hapter 43 – The smell of confidential talk from the secret room
I gathered Diana, Marina, and Rebecca-san together after letting them know that it was an important discussion.
I had thought of explaining it to them verbally, but as I thought, it would be more effective to show them the real mirror. Since I had already decided to divulge everything, there wasn’t any need to put on an act to keep it hidden from them.
Above all, I would like them to understand it clearly. It wouldn’t work out if they were unable to cooperate in situations that I need their help in. Well, Diana and Marina are, more or less my slaves, so it should be fine letting them know…..I think. And I believe in Rebecca-san as well.
By chance, if something does happen, there is no other way than to temporarily freeze the portal by facing the mirror against the wall, making it impa.s.sable.
And depending on their understanding, it might be fun to invite the three of them to j.a.pan.
I guess we might cause a big fuss even if I were to bring them to places like Akihabara. Or they might actually be able to pa.s.s through that place unexpectedly without any problem too….
In any case, I would like them to understand a little bit more about the other world.
I guided the three of them to the cellar. Naturally, it would the first time for them to enter the cellar.
“Y-You’re bringing Rebecca to the cellar too? N-Not just us slaves?” [Diana]
“Nn, ah, I have something important to discuss in the cellar so I would like Rebecca-san to listen to it too.” [Jirou]
“It’s just a discussion? Isn’t the cellar a secret room equipped with some kind of device used to ‘educate’ bad slaves?” [Diana]
“…..What kind of person do you think I am, Diana? …….Well whatever. You’ll understand it once you’re there.” [Jirou]
I unlocked the padlock and pushed open the heavy wooden door to the cellar.
What is inside the room was naturally the magic mirror which serves as the portal between the two worlds. But, since I hung a cloth over the mirror on the other side, there was nothing reflected in the mirror on this side.
Everyone entered the room.
There was no lighting in the room so it was really dark.
Since I couldn’t see everyone’s faces, I couldn’t read their expressions. I should first begin the story.
“This is an important conversation…..To put it succinctly, I’m not born in this world.” [Jirou]
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Then, I divulged the summary of events that happened from the moment I came to this world.
About how I obtained the mirror then realized that it was connected to this world, or rather, to this room.
Then how I met with Sh.e.l.lo-san when I was walking outside.
Since the common sense in this world is different than the other side in various aspects, I pretended that I have a memory loss. Then I was brought by Sh.e.l.lo-san and Rebecca-san to Erishe to receive my blessing.
And also concerning the fact that the knives brought over by me the other time were all made by me.
About how I thought that I could just escape to the other world if I were to lose the match against Jephthah the last time.
Then on how I brought the goods from the other side and sold them at the flea market.
I had thought of fabricating some parts or slipping some lies into my explanation several times, but I decided to tell mainly the truth. Diana and Marina aside, I had lied to Rebecca-san numerous times now. Not only about the part where I lose my memory, but I also fabricated other various stories. So, I would feel bad if I were to deceive her any longer. To put it simply, I could also be tired of lying now.
That said, as expected, I did gloss over certain parts that would bring inconvenience to myself; such as my inherent jobs, and that I had uploaded their images to the bulletin board……
The three of them listened to my story obediently until the end.
I had initially a.s.sumed that they might display slight rejection once they knew the truth but…..
“It doesn’t matter where you’re from. You will still be my master and that will not change.” [Diana]
“I have already decided to devote myself to serve my liege for life.” Marina said in tears.
“Well, I knew that you were hiding something. Although, I wonder why you revealed this not only to your slaves-chan, but also to me.” Rebecca-san said as she chuckled.
The fact that they seemed to accept it easily made me feel stupid for being so anxious about it.
After that, I showed them the mirror that I have been using to go back and forth between the two worlds. It wouldn’t be a bad idea if I were to invite them over to my room too.
“And this is the mirror. It connects to my room in the other world. But since I hung a cloth over the mirror on the other side, you won’t be able to see anything from here.” [Jirou]
“Nn? There’s something that I’d like to ask though. Where actually is 『the world on the other side』? Is it a continent on the other side of the sea? Or could it be Pet.i.t Ko Lagoon that’s beyond the mountains?” [Rebecca]
Nn….? Eh? Haven’t they understood it yet…?
…..Ah, I see. There is no 「other world」 concept here. It’s natural if I were to think about it.
“We were able to communicate using the same language though, so the possibility of it being a place beyond the mountains is low……. But he doesn’t know anything about the blessing. So it’s not likely for it to be anywhere in this country or the Country of Fire……..” [Rebecca]
Rebecca-san muttered under her breath.
I wonder how I should explain this.
“Erm, well, that is…. I don’t know where that place is in this world too. So, from the point of this world, 『the world on the other side』 is in a place where no one knows. I don’t know if it’s a continent located on the other side of the sea, or it could be that they are not related at all. It might also be a totally different world.” [Jirou]
My explanation sounded slightly ambiguous.
「That place is like a different world」. It might be weird for me to describe it as such. Based on my own common sense, it might sound more convincing if I were to say that it’s another planet that’s different than earth. In the first place, what they wanted to know was that what actually is ‘another world’.
Well it would actually be a waste of effort pondering over it. In a way, the similarity of it to earth and the environment is no different. Even the length of the day is the same……., Nonetheless this is a world where magic and monsters exist.
There is no way to explain this. All I’m doing is just wasting my time, cracking my head over it. There are two moons here and the condition of the sea is strange. Thus it would be more persuasive if I were to say that it’s a 「parallel world」.
Although, it wouldn’t be possible for them to comprehend it even if I were to put them into words. At any rate, the fastest way to explain this would be to invite them to the other side.
“Then I’ll go over to the other side and removed the cloth from the mirror. Once I do that, you’ll be able to see my room reflected in the mirror.” [Jirou]
After saying so, I returned to my room through the mirror. It’s evening now, so if I do not turn on the lights, even after removing the cloth, they wouldn’t be able to see my surroundings well. The moment I took off the drape and switched the light on, the lights shone through the mirror and enabled the room to be bright enough for the mirror to reflect the state of the other side.
The three of them seemed to be standing rooted to the spot in front of the mirror. Marina was the only one who appeared to be amazed in a carefree manner.
Alright! I guess I should pull them over and guide them here!
I went through the mirror and returned to the cellar. The lights from my room illuminated the cellar here as well so I could see the expressions on their faces now. However Diana and Rebecca-san seemed to be taken aback, as though they were startled at the sight of me coming out of the mirror all of the sudden.
Marina, being her usual thoughtless self, was the only one who looked amazed as she said, “It’s amazing! This is mysterious!”
“Haha. As expected even Diana and Rebecca-san are surprised too? What you’re seeing now is my original world. It’s my room. If you don’t mind, why don’t you come take a look? I could serve you all tea at least.” [Jirou]
“My liege’s room seems to be small, isn’t it?” [Marina]
“I’ll say it very clearly. The culture there is different, Marina.” [Jirou]
“…………” [Diana]
“…………” [Rebecca]
Hmm, Diana and Rebecca-san’s reactions didn’t seem to be favourable for some reason. In the other world, 「people who are seen coming out of the mirror are actually the incarnation of demon」. Could it be that there is a superst.i.tion like this? If that’s the case then, it might be bad, isn’t it?
“Um…Jirou. Nothing is reflected in the mirror though? Can Marina see the world inside the mirror?” [Rebecca]
Rebecca-san looked confused. Marina seemed to be able to see it without any problem but it didn’t appear to be the same case for Rebecca-san.
“Eh? What is going on? Rebecca-san, you can’t see it?” [Jirou]
“After Jirou disappeared into the mirror, I could see lights shining out of the mirror subsequently. But there was nothing in particular that was reflected in the mirror. There’s only a dark shade of grey on the surface right from the start.” [Rebecca]
“I-Is that so? Marina was able to see it though…… W-What about Diana? Did you see anything reflected in the mirror?” [Jirou]
However, judging by Diana’s puzzled look when I was watching her from my room earlier, I already knew the answer.
“……Yes I can see it clearly, goshujin-sama. I can clearly see my own reflection since the beginning. This is just…..an ordinary mirror to me.” [Diana]
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In the end, no one managed to enter my room through the mirror.
Everyone had tried all possible methods to get through to the other side, but to no avail. I had tried bringing them in by holding their hands, or pulling them towards me from the other side, but regardless of how persistent or forceful we were, what was impossible still remained impossible. Even Marina, the one with the highest chance of success, failed to cross over to the other side.
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Read the chapters at rinkagetranslation.com. The chapters for this series will NOT be posted anywhere else other than on that site itself. If you are reading this from somewhere else then this is chapter has been stolen.
When I cast a sidelong glance at Diana, I noticed her looking depressed. Was she possibly feeling frustrated because Marina was able to see the world on the other side while she was not able to? This is where I should do my part as her master and comfort her. That was what I thought, but since I wasn’t sure how I should go about it, I wound up blurting this line out in a cheerful tone. “S-So High Elves do have things that they can’t do as well, don’t they? Hahaha!” In the end, instead of consoling her, she got angry with me.
I had completely stirred up the hornet’s nest! Hadn’t I just destroyed my own flag!?
All Rebecca-san said was, “Well it can’t be helped then.”
Should I say that she was being philosophical about it?…….
Marina as usual went, “It’s regrettable that I’m not able to go there, seeing as I’m able to see it.”
But, even if I were to bring them to j.a.pan, all I could do is to take them sightseeing, or treat them to a nice meal. Even though it would be fine now, we have to change that some day. For me…..and for them too.
Well then, even though the matter concerning the mirror did make me feel slightly dispirited, I managed to reveal the secret that I had been keeping from them. With this they were able to temporarily grasp my situation, or rather, understand it now.
From now on, I would be able to bring in more and more merchandise from the other side, allocate tasks to Diana and Marina, and gain riches with higher efficiency.
Nevertheless, if I don’t get more hired help soon, the productivity will worsen. In spite of being the only person managing my net auction business in j.a.pan (since none of them could cross over the mirror), I still have my other world business to manage — run the flea market sales.
I might need employees to help out once I open up a shop, too. The thought of Diana and Marina being the shop employees made me feel extremely uneasy, since I wasn’t sure if they could care for the shop. Regardless, I still have to work to cover my own living expenses, at the very least.
For the time being, I decided to relinquish the right to the bed to the two of them, and went back to my own room.
After all, it’s New Year’s Eve today. I should eat Toshikoshi soba since it’ll be a new year tomorrow.1
Footnotes1. Toshikoshi soba is j.a.panese traditional noodle bowl dish eaten on New Year’s Eve