Chapter 34

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Regarding the parts that have been published in book form, I have intentionally left in the typos and revisions as I thought they might serve as reference material for future researchers.

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"…Since you've come all this way, why don't we play a little more?"

"Yeah, A-tan. Stay and play. Playing is also a child's job, you know."

"Huh? I'm having a lot of fun?"

"If that's the case, that's good, but…"

I feel like there's a huge misunderstanding.

I want to eat curry rice, and I just feel lucky if Kikunoi makes a profit from it.

Well, it's fine. It's probably not a big deal.

It's a bit strange to say I'm trying to regain my composure, but I let myself be led by the two of them to see the market again.

Now, I want to buy souvenirs for everyone.

I think it would be better to ask Viktor, who lives in the Imperial City.

"Viktor, is there something that's a must-have souvenir for the Imperial City?"

"Hmm, to be honest, there isn't really one specific thing. The Imperial City is like a melting pot of people who come from all over the empire to work, so there aren't many long-time residents."

"Well, if you've lived in the Imperial City for three generations, you're considered a native."

"Living for three generations is less common than making a profit and returning to the countryside to live a prosperous life."

"I see, so even with sweets, it's like someone who came to work sells sweets from their hometown, and if they become popular, they become a specialty of the Imperial City."

"Exactly."

Hmm, so the souvenirs I bought thinking they were from the Imperial City might actually be specialties from other places.

I was thinking that when Viktor suddenly snapped his fingers and said, "By the way."

"There's the Imperial City Cookie for souvenirs."

"Imperial City Cookie?"

"Yeah, it's just a cookie with 'Imperial City' stamped on it, but it's pretty tasty as a cookie."

"That's a safe choice. If it's not too expensive, I can give a box to everyone at the mansion."

"Then let's go with that!"

So, we decided on the souvenir and headed for the main street of the Imperial City.

The store that sells Imperial City Cookies is apparently on the main street, and on the way, we also bought some silk scraps similar to kimonos and some unique braided cords.

The candy store, which looked like a palace, was not as expensive as it looked, and the price was just right to give a box to everyone at the mansion, as I was told.

While talking about where to go next, we arrived at the center of the city.

There, in the square, stood many bronze statues of people, and one of them looked familiar.

When I got closer to the base of the statue and looked closely, the pleats of the dress and the fan she was holding…

"It's the statue of Princess Hyakka."

"Ah, I thought so."

"Yes, the hill above here has a combined shrine for the gods."

"Combined shrine…!"

"Yeah, a long time ago, a certain artist gathered people who had seen the faces of the gods and created bronze statues based on their testimonies. The combined shrine was built to commemorate this. But, take a closer look, doesn't it seem strange?"

Viktor smiled like a mischievous child. Mr. Romanov had a similar expression, so they both knew the answer.

Hmm, what is it?

Looking at the statue that resembled Princess Hyakka and then at the other statues.

There were stern-looking men with beards, a youthful man like David, elegant women, and statues of boys and girls of various heights, but there was one statue of a person sitting with a robe covering their face, making it impossible to tell their height.

"There's one statue where you can't see the face or the body. Is that what you mean by strange?"

"Correct. That's Princess Hyōrin, and no one has ever seen her face."

"Really…?"

"Princess Hyōrin is the deity of night and sleep, death and rebirth, and she never appears before people. It's said that she only appears at the moment of death."

"I see…"

So, to make it clear that she is female, only the soft curve of her mouth is visible.

"Since we're here, why don't we pay our respects?"

"Sure."

"Yes, I always receive her blessings."

Mr. Romanov headed up the gentle slope leading to the shrine. I followed him up the path to the hill, exchanging greetings with the people we passed.

The entrance we arrived at was a building with Doric-style architecture, similar to the Parthenon of my previous life, with impressive sculptures.

Inside the shrine, the statues of the gods we saw earlier were arranged at equal intervals, and at the base of each statue was a bowl filled with iron and copper coins.

"What is this…?"

"It's an offering. You offer money to the god you're praying to."

"Mostly iron and copper coins."

The going rate seems to be around five copper coins, and the people who came to pray kept putting money into the bowls in front of their chosen gods.

Since I always receive the princess's blessings, I put a silver coin. Then, I suddenly noticed a different statue.

"Mr. Romanov…"

"Yes, what is it?"

"Which one is Igor?"

I've never met him, but I've been receiving his blessings. I should pay my respects.

My intention was clearly understood by Mr. Romanov, who, after looking around, led me to the statue of a curly-haired boy.

I still had plenty of pocket money left, so when I was about to put the usual copper coins into the bowl, the shrine suddenly went dark, and auroras started to fall from the ceiling.

"That's the money you earned for the first time, so keep it."

"Wh-who's there!?"

Looking up, I saw a boy with silver curly hair, wearing a white coat like a doctor, floating in the air, probably in his late teens.

"Hello, Kikunoi's butterfly. I am Igor, the god of the sky, technology, and medicine, and the god of wind and commerce. Nice to meet you, I'm glad to see you."

"…Eh, ah, h… Nice to meet you!!"

I immediately knelt and prostrated myself on the ground.

Because I meet the princess almost every day, my body instinctively knows how to bow properly to someone who should not be disobeyed. Good job.

Waving his hand at me, Igor seemed to be in a good mood and swung his legs, which were wearing feathered sandals, in front of my eyes.

"It's okay to lift your face. I don't like formalities. Besides, kneeling on the ground must hurt your knees. Stand up."

"Y-yes. Excuse me."

As I stood up, the distance between Igor and me became closer.

His eyes were the color of young leaves, his lips like cherry blossoms, and his cheeks were plump, almost like a work of art by Raphael.

Wow, gods are so handsome it's scary.

Thinking that, Igor chuckled.

"Is it a compliment or an insult to say 'too handsome to be scary'?"

"Very seriously, it's a compliment!"

"Well, yeah. I don't think it's an insult."

He kept laughing, so it seems I didn't upset him. But, it's embarrassing that he could read my thoughts.

I cleared my throat and decided to ask a question I've had for a while.

"Um… I have a question…"

"It's about the blessing I gave you, right?"

"Yes. With all due respect, I have never met you. Why…?"

As I asked timidly, the corners of Igor's mouth turned up gently.

Then he took out a familiar piece of paper from his pocket.

It was the paper I used to make a butterfly for the princess, and I let out a small "Ah."

"One day, Hyakka came to me and said, 'I want you to make a beautiful piece of paper.' When I asked why, she said, 'A human child will make wonderful paper crafts if they have beautiful paper.' Then, with a serious look, she said, 'Teach me how to cure a disease that makes the soul leave the body easily.' I was surprised."

"That's…"

"She also asked, 'How can I teach humans knowledge?' When I asked what it was about, your name came up."

"So you knew about me…"

"That's right."

Igor, who had been floating, put his feet on the stone floor.

Then he reached out his hand to my head, which was at about his hand level, and stroked my head.

"I'm grateful to you. Hyakka, who had little interest in humans, started to care about educational disparities after meeting you. I think that's a great thing."

Why is that?

It's true that gods don't have much interest in humans, but it's good that they do.

As I tilted my head, Igor's face became very serious.

"We gods gain our power from faith. Faith offered by not only humans but also elves, dwarves, spirits, demons, magical beasts, animals, and all living things is the source of our power. Do you understand?"

"Um, yes."

"Hyakka and other gods can be considered nature itself, so they are strong enough on their own. But I can only become truly powerful with the presence of humans. Because medicine, technology, and commerce can't exist without humans."

According to Igor, while elves and dwarves also need technology and medicine, they have little interest in commerce. They often barter, and human commerce is essential.

Humans pray for prosperity in business and worship Igor. This is the source of his power.

"So when Hyakka starts to take an interest in humans and gives them some benefit, it can lead to the start of commerce, which increases my power."

"I see."

"But I don't intend to stop there. I use that increased power to give benefits to humans. This makes the economy circulate. When the economy circulates… money circulates in various ways. For example, if the recipient is a fisherman, they will thank and worship the sea god for giving them wealth. What happens then?"

"Faith becomes power… so the sea god's power increases…?"

"Yes. Then, with that increased power, the sea god gives benefits to humans again. This cycle enriches everyone and, with enriched hearts, they believe in us, allowing us to give more benefits to humans."

"That's…"

The ideal model I have for the Kikunoi domain is to circulate the economy to make everyone prosperous. That's why I focus on education and industry.

So that Regulus can be a beloved and respected ruler in his domain.

Igor nodded.

"Yes, my thinking is similar to yours. And there are quite a few humans who share similar thoughts. I have given blessings to such people. That's why I gave you one. This is the answer to your question."

His posture was straight, as if a hard line ran from his head to his toes, exuding a sense of dignity.

It would be great if everyone could be prosperous. I do think that, but at the core of my thoughts is only my brother. It's purely self-serving.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I fiddled with the hem of my blouse, and a soft hand patted my head.

"Everyone starts out like that. Some don't want their sisters, younger sisters, or daughters to be used in political marriages, some want to help their brothers, or their sons, friends, lovers… But at some point, they realize, like you did, that 'a world where only we are kind to each other but not to others is not a kind world for those we care about.'"

"Like I did…"

Igor can't predict whether I will change or not, but people with similar thoughts to his eventually start doing something. When they do, Igor helps them by giving them blessings.

Wishing for a world that is kind to everyone.

And giving me a blessing is just one of the stepping stones to such a world. So, I can take it easy.

"Well, it's an investment in the future, and I'm here with a 'hit or miss' attitude, so you should live as you wish without worrying. Besides, you have a mission you've promised to Hyakka, right?"

"Huh… What mission?"

"The mission you promised to Hyakka. I believe it was… 'to raise actors who can perform musicals.'"

I've never heard of that!

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