“Good morning… it’s six
o’clock in the morning…” (Sou)
Utsuki is already up. I check
the time on my pocket watch while rubbing my sleepy eyes.
“Ah, I fell asleep… My
head feels empty…” (Shuu)
“You must be pretty
tired. I’m getting less and less sleep because of my master.” (Sou)
“How weak, squeak.”
(Tamiko)
“Good morning, Tamiko. It
hurts to get out of bed–it really hurts.” (Sou)
It was late yesterday evening
when we left Sugamo and arrived at Rikugi Village. The first time I went to the
Metro, it was almost like a nonstop bullet train tour up to the fifth floor. It
was hard to believe that it had been less than 24 hours since we received the
order for the quest.
“Oh, good morning. It’s a
beautiful morning.” (Satou)
Satou stood up and approached.
This old shark makes no sound at all. Does he also have [Muffling]? As usual,
even [Sensory Spore] couldn’t catch his outline, and although he isn’t an
enemy, he was strange existence.
“Now that… Night has
passed, I think it’s time for me to leave.” (Satou)
“Huh? Oh, are you
going?” (Shuu)
Utsuki looks like she’s
changed into tight-fitting clothes like a wetsuit. Is this underwater swimming
mode? I have to say that her feminine power is at the level of a chopping board,
but she is packing a lot of junk in the trunk.
“I’m sure they won’t stay long
in this Metro now that they’ve lost their ‘Family’ and colony. I too, have no
reason to stay here either.” (Satou)
“I see… Thank you for
your help.” (Shuu)
It’s a very casual feeling,
but well, it’s not like we’ve become particularly close to each other, and from
a wanderer’s point of view, it might be something normal. But before that,
there is one thing I would like to confirm.
“Um, I haven’t asked you
the most important question yet.” (Shuu)
Last night, I was asleep before
I could ask him.
“Hmm?” (Satou)
“What is it that you are
looking for? What is your purpose?” (Shuu)
Satou kept silent for a
moment. As if searching for words, I slowly turned his thick neck and looked
around.
“I tried not to talk
about it. If you want to ask me about it, that’s fine.” (Satou)
“Eh, is there something
wrong?” (Shuu)
“Well, it’s not a good
topic for a well-informed person. If you start blabbing on and on, the Metro Church
might come after you with their eyes bulging.” (Satou)
“What’s so scary?” (Shuu)
Is it something like New Tokyo’s
three major taboos? I was worried and scared when people say things like that.
Like I want to know, but I’m afraid to ask.
What should I do? I’m not
brave enough to rush out to satisfy my curiosity, but on the other hand, I
would like to know if it’s an important matter in this world. I should at least
cover Tamiko’s ears.
“……Ghost
Shrine.” (Satou)
“What?” (Shuu)
“‘Ghost Shrine’. That’s
what I’m looking for.” (Satou)
Oh, I heard I haven’t even
answered yet, and I haven’t even covered Tamiko’s ears. If you could at least
say no, I would have prepared myself mentally.
“Umm, Ghost Shrine?” (Shuu)
“Yes, ‘Ghost Shrine’. Do
you remember hearing about it somewhere?” (Satou)
“I don’t think so.”
(Shuu)
From the sound it sounded like
something from Japanese history, but I had never heard of it before.
“I wondered if it was the
name of a place or some kind of facility. I am not sure what is there, who is
waiting for whom, or if it really exists at all. …What I’m looking for is like
a mirage shifting from one dream to the next.” (Satou)
I’m not sure I understand what
you mean. Tamiko is also scratching her head.
“…Do you know what made
the world what it is today?” (Satou)
“What?” (Shuu)
It doesn’t seem like a creationist
or religious talk. The present world, that is, what created New Tokyo and
surrounding walls.
“Um, are you referring to
‘Metro Flood’ and ‘Super Fungal Contamination’?” (Shuu)
“You’re right. The ‘Tokyo
Judgment’ experienced by the ‘People of the Thread’. It is said that the world
changed completely after that calamity. The labyrinth Metro filled the bottom
of the earth, and strange mycelium grew. The earth was covered. The Metro Labyrinth
filled the depths of the earth, and strange mycelial plants covered the ground.
Huge walls blocked the outside world, and mighty beasts roamed the land. Those
who survived carried mycelium in their bodies and talking beasts also appeared.
Well, I have not seen the transition with my own eyes.” (Satou)
But I know. The world before
it was transformed into what it is today.
I was born in the Heisei era
and has lived there for 23 years. I am one of the few survivors of the ancient civilization
in this new world.
“Then… why did those
disasters happen? What exactly is the ‘Tokyo Judgement’? Do you know anything
about it?” (Satou)
“…No, nothing.”
(Shuu)
“Silky Cheeks, I know
that too. Or rather, I wonder if there is anyone in this world who knows the
answer… That crook founder seemed to know something, but they wouldn’t talk,
no matter how much I questioned them.” (Satou)
Even the church founder appeared
on the scene. What should I do? The scale of this story is getting unexpectedly
large. It shook the country of New Tokyo to its very foundations and seemed to
be connected to the core of this new world. –I wish I had given myself a
little more time to prepare.
“My late friend used to say
before his death that the ‘Tokyo Judgment’ was not a natural disaster, but a
man-made disaster caused by someone’s hand.” (Satou)
“…a man-made disaster,
you mean?” (Shuu)
Such a ridiculous event, which
remade the underground of all of Tokyo and spread a supernatural poison that
decomposed everything in Tokyo… was man-made?
Of course, even if it were a
natural disaster, it would still be too crazy to believe, but even if it were a
man-made disaster, it would still be hard to believe. As a former ordinary
person who has lived an ordinary life in the Heisei era, I find both equally
unrealistic. In fact, still happened in real life.
“He was searching for the
answer all his life. After he lost his life in that war, I lived only to
fulfill his wish. After swimming around this country for fifty years… I have
only three clues that I have been able to grasp through my swimming: the answer
to everything lies in the ‘Ghost Shrine’. That there is a door leading to it in
some metro area of the country… And that the key to the entrance is in the
hands of a demon and a [Master Threadweaver].” (Satou)
“…a demon and a [Master
Threadweaver]…” (Shuu)
Unconsciously, I clutched my chest.
“Well, that’s what I’m
talking about. You know why I told you… Well, you’re the thirteenth [Master
Threadweaver].” (Satou)
I gasped. Satou just grinned
the corners of his huge mouth lifting.
“…you noticed you knew.”
(Shuu)
“Silky Cheeks. A berth of
knowledge is one of the rare virtues of a creature called an old man.”
(Satou)
Is it when they see me fight
with Boss Met? Or when they saw the [Immortality] blue mycelium? Or perhaps he already
had an idea earlier, from the very beginning. If so, this unfathomable old
shark would not be surprised.
“Eh, hey, what? [Master Threadweaver],
Mr. Abe? Are you serious…?” (Sou)
The loli disciple’s face was a
little pale, looks like she hadn’t noticed.
“Abe, you are a little too
young to know the world yet. If you are a [Master Threadweaver] your journey
will surely lead you to the heart of this world. Connecting the living, weaving
layers of connections, and guiding the destiny to be traced. …… That grand
name was given with such a meaning in mind. The name means that it weaves
together the many connections and carries out the destiny to be traced.”
(Satou)
“No, erm…” (Shuu)
I was not expecting such a
thing to be said out of the blue. I feel like I’m getting caught up in this
unexpectedly large-scale scenario, but as someone who still don’t know why I
was given this power, I don’t really feel like I’m in the right place.
Of course, I have a desire to
know about the many mysteries surrounding this world. I would like to meet the
other [Master Threadweavers] who are the survivors of the Heisei era, and if it
is possible, I would like to go outside the walls. That’s what I think so—-a
modern era kid who shrinks a little when people have such high expectations of
him. I’d like to think that Satou isn’t actually serious.
“Hmm, whether it is a
mystery or a nut, I will crack it open, squeak.” (Tamiko)
“You’re really reliable.”
(Shuu)
“Silky Cheeks”, Satou laughed
happily his back bending.
“A new [Master Threadweaver]
with a girl from the Carbuncle tribe, huh… when you take another step into
the center of the world, I’d like to hear your story this time. Have a good
life… and I’ll see you again.” (Satou)
With a flutter of his hand
webbing, Satou turned on his heel and began to walk. The destination was the large
pond.
“Ah, master, wait a minute.”
(Sou)
When Utsuki tries to chase
after him in a hurry, Satou half-turns around and sticks out his hand to stop
her.
“Utsuke, no Utsuki. I
won’t be taking you.” (Satou)
“What?” (Sou)
“This matter is not over
yet, is it? Your mission continues. You will follow Abe and the others, get
mixed up in the world, and see how things go. You are not to return until you have
obtained information that satisfies me.” (Satou)
“What?” (Sou)
“Eh?” (Shuu)
“Squeak?” (Tamiko)
“It’s not a bad idea to
get out in the sun once in a while and clean up the Metro area. Next time I see
you, you’d better be a little cleaner in body and soul. Bye.” (Satou)
“Eh, hey, ma–”
(Sou)
Ignoring Utsuki’s last attempt
to stop him, Satou dived, his huge body just leaving a small splash, into the
pond. When the slight ripples subsided, the three of us peeked out from the
shore and saw no sign of the old shark.
A dozen or so seconds pass,
and no one says anything.
“… uh…” (Sou)
Utsuki, who had been mumbling
to regain her composure, took a deep breath, as if to puff out her flat chest.
“Damned shark! Next time I see
you, you’ll be fishcake!” (Sou)
The fake loli’s scream echoes
in a waning echo and disappears, leaving the fake loli behind.
It’s not that I wanted it to
happen—but this is how Utsuki was forced on us.
T/N: Well, Utsuki is the perfect punching bag for Tamiko. Acorn Eater,
beat that loli hag. Nyahahaha!