Kays Translations

Chapter 20

“Hey, why are you closing your eyes? Did the soap get into your eyes?”

“This is called shampoo. The reason I’m closing my eyes is… to protect the dignity, common sense, and the last pride I have within me. Sorry, please escort me to the bathtub.”

A public bathhouse. I came early this morning intending to take the first bath, predicting there would be few other users at this time.

I am aware that I am a woman. No, I know that memories, experiences, and life as a man are also included inside me, but at least this form I have now… is clearly female.

I understand that Shizuma is the main personality and the root, though.

So why do I keep my eyes closed?

It’s simply because when I revert to Shizuma or Same, the memories I have here will also be shared.

That is unacceptable, and I’m sure Shizuma would want it to be so.

“I don’t really understand, but… okay, watch your step.”

“Thank you, Melt-san.”

“You don’t have to add ‘-san’.”

“Hehe, understood.”

Thus, after enduring this painful moment early in the morning, I began looking for a place where I could concentrate on studying the letters I need to learn today—somewhere like a library.

“But searching this vast city without any clues is almost impossible, right? I think you should ask at the general guild first.”

“Oh, that’s right. Should we ask at the adventurers’ guild?”

“No, I believe the ‘Scholars’ Guild’ probably has jurisdiction. I think I should register there myself as proof of my identity.”

In fact, it would be easier if every character, including myself, had their own identification.

…However, maybe it’s necessary for at least one person to be in an illegal position to freely do whatever they want…

No, no, this is bad. I really feel like my consciousness is overwriting Shizuma, the male personality.

Is this… probably because “I am too strong”?

Rather than Shizuma or Same, I should soon switch to Silent, who is stronger than me among those currently confirmed.

But there is one possibility I can think of… If Shizuma, who is the base for all of us and the true self, “becomes the strongest,” maybe the ego will stop fading.

It’s a possibility. Shizuma has even learned the basic skills of Same and Silent’s professions. And there was the word “Complete Reflection” in the status remarks.

If that means what it literally says… Shizuma will become stronger than anyone.

However, on the other hand, what if it also “completely reflects” our characters’ experiences, knowledge, and memories?

Surely, it would definitely affect the original personality.

If Shizuma becomes the strongest… if the ‘mental strength’ becomes stronger, then one could think that his mind would stabilize and be less susceptible to outside influences.

Even if the stats don’t grow, if he learns all the skills of every character, including myself… that alone would make him untouchably strong.

That is certainly something to look forward to.

For example, one of the scholar’s initial skills is:

“Basic Enchantment Magic”

This can only be cast on oneself, but it allows freely adding attributes to one’s weapon.

If a front-line character could use that strength, it would drastically increase firepower, attack power, and versatility.

Also, there is the initial skill called “Observant Eye.”

This is a simplified skill that allows you to gather some information just by looking at the target.

In the game, it let you see enemy weak points, approximate HP, and detailed item info.

This would be incredibly useful to actually have in real life.

If all these skills were concentrated in Shizuma…

Ah, I’ve gone off on a bit of a tangent.

“What kind of place is the Scholars’ Guild?”

“Hmm, I don’t know? Probably, by registering, they give you jobs or you might be able to engage in research, but I can’t be detained in this city long term, so it might not be beneficial.”

“I see… but in that position, maybe it could be valuable in other cities? Research themes probably change with the place, so it might be useful if you want to get involved in something.”

“That’s true. Melt, you’re smart, really.”

“Really? It’s because there were lots of research books in the village, you know?”

“But you understood them, digested the information, and turned it into knowledge. That means Melt is smart.”

“Is that so? Hehe… I’m blushing!”

Melt really is an adorable kid.

So, after safely returning to the gigantic general guild, we first asked for the library’s location.

After all, it’s no good for someone wanting to register at the Scholars’ Guild to be illiterate.

“The library? There is a fee for use, but is that okay?”

“Is it that expensive?”

“One small gold coin per day. It’s quite costly.”

“I see. It’s a place called a ‘source of livelihood,’ where you can find many research results, the wisdom of predecessors, and knowledge needed for gathering and concocting. So naturally, free browsing is not allowed. Understood, I think it’s a fair price. Please tell me where the library is.”

When we explained our business at the Scholars’ Guild counter, they promptly told us about the library.

As expected, knowledge isn’t freely accessible in this world like modern Japan; a hefty fee is charged.

But it’s worth it. Melt and I paid a total of two small gold coins, equivalent to about twenty thousand yen.

Quite an expense, but a necessary cost.

“Melt, let’s go. The library is in the upper area called the ‘Academy District,’ apparently.”

“Wow! Academy… that’s where kids about our age study, right? I used to admire that.”

“Hehe, Melt really likes learning.”

“Maybe. I’ve been studying alone all this time.”

I understand that feeling and sympathize with the longing for the academy.

However, Shizuma finds it hard to agree.

…Maybe this is because of experiences since coming to this world.

No, it’s mostly disappointment from a teacher messing up the class trip group assignment.

I can feel the genuine anticipation that was there.

No matter the world or era, students suffer because of the teacher’s mistakes.

“Well then, let’s go, Melt.”

“Yeah, let’s get out of here early. Sheele, you’re attracting attention.”

“Eh? …Seems so.”

…I see, I’ll probably need some tinted glasses soon.

I wanted to register at the Scholars’ Guild soon, but I’ll postpone that opportunity.

The city of Lindblum is divided into three layers: lower, middle, and upper.

Facilities necessary for living are concentrated in the middle layer, where we were until just now.

The lower layer is near the city gate, filled with facilities used by travelers passing through, and the adventurers’ nest is located on a sloped street roughly between the lower and middle layers.

Also, in the lower layer, despite being inside the city walls, there is grazing and farming along the city walls, mainly managed by merchant guilds.

Of course, ordinary farmers have fields and ranches outside the city, so the lower layer’s agricultural area is safer.

Even so, since it is near the city outskirts and under many eyes, crime is very low.

Now, the upper layer.

This is mainly for the “nobles,” “craftsmen employed by nobles,” and facilities for “learning” with users being noble children and talented individuals.

There are exceptions, such as the homes of famous adventurers and explorers, and knight barracks.

In other words, people like us risk standing out.

“So, the upper layer has many high-status people, so we need to be careful.”

“Really? Thanks to the clothes Sheele gave me, I don’t think I stand out that much.”

“Hmm… indeed. They suit you, Melt.”

This morning at the public bath, I gave Melt several changes of my equipment to use as clothes.

Since I dressed her in a long dress that she would probably like, visually she just looks like a beautiful woman wearing fine clothes.

When she opens her mouth, she gives a slightly childish and too innocent impression, though.

“Sheele probably stands out no matter what she wears. She’s more beautiful than anyone I’ve seen in this city. Even more beautiful than the princesses in storybook pictures or the people on old theater flyers, you know?”

“Hehe… thank you.”

… I need to learn the characters quickly and switch back to the male character.

Shizuma is gradually becoming more feminine. When I was Same, the male form was close enough in stature that changing form for a long time didn’t feel like such a big change, but for me… it won’t do.

Besides, it’s a given that a woman with a superior appearance is more likely to encounter trouble in these kinds of upper-class places.

“Let’s go to the library quickly. Before we stand out too much.”

“Yeah. Hmm… but really, it’s such a beautiful cityscape, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is. There’s little noise, it’s elegant…”

And then, the occasional glances directed at us.

Despite those glances, we finally arrived at the destination.

A tall building with solemn decorations, like a large church.

For a moment, I thought it looked like the Sagrada Familia, but I don’t remember ever seeing the real one.

It seems some of the game developer’s knowledge and references are reflected in us characters as well.

“Wow… what an amazing place. I’m nervous.”

“Yes. Well then, let’s go.”

We stepped into the library, which was quiet and didn’t seem to have many users.

Inside, the thick carpet muffled footsteps almost completely.

It looks like a good place to focus on studying, so Melt and I went to the reception desk to register.

“Welcome, beautiful ladies. Use of the library is for one day until midnight. Re-entry after leaving requires payment again. Removal of materials or books is strictly prohibited. Please consume food and drinks only in the designated salon deep inside the library.”

“Understood. May I ask, are there spaces designated for study?”

“If so, each floor has spaces prepared for practical study. Please use those areas.”

“Understood. Excuse me then.”

It seems to be quite a high-class facility.

Of course, this was predictable from its exterior.

“Well then… Melt, shall we pick a book that might be useful for studying before heading to a desk?”

“Y-yeah. Then… let’s take a book with lots of characters and go to a place with desks.”

“…Yes, that’s right. This is the sound ‘a’ at the start. It’s strange, isn’t it… Same and Sheele can talk just fine. It feels odd that we don’t understand the writing.”

“I think so too. But… your sense of understanding the characters is a bit strange. It’s like once you learn them, your brain automatically converts them.”

After a few minutes of Melt teaching me characters using a book as a textbook, I immediately felt the ‘scholar’ ability bonus.

The sensation of comprehension and memorization is abnormal.

It’s as if the knowledge had always been there from the start; I easily memorize and the characters automatically convert to Japanese in my mind.

Well, even from the moment we were summoned to this world, we were able to converse. Some power must have granted our brains the minimal knowledge and abilities necessary for daily life.

In other words, writing is not included in that minimal knowledge.

But since we can talk, the basis to learn it was already present.

Fortunately, the number of characters is not much different from Japanese, and sounds represented by multiple characters are easy to understand.

However, since there are characters for nasalized sounds, as a Japanese person with relevant knowledge, experience, and data as the base of my personality, it feels very strange and also interesting.

Nasalized characters… fresh.

Also, the book Melt chose was very useful for study.

It was a research document titled “Deciphering Ancient Characters and Considerations and Clarifications of Rare Races’ Languages,” and Melt said it uses an investigative method similar to what I’m doing now.

“Then, this one… ‘aiueta yue no kyōkō’ — do you understand what these characters mean?”

“‘Acts of violence due to starving for love’… It’s a sad history and incident story. I see, it’s a difficult combination of characters but I can understand it.”

“Wow, amazing! Looks like you’ll be able to understand both the characters and meanings by the end of today!”

“Thanks to you, Melt.”

Thanks to Melt’s lesson, which was easier to understand than I had imagined, by the time dinner came around, I was able to read through a whole book on my own.

…Next, I need to check whether the other characters have also become able to read and write.

“Sheele, what about food? If we want to go eat, we’ll have to leave here, but if we do that, we probably can’t come back, right?”

“Hmm… I’d like to try reading one more book first… maybe something a little more difficult this time.”

“Then should we hold off?”

“Just to be safe, let’s take a quick look at the salon. Maybe they sell some light snacks or something.”

“Salon… what’s that?”

“Think of it as a kind of resting area. Imagine it as a slightly more refined place.”

“I see, sounds like a place that would suit someone like you, Sheele.”

“Hehe, soon Melt will become a woman who suits it just as well.”

Since arriving here, Melt has been very quiet, she’s good at teaching me, and her profile while reading books is unmistakably that of an intelligent woman.

If she can learn even a little from me now, I’m sure she’ll gradually start becoming more aware of herself as a woman.

“Well then, shall we go?”

And so, we headed deeper into the library, which was quiet and had few visitors.

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