Chapter 21

Honestly, I don’t know the proper way to wield a naginata.

I was in the kendo club in middle school, but I only saw the naginata club a little bit back then.

I did borrow a naginata and practice a few matches, but I was thoroughly beaten.

I thought it would be faster to just swing a bamboo sword, considering how a long weapon like a naginata is supposed to be spun and slashed.

After being bewildered by the completely different distance, I was hit by a powerful strike with centrifugal force, which sent my bamboo sword flying. The speed of the slash was incredibly fast.

After high school, I didn’t join any clubs and just played games all the time. If I had continued some kind of physical activity, my belly wouldn’t have gotten like this...

"Was it something about holding it in a half-body stance?"

For now, I imagined the centerline, took a swing, and tried to cut. I aimed to stop the tip at my chest, but it fell to below my waist.

Honestly, having lived a desk-bound life, I lack the muscle strength. I didn’t expect a 30 cm sickle to be so heavy.

I thought I needed to improve my stamina and strength, so I continued practicing with the image of a rice character in my mind.

Perhaps due to the skill's influence, I gradually started to understand the grip and handling. However, my belly was quite a hindrance.

After about 30 minutes of practice, my arms started to ache. I had almost no grip strength. I was severely out of shape.

In my student days, I could practice for three hours without getting tired. I hate this potbelly.

When I checked with the "Recognition" teacher, my "Spear Technique" was at 0.18. It must have improved because I could swing it properly to some extent.

Sweating profusely, I borrowed some hot water, cleaned my body with a towel, and went to bed.

I’m going to sleep today. Please bear with me; I’ll work hard tomorrow.

This morning, I woke up with the dawn, which is convenient since I don’t need an alarm.

My arms were slightly sore, but my grip strength had returned. However, this is a trap.

As you get older, muscle soreness sets in the next day.

Breakfast was the same as last night.

While talking about today’s plans with everyone, I suddenly remembered my grandfather.

He was a part-time hunter and farmer, and he was very devout. He would offer sakaki and sake every time he hunted boars or deer.

He managed to earn a living, and since there are actual gods, I thought I should visit a shrine once.

When I asked about the religious views of this world, I learned that it’s not a monotheistic religion but a broad polytheistic one.

The gods that are said to have appeared in the past exist according to their respective powers.

According to documented history, they have been appearing for over 1,000 years.

They are generally gentle, but each god has taboos, and touching them brings divine punishment. Counterfeiting currency is a clear example.

The churches and similar religious facilities are not for proselytizing but for expressing gratitude and service to the actual gods.

They also serve as elementary education centers, teaching basic reading, writing, and arithmetic.

At the very least, I want to express gratitude for being able to live and report on my arrival in this world.

After seeing off Ast and Rizathia and receiving lunch from Tisha, I headed to the church.

It is the only building in the village surrounded by stone walls.

After passing through the gate, there was a front yard, and a stone-built single-story building stood there. It was probably about the size of a small gym.

I wondered if it also served as an emergency shelter and opened the door.

Inside, there were no statues, and the interior was like a lecture hall.

An elderly woman in a monk's robe greeted me.

"Welcome to the church. What brings you here today?"

She asked with a gentle expression and tone.

"I have come to offer a prayer of gratitude to the gods. Since it’s my first time, could you teach me the proper way to do it?"

In response, she taught me the proper way to pray.

I was to go up to the altar, place my weapon in front of me, raise my hands, kneel, and close my eyes.

I wondered if a deep bow would follow as I approached the altar.

I placed the makeshift naginata and sickle in front of me, raised my hands, and knelt.

Just as I closed my eyes to offer my gratitude,

<Announcement. A serious error has occurred. An unknown system has connected. Counter>

The "Scholar" teacher, who usually speaks calmly, sounded quite flustered. Then, with a "click," it fell silent.

"Hahaha, funny, funny, funny, funny."

A white-haired boy in a tailcoat and silk hat was sitting in the air in front of me.

"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you, visitor. Welcome to this world. My name is Shellah. I am the god of pleasure."

The boy spoke with genuine delight.

"God of pleasure? Are you a god?"

Surprised, I didn’t know what to say.

"Indeed, indeed, indeed. This world, everything in it, is called a god by all."

"Visitor? What does that mean?"

"Hmm, hmm, hmm. It’s not stingy to answer, but I have announced myself. I, the god, have. What is your name?"

I realized I had been quite rude.

"I apologize. My name is Akihiro Maekawa."

"Maekawa, Akihiro. Akihiro, huh. The name suggests a pattern of water. Beautiful. It’s fitting, Akihiro."

As the god of pleasure, he was quite excited.

"Visitor, hmm. You are the first, the very first visitor to this world from outside."

"First? Visitor?"

"Yes, yes. There are many worlds. Each world has its own gods, and each world is independent."

I nodded and tilted my head.

"Ah... Sharing concepts is troublesome. Let me borrow some knowledge."

As Shellah placed his palm on my head, I felt something like static electricity.

"Hmm, hmm, hmm. The world you think of, the universe, is like a network of independent servers. We gods are the administrators of each server application. You are a terminal connected to the server. You have crossed a closed network and connected to the network we manage. Isn’t it interesting?"

If you cross a closed network, the only method is a physical connection, right?

"Is there no log of the connection?"

"Hahaha, good question. The logs have been tampered with."

"Who? Why? Is there even someone with that kind of authority?"

"Building a server takes a lot of effort. The original environment is imaged at the initial stage, and the corresponding environment is poured into each server."

I had a bad feeling.

"Each server is different to maintain diversity, so who sets up the applications?"

"Administrator?"

"Excellent, excellent, excellent. Yes, the higher concept above us gods, the administrators."

"Why did the administrator connect me to this environment?"

"Hmm, hmm, hmm. Interestingly, we don’t know. We have been in contact since the tampering was detected, but there has been no response."

Like a bad support hotline?

"If you want to change the environment, you can start a new application, or if you want to make someone do something, it’s faster to manipulate the terminal. Therefore, after 100,000 years of transition, a visitor like you has appeared in this environment. Isn’t it interesting?"

Without knowing the purpose, I felt like I had been kidnapped.

"Also, the skills you possess do not exist in the skill application of this environment."

"‘Scholar,’ ‘Recognition,’ ‘Acquisition’?"

"Yes, yes, yes. That’s right. Let me give you a brief explanation for the future."

He raised one finger.

"‘Scholar’ is a voice chat with a support system operated with administrator privileges."

I couldn’t imagine who I had been talking to all this time.

"However, it seems to have quite a few restrictions when it comes to conditions. In reality, it should be primarily for recognizing and presenting all phenomena in the universe."

He raised two fingers.

"‘Recognition’ is a browser and text-to-speech software that visualizes and reads out information that ‘Scholar’ can present."

He raised three fingers.

"‘Acquisition’ is a management privilege specialized in acquiring skills within the skill application of this environment."

In that 10-minute conversation, I was pushed into something quite significant.

"That’s the explanation of the skills you possess. Do you have any questions?"

"From what I’ve heard, it sounds like I’m using illegal software that the administrators don’t recognize. Is it not a problem for such a terminal to exist in the network?"

"It’s fine, it’s fine. The skills are just software on the terminal side and do not seriously affect the server. We, the gods, already recognize them. We love this environment, this wonderful sandbox. Managing the environment is like stage management. The ability to continue it for a long time is unconditional love. You are the first visitor to this beloved, cherished sandbox. We, the gods, welcome your visit."

It seems I am being welcomed. That’s a relief.

"The administrators’ intentions are unclear, but we, the gods, hope you will live in this environment. Of course, if you wish to return, we can negotiate with the administrators."

It’s good news that a way to return is in sight. However,

"Is it possible to bring other terminals with me when I return?"

They have been kind to me, even proposing marriage. I should take responsibility.

"Hmm, hmm... That depends on the administrators. From our standpoint, the inhabitants of this beloved sandbox are cherished."

So, the answer from the gods is no.

"In the future, we, the gods, will watch over you as a new inhabitant. All the gods will. Starting a livelihood without a foundation will be tough. I have a few gifts for you."

Shellah placed his palm on my head again. This time, I felt a faint warmth.

"Currently, to bypass the protection of ‘Scholar,’ you are temporarily disconnected from the network and directly connected to the server. You will understand when I leave."

Looking around, everything was still.

"My power is pleasure. My descent has a significant impact. Pleasure is about enjoying those brilliant moments. Eternal pleasure is dull."

For now, I returned to the original prayer pose.

"May you be blessed. May you be blessed. May you be blessed, new inhabitant. I look forward to our next meeting. Farewell."

Shellah disappeared. A "click" sounded in my head again.

<Announcement. Reconnection confirmed. Serious error has been resolved. Checking connection logs of unknown system. ...Check complete. Unknown system is not connected. Normal operation confirmed.>

The "Scholar" teacher has returned.

<Announcement from skill ‘Acquisition.’ The conditions for skill ‘Acquisition’ have been fulfilled. ‘Prayer’ 1.00, ‘Ritual Control’ 1.00, ‘Attribute Control (Wind)’ 1.00. Merging relevant skills.>

The wording from the "Acquisition" teacher is a bit different. This must be the gift.

For now, I stood up and readjusted my weapons.

I have so much information that my head is full. I need to rest and digest it.

I called out to the monk and left the church.

"Her, or return... The return is not yet certain."

For now, I added it to my to-do list.

[ ] Confirm ‘Prayer,’ ‘Ritual Control,’ ‘Attribute Control (Wind)’

Well, let’s take a break.