Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 187
Boyfriendâs Circumstances 3
I followed the man for around five minutes.
The place I was brought to was a dome-shaped tent twice the size of the surrounding ones.
Itâs located in the middle of the village. It must be the residence of the chief of this village. The open place in front of the tent looks like a square where people gather.
I wonder if I too will be executed in the square in the middle of the village.
While I was only thinking that itâs good the pain wonât be prolonged, a man slowly came out of the tent.
The man in the prime of life had an imposing expression. He was wearing clothes made of clearly better fabric than the people before. The same big scar decorated his face. The man with a build becoming of a grasslands nomad glared at me, but when the man who brought me here said something, he opened his eyes wide and in a fluster came here.
âââââ. ââââââââ!â
As usual, I didnât understand what he was saying. Even so, I understood from the manâs appearance that he bears no hostility.
While wondering what will happen, I was invited by the man in the prime of his life into the tent.
I followed obediently. Although the ceiling was low, the room itself was spacious, on the ground a carpet made of animal fur spread out.
Inside there was something like a chest of drawers, and in the middle of the room something like a sunken hearth.
In the corner of the room things that looked like pillows were piled up, on top of them was a carelessly placed towel. The man picked up the tower, and silently held it out to me.
ââââ Perhaps itâs to wipe my body.
Certainly, it may be rude to be wet like this inside. Because I was drenched by rain, my suit absorbed water and became heavy.
Thereâs no reason to oppose. On the contrary I felt grateful, and so I received the towel, took off my clothes and lightly wiped off water. Then I put on the traditional costume that was handed to me. Perhaps it was made of hemp or something as it was a little stiff, but I was relieved to have dry clothes. Next I quietly sat at the presented spot.
The man who watched my actions in silence for some reason made a relieved face. While I was feeling suspicious, after a short time two women came from the entrance carrying trays. As expected, both wore traditional costumes, but their faces were hidden by thin veils. One carried a tray with a cup and an irregular pitcher made of wood, and the other a tray with a bowl filled with fruits.
They placed them in front of me, and left as if they were frightened.
I looked at the man who brought me to the room wondering what it means, but he averted his eyes and as if his role was over he went away.
A spacious room. I was puzzled to be left inside alone.
It looks like I wonât be executed.
Itâs only a guess, but judging by their behavior the pitcher doesnât seem to be filled with poison.
And, thinking I was saved⊠I felt severe thirst.
I picked up the pitcher and poured its contents into the cup. Since my hands were shaking, I spilled a little on the carpet, but I had no time to mind. I thought that Iâll be embarrassed later, but I didnât take any countermeasures and drank the water in one gulp. The cool feeling moistened my throat.
Even though itâs not like I walked for hours, my whole body complained about thirst.
I continued pouring the water and drinking it over and over.
Then, when I almost emptied the pitcher, I could finally take a breath.
I wonder if tension left me thanks to drinking. Perhaps as my body, that had unknowingly stiffened, relaxed, I collapsed on the spot feeling like strength left me.
I was completely exhausted.
I spontaneously called her name.
What in the world has happen to meââââ.
Without understanding at all, I fell asleep on the spot.
After sleeping for a few hours, I naturally woke up.
Immediately after waking up, I realized I was apparently put under house arrest.
With my energy restored by the nap, I tried lifting the cloth covering the entrance to the tent to go outside.
It wonât budge no matter what. For some reason itâs unperturbed.
â⊠It doesnât seem to be just my imaginationâ
On the other hand, there are no signs that I will be executed either.
To begin with, if they intended to execute me, they shouldnât have thrown me into the residence of the village chief and given me food.
I have to observe the situation. While I may have been locked up, itâs not a good idea to act violently.
If I rage without understanding the language, Iâll only cause trouble for myself later.
Having judged so, I obediently stayed inside.
Fortunately, because itâs the chiefâs residence it has bookshelves stocked up with books, so Iâm not troubled about how to spend time.
As a test, I picked up a book. I looked at the title, but I didnât understand the characters at all.
Although I felt disappointed that itâs a completely different language, thinking that itâs better than nothing, I tried carefully turning the page. It seems to be a picture book intended for children. Itâs just right to memorize the letters.
Holding that book I settled down in the spot with cushions, and while comparing the letters to pictures, began guessing whatâs written.
While I was intently looking at the picture book, suddenly the tent opened and the women who brought water and food before entered. Perhaps as their guard, a young man holding a spear followed.
The women placed new trays on the floor, and having recovered the trays with emptied items left.
During that, they didnât say anything to me.
Instead, the guard was saying something to the women, to which they frequently nodded.
I thought that there maybe will be something a little similar to the languages I know.
Anyway, I have to start communicating.
Through their words and the picture book, several days later I became able to understand the language called the Common Continental Language.
âWhat do you want to do with me?â
Iâve been trapped in this residence for probably 10 days. I wonder if they want to just keep me here without having me do anything. Unsurprisingly, I got tired of the situation, and decided to try talking with them.
I can generally understand the words they use in daily conversations. Fortunately, the language they speak has a similar structure to one of those I know.
It wasnât that difficult once I realized that.
Perhaps surprised to be suddenly addressed by me, the three people turned here with a start. While trembling, one woman responded.
âI asked about what you want to do with me. Or are my words hard to understand? If thatâs the case, I apologizeâ
âNo⊠I understand. I understand, butâŠâ
The three people looked at me with astonished eyes. Fear showed on their expressions.
Thereâs no point if I scare them. I tried to sound as calm as possible.
âItâs been already ten days since I came here. Meanwhile, youâve only given me food and havenât asked me to do anything. Iâve been wondering just what the purpose of that isâ
âDonât talk. I will do it in your steadâ
The guard stopped the woman who always brings me water from answering, and took a step forward. Dressed in a traditional costume and holding a spear thatâs probably the real thing, not a replica, the man stared fixedly at me.
âHow are you suddenly able to talk. On the first day you werenât able to talk in the Common Continental Languageâ
I calmly answered to the question that laid within my expectations.
â⊠Various things happened so I panicked. I was finally able to compose myself, andâ
â⊠Didnât you speak a strange language?â
âI have learned various languages for work. Such things happen when you are overwhelmed by confusion, rightâ
He made a suspicious face, still he seemed more or less convinced.
â⊠According to the chief, you were a scary mage⊠Thatâs why, he told us to seal you in a barrier, but⊠Is it different? You learn languages⊠Does it mean you are a scholar?â
At the manâs words, for an instant the figures of men covered by flames resurfaced in my mind. I shook it off and answered in a calm voice.
âI see. I think itâs correct to call me a scholar. Language is not my field of study⊠I major in historical scienceâ
âHistorical⊠science? I donât quite understand, but⊠you arenât a mage who came here to destroy our village? You arenât an enemy?â
âOf course. I have no such intention at all⊠I just got lost a little during an investigationâ
I spoke ambiguously about that.
I already understand I came to another world. But, I wonder if I can say it to others. I donât know if cases like mine are unusual or commonplace.
But, I somehow understand it wouldnât be good if it was exposed.
Thatâs why his words were a godsend.
A lost foreign scholar. I decided to play that part.
Professionally I was a university lecturer, so itâs not a lie at all.
âHmph⊠Well done getting lost like that. Well, even if you say youâre a scholar, I wouldnât know. Scholars are all said to be an eccentric bunch. And? What country are you from? You donât have a scar on your face. You arenât from Tarim, right?â
Going by his words, the place Iâm in is Tarim. I understood that itâs a name of a country.
I made sure to burn the word into my memory. Information about place names is what I desperately want.
â⊠If I said the maritime nation in the southernmost part of the continent, would you understand?â
âAah, youâre from Irvine! I see, Iâm glad. So you arenât from Wilhelmâ
Seeing the manâs reaction, I was relieved.
In the chiefâs residence was something like a map. And with that I became convinced this is not the world I know.
Itâs true I was disappointed, but I cannot only be depressed. I pulled myself together, and read the symbols and writings on it. As a result, I understood this is a country in the north of a large continent. Apparently, itâs in the state of war with the neighboring large country to the south.
Even if I falsify my position, I absolutely mustnât bring up a name of a country this one is in the state of war with.
And so, I tried bringing up the country in the southernmost tip of the map⊠and the man seems to have splendidly believed me.
The southern country is Irvine. Then going by the talk, the hostile country is Wilhelm.
âI see, from so far away. Then did you use a transfer gate?â
Transfer gate â I had no idea what that was, but for now I nodded. It appears that my common sense fundamentally doesnât apply in this world. There are things like magic, and thinking about what I saw on the first day, it doesnât look like a world where science and technology developed. I considered that I should avoid careless remarks.
While I was conversing with the man who was under all sorts of impressions, I was intently pondering about what to do from now.
First of all, I thought about the method of getting out of this residence I was locked in, but unexpectedly that opportunity came early.
The man notified the chief about me, and immediately came to summon me on the next day.
âYou say youâre a scholar⊠Um, do you have knowledge regarding crops?â
I donât know the level of civilization of this world. Thatâs why I answered so, but with a relieved expression, saying âI want you to comeâ the man dragged me out of the tent.
Itâs my first time outside in over ten days.
However, I had no time to be deeply touched. Now that I came outside, many people surrounded me at distance and peeked at me.
The man drove them off with his hand.
âYou all, this is the chiefâs order. Donât worry about it and scatterâ
âB, but⊠heâs the one who killed Yakinâs group with an incomprehensible dreadful magic, right? He was especially brought into a barrier, is it okay to let him outâ
â⊠Heâs not a mage, but a scholar. And so, he may be able to solve whatâs troubling us, right?â
âItâs the chiefâs order. Or do you all want to starve to death as things areâ
Hearing the word chief, with a sense of reluctance everybody left.
I walked led by the man. Before long we arrived at the outskirts of the village, where poor-looking fields were.
The moment I saw it, I felt like I understood the level of the civilization in this world.
The man in the prime of his life Iâd seen on the first day was already on the fields, and facing me he spoke.
â⊠These fields just donât turn out well no matter what. Thereâs still a lot of time until the migration time. We canât move from here⊠If youâre a scholar, could you teach us some measuresâ
Seeing him troubled from the bottom of his heart, I smiled slightly.
Aah, I can manage with this.
â⊠Yeah, I believe I can prove helpful. I will return the favor of lodging and mealsâ
⊠Itâs only a guess, but this civilization is on the level of Middle Ages on Earth. Then, Iâll manage with the knowledge Iâd learned until now.
There are still plenty things I donât know. Even if I want to move, I need more information.
Then itâs best to secure bed and meals as a scholar here, and then slowly think about the future.