Read Novel Full Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Chapter 120 – Map Existence
The center of the city of Malta.
It’s a zone where the shops facing the main street are densely packed, and I walk around and around, visiting different shops.
The whole thing is to find what I’m looking for, but…
“(Hmm… nothing… why don’t they sell maps?)”
I don’t think common sense on Earth applies here.
So I’ve come to accept the fact that some things that exist on Earth may not exist in this world, but even so, there must be a map for sale somewhere.
Even if I don’t ask for the luxury of a world map, surely someone somewhere has at least made a map of the entire Kingdom of Lagreath.
I checked the general store on the last day just to be sure, but I thought there wouldn’t be one since Bezart is a small town.
However, it is hard to believe that even a city as large as Malta would not have one.
Maybe there is a specialty store called ‘Map Store’?
I even find myself wondering about such a question.
“(Maybe it would be quicker to just ask the shopkeeper…)”
With this in mind, I approach the lady who seems to be bored at the counter.
“Excuse me, do you sell maps here?”
I’ve seen the product with my own eyes, so I’ll probably be told that it’s not for sale.
After that, I would ask where I could buy it.
But…
“A map? What’s that?”
I froze when I heard that answer.
“(…What is this? Have I ever seen a pattern like this before?)”
My Different Language Comprehension skill is quite good.
Instead of deciphering the language exactly, it translates it into words that the skill owner can understand with his senses.
Even with the Hunter Guild ranks, the Roman letters are not actually written on the cards.
The information I can see is the writhing, worm-like letters and symbols of this country, but it translates and conveys them so that I can understand them by applying my knowledge.
In a world where there are no calendars, the word “week” is understood, and “meter” and “time” can be used in the same way as on Earth because Different Language Comprehension translates and conveys the content in a way that the other person can understand.
And this is also the reverse pattern.
In other words, it should work even if the other person has a Different Language Comprehension.
So I don’t know what to do about this strange, almost unprecedented phenomenon.
“(Well, there have been various things like this in the past. The most recent example was when I told the landlady of Billycorn that I was going to leave a tip. She had the same reaction.)”
The landlady didn’t understand the concept of tipping at all.
So I had to explain what it was, and only then did she understand and accept the tip.
This means that there is no such thing as “tips” or “gratuities” in this world.
If there were no such custom, it would be inevitable because there would be no way to supplement it with the knowledge you already know.
“(So does that mean that ‘maps’ are things that don’t exist in this world, things that people in this world can’t even associate with, like bicycles…?)”
No, no, no way.
“Well, they also call it a ‘map. It’s like a bird’s eye view of the general layout of the world, showing where countries and cities are located.”
“I’ve never heard of anything like that. Where do you think you can buy something so fancy?”
Seriously?
Seriously, seriously, seriously.
People in this world travel without “maps”!
The distances between cities are pretty long, and there aren’t many landmarks along the way, so surely this world needs maps more than Earth does?
So what’s wrong with no one making them?
At this rate, I’m going to get lost on my travels!
In the end, it was all for nothing, and I trudged back to the inn.
“(Not good. This is a matter for the goddess. I’ll ask her directly when she comes down.)”
With that in mind, I took my first meal in Malta on the first floor of the inn and prepared to greet the Goddess.
▽ ▼ ▽ ▼ ▽
Kojou-san’s bag is ready.
I would have preferred a bath, but a quick body wipe is fine.
I didn’t use any magic, so it’s perfectly fine.
Okay then… let’s get started.
Divine Communication
“Riste-sama, this is Loki. The preparations are ready!”
“(I see. Then I’ll descend next to you, Loki-kun.)”
I wait for Riste-sama to descend, thinking that she’s become quite good at understanding casual Japanese terminology.
Then, the usual thick fog appears.
“(Phew~, I’m so nervous…)”
Even though they’re all goddesses, they all have different personalities.
Felin is cheerful and carefree, but once she sinks, she drops considerably, and her emotions are quite unstable.
Feeril seems like a bundle of motherly love, but sometimes, she gives off the vibe that she’s thinking about something behind the scenes.
Ria is, well, I guess you could call her a Tsundere.
And although Rigal-sama and Alicia-sama haven’t descended yet, from what I’ve heard, Rigal-sama has a super athletic, honest vibe.
Alicia-sama gives a strong impression of being a pitiful girl with an innocent air.
And Riste, who is about to come down, is in a way the most goddess-like of the six.
Basically, she is calm and collected, has a lot of information, and most of all…
“Thank you for waiting.
…that divinity.
A face that has gone too far in the direction of beauty and a slender figure like a model.
Long, shiny, silky hair that reaches to the waist… and golden eyes.
The color of hair and eyes is not only for goddesses but also for the people of the lower world where I live, and there are all kinds of different colors.
When I saw the people of this world, what surprised me the most was not that they dyed their hair or wore colored contacts but that they naturally had colorful personalities…
Still, I’ve never seen anyone with such a mysterious aura.
The atmosphere is so illusory that it almost gives the illusion of a halo, which naturally makes you want to bend down and prostrate yourself.
“Oh, oh, it’s been a while!”
“What’s going on? Just do what you normally do.”
“No, when I see you in person, I get so nervous because you’re so divine. I think I’ll calm down eventually, so don’t worry.”
“Correction. You should treat me like everyone else.”
“Huh?”
“You don’t have to use polite language. You can call me Riste.”
So this is how it goes? I had a hunch! I had a hunch, but…
“(Guhhーー! In the case of Riste-sama, it is especially harsh! First of all, Riste-sama’s words are so polite! And even if I point it out, she probably won’t fix it, just like Feeril!)”
In a situation like this, I can’t help but feel that if I just keep talking to her in a familiar way, I’ll end up being the rude, low-life scum of the world.
While I’m writhing in agony, I suddenly hear a hoarse voice.
“I’m telling you it’s okay, so there’s nothing to worry about… or am I the only one who’s being left out…?”
Her words startled me, and I looked up.
What… she’s covering her eyes with her hands…
“(W-who the hell is making this incredible beauty cry? Is it me? Is it me?!)”
“I-I-I’m sorry! I’m not going to use polite language like I do with everyone else, and I’m going to call you by your first name, so please don’t cry!”
“Fufu, that’s good.”
“Hmm…?
When I looked up, there were no traces of tears, and Riste-sama was suddenly smiling, so all I could think was, “Huh~~~?”
If she’s in a good mood, that’s fine, but… could it be that the goddess is a skilled performer?
The room I’m staying in is a bit bigger than Billycorn’s, and since it has two chairs and the price is 5000 beeke for one night without meals, I sit down on one of the chairs first and urge Riste to sit down as well.
Now, there are several things I want to check and tell her about, but―where should I start?
“Can I ask you about your schedule for now?”
“That’s fine. Am I in the right place―Malta? I’m planning to investigate for about a week to see if there are any transmigrators in this city. I also want to check the level of civilization in the city directly.”
“So you’re saying that you’ll descend in the morning with me as your point, and then when there are fewer people moving around at night, you’ll disappear?”
“That’s right. I won’t stand in the way of what you want to do, Loki-kun, so… I was wondering if I could have some special shoes, too…”
“It’s a regular thing by now. So, let’s go to the shoe store tomorrow morning. I don’t know where the shoe store is yet, so I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to look for it with you on my back, if possible…”
“…Well, I guess there’s no other way. Then would you be able to buy something that would fit me? In that case, I’ll have the split body come to this room tomorrow at noon.”
Wow.
It’s the usual routine, but an unexpected alternative route has arisen.
A quest to buy something for the goddess herself.
And finding shoes that fit her is a tall order. I don’t even know her shoe size.
“Shoes come in different sizes, so it’s quite difficult, isn’t it…?”
“I thought the sandals everyone else bought would be fine, but… you can measure me now if you want?”
Riste stood up and put her hand on the table, holding one foot in front of me.
“…E-excuse me.”
What is this strange situation… I can’t afford to worry about this, even though I’ve involuntarily reverted to using polite language.
I don’t have any tools to measure the size, but my hand naturally reaches out to her foot.
Smooth, smooth, smooth.
“(W-what a smooth, beautiful foot… it’s soft like a cheek, but it also has an indescribable sexiness…)”
“Huuu…”
“(Hmm? Was it ticklish? But… I don’t think I have that kind of taste, but when I look at those pure white feet… for some reason, I feel a strange desire…)”
At that moment, the toes twitched.
“I’m starting to feel embarrassed, so please don’t stare at them too closely…”
“I’m sorry! I kind of understand, so I’ll buy them tomorrow! If you don’t like it, I’ll buy it again for you!”
“(Oh no… What if she used her Mind Reading skill…)”
Because I was thinking strange things, the atmosphere of the place became strange as well.
What did I do the first day she came here?
For now, I’ll have to try and change the subject as best I can…
“Well, assuming the shoe problem is solved, there’s one thing I want to check out right away.”
Once we start talking about Kojou-san’s belongings, it’s guaranteed to be a long conversation.
So I should check this first.
“W-what is this?”
“Do you know what the word ‘map’ means, Riste?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Today, I looked around to buy a map for my travels, but I couldn’t find one. In fact, the store owner didn’t even know what a map was.”
“…..”
“Is this just a coincidence?”
Then, with a wry smile, Riste seemed to be having trouble thinking.
“Can I have a moment?”
“That’s fine, but…”
Perhaps because I gave my consent, like Felin before, Riste’s split body stopped moving like a doll.
The fact that this has happened means that Riste’s main body is talking to the goddesses.
I don’t want to make the same mistake as before, but I’m surprised that it was such an important issue.
“(If I still can’t get maps… well, in that case I’ll have to rely mainly on traveling by carriage and making my own maps as I go. I’ll gradually write down the layout of the cities in my notebook…)”
While planning what to do if I couldn’t get any information, the light in Riste’s eyes lit up as if she had regained consciousness.
“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. I came to the conclusion that I shouldn’t have kept quiet, so I’ll tell you, Loki-kun.”
“I didn’t think it would be such a big deal, so I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you, Loki-kun, so please don’t worry. First of all, I’d like to say that it’s not just humans, so I’ll call it a race, but we’ve put restrictions in place so that the idea of maps doesn’t even come up.”
“So… you’re saying there were maps in the past?”
“That’s right. There were all kinds of maps, from crude ones made by humans to more accurate ones made by bird-like people who could fly. And in the past, all these things were erased from this world.”
“So you’re saying that something went wrong and the concept of maps was erased from this world?”
“It’s not as big as you think. If you ask someone who knows about maps what they are, they’ll understand that they exist. What we’re doing is using the power of Felza-sama to make it so that those born into this world will no longer be able to think of writing down a map of the world. That’s all.”
“They can’t write it down… so you mean that everyone can imagine an outline in their mind?”
“That’s right. Although there are individual differences in scale and system, I think everyone lives their lives with a mental map of the world in their heads without even realizing it.”
“It’s amazing that the people of this world don’t feel any discomfort, but it’s even more frightening that Felza-sama is able to do something so outrageous.”
“It’s because we really asked her to do it…”
Hmm.
I understand that the map has been erased from this world.
But I don’t understand why.
Does Riste not want to touch on the inconveniences, or is it something that touches the very foundation of the world?
“Is it okay to ask for the reason? Of course, I won’t force you to tell me…”
“If you don’t know the reason, there’s a possibility that Loki-kun will spread it around, so I’ll tell you. The reason is simple: the existence of the ‘Map’ will fuel conflict.”
“What do you mean?”
When I asked for more details, which I couldn’t easily swallow, Riste told me a story that seemed related.
Maps make it clear what the opposing goal is. They make it easy to understand the relative strength of your country.
If you have a very accurate map, you can see how much territory you have compared to other countries and which countries you are most likely to win a war against.
The more clearly you can see this, the more your strategic options will expand.
If I were the king of an ambitious country, I would try to swallow up smaller countries nearby and form an alliance with a huge country.
Of course, even without a map, you would have a general idea of this, but if you want to move with an eye to the future, an accurate map of the countries will become important.
In addition, I think that being able to see the big picture of the world clearly will strengthen the desire to rule over everything.
In fact, wars intensified as highly accurate maps became widespread.
Because of the unprecedented population decline that occurred in the past, the goddesses decided to remove the cause of it from the world by tying it to the map, and after that, it seems that no country emerged with the momentum to unify the continent.
In that sense, you could say it was a success, but…
“The disadvantages of losing the map would also be great.”
“I think so. I am the goddess of commerce, so I have watched as the sales channels have become unclear and the flow of people has gradually decreased. So I can’t say for sure that losing the map was the right thing to do.”
“I only know two towns, Bezart and Malta, but I don’t think there were many people I passed on the way.”
“At least in terms of trade between countries, things were probably much more prosperous back then. I’m checking the information from the people who stopped by the church, but there are often cases where the information circulates naturally in some areas but doesn’t come up at all in more distant areas.”
I think there are some things that can’t be helped in this world where there are no trucks and airplanes.
But as maps disappear and people’s movements slow down, it will be easier for information to stop.
In terms of the development of commerce and civilization, it will probably be a big negative.
“What about the Earth?
“When it comes to the Earth, there are maps of the entire planet, not just the continents, but I think the flourishing of civilization has led to a kind of stalemate in the conflicts between countries. If they wanted to, they could launch missiles into distant places and destroy entire cities and countries. Because they’re all watching each other, even though there are over 200 countries, none of them can take extreme action, and I don’t think there have been any major conflicts that have caused countries to disappear unless they were internal conflicts. But that’s not an absolute.”
“What about the movements of the people who live on Earth, like you, Loki-kun? Do you think that the advantages of having a map are strong?”
“I think it’s extremely powerful. Ordinary citizens can go to the places and countries they want, even if it’s across continents or to the other side of the world, as long as they have the money and time. Also, thanks to the maps, logistics have developed, so it’s easy to buy things from other countries that you need for your daily life. You can even buy things from other countries while you’re at home and have them delivered right to your door.”
“I see… I thought we lost the map in hopes of bringing peace to the races, but in the long run, that may have been a mistake.”
“Just for reference, I believe that the civilization of this world is about 1000 years behind that of Earth. And since Earth has only recently settled into its current situation… I think it’s an option to consider the next 1000 years as a transition point and see how things go. I don’t know how things like magic and skills will affect things, though.”
“I see… 1000 years… just 1000 years…”
That’s a very long time for humans, but for goddesses, it’s only 1000 years.
If you consider the years that civilization has been stagnating, it seems like it would make more sense to try this and, if it doesn’t work, consider other countermeasures.
I thought I was suggesting this with a light heart, but Riste gave me a look that made even me, who had finally gotten used to it, want to back away.
“We’ll discuss it with everyone and come to a conclusion, but we’ll consider the matter of the map positively.”
“Oh yeah… I guess so. There were a lot of territorial disputes and wars between countries on Earth before we got to where we are now, so I think it would be good if the Goddesses took their time to consider it.”
Well, I guess that’s the end of the map thing for now?
Anyway, I know that there is no map, and as long as the Goddesses come to a conclusion, it should be okay if I don’t mention what a map looks like to the people of this world.
Then Kojou-san’s bag is next.
If I continue like this, I’ll be sleep-deprived today…
I want to finish the things I need to do quickly so I can concentrate on hunting, and like Riste, I’ll make up my mind and explain modern items.
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