Episode 123: The Nuances of Conversation
Amusingly, or rather, not so amusingly, this world lacks basic human rights.
Therefore, social credibility must be earned through one’s actions.
In that regard, I am well-dressed, gentlemanly (by this world’s standards), wealthy, and possess citizenship.
“Did you know, Boss? Normally, women like Theresia and Irene would be beaten for ‘talking back’ to a man?”
“Seriously…? Is this ancient Showa civilization?”
“We can avoid that because we have weapons and stick together in large numbers, but otherwise, it wouldn’t be strange to be beaten. Being weak is a ‘sin’ in itself.”
Ah… yes…
It’s still like that overseas, even now.
What should I say… like… there’s no reason?
For example, in Japan, if there’s bullying or assault, people think, “There must be a reason for doing such a thing,” right? People don’t harm others without a reason, right?
However, in countries with poor治安… no, in most countries, it’s different.
There’s no reason.
They harm others for no reason, just because.
They don’t think of the other person as a human being. They don’t consider the other person’s feelings, they make fun of them because they want to, they hit them because they want to. It’s a kind of wall-banging.
It’s the same in this world. Those kinds of guys are the normal people in this world.
Ugh… I hate this world.
But it’s extremely easy to live in for someone strong and skilled like me, so I personally like it.
Seriously, I was a doctor in my previous life, you know?
I passed a prestigious university straight out of high school, became a doctor without repeating a year. I have experience studying abroad. My family was quite well-off too.
…But I was restricted by laws, forced to accept the spirit of gender equality, and since my income was high, I had a lot of taxes taken away through progressive taxation.
It’s strange, isn’t it?
I was working hard, I was strong, but nothing good came of it.
All I had was the obligation known as Noblesse Oblige.
On top of that, if I strayed off the path even a little, or had trouble with women, it was all over. I’d lose everything.
A world that’s kind to the average, incompetent weakling isn’t kind to the strong at all…
“Yeah, you lose out if you’re weak in this world.”
“Yes, yes… I lost everything. I’m blessed just to have food and a place to sleep every day. If I wish for more, God will punish me.”
Humble…
A society where you lose everything if you’re weak is certainly unpleasant from a Japanese perspective, but it’s also incredibly profitable…
It’s troubling…
Hmm…?
“Hmm.”
Oh, Margot.
She’s holding out her hand, but in that hand is…?
“Eh, what?”
“Sequel?”
“Of what?”
“Hmm.”
Hmm…?
This is… ah! It’s the book I gave her.
Dragon Quest I.
As the name suggests, it’s a novelization of a certain famous game, with illustrations.
“You read it?”
“Hmm… interesting.”
“Oh, really? Thanks.”
“Sequel? Pay money.”
“I haven’t written it yet.”
“…?”
Tilt.
Margot tilts her head.
Her doll-like face is as expressionless as ever.
Very cute.
“No, I mean, I haven’t written it yet.”
“…? Where, buy?”
“Eh? Oh, no, no. I wrote it, that.”
“…!”
Oh, rare.
I’ve only seen Margot’s surprised face a handful of times.
“…Dru, draw pictures, write sentences, write stories, make parchment, make bindings?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
It took a lot of trial and error, though.
“…Dru, conversely, what can’t do?”
“Hmm… ah… swordsmanship…?”
“At least, sword arm recognized as Third Rank Strider…?”
Well, that’s true…
“Heh heh heh… Boss can write books too?”
Oh, Keira’s still here.
Not that she’s not allowed to be here.
Keira seems to be on vacation, and she’s not wearing her usual leather armor, but a shirt.
She dresses in a masculine way so she won’t be taken advantage of.
I wonder why she doesn’t wear normal clothes when she’s running away from home? But she doesn’t have any normal clothes.
Keira seems to be drinking from noon, with a wooden cup filled with ale and a wooden plate of roasted beans on the table in front of her.
Since there’s no entertainment, she has nothing to do but drink from noon like this.
“Well, I’ve read a lot. If I wanted to write…?”
“Hee…? Was it that good?”
“Hmm… One might be misled by the novelty of the story and the strength of the hero, but the writing itself is good. It’s easy for children to understand, yet rich in literary metaphors. It’s not a half-baked work.”
Margot, unusually excited, hugs the book I wrote as if it were precious, and talks rapidly about its merits.
Is it really that good…?
“Well, I’m glad Margot seems to like it.”
“…Not just me.”
Hmm?
“Now, among people who can read, Dragon Quest I is very popular.”
Hmm…
…Did I do something again?