Naze Boku no Sekai wo Dare mo Oboeteinainoka? - World 2 - The Land Of The Main World

TL, ED: Pascal’s Wager
Going to try to move my usual announcements to the end and keep the beginning short. Note that the numbers mean parts, I got this chapter done in one shot because it was fairly short. Also, please remember to only read this on neosekaitranslations.com.

　　　　　　　1

To the four regions that divide the world.

North, east, south, and north have all respectively been stolen by the demon race・sidhe race・holy spirit race・cryptid race, and the world no longer belongs to humans.

On the other hand──

There exists land not controlled by any race, called the Unclaimed Lands.

A dry wilderness without a drop of water. Great deserts of scorching heat. An ocean of storms. Furthermore, there are sacred mountains of perpetual frozen soil. These harsh lands are scattered all over the world.

That’s right.

It was also once observed in the canonical history that Kai knew.

「…………」

「Ne ne, what’s wrong, Kai, you’ve been staring at the map for a while now. You’re going to get carsick if you keep staring at it without blinking, you know?」

「Saki, this is it──」

I unfolded the map in my hand and held it up to Saki in the back seat.

「We’re here along the border of the Schultz Federation. We just crossed the border.」

「You’re confirming now? So what?」

The Schultz Federation──

The eastern part, and the largest territory of the four federations of the world.

Currently, the coalition of the Human Rebellion Resistances was driving on the main highway across the border.

The faintly hazy mountain range was a volcanic zone. It once had a large eruption, and the volcanic ash that spewed forth formed a thick layer of earth.

「Are these also Unclaimed Lands……？」

「I don’t want that asked to me. If the map sent by the Schultz Human Rebellion Resistance says that, then that’s what it is.」

Saki said while chewing orange gum.

She had binoculars in hand. This was to notice the cryptid race approach as soon as possible.

「Actually, we’ve been driving on the highway for a long time, and there are no cryptids. Maybe this is an Unclaimed Land.」

「…………」

「Like, I, said, what’s wrong with you Kai!」

「This is different from the history I know. I wonder what the difference is.」

「Eh?」

「In the war I know of, this wasn’t an Unclaimed Land, but a territory of cryptids as shown on the map. The Unclaimed Land is too wide. 」

With a frown, Kai stared at the map.

It was the latest version created by the Schultz Humanity Rebellion Resistance. As far as I can tell, the cryptid tribe had never appeared around the highway.

……What does that mean?

……Because this is a normal plain. There is no issue with it being cryptid race territory.

It’s a mundane plain.

The ground was covered with vegetation, and just a few minutes ago I saw a lake.

「It looks like the perfect place for the cryptids to live in. Why are there no cryptids here?」

「Isn’t it fine? If you’re worried, you just have to be careful.」

In the driver’s seat, Ashlan suppresses a yawn.

「It’s strange that there are many Unclaimed Lands, but there are quite a few in the Urza Federation, right? A place not controlled by the demon race.」

「Oh, I was surprised to hear that from Jeanne.」

I was told just a few days ago.

When I was given the map, Jeanne casually talked to me after I noticed the existence of the unclaimed lands.

……Not just northern Urza. Eastern Io and southern Yurun.

……On a global scale, aren’t there strangely many areas that the four races have removed from their territories?

A valuable safety zone for humans.

For example, when attacked by the cryptid race, there were mercenary soldiers who survived by fleeing to this area. However, we have not yet been able to figure out why this is an「Unclaimed Land」.

「NeーKai」

「Hmm?」

「I’m tired. How long do I have to stay in the car……？」

Rinne slumped in the back seat.

Since leaving the Yurun Human Rebellion Resistance fortress three days ago, it seemed that she had been tired of staying in the car, which she had never been accustomed to.

「That’s right. Reirin is also tired. 」

「…………」

The elf shrine maiden had a paler face than Saki.

This one was more seriously sick than Reirin and no longer had the energy left to reply.

……The car continued to move even when we passed through the elf forest.

……And we stayed in tents at the time.

Sleeping in a human-made「moving metal box」would be nothing more than pain for Rinne and Reirin.

「By the way, it seems there is a human town near here. Kai, you can see it on the map you’re looking at.」

「Special Humanitarian Zone?」

「No. See that little black dot? It’s a normal town.」

「……Normal!?」

I couldn’t believe my ears at Saki’s words.

It’s not a Special Humanitarian Zone. In other words, it’s not a hidden city where humans are running away to. What does that mean?

「Is there a town that remains without being attacked by the cryptids? Really?」

『Agito, the town of iron scrap──』

　That’s when the call came from Jeanne, the commander.

『You guys will soon reach the town. It is the only town in the vast Yurun Federation that has not been attacked by the cryptids. There are also reports that our allied forces are welcome here.』

The highway splits into two.

The leading car steers to the left, and the others follow.

『We’ll have to be patient for another hour or so. However, even if it’s recorded as an Unclaimed Land, we can’t be too careful. Everyone, stay alert. You never know when you’re going to have to engage the cryptid tribe.』

「……I can’t do this anymore. I can’t stay in the car for another hour.」

「……I’m an elf too. I miss the elf forest.」

Rinne and Reirin muttered.

Immediately after that.

『Eh? What is it, Farin, wrong?……oh, I made a mistake. I’m sorry, you guys.』

Jeanne’s clear voice came back.

『It will take another two hours.』

「No more────────！」

「I’m at my limit aaaaaaaa！」

The two girls’ screams echoed in the vehicle Kai was riding in.

　　　　　　　２

　Thermal generation using coal──

Coal mine development was carried out in the Schultz Federation, which was blessed with underground resources, in order to drive institutions that counter the threat of the four races.

Coal mining villages, coal mining towns, and coal mining cities.

These bases, which have many names, were all destroyed by the cryptid race attacks. There is only one town left.

──Aigot, the town of iron scrap.

In the mining town called so.

「It’s the ground───────────！」

The door of the military vehicle was kicked open and Reirin jumped out.

She rolled over on her back on the reddish brown ground, as if she missed the ground so much after being locked in a metal box for so long.

She did not show any signs of getting up.

「Oh, it’s good to have my body in contact with the ground. I’m not going to say I want the luxury of wanting to breathe the clean, clear air of the elf forest. I just want to lie in the ground all day like this.」

「Get up without saying that. We’re moving.」

「Oh, this is Kai!」

He took the hand of the sulky elf’s face and let her get up.

The cars parked in the plaza of the former mine were Urza’s and Yurun’s military vehicles. In addition, there was a large truck that probably carried coal.

「It’s hard to believe. Can I park my car in broad daylight like this……?」

Jeanne observes the scene with wide eyes.

Balmung next to me had a similar expression.

「In the Urza Federation, there was no choice but to hide your car behind an abandoned building. If they found it, the demon scouts would come. If they found the Special Humanitarian Zone in Hyuman City, it would be lost……」

「I agree with you, Jeanne. If you wanted to park your car outside, the holy spirit race would come crawling in. But it seems like this town is really free from the cryptid invasion. 」

This was the only place that seemed to have a positive history.

And it’s because of this coal mine that the Schultz Humanity Rebellion Resistance in the west had been able to resist the cryptids until now. Both coal and iron are essential to the manufacturing of weapons.

「It seems like a normal town, except it’s a mine……」

A group of buildings lined up on a reddish-brown slope.

It was nostalgic scenery for Kai, much like the cityscapes of the canonical history. Most of the people in the city were dressed in miner’s clothes and busily carrying their loads.

……They’re focusing on their coal mining jobs.

……It’s really like the canonical history to see someone without a gun.

It’s also rare to not see a ruined building in the alternate history world.

「Hmm. It smells like humans.」

Rinne looked around curiously.

「Ne Kai. Are there really no cryptids in this town?　The cryptid race has a good sense of smell, so I’m sure they’d be able to smell human scents right away.」

「I’m wondering that too.」

I don’t think it’s coincidence.

……Is there anything here the cryptid race doesn’t like?

……For example, they don’t like the smell of coal. They don’t like the smell of iron.

「It’s a good idea to take a look around anyway. Let’s go, Rinne and Reirin.」

A coalition of 150 people went deep into the town.

To the group of mercenary soldiers, led by Jeanne and Balmunk, the first to step forward was a mature male soldier, also wearing mercenary-like equipment.

He had short cropped hair and a strong will in his eyes.

「Urza Commander Jeanne. This is Balmung-dono. Are you are?」

「My name is Carsenal, Captain of the Schultz Humanity Rebellion Resistance. I sincerely welcome your expedition. Thank you for visiting us.」

「……Excuse me, but where is Commander Min?」

There were too few welcoming people.

In contrast to the 150 allied forces of Northern Urza and Southern yurun, the Western Schultz side had only Captain Carsenal and nine of his subordinates. There was no commander here.

「Our Commander Min is waiting at the headquarters.」

「Are you stationed in this town?」

「Hai. We have a one-year rotation.」

A resident unit of mercenary soldiers.

Although the cryptid tribe had not appeared so far, it seems that security was not neglected as expected.

「Tomorrow at noon, we will guide you to our headquarters.」

「I understand. We are indebted to you tonight────…………what!?」

Jeanne’s words stopped.

Ringing.

The ground began to shake so suddenly that Kai, Jeanne, as well as Rinne and Reirin began to sway as they looked down at their feet. The vibration caused stones on the ground to roll down the hill. It wasn’t enough to knock me over, but enough to knock me off my feet if I tried to walk.

「What, will stop soon. It’s like a tradition in this town.」

「……this earthquake?」

Balmung looked at the ground, which was still shaking.

「It’s a dangerous tradition, isn’t it?」

「We think the ground cracked when we dug the mine. It’s never been connected to a major earthquake.」

「Does it happen every month?」

「About once every three days.」

「That much!?」

「Yes. On the other hand, there is a theory that the cryptid tribe does not like this earthquake and stays away from it. The damage caused by this tremor is minor, so the residents are unconcerned.」[1]

「……I understand.」

The Lion King nods reluctantly.

「Captain Carsenal, by the way, I have a request.」

「Leave the vehicle maintenance to us. We have good technicians in town.」

「I’m sorry, but please. And I want a tour of the town. I wonder if it’s okay for a bunch of strong men to walk around city with all these people.」

「Of course. The people of this town welcome your visit. But unfortunately, did you just pass each other?」

The Schultz Federation captain growled low in regret.

「It was just two hours ago. Another mercenary troop stopped here. They were looking forward to seeing you again, Balmung-dono.」

「Me? Who?」

「The mercenary king of the wilderness, well-known to Balmung-dono.」

「──You don’t mean-」

「Archine-dono.」

「That fellow! Oh, you’ve been to this town, that’s a shame!」

Balmung’s laughter was lively.

「It’s been a year and a half since I’ve heard from him. I was wondering where in the world he was roaming, has he been in good health?」

「Yes. There were traces of a large migration of cryptids, and I asked them to investigate. They came to our town to supply us with supplies.」

「It’s enough to hear the news. Hmm, if he’s here in this federation──」

「Excuse me. Balmung-dono, do you know him?」

Jeanne interrupted him.

「Archine……I’m a little familiar with it, but I’m not sure where I heard that name.」

「Oh, excuse me. Well, he tends to roam from the south to the west of the world continent. It’s unlikely that the name would reach the northern federal Urza. He’s a mercenary like us.」

「Which Humanity Rebellion Resistance does he belong to?」

「He doesn’t belong to any of them. He’s a natural born wanderer who never stays in the same base. Thanks to that, he’s not so easy to catch if you want to contact him.」

Balmung gave a small sigh.

「So he’s a guard roaming the wilderness. From what I’ve heard, he’s hired by the Schultz Human Rebellion Resistance.」

「……Good enough to be hired by the Human Rebellion Resistance?」

「I’m sure he’s very skilled.」

Captain Carsenal of the Schultz Human Rebellion Resistance took a step forward.

He pointed westward from the mining hill.

「This is the man who took a bunch of rough men who didn’t fit in with any of the Humanity Rebellion Resistances and created a powerful group of mercenary soldiers. There is not a person in the Schultz Federation who doesn’t know the name Archine・Sid・Collateral.」

「──Sid?」

I noticed.

Unconsciously, Kai said the name.

……It’s not a mishearing.

……Did you just say Sid!?

A man called a mercenary king in the wilderness. His name was exactly the same as the canonical history’s 「Hero Who Ended the Five Races War」.

Coincidentally the same name?

Even so, there was no way I could just ignore it.

「Oh, um……wait! I want to hear more about that mercenary!」

「Are you talking about Archine-dono?」

The mature male captain turned back.

「If so, wouldn’t it be quicker to meet him in person?」

「……Meet?」

「Archine has just left for our headquarters. We will take you there tomorrow, so you will naturally meet there.」

「────」

There was a man with the name of Sid.

If you head to the Schultz Humanity Rebellion Resistance, you will meet him even if he doesn’t want to.

“I am glad that in a world without Sid, you have found the Code Holder.”

　The Prophet God Asurasoraka said 「there is no Sid」in this world.

……I think so too. There is no way it is the same person.

……This alternate history world was whether humanity lost because of the absence of Sid.

But I don’t think it’s completely irrelevant either. That’s how significant the name「Sid」is.

「I’d like to introduce you to the people in town. This way, please.」

The Schultz captain turns around.

The commanders Jeanne and Balmung follow. Behind them, Farin and her subordinate mercenary soldiers start walking.

「Ne Kai, aren’t Jeanne and the others going?」

「……Oh. I know.」

In response to Rinne pulling the sleeves of his clothes, Kai begins to walk down the mine slopes.

Agito, the town of iron scrap.

A group of buildings lined up on the slope of a mountain, in the room of a large hospital. [2]

「Sleeping in a hospital feels like being in a hospital……」

The setting sun shines through the large window.

At the time when the patient’s private room turned red, Kai was repeatedly washing and cleansing the wound on his shoulder with the water droplets of the hot shower.

……The wounds made by the behemoth are not open.

……It doesn’t hurt even if I put pressure on my arm, and I think I’m mostly okay now.

It’s been three days since we left the Yurun Federation.

Because I stayed in the car all the time, it was the first time in three days I’ve had a proper bath.

「And it’s amazing. Such a warm shower. 」

The electrical system is alive.

In『New Vishal』, a special humanitarian zone in the Urza Federation’s Hyuman City, the water for showers was limited to lukewarm in order to conserve electricity. But this is different. The power generation equipment is intact, as there has been no invasion by the cryptid race, so there is plenty of power available.

「It feels like I’m back in the canonical history……」

「I don’t like it. It’s unnatural for the water to be warm. I prefer to bathe in water that is cool and clear, like natural spring water.」

「Yeah? I’d rather it be warm.」

「That’s no good. That’s why I’ll make it actual water.」

「Eh?」

The steam disappeared from the spray of water spouting from the nozzle. After a pause of a few seconds, the water immediately turned into cold water that stabbed my skin.

「Cold!?」

「Mhm. This coldness is pleasant.」

「I’m going to catch a cold……hm?……Reirin!?」

With only his neck back, Kai moved his eyes.

The shower room was opened, and the elf shrine maiden walked in as if it was natural.

Moreover, she was naked without a stitch of clothing. It was as if she was proudly showing off her white, clear skin.

「Wh, what’s wrong? You showered before I did!?」

「I’ve finished bathing, but I forgot one important thing. Kai, let me see your body.」

「Hai?」

「I’m going to examine your body to see if there are any other effects of the elf elixir. It won’t take long.」

「He, hey!?」

In the small shower room, an elf tightly attached to my back.

The warmth of skin was clearly felt while the cold water splashes──

「No, no, wait Reirin!」

「Don’t be shy. We’re different races. It’s like seeing a dog or cat even if the lord takes off his clothes.」

「Even if you say so……」

The bodies of sidhes, especially elves, are too similar to those of humans.

In Kai’s eyes, Reirin was no different from a human girl. It seems true that an elf girl looks more modest than a human female.

……But the skin is more glossy than humans.

……Above all, it’s embarrassing for me to be naked with you.

「Did you have to come into the shower?」

「It’s a waste of time to take off your clothes while you’re still wearing them. The quickest way to see is when you’re undressed.」

「That’s true……」

「I don’t want Lord to die.」

「Me?」

At the unexpected words of the elf, he stood there for a moment, forgetting his embarrassment.

Humans and sidhes were enemies.

Even if we have a one-year truce, do you ever worry about the enemy human beings?

「I have a strange question. What do you mean by that?」

「Without Lord, I wouldn’t have anyone to sleep with. And I know I can count on you for anything. That’s right……」

While staring at Kai’s back.

「It’s like a guard dog, isn’t it? We have guardian beasts in the elf forest. That’s the impression I get from you.」

「It’s a metaphor that is difficult to react to since I can’t tell if it’s good or bad……」

「You should be happy. In the elf forest, it is customary to treat your guardian beast with respect. Like this.」

Reirin’s hand reached out and touched Kai’s side from behind.

Then she hugged Kai’s back.

「Hm hm, it seems like there are no other side effects of the elixir. There doesn’t seem anything suspicious with the luster of the skin and the way it feels to the touch.」

「What’s suspicious is your hand!? He, hey……that’s enough！」

「Don’t move. It’s only your back and shoulders────」

Batan tsu, to. [(TL: SFX of door opening)

It was then that the shower room door opened.

「You flat elf──────！」

Rinne, her eyes bloodshot, screamed as soon as she opened the door.

She points at the naked Reirin.

「What are you doing when I’m out of sight！」

「Ku……you’ve already come back from your walk！」

「Go, Kai is mine, I’m not giving him to an elf!」

「Hmph, unfortunately this bathroom is for two people.」

「It’s for one person!? Oi Reirin, you can’t just lie like that！」

「I will go in with Kai too！」

「I told you not to take off your clothes────────! Get out of here, both of you, because I’m in here now!」

Kai did his best to hold Rinne back as she tried to take off her clothes in front of him.

　I finished the shower.

「Achoo!」

Wiping his damp hair with a tower, Kai felt a chill running through him. Even though I was wearing my usual battle clothes, my body was still cold.

「I think I might have gotten a cold……」

「Really? It’s a common symptom across all races to get sick when you get cold. Don’t let your guard down.」

「……For the record, it’s because someone switched the hot water in the shower to the cold water.」

I sat down by the window where the evening sun shined.

Reirin, on the other hand, sat cross-legged on the floor of the room and felt at home.

「What about Rinne?」

「She called to tell me dinner was ready. She said she’d bring enough for the three of us and left. What, are you going to come back soon?」

「I understand. By the way, Reirin, we need to talk.」

「Anything you want.」

「What are you doing with my bayonet?」

「I’m curious.」

A black bayonet「Drake Nail」.

Holding Kai’s weapon leaning propped against the corner of the room, the elf shrine maiden was looking at it curiously.

「You make interesting things for a human.」

「What about the bayonet?　Oh, by the way, Commander Balmung said something similar.」

Two generations ahead of the latest guns, he said.

Because it was a gun made in the world where the Five Races War was over, it was not an exaggeration.

「You understand human guns?」

「There’s plenty of them in the elf forest. I’ve already analyzed the structure, and I’m confident that I can make something much better with the same gun……」

Reirin spreads her hands.

In the palm of her small hand, there were the two types of bullets made in the canonical history.

「I never saw any of these before. Interesting.」

Short-form drake bullets and short-form elf bullets.

The elf gazed intently at the two bullets, her tone somewhat excited.

「Kai, the moment you struck the rasterizer with this, the tip of the sword burst into flames. I was wondering how it worked.」

「That’s the one on the right that Reirin has. I call it the short-form drake bullet. 」

「What about this one on the left?」

「…………」

「Can’t you say?」

「No, I don’t want to say. It’s just that I’m afraid to say it in front of you, because it’s called the short-form elf bullet.」

「Hm?」

Grabbing the bullet, Reirin looks up curiously.

Instead of disliking the name, she observed the bullet with increasing curiosity.

「It’s a human bullet. What’s the purpose of the elf name?」

「It means a bullet that counteracts magic. The seven-colored kimono Reirin wears is just like that. It’s a spiritual costume that is resistant to magic.」

「In other words, it’s an imitation of us. But to counteract the magic in the form of a bullet, hmm……？」

The tip of the bullet──

An elf shrine maiden stared at the translucent crystal.

「Iris ore. It is smelted by heating the stone, which can only be found in the sacred mountains, to a bright red and then struck with a hammer to forge it. It has the property of dispersing magic, so you can use that to your advantage.」

「……Do you know!?」

「This is what we sidhes are famous for, you know?」

Hm hmm, the victorious Reirin picked up the bullet. (TL: think of sfx said in a triumphant way.)

「It’s a bit of a letdown. It’s not just a matter of forging with strong flames and pressure. The ore must be handled more delicately to show its true value.」

「Just as expected. I give up, maybe it’s as Reirin says.」

Even the Human Protection Agency was not perfect at the processing of iris ore.

However, I never thought that the short-form elf bullet would be detected at a glance and the roughness of the processing would be pointed out.

……The wisdom of the sidhe race is terrifying.

……Hasn’t the canonical history’s technology caught up yet?

「Hmph. But I miss it. Iris ore is often used by the dwarves for crafting, since it is a valuable stone. I used to try it myself, just to see what I could do.」

「How can you do anything you want with a precious ore?」

「What is it? Lord, do you not know the stone art?」

Pokan, to. (TL: sfx that seems to be related to how Reiren opens her mouth)

Reirin had a natural expression on her face.

「If you have a single pebble on the street, it would be natural to produce iris ore from it.」

「Can you do that? That’s──────ah………………！」

「Hmm? What is it, Kai?」

「…………」

A bright light appeared in my mind.

Both the short-form drake and elf bullets were brought in by Kai from the canonical history world.

……So I couldn’t replenish it.

……I was worried about what to do after I used them all up.

There is a real sidhe here.

An elf with a superior processing skill to those of humans in the canonical history.

「Reirin, could you make the same thing as this bullet?」

「It’s difficult.」

Reirin stares at the bullet in her hand.

「If this were the elf forest, there would be kilns and tools.」

「I can prepare some of those. They’ll be tools made for humans, though.」

This town has been spared from the cryptid race invasion. Considering that mercenaries are stationed here, there should be one or two weapons workshops.

「Please. Is this nothing more than a challenge?」

「…………」

The elf shrine maiden looked up at him.

But then, as if defeated, she sighs deeply and says.

「You owe me one? And let me tell you, you can’t mass produce them. It takes time. I’ve never processed iris ore into human bullets before.」

「Okay. How long would it take you to make ten bullets?　A week or a month?」

「Tomorrow at dawn.」

「Hai?」

「What is it?」

「……I must have misheard you.」

Calm down and try again.

「Umm, how long would it take to process iris ore into bullets? 」

「Tomorrow at dawn, I’m sure.」

「Fast!?」

「Not fast enough. A skilled dwarf can do this in three hours. Don’t underestimate the sidhe race. But──」

She tries to hold the Drake Nail again.

The elven miko lifted the edge of her lips in a smile.

「It’s a good opportunity to show Lord how great I am. We’ll see.」

　　　　　　　３

　Night came to Agito, the town of iron scrap.

The buildings on the hillside are quietly asleep. In the deep darkness, the nightlights on the rooftops of the buildings dimly illuminate the surrounding mines.

Nocturnal cryptids──

Large carnivores in particular are known to roam at night. You never know when they might come up the mountain path and attack you.

「Be vigilant even if you have never been attacked, it is the same in this town……」

Outside the window.

Staring blankly at the mercenaries walking through town, Kai rested his cheek on the desk.

「Ne Kai, I’m sleepy.」

A room where only small wax candles were lit.

Rinne sitting next to me looked up while rubbing her eyelids sleepily.

「Aren’t you going to sleep yet……？」

「I just can’t seem to sleep. I’m awake, and I don’t think I can lie down to sleep.」

I’d rather be out there helping to keep watch.

That’s how awake I am. My whole body is burning, and I can’t help but feel a painful burning sensation. And the fingertips of both hands were shaking.

……What is this feeling.

……These shaking fingers were not chills or anything. And I’m awake.

Nervousness?

If so, the factor that makes my body and mind stiffen like this is────

“There is not a person in the Schultz Federation who doesn’t know the name Archine・Sid・Collateral.”

「Rinne, do you remember the first time we met? You ran away from the rasterizer and came back to the Devil’s Crypt. What we talked about there──」

「Is Sid a human?」

「Yes, yes. In the canonical history, there was a human who ended the Five Races War. There is a legend that he defeated the heroes of the four races with the Code Holder..”」

「But he doesn’t exist in this world, right?」

「I think so……」

It is not the same person Sid.

If so, then who is this man, Archine・Sid・Collateral?

「If it were true, I wouldn’t have to think about it. Tomorrow, when we go to the base of the Schultz Human Rebellion Resistance, we should be able to find out.」

Fu, a bitter smile. (TL: think “fu” as a sarcastic smile or laugh)

Rinne, staring at herself, did not blink for a moment. Kai responded to the painfully innocent look with a shrug of his shoulders.

……No, let’s stop.

……If I start talking like this, Rinne won’t be able to sleep because she’ll be worried.

I stand up, stretching widely.

「Reirin. Rinne and I will rest first, what do you say?」

「────」

「Oーi？」

「────────You can rest first.」

The reply is from the shower room.

Because of her work on the replication of the short-form elf bullet, the elf shrine maiden locked herself in the shower room and did not come out.

「I need to do this refining in a dust-free place. The shower room is just right. It’s going to take a while.」

The sound of hammering came from behind the door.

The ore was beaten violently and polished, and the impurities were removed with a flame. By repeating this, the crystal that was the basis of the short-form elf bullet was completed.

「……I’ve asked you four times now, do you need any help?」

「No need.」

From behind the door, Raylane peeked her head out.

「It’s not good to show things that are in the process of being completed. Also, the detailed manufacturing method is an elf’s secret. I can’t show it even to Lord.」

「……You’re a bit more of a perfectionist than I thought.」

「So, look forward to the completion tomorrow.」

Batan, the door closes with a bang.

Kai and Rinne looked at each other as the elf continued to work alone with intense concentration.

　　　　　　　４

　A wilderness tinged with the color of pale ink.──

The Yurun Federation is located in the south of the world continent.

Ruin・Ze・Flam’s『Sun Gate』, which is a main entrance to the fortress, closes one hour earlier than sunset and never opens until the sun completely illuminates the ground.

The holy spirit race is demonic.

The doors of the fortress were never opened at night to allow even a single animal to enter.

……It was supposed to be that.

「Wait! Theresia-sama, please wait!」

「The night is dangerous. It is not only the holy spirits, but also the beasts of the wilderness that roam around the fortress. Please wait for the morning────」

「No.」

The double-door sun gate opens from the inside while creaking with a squeak.

It was a machine-operated metal door. The door, which would normally open only with a motor for heavy machinery, was forced to open with a noise.

A few dozen centimeters.

Through the small gap in the door, a girl appeared in the wilderness at night.

She was dressed in a black robe with gold embroidery.

Although she wears a hood over her eyes, her slender lines from her chin to her neck are imbued with a grace and delicacy that men do not have.

「……The story is wrong.」

A voice rolling like a bell spilled down the vermilion lips.

「There is an interesting person. I came here because I heard that. I haven’t heard that he left for the West Federation and that we passed each other.」

Theresia・Sid・Fake.

A girl by the name of Sid begins to walk. With her bare feet in simple sandals, she walks through the wilderness where the night wind blows──

The figure illuminated by the moonlight was so strange and mysterious.

And she was beautiful.

「Ne, where’s the Code Holder?」

The girl looked up.

At that moment, the wind blew up the hood of a girl named Theresia. The bare face that is revealed is that of a lovely young girl. Her crescent-colored eyes and pale vermilion lips shine brightly.

But the most striking feature was her forehead.

──Stigmata. [3]

──That is, a bruise of shining light.

The brilliance that showed the manifestation of magic was as close as possible to a magic circle.

Human weapon Theresia.

A girl who was human but possessed magic power.. She was said to be able to control magic that was comparable to those of high-ranking demons.

「Fate Dragon Misukarushero.」[4]

The girl turned her face to the night sky, which was shelved by thin clouds.

「It’s the sword of destiny that you have created. There was a man who found the sword before I did, and we were supposed to meet at this fortress. That’s what you prophesied, right?」

『…………』

「The Code Holder is the perfect sword for me. I thought you said it should be mine?」

『My prophecy has been twisted.』

The gray clouds stirred and swirled.

While going against the flow of the blowing wind, it gathers and condenses above the human weapon Theresia and forms one shape.

The head of the dragon.

『The prophecy of the Prayer God Asurasoraka accelerated the journey of Jeanne, the Knight of Spiritual Light, even if only slightly. That’s why we never met.』

「But the Knight of Spiritual Light doesn’t have the Code Holder, right?」

『I am accompanying the Spiritual Knight of Light.』

「……disturbing prophetic gods. Why do you keep pitting prophecy against prophecy?」

She covers the stigmata on the forehead with her hand.

Don’t let the soldiers from the fortress just behind see you by any chance.

「I just need one.」

『It will happen. When thou shalt have the Code Holder and end the Five Tribes War.』

「────」

Silence.

The girl just kept walking in the wilderness.

　Further prophecy god, Fate Dragon Misukarushero.

As guided, the human weapon Theresia・Sid・Fake headed west.

 

 

 
Thanks for reading! I’m testing out a new announcement format where I put the “essential” stuff up on the top and recruiting + personal updates on the bottom. Let me know what you think, if you have a strong opinion about if it looks better or not. I think I’ve settled into a pretty consistent tl pace for this novel, and should be able to post more consistent updates from now on. Honestly, this chapter was supposed to be published yesterday, but I left all the TL’ing for my day off, so I didn’t get to editing and publishing until today. Sorry about that. Email me at pascalswagerofficial@gmail.com w/ comments, or just comment down below. Also join the NeoSekai TL Discord and help me cover raw costs on Ko-Fi if you want. We’re also looking for new translators and editors for LN/WNs and translators/cleaners/redrawers/editors/proofreaders for manga, so if you’re interested in that, please join the discord and ask. Experience is not a determining factor for admission. See you in the next chapter!

 

Footnotes

[1] Should they really be unconcerned???

[2] Read this as two separate phrases, the group of buildings is not in the room of the large hospital, rather, it seems like the large hospital is in the group of buildings.

[3] Explanation of stigmata. Kei Sazane somehow finds these Christian things that I for some reason have never heard of before.

[4] I’m not even going to try to guess the katakana is trying to say. Or like, what “English” this is supposed to say.