SS4 Memory of Tatsuhiko's School Festival

TN: To be honest! I didn't translate any chapter for 3 weeks!! I run out of backup chapters before I translate this chapter!!


Author's Note :

Since it has nothing to do with the progress of the main story, there is no problem even if you skip it.

It is a story of Tatsuhiko-kun's in his 3rd year high school.

---

I am Kuonji Tatsuhiko. I am called a tortoise ... never doing anything. It is not called as nickname or abbreviation.

I am said to be as an expressionless guy or a robot-like guy, but I think that it is a backbiting, not a nickname.

Since my emotions does not appear on the surface, It seems that I am person without emotion.

But what are emotion? Is it fun if I laugh? Do you laugh if it's fun?





"Yo, are you still thinking about the difficult things?"

Bashin! Someone hit me on the back. A bicycle overtake me and a person in white sailor suit go away. I remember seeing in a ponytail shaking in left and right.

It was my classmate who hit me on the back of my head..... Ishino-san...... We have the same class in high school for three years.

Her face and name do not match. Even though it is already late summer.
(TN: Face as in Dignity or Honor)

I was an air in the classroom. No one talks to me, I don't talk to anyone. I seems to be still recognized as a classmate for the time being, but I happened to hear, that I seem to be called a living Buddha, because of my innate expressionless. It is a rude story.

"What were you thinking about this morning?"

Iya, As a person who became an air, only one person who speaks to me. It's Ishino-san. I do not remember her first name. But probably I do not even remember it from the beginning.

"I am just walking normally."

I can't talk with people. It's just my weak point. Compare to my age it is funny right? What's with that! It is tiring to talk with people who spread such feelings, and live.

"I silently see you in the road as you walk without focus in your eyes."(Ishino)

Ni shishi ...... Ishino-san laughed. I thought that the bicycle rushed through me, but it may have been moving at the same speed as me for a while. I did not notice.

For some reason she seemed to have such skill, and spent a lot of time and put out various kinds of ideas to her friends. It seems to be a type that finds pleasure in small things.

"Do you still have business with me?"

"Oops, that's right.
I still have business to you. For such important things I should never forget.
The signboard of Sankasai, Can I entrust the production to you?"

(TN: Hymn Festival? Paean Festival? I will just leave it as Sankasai)

She said with a somewhat less playful tone, It was a name of our school festival that will be held next week.

"Signboard is decorated in front of the school gates ...... It will be Arched type, right?
I thought that the art club handle it every year."

"This year, there are only four members of the art club, two of it are only first year. A reply came yesterday that said that they will be busy with their own club and cannot make the signboard.
Therefore it is in a helpless state.
In addition, there no one in the executive committee that could make the signboard.
So that's why I ask you."

I was an air, can you at-least read the air.(TN: Second 'air' mean as mood)

Although I did not expected much anyhow, As I was free anyway. I do not mind making it.

"As I will make it myself, It might divert compare to the opinions of others while making it"

"You will make it? Okay okay, that matter is fine.
I will convey that you also don't want anyone to disturb you.
Okay! Leave it to me, I will tell it to everyone! "

Do you really understand? I think that perhaps you did not understand it.

I do not want to be involved with other people ..... I thought I will explain it in various ways.





It seems that Ishino-san arrangement was perfect, so that from the day after I accepted it to the day before the Sankasai, for the production of the signboard, I was allowed to use an empty classroom that nobody has. Since it has to be decorated day before the Sankasai, the production period is only four days.

"Thank you for listening in our unreasonable request"(Art club member)

It was the art club with only four people who brought the materials and paint used in production. It seems that every time the director sees the materials for signs carried into the art preparation room, his stomach seems to hurt.

"I am really sorry, because just in the end I still cling to the executive committee"(Art club member)

"No, I am not a member of the executive committee"(Tatsuhiko)

"Is that so?"

"Ishino-san asked me."(Tatsuhiko)

"Oh ...... Onee-chan... were you asked by my sister?"

An especially small girl was surprised among four people. She probably first year. Is she her sister?.......she does have similar looks.

"She has a wide range of friends, I was one of it."

"Wow?! Wide range of friends? With my sister?"

After that, Ishino younger sister returned home with suspicious voice.

I see inside the tool box are Rafters and veneers, screw type on metal fittings, and probably carpenters tools are also included. Also, paint cans of five colors and various size of woods.

In conclusion, the signboard was completed in a day. I looked to the executive committee in order to confirm with my client Ishino.

"Ha!?"

Even though I am said to be expressionless, I wonder if this time it was shown on my face this time. Ishino-san was not a member of the executive committee.

Perhaps she was just helping or something. She tends to undertake every trouble proactively. It's okay to consult tomorrow, I may have look for her if she on campus. Anyway it's not a big deal.

I do not know her mobile phone number. Well, I do not even know the number of my other classmates.

I looked at the art room. If it's her younger sister, she should hear it.

There was no one in the art room. If I am not mistaken, I thought that it is the story that they cannot make the signboard for their own club production, but they stay and do not seem to produce it.

A voice was heard from the preparation room. When I went to the front of the door, I heard Ishino-san voice.

"What to do, Onee-chan. Father will come for a school festival, is it true?"

"It's okay, You just need to hide. I will meet father. "

"But then Onee-chan ...... hey, let's tell mother."

"Mom is sick, it is a bad to her body if her feeling is not calm, so it's absolutely not okay.
Because I'm used to it ... so please do not show your face to him.
He's aim is you.
He was concerned about you. He have not seen you for two years now.
He seem to look forward to coming for the school festival.
So you should absolutely not show your face."

"Then onee-chan ...... I know that onee-chan sometimes called by father and meet him.
The face make's when onee-chan came back ... I do not want to see it.
Hey, Onee ... ... My onee-chan .... "

What a conversation.

I gently left the spot. In such a case, I think that I was expressionless.

I returned to the vacant classroom as it is. There is a completed Welcome signboard on it. I took it again.






The Sankasai were crowded with a lot of visitors, and it became lively with much confusion.

A visitor came through the main gate, suddenly stopped  in the school building, and held his head.

When one of the students called, the man started crying.

"I took in the money of the company and put it in the way to covered the newcomer's mistake. I am a bad person, please punish. me"

The students seemed to think something about a sudden criminal exposure, but after that there was a lot more confessions of crime and teachers has isolated them. It was not possible for the teacher to deal with it, so they secretly called the police.

(TN: Confession Signboard! Lot of criminals confessing!!)

Although I could not understand it all, but since the content of the confess is detailed and concrete, the police called for an increase in number and start a interrogation preparation meeting in the staff room.

I understand it all at later date, it was said that their confession was all true, because there was nothing false in their stories.

After divorce, the confession of the man who compelled her daughter for sexual relations and also wanted the younger sister was included in it.

Ultimately, the Sankasai who put out 209 criminal confessors was called a confession festival among the students. It was also became a legend.

Then I got a call from my teacher because of my blank desire course.

The teacher give a brochure for the entrance exam of Ninomae University, but what does this mean? By the way, after the Sankasai, I did not remember throwing the welcome signboard at the campfire. It should be traditional to burn it by the one who made it.

I was watching until it was removed but I wonder where it went.

Oh well. I learned one thing. People laugh when they enjoy it.

Ishino-san laughing in front among friends looks really happy.

I was tempted to laugh.

"Hey, your mouth has come down now, was there something you unpleasant with?"

A seat next to me who never talked to me until now ... somehow, looked to me anxiously.

Surely I may be able to laugh as well if I work in it a little more.

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26. Shark Trading

TN : There's no shark in this chapter!! Title mean different thing.. 

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"There are two things I understood"

Prokame says so.

An unknown race came from another star has settled down here and then went away somewhere.

"And you don't know the reason ...."(Minoru)

"It is true, I really doesn't understand the the reason, it seems they have left nothing.
However, I maybe understood what there thinking at that time.
I wondered if they left this land with a thought like sending out descendant."

“In what kind of thinking is that sending out descendant?"

"Ah. I easily investigated the inside.
I saw some traces of someone living here.
They probably cleaned it cleanly. Nothing unnecessary has fallen.
On the contrary, they fear that we can learn about them, so they do not even leave a trace of clues" 

This building with a honeycomb structure looked like a palace, but it seems that it was a residence where many lived. Then, is it a species with habits like bees?

"Then it means that it was a prepared journey." (Minoru)

"Yes, perhaps, It was.
Perhaps it was being pursued. If so, it maybe correct to say that they are lived in hiding.
When you found this ruin, you entered through the cave right?." 

"Yes, if I am not mistaken, it certainly was made by a worm-type creatures"

"Oh, there are several kinds that can make something like that, sometimes I see some races that use it.
It is useful since it can manipulate destinations with special radio waves. For example, it can make a passage in the soil, but it seems that the species who lived in this ruin also used it.
Originally there would have been a proper passage. It was probably completely closed up.
When they leave, they have no choice but to leave the worm, I think that it was left in this star. So that's why there are traces of moving through the ground looking for it's original home."

Did it search for its original home? It seems that it was a desperately sought trace that it broke up like a maze. Then, I was surprised that I can even find this good place.

"Does that mean they kept the worm like a pet?"

"Yes, there was something like a stable.
Because a single animal is quite useful, I guess they brought a small one and raise it here."

Should they consider it to be enough to keep it? After all they descended to this star and planned to settle down, but came to the point of leaving it, now I feel sad somehow.

"Okay, so what happens to the ownership of this star? Normally, this kind of thing comes from the person you first found it right." 

"There are things like that.
However, ownership and discovers are often different.
Generally, the owner must be able to manage it.
Even if they live here in the past, they abandoned it and went out, so they do not own it anymore.
In the case of this star, if you did not make a guardian's ring, then it was only a desolated planet with wilderness...... Oh yeah, how did you get this star? "

"Eh, I get from from the goat merchant when I choose among the best on the list in exchange for the Divided Notice that I have."

As for other things being dangerous, so I do not have a choice.

"Well ... ... Although the Divided Notice are repeatedly generated, it is a valuable item that can only be one in the universe ...... There is no desire for the exchange with the one with the stars"

"... ... Can you tell me a bit more in detail, about that?"

Prokame tilted his head when he hear, "That?" To my words.

"Have you heard it?
The Divided Notice is an item that shows another way, the other future of the star and the star system.
By showing a form that in the future that doesn't existed yet, in the whole universe that as yet to be make, it have the possibilities to make it.
Perhaps this time it seems to be a seriously sensitive topic in securing the trade zone, so I do not know detailed things. "

"Ehh ... ... Is it really a very important item?"

"A serious problem related to the maintenance of the current trade zone occurred, and rumors fluttered for a while.
Fudierit was working on that, so you must have hear it directly from him....... Anyway, how did you get the Divided Notice?"

"I picked it up normally, but ... oh. By the way, it gives out a special wavelength. I happened to pick it up in just the state of glass before that ....... "

Prokame hardened.

"The time to put out the wavelength is short, but it does not get it like that instantly, It surely not the person who just pick it up"

"Come to think of it, I came in a hurry to the place where a small spaceship crash in the star I live in."

"Normally it was born in outer space, as it is drifting there, so I did not think that it will be on a planet like that(Earth), from the extent of the universe it is unbelievable and the probability is low.
Even Fudierit will surely think that it will also appear in space."

That alone make me more confuse among other things.





"... Well, I spent a long time here.
I will be back soon.
There are also various thing that concerning me. "(Minoru)

It is not good to be late for dinner. In many ways.

"Is that so, your going home?
Well your food save me.
The ship will arrive day after tomorrow, so come if you want to see it."

"Okay, well then"

I left Prokame who started eating the rest of the Sasami and returned to Earth.

On my way home, my mobile phone trembled and informed me of the incoming mail.

I stopped the scooter and decided to read the mail.

"There are lots of mail"

It's from everyone, the photo of the house that I sent was seemed to be well received.

"Is Tatsuhiko already prepared? What will he do with his studio? I was certain that it was in Tokyo.
I have to call the leader at once. I have to get a contract with her and other things.
How long does she clean up her personal affair?"

I came home and eat dinner with a nonchalant look then went to bed early.

---

Author's Note : Next time, Will be a two short story.

After that, it will be this continuation, but I am planning to speed up the development of the story.

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25. Philosophy of the Turtle

TN: Start off with a bit of Philosophical Talk

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(3rd POV)

The turtle stood still deep in the underwater. But don't worry, leave it as it is.

A slight draft flickers and gets submerged in the gently circulating water.

The turtle was thinking still. 
What I have inside, what I have outside, what I have done, what will I be doing in the future. Everything is the subject of thinking, trying to find the answer and the meaning to all of them.

Philosophy of the Turtle 

While being born as a creature with the quality of a sage, living for a long years, and gradually sublimate and accumulate it's own knowledge.

At certain day, at a certain time, a certain turtle said.

"The world should be restored"

Share thoughts, accumulate knowledge, disseminate it, and leave it in the future generations.

At this time, for the first time a turtle began to walk as a race(species).

Then over a long period of time, exceeding many generation, the knowledge of the turtle reaches the universe.

The turtles who were thinking at the bottom of the pond and the bottomless light that provided the knowledge to others and found a significance as their own race.

The universe is infinite, the mystery is infinite. Interests are endless, and all of all things in nature attacks oneself.

It absorbed everything and gave up thinking, The turtle accumulated knowledge with own interest with precedence and thought. Some have challenged the mystery since the beginning of the universe, others aimed at what is at the end of technology. Some also were interested in past history, others were interested in the traces left by other races.

『Think, and ponder it if you do not get it』

According to the words produced by their ancestor, the turtle that specialized in each field unleashfully demonstrate their abilities and retain more achievements than ever.

Meanwhile, there was one turtle that kept thinking like many pioneers.

His name is Daviehun Rougudie.

He devoted his life to the study of ancient ruins, continues to think about the contents studied with precision backed by abundant knowledge and experience.

His thoughts were totally unchanged from the turtle on the bottom of the sea on the primeval period, his thought continues ......It was as expected, but some impact was felt, his thought was interrupted.





(Minoru POV)

I bought the high grade Sasami of 148 yen a gram in the supermarket and headed for the ruins. 

So the turtle was dead.
Apparently there is no injury. Just like asleep ... Are you asleep? I tried waking him up but there's no signs of him waking up. He must be exhausted.

"Death by starvation ... ... Were you that hungry?"

I was shocked.

However, it has not even pass an hour since that call. It may be a state of death. I tried putting the Sasami that I bought into the turtle's mouth.

"Heelloo, are you there?"

"Oh, I opened my eyes."
Apparently he was alive. I was relieved.

Prokame-san who got about half of the Sasami in his mouth slowly struggled at first, then sent a gesture to me while flapping his limbs.

"You was nearly starved to death, thank me for saving you?"

(TN: From here the turtle is chocking so they are like playing charades and Minoru is the one answering)

The turtle created an X by his hand skillfully.

"That's not it?, what?”

He cut in half with his left foreleg, and move like carry someone behind.

"Help?"

Then he made a circle this time. Then he point to his throat, imitate a wedding and point to his partner.

"Your throat, is a bride or something, wrong?
Oh, your wife ... ... in other words, my wife?"
(TN: First wife is written as Okusan, while the second is written as Tsuma)

Then he crouch down and act like planting something. Then occasionally, stretch out his crouched hips and wipe away the sweat from forehead. His very meticulous about the details.

"Rice paddy? OK, ehh connect?, Read and connect it.
help me....throat, wife, rice paddy? Oh, last one is first character only.
Help me, Throat stuck......
please help, My throat stuffed? Is that it? Correct?" 

(TN: First is 喉妻田 then 喉詰まった
Nodo = Throat
Tsuma = Wife
Tanbo = Rice paddy
First letter of Tanbo only and connect to Tsuma.
So it is now Tsuma-tTa = Stuffed or clogged)




I did it!

"Yes, give me the next question ... .... Well, what? Oh, that's it!"

I pulled out the Sasami from Mr. Prokame's mouth.

"I thought I was going to die!"

Welcome, welcome Prokame-san.

"Iya, I'm fine and safe, I beginning to think that I will die......."

"Really, well, that is when I think about it, well, it is a general appearance. So it is not easy to tell?"(Minoru)

The talk of philosophical turtles is famous, it seems pretty well known.

"There was no reply, even though I called, and it looked like a state of death."(Minoru)

"Well, I was asking my inner knowledge whether there is a misunderstanding in the state of death.
I hardly forget the thing that I saw and heard which that particularly interest me, but I do not remember it in relation to it, so I ask questions and make my knowledge emerge.
Simply put, it's like having a database in myself. "

I say that it's a very great thing. A database that has been living for 2,000 years. It's literally a walking dictionary.

"So, did you understand something?"

"First of all, the more you accumulate knowledge, the more you work with this thought, and use your nutrition for searching.
As I was starving, then I could not explore deeply, the knowledge that I knew did not have it"

I wonder whether this ruin is considerably rare or too insignificant.

"Is not it possible to investigate?"

"No, when the ship comes, we can use that database, because we can access a larger database through the ship, we'll find something when we use it. "

Indeed, I felt that the database used by Profokame, a walking dictionary, seems to be great.

"Well, could you just tell me what you understood?"

"What I understood is two things.
First thing is that this ruins were made by species who came from outside,
Another thing is that the tribe left this star.
I do not know the reason for moving in and I do not know the reason why they left.
It's of full mysteries, right?"

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24. New Guardian Looking for a Resident

TN: Resident as in the 'place' and not the 'people'.

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When I returned to Earth, it was evening.

Earth and the star have a 1.25 hour gap every day, When it has that much error, the considerable gap is possible in several days. For example, it will be 5 hours after 4 days.

It may be better not to go as much as possible while having to reverse the day and night. When I spent sunset on the earth, and as I went to the star and the other side was sunny, the jet lag was going to be terrible.

When I went to the kitchen, my mother was cooking supper. my father and older brother was not here.

"You are going to eat properly today, right?"

"Yeah."

"I will not be able to clean up properly, so if you are late for meal you should say it. It is not natural for me to live alone, so it's normal for me to set time for my family living together. "

"I understand"

I think that my mother's scolding will continue, so I decide to break away. When it matches the star time, earth time, and even family time, it seems that restrictions will be imposed on my actions.

At dinner, my older brother isn't here. It seems that he eat with his friends in front of the station. I heard that he will not be back till tomorrow. Of course he also used the car.

I guess it can't be helped, I suppose that I will go to the station with the scooter tomorrow.





My dad came to my room after dinner.

"Are you serious about buying your own field?"

"Yes"

"If it's just an idea, stop it. Don't be reckless"

"It is not reckless, I'm serious about it so I won't change my mind."

Father sat cross-legged on the tatami mat and put his both hands on his knee.

"But what do you plan to do with the fields?"

I wanted to talk to him honestly for a moment. I do not want to let my father know a lie, so I thought that it would be okay as long as I talked about it within my family as I said here.

『There is definitely a man who will do anything in the world. There are those guys who will take your family as a hostage and make you surrender the transposition gate.』

I was discouraged when I remember the words of leader. It will be hopeless if not only me but also my family, and acquaintance will be targeted.

"It is decided that my friends will come to this town, it is such a countryside, it seems that they liked it. After graduation they said that they want to live in place like this. This may be because they have been living in Tokyo for a long time"

Father nodded a little whether he had an idea for such words.

"Rural living huh. That's a thing which you should take pleasure for when your old"

Well, I live in the countryside. Sometimes farm house with garden is put on sale and was purchase by old people after their retirement. If it's is my father, he will often hear stories about such people.

"Everyone has already a job in hand so they don't care wherever it is. At the same time, I also want to manage money too."

"Is it farming? It's tough!"

"Yes, I do not have to do it from the scratch, so it seems that I do not have to raise the profit. However, I want to plan it and plant it myself. Even if it fails, that's also a experience."

That's why I told him that I wanted to use the field in the form of planting and helping friends.

At first, I want to start from plants where seedlings are planted, and leave it until about April, from there I will do it at that pace so the weeds such as people that goes in and out will not found it, cause it be troublesome if it's found out. It was good thing that the fields was in the mountains.

"How many people?"

"At first I will put five people, but I do not know after that. I will have a company here and it may increase.
I can get the rent properly, As my friends tell me not to bother you as much as possible, so I think that there is no problem."

"If you already think about that, I will say nothing.
I will ask an acquaintance tax accountant to investigate the neighborhood buying and selling rates, is that fine?"

"It will be a fair price, right?
Also, I am searching for a rental houses where my friends will live tomorrow, but are there any real estate agents that you recommend?"

"It's in front of the station, you should rent a single house, try asking in flour shop"

Father said only that and left. I do not speak the thing unnecessary as ever.

By the way, it is not a flour shop that sells flour. It is a shop name used in old days. The old residents of this neighborhood called each other by their shopkeeper name.

The house next to the flour shop is called the miller. There are others that are called straw sandal shop, futon stores, bow shops and others. By the way our house is called a new shop. It had a house as a branch family from the head family approximately 300 years ago and it seemed to be called new shop because it was the house which appeared new.

Though it is 300 years ago, I do not think it is a good idea that it's still call the new shop. There are two more new houses in the same district. Good grief, I want you to it twist a little. Because our house is located far in the mountain side, When distinguishing, it is called a high-rise shop. Everything else is pretty bad, but it's a matter of anything.





The next morning, I went to the flour shop as my father told me. It seems that the contact has been carried out, and when the powder maker's father saw me,
"Naoya's second son, it's been a long time", 
as he try to stroke my head, but I was taller, so he seemed to give up. Would you rather I bend a little?

"I wants to rent a house where I can live with some of my friends, are there any hope we can have?
It's two boys and three girls, so it would be nice if there is a separate building if possible."(Minoru)

Shino seems to be against when it comes to living together.

"Okay, what else?"

"It's not always us, but there are artists. So I wonder if there is a workshop or something like that. Is it possible?"(Minoru)

"Yes, there are some but..."

So there are some.

"The price doesn't have a upper limit, so what kind of place is it?"(Minoru)

"It is a house for sale.
Two years have passed since I was asked to sell it earlier by the other party.... "

" So it is the house for sale...."

I did not ask leader about buying a house.

"The main building has a six Japanese style room, one between the boards. It is a one-storied house.
There are four Japanese-style room in the extension building, and there is a pretty wide workshop away from it."
(TN: So it's 3 buildings. Main, Extension, and Workshop)

Furthermore there is a well and a pond in the garden.

"It wide, so it seem to be quite expensive."(Minoru)

"No, at first it seemed they wanted it to be more than 10 million, but they did not have a buyer for a year, so it's 6 million yen now and the price is slowing going down. 

First of all, it costs about 230,000 yen for water supply cooperation money, and repairs maybe necessary because no one lives there for nearly ten years.
Even if I estimate the cost, I think that it is quite favorable for three buildings with a large garden."

"Well, if the price is 1,200,000 yen per person, it is not an amount that I cannot make. Is it okay for me to take a look for a moment?"(Minoru)

"Do you want to go immediately?"
"Yes, please"(Minoru)
"Well, wait in the table and I will get the car out."

While waiting outside, a light estate car came. Hidden in the side is written as a flour shop real estate agent.

What kind of is it shop!

It was far from the station, but the house was at a location with a nice view.

"It is quite big, right?"

We stop the car in the garden and see the house. It looks like a pre-war school. I remember the old kindergarten that my older brother went to.

"The first owner died and it was put out for sale, but a ceramic artist who bought it, built a workplace and lived alone. It seems that he was thinking to bring in his family.
After a while, his body breakdown, and passed away after a long hospitalized life, but his family want to quickly sell it for money.
It maybe that they loss a lot of saving in hospitalized living, but these kind of properties cannot be sold very often, so it is a problem."

The inside was not so dirty. The deceased ceramic artist may dream up calling his family and prepare the room beautifully. There is ample space and there is also a workshop. In this case Tatsuhiko will not be troubled.

If you think about it, it is in the countryside, so it may not be necessary to live in a narrow place like an apartment. Let's ask the leader.

"I like it quite well, though.
I will ask a my friends.
May I take a picture? "

"Oh, that's good to hear, please appeal it a lot."





After taking a picture and emailing everyone, I got home.

Then the my left wrist shake. It seems that someone has made a call. I thought it was the leader but it was the Prokame.

『Iya Iya, it seems that I would be in trouble already.』

Being told such opening, I was at a loss. Did something happen?

『What's the matter?!』

『I do not have enough nutrition.』

Yeah ... ... I don't understand.

『Well, what's wrong? 』

『I normally eat bugs in hand, and settle a meal with nutritious aquatic plants, but this area only has extremely few things ...』

Could it be.

『Because you're hungry, did you make an emergency call to me so that I can rush in it? 』

I feel exhausted. I thought that whether a golem that protects a treasure chest has came out.

『That's right. Sorry but I want to eat something ...... That's right, bring me a Sasami or something like that.』

I can't believe it.

『This number is not currently in use. Please check the number......』

『Please! I do not feel like I can hold it until the spaceship arrived!』

Tsk!

『……I understand. Is tomorrow OK?』

『I will eat eat nothing for a whole day? !』

By the way it is already evening.

『Yes, I understand. Is Sasami okay? I will bring it right now.』

『That's it. I'm sorry that I ask. I'll be waiting.
However, I'm so hungry, the idea is not settled ... probably this is ... .... However....』

Prokame seems to be murmuring something, and I think it was up to the supermarket in front of the station.

---

Author's Note

I completely forgot about the turtle's meal till it was pointed out.

---

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23. Contact with the Turtle

---

I read in a books that when your meeting an alien, you should show no hostility and responded resolutely, while also thinking that you are the representative of the planet.

As for these words, There is also a theory that based on the instruction given by the captain to the crew of the ship who found the New World during the great voyage. But when we assume that, then it may be the words that started to be said around Spain.

I remembered that, this is the first contact for humanity (Excluding the Goat) and I became so tense.

But it was a turtle that appeared.

However this is a turtle no matter where you look, it is nothing but a turtle.




This is tough! I did not assume it at all.

The first contact with the alien (excluding the goat after all) was to be in this way!

I was desperate for a while and hesitated, but I came to a conclusion.

Is this an alien I cannot be hostile with? Yes, so just act properly as a representative of the planet!

For me who slowly step forward (only for turtle) I brought my right hand to his throat.

"Warewareha chikyuujin da [What are you doing!]"
(TN: Outside the [] is written in katakana. So i just write the romanji)

The deadly throat chop-type aliens greeting, called the first killing, failed instantly.

"Warewa [Stop!]"

I thought about the possibility that I did not hear it well so I try it again, and the Tsukkomi was earlier this time. In spite of being a turtle.

"Wa [Get angry]"

I'm sorry. The third time it was in tune. I am not an entertainer in Osaka, so I will not accept it as much as I repeat.

"............"

"............"

Awkward.
One man and one animal glare for a while.

.... Tsui.

It was me who give up first, and averted my eyes. Don't say loser. I just have no experienced to glare at a turtle.

"You - speak - Japa - nese, - right?"(Minoru)

"Why broken language?"(Turtle)

There is no particular meaning. I have already make a lot of mistake. As I did not think that the conversation was established at the very beginning…… I decided to dodge it. 

"I am Daviehun Rougdie, the languages ​​you use have already been transferred by Fudierit."(Turtle)

It was good because I was curious about what to do with the conversation. It seems like a Japanese proficiency kit is made and packaged.

That must be it.

"Are you Minoru-dono?"

"Yes, I am ... um ..., Da.. Davieyhun-san?"

"It is Daviehun Rougdie, If it is difficult to say, you can be Davy."

"Yes, thank you"

By the flow of the story I registered a call with the turtle.

"I am doing an investigation of many ruins specially ancient ruins. Our team is excellent. They will be heading here by spaceship, but they will arrive three days later. It's rare for us to come here because there are just few manned planets in the western star region, it was quite an ear to hear that there is a ruin in this star."

Indeed, is this place in the western star region? I do not really understand.

"How long have you been researching on ancient ruins?"

Although I did not want to know, but as I heard what the turtle said, I decided to ask.

"Well... I think approximately about 2000 years"

Amazing longevity, certainly he can be an expert as long as he continue studying .

I will recognized this turtle as professor turtle, in short Prokame.
(TN: Kame = Turtle)

I changed my wrist registration information of him to Prokame.

"I feel like I'm being insulted at some point"(Prokame)

"It's just your imagination"

There is no tension on contact with an alien already.

"... Anyway.
Guide me to the ruins already"

Right, there's no point wasting time in talking in such place.

As the turtle came closer, I lifted him with both of my hands.

Hold the turtle's belly right in front and look into the tail from the bottom.

"... What are you doing?"(Turtle)

"Nothing, there's no hair hanging[Butt hair]"

Well, after all they don't have. To an old turtle.

"Why are you saying such rude things!"

"It's just your imagination"

“Do you just check the presence of butt hair all of a sudden!”

It seems that he will continue complaining if I it leave this way, so I decided to teleport at once.

……【Move Point】。

The scenery switched instantaneously, we appeared in the ruins.

"Ho.. Is this the ruins"

Although his feelings is hurt, when he saw the ruins, Prokame gave a cry of admiration.

"So how is it?"

"For now, it's seems an architectural style I have not yet seen. I do not think there are any ruins discovered like this in a thousand years "

"It's unexpected ... is it quite old?"

"In this wall surface, it was paint by the mucus of a worm species. Although it seems rare, once solidified, it has characterization that will stop aging. Besides, it seems there's no air flow here. So there is a possibility that it is an older ruin than I thought because it has a weak environment."

Worm type ... It is the same as Mongolian Death Worm which is said to be in the Gobi desert. That is a UMA though.

"That's why were investigating it"

"First of all, I conduct a preliminary investigation. There is no need for you to be here. I mean it will be dangerous. But I will assure you that it will be safe, so please rest assured."

After all it is dangerous.

"If it's dangerous, should it be better to be not alone?"

"There is an investigation procedure in such things. I do not intend to enter in the first place anyway. It is many times dangerous for those who do not know anything, to wander around it."

Is it such a thing? If so, then I should return.

"The ship coming after three days, right?"(Minoru)

"Well, is there a space that allows spacecraft to land outside of this?"

"I think that the wilderness is spreading, so I think it's okay."

"If so, communicate later so that they will get off directly.
Oh yeah, I do not mind whether you come here to see it if it did not disturb me particularly."

Is it OK to visit? As it seems interesting, I will come back to see you guys in three days.

"Are all the people coming later will be the same race?"

"Yes, because they need to live long, and a desire to learn, race that are good for exploring are rare"

I see, will the turtles come one after another?

Some of the hair may be stretched by as much as this one. I'm looking forward to it.(TN: Butt hair)

Prokame-san said he would measure the length of the building and went somewhere.

I decided to come back to earth after deciding to come here after three days later for the time being.

---

Author's Note

What this .... the story is not progressing.

I wonder if there are such times as well.

The size of the turtle is about 30 cm, please think that it is like a green turtle rather than a tortoise.

---

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22. Discovery of the New Guardian

I was waiting in front of the transposition gate.

The goat merchant who arranged an able person will come soon.

That person (who may not be human species) is a perfect expert with a long-lived rich knowledge. A race who has wonderful achievements in many areas of research.

"You will surely get a satisfactory results"
The goat merchant said.

"However, even so, there is such a thing.....though they might be a flaw .....I do not think that I will be caught in the investigation ...... and again .."

Oooh, my soliloquy has leaked out, It is good thing that the communication was over?

A goat merchant who murmuredly seems strange. I was relieved that he would dispatch the best person. I mean it is beyond my kind.

The console of the transposition gate tells me that a transporters will come.

"It seemed he will arrive. It was a bit early"

I adjusted my breathing. I am a little nervous. This will be the first alien to me other than the goat merchant. By the way the goat merchant is a goat for me, so I do not feel that his an alien.

Well, why did such a thing happen? It is because I found a cave and tried to explore it.







I confirmed the cave I found with the 3D hologram of the ring.

You can check the state seen from the sky, but the existence of cave on the hologram does not work well. It seems impossible to zoom in any way.

I searched the detailed information of the stars. But, the information on the cave was nothing.

"Well, obviously it is natural, if it covers a cave of about 5m, it will be useless due to too much information"

Well it can't be helped. I could not confirm the prior information, even if there no danger. There are no signs of living things in the vicinity and if there is a guardian's ring, most things will manage.

"Just to be sure, I will raise my defense. If I let the ring on, it will be a substitute for light."

Since it is dangerous to force the power directly to the body, I have to let the power circulate so it will cling to the body.

"Is this all right for the preparations?
Well, I think that it will probably nothing, but I will go with a small exploration mood."

I turned on the ring and illuminated the surroundings, I found that the road continued to the far side. It appears to advances with several forked roads for a while. As I go further, the road split as many times as it can.

"It also feel like a cave of a gigantic creature. Was the nest of ants like this? It is that there is not a wide place like the entrance at all.
...... Well, there is a fork road again. Is this way okay?"

I walk without worrying anything. Do not be bother at such times.
If I make a mistake, I can just go back to the entrance with the ring, and I can jump directly to the transposition gate if I want to leave.

"Well, this area ...... seems suspicious"

It felt little strange for an ordinary wall. I do not know well, but I trust my intuition in my little life experience.

If I walk straight in that gentle curve it is likely that I will return to the way where I came. I hit the wall my strengthened power without minding it as I felt it somehow. 

'Bokon' and a crushing sound echoed. The thickness of the wall with few meters collapsed at once.

I illuminated the inner part with a light. It seems that there is a hollow cave beyond it. I step forward toward the cave.

"Ah, this is..."



Ancient Civilization!



A wide space expands beyond the collapsed wall, there were buildings like beehives made of the same surroundings earth, a palace with a honeycomb structure, and a dazzling building.

"Yeah, it looks like an artificial building no matter how it looks, like a Maharaja palace made with a honeycomb structure. Is the wall material same as the hardened wall of the cave?"

It is the same as in the cave that is covered with something like a dry cemedine. That was probably compensating it for it's strength.

"I marked this place for the time being. I am also running out of stamina, and I am scared of traps against intruder. Let's just take some pictures and retreat."

I took some photos on my mobile phone and jumped to the transposition gate.

Return to Earth, drive the car and return home.

Since the mobile antenna stood up, I send an e-mail to all my colleagues.

==============================================

Subject: I found it ('∀ `) ノ

Body: I have found this.
           For details, refer to the attached picture.
           Accepting Reply
           Use bracelet if you have something to ask.

From: Minoru

==============================================

An reply immediately arrived from Tatsuhiko.


『Subject: Beautiful Form.

Body: I ​​saw the picture. I think that it is probably a building that has been variously calculated. Strength and gravity balance. Let me know when you learn more.』


Yeah, that's what he's supposed to do.

Also, the mail from Shino has arrived.


『Subject: Photo.

Body: Gross. Is it not an insect dwelling place?』


Insect...eeehhhh....Probably.

From the leader who I thought would probably make a phone call, unexpectedly only send a simple mail.


『Subject: Organizing Personal Life.

Body: Rely on Goat Merchant』

I wonder who is overwhelmingly self-organizing ...... as she sweeping up remnant .(TN: Don't really know what he meant, maybe leader is cleaning up all her enemy)

There was no reply from Miya.

However, the policy has been decided.

"Let's rely on a goat merchant, it is something I have to tell immediately"

Goru ru ru ... .... I got a cue that inform me of my hunger.

"I am hungry"

That reminds me, I haven't eat for more than half a day now.

I went to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, my mother had cleaned up dinner. I went out in the morning, so it means that I skipped lunch.

"Minoru, where have you been today?"

"It's been a while since I visited the neighborhood by car."

I lightly peeled off the plastic wrap of the dish and brought it to the microwave oven.

"Hosaku was fussing about wanting to use the car."

"It's snowing now, so there's no work in the field, right?"

I turn the dial and press the heating button.

"Your mother doesn't know about that. You wanted to go to the station, right? Use it peacefully with Hosaku if you want to use the car. Mother doesn't want to see you quarrel"

(TN: She refer to herself in 3rd person, so the one speaking is Minoru mother)

"I understood, I will be careful next time"

Stubborn father, and principle of safety first mother.

I serve the rice and arrange it to the dining table with the warmed side dish. 

I thought for a while while eating late dinner.

Do I stop using the car frequently from now on? Considering that I stay for one day over there, it will be bad to leave the car in the field.

It's a bit cold. But will I use the scooter that I bought when I were a student. It will snow for another month and it may be good to buy a car before then. Will I ask leader to buy it?

Until the poison comes to the plate, I will let leader handle about financial thing for the time being.

(TN: Not sure here "毒を食らわば皿まで")

After finish eating dinner, I returned to my room and I called the goat merchant. 

『.....What it is?』

The voice seems stiff, is it my imagination? I feel like I'm indeed speaking on a daily basis.

"Well, When I search the star, I found an ancient civilization like ruins? Obviously I found a man-made building.』

『Well, is that true? Once the guardian of the star has changed, it was supposed to scan the star every time...... 』

Oh, he is quite panicking.

『When I found a cave on the cliff and explored it, there was an entrance that was hidden by a wall. I happened to find it..... luckily?』

I can tell it to myself. It is unknown. Usually I do not find such thing easily.

『Is that so? Well, we must investigate it when it becomes to this. However, it will cost you. In the remains of the hidden ancient civilization, it will obviously has a hidden defect.』

It is a guy who is responsible for defect warranty on the planet.

『After all is it originally necessary to investigate it?』

『Yes. Since there are important remains and dangerous remains, Investigation enters at the stage where it is usually found. Because it is impossible to buy and sell when the ruins is not been investigated yet. In the case of a civilization that has already been destroyed, I do not know how many hundred million it is. Because it is not unusual for a civilization to occur and to be ruined unknowingly. Even in such a case, we will do a preliminary survey and it will be trading after confirming that it is safe.』

It was good that I contact the goat merchant.

『Would you mind doing it?』

『Of course. I will speak to an acquaintance researchers. Although there are many species of researcher, since I am aware of excellent species internally. I'll get in touch with you soon. I will contact you as soon as I have spoken to them.』

Communication end with such feeling.

My stamina went out. I fell asleep as I stuffed in my futon.





The next day, I stopped using the car and headed to the field with a scooter, As soon as I arrived at the star I began practicing the control of the ring. Then, immediately after that, a call has entered from the goat merchant.

『Minoru-dono, our preparation was complete. A survey ship will be dispatched. Before that, I got a someone to head there for the preliminary survey. Can you lower the security level of the transposition gate and cancel the restrictions of [only registrant] so that anyone can use it?』

『Understood. I am at the star so I can do it quickly.』

『Since we will tell you the coordinates of the transposition gate here, I think that we will transpose immediately』

Then return to the beginning.





The console of the transposition gate blinks violently, and immediately afterwards the transposition is over.

What appeared was.......

"Turtleeeeeee"

At the center of the transposition gate, One turtle was standing still.

The second alien was a turtle.

It was truly unexpected.

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