Stranger’s Handbook - Page 78/147

Chapter 77: Quiet Talk: Zest’s Wish

…………….so it was.’

Good. I finally got this far.

There’s still much more to write though…….

*knock knock*

“Excuse me, Master. It should soon be time for a break.”

The girl, dressed as a maid, entered the room and started to prepare the tea.

I drank some of the tea she prepared then started to talk quietly.

“I finally managed to write until this point. I can more or less grasps the ending now.”

‘The ending’………She probably reacted to this word, because her face got distorted.

Was it the handbook that was going to end?

Was it the Master’s life that was going to end?

She probably wanted to ask that, but she remained quiet instead as she stood next to me.

“Since we came to this point, would you like read a little? I might need to make corrections after all.”

I smiled and handed over the unfinished handbook. Even though she looked a little disturbed, she took it and started to read.

“What do you think?”

She finally took her eyes away from the handbook and smiled.

Maybe she recalled her grandmother, a person she missed very much.

“Haha, grandmother used to do such things.”

She said and laughed. In these kinds of moments she looks exactly like her grandmother.

The women I can’t meet anymore…………..

“It’s interesting! I don’t usually read stories, so I was a little worried I wouldn’t understand, but it was very easy to read.”

“I see. I’m glad you liked it. You know…….this handbook……….I’m addressing it to the people living in my native country.”

I brushed her head lightly, something I haven’t done in a long time.

She looked sad……..and embarrassed…….They really are alike.

“In my native country, there is a platform where many people go to read stories, you know?…….In order to connect to that, I used all my magical powers…….” 1

It’s been already 100 years since I came here.

A lot of things happened…….

“When my fellow countrymen read this, they’ll be able to understand a little about this world. And in case someone comes here, they will know better than allow themselves to be used by the nobles…….they’ll be careful not to get involved in conflicts………they’ll be able to at least smile and live a quiet life.”

The girl stared at me, her pupils fixing mine.

Don’t make such an expression…….I won’t die too soon.

“Therefore, I want this handbook to be read by as many people as possible…….People who do not usually read novels, might get summoned here too.”

“………..That’s why? So that’s why the contents of this handbook are made to look funny and interesting?”

“Ha ha ha, precisely. If I were to write an instructions book or something similar, nobody would have read it. There is meaning even in looking at it, you know?”

I pray that…….

This book will catch the attention of as many people as possible. I pray that it will spread.

I pray that it will reach my native country, where my fellow countrymen live.

“This is a handbook that cannot look like an instructions book…….Then, what about making it into a tale? This option was not good, since there are many similar stories in my world………..”

There were many light novels and fantasy novels in my world.

And it was impossible to write something that is completely different from them…….But even so……

“That’s exactly why I chose this writing style…….Please, fellow countrymen, please realize……..that this is a notification I’m writing with all my might………”

The girl was silently listening to me.

The moonlight was pale.

And this pale light was illuminating my room, as I kept on praying.

Please God…….It should be all right for me to advise them to such a degree, right?

Please, make sure this handbook reaches Japan……….

1. I find this interesting as a narrative technique. The author (Takkurun) wants us to believe Zest is the one who actually writes the novel and through his magical powers it gets uploaded on ncode.syosetsu for all the Japanese people to see it (and maybe, the future Hero). But that’s my interpretation, and you’re free to see it as you wish.