第１２２５堀：魔術実演の理由 (Part2)
"Ah, that’s right. I suppose I’d forgotten. Cleena, you’re so strongly associated with guard duty and diplomacy these days, but you were a top-ranked student at the Academy back in the day, weren't you?"
"Indeed. I may not hold a candle to Agil, Comet, or Zargis, but I am a bona fide magic researcher."
It is true; I do hold the position of a "magic researcher." Granted, it is a department that has been somewhat overshadowed by the revolutionary ideas brought over from other worlds by Yuki, Taiki, and Taizo—concepts like optimizing spell efficiency and developing entirely new forms of sorcery—but we are still hard at work.
"From what I can see, there don't appear to be any anomalies regarding the soil's magical saturation."
"As you say, Cleena, the soil is fine. However, even after such a grand display of magical discharge, there isn't the slightest hint of monsters manifesting. It seems we truly are within the protective barrier of Hairen."
As she speaks, Agil opens a call interface to display the readings. Since the town of Aoku has already been integrated into the dungeon network, accessing various data streams is seamless, and the experimental results from moments ago are clearly logged. Looking at the figures, while the ambient magic in the air has spiked due to the spellcasting, there are no signs of the accumulation required to trigger a monster spawn.
"Still, we must continue to monitor the situation."
"Agreed. The conditions for monster generation—namely, a lack of human traffic combined with the formation of a 'magic pool'—have been confirmed across the Rogari continent. Though, this region is unique; even if a magic pool forms here, the barrier prevents it from manifesting into monsters."
"We haven't confirmed that this border town lies entirely within that range. We cannot afford to be careless."
"Oh, I have no intention of letting my guard down. That is precisely why Yuki went out of his way to demonstrate such inefficient magic. The fact that there is a goblin village nearby means that if monsters were to spawn here, it would be a disaster."
Indeed, that was the hidden motive behind Yuki’s demonstration. While he certainly wanted to grant Fusora’s request and bolster Weed’s reputation within the Zufia Kingdom, he is not the type of man to stop at mere surface-level gestures. He is a husband to be proud of.
*Fufu...*
"Well, putting that aside, what did you make of young Lady Fusora, Cleena?"
"Fusora? In what sense? Nothing has begun for her yet. She has merely caught a glimpse of what magic is."
She is standing at the threshold, nothing more. What becomes of her from here on out depends entirely on her own resolve. Talent is meaningless if it is not honed.
"True, she has only just begun to touch the weave of magic. Isn't that precisely why she is a blank slate, ready to accept anything?"
"...You have a point. Once one begins to study magic in a narrow-minded way, their values tend to ossify."
Mages are a rarity on any continent. Superior techniques are often shrouded in secrecy, frequently passed down through single-lineage traditions. From a nationalistic perspective, I understand the desire to keep advanced magic and technology proprietary, but frankly, none of it surpasses what we have from Earth.
That in itself is not the primary issue. The real problem is that people’s minds become rigid, refusing to accept anything outside of their own narrow beliefs.
*"Our nation is the greatest."*
While such sentiment is often necessary to maintain national morale, it is no excuse for stagnation. Technology is meant to be updated year after year, and striving for the pinnacle is the very essence of a researcher's existence. Yet, for some reason, idiots emerge who, fueled by an inexplicable confidence in their nation's superiority, decide that no further development is required. When such types occupy positions of power, progress grinds to a halt...
...I see. So that is why Agil is asking.
"Hmm. Are you suggesting you want to take Fusora under your wing, Agil, with an eye toward the future?"
"Exactly. I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to strengthen our allies, while simultaneously deepening our ties with the Zufia Kingdom."
"...Raising Fusora in Weed to ensure she isn't tainted by that foolish, insular ideology? I don't think that's a bad idea in itself, but wouldn't it look like we’re showing favoritism toward Zufia?"
"That is true. Which is why I wanted to hear your thoughts on the matter, Cleena."
Hmm. This is a delicate consultation. If she were to be educated in Weed, there is a high probability that Fusora would develop a broader, more open-minded perspective. And through that connection, our options for dealing with the Zufia Kingdom would certainly expand. It isn't as if she’s being brought in to be one of Yuki’s wives, after all.
Wait—if that’s the case, is this actually a good idea? Furthermore, I doubt the Zufia side, including the Viscount, would object...
"It’s surprisingly viable, isn't it?"
"That’s what I thought, too."
"Regardless, we need to discuss this with everyone else first."
"Naturally."
With that decided, we immediately set about contacting Seraria and the others. Now, let us see how this unfolds.