Chapter 7

### Radie's Perspective

Radie extended both hands, and Nunzia placed her hands on top of his. Nunzia seemed a bit nervous. To ease her tension, Radie deliberately put on a smile.

"Take a deep breath slowly. Exhale. There's nothing painful or scary. Just try to relax."

Following his instructions, Nunzia took a deep breath and exhaled. Radie confirmed that Nunzia had calmed down and then focused his own mind. This "Ritual of Secret Perception" is one of the "Consecrations." It is a second-best solution devised by the Church, which had its most important element, the manipulation of mana, controlled by the state. However, it turned out to be more effective than expected. Some of the children selected through this ritual showed a significant increase in their mana capacity, and Radie himself was one of those children.

Radie felt the mana gathering in his hands. He gathered a large amount of mana, but it remained within him. He sent only a tiny fraction of this gathered mana to Nunzia. Normally, when performing a "Miracle of God," such a method of using mana is not employed. Once mana is gathered, it is immediately offered to the gods. Therefore, only those who have undergone extensive training and experience in using "Miracles of God" are allowed to perform this ritual. Only those who have mastered the special training in manipulating mana are permitted to do so. While it is taught as a basic skill in the academy, the delicate manipulation of such a weak and thin stream of mana is not something that is typically practiced.

Radie extended a thin thread of mana from his palms and touched Nunzia's palms. However, there was no reaction from Nunzia. He slowly pushed the thin thread into Nunzia's hand. In reality, it would immediately be interfered with and dissipated by Nunzia's own mana. As he continued to send the thread, he gradually thickened it to increase the amount of interfering mana. The point at which she noticed this interference would determine her sensitivity to mana. Of course, some children do not notice anything at all. In such cases, the ritual is cut off at a certain point. After continuing the interference for a while, just as he was about to stop, Nunzia's hand twitched slightly. A small murmur of "Ah..." was heard.

"Is something wrong?"

"......"

Nunzia did not answer, looking as if she was hesitating. She must have felt something faintly but was unsure what it was. It could be mana, or it could be her imagination. Nunzia's hands were still on top of his, so Radie smiled and waited for her to respond.

"It feels like my hand is getting ticklish... like a breeze is blowing on it."

"I see. I understand."

With that, Radie took out a small bottle of candy from his pocket.

"Thank you for today. You can go home now."

He put a piece of candy in Nunzia's mouth. She seemed surprised to receive a reward and left happily. He did not tell her the results of the test. If she was curious, he would tell her later, but he did not reveal the results on the spot. Whether or not they had talent, the tests until the age of nine were the same for everyone. Only those who failed the test and showed potential would be given a "choice."

Of course, talent was not a requirement to enter the Church. Anyone could join, and once they did, they were guaranteed a living. However, those who could use "Miracles of God" received some privileges, though they were also expected to serve accordingly.

After seeing Nunzia off, Radie stood in front of Mika. Mika looked visibly nervous.

"Shall we begin, Mika?"

Radie extended both hands as he had done before. Mika took a deep breath on his own and placed his hands on Radie's.

"There's no need to be so nervous. Just relax. If you feel anything, let me know."

With that, Radie began to focus. He gathered mana in both hands and extended it in a thread-like form, pushing it out. The moment the thread touched Mika's palm, Mika quickly pulled his hand back.

"Is something wrong?"

"......I heard something... and felt ripples...?"

Mika stared intently at his hands and then at his body, as if searching for some change. The reaction was so quick that Radie was unsure how to interpret it. He waited for Mika to calm down before trying again.

"Would you like to try again? If you feel anything, let me know."

Radie extended his hands again. Mika, with a cautious expression, placed his hands on Radie's. His hands were slightly trembling. Mika closed his eyes and focused. Radie also concentrated and gathered mana in both hands. This time, he tried with only one hand.

(First, the right hand.)

He extended the mana from his right hand and touched Mika's hand. Mika immediately responded.

"...I feel it in my left hand. It feels like it's spreading throughout my body from there."

Radie was surprised and widened his eyes. He had never heard of a child reacting so quickly. He tried again with his left hand. This time, Mika immediately responded, "I feel it in my right hand."

Radie was so shocked that his thoughts completely stopped.

---

Nunzia, who had stayed behind, left happily with the candy.

(Please don't leave me behind... I want to go home too, seriously.)

As Nunzia left, Mika, who was left alone, let out a sigh. He wondered why he had to go through this. He didn't have the courage to voice his thoughts.

(What were the results, anyway?)

Radie said nothing, and Nunzia didn't ask. He wondered if it was considerate not to announce the results in front of others. His heart was racing, and his stomach felt queasy.

(To get this nervous over something like this... I must be pretty weak-willed.)

He was aware of his nervousness. While he could consciously try to be more relaxed, it wasn't a significant problem.

"Shall we begin, Mika?"

Radie smiled and extended both hands. Mika, seeing the hands, decided to go through with it. He took a deep breath and placed his hands on Radie's. Radie's hands were cold.

(Cold hands, maybe she has poor circulation?)

He wondered if this was part of what he was supposed to feel. Radie spoke to him.

"There's no need to be so nervous. Just relax. If you feel anything, let me know."

Mika responded silently in his head and nodded. Immediately, he heard a clear, ringing sound. It was like the sound of a glass being tapped with a stick, producing a musical note. He felt something lightly touch the center of his palm, and from there, it spread throughout his body. It was like a ripple spreading through still water, expanding through Mika's body. He instinctively pulled his hand back and stared at his hands. The ripple continued to spread and bounce back, interfering with itself and resonating within him. He focused on following the weakening ripple.

"Is something wrong?"

Radie asked. Mika, unsure how to describe his first experience, struggled to find the right words.

"......I heard something... and felt ripples...?"

It wasn't an unpleasant sensation. In fact, it was enjoyable and even exhilarating. However, the sound and the ripple had already faded. Mika realized he was feeling unusually excited by this new, unknown sensation. He was trembling with excitement.

"Would you like to try again? If you feel anything, let me know."

Radie, looking a bit puzzled, extended his hands again. Mika, trying to calm his excitement, cautiously placed his hands on Radie's. He suppressed the trembling in his hands and closed his eyes, focusing all his attention on his ears and hands. He was determined not to miss the sound and ripple from before. The clear, ringing sound was heard immediately. This time, the ripple only spread from his left hand. It traveled from his left arm to his left shoulder, then to his torso, and throughout his body. It was weaker and less resonant than before. He felt a bit disappointed and told Radie.

"...I feel it in my left hand. It feels like it's spreading throughout my body from there."

The ripple from his left hand stopped, and this time, he felt it from his right hand. It was the same as before, without the initial resonance.

"I feel it in my right hand."

Mika said, but Radie didn't respond. The ripple from his right hand also stopped, and after a while, there was no response from Radie. Mika slowly opened his eyes and looked up at Radie, who was frozen in shock.

(Huh? Did I do something wrong? And I've never seen this person look so spaced out. She's usually so composed.)

He pulled his hand back and called out, "Sister Radie?"

Radie seemed to snap out of it.

"...Ah, sorry. Thank you, Mika. You can go home now."

"What were the results?"

As Radie hurriedly tried to get a piece of candy from the bottle, Mika asked.

(You can't just make me stay and not tell me the results, Radie?)

Mika's question made Radie look troubled. She seemed to be struggling with how to respond.

"Mika, this is just a test—"

"Yes, but you don't just test things without any basis or criteria, right?"

"...Yes, that's true."

Mika continued, and Radie took a deep breath.

"I feel a great potential in you."

"Potential...?"

"Yes. Even if you don't meet the state's standards, I believe you have the potential to use 'Miracles of God' if you join the Church."

"Miracles of God..."

Mika whispered. Hearing that he might be able to use the mysterious power that could heal injuries instantly, his mind went blank.

(Can I... use it? Me... that power?)

If he could use such a power, it would open up a whole new world of possibilities. Could he become a "priest" or a "paladin" like in games? While he didn't have a particular attachment to the role of a holy person, the idea of using magic in a fantasy world made his heart race.

"Is there a possibility I can use it!?"

"Yes, if you practice diligently and continue to pray to the gods, your prayers will reach them. When that happens, I believe you will be able to use 'Miracles of God.'"

"Pray...?"

The sudden mention of prayer cooled Mika's excitement.

(Pray to the gods? What happens when you pray?)

His mind quickly cooled down.

(Chanting, right? I remember Radie chanting something. Is that how it works?)

It seemed that chanting was not the actual method of using magic. It was a way to make it easier to imagine and focus one's prayers.

"Can I learn how to chant?"

"Chanting is strictly forbidden to be taught indiscriminately. This is true in both the Church and the academy."

Radie, looking apologetic, knelt down to meet Mika's eyes and gently explained. While he didn't know what other "Miracles of God" existed besides healing, it seemed that not everyone could be taught. If dangerous spells fell into the wrong hands, the consequences could be severe. This was a reasonable precaution. However, it meant that Mika would have to wait a long time to learn any magic, and even then, only if he showed potential. According to Radie, he had potential, but that was all.

(Imagination is key, and chanting is just to help with that. So, if I can imagine it clearly, chanting might not be necessary...)

The next step was to make sure his prayers reached the gods.

(Believe, believe. I already do. So, gods, please... give me magic!)

Mika's quick change in attitude, from skepticism to fervent prayer, was almost insulting to the concept of faith. Of course, such a change wouldn't make him capable of using "Miracles of God," and he was sent home that day.

---

Back at home, Mika kept thinking about what Radie had said. She had mentioned that feeling the mana within oneself was important. Was the ripple and the clear sound he felt during the test the manifestation of mana? He had felt an exhilarating sensation, but it was gone now. He tried to focus and feel the same sensation again, but nothing came.

(To put it bluntly, Radie forcibly interfered with my mana, right? I didn't do anything on my own.)

He could only feel it because it was disturbed. In a stable state, it was normal not to feel anything, no matter how much he focused. If it were something he could feel so easily, he would have noticed it before the test. He tried meditating and even mimicking the "circulation" technique from a manga, but it didn't work. He ended up groaning, which worried Amelia and Loreta.

He told them about the morning's events, and they understood, saying, "Oh, that." Loreta, of course, and even Amelia, had experienced it before. Both had been tested by a priest sent from the cathedral when they were younger. Loreta was seven when Radie was still training at the monastery and not in the village. It seemed the Church had been conducting these tests annually for a long time.

As he thought about this, he watched Amelia and Loreta busily doing housework. Today was their day off, and they were doing chores they couldn't do on other days. He hated housework, especially cleaning and laundry, and would never do it voluntarily. However, they seemed to enjoy it.

(With decades of living alone, I found even an automatic washing machine to be a hassle. But I know there are people who enjoy housework...)

Reflecting on his past life, he remembered that even with convenient machines like washing machines and vacuum cleaners, housework was still a chore. However, he also knew that some people found it enjoyable. His former boss, the bald department head, was one of them. Surprisingly, he enjoyed cooking and found it fulfilling to prepare elaborate meals on weekends and enjoy them with a drink.

While not everyone found housework enjoyable, there were a few who did.

Feeling bad for just watching them work, he offered to help but was gently declined. Searching through Mika Noisheim's memories, it seemed he rarely helped with housework. In this world, housework was generally considered a woman's job, and Mika had once made things worse by trying to help. Despite this, Amelia and Loreta never scolded him and happily cleaned up after him. It made him wonder if Mika would grow up to be a complete slob.

(Whether this is normal or if these two are just overly indulgent, I don't know the standards of this world. But in my original world, this level of indulgence would be considered toxic parenting.)

While he had been scolded before, the love and care Amelia and Loreta showed Mika were excessive. He had to remind himself daily not to get used to it.

In fact, a few times a week, they would try to help him bathe, even preparing the water and wiping his body. He usually refused, but they insisted. They thought he disliked being wiped down and held him down to do it anyway. It seemed Mika always tried to get out of it and did a poor job.

"You always try to escape. Mom, I'll hold him down, so you can wipe him."

"Okay, Mika. It'll be quick. Loreta, lift his arm a bit."

"Let go... I really, really, can do it myself!"

"Okay, now the other arm."

He struggled, but Loreta easily overpowered him. The age difference of six years was insurmountable. To gain their trust, he started wiping himself every night before bed. With the warmer weather, it wasn't too cold to use water. While a proper bath was a few times a week, daily wiping kept him from getting too dirty. By showing them he could take care of himself, he hoped to eventually be allowed to do it alone.

---

After dinner, the "female-dominated torture" ended, and the family gathered. Amelia was making rags, and Loreta was mending Mika's worn-out clothes. He focused on trying to sense mana.

"You're unusually quiet today."

"You seem a bit less energetic lately. Is something wrong?"

To Loreta, Mika seemed less lively than before. It was hard to mimic the energy of a seven-year-old.

"Nothing's wrong."

"Okay?"

Loreta seemed unconvinced but focused on mending the clothes. He tried to focus again on sensing mana.

After a while, he gave up, feeling exhausted from the effort. He slumped on the table, and Amelia chuckled.

"Did you feel the mana?"

"Nope... it's impossible..."

He weakly replied to Amelia.

"Very few people can use 'Miracles of God.' Even fewer can feel any mana during the test."

"I didn't feel anything either."

Loreta, having finished mending, joined the conversation.

"Some people say it felt ticklish or a bit warm."

"Yes. Mom didn't feel anything, but Mika felt something, right?"

Mika nodded, and Amelia smiled warmly.

(This is like a parent watching a child who says they want to be a professional baseball player. It must be that difficult.)

Feeling discouraged, he sighed.

"Don't rush. Take your time. It's time to go to bed. We have work tomorrow. Loreta, get ready."

Loreta responded and headed to the bedroom to prepare the bed. He