Nihon 4

Heaven's Black Eye?

That name sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before...

That's right! I heard about it from Arasooto.

"Wasn't it... a legendary monster that fought a hero in Arasooto? They say it takes the form of a dragon, but... honestly, I'm skeptical about whether it actually looks like one."

"We've never seen it ourselves. However, we're paying close attention to that legend."

"Is there something special about it?"

"Yes, there's a well-known legend about a hero battling a dragon monster near present-day Alasooto and driving it away from that land. There's more to that tale, though."

"Is that so! I'd love to hear the rest, please."

...Actually, the story of the hero and the dragon monster is inscribed on a stone tablet located beneath the Alasooto Guild. How do you know about it?

"Why do you look so surprised to hear about the hero and the dragon monster? It's because what you've been seeking is right here..."

With that, a tattered, small book was pulled out.

"T-that's... the hero's diary! How did you get your hands on this...?"

Startled beyond words, the sudden appearance of the book before his eyes was impossible to hide.

"Ah, I do apologize for deceiving you, but all those questions I asked were actually a test—just for you, Taro."

"A test...?"

I can't grasp the meaning of those words.

Seeing my obvious confusion, Riruka seemed to be surprised, yet she quickly regained her composure. She quietly listened to our conversation.

"Even if it's an organization from a country, it's still a country's institution. Even if it's history from four hundred years ago, we can't let it be misused or speak of it to strangers."

"That's... true, but then you also knew about the records in Arasooto beforehand, right?"

"The events that took place in Arasooto are also recorded in this diary. The facts you mentioned to Lord Tarou generally align with what's written here."

"If you already knew all that, then what else do you want from me?"

Though a flicker of anger stirred at being manipulated like a puppet, my mind gradually cleared, and I regained composure. I focused entirely on deciphering the other person's intentions.

"One was simply about maintaining consistency. If something can be said from any perspective, there can be no greater truth. Especially since Taro-sama is a rare individual who can read Japanese. And, with full respect for the rudeness, I have one more request to make."

Kisai, who had been simmering with tension, suddenly slammed his head onto the desk. I couldn't keep up with the sudden turn of events.

"I need you to save this country!!!"

...Just what exactly should one do in a moment like this...?

An elderly man of evidently high status was rubbing his head against the desk right in front of me. Behind me, a girl in her late teens was visibly recoiling in shock.

From an outsider's perspective, it would surely seem utterly bizarre and indescribable.

Still, do you want me to help this country... I think I've heard something like this before.

As if averting one's gaze from an unnatural situation, I look back on memories.

Could it be that I was born under a star like this, hearing the same thing again and again?

"First, please raise your head. What exactly do you mean by wanting help?"

"Yes, but there's no urgent threat pressing upon us. I simply want to hear your opinion."

"Opinion? Could someone like me, with my limited knowledge, actually offer useful advice?"

In reality, I know nothing at all beyond engineering.

Considering this person's position, it almost feels like politics are involved.

Politics? That's a completely different field altogether.

"I need help deciphering this."

What I handed over was the hero's diary I'd been pursuing all along.

Yet they used its contents to test me. Is there really any point in deciphering it now?

And how could deciphering a diary possibly save a nation?

"This diary is also important to us. After all, it's a record of how this nation came to be, so we need to know every detail. However, since it's written in ancient language, there are parts we can't decipher. And there's one section that's particularly concerning..."

Saying this, he showed me a passage written early in the diary.

While showing it, Kisei continued his explanation.

"This country is known as the land where heroes defeated legendary monsters known as dragons. Though multiple legendary monsters are known to exist, dragons are said to be the strongest among them."

I didn't know dragons were this powerful...

"The sheer power of dragons is beyond measure—they wither surrounding plants, disrupt temperatures unpredictably, and even obscure the sun. It is said that they incite nearby monsters and sub-beasts to rampage, bringing entire civilizations to ruin."

"Amazing. Honestly, it's hard to believe. But if you've understood this much, what exactly is still unclear to you?"

We want to be able to recognize signs of crisis at the national level. We want to know in detail what kinds of signs have appeared.

They place too much trust in old information... No matter how important the documents are said to be for the nation, they're from 400 years ago. Their reliability can't possibly be that high.

Maybe there's something else hidden somewhere? Even if we're trying to become more resilient in times of crisis, it feels like we're showing such important national documents to random adventurers. In other countries, you'd have to complete a major mission to earn the right to read a single book, yet here they're handing it over so easily... Perhaps I should test the waters a bit.