第３７４堀：覇王との出会い (Part1)
Chapter 374: Encounter with the Overlord
Side: Taiki
Honestly, why is the world so full of "flags"?
No, wait. Is it "inevitability"?
People just project their own sense of fate onto things and label them as such.
Good fortune and misfortune happen everywhere.
That’s all there is to it.
In the end, people only feel it’s fate because they’re actively involved; if you don’t pay it any mind, it just passes you by.
The situation with Arne is the same.
Basically, the person named Arne isn’t exactly a high priority for this person named Noble.
She’s just a stepping stone.
If we’re talking about fate, Noble should be the one saying it.
Or rather, for Yuki-san, it’s…
*“Is that so?”*
It’s a matter that can be settled with just those words.
For better or worse, it feels like just another part of the job.
“You’re as composed as ever.”
*“There’s no changing it. Reports of finding missing persons are a dime a dozen in Weed, and in Japan, it’s a story that happens far more often than you’d think. I don’t have the time to get worked up over every little thing. Besides, it’s not like we can confirm if it’s actually the person in question.”*
“Why not?”
*“Because this isn’t the safe Japan you know. It’s not just a matter of saying, ‘Hey, we found the person you’re looking for.’ If I tell Dressa carelessly, she might demand to meet them and cause a scene, but I can’t exactly let that happen either. After all, she’s a knight of the enemy side, right?”*
“I suppose you’re right. It doesn’t go as smoothly as it does in Japan.”
*“Actually, finding people in Japan isn’t much different. Especially when it comes to public institutions.”*
“Eh? Is that so?”
*“You know we live in an information society, right?”*
“Yes.”
*“In that process, there are quite a few people who have reasons for not wanting their home address known. Even if the person looking for them is a blood relative. Debts, violence, that sort of thing.”*
“Ah…”
I’ve heard of things like that before.
*“So, even in Japan, just because you find someone doesn’t mean you immediately tell the person looking for them. It violates personal information protection laws and would lead to a lawsuit. And public institutions that cause such things get hammered for it. It’s not a topic you can just talk about carelessly, is it?”*
“…I suppose not.”
It’s kind of sad, feeling like Japan is just as jaded as this place.
No, it’s not that I didn’t know such a world existed… I just didn’t have any real sense of it.
Hearing the subtle shift in my voice, Yuki-san replies, sounding a bit awkward.
*“Ah, if you came here while you were still in high school, that might have been a bit of a grim story. My bad.”*
“No, it’s just that I was still naive about the world.”
That’s right. I only thought I understood.
Japan is just too peaceful for the average person, but even within Japan, there are countless problems, big and small.
I had mistakenly thought that Japan was easier than this world.
No, I probably just wanted to believe it was better than this world.
But here, schemes and strategies far beyond what I imagined are carried out as a matter of course.
That Earth is a far harsher world.
There are no skills, no clearly defined or quantified abilities—a world where you have to live by fumbling in the dark couldn’t possibly be easy.
That’s exactly why Yuki-san, as a member of Earth, is simply exerting the strength he cultivated there to face things in this world, where everything is clearly defined and quantified.
“Ah, so that’s what it was.”
*“What’s with the sudden realization?”*
“No, it’s just that Yuki-san is still doing things the ‘Earth way,’ no matter how much time passes. In so many different ways.”
*“Wait, wait, I’m doing plenty of things to adapt to the situation on the ground.”*
“Ah, that’s not what I mean. It’s like… you’re not dyed in the colors of this world.”
*“Is that so? I feel like I’ve been dyed quite a bit.”*
“Hmm. How should I put it? I still get the feeling that you’re a Japanese person from Earth.”
That’s it.
Yuki-san has been here for several years now.
But he still retains that ‘Earth-ness,’ that ‘Japan-ness,’ completely.
The food, the house, the new games, and the fact that he can import things from DP are big factors, but his lifestyle doesn’t feel all that different from when he was in Japan.
*“Well, I suppose that’s natural. Just because I ended up living here doesn’t mean I’m lacking in supplies or technology. There’s no need to go out of my way to change my standard of living or style.”*
“Most people can’t do that, though.”
*“I can, so I do. That’s all.”*
I think that’s what makes Yuki-san so amazing.
He doesn’t compromise, and he doesn’t give up.
He clears everything away for the sake of his own life.
Especially when it comes to his children, his wives, or someone getting in the way of his games—he strikes them down completely.
For Yuki-san, the hierarchy is: Children/Wives > Games ≥ Acquaintances >>>>>>>>> Another World’s Aulito.
In fact, he completely thrashed that god named Hifia, so he has no reservations.
*“Anyway, leaving my ‘Japan style’ aside, what’s the situation now?”*
“Ah, yes. We arrived at the royal capital, were guided to the royal castle, and are currently in the rooms assigned to us.”
*“Are you with Eoid?”*
“Yes. The women are all gathered together as well. Popuri-san and Lara-san are in separate rooms.”
*“Well, that’s because they’re the main invitees. Come to think of it, how far away are the rooms?”*
“They were considerate enough to put us right next door. Deryu-san and Eris-san’s rooms are in the same area.”
*“I see. By the way, what about Noble…”*
“No. We haven’t met yet. I thought he would come to welcome us, but apparently, he’s away on business. I heard that since we arrived earlier than expected, he couldn’t make it in time.”
*“Hmm. Well, I had Popuri fly to get here before Comet, so it’s inevitable that the speed is several times faster than what we’ve been telling other countries, right?”*
“Probably. If you start doubting, there’s no end to it.”
*“True. By the way, you’re right in the middle of enemy territory. How’s the surveillance?”*
“So far, I don’t feel anything in particular. No surveillance, and it doesn’t feel like I’ve been appraised, either.”
I don’t feel like my abilities are being suppressed; it really just feels like an ordinary castle.
“Whether it’s been turned into a dungeon… I can’t say for sure.”
*“It could be just the basement, or perhaps the headquarters is somewhere else.”*
“For now, Popuri-san and the others will probe Noble, and we’ll look into things related to Arne.”
*“Yeah. That sounds best. Oh, come to think of it, is the reason there’s no contact from Eris or Deryu right now because they’re with Amanda?”*
“Yes. Eoid went over there too, for, you know, practice for the audience with the King.”
*“Ah, he was stiff as a board in August. I thought he’d be a bit better next time, but I guess not?”*
“I think that’s just normal for this world. From our perspective, it’s like meeting the Emperor.”
*“It’s fine to just be normal. It’s an invitation from them; I’m sure I could talk to the Emperor normally.”*
“I think that’s strange in its own right, though.”
*“Because I’m not interested. It’s not like I’m trying to insult him, but conversely, wouldn’t it be more of a problem if I were so nervous I couldn’t hold a conversation? I hope you don’t misunderstand, but ‘normal’ means acting according to common sense. Even if people talk about etiquette, I don’t know the formal etiquette for meeting the Emperor.”*
“I know that. But no one can talk normally in that situation. They’d be frozen solid.”
“People are creatures that adapt, Taiki.”
“…You’ve had a hard life, haven’t you?”
…Yeah.
Yuki-san must have gone through so much hardship until now.
Being an adult is tough.
*Knock, knock.*
The sound of the door being knocked echoes through the room.
“Excuse me. It looks like someone’s here.”
*“Oh. Good luck with work.”*
I immediately cut the connection and ask who the visitor is.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Taiki-dono.”
“Popuri-san? Please, come in.”
As I say that and open the door, everyone enters the room in full force.
“Sorry to disturb you while you’re relaxing, but it seems King Noble has finished his business and returned.”
“I see. So, it’s time for the greetings.”
“Yes. Will you come with us?”
“That’s fine. I’ve finished my report.”
“I see. I’m glad we brought Eoid over here. We can hear about what kind of conversation you had later.”
“Yes.”