization, their concerns aren’t entirely misplaced.

Clara jumped into the conversation right after Yahman. “It’s easy to tell us to shut the program down, but do you have any better ideas? Can you prepare forces at a lower cost that are stronger than the Mage Knights?”

“Well said! I’d love to hear your proposition, if you have one.”

Going by the look on her face, Clara clearly didn’t think favorably of the Mage Knights, either. What was being done to those children went against all her beliefs. Nevertheless, she forced herself to believe it was necessary, since it was one of the few options that addressed the issue on how to combat daemons. Her stance was appropriate for an officer of the guild.

“…Certainly.” I pulled several objects from my Infinity Bag and tossed them to the floor in the center of the hall. With a dull clang, six metal nuggets almost the size of my fingertips rolled across the ground.

“What are those…?”

“Loyal soldiers, rise!” I commanded. The six metal nuggets began to pulsate and expand.

“Whoa!”

“My word…!”

Once the nuggets grew to the size of adult humans, they began to alter their form more drastically. Heads sprouted, and they grew arms and legs. The metal shifted to make swords, shields, and armor. Within a matter of seconds, the six nuggets turned into six life-size statues of soldiers. They were Soldiers of Bronze, the golems I’d had Geo Margilus create (in a game session) with his Construct Monsters ability. As the name implied, their bronze bodies were equipped with swords, shields, and helmets in a design reminiscent of Roman legionaries. In accordance with the D&B rulebook, they were all Level 8. Despite the physical appearance of robust men, they were considerably stronger than my Level 8 ogres.

“Incredible…”

“Amazing…! Lord Margilus, aren’t those golems?!” Tasim could hardly contain himself.

“Indeed, they are. I would like to offer the ability to create these golems to the Sorcerers’ Guild. The process of creating golems, which I will save for another time, is pure craftsmanship. Anyone with the time and interest is fully capable of learning how,” I explained.

My plan was clear. The time and manpower spent on training Mage Knights could be used for golem production instead. This was the idea I’d devised to help the Sorcerers’ Guild strengthen their anti-daemon forces. It had been sitting in the back of my mind as a vague idea ever since Tasim had told me about this world’s golems the other day, but the blazing passion of Log and the other children had forged it into something concrete.

Crafting golems was a master-level Construct Monster ability in D&B. According to the rules, a specific amount of experience and money was required to obtain the ability, but it wasn’t limited to any specific classes. Furthermore, there were non-player characters who were master golem artificers even though they weren’t magic users. If the Watcher stayed true to that detail as well, Sedians should be able to learn how to craft golems.

“Soldiers, enter a defensive formation around me,” I ordered, spurring the soldiers into action. They moved with unbelievable fluidity for their metal frames. They slid into defensive positions behind me and to either side before raising their spears and shields.

“Wow! They follow verbal commands?” Tasim was even more excited now.

“That is correct,” I answered. “Although limited, they have the capacity to determine how best to carry out their orders.”

Assuming they had the time, materials, and know-how, the guild could produce as many golems as they wanted. If they broke, they could always be repaired. Plus, they wouldn’t incur any labor fees. While they couldn’t be expected to operate with the flexibility of people, their fighting capacity on the battlefield clearly outstripped the Mage Knights.

“Precisely how well do these golems compare to the Mage Knights?” Clara asked.

“Knowing both, I can say for certain a single golem could take on ten fully trained Mage Knights. In terms of daemons, it could handle thirty imps or take out an ogre or two,” I answered.

“I don’t believe we…actually need to test them, do we? But I will admit, it would be fascinating to watch,” said Clara.

While Clara calmly asked her practical questions, Tasim ogled over the constructs. Meanwhile, Heridol and Yahman simply looked ill.

“Is there any chance we could learn the skills needed to construct golems?” she asked.

“There is. A good chance, at that. I would like to recruit volunteers from the Mage Knight cadets.”

“What? Those cadets? But I want you to teach me!” Tasim balked.

“…Their limited knowledge of sorcery and pliable young minds make them ideal,” I explained. While it was true I wanted to assist Relis and the Sorcerers’ Guild with their anti-daemon countermeasures, I was going to use this as my excuse to take Log and the other children under my wing.

“How much does it cost to make one?” Clara asked.

“If you went with the cheapest, I believe the wood golem would cost around one thousand gold coins. They require some special materials, which are hard to come by. But I think it’s a bargain when you consider the fact that they are tireless soldiers that don’t require pay and can take a beating before they need repairs.”

The Soldiers of Bronze were special golems that could shrink to the size of chess pieces for easy transportation. Due to that unique feature, they had lower strength than other golems with similar construction costs. But that also meant simpler golems of comparable ability were both quicker and cheaper to make.

“…I see. That makes sense,” Clara said with a nod, seemingly satisfied with my presentation.

Yahman, however, flew into a panicked frenzy. He burst out with, “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Not so fast! What would we tell all of the nobles and citizens who have supported our efforts fostering Mage Knights throughout the years if we abandon the project now? Don’t you see how the guild would lose face?!”

“Lose face,” huh? Well, I was a businessman once. I can understand how important reputation is for an organization. Bearing that in mind, I gave the officers one last push.

“Even if the technology originated from me, won’t the guild retain its authority if you’re the only ones constructing the golems?”

“……?” Throughout this whole exchange, Heridol hadn’t once spoken a word. His eyes no longer burned solely with anger as confusion flickered across them. “Aren’t you going to create golems? You could make your own golem army if you so desired,” he said, perplexed.

“Well, I might make a few for personal defense, but I don’t have the time to mass-produce enough to distribute to all of the cities. I would rather leave that in the capable hands of the Sorcerers’ Guild. Don’t you think golems could prove overall highly dependable forces if the entire guild—not just this branch—participated in constructing them?”

“…The guild would be the heart of the operation, huh?” Heridol mused, chewing over the concept.

“All I want is to exterminate the daemons…and only because I wish to protect humanity. Honestly, I’d prefer if the guild took the credit for the golems.”

At the sound of this, Heridol’s expression softened a little. At least when it came to fighting daemons, we were probably of like mind.

“W-wait, Branch President Heridol! How could we garner any authority when parading borrowed technology…? And lest you forget, the city council has also donated a sizable amount to this project,” Yahman protested.

The vice president generally poses as Heridol’s lackey, so what’s the deal here? What’s driving him to break character and protest so vehemently against my proposition?

“Vice President?” Clara called in a troubled voice. Both her voice and expression were soft, but I could see intense anger burning in the depths of her eyes.

“Wh-what is it?”

“Does the fact that we received funding from the city council trouble you? …If it does, I am willing to personally ensure the city council knows exactly how their donations were spent, citing precise figures in my explanation,” Clara offered.

This was all it took for the reality of the situation to click. That dirty rat! raced across my mind.

“I-I don’t need your help! I’m in charge of overseeing the budget!” Yahman snapped.

“True, but I happen to have some connections with the city council of my own,” Clara whispered, (clearly fake) concern etched across her visage.

“What?!” Yahman cried, the muscles in his face twitching.

From the looks of it, Yahman had either embezzled or otherwise misused the funds for training Mage Knights provided by the city council. No wonder he doesn’t want it to get shut down!

“What are you going on about? That isn’t important right now,” Heridol said. Evidently, the exchange between Clara and Yahman had gone right over his head.

“It’s nothing. I simply spoke out of line. It truly would be best for the vice president to explain everything to the city council,” Clara replied sweetly, even as she glared daggers at Yahman.

“I-Indeed… I-If we shut down the program, I will take it upon myself to explain it to them,” Yahman consented with a nod, beads of cold sweat running down his face.

It was clear some sort of deal had been made between the two just now. Going by the sick look on Yahman’s face, it greatly favored Clara.

Come to think of it, Clara hailed from one of the noble families in this city, sharing the same family tree as Duke Andell. As a commoner not only in my previous life, but going way back up my family tree, I couldn’t even begin to imagine all the trials she’d faced.

“Hrmm……” Heridol fell into silent contemplation, bowing his head with eyes closed.

“Excuse me,” said Nasaria, the third seat, as she hesitantly raised her hand. “I think your proposition is truly wonderful, Lord Margilus. However, there is one aspect that concerns me. I am afraid an army of golems could prove too powerful. Won’t it make the world view the Sorcerers’ Guild as a threat?”

“Ugh, I don’t think you need to worry too much about it,” Tasim groaned.

“N-no, she’s right. That is a legitimate concern,” Yahman agreed.

None of the sorcerers seemed to comprehend the gravity of Nasaria’s question, but I was impressed by it. This was a clever woman, able to cut straight to the heart of things.

“Special command words are programmed into golems to make them operable,” I explained, “So you could divide the commands and share half of them with Relis. I doubt you would be seen as a threat if your branches in the other cities did that as well.”

“I see… That is a good suggestion, given the premise that we’re only using these as weapons to fight against daemons,” Nasaria acknowledged.

This was along the lines of letting everyone have a copy of the remote-control gun for Gigantor. By distributing the command words, the golems couldn’t be weaponized against humans in war. This was yet another one of their perks.

“If you’re concerned, you could also have the city run periodic checks,” I suggested.

“I see. Thank you for addressing my concerns,” Nasaria replied with a smile. She bobbed her head graciously before turning to Heridol. “Branch President Heridol, I think we should accept Lord Margilus’s proposal.”

“…As do I,” Clara chimed in.

“You know I do!” Tasim exclaimed.

“I-I…ugh, I will abide by your decision,” Yahman forced out.

Heridol slowly rose from his seat.

“Lord Margilus,” he began. It looked like the handsome sorcerer was clenching his teeth. Until I’d come along, he was the most dependable person in the entire city. The strongest man in all of Relis. Having to hear me criticize his beloved project and offer to replace it with my technology… It must have been a blow to his pride. But even so, he gave the nod of approval.

“We shall humbly accept your proposal. The Relis Branch of the Sorcerers’ Guild is grateful for your friendship, Lord Geo Margilus.”

***

Discussions with the Sorcerers’ Guild ultimately concluded as follows:

Effective immediately, the Mage Knight training center will temporarily shut down.

Fully trained Mage Knights shall take posts as guards, or other positions deemed necessary, at the Sorcerers’ Guild.

Cadets in the third class who wish to return to their parents or become independent shall be discharged and offered severance pay.

Positions with the Calbanera Knights, local merchants, or other tradesmen will be secured for any third-class cadets who express interest.

Geo Margilus will instruct any interested applicants from the third class in the craft of golem construction.

Once said applicants have mastered the skill of golem construction, they will return to the guild to share the skill and commence manufacturing golems.

In the event the Sorcerers’ Guild begins golem production, the guild will share the command words with the city.

Henceforth, Geo Margilus and the Relis Branch of the Sorcerers’ Guild will maintain a collaborative relationship with regard to anti-daemon countermeasures.

The Sorcerers’ Guild is loaning Clara Andell, Fifth Seat, to Geo Margilus in order to exchange information and conduct research pertaining to magic and sorcery.

***

“What a relief we squared that all away. Thank you for the help,” I said.

“…I merely said what I thought was appropriate as an officer in the guild,” Clara replied, walking me to the guild’s main gate. The sun was already setting by the time the discussions finally drew to a close. Even though she’d curbed the vice president’s protests by threatening to bring his corruption to light, Clara was acting the same as always.

“You…”

“Yes?”

“You said that you’re fighting to protect humanity from the daemons. This was part of your battle against them, wasn’t it?”

“Well, I suppose you could say that…”

I’d already informed Clara and Sedam about the promise that I’d made to myself. I was fully aware of how horribly out of touch with reality I sounded. A middle-aged man shouldn’t talk about protecting all humanity! Hearing Clara confirm my intent with a straight face was honestly embarrassing.

“You’re willing to fight for this world alongside people who hate you? What happened to wanting to retire in peace?”

“It’s not like they hate me enough to start throwing stones at me. And, uh, I’d appreciate it if you could forget about that whole retirement thing.”

If only it were so simple. I would have loved nothing more than a peaceful retirement. But if I took a minute to paint a picture of the future in my mind, I didn’t see any place for it.

“Let’s say I was only concerned about my own well-being and became a hermit somewhere in the countryside. One day, a little bird might tell me that Relis was destroyed by daemons. Even if it was some city or village I had never heard of, I’m sure I would think, ‘I could have saved everyone if I was there.’ I don’t think I could live with myself knowing that,” I explained.

If only I didn’t have the power of a mighty wizard. Then I could have carried out life the way I had in Japan, cutting my coat according to my cloth. But there was no point dwelling on what could have been.

But dang! I probably sound like a pretentious jerk. I averted my gaze in embarrassment. Looking away, I was unable to catch Clara’s reaction.

“I…” Clara trailed off. Then, suddenly, she knelt on one knee before me and dropped her head low. Her hands were laid across each other over her chest. It almost looked as if she were kneeling in prayer.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

“I, Clara Andell, offer my greatest respect to the tremendous magical power and equally noble soul of the magic user, Lord Geo Margilus.”

“Uhhh…”

From her elegant posture to the clarity of her declaration, Clara’s perfect display of fealty left no room for fault. And then there was me. As nothing more than a middle-aged businessman on the inside, it took every ounce of willpower I had to keep from dropping to the ground and prostrating myself before her.

But seriously, how am I supposed to respond to this? In all my twenty-plus years in the office, I’d never once had a woman kneel down to express her great respect for me. It’s pretty safe to say it hadn’t been covered in the company etiquette handbook, either.

“……”

Fortunately, Clara smoothly stood back up, completely ignoring how my lips flapped wordlessly as I tried and failed to find the right words to say.

“Wh-what brought that on? I nearly had a heart attack.”

“Nothing in particular. I merely stated my personal feelings, heedless of my position as a noblewoman or as an official in the Sorcerers’ Guild.”

“R-really…? Uh…thank you?”

“You have earned the respect of Clara Andell, noblewoman and sorceress. You should be most grateful,” Clara insisted, thrusting out her ample chest with pride.

It didn’t matter if strangers feared or hated me as long as I had friends like her. I may not be good at saying it, but I truly am grateful.

“Tell me. What do you intend to do now?” she asked.

“It will probably take some time, but I’d like to form an alliance dedicated to fighting daemons. In order to do that, I’ll have to secure my own position first.”

My decision was based on the advice I’d received from Brauze. After the agreement I’d just established with the Sorcerers’ Guild, I needed to expedite preparations to make Castle Getaeus into a proper stronghold.

A stronghold, huh? The castle was in greater need of staff than it was equipment or supplies.

I peered into Clara’s blue eyes before dropping my head into a low bow. “I am glad you will be joining me at Castle Getaeus. Your presence will be greatly appreciated. I’m looking forward to working alongside you henceforth.”

“……”

I strived to come across pretty formal and sincere, but Clara didn’t make so much as a peep.

“…Huh?”

Raising my head in surprise, I found her looking away with cheeks burning red. She was twirling a strand of blonde hair between her fingers.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I upset you…?”

Clara narrowed her eyes as if she wanted to say something, but silently thrust her hand out toward me instead. We exchanged a firm handshake before parting ways.