Kays Translations

Chapter 43: Two Powerful Drugs Part 3

“Oh, sure, Rick certainly has some mysterious knowledge! But it’s something he was born with! But that’s not good enough! Is it a sin to utilize your innate knowledge…!”

　He can’t complain even if he is killed. In response to Lute’s conclusion, Natra still raised her voice.

　Born with a special constitution. It can’t be helped, and it’s not a personality trait. Natra asks with a trembling voice whether one is not allowed to make use of individuality.

“And if you can see through my knowledge, doesn’t that mean you’re just like me, Grand Duke? If you know the name of that metal match, doesn’t that mean that you’re like me? But I’m still not allowed?”

“Well, I guess we’re kind of in the same boat. So what?”

“……eh?”

　But what came back was a very simple statement of irrelevance.

　The sister and brother were absolutely stunned. They were so stunned by his attitude that he seemed to be uninterested in even refuting their deadly argument.

“That’s unreasonable! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”

“Your heads are too hot. Don’t change the subject.”

　But the ice demi-god is unwavering. Even in the face of the siblings, who are struggling to avoid death, his tongue is not dulled.

“Sure, I’m just like that little shit there. Ever since I can remember, I’ve had one man’s life stuck in my head.”

　The scene was extremely strange. Tools, knowledge, techniques, and ideas never seen or heard of in the real world.

　The worldview is too detailed and magnificent to be dismissed as the fantasy of a young child.

　That it was an otherworldly sight in the literal sense of the word, Lute understood relatively early on.

“It’s the feeling of having a book in your head that won’t go away. A biography of a boring man who is considered mediocre in his world. But it was still a good enough book to read and to learn from. In my spare time, I would roll it over and over in my head.”

　The story is told from the point of view of a man whose hobby is to gather miscellaneous information and who works day and night. Although there were a few gaps in the information, it was a good way to pass the time as a visual record of one man’s life.

　As a bright child, Lute read the story of the man’s life over and over again in his mind. As if reading a real biography, he would go back and thoroughly read the pages that interested him, skimming over the parts that did not interest him. Comprehend and absorb.

　Somewhere along the way, Lute’s personality was perfected. The knowledge and ideas specific to that world, and the vast number of human qualities that he came into contact with through the man, formed the Lute of today.

　This is the secret that Lute had been harboring. It is a strange phenomenon that is a little different from what is commonly referred to as reincarnation. It is a failure of the soul that is too inorganic to be called a previous life. A failed case of data transfer in the name of memory.

“That’s why I’m not blaming you for the knowledge of another world. And, for that matter, I’m not saying you shouldn’t make use of the knowledge you were born with.”

“Then what’s wrong with us…!!”

“It’s because most of your choices are fucking bad moves. I told you this is what you deserve.”

　It is different. The existence of knowledge of another world is not a big problem. But in the case of this sister and brother, the way they use the knowledge is too careless.

“For example, the fried potatoes at Uminekotei. I’m going to assume that my knowledge and the little bastard’s knowledge are from the same world, but that too is based on knowledge from another world. Am I right?”

“… Yes. That’s the menu I came up with. But it’s just a dish!? Are you going to complain about something like that, Grand Duke!!”

“No way. I think it’s wonderful. And even now, that evaluation hasn’t changed.”

“……Eh?”

　The sister and brother looked dumbfounded, as if they did not expect to be praised for this process.

　But this was unmistakably Lute’s true intention. When he put the fried potato in his mouth at Uminekotei, Lute realized the gastronomic delights that men in other worlds had frequently mentioned.

　I still remember the excitement I felt at that time. To be frank, Rick’s reputation at that time was far higher than it is today.

“It’s just food. That’s right. Unless there is some revolutionary cooking method, there is little negative impact that food has on the world. Culinary arts is still an industry, but the number of people directly affected by it is very small.”

　That’s why Lute admires it. Even if it does occur, at most it will only become a source of fire for the private sector, and at worst an otherworldly delicacy that can lead to a new industry.

“For example miscellaneous goods. In the other world, there were many miscellaneous goods similar to metal matches. They are easy to make and very useful tools. If you had made them instead of metal matches, I wouldn’t have thought of playing such a detestable role.”

“Isn’t it the same thing!?”

“I told you it was easy to make. Don’t talk about something that can’t be manufactured in modern civilization in the same sentence.”

　If it was a tool that was based more on ideas than on technology, or if it was made with technology that was just a little bit ahead of its time, it would not have been so sensitive to the fact that it was a tool derived from knowledge from another world.

　If he had produced an invention in line with the level of civilization in this world, he would have kept it to surveillance at best.

“For example, the way you sell. If you guys weren’t such street vendors. If you had knocked on the door of the proper department of the empire, in this case the Ministry of Technology, I would have let you off the hook, even if it was out of spite. There is no reason for me, an aristocrat, to interfere with a citizen serving his country’s development.”

“That, you can develop this country even if you don’t serve officially!”

“It’s a question of responsibility, you idiot. If you are officially in the service of the court, the rights to the technology developed there belong to the state. Whatever disturbances may occur with that technology, it is the responsibility of the government, and by extension, the rulers. I may complain to your superiors, but I will not think of dealing with you myself..”

　If the technology is developed under the protection of the state, the state naturally assumes the rights and responsibilities. Instead of receiving its benefits, we must focus on maintenance, development, and confidentiality.

　It is a matter that is no longer in the hands of the developer. Unless the developer himself misused the technology, or the technology he developed had a fatal flaw, he is not responsible for any other problems that occur. At least, that is what Lute thinks.

“But it’s different if you are individuals or if you are working in the private sector. You have to take responsibility for that yourself. You have to take responsibility for the disturbances that other countries will be involved in. Do you think your siblings’ heads are worth it?”

　If there was a riot caused by the knowledge of another world, it would be a surprise for the rulers. Because a situation occurred where the state had to move in a place outside its control

　The politicians call it “hostile action” or “foreign influence. 

“You guys are making all these bad choices that you can’t control. As far as I know, the only decent choice you’ve made is the fried potato. I’m not saying don’t use the arsenal you were born with, but if you’re going to use it, do it well. Think of everything. Otherwise, don’t use it, you idiots.”

“Ugh…”

“There are many other things I would like to mention. But I can’t go any further. Therefore, I deny you from three standpoints. There are many points that are careless, but these three points, especially the last one, must be confronted.”

　Lute then goes on to tell the foolishness of this sister and brother, the most unforgivable of all.

“The first is as the Grand Duke of this country. I cannot overlook the folly of carelessly trying to spread knowledge that could shake the nation.”

　Although in name only, Lute is one of the country’s aristocrats and statesmen. Judged from that standpoint, the folly of this sister and brother is equivalent to a mortal sin that threatens the nation.

“The second is as a demi-god wizard who will live for a long time. Unlike you guys, I am immortal. Therefore, if a disturbance occurs due to knowledge from another world, it will take me more years than a normal person to deal with it. I definitely don’t want a long-term uprising involving a continent.”

　For Lute, who will not die in this lifetime, a disturbance triggered by knowledge of another world is the worst thing that could happen to him. It would be a long-term disaster, no doubt. At the very least, it would take more than a dozen years, and if it were to go badly, it could take close to a hundred years to settle the matter. And since he is the grand duke of the empire, it is impossible for him to ignore the situation.

　Then the seeds of mayhem must be plucked out early. Even Lute, who advocates laziness, would do so.

“And the third is me personally. I say this as a kindred spirit with knowledge of another world. I doubt your sanity to use that knowledge so carelessly, even though we are from different civilizations and even different worlds. Let me say this assuming that our knowledge is from the same world. ──You are a fool if you are going to make full-fledged use of science and technology from another world when you don’t know how the laws of magic affect the laws of physics.”

　It is the lowest of the low. But in some ways, with more force than the previous two, Lute denied the likes of those before him.

“This world and that other world. I admit that there are similarities. Gravity exists. The organs of animals, including human organs, are almost identical. The evidence of hygiene is valid.”

　To the best of Lute’s knowledge, there is no difference in the general laws of physics between the world in question and this world.

　──Except for one thing.

“However, at some point in magic, it will obviously be different from the world in question. Starting with magic, there may be elements and laws that do not exist in the world in question. Have you thought about that?”

“…!?”

　Yes. The reason Lute decided to dispose of these brothers and sisters was because this one point was too dangerous.

　When there is clear “proof” that it is another world, there is no reason to be overconfident or overuse knowledge of another world. At best, it can only be used as a reference in limited cases where safety has been confirmed.

“It’s still better if the reaction that should happen doesn’t happen. There is a possibility that a reaction that should not happen will happen, using the knowledge of the world in question. I compounded this and that, or I used magic to process something metallic. There is a possibility that a nuclear reaction could have occurred. Did you understand that possibility?”

“That’s…”

“That’s why it’s essential to accumulate knowledge and skills through trial and error. It’s not enough to point out that this is probably the correct answer, and apologize for the mistake after a major accident occurs.”

　As long as there are similarities in the laws of physics, it would not be that everything is wrong. Rather, a certain level of success should be expected.

　That’s why it’s bad. Because to be right to some extent means you don’t know where you are wrong.

　Lute likened Rick’s knowledge to an answer sheet to civilization. But he has these words in his head. “It’s the same subject, but it’s a different collection of questions.”

“… If someone understands this danger and still does it, then frankly, I have nothing to say about it. Because it’s something you can’t understand unless you try it. If it was meant to be a verification, or if it has been verified, then you can just dismiss it as a groundless fear. You would be qualified to experiment with various scientific technologies.”

　However, Lute cut off his words there.

“Otherwise it’s out of the question. It’s going to be extremely difficult to convince me otherwise.”

　Then Lute lets out a big, big sigh.

　Then he glared at the foolish sister and brother and told them.

“Hey, I’ve explained so far. Isn’t it time for you guys to start making a full-fledged explanation? If you can’t say anything, I’d like to say farewell.”

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