第３１１堀：話し合い 裏 後編 (Part1)
Side: Taizo Honme
"Thank goodness. Oh, thank goodness!!"
I found myself shedding tears of relief right in front of the young men. To think that I, who didn't even cry at the moment of my own death, would be reduced to this.
...Ah, my brother once told me that a man should never show tears when things are tough, but should weep when he is happy. Yes, I am crying now because I am happy.
The boys among the envoys were Japanese, just like me. And to my astonishment, they claimed to have come from a Japan sixty years in my future. I had no reason to doubt them, so I asked them something I had always wondered: whether our research—or rather, the things my masters and I had created—had left any mark.
I hadn't expected much. In this world, there are geniuses who tower above us like Albert Einstein. I often felt that our own research results were insignificant by comparison. That is how vast the world is.
But the answer they gave me was completely unexpected; it went far beyond my wildest hopes.
The Yagi-Uda antenna.
In their future, they said, that name is known not just in Japan, but all over the world. They told me I was considered a great man who laid the foundation for communications, antennas, and radar. Hearing that, I was so overcome with joy that I wept.
Thank goodness. Truly, thank goodness. My masters' research was recognized and recorded not just in Japan, but across the entire globe. For a researcher, there can be no higher honor.
"U-um, Mr. Honme? Are you alright?"
Eoid-kun, who couldn't follow the conversation, looked at me with concern.
*I must pull myself together.* It’s disgraceful for a grown man to cry in front of young people. I’ve worried them.
"My apologies. I am fine. As you might have gathered from our talk, I was simply moved that my masters and teachers were properly recognized for their work. I forgot my age for a moment and let the tears flow."
"They must have been truly remarkable people."
"Indeed. My masters are my pride. Being able to learn under them is a treasure beyond compare."
Yes, and I must thank my brother for sending me out into the world to pursue that path.
...Hm? Something feels off.
"..."
"Is something wrong?"
Taiki-kun called out to me as I fell silent. I felt a vague sense of familiarity with his face.
"It couldn't be... Forgive me, Taiki-kun, but I have a question."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Have you ever heard the name Taichi Honme?"
"...No, I don't believe I have."
"I see. He looked somewhat like my brother when he was young, but I suppose it’s just a coincidence."
"I suppose so, isn't it?"
We were about to leave it at that, but Yuki-kun interjected.
"It doesn't necessarily have to be your brother, Mr. Honme. It's common to hear of children resembling their parents' siblings rather than their parents themselves."
"Ah, a throwback of sorts. I had a younger sister, too. Her name was Seiko Honme. She married and changed her name to Higashi."
"Oh, I recognize the name Higashi!"
"Really?!"
"It's my mother's maiden name. But I don't recognize the name Seiko. My mother's name is Tomoko."
"Wait a moment. You said it was nearly sixty years later, right? Then, generationally, it's possible that my sister's child is your grandmother or great-grandmother. Do you know your maternal grandmother's name?"
"Uh, hold on a second."
Taiki-kun fell into thought. I can't blame him; I barely remember my own grandmother's name. To a child, they are just "Grandma" or "Grandpa," regardless of which side of the family they are on. The nobility might be different, but we were common folk. We didn't need to worry about names to know who our grandparents were.
"I remembered. I'm pretty sure Grandma's name was Yoshiko."
"Yoshiko... Yoshiko, you say?! I remember that name! That was the name of the eldest daughter my sister had after she married into the Higashi family!"
"T-then..."
"No, let's stay calm. This could still be a coincidence. Let's confirm your birthplace."
I couldn't bear the shame of getting this far only to find out it was a mistake. I had to proceed with logic.
"Um, my mother was born in Kumamoto."
"Kumamoto! Right, one last question. Did the siblings of that grandmother run a swordsmanship dojo?"
"Yes, they did. The Satsuma Jigen-ryu, the Higashi main house..."
"There is no doubt. Taiki-kun, you are a distant relative of mine! I, too, learned the Jigen-ryu at the Higashi house where my sister married."
"So... does that make you my grandfather?"
"No, I’m not sure about that. We are distantly related, and I am only thirty-eight years old. I’d be quite resistant to being called 'Grandpa'."
We both felt a bit awkward. It was certainly nice to have a blood relative, but the age gap made us feel like an uncle and a cousin's son. How were we supposed to address each other?
"You don't have to force yourselves to use formal titles based on the facts. Why not just choose something you're both comfortable with?" Yuki-kun suggested.
"That's true. In that case, I'll just call you Taiki-kun."
"Then, is it alright if I call you Taizo-san?"
"That works. 'Mr. Honme' feels too distant. But Yuki-kun, you too—it's a miracle you've survived since coming to this world. In my case, I was summoned directly by the head of the Hifi Holy Kingdom, the Holy Maiden Hifi, so it wasn't much of a problem. But outside, there are monsters, demons, and man-eating creatures everywhere. Were you two summoned by someone important as well?"
"I was summoned as a Hero to a kingdom on the brink of collapse," Taiki-kun said.
"I'm in a similar situation," Yuki-kun added.
"I see. It seems to be the same everywhere. Still, it's naive to think there aren't other people from Earth abandoned in the wilderness."
"You're right. We have the concept of 'spirit-away' in Japan, too. It's quite possible others were summoned to different worlds."
As Yuki-kun said, while "spirit-away" doesn't necessarily mean another world, it's natural to assume we weren't the only ones. To think the three of us were the first to be transferred is likely just wishful thinking.
"Well, I've gotten quite excited, but let's get to the main point. We can save the rest of our stories for later."
"Understood."
"Agreed."
I had gotten sidetracked, but my goal wasn't just to reminisce about home. I wanted to do something about the impending war—a war where my fellow countrymen, including young people and even a distant relative, were on the opposing side.
"First, I invited you here to confirm that you were indeed from Earth, from Japan, as I mentioned. That is confirmed. You are both undoubtedly Japanese. And as you likely know as envoys, the Hifi Holy Kingdom is about to declare war on other nations. To put it bluntly, it will be a great war that, while small in scale, will engulf this entire continent."
"Um, why did it come to this? Why start such a war?"
"Who knows? I suspect my summoning was the catalyst, but I don't know the true intentions. I'll leave it at that; it's not my place to say."
"Understood. I'll ask Hifi-san about her true intentions directly. But what do you mean by you being the catalyst?"
Yuki-kun and Taiki-kun looked at me with sharp eyes. I asked simply, but I know that in Japan, after the Second World War, there were those who advocated for unconditional surrender and unarmed neutrality. They haven't fought a war in sixty years. They must have suffered a devastating defeat—perhaps after some high-output, wide-range bomb was dropped. To them, war must be something abhorrent. I agree that war should be avoided, but things are different here.
"The firearms development I provided has finally gotten on track. That... is likely what gave Hifi-dono the impetus to wage war against the major powers."
In truth, there is also the matter of the Holy Swords created by Comet-dono, but I couldn't very well mention that; they wouldn't understand. In this continent, even the concept of a Dungeon Master or a Dungeon is treated as nothing more than ancient ruins.
"May I ask why?"
"Yes. I was summoned when I was on the verge of death, and I was saved. At first, it was just out of gratitude. You know the low level of civilization in this world, don't you?"
"Yes."