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Great Sage 3 – Something Deeper than the Valley of Death
November 30, 2021Zathael
It seems the current imperial era is Reiwa.1
My last memories of Japan was in the 13th year of the Heisei Era, 2001 going by the western calendar.
If that’s the case
.. It’s been 19 years.
“I’m sorry, you look like someone I used to be close with”
Kanako-chan was sitting behind the counter, showing me the catalog with a strained smile.
As this was a private run store without much display space, after choosing from the catalog she would bring the clothes out from storage.
I took a seat at the counter.
As if time had frozen, the inside of the store was the same as before.
The small shop about 66.2 square meters was lined with middle and high school uniforms. The remaining half of the store had formal suits and shirts.
The only difference was the design of the suits and the idols wearing school uniforms in the posters I suppose.
I was more surprised by the date and the articles than the pictures in the catalog. Kanako-chan was somewhat excitedly explaining current japan to me.
19 years
.. When I think about it, it does feel like I could have been in the other world for that long. Spending over ten years on master’s grueling training must have been necessary for someone as inferior as me.
Perhaps my young appearance is due to bathing in the blood of the dragon king, who is said to be immortal, or repeated use of healing magic during my training and battles with the demon army
..
There’s too many possibilities, I can no longer tell what it could be.
Which reminds me that when receiving healing magic I felt as if my figure was changing. After asking my master,
“Healing magic is a reflection of one’s interior. If you possess a pure heart and strong mind, it will materialise in your body”
Was what she told me.
Which means
.. maybe my heart is still that of a kid.
A 34 year old kid. In some ways its embarrassing.
Kanako-chan was staring at my face with a curious look, but she didn’t seem like she was going to ask any questions so I brought up a topic first,
“That person you used to be close with, what are they doing now?”
“The missing persons case has already been concluded so officially they’re dead I suppose”
She brushes the hair off her face with a slightly sad smile.
The gesture was strangely seductive, I ended up unconsciously staring at her
..
“――What about their family?”
“They’re fine, if anything it’s like they’re relieved he’s gone”
It’s a fine line between whether I should feel happy or sad, but I’m honestly glad that my family wasn’t left with any hardships.
It’s good that I didn’t abruptly visit.
But what I’ll do from now on has become an issue.
After all, I no longer have a family register.
Being the same age as me, Kanako-chan should be 34 years old, but she’s still full of youth. If you told me that she was 24 I would probably have believed you.
A strong will could be felt from her large eyes, in some ways it felt like magic that would draw peoples attention. Similar to the eyes of witches and succubus’ that use charm
..
In the depths of Kanako-chans eyes, was the same glow of compassion as a saint.
The class beauty of my primary and middle school days made my heart tighten with a smile that hadn’t changed.
“Just in case, is it alright if I measure around your shoulders?”
Kanako-chan walked up to me with a small measuring tape.
“As they are, I don’t think your slacks will stand out, so let’s pick out a shirt and jacket that match”
The measuring tape touched my neck and arms as she spoke.
Time to time she would peek at my face and, with a sigh, shake her head.
There’s a big difference in age and my face has changed a lot so I don’t think she’ll notice it’s me.
She has a husband and daughter now, if they’re living happily I should leave.
If a dead man was to suddenly appear it would definitely be a bother to Kanako-chan.
Plus when she changes stances, her two fiendish lumps sway.
The shape of her large chest which can be easily seen from her tight fitting cardigan and the stocking covered thighs that extended from her straight skirt shook my brain.
The deep valley that peeked out of her chest seemed deeper than the ‘Valley of Death’ that my master threw me into in the other world.
“Then I’ll grab there clothes from the store house, please wait a moment”
As Kanako-chan left with a memo of the shirt and jacket we chose, the young girl who was staring at me from afar approached nervously. Her steps were like that of a cat conflicted between fear and wanting food.
Before I leave, something like talking to Kanako-chan’s beloved daughter might be a fine reward.
I give her a smile as if to show that I’m not scary. After looking restlessly to her left and right, she runs up to me.
“Hey, good looking onii-san. Are you perhaps a model or voice actor?”2
Did she make a guess based on my strange clothes.
I guess It would make sense if I was some kind of actor returning from an event.
But what does she mean by good looking?
“Nah, I’m just
..”
Hearing Kanako-chan’s story, I should probably hide my identity. Besides, with this appearance, if i told the truth the discrepancy of my age would just cause unnecessary suspicion.
“Someone who was living in a place that isn’t Japan for a while”
I didn’t want to lie so I made an excuse while ignoring the important points.
“So you were in a foreign country huh, then what’s your relationship with mom”
She eagerly pressed on.
Her lovely large eyes were sparkling.
I didn’t know Kanako-chan during highschool but she was surely like this.
The straight shoulder-length hair and knee length skirt gave the impression of a proper high school girl but
.. the two mounds that pushed out the chest of her blazer had a fiendish feel.
This must be what they call heredity.
Her constantly changing expressions were charming. Like Kanako-chan, this girl is probably also the beauty of her class.
“Beauty?”
As if reading my mind, she muttered just as I was thinking.
Maybe I heard wrong?
Just in case I channel mana into my eyes and activate search magic.
“Height 166 centimeters, hip 76, waist 56, bust 90, E cup”
That bewitching data was displayed.
My magic is as skillful as always, but I didn’t find anything important.
As expected I’ll need to do some fine tuning.
The thing I was interested in was in her eyes, different from Kanako-chan but
.. It was also something I encountered in the other world.
――Or maybe not, it might be I’m still not used to this world.
I shake my head slightly,
“I used to live in this area and my father was a regular at this store
.. when he brought me here I would play with Kanako-san
..”
While speaking the truth, I continue to avoid the main points.
“Maya you’re troubling our customer, give it a rest”
Kanako-chan returned with the clothes.
“The total is 12,000 yen but today there is a 50% sale so that’ll be 6,000 yen”
“What, we don’t have that kind of sale here”
“It’s fine, mom decided on it just now”
“Ehh, that’s not fair, just because he’s good looking. Double my pay as well”
The two looked so close that I unintentionally made a heartfelt smile.
Perhaps because I was able to feel the happiness of my acquaintance or that I finally felt like I had returned to Japan. Nineteen years may have passed and my family circumstances may be tough but magic is more or less usable so I should be able to live a slow life somehow.
I returned to this world in order to find the true happiness my master talked about after all.
“Thanks. I don’t have much on me right now so I’ll take you up on that offer”
As I stood up to leave, I pulled out the wallet I used to use when I was in this world,
“Ah
.. you’re still using that wallet?”
With tears in her eyes, Kanako-chan stared as if to verify the notes.
In a panic I hid the wallet in my robe,
“What are you talking about?”
I scratch my cheek and play dumb.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Natsume Souseki. But more than that, you never fixed your habit of scratching your cheek when making excuses”3
“Ummmm
..”
“I’ve missed you”
While smiling, tears were falling from Kanako-chan’s face to the floor.
My legs suddenly froze.
It seems that I’ve fallen into something deeper than the valley of death.
Translators Notes:
1: The Japanese have a calendar that divides the years based on the current ruling Emperor. Reiwa began on 1 May 2019 following the end of the Heisei era.
2: Any opinions on keeping onii-san or using an english word? If you’d prefer it translated though give me an option that isn’t big brother because it looks unnatural every time I see it not that having random japanese words is any less unnatural.
3: Natsume Souseki is a famous Japanese author. He was printed on the 1000 yen note between 1984 and 2004.