落とし穴６３堀：彼らの知る真の勇者と約束された日 (Part2)
"No, wait. How does the topic of wanting a day off lead to the subject of becoming a Hero, and furthermore, how does it lead to you being able to speculate on why the word 'Hero' has taken on such a special meaning?"
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: it makes no sense. But my husband has a habit of providing strangely convincing explanations at times like these, so I decide to hear him out.
"It’s just a theory, but I suspect the one who imbued that common word 'Hero' with such a special meaning was..."
"I think it was someone from another world, just like us. And not just that—their civilization was likely on par with ours, or nearly identical. Or rather, it felt like Japan, just a slightly different world—like the timeline was shifted by a fraction of a degree."
"...Um, Taiki-sama? I don't understand at all."
"Could you explain it more clearly? I mean, I can follow the logic that someone from another world gave the word 'Hero' a special meaning, and if that’s the case, I can see why the title became so prestigious. It would mean that those who truly called themselves Heroes actually accomplished feats worthy of the name. But why does that have anything to do with Japan? And why only Japan? Surely other foreign countries would have their own versions, wouldn't they?"
As I said this, my husband began to chuckle. *Fufu-fufu.*
"That’s where you’re wrong. The reason the word 'Hero' is treated as a separate category—not just a term for a soldier or a common person, but as you said, Seraria, an expression for an unparalleled grand hero—is unique to Japan. And it’s only been that way for the last fifty years or so. In other countries, a 'Hero' is just a hero—a person of great renown."
"Huh? Why?"
"It’s simple. Something was created that made the existence of that 'True Hero' known all across Japan. That’s why the word carries such special weight only there. Well, the world is vast, so I can’t say for certain, but given the high rate of summoning from Japan, it makes sense."
"W-wait. For now, I understand that the word 'Hero' has a special meaning in Japan. But why does that make it understandable that so many are summoned from there? Come to think of it, the names of the past Heroes, and even Taiki and Taizo, do sound like Japanese names. You know the reason for that!?"
This was a much bigger revelation than the meaning of the word 'Hero.' What could possibly be the reason that makes it so logical for Japanese people to be summoned?
"Well, if you think about it, it’s obvious. Summoning is, to put it bluntly, an attempt to call forth someone who will be useful to you, right?"
"That... well, I suppose so."
Countries do talk about summoning, but to put it unpleasantly, if you look at it from a different perspective, doing it 'for the sake of the country' is really just about fulfilling the King's desires.
"In other words, they want someone who is convenient and will obey them."
"...I see."
Oh, I’m starting to understand.
"The summoned party needs to be useful, of course, but the absolute prerequisite is that they won't pose a threat to the summoners, right?"
"Yes."
"Now, I don't know how the countless other worlds are structured, but I suspect the environment of Japan is exceptionally convenient. In terms of civilization, knowledge, and individual character."
"..."
"Don't you think? If you bring someone from a super-advanced civilization, their home world might send a rescue team. That would be a planetary crisis. That’s not a viable option. So, you want a civilization level that doesn't pose that risk, but if the level is too similar, you can't be sure they'll be useful, and you certainly can't expect someone skilled to just blindly follow orders..."
"Stop."
I take a deep breath. Listening to my husband, I’m starting to feel sick. I’ve realized just how malicious we—our kind—truly are. So, I continue the thought in his place.
"In other words, the ones who fulfill those requirements are Japanese people, specifically students?"
"Bullseye. Well, I know it's impossible to tell you not to worry about it. As your husband, I wish you wouldn't, but..."
"It's impossible. I... no, we have been doing such things. We chose worlds that lacked the technological level to launch a rescue, and from those worlds, we specifically sought out children raised in a peaceful environment—children taught that helping others is a virtue and that sharing the treasure of knowledge is of the utmost importance. We chose them because they were convenient and easy to use, and we paraded them around as the 'Heroes' they claimed to be, didn't we?"
I have never found it so painful to speak my own thoughts.
"...How could we."
Airi looks as though she cannot believe it; she is clearly in deep shock.