MYHLF Vol. 1 Mission 1 Part 3

After that, for some reason, Philz was made to listen to the Gods complain at length.

“For a while, things were fine. The problem came after the sages returned, and after we properly returned the souls of the reincarnated people to their original world.”

“After going to all that trouble to develop everything, they started to fight over authority and vested interests, then burned each other’s precious documents.”

“Knowledge is the same as nonexistent if there is no one to inherit it.”

“Summoning was conducted on a national scale, after all.”

“People who could not even use it clung rigidly to the rights of summoning, and in the end, they destroyed themselves.”

“Powerful people are such a nuisance, aren’t they?”

“And so, we grew sick of it too, and reduced the boons of magic and technology that we granted them.”

“Once the world began to run on money, technology and power beyond a certain level could not go anywhere unless those with authority and wealth took the lead. And at this point, we could no longer strip them of that authority.”

Because of all that, the Gods had apparently decided to let the world do as it pleased. They avoided direct interference and chose to let only gifted priests hear their voices. They also reduced Blessings to the bare minimum.

With a wry smile, Rizaft, the Chief God, interjected between the other Gods, whose complaints showed no sign of ending anytime soon.

“Well, that is the gist of it. Including the church’s authority and its ability to judge the standards for Blessings, we were waiting for the world to stabilize again to some extent. During that time, we also accumulated our own power and negotiated with the other world.”

“…And now that time has come…?”

“Yes. We were waiting for the moment to drop the bomb that is our beloved child.”

The world, he said, would face revolutions again and again. Through those changes, it would gradually stabilize.

“Those living now cannot truly grasp the prosperity of the past, even if they hear about it. For example… clocks.”

“…”

“Yes. You were dissatisfied by the absence of alarm clocks and wristwatches. It made you restless, right? Time is something that controls human behavior. There are negative aspects to that, but the benefits it brings are immeasurable.”

It was a tool that could eliminate many forms of waste, and it could also give people’s lives structure and rhythm. At times, it would likely even become necessary for showing sincerity.

“And it is not only tools. Mana exists in this world. This world exists so that mana may be utilized. We want to see people make use of what exists here, think, exchange opinions, and develop their way of life.”

“…And you want me to create the catalyst for that.”

“Exactly. Our beloved child, do you understand?”

He understood the circumstances, but even if he was told to do something about the world, Philz had no idea what he should actually do.

“…Moving the world is impossible for me…”

“Of course. It is your life. You may live as you please. However, as you live, there will surely be times when, based on your memories from before, you think, I want this, will there not? Do you not want to do puzzles?”

“…”

He very much wanted to.

“But puzzles, well, simple ones are fine, but with difficult ones, you need the same image properly printed as a reference, yes? Printing technology… you would have to do something about that, would you not?”

“…”

“Ah, of course, I’m not telling you to invent everything from the beginning. If you did that, your lifespan would run out in the blink of an eye. Especially for someone like you, who can devote himself so thoroughly to one thing.”

Once he began something, he would continue without giving up until he could do it. Since that patience was what had been recognized, if he was allowed to devote himself to something, he would work on it until he died.

“That brings us to this.”

A single map was offered to him. It looked to be about A3 size. It was probably a world map of this world. Rather than paper, it was made from something soft, like parchment. Looking closely, he saw a great many X marks on it.

“At the places marked here, there are hidden blueprints and journals left behind by the sages and reincarnated people we once summoned. In modern terms, they are ancient ruins. There are not many, but the priests of that era and their descendants hid them so the nobles would not seize them.”

Apparently, some things had remained in this world that way.

“I want you to discover them all. That said, carrying them around would be troublesome. Once you have looked through them and understood them to some degree, place them on a church altar or bring them to a Prayer Chamber. If you do that, we can retrieve them from our side.”

It seemed the Gods wanted to properly recover and preserve them as well, since the opportunity had arisen.

“It is not exactly compensation for the request, but I will give you this.”

What was held out to him was a booklet made of papers simply tied together with string. When he opened it, what was written inside was a clock blueprint.

“…This…”

“It is constructed as a magic device, so it differs from the intricate mechanisms of the world you know, but it is a fine clock adapted to this world.”

The one who wrote this had been a reincarnated person. It seemed they had been a clockmaker. Unlike those who had been summoned, reincarnated people apparently did not retain all of their memories. Like Philz now, there were many vague parts.

That was precisely why this person had incorporated the magic that existed in this world and created something new. Compared with the structure of an original clock, it was considerably simpler. Even so, it still had many parts, and there was no changing the fact that it was a precision device.

“They should have made things like copy machines and cell phones too. I do not know whether those blueprints still remain, though. And as you can probably tell from looking at it…”

“Japanese…”

“It is more reliable than encrypting them. Most of them are like this. At this point, people only assume that complex magical formulas impossible to decipher are written inside. In other words, almost no one except you can read them. So, may I ask this of you?”

“…”

All of the Ten Gods looked at Philz with expectant expressions.

“…Understood.”

What else could he say?

When they smiled in relief, Philz steeled his resolve.

“In that case, accept presents from us as well.”

When Ryula said that, every God aside from Rizaft, the Chief God, offered him books and various objects.

From Fasara, Goddess of Technique, he received some kind of hide and papers explaining how to make a bag. Together with those, Aklas, God of Magic, handed him a thick book with a bookmark tucked inside.

“Once you return, borrow a room from the Head Priest and make this immediately. It is a Magic Bag.”

“The formula is on the page marked by this bookmark.”

“…Understood…”

Magic Bags did not seem to have been created by the reincarnated people and were still being made even now. However, their capacity was apparently far smaller than in the past. Modern ones, even expensive versions, had the capacity of an ordinary house. Even the best one an adventurer could buy was apparently only the size of a small room.

But judging from the recipe and formula he had been given, this one would easily have the capacity of an entire noble mansion. It seemed he would even be able to carry beds and many other objects.

“Make sure to add user permissions as well. That is here.”

Aklas took out another bookmark and tucked it into the book.

“Yes…”

It seemed he was about to make something outrageous.

“Well then, you need not overdo it. Enjoy your life.”

“Yes.”

They waved to him with cheerful smiles, and light overflowed around him. The next instant, Philz had returned to the church’s Prayer Chamber.

“Hah… I need to make the Magic Bag right away…”

His arms were filled with the many souvenirs he had received from the Gods.

◆　◆　◆

When Philz entered the Head Priest’s office and immediately said he wanted to borrow a room, the Head Priest blinked at him, then burst out laughing.

“Ahaha!”

“Stop laughing already. You’re noisy.”

“But no child has ever returned from the Prayer Chamber carrying that much luggage before. I wondered what in the world had happened. And then you asked me to lend you a room.”

Philz was currently in the Head Priest’s office, stitching a bag together bit by bit. It was not ordinary sewing, but delicate work that required him to properly channel mana through the thread as he made it. Being laughed at distracted him. The fact that it did not cause any problems was because Philz was properly maintaining the focus needed for precise mana manipulation.

“I was told to make it immediately, so I had no choice. Leave me alone for the time being.”

“Yes, yes. But tell me once it is finished.”

“…Fine…”

Because he had always loved intricate work, needlework posed no problem for him. If anything, he had memories of being bad with sewing machines. It seemed he had preferred hand sewing because it was easier to make corrections.

“You are quite good at this. I will not ask you for a Magic Bag, but would you make me an ordinary bag sometime?”

“…Why?”

“I want a present from you!”

“Why the hell would you?”

Why did he have to give a present to the Head Priest?

“Hm? As thanks for today’s Blessing, perhaps?”

“You forced me to receive it, so why do I have to thank you?”

“I did attend as a substitute parent.”

“I said you forced me!”

“You received plenty of souvenirs, did you not?”

“Why does that mean I should thank you?”

“Let us express gratitude in tangible form.”

“I’m not grateful!”

Was this some sort of mental training?

While they went back and forth like that, the bag was completed. When he infused mana into it while still irritated, the capacity seemed to have grown larger than expected. Whether that was good or bad was unclear.

Next, he added user permissions. That part was simple. However, this too was probably more advanced than modern techniques and would be impossible to revoke. High security was a good thing.

Philz immediately used the book’s bookmark to test whether the bag was functioning. He could tell that the bookmark had gone in properly, and when he slipped his hand inside, he could tell what was inside as well. When taking it out, the moment he thought of it, it emerged as though clinging to his hand.

“Oh my. Is it finished already?”

“Yeah…”

It was a waist pouch designed to attach to the belt loops of his pants. After placing everything he had received from the Gods inside, Philz fastened the pouch and stood. Then he took three gold coins from his pocket.

“I’ll make a donation before I go.”

“Yes, yes. We will gratefully accept it. I will be waiting for your present anytime.”

“Not happening.”

“Hehehe. You should restore your hair color and such before you leave. Also, you may take those clothes with you.”

“…Fine…”

The pure-white ceremonial robes decorated with gold thread seemed to be proof that he was a beloved child of God, and they too were a present from God. He would add them to his quick-change stock.

Now that he knew the formula for a Magic Bag with large capacity, he would likely be able to increase his clothing stock further as well. It seemed he would no longer need to carry changes of clothes around.

Incidentally, at present, he could stock up to three outfits at most. His usual stock had only been his adventurer’s equipment and commoner’s clothes, so he could swap in the ceremonial robes as things stood.

Philz converted the ceremonial robes into his adventurer’s clothes, then changed the color of his hair and eyes as well.

“So that is how you do it.”

“…”

Now that he thought about it, he had never shown that to anyone before. The Head Priest had told him to change back as though it were the most natural thing in the world, so Philz had let his guard down.

“Hehehe. I will not tell anyone. It will be our little secret, just between you and me.”

“…Stop making that face.”

The Head Priest was grinning with obvious delight, and between that and his own embarrassment, Philz felt a little irritated.

“What is wrong with that? A secret? I am rather good at keeping my mouth shut, you know?”

“Then be a little quieter.”

“Ehh, but I want to talk.”

“…”

That was the sort of person the Head Priest was. But the Gods trusted him. He bore such a powerful Blessing that Philz could tell as much.

After that, the Head Priest guided Philz to the back door as promised. And when he saw Philz off, he called out to him as though he could not help himself.

“Please come anytime. Do not try to carry everything alone. Unlike the Gods, I cannot always watch over you. Unless I meet you and exchange words with you, I cannot sense what is troubling you. So for my sake as well… please come see me.”

“…If I feel like it…”

“Yes.”

Philz knew the man was worried about him. That was why he could not bring himself to treat him too coldly.

“…What a strange man…”

There had never been anyone around him who was this considerate. That was why he felt bewildered. An adult who made him feel somehow ticklish and embarrassed. For some reason, that made him a little happy.

As promised, Philz ate lunch at the proprietress’s dining house, then set out to complete the goblin extermination request he had accepted that day. Along the way, he also gathered ore that would serve as material for making a clock and returned before evening.

And so, that long, mysterious day came to an end.