Kays Translations

Chapter 164

“Then… good night, Melt.”
“Mm, good night, Shizuma.”

The fun drinking party was over. When we returned home — our home after so long — nostalgia washed over us. We both felt that small, selfish wish of wanting to stay up a little longer, yet decided to rest for the night.

I reverted from Silent’s form to my true self, said good night to Melt, and headed for the bedroom. As I lay down on the bed, I quietly ran through the “agenda” for tonight’s meeting in my mind.

The familiar round table appeared.

Once I took my seat in the ornate chair at the head of the table, the others emerged one after another from the darkness.

Starting from my right and going clockwise: Silent, Rent, Sheele, Same, Seira, Shijima, Hush, Rue, and then — skipping a few seats — Still.

I’ve noticed recently that this seating order isn’t exactly based on the order in which they were created. If it were, Seira should come before Same, since she was made earlier. Most likely, the arrangement takes into account not only the order of creation but also playtime, role, and significance within the overall story.

“Alright then, I’ve called everyone here because I want to hear your opinions on our direction going forward. Can we start with the first topic?”

I opened the discussion, scanning everyone’s faces.

“Go ahead.”

Silent gave a short reply, and the others nodded in agreement.

“First of all,” 

I continued.

“I want to decide, while we still can, who will lead the brigade in the future. Even if some members can’t appear here, let’s assume they can still hear us. Is everyone okay with that?”

I spoke not just to those around the table but also toward the unseen darkness beyond. Even without a response, I believed they were listening — and began to share my thoughts.

“I think the one who becomes the brigade’s leader should be someone who isn’t bound to the city — someone free to travel and see the world. Anyone here think they might want to take on that role?”

“To be honest, I wouldn’t mind,” 

Silent was the first to raise his hand. 

“But the circumstances around me are… complicated.”

True enough. As one of the Sapphire Ranked Adventurers, his freedom was rather limited.

“That’s true. Besides, Remiya likes you, doesn’t she? Leaving behind such a devoted girl would be cruel.”

Seira teased.

“Don’t joke. But yes… I can’t say I’m free of ties. It would be difficult.”

“…I wouldn’t mind doing it.” 

Same said unexpectedly.

Everyone’s eyes widened. Of all people, he was the last one we expected.

“That’s impossible, Same. You’re the one most deeply tied to this country.”

“Yeah, but that’s Same as Shizuma. And besides…” 

He looked down slightly. 

“If I ever gained that kind of freedom, I think it would actually be better for Melt if I left.”

A wave of puzzled looks went around the table. But I immediately understood what he meant.

“…Because if both I and Same exist at the same time, it would confuse Melte, right?”

“That’s right. Melt met me — the Shizuma who looks like Same — and spent all her time with him. So she feels close to me, but she’d also feel a strange discomfort realizing that I’m not quite the same Same she knows.”

“Same, rejected. That would just leave Melt with the feeling that ‘someone she thought was family suddenly left her behind.’ That would hurt her far more than a little confusion ever could. This isn’t about what’s best for her — you’re just afraid she might stop seeing you as family. It’s just an excuse, isn’t it?”

Harsh words — but probably the truth. That’s why I couldn’t allow it.

“…You’re merciless, Shizuma. But you’re right. Dead on.”

“Then just rebuild that relationship. You’re a better big brother type than I am. Stay with her as the kind older brother you are. Don’t chicken out now.”

“Oof… that stings. But… yeah, you’re right. I’ve made a lot of good friends in this city too. Honestly, I don’t want to go anywhere far. Sorry — forget what I said. I’m not fit to be the leader.”

Talking openly like this around the round table — it’s important. These people aren’t just characters; they’re all conscious beings. Family.

“Well then, how about me? As a wandering musician, traveling suits me perfectly! A traveling brigade led by a bard — doesn’t that sound splendid?”

Hash said.

“You lack dignity. Don’t you agree, my lord?”

Still replied dryly

“Haha, Still, that’s a bit much — but yeah, you don’t really give off ‘leader’ energy, Hash.”

“Hmm, how unfortunate. Then what shall we do?”

I turned toward the darkness.

“Tistnardo, can I count on you? Someone who doesn’t avoid people, but doesn’t cling to them either. One who travels the world alongside those he meets. Maybe one day I’ll even ask you to come to Lindblum. I’m not asking you to appear right away as the next leader — but would you consider it?”

The table fell silent. None of them expected me to say that name. The air grew tense, the darkness somehow deeper.

Was it my imagination? Or did the silence itself create that illusion?

『…I don’t want to leave this place. But, Shizuma — you believe I should, don’t you? …You’re saying you want to give me the chance to move again — when I’ve been frozen at the end of that story.』

“…That’s right. I want you to see it for yourself — that this world isn’t bound by some fixed storyline. There are countless people, things, and unknowns out there. You’ll face disappointment and despair too, but that’s life. This time, I want you to walk a real life — one that isn’t predetermined.”

『…I’ll think about it. If the time comes when you truly need my strength, call me. Whether I accept the role of leader after that… I can’t say.』

With that, Tistnardo’s voice faded into silence.

Maybe… he really is changing, little by little.

“…If Tistnardo does become leader, I’ll go with him. Even if it means being away from Melt for a while.”

Rent said.

“Yes, perhaps I’ll accompany him too. I could play music to fill the emptiness in his heart.”

Hash said softly.

“Hehe, since we’re at it, why don’t we all say what we’d do if we were free to live out in the world?” 

Seira suggested.

That’s a good idea — I’d like to hear everyone’s wishes.

I looked first to Silent.

“Me? Well… I’d probably stick to the same plan Shizuma laid out under my name. Do whatever I want — help where I can, earn money, drink, eat well. The perfect life. And if Lendia keeps prospering, there’ll be no shortage of good liquor and food.”

That’s so like him. Since gaining an adult body, I’ve come to understand — yes, drinking really is that good.

“As I said before, if Tistnardo travels as the brigade’s leader, I’ll go with him. To train myself too. But aside from that… hmm, maybe I’d like to try going to school somewhere.”

Rent still sees herself as a child, perhaps because of her youthful appearance.

Certainly, attending school might be a good choice for her.

“I… would like to stay with everyone, but if you’re all going your own ways, I can understand that. In that case… I want to stay with Shizuma and Melt-san. Always. Together, forever.”

As expected, Sheele’s words came from her deep-seated loneliness — her desire to be with people.

If she stays with me and Melt, she’ll constantly meet new people while still being with her family — with us.

In a way, it was a completely predictable answer.

“I’d like to work around the Lindblum area. Also, personally, I’d like to get more involved with the Pigeon Trading Company. That company… is going to grow. I’m convinced it’ll eventually become the center of Lendia’s economy. And in a place like that, I think having at least one person like me would be good. Besides, we owe them a lot.”

It wasn’t surprising that Same wanted to stay in Lindblum, but I didn’t expect the name of the Pigeon Trading Company to come up here.

They are indeed people we owe a great deal to — and Same, in particular, has deep connections with them.

Keeping ties with such an organization might be quite important.

“I’ll live in our house in Lindblum. I’ll cook for everyone when they come home, and maybe I’ll even join the cooks’ guild. Either way, someone needs to stay home and wait for everyone’s return, right?”

Ah… that’s a good idea.

Just knowing that Seira will be home gives me peace of mind. Melt would surely feel the same way.

“As for me… well, Lindblum would be fine too, but I’d like to have a workshop in Izbel. The air there feels comfortable. I could train younger artisans too. I’d be a bit farther away from everyone, though.”

That suits him perfectly.

Shijima really does look best swinging a hammer in a workshop.

And to think he’s even considering training apprentices — that’s a bit unexpected.

“I’d like to become a traveling musician. I want to share my melodies with the world, blend them with the music that grows in this world, and see what kind of new sounds will be born.”

That’s exactly what I expected from Hash.

In a peaceful world, what flourishes most are culture and the arts.

The spread of Hush’s knowledge and music could have far greater meaning than any of us imagine.

“I might’ve said this before, but I’d like to take a role protecting Lindblum. Not as a government official, but as someone close to the people. I’m worried about the refugees too, you see. So, becoming an adventurer might be best. Though, I wonder if they’d even take in an old man like me.”

That, too, was as expected.

Rue has always been compassionate and caring. I can tell he plans to watch over the city — and probably to welcome me and Melt home whenever we return.

And then, I turned to the last person.

“Well, as for me…I can’t really stay near everyone, can I? Even if we wiped out every last mastermind, the seeds of evil and unrest would spring up again like mushrooms after the rain. So, I shall wander the world — stirring it up, tainting my hands with blood if necessary, and with those bloodstained hands… saving people.”

Still said with his usual unsettling smile.

…This was exactly what I had feared.

Still’s chosen path — to take upon himself all the world’s vigilance and malice — would never allow him peace.

It’s a path where Still himself can never be saved.

“…Still, even so. when everything is over, I want to make a place where you belong.”

I said quietly.

“How kind of you… my lord. Perhaps, on occasion, I’ll come by for some tea…”

He replied with a soft, almost wistful smile.

And so, I finished hearing everyone’s hopes for the future.

…They were all wonderful to listen to.

“By the way, Shizuma?”

At that moment, Sheele called my name.

“Remember when I told you to keep your smartphone in your pocket? What happened with that afterward?”

“Oh, right. Come to think of it, I never checked. When we left the Great Forest, I’d already turned into Same.”

“Then please check it when you wake up tomorrow. Do you remember what the battery percentage was before you put it away?”

“I think it was around seventy-eight percent.”

I had completely forgotten. Sheele had asked me to do that for some sort of test or observation.

Same had also asked about the growth of my nails, hair, and beard — likely for the same reason: to determine whether my biological time was progressing normally.

But I don’t really think a smartphone’s charge has anything to do with the passage of biological time…

“…I wasn’t certain, so I didn’t mention it earlier, but if we assume that the fried chicken and drinks inside the bus never decayed, then it would make sense that the bus engine still worked. That led me to consider the possibility that time for non-living things was completely stopped. However—”

“At that time in the mansion, I’m probably the only one who retains detailed memories. None of the others had ever appeared in this world yet, and Shizuma’s own power was too weak to perceive his surroundings as he can now.”

“Hm… and what’s your view, Silent?”

“I remember what that dungeon master—Grimgram—said inside that dungeon. I shared those words with everyone. As a result, Sheele came up with a certain hypothesis.”

“Yes. I felt that the act of ‘granting a wish of ten characters or less’ must have had another meaning behind it. Shizuma, please—tell us exactly what that dungeon master said, as much as you can remember.”

It seemed this was a more important matter than I had first thought.

I dug deep into my memory—back to that day when our supervising teacher was killed. What happened then, and what was said.

And then, I shared everything I could recall with everyone.

“So… he said, ‘I have decided to add information to those of you whose existence in this world has not yet been confirmed,’ correct? In other words… at the moment the wish was granted, he also added the ‘information’ that made the one who wished become the same kind of being as a native of this world. If that’s true, then the microbus, which was outside that range, would be… beyond this world’s jurisdiction—an entirely irregular existence.”

“I see… but now that I think about it, the way he phrased things—it was awfully program-like, wasn’t it? The interface when using the dungeon core, too… it was as if there’s another higher world, one that controls this one. Almost like… a video game.”

“I can’t say that’s impossible. It may not necessarily be a game, but I did get the feeling—based on the description of ‘Observation Eye’—that there might exist higher-layer beings, above this world.”

“Yeah… there’s still too much we don’t understand.”

“Well, in that case, maybe there’s no point overthinking it right now, huh? At least the bus mystery is more or less solved—that’s good enough for now. Oh, and that means your phone’s battery probably drains normally, so you’d better store it in the menu before you waste it.”

“Ah, good point… By the way, there’s a power outlet inside the bus—do you think I could use it to charge the phone infinitely?”

“I’d recommend against that. It’s not like we urgently need it right now, and there’s no guarantee the bus’s own power supply will last forever. We should conserve our resources.”

“Yeah, fair enough. Alright, since we’ve covered everything we needed to, let’s call this meeting done for today.”

“Agreed.”

“Tomorrow you’ll be going to the royal palace as Shizuma, right? Be careful.”

“Yes. It might even have something to do with your former classmates.”

Nah, I’ve already made my peace with them. Even if it turns out to be a public execution, I won’t have a problem with it.

And with that thought, sitting in the dark around the round table, my consciousness faded further—until I finally drifted into sleep.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter