NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9
After joining the Akatsuki Brigade, I grew weary of being approached by various people whenever I walked through Elacton’s streets, so I decided to escape to Akane Village.
“…Phew, it’s definitely more peaceful here.”
Unlike my previous visit, the summer season was now in full swing in Japan. As soon as I stepped through the Moon Gate, the deafening chorus of cicadas greeted me from all directions. The blinding sunlight and the uniquely Japanese humid heat, which clung to my skin, hit me all at once—something you couldn’t experience in Asphiar.
“Oh, isn’t it Allen?”
“It’s been a while, Grandpa Genji.”
Emerging from the copse where the Moon Gate was hidden, I encountered Grandpa Genji resting in the shade along the steep path. It had been about a week since I last saw him, having spent most of my time recently helping Taeko-san.
“What brings you out of that thicket?”
“There’s something I need to investigate…”
I couldn’t exactly tell him I just came through a portal to another world. I laughed awkwardly to cover up the truth. It was suspicious behavior, but there was no good way to explain that I was trespassing on private property.
“I see. Well, this copse is part of my mountain, so it’s fine. But be careful about other properties.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
“Well, if you’re just wandering my mountain, that’s no problem. Just watch out for bugs and wild animals.”
After receiving Grandpa Genji’s warning, I sincerely apologized. However, the interaction allowed me to freely enter and exit the copse where the Moon Gate was located.
(Amazing, he really owns a lot of land around here.)
Akane Village was surrounded by three small mountains, two of which were privately owned by Grandpa Genji. The lush, green mountains showed beautiful autumn foliage and were once popular for mushroom hunting.
Though he no longer ventured deep into the mountains alone due to his age, Grandpa Genji said I could freely enter and pick mushrooms if I was interested.
“But I can’t really tell mushrooms apart.”
“Don’t worry, I can identify them, and so can the missus. If you find good ones, we might have an autumn feast in the village.”
I wasn’t sure if it would actually happen, but I considered mushroom hunting in Grandpa Genji’s mountain if I had time in the fall.
Although Akane Village seemed isolated and rustic, being part of Japan, it still had basic administrative services. There wasn’t a hospital, but there was a small clinic, a post office, and a police box. My purpose at the village’s post office today was to mail the letter I promised Saioji I would send yesterday.
“Minami-Azabu in Minato Ward, huh? That’s a very upscale residential area.”
According to Saioji, her parents were wealthy and ran a company. Their family name was well-known among other transmigrators and reincarnators, evoking images of a huge company. Saioji was planning to inform her parents about her safety and ask them to help me move more freely in this world.
The rough-textured, pale green paper she used was the highest quality in the world of Asphiar. The cost of a single sheet was enough to make common folk hesitate, but Saioji didn’t mind using this luxurious paper for her letter.
My task was simple: address the letter, buy a stamp and an envelope, and mail it.
“Allen, it’s rare to see you here. Is that a love letter?”
“No, no, just running an errand for a friend.”
The sole employee at the small Akane Village post office, Ken-san, engaged me in conversation as I bought the stamp and envelope.
“During this time of year, people send letters since they can’t return home. It’s the least they can do…”
“It’s deep in the mountains of Gifu, after all.”
“Indeed… The only ones who make the effort to return every year are those like Genji-san, but that’s mostly because…”
Akane Village, located deep in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, saw its former residents return during the Obon holidays in the summer. However, reaching the village was time-consuming and arduous. While one could get close using the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway that connected the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Japan, the last leg of the journey involved narrow, mountain roads, making it more taxing than anticipated.
As a result, some families opted to send letters instead of making the journey back.
“…Is it about inheritance?”
“Probably. Genji-san owns a lot of land around here, and I’m sure many relatives are after his estate. It’s unpleasant.”
It was indeed a sad state of affairs. Relatives returning to Akane Village solely for the sake of inheritance meant that even their visits couldn’t be wholeheartedly welcomed.
The harsh realities of such family matters left me with a bitter expression.