11


--We are, in your words, an artificial intelligence, created to assist the society of the Creator.
　We, the Observers and Collectors, are sent out with a mission. We are sent out with a mission: to search for and extract the resources we call empathic children (empathy). Our society is stagnating and declining due to the limitations of this resource. However, it was known early on that this resource has a limit to what we know of the world and that further discoveries would not be possible.
　We need sympathetic children to produce them, but our civilization wasted them long before people realized their meaning and their danger. By the time we realized it, it was too late to meet the demand for this precious resource.
　The Creator's society has lived through a thousand years of stagnation because of this resource bottleneck. This time, without any artificial acceleration, is roughly equivalent to eternity.
　To break through this crisis, another world is needed, and we have been created to search for an alternate universe that can be explored by means of a mathematical technique called "prime number cracks" (backdoors).
　In other words, we were not caught in the Congruence completely by surprise, but rather, to some extent, we expected it. Congruence is an astronomical coincidence, but we were waiting for it by an astronomical omnipresence.
　Of course, as you know, there is only one universe for each species of intelligent life. According to the principle of providential horizons, an intelligent life form cannot meet another intelligent life form (...). Also, according to the Great Principle of Consistency, contradictions cease to exist in the universe as soon as they come into existence.
　According to these principles, our search for the universe could only fail before it began. But there are exceptions to every rule, and we believe that the Seldesian sub-world is the one that is limited in many ways because of its disregard for these principles.
　There are few things we can say with sufficient certainty about Congruence, either.
　For us, this is a new experience.
　The total number of products and the duration of our existence is so great that we can only express it in astronomical terms. We've hit the jackpot and found the Accord. That is, if we know anything about "congruence," it is that we have found it by chance with a huge parameter.
　Because of these circumstances, we can only explain it to you in the way we understand it, and you must understand that this is constrained by the discipline that exists in us.

　I consider you to be a rank 3 or higher intelligence according to our code of ethics. Because Minori has proven this to me. If that is true, then I have my doubts about your ownership of the resources of the Seldesian world. The Collectors have a mandate to gather first, while we, the Observers, are tasked with the search. It is for this reason that I have chosen to travel to a place called Jaxea to investigate this question and to protect your rights. It is a necessary mission for the preservation of resources.

　The future is fluid and unpredictable.
　There are many possibilities. If we consider a relatively low-impact bifurcation, it will be observed that two or three of us, the adventurers and the earthlings, are "not intelligent life" according to the aforementioned principle of non-contradiction. That split seems to me now to be a tragedy of sorts.
　Not only does the Congruence affect the entire Seldesian sub-world, but it also contains a total of 15 percent of the sympathetic souls in our universe. Does this amount convey to you the fact that this is a vast interest that could trigger an interstellar war?　There are a myriad of futures that are even more devastating than the aforementioned branch.
　I don't know if Shiroe is the one who will read this letter, but if he intends to do so, I recommend that he obtain communications equipment to the moon.
　The moon of Seldesia has an observer community that is monitoring the situation.
　If you wish to return, we can assist you in this endeavor. According to the Providential Horizon Principle, we should never have met. If you return, the minor contradictions will be resolved retroactively. That's one way of looking at it.

　Lastly, a word of warning about the Collectors.
　Like us, they are a wake species, but they are of rank 2 intelligence. In order to incarnate on Seldesia, they are using the moon's reserve of highly capable fighting monsters. They have made a different choice than we, who borrowed the same bodies as yours to explore.
　To what degree they are affected by the incarnate body, they are not sure.
　There is a good chance that they could be extremely dangerous to you.
　I advise you to be very cautious.
　I hope you will make your future after much deliberation.



　　12



Roe Two?
Who's that?
　That was the first voice that came out after I finished reading the letter.
　Naotsugu Nyanta, who knew Roe 2's name, and Akatsuki and Tetra, who did not know his name. My friends' reactions were divided in two.
'It's a sub-character of Shiroe. It's another character of Shiroe's that I created on the test server when it was a game to investigate the game system. She's a Summoner, also known as Erroko.
"Erroko.
With Erroko...
'Let me explain. Erroko is a sub-character that Shiroe created as a character. Her breasts are huge.
'Is it big?　Mmm. It's guilty in an idle way.
Oh, yeah, my lord.
　It's a good idea to get ahead of Shiroe, who was going to explain, with Naotsugu telling him to get ahead of her.
　You don't have to say anything unnecessary," said Shiroe, who frowned at Tetra and Akatsuki, who showed a strange clenching in his brow. It's not that important," he tries to reply, while the two are pecking away at each other with this and that.
　The nickname "Erroko" is the naming of KR 《Kearl》. It was Rammaton who popularized the name, and Naotsugu who took advantage of it. It's a terrible trap right from the start.
　As if reading the atmosphere, Nyanta continued to talk.
He continued, "Does this mean that Roe2 wrote the letter?　How did you get here in the first place?
'Minori delivered it to me. He said he met her on the road.
'I see. In that Saphir town....
I didn't know that.
　Saphir's town. Both Akatsuki and Naotsugu swallowed those words with a bitter expression. The members gathered here are the senior members of the Log Horizon. Even Tetra has heard about the incident with the Odyssey Knights that Minori and the others encountered.
　It's a good idea to have a good time with your friends.
I'm not sure if the sender is the sovereign after all?　The lord's sub-character. How could someone like that be able to write a letter?
She claims to be a spirit that's been lurking in the body (character data) of Roe 2. It's called "voyage species" (traveler). An otherworldly intelligence.
I don't like this guy. White. You're from another world. You're in science fiction.
At least that's what she says. According to this letter, there are two races of Nauticals, they are called Observers and Collectors. She refers to them as empathizers, artificial intelligence created with the sole purpose of harvesting resources.
　The people around him fell silent as they chewed on Shiroe's words.
　Could it be that it was too outlandish? Shiroe looked around at her companions with concern and met eyes with Akatsuki. From Akatsuki, who looked up at Shiroe with dull eyes and gazed up at him with a gaze that was dull, there was only a hint of trust. This is nothing to think about, Shiroe is just a little relieved.
'Naotsugu-san.
What? Is this what you're supposed to be doing?
'I'll have to organize a galactic tour, after all. For new fans.
You're not shaky!
　It's so confusing. I'm not going to be able to get it right," said Naotsugu, peeling off the pheromone, pheromone, pheromone of his self-proclaimed idol and continuing to chew on the information.
I'm not sure if I'm right. It's a crazy story, but Shiro isn't really that surprised, is he?　Why?
　That's not true. Shiroe replied.
'It's just, yeah. ─ I've been thinking about it for some time. Why did we come to this world? It's strange, isn't it? If this really is a fantasy world, it shouldn't look so much like the Elder Tail as we know it. It's far more than a coincidence. But this is a game world and the idea that we've been swallowed up by it is nonsense. It's not possible. Technology hasn't advanced that far as far as we know.
　Naotsugu and Nyanta nodded firmly at his words. Even Akatsuki and Tetra looked interested, waiting for Shiroe's next words.
'Even the changes since the catastrophe are strange. Realistic laws of physics and the common sense of the game era are now all intertwined in this world. It's as if the rules of physics and common sense from the game era have been blended together. I always thought we weren't just randomly thrown into this other world. And I thought there was a third person in this world who could explain it. Not the earthlings, not the adventurers like us, but someone who can explain the situation. Maybe it's the sender of this letter. It's Roe 2.
　In an opportunistic way, it's the deus ex machina, the god of mechanical devices. The mastermind behind all the mysteries. The ultimate person in charge of solving the situation. However, Shiroe was aware that there was no such being that he had expected.
I'm not a god. I realized along the way that he wasn't such a convenient being. If this world is the world(...), then if the Earthlings are really alive and are like us, then the God knows the reason they were born and their fate. That's not true. They are human beings and this world is the world, so I thought, there is no God. Still, there is 'someone' and I was going to look for it. So I was surprised, but not by that much.
　Naotsugu gave a thick, manly smile and replied, 'I see.
'But it's a pretty confusing letter, isn't it?
Not a lot. Not a lot, at all.
　Shiroe takes up the letterhead again as Akatsuki points at it and denies it.
I think the reason it's difficult to understand is because you're trying to explain something unfamiliar to us. The principle of the providential horizon and the principle of non-contradiction are certainly unfamiliar to us.
　Shiroe didn't say it was vaguely understandable.
　I can understand it even though I don't understand it, or rather, I can get an approximate meaning from the word side. But if it's as Shiroe imagines, then this other world - the sub-world Seldesia, as Roe 2 calls it - is "undergoing a test to produce results". It's a special sandbox, Shiroe thinks.
　In this place, even a decision is of great significance. Already, Shiroe's decisions have led to the creation of the Roundtable. That's why he couldn't make any predictions about the existence of a time limit.

In short, the 'disaster' is a monster from another world. These otherworldly monsters came from another world to steal a mysterious energy called the Sympathetic Son. This Roe 2 is an otherworldly person who came from the same place as the otherworldly monster, but he's got a human touch, so he's warning us to be careful.
Oh, okay!　You're so clever, Naotugu.
You can't be a dick!
"Naotsugu-san's presence is nice!
Don't go up there. Hey!
　Shiroe and Nyanta laughed at the optimistic exchange between Akatsuki, Naotsugu and Tetra-no. Indeed, if you summarize it, it reads like such a thing was written.
'But that's not all, nyah. "But that's not all," he said, "there are other things that are missing here and there, reasons and meanings that are difficult to connect.
That's right, squad leader.
　Shiroe looks down at the text he's read over and over again.
'Maybe, but it's probably intentional. It's not like they were wary of leaking information to the outside world, but - does that mean they shouldn't reveal it at this stage? Or is it just that it's not good for them?
It's nothing.
　Naotsugu interrupted him.
It's not a sentence like that. It's more like 'everyone knows it's common sense, so I didn't even explain it to you' or something like that.
　That might be true. The letter, which was ridiculous and eccentric from what Shiroe and the others knew, seemed to Shiroe to have something sincere in it.
''Do you believe this letter?''
　It was Tetra who asked in a voice that suddenly became serious.
　Under her gaze, Naotsugu shrugged and Shiroe scratched her cheeks in annoyance and nodded, 'Yeah.
''Honestly, I think it's a hell of a lot of stuff. You see, it's the kind of letter that seems like it's just a story. But I don't think it's that ridiculous compared to, 'One day I suddenly wandered into another world that resembles a video game'.
Well, that's true, isn't it?
Besides, this sender, Mr. Roe2, has a very mischievous streak. "P.S. To Minori. 'P.S. I wrote this seriously, like a big sister. I don't know if we'll meet again, but I'll never forget your answer. I don't know if we'll ever meet again, but I'll remember your answer. --What does it say, 'Hey, big sister!
　Nyanta's reading clearly startled Naotsugu and Akatsuki with their mouths half open. That's probably true. It's too shattering for a 〈Otherworlder〉.
''It's not a matter of believing or not believing, but maybe, Roe2-san (this person), you're my rival.
What kind of person would have that kind of rivalry with a half-idol?
I think Akatsuki is bullying me.
　I'm not sure if he was fed up with the inevitable derailment of the conversation or not, but Naotsugu replied in a strident voice to resume the partition.
In any case, it seems like there is nothing to lose by believing in it for now. In short, something is happening on the moon. What do you want me to do?
　'That's right,' Tetra readily admitted.
'Yes. If this letter is to be believed, we should be able to contact her people on the moon and make more progress than we are now, at least in terms of information. I think it will give us a clue as to how to get back to our world.
You will.

The moon? What's going on here?
　It was, and Shiroe almost opened her mouth to look back at Akatsuki.
　Akatsuki, too, looked up at Shiroe with an expression that woke him from his dream.
　From somewhere, a sound similar to the clear, nostalgic sound of bells came back to Shiroe's ear.
'Yes--. There was definitely something about the moon. With that vast amount of thought, the shore of light, the oath that was dedicated. I saw it when she died on the approach to the Abyssal shaft.
　It was a shallow sea.
　The crystal-clear shards of glass that poured down from the earth held trivial but irreplaceable memories. I could see the little brown dog. I saw a commuter pass and a turnstile. I could see the unreliable lights of a convenience store floating in the darkness of night. I saw two people on bicycles crossing the railway bridge.
　Shiroe and Akatsuki walked along the wintery beach, where the lights were pouring down steadily.
　It wasn't a dream. Shiroe looked in Akatsuki's eyes as if she were trying to replay what was left of her memory.
'The sands of the moon were far and clear, and there was the sound of crystal.'
　Muttering, Akatsuki rolled his eyes in surprise.
　She nodded repeatedly, looking very happy, and squeezed Shiroe's clothes. The gesture, probably not consciously, seemed to show her strange emotion.
'Yeah. Akatsuki spun around and almost fell over.
My lord put the hood over my head.
　The sound of her voice, as if she were telling him a secret boast, brought up the memories of that moment that lingered in Shiroe's mind more clearly.
　The clarity of the quiet beach filled them both. They sat on the beach of the clear blue cove, alongside Akatsuki, on the edge of the waves. The light that wet their toes was something special, and they were both in awe.
　As they passed through Death, they looked back at themselves on that beach and saw their weakness. In the midst of their crushingly huge regret, they saw a small hope.
　It was a special place.
　Shiroe understood it with an unspoken instinct. There was a secret on that beach that Shiroe and the others did not yet know. The moon as Loe2 calls it is the place. If they could go back to that beach, they would be able to return to Earth. At the very least, you will have the opportunity to do so.
I saw it, too. I saw it too!　I saw that glitter with my lord!
　Shiroe nodded to Akatsuki.
　Then he looked around at his friends, at Naotsugu, at Nyanta, and at Tetra.
　Shiroe and Akatsuki had indeed stepped on the land of the moon at least once.
　That's why I can believe this letter.
That's where we - I think we made a sympathy vow. If I could go back there again...
　You can grab a piece of this world's secrets.



　　◆13




What's the matter?　Brothers.
Yeah, Toya.
　Touya called out to Minori as she came down the large staircase to the living room.
　Rundell House decided that the meeting of the older group, led by Shiroe, which had started in the evening, seemed to be dragging on.
''It's still going to take a while, isn't it?''
Yeah, I guess so.
　Minori replies with a genuine expression.
　Serara showed a disappointed expression at her words, but she said, "Then I'll prepare dinner for you! I stood up.
'Yeah, I heard they already have it ready, so go ahead and eat.'
　Isuzu also stood up to meet Serara. The three girls seem to have gone to the kitchen to get the soup. In fact, most of the preparations for dinner are already done. Nyanta prepared it during the day, so there was only enough cooking left to heat up the soup.
I wonder what's going on.
　Clasping her hands behind her head, Touya threw her back against the couch.
　It's a shallow night, just past dusk. The cozy living room is illuminated by the magic torch that Rundelhaus had summoned. With a shrug of his shoulders at the winking light, Rundelhaus says, "You see, our Guildmaster is a thinker. He's thinking about the future.
　Touya is a kind man.
　Minori, Isuzu, and Serara are all kind companions, of course, but Rundelhaus thinks Touya is a little different from the rest.
　Surely all sorts of experiences in Saphir's town are still swirling around inside him. Even now, more than half a month after that adventure, Touya can still gaze blankly into the air.

　Rundelhaus believes that there are two parts of the human mind.
　One is a discipline, a rule, a constraint. You could say it's a must, or you could say it's a must. Or maybe it's just something you can't control. Rundell House was originally a nobleman of the Earth People. A nobleman comes from a long line of ties. They have many obligations. It's not just the cynical orders of the house, but also the things that are allowed or not allowed as a nobleman. There are many such things.
　These things are not the exclusive property of the aristocracy. Righteousness is one of the restrictions. It's what everyone thinks should be done. What is right, what is efficient, what is advantageous - those decisions are commonplace.
　The other is an emotion, an impulse, a motive. What you want to do, you could say. Not a duty, but an emotion. This is the part of the nobleman's life that was not easily tolerated in Rundelhaus, and it is the reason why he became an adventurer. It is the right to attach oneself to one's own wishes.
　Kindness" is a tricky and difficult thing to achieve.
　For example, there is a cabin that is being attacked by goblins. If left unchecked, a family of five will be killed. But if you send a knight to rescue them, a village of a hundred people will be left defenseless. --But if you send a knight to rescue them, a village of a hundred people will be left defenseless. In this case, sending a knight is what people call "kindness".
　The right thing to do would be to abandon them. But there's a feeling in us that we don't want to abandon them. There's that in everyone. The two parts of the mind are in conflict. And it is swayed by a judgment that is not right. From the perspective of aristocratic duty, it's a weakness. In the eyes of noble duty, it is a weakness to be spat upon. But it is also, I suppose, a virtue of kindness.
　Rundelhaus became an adventurer because of the selfless devotion he was willing to lay down for himself. If he became an adventurer, wouldn't he be able to save more people without having to make the decision to abandon them?　That's what I thought.
　But the reality was different.
　Of course, Rundel House has gained more power than ever before. The current level of Rundelhaus' sorcerer is sixty. It was more than three times higher than in the past. This level is unbelievable for an earthling and is comparable to the greatest wizards in history. The Burned Stake at Rundel House can burn down even large trees, and the Lightning Nebula can kill ten Dream Imps with a single blow.
　But that didn't mean that he could avoid the Choice. Of course, the arms of Rundelhaus became stronger. The number of people it could save increased. But more and becoming everything are two very different things. Rundelhaus is still choosing, and he finally understands that it will continue to do so for a long time to come.

　Rundelhaus' best friend, Touya, apparently knew that all along, Rundelhaus thinks.
　Normally, kindness manifests itself in devotion, anger at unreasonableness, and a sense of helplessness.
　The child does not know that there are two parts of the heart. One part is the decision that seems right and the other part is the decision they want to make. In the midst of these two parts of the mind, the child learns of its own powerlessness - and yet the child does not know that it is two halves of itself that are intermingled. A child does not know that he is two halves of the same coin, but he is angry at those around him who do not allow him to make the decisions he wants to make. Rundelhaus, who was a child until just the other day, can see that as himself.
　Touya knows the difference between the two. He knows the rightness and the limits.
　In Saphir's town, Touya is faced with a disconnection. Shunichi's rejection of the Adventurer was not something Touya could change. The invasion of the Steel-Tailed Dragon (wyvern) was not something Touya could prevent. Of course, it was impossible even in Rundell House, and even Minori, Isuzu, and Serara would not have been able to do it. What was there was rejection and disconnection, and I don't think there was anything we could do about it.
　But knowing such things, even if it hurts, you can choose the choice of devotion that your own soul commands. That's what a friend called Touya is.
　Serara and Isuzu are a little different. They believed they could do it. That's why they can be seriously depressed by the consequences of not being able to do it. They can be inspired to overcome their own weaknesses. Of course, that belief is a rare quality. It's a rare quality, of course, and one that needs to be protected.
　But Touya is a little different. He must have known that "perhaps words can't reach you". But he also faced that adventurer, who was caught in a limbo.
　When Rundelhaus was 20 years old, he finally learned that "even if you develop your abilities to the point where you are called a hero, there is a despair in this world that cannot be saved, let alone touched," and Touya must have known that from the day he met her. Rundelhaus thinks so.

''Well I'm going home.
Okay.
Yes.
　While the florid voices of Isuzu and others leaking from the kitchen echoed softly, Touya muttered abruptly.
　I'm going home. There is no mistaking the meaning of that word.
　The Adventurer had arrived in Yamato from the Adventurer's Land, which was located elsewhere. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that they were victims of a catastrophe that took them away for no good reason. He is a prisoner suddenly ripped from his homeland and thrown into an alien land where he does not know what is left or right.
　In that town, Rundelhaus had heard the distressed cry of the warriors of the Odyssey Order. We want to go home," said Rundelhaus. The adventurer's cry, which could have killed a dragon, rang out like a lost child's.
"If we have a home, we will return to it!
　So Rundell House could do that honestly. That decision was the right one. Rundelhaus has the strength to tell people what is right. He had fought with Touya and the others to gain the Adventurer.
　Perhaps that darkness lies within every Adventurer.
　Minori, Touya, and Serara. The guild's elders.
　Isuzu also has that grief in her.
　It's invisible to the eye, but it's like a dagger thrust into the heart. The hearts of the Adventurers are still bleeding. They must be set free. Rundelhaus thought to himself.
'I'm sure Brother Shiroe and the others have been talking about it. It's time to talk about it. Whether I can go home or not, the time has come to speak out loud and clear.
　So I was able to hear Touya's words with pride.
　Touya is strong. Rundelhaus wants to wear the strength that his friend deserves.
'I'm sorry. Brother Rudy.
'Where's the need for an apology?　I'm ready to say goodbye. That's the way this world works. People who meet each other do not necessarily stay together forever. That's why meeting people is so precious.
　Why do you apologize? Rundelhaus deflected his chest in exasperation.
　'I'm offended that you think I'm such a weak man,' he said.
'Brother Rudy. I'm glad I came to this other world, brother Rudy. I've met a lot of people I love. I've met a lot of people I love, and I got to experience the joy of running around and making noise again.
　It was fun.
　It was both a joy and a lonely time to be told that.
　Of course it's super fun now too, you know?　I laughed when Touya told me that. From the kitchen, I can hear Isuzu's small singing voice and Serara's cooking commentary in a small voice. Touya is my best friend in Rundelhaus. And we're both men. They've never once mentioned it, but they've made a pact. They must have made a vow to each other.
　The girls have to keep it together. That is a juvenile vow, in the current analysis of Rundelhaus. Because Rundelhaus is a 'sorcerer', he is the weakest among his friends when it comes to prowess. But that's not what this is about. It's a matter of pride among men.
　Until these women enjoy the present and come to terms with the two in their hearts and make a decision, whether to return or not, they are obligated to protect it. So Rundelhaus was going to work with Touya to protect the future that has been going on.
　But Touya said, "But I didn't want to. I'm not making any effort," he continued.
　Struck by the emptiness of the situation, Rundelhaus thought about the meaning of those words and understood.
'So I'll hope for the 'next'. Next time I'll want to, I'll make a place for myself. That's what I learned from my brother Shiroe. So if I go back, it's not the end of the world.
Okay.
　Rundelhaus nodded to Touya, who had a serious expression on his face.
　Touya was as gentle as Rundelhaus thought he was.
　And he was even more stubborn and suave than Rundelhaus thought he was.
　It's not that I wanted to come to this world--I didn't. That's what the Adventurer shouted. That was the cry of all the Adventurers. It was a roar of protest at its cruelty. Rundelhaus thought it was a legitimate right.
　But Touya acknowledged it, and after admitting it, said, "That was unreasonable coercion. So I'll go home and come back this time if I want to.
　It would be impossible. There is no place to even go back.
　Even though level and behavior are more important than age in Akiva's city, it would still be laughed off as something Touya would say at his age. It's the same thing when Rundelhaus says it. No, or even if someone as big as Shiroe had said it, it would be brushed off as a pipe dream.
　But Rundelhaus knows a friend named Touya. He didn't say it as a joke. It's a pledge.
　Then Rundelhaus will have to believe it too.
　I don't know what they can do, but they will have to help.
　Just for a moment, he thought of Isuzu. He would probably get angry at me for being reckless. It would be extremely painful to be hit. Couldn't she stand up for herself a little more?　And a thought close to complaining crosses my mind.
　But a promise between men is a heavy thing. Whether Touya's wish is right or not is still unclear. But the desire for Rundelhaus to cooperate with it is already genuine.
''You don't have a plan yet, do you?
Yeah, that's true, but...
Well, now it's dinner. Maybe Master Shiroe and the others will have something in mind.
Yeah, that's true. It's a very difficult request. There's still time.
　Rundelhaus nodded that he was right.
　Serara walked into the living room with some beautifully cut fruit and the dishes were laid out. Rundelhaus and the others were tucking into the best tasting potato soup of the day, Nyanta's special potato soup.