第８６５堀：ある転生者の経緯 (Part1)
CHAPTER 865: The Circumstances of a Reincarnator
Side: Yuki
"But, where should I even begin to talk about it?"
Agate, the reincarnator, tilted her head. It was true, if asked to explain everything, it was difficult to pinpoint where "everything" started. Should I specify a starting point?
But before that...
"Please, sit down for now. You intend to talk, don't you? Let's chat leisurely over some tea rather than standing."
"That's true. But I'll pass on the tea. I can't afford to be poisoned, you know? Kirika, was it? It's not that I suspect you, so please don't take it personally."
It seemed Agate had been through her fair share of tough situations. To immediately suspect poisoning when offered a drink suggested her second life hadn't been peaceful. However, it would be bad form to offer nothing, so I signaled Kirika...
"Yes. Understood. However, it would be rude to offer our guest nothing at all, so please allow me to serve you something."
"Ah, right. Understood... Huh!?"
The moment she agreed, Agate's expression changed. After all, what was being presented before her was...
*Psh!*
With a sound, the famous brown carbonated beverage was poured.
*Shwaaa...*
The sound of the poured soda fizzing echoed. Once the half-empty plastic bottle was placed beside her...
"Then, please enjoy."
With that, Kirika moved away from Agate's side and placed other Japanese bottled juices for us. In front of me was Sanbon Yari Cider. Naturally, I, or rather, we, drank the juice without hesitation. I don't usually drink it, but it's delicious when I have it occasionally.
"W-wait a minute!! Why do you have juice!?"
"Trade secret. Now, shall we talk?"
"Y-you did that on purpose, didn't you!? Do you think I can stand this after seeing this!? Fine, I'll drink it! I saw you open the bottle, no contaminants!"
With that, Agate easily caved. Well, this world didn't have such juices.
"Phew! This is delicious. A nostalgic taste, definitely the real thing."
"I'm glad you like it. Now that your throat is moistened, please tell us about your final profile from your previous life first."
"...Fine. It's not like I can survive by opposing you, who even possesses aircraft carriers. I'll speak honestly. In my previous life, I was..."
So, Agate first told us about her previous life. It seemed she was an ordinary person with no special abilities. Except that she died young.
"You really were just an ordinary office worker. Well, it's a shame you died."
"It would be a lie to say I don't care anymore, but I don't agonize over it. Because I'm alive here now."
"But, it's a strange story. Agate, you don't remember anything about when you died, do you?"
"That's right. I thought I went to sleep as usual, and then I woke up here."
The cause of death was unclear, but there was no way to confirm it now.
"Well, as for when my memories of my previous life returned here, it was around the age of five. I was terribly confused back then."
Naturally. If you suddenly found yourself in an unknown place, with a different appearance and memories, how many people could accept that reality? In that sense, I was probably much better off, having been brought here after receiving an explanation from Luna. Of course, that didn't mean I forgave Luna.
"Still, you managed not to go insane. That's why I'm deeply impressed that you're talking normally here today."
It was possible she could have accepted reality and committed suicide. Was her mental strength that strong, or...
"Agate, were you also fond of isekai reincarnation or isekai adventure stories?"
As Taiki suggested, was she someone who loved those kinds of stories? The answer came quickly.
"Unfortunately, I had outgrown those by the time I was a child. The reason I was okay was thanks to my parents here. Even when I was confused, or rather, when I transformed and couldn't accept reality, they never abandoned me and stayed with me. 'It's okay. We're here for you,' they said."
I see. So she had wonderful parents.
"And then, after being confused, or rather, after accepting reality, I learned the next harsh truth."
"The next reality?"
"Yes. ...It might be bad for this world, but compared to Earth, the technological level is too low, isn't it?"
"..." "Ah..."
We couldn't say anything to that. Indeed, comparing it to Earth...
"Thanks to that, even getting hot water was a struggle, and at my home, where I was only a lower-ranking noble, we rarely got to bathe, you know? Do you understand this hardship? Ah, you two are men, so you wouldn't understand."
"No, no, we're both Japanese, so we understand the hardship of not being able to bathe."
"Don't arbitrarily assume I'm someone who doesn't bathe."
"Oh, my apologies. Also, now that I think about it, is it okay to talk about this in front of them? Or are they also reincarnators?"
"No, my wives are natives."
"Wives? You have more than one?"
"Well, yes. There are various circumstances."
As I said that, Agate's gaze sharpened for a moment. I braced myself, expecting her to complain or make a sarcastic remark about my harem situation...
"...Hmm. Well, if it's not illegal in the country you live in, then it's fine. They don't seem to be treated unfairly, either."
"That's unexpected. I thought a Japanese person would get angry in this situation."
"How many years do you think I've spent here? While I've calmed down somewhat now, skirmishes at the border were commonplace. Men being conscripted for war and dying was the norm. Standing armies, national armies, those were still quite rare; it was mostly lords' armies or conscripted peasants. In my territory, we even recommended one man to three women, provided they had the economic means to support them."
I see, she truly lived in this harsh world.
"For starters, even the institution of slavery exists normally. Do you think words like 'humanity' would even be understood? Those who spoke of such things are long dead."
"That's a very realistic opinion."
"I realized firsthand how wonderful a rule of law I had lived in."
"Ah, I understand that."