She Professed Herself The Pupil Of The Wiseman (LN) - Volume 6 - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT,” Mira said.

Mages had an innate connection with spirits. As one of the Nine Wise Men, the greatest of mages, Mira knew exactly how important the Spirit King was to magic in this world.

Spirit King Symbio Sanctius possessed power that was nearly godly, and his very existence shaped the world. He dwelled on a different plane, in a place known as the Spirit Palace.

“I had the same reaction,” Luminaria agreed. “We know what happened to Atlantis when it picked a fight with the Three Great Kingdoms. And they had just a small fragment of divine power. The Spirit King is nearly a full-blown god—there’s no way humans can fight that.”

Atlantis was the strongest player-controlled country in terms of territory and military might. It had generals who even rivaled the power of the Nine Wise Men. But even with all of that, it had failed in battle against the divine power of the Grimdart Empire, strongest of the Three Great Kingdoms.

And Luminaria was right—Grimdart’s power paled in comparison to the Spirit King’s. Military might alone could not match that power.

“Well,” Solomon sighed. “Anyone with a normal head on their shoulders would never think of attacking the Spirit King—it’s dangerously reckless. But Chimera Clausen’s already succeeded in plenty of reckless acts, so they probably have a plan.”

Solomon sank deep into his leather chair, furrowed his brow, and crossed his arms as he stared down at the documents atop his desk. The report regarding the Citadel of Scales lying in the pile contained a hint about what that plan might be.

The Spirit King had an astronomical influence on outcomes whenever he appeared on this plane. But how did he take command at the Citadel of Scales? Leoneil had a hypothesis: he had to have some sort of control system that allowed him to limit the influence he had on the world… If one unraveled its workings, they might be able to repurpose it into a cage to contain the Spirit King.

“Chimera Clausen tends to retreat immediately if they realize they’re in danger,” Mira mused. “They must be certain of their victory if they’re ready to act.”

“Based on a few sources, we can expect them to either be in the research stages of creating a cage or early in the development. Meanwhile, I think they’re searching for the location of the Spirit Palace,” Solomon said, summarizing Leoneil’s hypothesis neatly.

 “So if they succeed and harness the Spirit King’s power,” Luminaria thought aloud, “That could mean the birth of a faction as strong as or even stronger than the Three Great Kingdoms. I know I’m not gonna sit idly by and let it happen.”

“This is all hypothetical, of course, but we can’t afford to ignore it.” Solomon knew the price of inaction would be too steep to pay.

“Agreed,” Mira said, and grinned as Solomon pulled a drawer open and retrieved a letter in a fancy, well-sealed envelope.

He stood with the envelope in hand and walked over to Mira. Putting a hand on her shoulder, he flashed her a grin in return. “As I recall, our next plan was for you to head to the Isuzu Alliance’s home base. Why don’t you deliver this to their top brass?”

“I thought you’d have something to send along…”

To fight Chimera Clausen, who now had adventurers on their side, they would need both information and personnel. The Isuzu Alliance would be a natural ally, and Solomon’s letter contained both a proposal for a formal alliance as well as all the information he’d gathered from Leoneil.

It wasn’t clear how much assistance the alliance could provide, but the information Solomon had in hand ought to be a welcome token of friendship. At this point, it would only be prudent to strike up a formal alliance with them.

Mira was already acquainted with some members of the alliance, and she even had a letter of introduction. She was aware that she was the obvious choice for an envoy, so she accepted the letter with no complaint.

“You never give me any time off to relax…”

Well…almost no complaint.

“I’ve got good news regarding your journey to the Forest of Seasons, though,” Solomon said. “Your special-order wagon was completed just yesterday! Join me in a round of applause!” He clapped, though nobody else joined him.

The wagon was a Garuda-drawn carriage based on the one Cleos had made to ferry him between the Towers and the capital in speed and style. Manufacturing had begun initially as a reward for Mira’s special mission, but her requests for custom features had delayed production long enough to force her to take the train.

“It’s already done?!” Mira shot from her seat like a bolt. This was good news. 

“I know, right?! It still needs some finishing touches, but that shouldn’t take very long.”

“Wagons are those things you fly in, right? What a lucky little laborer you are.” Luminaria recalled the occasional sight of Cleos’s wagon and mussed Mira’s hair with a little envy.

Mira, unbothered by the manhandling, grinned victoriously. “Lucky me, indeed!” 

Laborer. It was a word for a mage who could create or summon life. The category included summoners, necromancers, and mediums. Now that they were free from the yoke of video game systems, such laborers were quite versatile. Take wagons, for example: once necromancers learned to create golems, extremely speedy helpers, wagons became a cost-efficient mode of travel that only consumed mana. The convenience of modern living meant that such laborers were in demand.

“C’mooon, make a nice ride for sorcerers, too!” Luminaria let go of Mira’s head, shook her red hair, and flopped sulkily down on the couch in a pout. She’d have looked like a child throwing a tantrum if she wasn’t so voluptuous.

“Soon enough,” Solomon answered half-heartedly as he patted Mira’s hair back into place.

The majority of mages were specialized toward firepower, so they didn’t have much magic that could be used for transportation. Steam engines using their magic had been considered, but they were a low priority at the moment. 

Once he’d finished fixing Mira’s hair, Solomon smirked knowingly. “Wanna see it? It’s gotta be glorious.”

“Of course I do.” Mira stood up, her excitement swelling.

Luminaria stood as well. “Sounds fun. I’ll go with you.”

Solomon watched sadly as Mira began sweeping the remaining souvenirs back into her Item Box.

***

Mira’s special-order wagon was being stored in a carriage house. As they made their way there, a mage in a blue robe turned toward Mira’s group with a frown on her face. Luminaria groaned.

“Miss Luminaria, I’ve finally found you!” The woman squared her shoulders and stomped over to the group. She had serious eyes, but the way they shot daggers at Luminaria made it clear she was unhappy. When she reached the trio, she performed a crisp military salute.

“Something amiss?” Solomon asked, concern in his voice.

The mage saluted again and spoke. “My apologies, Your Majesty. Today is group training for the Mage Corps, but we’re unable to start without Miss Luminaria to be our targe—instructor. We were just searching for her.”

“Ah, right. I did receive a request along those lines, didn’t I?” Solomon had stamped his approval on a request to use the special training grounds for battalion training. But with all that was going on, he’d lost track of what day it was. He shot a quick glare at Luminaria behind him, and she let out a long, languid sigh.

“Does Miss Luminaria have special business to attend to?” the woman asked. “If so, I can find Joachim.” Seeing Luminaria was with the king and Mira, a rather legendary figure of late, the mage surmised that there might be some urgent business afoot.

But of course, checking out a friend’s new ride was not worth breaking a promise over.

“I’m sure she doesn’t mind,” said Mira, and signaled to Luminaria with her eyes to go.

“Indeed. Go ahead and take her with you,” Solomon added, pointing with his chin to communicate the same.

“Hmm, yes, I quite understand. I suppose I have my obligations,” Luminaria answered sullenly, then leaned toward Mira and whispered, “You owe me a ride sometime.” She put an arm around the blue-clad mage’s shoulder and said, “Shall we?” 

The pair walked briskly away.

“She seems busy,” Mira mused.

“As lazy as she can be, she does a good job. Though things will get easier for all of us if you can find more of our friends.”

“You make it sound easy. I found Wallenstein by accident, and all we have on Soul Howl and Kagura are some vague leads. But…I did happen to hear a rumor.”

“Ooh, what kind of rumor?”

Grinning, Mira recalled the story of the orphanage that Emilio had told her. As they watched Luminaria and the mage walk off, Luminaria’s hand drifted down from the mage’s shoulder to her waist and hip. 

“Are you sure they should be doing that?” Mira asked, a frown on her adorable face.

Solomon watched as the female mage leaned into Luminaria’s touch and chuckled, “You’d be surprised how few problems that causes.” Clearly, he planned to do nothing about it.

“I’m jealous,” Mira muttered.

Returning to the matter at hand, she told Solomon about the story she’d heard from Emilio and Lianna—without even trying to hide her obvious envy toward the happy couple.

***

“That does sound like her, huh?” Solomon mused. “But we don’t know where it is, do we?”

“All we know is that it’s a nameless village to the northeast of Grimdart.”

“That’s a hike. Sounds like a pain to investigate…”

The northeast reaches of Grimdart were vast, and it would be hard to find an excuse to justify such a search when the disappearance of the Wise Men was still a state secret. Solomon turned the problem over in his mind.

Sensing his worry, Mira added, “If anything takes me that way, I’ll look into it a little.”

They continued through the hall down a flight of stairs and stopped at the door to their destination. Their conversation came to a natural end as they prepared to enter.

Carriage storehouses were situated on both the western and eastern sides of the castle. The eastern side was used by nobility, while the western side was for the military. Mira and Solomon now stood in the western wing.

The space was directly connected to the workshops and garages. It was a wide stone area where technomancers performed repairs, inspections, and development. Currently, only a few carriages were being worked on within.

Next to the door was a control room. The king’s sudden appearance prompted the manager of the carriage storage and stables to leap out of the seat where he’d been taking a brief rest.

“If it isn’t Your Majesty! And this is Miss Mira?”

“Sorry to bother you during your break, but that’s right. May I introduce Danblf’s pupil, Mira.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Mira greeted him.

“Name’s Dag, I handle the vehicle storage here. It is a pleasure to meet you, as well.”

The manager was an adult Galidian man with a deep voice and a dark complexion. His muscles rippled under his coveralls, and his work apron was opened at the top, baring his broad chest.

Even on his knees, Dag was as tall as Mira. With a deep red beard and a bald head, his face looked extremely kind, almost giving off the impression of a living daruma doll.

“If the guest of honor is here, does that mean it’s time for the great unveiling?” Dag’s eyes shone confidently. The special-ordered wagon, finished just the day before, was the product of the artisans’ hearts and souls.

“That it is. Could you bring it out?”

“Of course. It’s currently receiving final adjustments, so it will be a short wait before I can bring it.”

“Sure. No problem.”

“I’ll have it out as soon as possible, Your Majesty.” He stood up, bowed, and ran off into another room calling his coworkers, his muscles rippling all the way. Despite his size and stature, there was a cheerful, almost childlike, spring to his step.

Before long, the workshop was alight with excitement. Machine parts and tools made by human hands were hauled off to the sides to clear a large space in the center. Then, another large door opened, and workers pushed in a white wagon.

It was just a bit bigger than the average. The sides were rectangular with beveled corners, and its four metallic wheels rolled along the ground. Though the carriage was tall, the door handle was low enough for Mira to reach with ease. It seemed basic, but very sturdy—somewhat like an armored car.

“All right, Dag. Take us through the features.”

“You got it.”

Dozens of the messy, sweaty workers grinned proudly as they puffed out their chests and lined up next to the wagon. Dag stepped forth, his voice full of excitement as he pointed to the work of his artisans, who had poured their all into this project.

The tour began with the braces, which allowed for the wagon’s main feature of flying and hauling. Next came practical features—a pressurized cabin, ventilation, and the springs built into the axles that reduced shocks and bumps. From there, he explained the technical and specialized touches. Its frame was made from a newly developed material, a mithril alloy. It was easy to work with, light, and resistant to changes in temperature. Yet it was also strong enough that the brace would not break when held by Garuda.

Mira found herself drawn into the particulars, the specialized artisan knowledge, and most of all, the passion of Dag’s speech—the man really had a craftsman’s spirit. Once he’d exhausted every detail of what could be seen on the outside, Dag dramatically opened the wagon door. “Please, take a look inside.”

“Right. Let’s see what you’re made of.” Infected by Dag’s zeal, Mira poked her head inside.

The interior of the vehicle had the empty, somewhat sterile smell of an unused vehicle along with, surprisingly, the nostalgic scent of tatami mats. The inside of the wagon was a perfect Japanese room, cozy and exactly as she’d ordered. There was a black stone step for taking off shoes at the entrance. Up ahead was a big window, installed so the rider might enjoy the sun’s rays. But the thing that Mira was most excited about was the majestic kotatsu with a scroll-patterned blanket. Atop it was not a mikan orange, but a flowerpot flush with green leaves.

Mira felt for a moment as if she’d gone home to Japan, and said exactly what she was thinking: “This is even greater than I’d expected.”

Hearing those words, the artisans’ eyes gleamed as they balled their fists in triumph. “Yes!” It seemed the interior decorator was present among them, too.

Mira took off her shoes and lifted one slender, fair leg to take her first step onto the tatami. It was soft, yet firm, with that deep tatami mat elasticity that she knew well. Then she stepped all the way inside to inspect the rest of the wagon.

Next to the kotatsu was a violet legless chair. They had also installed a closet with a paper sliding door decorated with a light flower pattern. On the front side of the cabin, there was a small door that would be the entrance to the driver’s seat in the event that the wagon was drawn like a coach.

Mira looked around excitedly before turning to the closet and sliding it open. It was divided into an upper and lower half. The lower was empty, but she spotted a folded futon and blanket on the upper half.

“Oho!” Mira turned and asked, “Does that mean I can sleep in here?”

Dag poked his head in the entrance just slightly, answering happily, “Yes, ma’am. If you move the kotatsu to the side, you should have plenty of space to stretch out.” He claimed that the futon in the closet was ordered to Mira’s exact size.

“Depending on your destinations from now on, you might end up having to camp. With that in mind, you can add whatever furniture and decorations you want. That’s part of the fun, right?” Solomon poked his head in below Dag and grinned childishly. “So, what do you think? It’s like a mobile home, but with more secret base flavor.”

It wasn’t just a vehicle for transportation; it was a true mobile home. It was a dream come true.

Mira closed the closet and touched the wall, with its white, lightly textured pattern, and answered with great satisfaction, “I love it!”

“Seems a whole lot more calming than being at home with my old lady,” Dag muttered, apparently in agreement with Mira. He seemed to be planning to construct one of his own.

After finishing her look around, Mira sat in the legless chair to see how comfortable it was. Her eyes landed on the potted plant atop the kotatsu.

“What is this plant?”

It looked like a Japanese morning glory at a glance, but without the flowers. A small trellis had been inserted in the white planter, allowing the vines to twine around it and fill it with leaves. Mira found it rather strange that this alone was placed in a room with no furnishings beyond a kotatsu and a legless chair.

 “That’s called mist weed,” Dag explained. “It’s a plant native mainly to volcanic regions. This particular variety is efficient at using photosynthesis to create oxygen. Even in an airtight space, as long as you have light, the plant will be enough to recirculate the carbon dioxide in your breath.”

“Now that sounds convenient.” It was like a natural air purifier. Amazed at how well-thought-out this all was, Mira pinched and prodded the leaves of the mist weed before finally muttering, “My life is in your hands.”

“They’re also easy to grow—using the installed lights will work just fine. For details, you can consult the instruction manual. Be sure to give it a read.”

Mira noticed a stack of papers next to the potted plant. “Right.”

“Now, let’s take a look through the garage. I figured I’d secure you your own parking space while we’re here,” Solomon said. The artisans moved in unison as they hauled the wagon off to another room, probably to continue the finishing touches.

“So, it’s finished…but when will it be finished?” Mira asked.

Dag thought for a moment, then said the work was already more than halfway done, so it would probably be complete the day after tomorrow.

“Seems silly to head right out without waiting for it to be done, don’t you think?” Mira said loud enough for Solomon to hear her. Her next mission would require more long-distance travel by air, and the wagon specially made to resolve this problem would be done in little more than a day. In that case, there was no reason not to wait for it.

“It does, yeah? I suppose that means tomorrow’s your day off.” Solomon looked at her with envy.

“Hrmm, a day off? I might as well return to the tower for a breather.” Mira smiled excitedly, though part of her felt like a salaryman who could only come home on the weekends. “By the way, why are we worried about finding a parking spot? Shouldn’t I just itemize the wagon and put it in my Item Box? It seems much easier.”

Solomon shook his head and answered, “Sorry, but you can’t. Wagons count as vehicles, so they can’t be itemized. There’re some other exceptions, too.”

“Hrmm. It has its limits, then.”

As they whispered to each other, they passed through the enormous door in front of the workshop. The sky was dimming to twilight. After a quick look around, Mira spotted the stable where the horses were relaxing. Across the parking lot, there was a row of small buildings with carriages inside. Among them, she spotted the Pegasus Carriage she’d seen long ago.

“Miss Mira, this will be your own personal garage,” said an artisan as they guided her to the front of the leftmost stall. It wasn’t much different in size from the other garages, but it was very shiny and new looking.

“When you drive through the castle gates from now on, they’ll haul it here,” Solomon said. “Remember where you parked.”

It was empty for now, but Mira and Solomon crossed their arms and fantasized about the sight of the wagon parked within.

“Indeed. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Your Majesty, Miss Mira.” Dag’s voice came from behind them. It wasn’t as excited as before; it now held a certain gravity, and his face had grown solemn.

Mira and Solomon turned. The artisans had lined up neatly, with Dag in the center of them. He took one step forward and addressed the pair.

“It would be no exaggeration to say that this wagon is the culmination of all our hard work and skill. We believe that we’ve grown more capable as a result of this endeavor. Your Majesty and Miss Mira, we offer you our utmost gratitude for trusting our abilities and granting us the opportunity to pour our hearts and souls into it.”

Dag brought the team’s presentation to an end and bowed deeply. The other artisans in line followed suit and shouted all at once, “Thank you!” All of them flashed their manly, yet somewhat shy, smiles.

Strange… I asked on a whim, so I wasn’t expecting them to thank me. Rather, I should be the one thanking them all for doing all of this for me.

Solomon looked at the craftsmen proudly, one at a time, and said, “You’ve done wonderful work here. I’d be gratified if you’d continue to serve the kingdom as you have been.”

“We devote ourselves wholeheartedly to you,” Dag replied with dignity.

“Amazing, right?” Solomon asked Mira with a proud smirk.

“They’re what makes this kingdom great,” Mira answered, remembering all of the incredible things she’d seen up to this point.

After that, they discussed wagon maintenance and how to collect data on its usage. As this wagon incorporated some of their newest technology, they wanted to gather as much information as they could for future research.

As the sun set fully, they finished their talk and dispersed.

Now that he and Mira were left alone in the garage, Solomon looked at her expectantly. “It’s getting late. You should stay the night and head out tomorrow morning.”

Mira turned her eyes from the castle walls, faintly illuminated by the surrounding light, to the river of stars cutting through the sky. Finally, she answered, “I think I’ll take you up on that.”

Solomon returned to his office to finish up some work, while Mira headed to the maids’ quarters to hand out souvenirs before the end of the day. Entering the maid’s quarters always felt a little scandalous, like a lecher intruding on the women’s dorm.

But no one batted an eye. When Mira asked for directions, everyone answered kindly, and she passed by the No Men Allowed sign without a single objection. It was perfect. Mira smiled. She decided she didn’t mind her new body at all.

Is it just me, or does something smell really good?

Mira swaggered about as if she owned the place, looking for a familiar face. Before long, the maids all gathered around her, just as Solomon had predicted. Among them was Lily.

“Well, if it isn’t Miss Mira!”

After being taken to the lounge, Mira told them about her trip to Holy Kingdom Alisfarius and piled the table with souvenirs and treats, explaining that they were her thanks for making the technomancy robes.

“I know these are a rather poor reward, but I’d like all of you to share these little souvenirs.”

“Wow! Thank you for thinking about us! We really appreciate it!”

The maids all rushed to reach their hands out, but Lily held them back and took Mira’s hand. She swore that she would not let Mira’s wishes go to waste and promised that she would ensure that even those who weren’t present would get their share, too.

Afterward, Mira went with the off-duty maids to the palace baths to soothe the day’s fatigue. She found herself doted upon by Lily and the other maids, as expected…but past experience allowed her to stay calm and composed, unlike previous times, when she’d been overwhelmed by the attention.

It’s not enough to let them pamper me; I must be like a ruler who demands to be pampered! Maintaining her cool despite the crowd of maids around her, Mira leaned back and relished paradise.

***

When she was out of the bath, she was given a temporary dress to replace her technomancy robes that had been sent to the laundry. But more was in store.

“Now, Miss Mira, prepare for our ultimate creation!” Lily held out what was unmistakably a new magical girl costume. They’d obviously noticed that she’d liked the last one more than expected, so they went all out this time.

She had to chuckle; it was another incredible outfit.

I suppose I’d better not mention how pleasantly surprised I am that this is normal instead of being ridiculously frilly…

No sooner had she thanked them for the second one than they had a third ready for her! While shocked by the speed with which they worked, she was also struck by the realization that the maids cared about her more deeply than she realized. Under the maids’ expectant gazes, Mira smiled tightly and muttered, “Well, I’ll have to bring souvenirs again soon.”

The maids gave Mira the full rundown on their new creation—though it was pretty much exactly like the last one with its special technomancy features. Now she could switch between them depending on her mood without sacrificing function.

As they explained, they helped her into her new outfit. When they finished and stepped back, Mira was more adorable than ever.

Hrmm… From an unbiased perspective, I suppose I am overwhelmingly cute. More proof of my perfect taste. Mira fell in love with herself in the mirror all over again. Her expression betrayed some remaining bashfulness, but her satisfaction shone through. The maids were beyond moved.

This outfit wasn’t a dress; it was divided into blouse and miniskirt, its design reminiscent of a school uniform. Throw in a long-sleeved robe on top, and it was complete. It was the academia version of a magical girl outfit. Mira could tell at a glance that Solomon was involved in the design. He’d always loved schoolgirl outfits.

“Oh, that’s our Miss Mira! She wears it perfectly!” Lily peeked out from behind Mira and excitedly admired her in the mirror.

The color scheme of this outfit was more flamboyant than the last, and the overall design was intended to accentuate cuteness while retaining coolness. Lily and the other maids were proud—they’d perfectly threaded the needle, keeping it neither too strange nor too subtle.

Even Mira could find no flaws in their design. Magical girl wear was popular in this world, so she had seen plenty of outfits in town and at stations. They were all very well-made, but in terms of pure cuteness, the more subdued designs from before were unfortunately a step behind.

This time, the maids had made up for that. And while the outfit fit perfectly into the magical girl mold, it also seemed to broadcast that it wasn’t an off-the-shelf outfit. It was designer.

Well, I suppose this will do…

As she admired herself, Mira noticed the maids grinning brightly behind her and smiled. If they were this excited over it, then she ought to be excited too, right? It was the chivalrous thing to do.

***

Dinner had been prepared in the lounge next to the king’s office, so Lily guided the newly attired Mira up to the castle’s top floor. Along the way, they ran into Luminaria, who would be joining the meal.

Luminaria looked Mira up, down, and all around until there was a broad smile on her face. After muttering, “You’re looking pretty cute. Keep it up,” she patted Mira’s shoulder. Luminaria thoroughly enjoyed being a woman in this world and was happy to see Mira was finally getting with the program.

But she could see that, while the fashion was slowly growing on Mira, the small summoner had already learned to enjoy other aspects with much less…reservation.

Luminaria leaned down and whispered, “Did you enjoy your bath?”

“Oh, you know it,” Mira replied. This was one thing they agreed on.

With that, the two looked each other in the eye and grinned evilly.

***

That night, the maids and servants left the three friends to enjoy their rare dinner date.

And enjoy it they did. They chattered on about things of no consequence, held serious discussions about the kingdom, spoke of the invention of dolls using Shimmering Seedpods, and more. They even threw in some silly stories about how other former players were doing now.

The jovial dinner party gradually morphed into quite the heated discussion of all manner of state secrets.