Vol 4: Chapter 2
Within the forest, there was little food to eat, and also monsters which attacked us occasionally.
The Hungry Dogs which attacked in flocks, and Killer Worms which crept up on us while sleeping. These kinds of monsters can also be found in the “Front World”.
The gravity, the surrounding vegetation, the arrangement of the stars – everything was the same.
If so, it is better to think that this is the “Back World” where the “mediator” whom I fought previously in the Kruvan Holy Kingdom came from. [1. TL Note: The “Other World” from previous volumes will be referred to as “Back World” from now on. Reiji’s world will be referred to as “Front World”.]
I told Asha about the information I had on this world.
——It seems that the 8-star skill orb must be necessarily dedicated to a person of the Holy Royal Family who has never received a skill orb. I don’t know why it must be dedicated to them, but according to the old documents, it seems that the skill orb appears about once every 100 to 300 years. Those of the Holy Royal Family who were given the skill orb have always disappeared without exception. It is believed that they departed to the “Back World.”
I heard this from Earl Sillys.
A few hundreds years ago, someone from the Holy Royal Family departed to this world.
——It is simply called the “Back World” by the people of this world. Eh, it is said that the “Back World” is the exact same world as ours, which lies on the back side of this world. The “Covenant” seems to be a rule regarding “skill orbs” that was agreed with the “Back World”.
The rabbit High Priest, El-san said so.
——Eh, now, of course, we can’t observe the “Back World”. It seems that there was traffic between the two worlds in ancient times, but in order to stop that traffic, we closed the gate that connects the two worlds.
The fact that there was traffic in ancient times is a ray of hope for us.
Even uninvited guests, such as the mediator and Ouroboros, were able to cross over to the “Front World”.
——Skill orbs are said to be ‘”God-given”… but I think it is also a “circulating thing”. Eh, though, I am the only one who believes that in the Holy Royal Palace. I have a theory that skill orbs that disappear in this world go to the “Back World”, and the skill orbs that disappear in the “Back World” come to this world.
That was El-san’s theory about the “Back World”.
After that, old man Hinga’s name came up, so I didn’t ask any more about the “Back World”.
I truly regret that now. No, but it can’t be helped, right!? I never imagined that I’d come to the “Back World”!
「Reiji-san.」
Asha called out as we traversed through the sparse forest of trees.
After talking to her, I learned that we are the same age. It seems elves’ appearance doesn’t change much after they reach the age of 20 and they live for hundreds of years, but Asha is still in the prime of her growth. I felt slightly awkward calling her “Asha” without attaching honorifics, so I asked her to do the same for me, but Asha insisted on attaching the “-san” for me.
「There is a sign of water source.」
Asha’s【Mana Control】had improved to the point where no sparks appeared if she spoke carefully.
Although Asha didn’t have a skill, she guided us through the forest in the direction where we are likely to find human habitation. Perhaps it is her natural talent as a High Elf of the Elven Forest who rules over the elves. Or maybe, it’s just an intuition.
If this world is similar to the “Front World”, then there will be people here as well – that is my prediction
If the theories of El-san and old man Hinga are correct, the skill orbs of the “Back World” should accumulate and not circulate to the “Front World” unless they disappear.
「It is a stream. There are even small fish.」I said.
I was relieved to find a babbling stream after walking for about 30 minutes. Since I could already produce water to drink, we should have been able to survive for more than 10 days, but walking around aimlessly will wear down the body and mind. That’s the terrible situation I experienced when I escaped the Sixth Mine, and I don’t want to go through that again.
My stomach grumbled, as I looked at the fishes swimming down the stream.
「There is a sign of an even bigger water source ahead.」Asha said.
「Let’s go.」
We followed down the stream until we cut through the forest, and an open view spread.
「A lake…?」
A dim, foggy lake. It was wide and quiet. Ripples traveled across the surface as wind blew.
Asha and I were captivated by the scene. It gave off a certain aura, like, by passing through the lake, you would reach the Underworld.
「You people don’t look familiar, nu.」
I was startled by an unknown voice. I should have been wary of my surroundings, but I was unable to notice the stranger because of the lake’s mystical atmosphere.
The owner of the voice was a Lev, wearing a rag cloth woven with hemp. He was a reptile type demi-human who looked very similar to a Lev, but his skin color was whitish. Except for the color of the skin, every other component was exactly the same as a Lev, as analyzed by【World Ruler】.
Age is unknown, but judging from his calm demeanor, he is probably an adult.
「An underground human and a dark elf, huh. Hmm, but you two sure have very bright skin tones, nu.」the man said.
「…Are you a Lev?」I asked.
「Lev? What is that, nu?」
As expected, this is the “Back World” after all. This person doesn’t know about “Lev”.
More so than that, I was surprised that we were able to understand each other. Though, he was ending his sentences with a “nu” for some reason.
「It’s nothing. I am Reiji. And this is…」
「I am Anastasia. Can I ask for your name?」
Asha spoke carefully, not producing any sparks.
「Kimidori Gorn.」
……It’s a strange name. Ah, well, it’s not good to complain about someone’s name.
「Hmm, I presume that you two were seen as mavericks because of your skin color, and so were driven out of your hometown.」
「No, actually–」
「Don’t worry, I don’t mind. I won’t pry into your circumstances, nu. I’m sure it’s something you don’t want others to know. I also escaped from the citizens who didn’t understand my noble research. And now continuing my research in the vicinity of this foggy lake, nura.」
I put my hand on my forehead and sighed. …But did the sentence ending change from “nu”?
I wonder if this person is the type who doesn’t listen to other people?
「Kimidori Gorn-san.」
「What is it, nu?」
「Is there a town… nearby?」
「There is.」
「Then could you point us in the direction–」
「What? You are interested in my noble research, nu? I see… But this research is not something that I can show to others. Especially people I just met for the first time today, but.. If you really, really want to see it, then I will think about it… What do you wish to do?」
I just want to go to the town.
「I see. You really, really, really want to see it, huh.」
「No, I don’t want to see anything.」
「Follow me, nura!」
The “nu” is changing after all!
Kimidori Gorn-san started walking, leading the way. Asha and I exchanged glances, nodded and decided to follow him.
The first villager we met in the “Back World” was a Lev-like researcher who gave off a slightly crazy vibe.
