TN: Please read my translations only on my website since I never give my permission to any site to host my translations. And if you like my translations, please support this site on Ko-fi and Patreon to read several chapters ahead!
Sponsored chapter by our Patreon. Enjoy~
TL: ALT
Chapter 250 – Reconciliation, Seiran Natsume Part 2
Seiran took the copy of Literary World with shaking hands.
“You mean this author, Yukishiro Natsume, is Sayuki from the parallel world?”
“Yes. She said herself that her father would understand.”
“Herself…?”
Seiran murmured with a complicated expression on his face.
The fact that Sayuki had died a tragic death in this world was something that could never be undone.
Even if he was told that she was alive in a parallel world, it would be difficult to find comfort in that.
He might end up blaming himself for not being able to save Sayuki in this world.
In this respect, Seiran and I are the same.
Seiran turned the Literary World over and checked the publication date.
“It looks quite new despite the date.”
“There’s a time difference of several years in the parallel world.”
“I see. It would be difficult for you to fake a magazine to get me on your side.”
It seemed to be more of a confirmation of his resolve than a confirmation of the facts.
Seiran swallowed hard and opened the cover of the Literary World.
He seemed to have found what he was looking for, “The Insect Cage,” and his hands stopped turning the pages.
Seiran himself was a regular contributor to the Literary World.
Although he didn’t contribute to this issue, his name often appeared in issues with major features on politics and literature.
Seiran, who was well versed in literature, read ‘The Insect Cage’ with a practiced eye.
I wait patiently, sipping the coffee that was brought to me.
Time is precious right now, but I don’t want to rush him.
Reading a novel written by his late daughter…
To be honest, I don’t know how that must feel, but I don’t want to disturb him.
“Phew…”
Seiran looks up from the Literary World, takes off his reading glasses, and rubs his eyes.
“What do you think?”
“From two perspectives, I am sure this was written by Sayuki.”
“Two?”
“Yes. One is objective. Passages in this novel are almost identical to those that appeared online as a ‘suicide note’ after Sayuki’s death. Sayuki’s ‘suicide note’ was not a suicide note, but part of this novel.”
“Do you think I made it up?”
“The passages from the ‘suicide note’ are included in this novel in a very natural flow. If you have the ability to make up a story just to get what you want, you should become a novelist. Of course, even before that, it would be impossible to fabricate an entire magazine with articles by various contributors.”
“What’s the other point?”
“The other point is a rather subjective one. I am a public figure. I’ve known my daughter since she was a child and am familiar with her writing style. When I heard that Sayuki had written this novel, I was completely convinced. I think even the ‘Sayuki’ in the job world would have understood that. But I didn’t know that she wrote novels.”
It seems that Sayuki didn’t want to be suspected of using her father’s connections, so she didn’t consult Seiran before submitting her work for the New Writer’s Award.
The fact that she won the award proves that Sayuki’s talent is real.
“It seems that no one knew that Sayuki wrote novels. The only exception was Junko Tozaki, who discovered Sayuki’s creative notebook while searching through the late Sayuki’s belongings. At that time, she was known as Junko Himuro.”
“Tozaki…?”
Seiran grabbed the arm of his chair and leaned forward.
“Didn’t you know? Junko Himuro, who bullied Sayuki and caused her accidental death, was adopted by Seiji Tozaki after she transferred schools.”
“Adopted… Why?”
I explained the Cold House, also known as the Zacchaeus House, run by Tozaki to Seiran.
“Why would Tozaki do that?
“Probably because he needed a personality sample.”
“Personality… What do you mean?”
I told him about Tozaki’s unusual upbringing, which I had learned from Haruhara.
That his grandmother, Yoruha, had erased his personality and raised him to be the “Vessel of the King”.
“Hmm… What an incredible story.”
“Such a person is now the prime minister of this country. Also, please don’t tell anyone, but Tozaki is using his unique ability to mind control the citizens.”
“What?! Are you sure?!”
“I can’t prove it objectively yet, but I have evidence. For now, you’ll just have to trust me.”
“Of course… Both emotionally and in terms of proof, I believe you, Kurashiki-kun.”
Seiran looked down at the magazine and nodded.
“Right. Let’s compare them while we’re at it. Wait here.”
Seiran said that, got up, and disappeared into the next room.
After a while, Seiran returned to the fireplace.
He held a magazine in his hand.
“This is the same issue of Literary World that was published on the same day in this world.”
Seiran put the two copies of Literary World on the desk and turned them to me.
Both had the same words, “Literary World Newcomer Award Winner,” written in a brush-like font, but the winning works were different.
“Yukishiro Natsume, ‘The Insect Cage'” was written on the copy of Literary World I brought, and “Nashigawa Ichizo, ‘Gravel'” was written on this world’s copy of Literary World.”
“I can only feel sorry for Nashigawa-kun in this world. He’s a serious writer, but he couldn’t match the youthful sensibility of Yukishiro Natsume.”
Seiran seems to know the author of “Gravel”.
“The paper is a bit old,”
Seiran added. In this world’s ”Literary World”, the edges of the pages are slightly yellowed compared to the ”Literary World” of the other world.
When I picked them up and compared them, the authors of the articles other than the winning ones were slightly different.
The biggest difference is that the “Literary World” in the work world has articles about dungeons, while the “Literary World” in this world does not.
“Scientific dating would be certain, but there’s no need to go that far. I’ll believe what Kura-shikikun says. Now that I know that Tozaki is the foster father of my daughter’s murderer, I will not hesitate to cooperate with you. No, I should be the one asking you to let me help you.”
“Why do you think I want to confront Tozaki?”
“Just look at your face. You must have stood in front of Junko Tozaki, who bullied my daughter, with the same expression on your face. No wonder she was attracted to you.”
But Sayuki and I weren’t lovers.
No matter how Sayuki felt about me.
“What are you going to do about Tozaki? He is the current Prime Minister—the most powerful man in the country. No matter how strong you are, you can’t just use force to subdue him.”
“I have a legal plan. But even if the plan goes well, there will be chaos afterwards.”
“I see. You want me to control the political world?”
“Yes. I want you to think about who should be the next prime minister.”
“That’s a big request. I don’t have that kind of power.”
“As long as there is no political vacuum, I don’t care who it is.”
“I see…”
“Do you have any concerns?”
“Hmm… It’s embarrassing to admit, but my mind has been in turmoil lately. I’ve been living a semi-retired life here in this quiet place, hoping to calm my mind. As the Analects say, ruling a country begins with self-cultivation. How can I, who cannot even control my own mind, bring order to the political turmoil?”
Seiran confessed,
“Ah, that’s right.”
I had completely forgotten, but Seiran might also be involved in the strategy.
“Seiji Tozaki used the election results to cast a spell on many people. Your confusion is probably due to the effects of that spell.”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Didn’t you vote for his party in the proportional representation part of the House of Councillors election?”
The idea of the secrecy of the vote crossed my mind, but I figured it was okay to ask now.
“That’s true, but… could there be a connection between that and this confusion?”
“What confusion?”
“As a conservative commentator, I strive for moderation in all things. I express my opinions only after carefully considering both sides of a debate. Without this habit, one cannot come to an informed conclusion. Young people may see me as an old man who can’t make up his mind, but I believe that’s what true conservatism is.”
“So you dislike extreme views. Yet your own thoughts tend to lean toward the extreme side?”
“That is true. Every day, I struggle to shake off the idea that it is inevitable to oppress and exploit people from another world. Conservatism means respecting traditional history and culture, and history and culture have no meaning unless they are based on respect for human life and livelihood. Even if they are people from another world, it is not right to treat them like slaves or livestock. Such basic principles of human ethics tend to slip out of my mind. I was wondering if I had become stubborn with age…”
I see.
I thought that Seiran, who kept his distance from current events, was involved in some kind of strategy.
However, even though he was involved in a “strategy,” he was resisting his own extreme thinking out of pride and conviction as a public intellectual.
So there are such people in the world.
As a young man, I find it difficult to sympathize with Seiran’s ideas about the importance of history and culture.
Having been pushed aside by society, I want to live in a society where things that need to be changed can be changed.
However, I understand that Seiran’s ideology is deeply rooted in him.
So Tozaki’s Change of Strategy is only superficial, and cannot change a person’s true nature.
This is good news for me, as I’ve been feeling discouraged lately and was beginning to lose faith in humanity.
“This is the effect of Tozaki’s unique skill. Do you want to see your status?”
“Ah, yes. I haven’t been trained as an explorer, though…”
I opened Seiran’s status with Detailed Appraisal.
Sure enough, as he said, he was level 1.
He had no unique skills.
Digging deeper into his status, I immediately found the strategy section.
“Found it. I’ll remove it now.”
I used Forced Release to remove the strategy placed on Seiran.
“Huh? It feels like a fog has lifted. The emotions that were swirling inside me seem to have disappeared somewhere…”
“That is the effect of the strategy.”
I explained the side effects of the strategy to Seiran.
As I spoke, Seiran’s face turned red with anger.
After listening to me, Seiran slammed his tightly clenched fist against his thigh.
“You bastard… Tozaki! You have no right to deceive people like this! I will never forgive you!”
――And so I found another powerful ally.
If you like my translations, please support me on Ko-Fi and subscribe my Patreon to read several chapters ahead!