ASDP Chapter 14

I collected it with Theo, so I finished harvesting what I was asked for relatively quickly. It’s okay to go down the mountain as it is, but with the decision that it’s better to save our physical strength, we will take a water break once.
When I replaced the large rock as a chair, I immediately activated the insect repellent magic tool. I don’t want to get involved with insects during the break.
“Are you okay with your muscle pain?”
“While I was moving, I got used to it. As expected, I don’t want to strengthen my body today.”
After taking off the mask and drinking the water we brought, we have a leisurely conversation. We can’t neglect our vigilance because the maga is active, but it’s possible to make small talk.
“I used to have a hard time strengthening my body too.”
“If it’s the knight department, it’s a must.”
There are various employment positions after graduation, but no matter where you go, physical strengthening is essential. And physical strengthening becomes quite severe without muscles. Even if it is tough, the knight department will continue to train so that it will not be interrupted during the battle.

“It’s also because I wasn’t blessed with a great physique to begin with.”
“Is that so?”
As far as I observed yesterday, I think it was pretty wonderful muscles. He’s not as tall as a big man, but he’s decent.
“I grew a lot since I was about to graduate from school, and until then, I was the smallest in my class, right? Thanks to that, it was hard to build muscle.”
“Wow”
Those who aim for the knighthood are those who are originally blessed with physique, have good motor skills, or are a member of a knight family. I wonder why Theo aimed to be a knight, but I’m worried about whether it’s okay to ask a question that goes that far.
If we get along too well, my grandfather will get angry with me.

“Amelia was in the magic department, right? You can strengthen your body well.”
“It would be convenient if I could do it, so I was taught by someone I know from the knight department.”
…I don’t want to say much because it’s my ex-boyfriend, but I’m grateful that he went with me to practice. In the end, you have no choice but to practice repetition by yourself, but you have to remember that feeling at first. I’m not a good person with athletic nerves and intuition, so I think the person who teaches is also bothered.
“But it’s amazing because you have to keep practicing soberly many times. Knights are forced to practice, but Amelia’s is self-practice, isn’t it?”
“Well. But if you want to go on the journey to clean up the maga, it’s necessary.”
It will be moving at the pace of the saint, so I can’t say that my feet hurt, and it’s impossible to be late because my feet are slow.

“Well, I quit that job, but it’s convenient for collection, and if I help at the clinic, wouldn’t it be better to be able to strengthen my body if I want to carry injured people?”
Like when you hold down a violent patient. It’s somewhat convenient to use it.
“That’s great.”
Theo patted me on the head.
It’s a big hand like my father.
“I couldn’t slack off, so I had no choice.”
“Why did you go to the knight department?”
I couldn’t decide whether to hear it or not, but it came out of my mouth.
“Hmm. It’s a pathetic story, but is it to look back at it?”
“Do you look back?”
“I was small, so it was easy to be bullied by big guys, so I tried to be strong. Well, it’s for myself. It’s embarrassing, but I don’t have a great ambition like Amelia who wants to be able to clean up the maga for anyone.”
Theo laughed when he said that.
I didn’t go with such a noble intention either. That’s why I’m going to do it.

“I’m a knight in that way. I don’t have any great ambitions, but for the time being, I’m thinking of being a knight who won’t do anything I don’t like.”
Just because he is a knight who doesn’t do anything unpleasant, isn’t he much more noble than me?
So I think I should say that what I’m doing is just a personal grudge, but Theo was so beautiful that I hesitated to say it.
“Well, let’s go down the mountain before the monsters come out.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s right.”
I was offered his hand when I was putting the mask I took off before drinking tea back on again. I’ve never had anything like this happen before, so I’m confused but hold it modestly and stand up.

“Theo… that is. Do you think it’s okay for anyone other than a saint to purify the maga? Saints are special in temples, aren’t they?”
My grandfather said he couldn’t trust Theo and Alfie, but he seemed like a very sincere person. So I decided to ask what he really thinks about this research.
“I agree. Because there is no saint here, I’m about to turn into a monster now, right? I’m sure anyone who has become a monster wanted help. You shouldn’t care if the person who helped you is a saint or not.”
I thought it might be vague and avoid a clear statement, but he easily agreed. …I want to think that he’s not lying, but I can’t tell. The face is hidden with a mask and goggles, so it’s hard to read the expression.

“But aren’t there many people in the temple who oppose it? Because a saint is a sacred person.”
“Hmm. I don’t know. The guard knights around me don’t seem like they would care much, but I wonder if there are some priests who would care. Some people are intoxicated with saints. Alfie is not that type, so he’s easy to get along with.”
You don’t seem to be lying, do you?
On the contrary, if all the stories so far are lies, Theo seems to be a terrible con artist.
“Can you keep quiet about what I’m researching even after you go back to the royal capital?”
Theo stopped walking and shook his head.
“Eh. Why? Wouldn’t it be faster for everyone to research? Ah. But it’s important who will publish the research, so I’ll try not to leak it.”

The secrecy of technology is natural in research, and who announced it is very important for magicians and alchemists who make research their territory. There is no way that research can be done in a day, and it takes many years to prove that the hypothesis is correct.
It would be easier to understand with the reason Theo gave me, so it might be better to leave it that way.
But I haven’t even told him that the beginning of this research is a personal grudge. I’ve never lied, but is it okay to accumulate such deceptive things?

“Leaks are normal, but in this case, I have no problem with anyone other than me researching this.”
It’s part of the saint’s decline plan, so I don’t care who gets the result. Rather, if you get results before me and make the saint decline, I would like to applaud you.
“My grandfather said that this research will reduce the power of the saints, and that the temple that has grown because of the presence of the saints will not allow it. If they hear about this, I might be imprisoned for some kind of crime.”
If the country is involved, crimes can also be fabricated.
My father pays attention to the state of the capital, so I won’t get grabbed suddenly, but I’m a little worried from the state of my grandfather. In some cases, I myself may be erased.

“I understand. I’ll keep it a secret.”
“What if you are questioned because of your position?”
“It’s okay. I’ll fake it. The priest think that the knights are stupid, so they’ll pass off everything as being because he’s stupid and doesn’t know.”
“No… eh? What is that about?”
Is it a world where people don’t know because they’re stupid?
Well, what I’m researching in this rural area won’t leak soon, so I don’t think they’ll be told unless Theo tells them.

“So, please help me, Amelia. Please find a way to purify the maga. Because I can’t do it.”
I was told in a slightly powerful voice, and I decided to nod with determination.

Wow the priests really sound like jerks. But in this case, that’s actually helpful.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading!