Nihon 1

Taro was speechless at the sight before him.

He could only stand frozen, yet his eyes kept darting around.

Riruka expressed awe and curiosity toward the strange landscape of the city.

"Whoa... This is totally different from Arasooto. Look at this amazing atmosphere... The houses are made entirely of wood! So intricately built. I wonder what those clothes are..."

She seemed just as delighted as when she visited Arasooto.

As for Coil, she too, just like last time we visited Arasooto, was taking a stroll around the town.

It seemed she was merely comparing what she saw now with her previous memories, perhaps because she had been here a few times before.

The reason I was so astonished, though, was the architecture.

Previously, the homes had been built from stone or brick, adapted to the local climate. But this town was clearly different.

It was entirely built in the style of old Japan.

It was like the Kyoto I'd seen in my old world, or the Edo streets I'd only seen in pictures. There were shoji screens, genkan, even tiled roofs.

The people living there wore clothes similar to traditional kimonos.

This might just be how homes are built here, rooted in the local environment, but the fact that even the patterns and materials used are this similar makes it hard not to question whether these are elements from the original world. Come to think of it, the language spoken here bears a striking resemblance to Japanese...

As long as I follow the diary of the legendary hero, I'm supposed to have come to this region. Are artifacts from that era still around? Then why couldn't I find anything with a Japanese aesthetic in the other towns?

For now, I can't figure anything out like this. There should be a guild headquarters in this town as well. I'll visit it to gather funds and look into the legend of the hero.

I stroll through the town at a leisurely pace. Though I've drawn some attention before due to the peculiar nature of my magical tricycle, this town feels different. I can't quite put it into words, but I sense a strange sense of alienation.

It's a bit unsettling, but for now I'll head toward the guild headquarters. Just as I spotted what looked like the right building and was about to enter, I couldn't.

There was yet another presence there—something that startled me—standing right in front of the door.

A shrine maiden.

"Oh, first time seeing this. A miko unique to Japan!"

Was it because of his skills as an information broker? Coil was observing with obvious excitement, his nose seemingly stretching even further.

As for me, I gazed at the figure with a mix of familiarity and surprise.

The name "miko," the white and vermilion attire—her long black hair neatly tied up—it was exactly the image I had often seen in the world I once knew.

The miko was staring straight ahead at us.

"Are you the adventurer named Taro? I am a messenger sent from the main shrine of Nihon Country. The lord wishes to speak with you. I apologize for the inconvenience, but would you be so kind as to accompany me?"

What do they want with me? What's going on?

I can't think of any reason, but they don't seem hostile. Still, making connections with someone important in this country could be beneficial. I suppose I'll go see what this is about.

Their expressions seemed to suggest they were leaving the decision up to me.

"Understood. However, I'd like to set down my luggage first, so please let me know the lodging location."

"Then we shall prepare accommodations for you. Please follow us this way."

What's going on? This is too convenient, isn't it?

It's as if they knew we were coming.

"Hey, Taro. You should get it by now. Stay on guard." Coil whispered.

Indeed, something about this feels off.

Following the shrine maiden, though still feeling uneasy, we moved forward. Eventually reaching the heart of the town, a large mansion that had been visible from afar came into view.

The surrounding buildings were also lavish and magnificent, truly impressive in appearance.

It was obvious that this place was the center of the town.

"We would be honored if you stayed at the inn over there. It is designated for travelers from foreign lands."

The inn the shrine maiden pointed to was one of the larger inns in the area.

"Hmm... suspicious."

Coil grumbled as he sat on the provided bed.

"What's wrong with that? It's practically perfect."

Rilka seemed to be enjoying the current situation with a carefree attitude.

But this time, I agree with Coil.

They know too much about us.

The inn is far too well-prepared.

It's as if they already knew we were coming to this town even before we entered it.

Why would they need to know about us beforehand? We don't have anything unusual, nor are we rich...

Could it be because of my combat ability? I suppose I'm decent in a fight, but not enough to make an entire nation wary.

I can't predict what they might do... it'd probably be best to approach this with caution.

After we unloaded our belongings, we were led by the shrine maiden to a facility called the main hall.

When we entered the main hall, it was just as traditional Japanese inside as it looked from the outside. It's strange—unlike anything I've experienced before. It's unsettling, yet nothing feels actually wrong...

"Is this place similar to Taro's hometown? It's luxurious, but not flashy at all."

Riruka looked around with her usual keen interest, as always.

We were led into a certain room.

It was an extremely spacious tatami room.

We were told to sit and wait in the center of the room.

Not long after, a man arrived.

Could this be the host? He seems a bit too casual for that role...

"Ah, sorry for keeping you waiting. I'm Takagane Toshiro. Well, I do all sorts of things, but if you must put it simply, I'm a politician. Just take it easy with me."

I returned the greeting.

The man who introduced himself as Toshiro appeared to be in his forties or fifties.

A middle-aged man who seemed unusually friendly, introducing himself as a politician, yet I somehow sensed it. This man could wield magic.

My guard instinctively rose.

After the greetings were finished, Toshiro began speaking.

"Apologies for suddenly calling you out after such a long journey. But we'd already decided to do this ever since you arrived in town."

"You mean my magic?" I recalled my experience with Arasoot.

"Indeed, your magic is fairly strong. But that's not the point."

...a little embarrassed...

"Then, what is the goal?"

"Stop rushing. I'm not saying we should eat something right away. But since you two look tired, let's make this quick.

You've been investigating the Hero's Legend, haven't you?"

"How do you know that?"

Hey now, try not to underestimate this country. We’ve been keeping tabs on all significant figures around the world, so naturally, we’ve already investigated your intentions.

So, does that mean I’m the one who’s lost?

Of course it does—exactly that’s why we’ve been able to read you so clearly!

After all, we’ve been investigating the Hero’s Legend too!

This is quite a surprise. The nation has been researching the Hero’s Legend from 400 years ago?

What on earth is going on here?

"It's a strange thing to ask, but why exactly?"

"Because... our nation was founded by the legendary hero!"

A hero... who founded a nation!?