第２６６堀：夢（挑む）か夢（諦める） (Part3)
"Taiki. We have always made the unrealistic possible."
"What are you talking about!!"
I intended to retort, but Yuki-san’s next words left me stunned.
"Humans have flown through the sky. We’ve gone to space. To the bottom of the ocean, into the world of the infinitesimal, and now, to this world where magic exists. Tell me, where is the impossibility in that?"
That’s right. We humans have always made the impossible possible. While the level of difficulty here feels a bit different from just 'a little tricky,' giving up from the start is wrong.
"Do you know the saying, 'Where there is a will, there is a way'?"
The phrase sounded familiar. It was supposed to be a quote from an ancient Japanese figure. But if you asked me who said it, I’d just tilt my head.
"It originally comes from Takeda Shingen, though Uesugi Yozan is more famous for it. He was from the mid-Edo period in Dewa, Yamagata Prefecture... well, never mind the details. It’s exactly as it says. If you do it, it can be done. If you don't, it can't. It’s a simple concept."
I understood that. Because, as Yuki-san said, it’s literal. Nothing will ever succeed if you don't even start. But that wasn't the end of it.
"If you only look at that part, it sounds like 'Boys, be ambitious' or 'Sincerity can move heaven and earth.' But do you know that there’s a continuation?"
I shook my head, as I didn't know it.
"Takeda Shingen said: *'Where there is a will, there is a way. Where there is no will, there is no way. To abandon what can be done because one thinks it cannot is the folly of man.'* And Uesugi Yozan put it even more clearly: *'Where there is a will, there is a way. Where there is no will, there is no way. In all things, failure is merely the result of man not trying.'* Get the meaning?"
"Does it mean that we fail because we give up?"
"Well, that’s about the gist of it. Strictly speaking, there are nuances, but in the end, those who succeeded never gave up until the very end. Those who failed stopped halfway. It’s only natural, isn't it?"
As Yuki-san said, it was indeed natural.
"Look, Taiki-kun, as you suspect, the difficulty level is on a completely different scale than anything you've faced before. But if you give up, that’s the end of it. Besides, no one is telling you to produce results overnight. And even if there were a way to return, wouldn't it be lonely to say goodbye to your wife and companions forever? You haven't lived out your full life yet, have you?"
"...Yes."
I realized that even if a way home were found, I couldn't say I’d leave immediately. I had built too much here.
"Then, all we have to do is make travel between worlds possible, right? Then everyone is happy."
"...You’re greedy, aren't you?"
I had thought it was an outrageous dream. There was no way something so convenient could exist. Up until now, I had even sacrificed subordinates to rebuild a rotting nation. I thought Yuki-san knew that too, so I wondered how he could say such a thing.
But that sarcastic jab about his greed didn't even faze Yuki-san. He simply replied with a bright smile.
"What’s wrong with being greedy? Aiming for a dream and grabbing it—everyone does that. It’s important to compromise and lower the bar when you’re beaten by reality, sure. But this 'impossible' isn't something to compromise on. Well, there are plenty of people who would oppose such a thing. That’s exactly why it gets the blood pumping, doesn't it?"
"Making the impossible possible... is that it?"
"Yeah. As a man, you’ve dreamed of it at least once, right? The *Kamehameha*. That became a reality. I’m sure things like teleportation might exist too."
"No, that’s not *ki*, that’s magic, though."
I see. It doesn't have to be a magical approach. It could be scientific, or perhaps there are skills like *ki* in some other world. Or maybe I should try mixing all the techniques I possess.
"That’s that. Instead of giving up before you start, let’s just give it a try."
"Haha, I really can't beat you, Yuki-san."
"Well, I’m just repeating what my best friends told me. They were even more incredible."
And so, we spent the rest of the time talking about connecting the worlds, brainstorming everything we could think of. We both ended up getting scolded for returning home late.
"Th-that’s an amazing story. Well, it’s only natural, I suppose."
It seems that before I knew it, I had been telling Airi about my conversation with Yuki-san, and she was nodding along, clearly impressed.
"Well, that’s how it is. I’m not going to leave you behind, Airi. Since it’ll be possible to come and go, I’ll definitely take you to meet my parents. I’ll show you the school I used to attend, too."
"Yes! I will look forward to that time... no, I will lend you my strength so that the day comes!!"
Airi replied with a beautiful smile. Yeah, just seeing this smile makes the effort to be positive worth it.
Though, even if travel becomes possible, my life will likely remain centered here. I mean, I dropped out of school, I’m less employable than the average person back there, and if I introduced Airi to my parents, they’d probably accuse me of kidnapping and turn me over to the police...
Wait? Am I better off not going back?
"Come to speak of it, Yuki-sama and the others returned to Weed today. Did something happen?"
Airi asked, looking at the doppelgangers of Tori and the others, who were currently in 'shell' mode, operating autonomously at the academy.
"Ah, right. They said they opened the beach since one was created."
"A beach?"
"Oh, right. You don't know what a beach is, do you, Airi? Yuki-san said he’d guide us there once he finishes evaluating the tests with his wives. Let’s look forward to that."
"We are always being taken care of by Yuki-sama and the others, aren't we?"
As Airi said, we really are constantly in their debt. Well, I thought it was natural since Yuki-san is older than me, but that’s not it. It’s because he’s a man of character.
"You're right. That’s why we should do our jobs properly now."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
Airi watched me curiously as I stood up.
"It seems one of the remaining Holy Sword Users is up to something in the Monster Forest. I got word from Aslin-chan’s Ta-chan."
"...May fortune be with you."
"Yeah. Kirika-san and the others are there too, so there’s no need to call Yuki-san and the others. Just send them a message as a precaution. I can handle the level of this threat myself. And..."
"And?"
"The scale of our dreams is different. There’s no reason for me to lose to someone who lowered the bar for their own dreams."
"Yes!! I believe in you, Hero-sama!!"
With my wife’s cheering, if I lose now, Yuki-san will tease me, and I’d be ashamed of myself.
Well then, shall I get to work as a Hero? I’ll show these desperate, former heroes the strength of not giving up on a dream.
*Where there is a will, there is a way. Where there is no will, there is no way. In all things, failure is merely the result of man not trying.*
Come on, let’s make the dream a reality.
And so, that was the story of Taiki-kun, Airi, and the three idiots of Yuki’s circle.
But you know, it’s the same for all of you, isn't it? Regardless of how big or small your dream is, haven't you stopped even trying?
I’m in this position because I’ve been writing as a hobby, step by step. If you have the time, it might be worth trying something, anything.
After all, humans—living things—are meant to aim for dreams, right?
HOWEVER, putting real effort into it is a pain, so I’ll just take it easy at my own pace while playing games.
Everything in moderation.
Oh, I’ve posted the cover of Volume 2 in the activity report, so feel free to check it out if you’re interested. The content covers everything up to hiding Rurua and the Deryu arc.
You can buy the book, or you can choose not to.
Buy it.
Don't buy it.
That’s also a choice in the adventure we call life, isn't it?