Kays Translations

Chapter 168: The Secret of the World (Part 1/2)

Day 396 of Life in Another World - 111,121pt

The next day, while having breakfast, I left my luggage at the dining hall. Since it would be rude to show up empty-handed after such a long time, I planned to bring some village dishes with me.

The first time was a sudden event, so essentially, this would be my first official visit. I wasn't sure if I could bring them over there, but I had a feeling it would work out somehow.

Preparations for departure were complete, and the old man stood by the refrigerator. Natsuki clung tightly to his back. Just before departure, she threw a tantrum saying, "I want to go too!" so I let her come along.

"Well then, we're off. I can still see how the village is doing over there, so if anything happens, I'll come back right away."

"Okay, I'm nervous! I wonder if I can go over there too."

"I wonder about that. Even if you can come, behave yourself, okay?"

"I know! Well then, see you all later!"

While Natsuki waved goodbye to the send-off crew, I gently opened the door to the refrigerator.

***

"It’s still completely white... I guess it didn't work after all."

I had a feeling this would happen, but when I turned around, Natsuki was nowhere to be found. By now, she was probably sulking with her shoulders drooping. It seemed that no one could come here except for me.

"But at least I can bring my luggage. But more importantly, where's the Goddess? Is she out?"

As before, there was a PC desk and a refrigerator, but the Goddess herself was nowhere to be seen. 

I can't just sit around and do nothing, so I go to the monitor and check to see if my points have been spent.

"Wow, I guess it's going to decrease after all...I guess I'll release the 'secret of the world' for now."

When I operated the monitor and consumed 50,000 points, the usual announcements didn't come out, probably because the goddess wasn't there. However, strangely, from the moment I released it, my points stopped deducting.

"Welcome, honored guest. I am the Goddess Nanasia. I shall teach you anything you desire."

With solemn grandeur, Goddess Nanasia descended from the heavens... except her legs sprouted from the blank ceiling, gradually materializing her entire body. Honestly, it felt eerie.

"It's been a while, Keisuke."

"...Thank you for the formal greeting, Goddess."

"Um, I apologize for the sudden question, but... does your appearance just now have any special significance?"

"No, please don't worry about it. It's just a custom when a blessing is unlocked. I haven't been given the right to refuse... Please forget about it."

It seemed to be a performance when someone visited the Goddess's realm through the proper procedure. She told me that her absence until now was for that purpose. The Goddess probably didn't want this either, so I stopped bringing up the topic.

"Also, I'm sorry for using the computer without permission. I came today because I wanted to know about 'The Secret of the World'."

"Yes, I heard all the conversations from yesterday. Feel free to use it today without consuming any points."

As the Goddess said so, she stared at my hands intently. She seemed curious about the souvenir I brought from the village. I promptly presented it to her, and she sat in front of the PC desk and began to unpack. Somehow, a two-seater sofa had appeared.

"I've been looking forward to this since yesterday! Now, sit next to me. Let's talk slowly while we eat!"

"Excuse me. By the way, Goddess, do you usually eat meals? I have an image of gods not needing to eat."

"There is no need for meals, but offerings contain ample divine power. ...Can you keep an eye on the monitor for a moment? *Chew* Mmm, delicious!"

As the Goddess spoke, she began to eat a sweet potato.

"W-Wait, my points... are they... increasing?"

Every time the Goddess took a bite, my faith points increased by 100. Although it wasn't mentioned in the explanation of 'The Goddess's Blessing,'...

"By the way, if you leave it in the refrigerator, it will be automatically transferred, so I would appreciate it if you could offer it every day. Of course, your points will also increase!"

"This is amazing. ...Um, is this also a secret of the world?"

“Strictly speaking, yes. It's something I can talk about now that you've unlocked it."

"I see. Just hearing this makes coming here worthwhile. From now on, I'll make sure to offer every day without fail."

The scene of an old man like me sitting next to the Goddess and looking at the computer, like at some internet cafe... gave me a strange illusion. But this was undoubtedly the realm of the Goddess. I waited for the right moment and began to ask the questions I wanted to know today.

"It's okay. As I mentioned earlier, I heard all the conversations from yesterday. I've also prepared answers to your questions on the monitor. Let's take our time and look at them one by one."

Today's schedule was unusually well-prepared. But that's why it felt suspicious. 

"Um... today's service is really good. I'm not suspicious or anything, but will there be any additional charges later?"

"Of course not. Today is free all day, so please relax." 

Just this conversation alone sounded a bit dubious... but oh well, if it's free, I'll take my time. With that in mind, I focused on the monitor and began to browse 'The Secret of the World.'

<<History of the World>>

- In this world, there exist three goddesses: the Goddess of the Sun (Light), the Goddess of the Moon (Darkness), and the Goddess of the Earth. The goddesses are the administrators of the world, and direct intervention in the mortal realm is not permitted.

- Long ago, the Goddess of the Moon managed the eastern half of the continent, while the Goddess of the Sun managed the western half, and the Goddess of the Earth managed the central mountain range. At that time, the central mountain range was not yet towering to divide the continent, but there was simply a large mountain standing in the center.

- To the east lived the beastman tribe, to the west lived the human tribe, and in the central mountain range lived the dragon tribe. About 1,200 years ago from now, anomalies began to occur in the eastern part of the continent under the management of the Goddess of the Moon. The types of monsters appearing on the surface increased, and more powerful monsters began to emerge. The cause of this was, of course, the conquest of dungeons.

- Long ago, dungeons were sacred places and forbidden territories where dangerous monsters dwelled. By a pact between both countries, entry was strictly prohibited. However, the beastmen violated this pact and secretly entered, obtaining magic stones and food.

Due to the influence of powerful monsters emerging on the surface, the eastern part of the continent, gradually eroded from the eastern part, and the living areas moved further and further westward, eventually fleeing to the territory of the human tribe.

- Concerned about this situation, the Goddess of the Earth raised the central mountain range to completely separate the east and west of the continent. The Goddess of the Moon weakened the power of the racial characteristics possessed by the beastmen and dealt with the situation to prevent them from easily entering dungeons. The Goddess of the Sun delivered an oracle to the human king, "Give half of the southern side of the western part of the continent to the beastmen."

- Originally, interference by gods in the world was strictly prohibited, and as punishment, the power of the three goddesses was lost for a long time. This happened about 1,000 years ago. However, ultimately, a balance was struck between the human tribe and the beastman tribe, and although the conquest of the deeper levels of the dungeons did not occur, a peaceful world continued for some time.

"Well, I see. So, there was such a past. The beastman tribe was nearly wiped out 1,000 years ago... Was that also when the current central mountain range was formed?"

"We goddesses lost most of our divine power. It took 1,000 years to regain it, just until the time you were summoned—"

"Summoned... Does that mean the goddesses were the ones who transferred the Japanese people?"

"Yes. Strictly speaking, it was the other two goddesses, but yes. But before that story, please listen to the events of these past 1,000 years first. There is more to the story."

Finally, it's a thousand years ago.

Will this lead to stories of past heroes and wars? I'm curious about the reason for the transfer too... but for now, let's follow the goddess's plan.

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