V2 Chapter 1: Nah, I Ain't in Deep Trouble
"I've translated the first volume of 'American Faux,' but unfortunately, the translation got cut off. I'll continue with volume 2 soon. If you have any feedback or suggestions regarding the translation or writing, please don't hesitate to let me know! Thank you all"
Ever since I, Shinchi Rei, got reincarnated into some weird-ass world by that strange dude with glasses, I've been wondering how long it's been.
The guy with glasses kept calling himself a god, but he was seriously sketchy.
But thanks to him, I made friends with the little guys, and I even met Gus and his crew. I guess I owe him for that, kinda.
The little guys are apparently spirits in this world. Gus told me about it.
Come to think of it, is Gus even his real name? Grace... was it? Well, whatever. Gus is Gus.
Him being the princess of Orphen Kingdom, I just can't wrap my head around it. Always flustered, stumbling around. And don't get me started on his sister, Amma... Amaris? She's just as weird with her habit of going off the rails. Is this kingdom really okay?
Gus's maid, Lilri, is the only reliable one. She pisses me off sometimes, but surprisingly, she's got her act together.
... They must be going through a lot right about now.
Yesterday, after we finished off those Lizardmen, we reported to the king about the black stone they dropped and the Spirit Liberation Army.
The Spirit Liberation Army is opposed to the royal family and can't stand the idea of people using spirits, so they're trying to set them free. They're said to be dealing with these black stones, dangerous things that suck up the magic power of anyone who touches them.
We don't know why the Lizardmen had that black stone, but since the Spirit Liberation Army was conducting inspections near their territory, there must be some connection.
So Gus and Amma wasted no time diving into investigating the black stone and the Spirit Liberation Army as soon as they got back.
I was supposed to help with that too, but... in the end, I decided to leave the castle on Lilri's advice.
She said the core of the castle was infiltrated by the Spirit Liberation Army. If my special ability were exposed, I'd definitely be targeted by them, and the risk to Gus and the others would skyrocket.
Spirits that humans in this world shouldn't be able to see are visible to me. It's a power that the Spirit Liberation Army would kill for.
I don't want to cause trouble for Gus and the others. So without saying anything to them, I left the castle to investigate the Spirit Liberation Army on my own.
And when I saw that black stone, the little guys were freaking terrified. Both the black stone and the Spirit Liberation Army are undoubtedly bad news for them. I won't forgive anyone who makes the little guys sad!
First, I'll head to Caratto Town with the little guys. After gathering information there, I'll investigate if there are any clues in the Spirit Forest where I first met the little guys.
As for what comes next... well, I'll figure it out when the time comes.
- - A few days later -
I was lucky enough to catch a ride on a shared horse-drawn carriage and arrived in Caratto Town.
Well, needless to say, it wasn't easy getting a ride. With everyone always freaking out over my scary eyes, I tried to cover my face with a hood, but it only made me look more suspicious.
But in the end, I managed to convince them to let me ride. ...Just kidding. It was the same driver as last time, so I begged him to take me.
He muttered something about "not having a girl with me" or "selling people," but it was probably just my imagination.
Lately, I feel like I've learned how to endure. It's definitely thanks to those three. But why do I sigh more than I express gratitude? ...I'll refrain from delving too deeply into that.
Anyway, I decided to go see Elgizi for now. Well, I don't have any other acquaintances around here.
The town was nothing out of the ordinary, and I made my way straight to Elgizi's place, which seemed to be his workshop-like house.
"Hey, Elgizi around?"
"Oh? Young lad! It's been a while! How's the iron pipe holding up?"
"Not that much time has passed... The iron pipe's doing just fine."
Elgizi was looking around me, like he was searching for something.
"What about the red-haired girl?"
"Oh, Gus left her in the capital."
"I see. So, did you come alone to see me?"
Alone. That word stung for a moment. Well, I know what this is. I'll get used to it eventually.
I placed my hand on my chest, suppressing the ache. And then, I continued speaking.
"I've got something I want to know, but I don't know how to go about it."
"Oh? Something you want to know? I'll help you out!"
Asking Elgizi, huh? I hadn't thought of that. I was thinking of getting introduced to someone like an informant... But Elgizi might surprisingly know something about the black stone. He gives off the vibe of not being just an ordinary guy.
"Alright, then I'll ask. Do you know anything about the black stone?"
"What's that? I don't know!"
It was just my imagination. He denied it outright.
It seems like I really can't judge people. Well, I haven't interacted much with people so far because they always say my eyes look scary, so it's no wonder.
Well, it doesn't look like it's going to work out now. There's no such thing as getting it right on the first try.
Thinking that way, I reluctantly asked Elgizi my next question.
"Ah... Then, do you know about the Spirit Liberation Army?"
"I do."
"I see. So, I guess for now, I'll just have to go to the forest and check it out."
"No, I know about it."
Now, should I head to the forest tomorrow, or should I find a place to stay tonight?
But I don't understand the monetary sense of this world. I relied on Gus for that kind of stuff. Camping out is fine, but...
"So, what do you want to know about the Spirit Liberation Army?"
"Oh, um... Do you know any cheap lodgings? I want to spend as little money as possible."
"Hmm? Then stay at my place! Won't mind having one more man around!"
"Oh, really? Sorry about that. Can I help with something in return?"
"Well, why not? How about organizing the warehouse a bit? Could you lend a hand?"
"Sure, no problem."
I headed to the warehouse with Elgizi. This warehouse feels nostalgic. I received the armor I'm wearing now here not too long ago. It feels nostalgic even though it was just recently.
So, I spent the afternoon organizing weapons of the same type, gathering armor in one place, and doing this and that until evening. It felt like I was being used, but well, it's a small token of appreciation for a night's lodging and meal.
The little guys also secretly helped, but halfway through, they started sword fighting with tiny swords and shields they brought from somewhere. Can't blame them, seeing swords gets any guy excited. Well, I don't know their gender though.
And before I knew it, it was dinner time. The meal Elgizi made was delicious. Delicious, but lazy. Well, it's a guy's cooking. It's fine since it's just guys.
While sipping tea after dinner, Elgizi suddenly brought up the topic.
"Hey kid, I'd appreciate it if you stopped beating around the bush."
"Huh? Beating around the bush? What do you mean?"
"No, I mean, what do you want to know about the Spirit Liberation Army?"
Huh? What's Elgizi talking about? About the Spirit Liberation Army... Wait, did he say he knows about it...?
"Do you know about the Spirit Liberation Army!?"
"Well, I've been saying I do for a while..."
Elgizi finally seemed to get through to me. Yeah, my bad. I was assuming he didn't know and brushing it off.
I learned from chatting with some old folks in the countryside that it's best to brush off conversations, but my preconceptions were off. I feel like I've really messed up, but well, let's hope for forgiveness. I didn't mean any harm.
Anyway, if he knows, we're in luck. What I need right now is information more than anything.
"Well then, why do you know about them?"
"I've supplied them weapons before."
"What? You've sold weapons to those dangerous guys?"
Hey, even with just a glance in the village, I could tell those black-clad folks were dangerous, you know?
...Well, come to think of it, maybe not. They just wore black, and they let me pass without any fuss.
But if that got out, wouldn't Elgizi be targeted by the kingdom? Isn't he in trouble? But he seems fine with it. How can he be so calm about this?
Ignoring my concerns, Elgizi remained composed.
"Trouble? They're just trying to free spirits. Besides, it's all about who uses the weapons. If you think it's dangerous, then you shouldn't be given weapons either."
"No, I'm not dangerous."
Elgizi placed a mirror in front of me without saying a word. What's with this gesture, like telling me to reflect on myself.
Seeing my silent response, Elgizi nodded. I can't agree with that... damn it.
"Everyone's different. With ten people, you have ten different opinions. Everyone has their own way of thinking. They're not going around saying they'll kill all humans, are they? Life can go on without spirits too."
Elgizi's thinking was close to mine. From my perspective, coming from a world without spirits, it seems like you can live without them... in other words, even without magic.
But I've never met anyone in this world who thinks like Elgizi. ...Wait, no, I have. The Spirit Liberation Army acts on that principle, probably.
So what does that mean? Aren't they bad guys? I'm getting confused again.
"You're a bit different, kid."
"Huh? Different?"
"Yeah. Most people, when they hear about the Spirit Liberation Army, don't hesitate and just deny it. But you're hesitating."
"Well, there's various..."
"I'm not interested in hearing your reasons. I don't know whether the kingdom or the Spirit Liberation Army is right, or if both are wrong. So instead of jumping to conclusions about good and evil, why not listen to various stories and decide? You're capable of that."
Listening and deciding. That might be important.
In this world, people like Elgizi, who don't decide which side is right, are in the minority.
The majority support the kingdom, and the remaining few have thoughts like the Spirit Liberation Army... maybe. ...Well, I still don't know.
I feel like I've found something to do. I need to go to various places, listen to various people's stories, and decide for myself.
That's it!
"Thanks, Elgizi! I feel like I've got a clearer idea of what to do!"
"Oh! Is that so! That's good!"
"Yeah. So, do you have any other information about the Spirit Liberation Army?"
"Hmm. Well... they mentioned something about a Great Spirit or something. Other than that, I don't know."
"What's a Great Spirit?"
"I don't know! I'm only interested in forging!"
I see. Dependable, but not so much when it counts.
...But well, he's an amazing old man. I don't dislike him.
Oh, right. There's still something I want to ask.
"Do you know where the Spirit Liberation Army is? And, do you know anything about their boss?"
"I don't know where they are. They used to come to this shop to place orders, and when the weapons were ready, they'd come to pick them up. They wore black robes, so I couldn't even see their faces. As for the boss, I have no idea."
"Come on, don't take on shady orders like that..."
"It wasn't shady at all! They didn't threaten me when placing the order, and they paid the reward properly. Many people who want weapons or armor don't want to reveal their identity, so it can't be helped."
Is that how it is? It feels kind of light to be making things that can take lives... no, that's not it.
Elgizi said it earlier. It depends on who uses the weapons. It's not Elgizi's fault for making them. Yeah.
Even a bat, which is a tool for baseball, can be used by someone to hit others, right?
It depends on who uses it. I feel like I've learned something important.
I can't afford to use it the wrong way. With that in mind, I tightly gripped the iron pipe.
Anyway, I feel like I've got a clearer goal now.
First, the Spirit Forest. Then, I'll go to various places, gather information, and decide for myself.
It feels kind of adventurous, doesn't it? I'm starting to feel excited!
While chatting with the kids and looking at the map, we decided where to go. How about here? Or here? We talked like that and went to sleep for the night.
---
In the morning, I had breakfast with Elgizi, and he gave me lunch and dried meat for the journey. He even gave me a black cloak as a parting gift. Sorry about that.
"Well then, I'll be off. Thanks for everything, I'll come again."
"Come by anytime!"
Parting with Elgizi was easy. ...But it felt comfortable to me.
I left the town with the kids and headed southeast towards the Spirit Forest.
The weather was nice outside, and I could walk leisurely.
Ah, this is nice, isn't it? It feels relaxing. There's no one screaming, no one shouting at me, no one sarcastically laughing at me.
But there's a hint of loneliness there. ...Damn, I've gotten too used to the noise.
I was originally alone, I just returned to that state, right?
As I was thinking that, the hem of my pants was tugged.
Oh, sorry, sorry. I wasn't alone, was I?
I patted the kids' heads as they appealed to me, and they smiled happily. Heh, they're really nice guys.
Without being attacked by any monsters, I made it to the forest smoothly and entered.
Even though I entered the forest without getting lost, apparently, ordinary folks can't find the Spirit Forest. But I've never gotten lost.
I walked through the dappled sunlight, eventually arriving at the cave where I had spent time with the little ones. Nothing seemed to have changed since then. It felt like time stood still here, evoking a sense of nostalgia disproportionate to the actual time passed.
Deciding to stay the night, I made preparations for camping and decided to explore the surroundings. There was a vague feeling that something was different here, prompting my curiosity. But above all, the place felt welcoming. The air was crisp, and there was a sense of energy permeating the atmosphere. It was a strange sensation.
After making preparations for the night, I explored the area while still in good spirits. However, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, no clues to be found. It was frustrating. I had a feeling there was something, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
Returning to the cave entrance, I called out to the little ones, "Hey, anything different around here?"
"There is," came the reply.
"Oh, really? Can you guide me there then?"
"It's not so much guiding as it is about this place being different."
"Huh?" I turned around at the unfamiliar voice. There stood a man wearing a rock-like costume, reminiscent of the little ones' attire. A weirdo with an obsession for spirits.
"Oh, so you finally noticed," he said.
Without a word, I struck him with an iron pipe. He was a pervert, no doubt about it! I wouldn't let him lay a finger on the little ones, damn it!
"What the hell are you doing here?" I yelled.
"Hey, stop it! Stop!"
"Shut up! You're endangering the little ones! Stay away!"
Damn it, he was tougher than I thought! His arms and legs were like a turtle, withdrawn into the rocks, making it hard to inflict effective damage. Was there anything else I could do? Yes, there was something perfect for this situation.
I decided to light the firewood I had prepared for camping using flint. If hitting didn't work, burning was the only option!
*Click, click, click.*
The fire wouldn't catch! Just wait, I'd turn him into a human torch in no time!
"Wait! I'm serious, wait! The fire is hot!"
"It's supposed to be hot, damn it!"
"Let's calm down and talk!"
"I'm not talking to a pervert!"
"I'm the Earth Great Spirit!"
I stopped dead in my tracks. The Earth Great Spirit? I vaguely remembered hearing something like that from Elder Geezy. Something about the Spirit Liberation Army saying something... was it about him? He looked like a pervert no matter how you looked at it. When I glanced at the little ones, they were nodding. I see. It seemed they agreed with my opinion.
*Click, click, click.*
"You're lying. Just wait, I'll burn you right away!"
"I said wait!"
As the fire ignited, the old man and the little ones held me back.
"Still plotting something dangerous, huh? Calm down and let's talk it out!" the old man urged.
"Shut it! Got any proof you're the Earth Great Spirit?" I retorted sharply.
"P-Proof?"
I held the lit firewood up silently, ready to strike. The old man, in his panic, tried to appeal to innocence, using not just his hands but his whole body. But that wouldn't make me let my guard down.
"Hold on! I mean it! Look, I'm dressed just like a spirit!" he pleaded.
"Exactly? Seems fishy to me!" I countered.
"I-I'm serious! Please, spare me!"
Seemed like he really had no intention of causing harm. For now, I placed the lit firewood back into the bonfire, within easy reach but still out of immediate grasp. But I couldn't bring myself to believe he was the Earth Great Spirit. He was probably just a lunatic.
Though I remained skeptical, I decided to hear him out.
"Alright, I'll hear you out. But if it smells fishy, I'll burn it," I warned.
"Understood! Thank you!" he replied gratefully.
Reluctantly, I settled down near the fire, and nervously, he followed suit. Was he trying to lure me in with my own guard down? He looked rather dejected, probably starving from being lost in the forest or something. Well, if he wasn't a bad guy, I could at least offer him some food.
"So, who are you?" I inquired.
"I'm the Earth Great Spirit!" he claimed.
"Yeah, sure," I scoffed.
"O-Okay, let me continue. This forest is the domain of the spirits," he explained.
"Yeah, I've heard that before," I acknowledged.
"Humans aren't supposed to enter," he added.
"Doubt that. I'm human and I'm here. Deal with it," I asserted.
I grabbed the lit firewood, ready to strike.
"Wait! Wait! There's a reason I'm here!" he pleaded.
"A reason? What is it? And how do you know my name?" I questioned.
"I've known Zero since he lived here. And the reason is, Zero, you're special!" he declared.
"Huh? I haven't said anything yet?" I retorted.
"I can read surface thoughts! I'm the Earth Great Spirit! Impressed?" he asked.
"Annoying. Should I bury you now?" I threatened.
"Bury me? Please stop!" he begged.
Seemed like he might be the real deal, considering the reactions of the little ones and his peculiar abilities. But his appearance was still suspicious. He must be able to read that too. You're sketchy, buddy. The Earth Great Spirit seemed to really understand what I was thinking, looking quite crestfallen as he gazed at me.
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