187 Social Aptitude
How should I approach this conversation?
Or... can I even speak at all?
Well.
When was the last time I spoke with someone?
Guriguri?
But that was telepathy. Can that even be called speaking?
Uncertain.
This is bad.
I'm starting to panic.
How do you even talk to someone?
More precisely, how do words form in the first place?
Ah, the old man is staring at me.
W-what should I do?
What should I say?
Right, starting with weather is the fundamental way to begin a conversation, isn't it?
T-the dungeon has no weather!
Oh no.
Seriously, what do I do, what should I do?
Calm down.
In moments like this, I should count prime numbers.
Primes are solitary numbers.
1, 2, 3, D—!
Wrong!
1 isn't a prime number to begin with!
Weather won't work.
Is there anything else... anything at all!?
Right, greetings!
Greetings are the foundation, aren't they?
Good, start with "hello."
Here it goes.
Here it goes.
Counting down one more time—ten seconds.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.
"Ko, ko..."
"Ko?"
Daa!
Impossible!
My mouth is dry—cracked—only a raspy voice comes out!
Moisten my mouth with saliva.
Voice comes.
Just one phrase: hello.
Nothing difficult.
Nothing difficult.
Nothing difficult.
Alright.
I can do it.
One more mental countdown.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.
"Kon'nichiwa."
Said it!
I did it!
I'm proud of myself!
I'm moved!
"O, ooh. To hear your voice... Thank you."
Old man lowering his head from prayer posture.
That pose—DOGESA, right?
Permit me to reintroduce myself. I am Ronant, a magician of the Lengzant Empire's Magus Corps. However, should you grant me permission to serve beneath your command, I am prepared to forsake my nation without hesitation. Once more, I ask—will you accept me as your disciple?
O-oh.
Wait a moment.
Don't speak in such long sentences all at once.
Thinking about what to say next.
Hmm.
Hmm.
Hmm.
The apprentice is out of the question, anyway.
"Impossible."
No, no good.
"Handle that spot somehow!"
No.
Not possible. Not possible.
But that old man doesn’t seem to be breaking, despite what he says. He’s likely to stick around for the long haul.
That is a problem.
Somehow, I must get him to leave.
Here is the Hero.
That one.
See the Hero safely to his destination, and devise a plausible excuse so that Old Man does not return.
See this Hero through to his destination. Prove yourself capable of independent action.
Things unseen when teaching others will become apparent through the act itself.
I shall set this as my task.
If you succeed brilliantly, I may consider taking you as a disciple.
Yes.
A flawless strategy, even by my own standards.
Now only to convey it.
To convey it.
Such a lengthy message?
No.
I can't speak that much. I'll die.
What now?
Perhaps I'm in trouble.
The greatest crisis yet.
Calm down.
There's no need to say it all at once.
Say it bit by bit. Even a single word at a time.
Besides, I can speak in words—though pronunciation of this world’s language is difficult. I can only manage fragments.
Only single words. In fact, that's all I can manage.
Alright. Here it is.
Soo… har.
Good.
"Ko-re."
Pointing at the Hero.
"Ka-e-su."
Good.
Did I manage to convey it clearly enough? That the Hero should be returned first?
Next.
"May I inquire? This boy appears to be the Hero. Why is he with you?"
Ah!
Don’t ask me that!
My prepared response is useless now!
Uh… what should I do?
How do I answer this?
I found him when I intervened in the war?
Approximately correct, but how do I explain that?
"Hiro-ta."
Yeah.
That’s the most concise and accurate.
"Huh? What?"
Ah, yeah.
You don’t understand, do you?
Sorry.
I can’t explain further.
"Issho, kaeru."
Pointing alternately between the old man and the Hero.
The old man paused, considering.
Please, just understand.
"So you’re saying I’m to deliver this Hero to the kingdom?"
Guh—!
Exactly!
Nodding.
"Then, if I safely deliver this Hero to the kingdom, will you take me as your disciple?"
No!
Why would that be!?
No, no.
Shaking his head.
"Shishō"
Pointing at the old man.
"Desu"
Pointing at the Hero.
"Oshieru"
How about that!?
Does that make sense?
If it does, it's a miracle. What do you think?
"Have you asked me to raise this Hero?"
Oshi!
Yes, exactly.
Nodding.
The old man had been lost in thought for quite some time.
His thoughts were unclear, but he might be piecing together meanings from my fragmented words.
I just hope he isn't imagining something strange.
"Ai. Understood. Though I cannot fathom the depth of your intentions, I am certain they carry great meaning. I swear, by your command, to complete this mission without fail."
Oh!
Excellent!
Old man, I understand your words!
Good.
"Then, though with regret, we cannot leave the Hero in this state regardless of reason. We depart immediately. I hope to meet you again in the near future."
The old man bows deeply.
Yeah.
I don’t need to see you again.
The old man vanishes with the Hero in tow via teleportation.
Thinking about it, the first person I’ve spoken to in this world was this old man.
Feels a bit like I’ve lost something.