第６０１堀：掃除の時はバケツの水が一番メンドイ (Part1)
**Chapter 601: Water in a Bucket is the Most Troublesome Part of Cleaning**
Side: Yuki
"Cough."
"Hack."
"Achoo."
Such sounds echoed throughout the room.
We were currently cleaning the library warehouse connected to Sota-san’s area. Since we were clearing out five hundred years’ worth of dust, things were quite hectic.
"The dust is incredible, isn't it, Yuki-san?"
"It sure is. The only saving grace is that there isn't that much stuff in here to begin with."
This warehouse wasn't packed to the brim. In fact, because it served as the entrance to a secret room Sota-san had rigged up, we had intentionally designed it to be inconvenient—no windows, and accessible only by going deep into the library and looping around from the reception desk. Because of that, very few people stored things here. However, because it had been neglected for so long, the dust had accumulated to an alarming degree.
"With it being this bad, do you think there’s any of that 'mold toxin' like in the curse of Tutankhamun or the Pharaoh’s curse?"
"Nah, that was just something made up by the media. In reality, only one person died. The story goes that he was already in poor health, and a virus or something got in, leading to a sudden passing."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"You know your stuff. That whole thing was just everyone else making a fuss over nothing."
As we chatted while carrying out old chairs, Taizo-san joined the conversation.
"Wait, Taizo-san, you know about Tutankhamun?"
"Of course. It was widely announced to the world that he was discovered on November 4, 1922."
"Ah, so that was before the Great War."
"Exactly. If you were a scholar or worked in that field, you would have at least heard the rumors. Thanks to you and the others, I’ve been looking at modern information, and I was surprised to see the 'Curse of Tutankhamun' pop up. It was quite an amusing story. I suppose it made for a good topic of conversation."
That’s right. The so-called curses of Tutankhamun or the Pharaohs are basically nonsense.
It’s claimed that those involved died one after another, but they were all elderly, with an average age of over seventy. It was simply their time to return to the heavens.
Only one person is said to have died in direct connection to the excavation, but they didn't just drop dead the moment the tomb was opened. Reports indicate they passed away months later, and not from a sudden death, but because they cut their skin while shaving, contracted a fever, and developed pneumonia.
"If you want to talk about curses, Japan has one even more notorious, doesn't it?"
"Did we?"
"Taiki-kun, think about it. It’s right in the middle of the capital, isn't it?"
"Right in the middle of the capital? Ah!! You mean Taira no Masakado?"
"That’s the one. Though, I was surprised to hear the story that even the U.S. military couldn't remove it. Well, I don't know how much of that is true, but since we have you and Yuki-kun here, who have actually met Sota-dono, perhaps it isn't entirely a lie."
You’re telling me.
We’ve already hit the jackpot with the Seven Mysteries of the Academy; it’s terrifying to think that in the "home country" of Japan, those kinds of things might not be entirely false.
As we returned after dropping off the load, the other members who had been cleaning the warehouse were standing there with their hands on their hips, staring at us.
"Hm? What’s wrong?"
"Don't 'what's wrong' me. We’re over here hacking and coughing our lungs out while cleaning, so why aren't you guys coughing at all?"
Dressa was the one who stepped forward to say that. The other members nodded in agreement.
Come to think of it, as Dressa said, we weren't coughing much at all.
I wondered what the difference was... and it was obvious.
Taiki-kun, Taizo-san, and I were wearing dust masks.
The other members only had handkerchiefs or large pieces of cloth wrapped around their mouths. Since that didn't create a proper seal, they were inevitably breathing in the dust.
Actually, I could understand people outside of Weed like Amanda and Eoid using hand towels, but it was strange that even my wives weren't wearing masks.
"Well, it's because we're wearing these dust masks."
"Masks? Aren't masks something doctors use?"
Dressa tilted her head.
Ah, I see.
Masks still haven't really caught on in Weed. They’ve finally reached the point where people recognize them as something doctors wear for hygiene, but there’s no general awareness of them being used by regular people for prevention or to block dust.
As proof, even Rurua only had a hand towel wrapped around her mouth.
"Eh? Aren't masks just for preventing the infection and spread of diseases?" Rurua asked, looking surprised.
Well, since that was the only context in which we’d taught them about masks, it was natural for them to think that way.
"No, in places where there’s a lot of dust, these 'dust masks' are commonly used. Sometimes they're used to prevent inhaling harmful substances, too."
In modern Japan, what would that be? Asbestos? Didn't construction workers have to wear dust masks in addition to helmets to prevent that?
Painters use them too, since they deal with thinners—masks are indispensable there.
"Actually, do they use hand towels at construction or demolition sites in Weed?"
"Eh? I wonder? That’s Narjia-san’s department."
I couldn't imagine those absurd fairies and muscle-bound dwarves wearing masks.
Maybe I should make wearing masks mandatory when someone is sick? There’s no reason to spread a cold unnecessarily.
Hmm, I’ll bring it up at the next Weed meeting.
Anyway, I had assumed everyone was fine with just holding a hand towel to their face, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
In that case, I just needed to hand out dust masks to everyone.
"It gets a bit stuffy, but it’ll stop you from coughing on the dust, so give it a try."
When I said that and handed out the dust masks, everyone put them on without hesitation and resumed their work.
"Whoa. This is totally fine. Eoid, hold that side."
"Got it. Heave-ho. It’s so much easier when I don't have to worry about the dust."
Amanda and Eoid said that as they started moving a desk.
"Like Yuki said, it does get a little stuffy, though."
"Kagura, even with that, this is amazing. Let’s hurry up and move these books."
"You're right. I’m just grateful Yuki provided these for us."
"Exactly."
Kagura and Mikos were moving much more efficiently than before.
"...I’m not a fan of this mask. It’s hard to breathe."
"Deryu, you’re the combat type, after all. Breathing is important. Well, I’m the same way..."
Deryu and Ria didn't seem to like the dust masks.
Well, they do restrict airflow quite a bit. But since they didn't want to inhale the dust, they wore them reluctantly.
Watching them, Taiki-kun spoke up.
"It’s tough when the culture is different, even for something as simple as a mask."
"Well, the concept of a 'hygiene mask' didn't exist here to begin with. Ah, I suppose costume masks have a long history, though."
"That’s a different kind of mask."
"In Japan, it felt like masks became common after the influenza pandemic of 1919."
"A little before the Tutankhamun thing you mentioned earlier?"
"That’s why I know about it."
"I see."
As Taiki-kun and I listened to Taizo-san and nodded in understanding, Ruth called out to us.
"Your Majesty. Could you help us over here?"
"Ah, coming."
Taiki-kun immediately went to help Ruth, leaving the two of us alone.
"Let’s stop the small talk and get to work, shall we?"
"Indeed."