“It seems I wasn't wrong.”
My heart, which had been beating steadily, suddenly surged. Since we were pressed so close together, Remily must have felt it. I wondered if she had intended to hold me like this from the start just to monitor my reaction. Or was there a chance she was merely fishing for an answer?
“Don’t worry, I’m not planning to do anything to you. I just wanted to confirm it, though I was already nearly certain. You see, I spent a period of time researching the Children of God from history.”
With that preamble, she began to list the evidence she had used to judge me.
“I started to seriously suspect it after your match with Siber-chan. The first reason was that you were simply too strong for a child, which I’d been curious about ever since you noticed me while I was using Hide. The second was your mana; despite using magic quite frequently throughout this journey, you showed no signs of exhaustion, allowing me to infer that your capacity is far beyond that of a normal person.
“Then there are the products you’ve shown us along the way, like the preserved foods. Children of God often possess superior knowledge or create innovations, so that was the third reason. The fourth was the fact that you brought up gunpowder when we were clearing the undead at the bottom of the cliff. For some reason, Children of God have a tendency to want to handle gunpowder and firearms.
“By the way, among the historical accounts of people suspected of being Children of God, there is a story about someone who used a weapon called a ‘shotgun’ that scattered small projectiles over a wide area. Ryoma-chan, during the competition earlier, you called your final spell ‘Light Shot,’ didn't you? The way you modified that Light Ball to fly matched the descriptions in those stories perfectly. Didn't you model that magic after a shotgun?
“On top of that, your reaction when we spoke about King Masaharu felt off. I can’t quite put it into words, but you looked like you were considering the matter as seriously as if it were your own life. Well, am I right?”
She was completely certain. She even knew the general concept of a shotgun, which meant she possessed a considerable depth of information. Between her deductions and my own heart rate, I realized I could no longer talk my way out of this. It was time to be frank.
The existence of a Child of God was treated as little more than a fairy tale, but they were documented historical figures. If I continued my career as an adventurer without any self-restraint, someone would have eventually suspected a connection. It just happened to be now.
“You’re right. But was my reaction at the end really that strange?”
“I don’t think a normal person would immediately link your abilities to being a Child of God, even if they noticed your talent. I only understood because I had the knowledge and was already looking for it.
“By the way, even if they don't say it aloud, I suspect Siber-chan and the others have realized it too. The investigation I mentioned was triggered by the rumors surrounding Elia-chan. She has an immense amount of mana, doesn't she? Since she’s a descendant of King Masaharu, word spread for a time that she might be a Child of God herself.”
“Ah... I haven’t asked for the specifics, but I heard she caused an accident in the past.”
“The rumors existed before then, but that incident made them spread like wildfire. Eventually, it became impossible to ignore, so we had to look into the historical records. The Ducal House was intimately involved in that investigation, and since Siber-chan participated as well, he likely has the same knowledge I do.”
“I see.”
“I’ll say this just in case, but I’m certain the Jamil family has no intention of ignoring your wishes or using you for their own convenience. Other nobles... well, it depends on the person, but if they know you’re a Child of God, I doubt you’ll be treated poorly.”
That was unexpected. I had no intention of doubting the Jamil family at this stage, but I wondered if other nobles would also hold me in high regard. When I asked for clarification, she continued.
“As a rule, Children of God possess some kind of extraordinary talent or immense power. This is considered an established fact. If a noble can successfully bring one under their wing, it generates enormous profit for their house.
“However, precisely because they possess such power, there are stories of them being offended and fleeing, or in the worst cases, becoming hostile and causing catastrophes. Great power is just power; it can be a blessing or a curse.
“As the name suggests, they are also said to be beings sent by the gods. If a noble were to mistreat a Child of God and incur their wrath, the Church would not stay silent. Combined with the risk of causing damage to the kingdom, a noble would have to be prepared for the dissolution of their house or even execution.”
No matter how great the power, it was dangerous if it couldn't be controlled. Rather than making unreasonable demands and turning them into a threat, the prevailing logic was that it was better to treat them with favor and keep them content. I understood the logic, but I still had one doubt.
“Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but it's hard to believe a whole country would worry about an individual’s mood.”
“Nations and nobles have their dignity, to be sure, but it’s the truth.”
Remily offered a historical example.
Long ago, a man had appeared in the Reefaul Kingdom. He was said to have traveled the land with incredible speed on an iron horse that never tired. He also possessed an ability likely related to space magic, allowing him to transport massive quantities of goods. The King at the time, eyeing that power and the iron horse, ordered the man to serve the state.
However, the man desired freedom and stubbornly refused. Even when threatened with imprisonment, he would not yield. Eventually, the King lost his patience and mobilized his army. The result was a disaster for the crown: the soldiers were mown down, the pursuers couldn't hope to catch the iron horse, and the man successfully made his escape.
Afterward, he turned to banditry, repeatedly raiding the mansions and carriages of nobles throughout the country. The speed of the iron horse made him impossible to catch and allowed him to strike at will; he was truly elusive. Gradually, his followers grew in number until even the National Army couldn't handle them.
Without anyone to stop him, his banditry only escalated. It wasn't long before his influence reached neighboring countries. Furthermore, whenever his group escaped, they made sure to loudly proclaim that they were from the Reefaul Kingdom and were only acting as bandits for survival and as a protest against the King's tyranny.
Public dissatisfaction eventually turned toward the King who had started it all. Condemnation and conspiracy theories flew both inside and outside the kingdom. Relations with neighboring nations soured, and the King’s authority collapsed. His throne was seized by his younger brother, and the former King was executed.
“The pressure from other countries settled down after that, but the bitterness remained. It might have been fine if the Child of God had been captured alongside the King’s execution, but they never caught him, and the stolen treasures were never recovered.”
“That doesn't sound like much of a resolution.”
“Exactly. This is just one example; there are several other stories of the kingdom being shaken in similar ways. That’s why the crown wants to avoid conflict with a Child of God at all costs. Even if they can't be friends, a policy of non-interference allows both sides to live in peace.
“Of course, there are fools in every era, and there are cases where the worst happened because the person wasn't believed to be a Child of God in the first place, so one must be careful. It’s because of those precedents that the current policy exists.”
“...I think I understand. But if that's the case, why are you telling me this, Remily?”
She had shared her own past for my sake, but she didn’t necessarily have to reveal that she knew my secret.
“If you were the type of boy who would go on a rampage the moment he was identified, I wouldn't have said a word. But I knew you were someone who would listen, Ryoma-chan. And honestly, it’s much easier to talk to you if I don’t have to hide what I know, right?”
“Thank you for trusting me.”
If the stories about the treatment of Children of God were true, she was putting her own safety on the line by speaking so freely. She truly was a person of great resolve and a caring heart.
As I was reflecting on that, Remily dropped another bombshell.
“It’s no trouble. I have my own reasons, anyway. Since Elias-chan has already realized you're a Child of God, there's no way I could explain things to you while pretending to be ignorant.”
“What?”
I had heard that name only recently. I started to turn around in surprise, but I was suddenly conscious of the soft weight of her lap beneath my head and found myself unable to move.
“...Just to be sure, by Elias-chan, you mean His Majesty the King?”
“That’s right. Elias-chan was the one who ordered the investigation into Elia, after all. Besides, he’s royalty and a descendant of a Child of God. The Royal House owns books that aren't available to the public; it’s highly likely he has information that even we don't possess.”
Ultimately, His Majesty had judged that Elia was not a Child of God.
“The reasoning was that while her mana capacity is extraordinary, she showed no other defining characteristics. They claimed her mana was simply a result of her lineage to King Masaharu. To be honest, the evidence was a bit weak to completely dispel the rumors, and we couldn't be certain she wasn't one either.
“Since the King made the call, we had to follow it. It was better for protecting Elia-chan anyway, so we let it rest there. However, it’s quite likely that Elias-chan knows a specific method to determine whether someone is a Child of God or not.”
The logic was sound. At the very least, I had no reason to doubt it. I didn't even know what the King was like as a person. More importantly, I wondered if he had truly realized who I was.
I had Yudum-san by my side, who had been a royal spy until very recently. Reinhardt-san had apparently reached an agreement with him, so he was no longer reporting back, but the events of the previous year must have reached the King's ears.
“I wanted to tell you this now so you wouldn't be caught off guard. You’d be terrified if you were suddenly summoned to the palace, wouldn't you?”
“...If I hadn't heard this from you, I would have been incredibly suspicious. I might have even feared the worst.”
“All I can say is that when that time comes, please listen to him calmly. Elias-chan won't want to be hostile toward a Child of God, so I’m sure he’ll treat you well.”
“I understand.”
There was no point in overthinking it now. If the situation changed, I would consult Reinhardt-san. That would have to be enough.
“But if that's the case, I should probably tell the others that I’m a Child of God.”
“Oh? Is it alright for them to know?”
In truth, revealing that I was a Child of God—a transferer—wasn't a problem in itself. However, the history of past transferers was often marred by misfortune.
Some had been betrayed by the people they trusted. Others were never believed and became isolated as liars. Some had the information spread too far and lost their families and freedom. Very few of these stories had happy endings.
The gods hadn't forbidden me from sharing my secret, but they hadn't recommended it either. They had told me to choose my confidants carefully so that I would have no regrets. That was what the manual I received at the start of my reincarnation had said.
I trusted the Jamil family, and if they had already sensed the truth, telling them would make it easier to coordinate in the future. Besides...
“...It’s a bit awkward to say, but since you found out after only knowing me for a few days, Remily, there’s no real point in trying to hide it from the Ducal House anymore.”
“That’s true. I suppose I was the most suspicious one in the current group.”
“I’ve been in your care, and I trust you, but please don't spread this to anyone else.”
“Of course.”
Though she usually seemed quite aloof, I felt a deep sincerity in her promise.
“Well then, now that I’ve said my piece, we really should get some sleep. We need to rest at least a little before the shift change, or tomorrow will be miserable—and it’s bad for the skin.”
“You’re right... Good night.”
Perhaps I was simply exhausted from everything that had happened today. Although I had been blindsided several times tonight, I finally felt at ease. It didn't take long for a comfortable drowsiness to take hold.