Vol 3 Chapter 2 (1/2)
Chapter 2
*Gi-ko, Gi-ko* (sfx, most likely, the sound of wood moving through water)
“I’m bored.”
“Even if you’re bored you do not have to do a single thing!?”
h.e.l.lo, this is Shuten here.
Riding with an anxious Hiragi, from the beginning I had been rowing with great momentum. Obviously if you do the same thing for two days straight then you will get tired of it. Though all the swimming would have made me exhausted, I wonder if I would have gotten bored.
*Uma~* (sfx for being out of it) Everything was smooth-sailing until we stole a boat. We acquired a compa.s.s, and long-lasting preserved food. With these it will be possible to go to the harbor of the Professor country without delay.
“Because you were so reckless we went round and around in a ridiculous circle 23 times!” (Hiragi)
“Hahaha, after all it’s a given that the dominant hand will become stronger.” (Shuten)
“Ah, no more…well it’s fine for now, so let’s continue.” (Hiragi)
Extracting the compa.s.s from her chest pocket, Hiragi sighed.
When we arrived at the port town, I was quickly noticed by the people of Gelberic…It was already a strange game of tag. But we demons escaped!
“Even if its orientation matches, the lat.i.tude cannot deviate, but you do not even care.” (Shuten)
“Even if I had said anything the result would have been no different!” (Hiragi)
“Hahaha!” (Shuten)
As my arms were burning, Hiragi sat angrily in front of me. It is true that I got caught up in the momentum, but she doesn’t need to get so angry.
“So, do you know where you are going yet in the Professor Country?” (Hiragi)
“No, I don’t know what direction to go yet in the Professor Country.” (Shuten)
“Sigh~” (Hiragi)
While continuing to row, I think.
After landing at Narcissus Port, we will move as usual, following the response of the pearl pieces. There are ten remaining. I cannot be relieved until I find all of them.
I gave one to that vampire girl Flare Reel.
One was taken in by that #@$%& Desiree.
And three are inside of me.
With those I have seen one-third of the pearl pieces, but more than half of them are still scattered around the world.
Nevertheless, there will probably be more than a few discrepancies from the original path. As such, hastening to confirm the changes and make adjustments was a considerably important manner.
“You seem to be making a complex expression.” (Hiragi)
Hiragi leaned her cheek on her knee as she sat. She stared at me and said nothing. How strange, she looks like a proper adult when she has such a serious expression. The habits of a Spoiled-Tails.
“Ah, is that so?” (Shuten)
Would you call it a complicated expression?
Well, I do have my own doubts. I would say my expression is complicated, as there are surely a variety of emotions mixed together. There is the thought that I might not need to collect them all. If I’m told that I’m getting impatient, I can only nod.
However, it may be strange to say, but there are other emotions I have towards collecting the pearl pieces.
“Hmmm. I think that I want to gather them, but I do feel rather happy, probably because I like traveling?” (Shuten)
“Happy, huh?” (Hiragi)
As I recall, Hiragi may have mentioned that she also liked traveling.
I wonder if there are any other reasons.
Maybe. If there is…
“What I’m looking for is scattered across the world.” (Shut
en)
“…Ah, so this won’t end in the Professor Country then.” (Hiragi)
“It’s more than that…for me, collecting the scattered pieces from across this world…that’s it, it’s not an exaggeration to call it a man’s romance.” (Shuten)
“…So it’s more than just a search?” (Hiragi)
“I don’t know, Useless-Tails.” (Shuten)
“Why have you suddenly turned to insults!?” (Hiragi)
To Hiragi who has started hissing threateningly like a cat, I want to remind her that she is a fox.
As I told her before, this is something I am having fun doing.
Of course there is such a reason like being instructed to by the G.o.ddess. That was my first purpose, though it is more of a pa.s.sive reason. There is also the fact that the story will not be able to progress if the world collapses.
The one thing Crane needs to do is kill the Devil King. Those are his only conditions. But if I fail then the world will be destroyed. I would feel terrible about that.
But I have one other reason.
That would be for my own Romance. (TL: as in, “a man’s romance”)
Since I have the strength, I can currently afford to think about such things.
I came to such a fantasy world, and decided myself to travel around and find these important items scattered across the countries.
To those like me, there is an understandable sense of excitement
If I do not gather all the pieces, then the world’s balance will be disturbed, I am traveling for such a mission.
No matter what you might say, it tickles the heartstrings of a guy like me.
It feels like I became the actual hero of an RPG, such a warm feeling. A journey seeking to become stronger is not bad, but having fun as well…being able to play an important role while adventuring is still a ma.s.sive romance for me.
Of course, even if there was no purpose, but simply traveling in the wilderness of an RPG while easting tasty things like potatoes is not bad either. While hunting and asking around, it is fun to play, earn money, and travel freely.
But, it is good because there is only one. (だが、あれはオンリーワンであるから良いんだ)
The original purpose of the RPG should still be “slaying demons.” As for me I have a journey with the purpose of journeying to various places. I am responsible for collecting something, to travel around and then deliver it, and keep the world from collapsing.
A journey with such an extreme sense of purpose is just the kind of adventure RPG lovers such as myself like.
Therefore, it is fun. I am glad.
It is a journey where I can be a hero.
“It may be difficult to understand even if I explained it to you. There is the thrill of the romance, but there is also impatience. Do you get what I’m saying?” (Shuten)
“You know, you are easy to understand.” (Hiragi)
“And you are easy to tease.” (Shuten)
“I didn’t say that in order to get such a response from you!!” (Hiragi)
Ah she got mad again…!
Hiragi’s gaze then gathered past me at the horizon.
The fresh blue sky was gradually being dyed in orange. The surface of the water being rippled by the boat’s movement also gained a radiance from the reflected sunlight and became like a mix of acrylic paint. There was no land in our surroundings, only the true color of the sea.
“It’s just us two alone in the wide world.” (Shuten)
“You’re weird.” (Hiragi)
“Weird!?” (Shuten)
How terrible.
It seems that my books on romance are ineffective.
There is a light despair.
Wasn’t it a good phrase? Is it because a woman cannot understand a man’s romance? No but, isn’t this the kind of scene where a man and woman are alone together? Nnn?