Chapter 2: Start From X (part 4)

Please, tell me the other four don't all come with so much baggage, right?

"Next, Sir Hakuya Kwonmin, step forward," Marx said.

"Yes, sir." With his name having been called, the black-robed young man leisurely

strolled forward.

He was a young man of around twenty wearing a distinctive outfit that looked

like he had combined a pastor's cassock and a kannushi's traditional kimono and

then dyed the resulting outfit black. His shoulder-length black hair looked unkempt.

He was pale and slender, looking like more of an indoors-y type. He acted listless,

but his sleepy eyes were fixed on me.

"This man, though his recommendation came from another, has demonstrated

the gift of wisdom!" Marx announced. "He has memorized the laws of this country,

and his knowledge and memory are believed to be without peer in this nation!"

That's like being able to recite the entirety of the Six Codes from memory, I guess.

That would be pretty amazing, yeah. If he's here by someone else's recommendation,

he's one of the ones signed up by a relative, huh. ...I wonder what it is. Something is

tugging at the back of my mind here.

"...Your gift is splendid," I said. "If you wish it, I will recommend you for a

bureaucratic position in the Ministry of Law. How about it?"

"No, just the prize will be enough," Hakuya said immediately, shooting down my

proposed recommendation. "I only came here because my uncle who looks after me

said, 'At your age, you need to stop sitting around doing nothing but reading books

and go do something useful for society,' and sent in the application without asking

me, so I don't need excessive rewards."

"These books you mention, are they all law related?" I asked.

"No. I don't focus on any specific genre. Law, literature, technical manuals, I'll

read anything."

"I see."

I wonder why. There's something bothering me here.

"Hmm... In that case, how about you become the librarian for the archives in the

palace?" I asked. "There are probably books in there that you won't find on the open

market, and with your authority as librarian, you'll be able to read them."

"Oh, that does sound nice. If that's the case, please, let me do it."

[MISTERLP]:and we have a bookworm.

Finally, something I could recognize as a happy expression crossed Hakuya's face. He seemed satisfied.

Seize every opportunity, as they say. It was probably better for me to keep an

interesting card like him in my hand than to let him go.

"Next, Madam Juna Doma, step forward."

"Yes, sir."

Trading places with Hakuya, the blue-haired pretty girl stepped up.

She looked looked like she was around the same age as me, nineteen, but the air

she had about her made this woman feel more mature than her age. With her fluffy

hair trailing behind her, she was the picture of beauty as she gracefully bowed her

head. While her clothes weren't very revealing, the top half resembled a dirndl from

Austria, while the bottom was transparent and showed her legs, like you might see

in an Indian dancer's sari. Around her hips was wrapped a frilly piece of clothing.

Were it not for the piercing look I received from Liscia, I might have admired her

beauty for a full hour.

"Yeah. I haven't forgotten my job, so stop glaring," I murmured.

"I don't know about that..." Liscia responded, looking away angrily.

Marx coughed and cleared his throat, saying, "Sire, this one has shown she is

gifted with a rare beauty and singing ability. With those gifts, she took the crown at

both the Elfrieden Pretty Girl Grand Prix with her beauty, and at Kingdom of Talent

with her singing. Truly, she is the most beautiful songstress of this generation."

A double crown?! Now, that's impressive. "Sometimes the heavens do bestow two

gifts, it seems," I said.

"You are too kind," Juna responded calmly and elegantly to my somewhat

awestruck praise. "I have heard that the Doma family are descended from loreleis.

Singing is in my blood."

Loreleis... They're sea monsters who use their beauty and their songs to lead sailors

to their doom, right? Certainly, her beauty and those flowing blue tresses did make

me think of loreleis. "I'd very much like to hear you sing."

"If you wish, I can."

"Sure. This scene is being broadcast around Elfrieden right now through this

jewel. Could you sing a little song to cheer up our countrymen?"

"A song to cheer them up... is it?" Juna seemed troubled. "Most of the lorelei songs

passed down in my family are sad love songs, you see..."

"Ohh, if there's some code or something holding you back from singing one, that's

fine."

"No, I just don't know any. If I could hear one, I could learn it right away, though."

"Hmm... Ah, how about this, then?"

I pulled out my smartphone. It was one of the few things I had had on me when

I'd been summoned to this world. I opened up my music folder, picked a song that

jumped out at me, then walked up to Juna and put the earbuds in for her.

"What might this be?"

"Something like a machine that plays music, I guess? Anyway, I'm playing it now."

Juna's eyes widened.

The moment I pressed the button, Juna's body shuddered. She seemed

bewildered at first, but she was getting used to it, as her body gradually got into the

rhythm. Then, five minutes later, she pulled out the earbuds.

"I have it memorized."

"Already? You really can memorize it the first time you hear it?"

"Yes. Now, let me sing it for you."

I returned to my seat and she began to sing.

The song was Masashi Sada's "Ganbaranba." This cheerful song, which had even

had a Minna no Uta short made for it, was distinctive for using rap in Nagasaki

dialect mixed with the Kyushu children's song "Denderaryuba." Grandpa was a fan,

so I had listened to it with him together a lot.

Still, I was impressed with this lorelei. She was even managing to sing the rap

parts in Nagasaki dialect. These were completely incomprehensible to people from

the Kanto region, but she sung them flawlessly.

By the way, Liscia told me later that she couldn't understand the lyrics. I could

understand the language people in this country speak, and they could understand

my Japanese, but it seemed that was part of my power as a hero. I could even write

in the world's language. What I tried to write in my head got translated into the

language here, so even though I couldn't read it afterward, I could write it.

So, the Japanese (in Nagasaki dialect) that came out of Juna's mouth was in an

unknown language for the people of this country. Still, even without knowing the

words, if a song is good, you can still get into it. Everyone listened to that catchy tune

and enjoyed it.

A few minutes later, amidst roaring applause, Juna finished her song and bowed.

"That was a fun song. Thank you."

"No, I should thank you," I said. "Your singing was wonderful."

"If possible, I hope you will teach me more of the songs of your country, Your

Majesty."

"I'd very much like to have you sing them. ...Oh, I know! Hopefully we can

increase the number of jewels, but even if that's not possible, we could eventually

convert the Jewel Voice Room into a recording studio so that the people can hear

your songs all the time."

"My! That would be like a dream come true, sire." Juna wore a smile of heartfelt

bliss. It was a marvelous smile.

"I'll be counting on you when the time comes," I said. "You did a great job today."

Juna stepped back, and now it was the fox-eared little girl's turn.

"Next, Madam Tomoe Inui of the mystic wolf race, step forward."

"Y-Yesh!"

Her voice breaking, the young girl with animal ears who looked to be around ten

stepped forward with her right arm moving at the same time as her right leg.

The mystic wolf race... I thought. I guess those aren't fox ears, they're wolf ears.

She was adorable with her suntanned skin and cute little round eyes. The clothes

she wore were just a little shabby, though. They were torn in places and, perhaps

because she was tense, the fluffy tail that stuck out from her rump was standing up

straight.

Yup, I want to stroke it.

"Young though she may be, this one has the exceptionally rare gift of being able

to talk to birds and beasts. When we brought her to the stables, she was able to

correctly tell us everything from the horses' current state of health to their history.

According to her, the horses told her these things. Truly, it is a godly ability."

The gift of talking to animals, huh? Looks like we have an astonishing little

beastman on our hands here.

As I thought about it, next to me Liscia quietly whispered, "The country of the

mystic wolves is far to the north. There shouldn't be any in this country."

"...A refugee, huh," I murmured. Ah, that would explain the beat up clothes then,

wouldn't it?

With the expansion of the Demon Lord's Domain, a number of countries and

villages had been destroyed. Those who had lost their lands had fled south,

becoming refugees in other nations, and they were starting to put pressure on the

economy. Different nations dealt with them in different ways. Some proactively took

them in, while others moved to expel them. Though, that said, even when it came to

the countries taking them in, most either forced them into hard labor such as mining

or sent them out as additional manpower to fight against the demons, so both types

of country were hell for the refugees.

Even in my kingdom, refugee camps had sprung up outside the capital Parnam.

At the moment, the decision on what to do with them was still "on hold." If we

helped the refugees when we didn't even have enough food to feed our own people,

riots might well break out. If we expelled them or forced them into hard labor, we

would have to deal with the refugees' resentment. If they went into hiding and

turned terrorist on us, that would be terrible. As things stood, they were causing a

decline in public safety, but we had no choice but to maintain the status quo.

In order to offer a helping hand to others, we need to be in a good place to help

ourselves first, I thought.

"I said if they had a gift, I would put it to use, and I don't intend to twist those

words," I said out loud. "If she has a gift, it doesn't matter if she's a foreigner or a

refugee. We're in no position to be particular about such things, after all."

"You're right."

When I said that, the mystic wolf girl who had just been introduced hesitantly

opened her mouth to speak. "Uh... Um... King Souma..."

"Hm? What is it?"

"Um... Well... Uh, I also... have something I'd like to say..."

Because she was extremely tense, she spoke as if forcing the words out. It was

hard to make out what she was saying.

"Did you have something you wanted to say? I don't mind. Please go ahead."

"Yesh... Um... Actually..."

"Hm? What? You need to speak up, or I won't be able to hear you..."

"Um... I..." Tomoe had tears in her eyes. She was still young enough to be called a

little girl, so it was painful to see her with a face like that.

"...I understand. I'll come over to you, so don't cry anymore," I said.

"Awoo..."

I walked over to the girl's side and crouched down next to her, putting my ear

next to her mouth. As the one in charge of guarding me, Ludwin had a disapproving

look on his face, but I ignored him.

"Now I should be able to hear you," I said. "Say whatever you like."

"Yep. The truth is..."

What she whispered to me next made me doubt my ears. I stood up and stared at

Tomoe's face.

"...You're certain of this?"

"Y-Yep."

"Have you told this to anyone else?"

"N-No... Nobody but my mom..."

"I see..."

I breathed a sigh. It was half of relief and half of worry when I thought about

what was to come. This was more than just some rare gift. This girl had the potential

to be a "bombshell" to this world.

...Calm down. Breathe. Don't let anyone here notice how agitated you are.

"Whew... I'm a little exhausted. I'd like to take a little break here."

"Souma?"

When I said that, looking around, Liscia looked at me dubiously. The others had

about the same reaction, but I ignored them, boldly raising my voice.

"I would now like to take a thirty minute break. The presentation of awards to

the remaining two, this girl included, will take place after that. Madam Juna."

"What is it, Sire?" When I called her name, the lorelei songstress stepped forward.

"Right now, our countrymen are watching us over the Jewel Voice Broadcast. It

would pain me to make the people just wait during our break. So, could I ask you to

keep them entertained with your singing for half an hour or so?"

"Of course, sire. Our songs are the pride of my family. I will sing my heart out for

them."

With those words, Juna gave an elegant bow.

Our eyes met for just a moment. It felt as if she were checking with me: There's a

reason for this, isn't there? But, even so, she chose not to ask, doing as I had

requested.

Even without her beauty and singing, I would want a considerate person like her

among my subordinates.

While Juna was buying time for me, I gathered those I could trust in the

governmental affairs office. This included myself, Liscia, Marx, Ludwin, and Tomoe.

That was all. As for Aisha, who didn't want to be separated from me now that she

had sworn her loyalty, I had her stand outside the door to ensure no one was

listening in.

"Is all of this caution really necessary?" Liscia asked in bewilderment, to which I

responded with a nod.

"We are in a very bad situation. Did anyone hear what Tomoe said earlier?" I

checked with the other three, but all of them shook their heads.

"...I didn't hear. Her voice was so quiet."

"Neither did I."

"Me either."

"...Then, is there any risk people heard her over the Jewel Voice Broadcast?"

"That should probably be fine," Liscia said. "It's not that sensitive."

As soon as I heard that, I felt as if a great weight had been lifted from my

shoulders.

"Is it that bad?" she asked.

"Yes. It was literally a bombshell statement."

Everyone's focus narrowed on Tomoe, causing her to shrink into herself even

more. It seemed like it would be hard to get her to talk, so I answered on her behalf.

"She can converse with animals. You all heard that, right?"

"Yes. It's an incredible gift, isn't it?"

"She used that power to talk to a demon, apparently."

The moment I said that, the room went cold. Everyone was speechless, just

mouthing voicelessly like a bunch of goldfish. Before I go into detail about it, there

are some things you need to know first.

What people in this world thought of when they talked about demons or

monsters and what people in the world I came from thought of when they talked

about demons or monsters were slightly different. In the world I came from,

monsters were not "people" or "plants and animals," they were seen as aberrations.

However, in this world, the words "person" and "animal" were defined very

broadly.

To be more specific, humans, elves, beastmen, and dragonewts were all "people"

and fell under the category of "mankind."

In the categories of "plants and animals," even at four meters tall, a red grizzly

was still a mammal. Even if it looked like a dinosaur, a monitor lizard was still a

reptile. Even if it was as big as a person, a giant ant was still an insect. And even if it

ate people, a maneater was a plant. Furthermore, gelins, the slime creatures that did

things like merge together, split apart, melt, and more, also fell under the "plants and

animals" category, for some reason.

By the way, dragons and the like were called "god-beasts," and they were

categorized separately.

The reason none of these creatures were called monsters was because they were

native to this world. Because they have been part of the ecology of this world all

along, each of them had their own habitats away from where humans lived. As a

matter of fact, the eight-legged horses in this country would all be Sleipnir by the

standards of the world I came from, and the livestock such as cows and chickens all

looked like they had been designed to look more monstrous.