NOVEL WEB Chapter 175
Chapter 175. Crossing
In just 20 years or so, Tokyo Bay has become remarkably clean. The clear sea I saw as a child. The sea I saw in Hawaii was amazingly beautiful. On the other hand, I wondered why the sea in Japan wasn’t so clear.
Children nowadays probably wouldn’t even think about such things, thought Sakimori, gazing out at the sea. The sea, so clear that you could see fish, was so beautiful that it could be called emerald green.
Especially when viewed from above, the scene was clear. It could easily be a tourist spot.
“But even if the environment has recovered, it means returning to the old environment. I can’t imagine it becoming so beautiful.”
Amano Sakimori looked down at the scene, tilting his head slightly in wonder. He wore a military uniform and a military cap, being a newly minted Major. He wore a ring of illusion on his finger.
“I think it’s because of the dungeons-nya. The nearby sea has dungeons, nya.”
Next to him, Karin, unusually dressed in a neat military uniform, spoke up.
“Are those the caves that occasionally appear?”
Islands occasionally peeked out from the sea. Caves with holes gaping open could be seen within them.
Dungeons. There were a few dungeon islands in the nearby sea. There might be some underwater too, but I’ve never seen them, so I don’t know. After all, dungeons also occur in space, so they must surely exist underwater as well. Maybe they occur around undersea cables.
[If it’s artificial satellites in space or cables around the seabed, I think it’s at the level of generating F-rank dungeons. But, considering the terrain, low-ranking monsters like mischievous imps kicking satellites could still have a tremendous effect.]”
[Humanity would probably lose even against weak monsters in space.]
[We need debris collectors. In the end, we’ll fight terrorists on a spaceship bound for Jupiter.]
[I don’t understand how it’s all connected.]
Ignoring Shizuku’s usual mysterious ramblings, I look around. Sakimori, currently boarding a transport helicopter for the inner town, is heading to Kisarazu for some reason.
Insight were soldiers dressed in military uniforms, sitting with serious expressions. Not chatting and just sitting there was quite a feat of patience.
Behind them, not in military uniform but in regular suits, sat men and women. The man was a middle-aged man. Some family members. I forgot his name. He seems to be the negotiator for reconciling the deteriorating relationship between the internal city and Kisarazu this time.
I think it’s just a facade. After all, sitting next to Sakimori was an elf girl with shining golden hair and a sculpted beautiful face, with ears like bamboo grass. There’s no doubt she’s the true negotiator, with the authority to do so. The man is probably just accompanying her because she’s young.
“You’re unusually quiet.”
“We’re trained soldiers, nya. Amano, what was your name again?”
The cat girl who forgot my alias whispers in my ear. Come on, I just told you.
“It’s Danba Niwada. Danba Nagamasa. Remember it properly.”
Disguised with the ring of illusion. I’m disguised as a young ordinary man.
“That’s right, nya. Danba Major, we’re trained soldiers, nya. So, we don’t make a fuss about this. Oh, something just jumped in the waves, nya. Is it a flying fish?”
The trained soldier cat, wagging her tail, pulls at the hem of my clothes with a smile at the unusual sight. Can I also grab Karin’s tail in retaliation?
“It’s strange to see something jump from this distance. It must be quite large.”
“A monster? I’ve always wanted to go sea fishing-nya.”
“If it’s fishing from a fully armed battleship, count me in.”
Smiling wryly at Karin’s disappointment and adjusting the position of my hat, I smile faintly.
“I’m sure we’ll catch something more interesting than sea fishing.”
“I don’t really need big catches-nya.”
I look forward to what lies ahead, thinking it will surely be more interesting than sea fishing. Kisarazu City must have many tourist spots.
After a while, we saw a vast expanse of forested land.
In it was Kisarazu City, surrounded by walls along the coast. Even though it’s called Kisarazu, the place isn’t really Kisarazu anymore. It’s a city built quite far south. There are no ruins; everything is surrounded by walls.
“The colors are clearly different.”
“That’s right-nya. Huh~”
Karin and I shoulder to shoulder, peering out the window. Walls were built in three layers, and in the central district, you could see beautiful buildings and houses. And military bases penetrating the layers. Fighter jets and tanks were lined up.
As we moved outward, there were gradually more shabby buildings and houses that seemed to have been built haphazardly.
“Kisarazu City has a complete class system-nya. Everyone is officially enlisted in the military just for show-nya.”
Three transport helicopters approach Kisarazu City in Chiba without any problems. Among them, the explanatory cat wags her finger and tail, teaching.
“Kisarazu used to be a former Self-Defense Force base-nya. Even after a coup occurred and it became a military base, it didn’t change. But when the construction of the walls began, Kisarazu Base was relocated. A full-fledged military base centered around Narita Airport was built. People gathered at that base and created Kisarazu City-nya. Since it was constructed as a military base, outwardly, the city residents are considered military personnel-nya.”
“It’s not Kisarazu anymore. Can I say that?”
“I think it’s to make it easier to understand-nya. It’s just the ego of the people of that time who insisted it was still a military base-nya.”
Karin, with her tone, doesn’t seem bothered. Well, I don’t intend to dwell on it either. Whether it’s Narita Airport or Kisarazu City, either is fine by me.
“Narita Airport originally had facilities that could be used as a city, so the relocation as a military base was completed quickly.”
As everyone falls silent, Karin’s smug explanation continues. It’s awkward that only we are chatting, but Karin doesn’t seem to mind.
“Privates being treated the same as the people of the ruined city… Well, I suppose it’s better than the folks from the ruins…?”
“It’s not better, Captain Kazama.”
One of the men sitting with us interrupts our conversation. He seems nervous. He wears a katana at his waist.
Staring at us, he directs a sharp gaze.
“Captain Marume?”
“Be precise. Technically, I’m a reservist private. It’s a special rank unique to Kisarazu City. We live like slaves in exchange for rations.”
Snorting with boredom, the man called Captain Marume leans against the wall. Judging from his mana content, he seems quite skilled and not someone to be underestimated.
“A reservist private… treated like a slave, Captain Marume?”
As I inquire while pretending to respect my superior as a new Major,
“That’s right. It’s different from the stenchy folks of the ruins. I’ve been here a few times, and it’s truly like being a slave, despite doing it to survive. It’s a rank born from the outdated slavery system.”
“Well, I have some knowledge about this matter from this incident, but…”
With an affectionate laugh, Karin scratches her cheek, seeming to be quite cautious around Captain Marume.
“It’s terrible. Carrying loads that can’t be lifted without a cart, working for hours, waiting endlessly for leftovers from higher ranks, and receiving only a piece of bread in return. Who’s better off, the folks from the ruins? Well, maybe in the past, but now, the folks from the ruins are better off. I want to say don’t use military ranks for such things.”
Captain Marume clicks his tongue irritably. His expression is quite unpleasant, so it’s understandable that being a reservist private is a harsh treatment.
“But Kisarazu City is isolated, so they can’t escape, right?”
With monster fortresses around and unable to immigrate like those living in the ruins.
“We still have registration. No hope, no freedom. The registration is what makes it worse. There’s something even worse. The facilities are top-notch as a military base. Well, you’ll see when we get off.”
Captain Marume clicks his tongue. There’s something worse? It’s concerning, but oh well.
“Thank you for the explanation, Captain Marume. However, how about water and electricity?”
I think food should be okay with fields and such. But water and electricity, as usual, are probably magic items, right?
“It’s the World Tree. Look at that.”
As the base approaches, something strange comes into view. It’s in the center of the city. A tree stands as tall as a large mansion. The giant tree’s leaves shimmer golden, making it obvious at a glance that it’s no ordinary tree.
But a World Tree? It’s a plant overflowing with fantasy.
“The World Tree is said to purify the land around it. It purifies any contaminated land. Even the water flowing through the land becomes cleaner than a clear stream.”
“That’s wonderful. And electricity?”
Surprisingly interested, I listen to Captain Marume’s explanation. Karin seemed annoyed that I was supposed to ask, but I ignored her.
“It’s said to be hydroelectric power.”
“That’s a suggestive choice of words?”
“Every city has one or two things they keep hidden.”
Captain Marume brushes off my question easily, signaling the end of his explanation.
Hidden technology, huh? The World Tree, huh?
Of course, some people can explain the World Tree.
[The World Tree was created as an artificial plant for environmental pollution control. It got promoted as a plant that could eliminate all pollution in the city.]
[Thank you for the past tense. So?]
[The World Tree absorbs mana from the surrounding land and crystallizes the plants. These crystalline formations were intended to be used as energy crystals. It was a dream plant. However, it was just ordinary crystals, not energy crystals. So, it was a failure in that regard.]
[There was a fatal flaw. Nutrients accumulate in the roots, causing the energy to go out of control. It created dungeons. And since it was constantly pouring in mana, when powerful dungeons occurred, they all appeared at once.]
[…Will Kisarazu City perish?]
Erosion from the roots, huh? Maybe it went unnoticed because it was invisible. Did Kisarazu City also fail to notice like the ruins did?
[It’ll be fine. As I said, it poured in mana. There’s no technology to pour in mana in this world. That’s why I think that World Tree is only that size.]
[How do you pour in mana?]
[You need special machinery for that. Or you can absorb magical items, but you need a large quantity. Things containing mana are entered by people, but a few hundred people are useless.]”
With a gentle smile, Shizuku reassures me that my concerns are unfounded.
[I see, that’s a relief.]
That’s a relief. I hope they spare us from powerful enemies and dungeons.
Good, good. The base is right in front of us now, and we can see the area around the World Tree.
A flower garden is growing around the World Tree. Familiar spring flowers and winter flowers spread out as far as the eye can see. Good, good. There’s no way those flowers contain a large amount of mana, right? They must have planted flowers to create a less desolate landscape around the World Tree, right? The people of Kisarazu City are kind.
Those flowers should only grow in delicate environments, so how are they cultivating them? Is it the power of the World Tree? Well, it’s just a flower garden. Yeah.