Humans are quite convenient creatures.
That might sound like I'm calling them trash, but that's not what I mean.
What I mean is that the human brain is simple.
When it hears some plausible-sounding information, it accepts it as a ‘fact’ before even determining its veracity.
Even if it later realizes it was false, the information, once inputted, remains, sticky like an impurity.
This might be a moderate hindrance, but in matters of great importance, it can lead to disaster.
Have you ever been torn between options 1 and 2 on a test, only to get the question wrong? The example is slightly different, but it's a similar case.
The reason for the confusion is that the wrong answer is plausible.
It's not that it makes no sense at all; you get it wrong because it seems valid to some extent.
I'm rambling.
Therefore, the information that is inputted first is extremely important.
Likewise, in human relationships, the first impression is extremely important.
It can determine half the battle. First impressions are very, very important and….
“Can't you just get lost?!”
“That might be difficult. I've decided to take this sword, you see.”
The first impression of the crazy girl in front of me was the absolute worst.
To put it in other words, -1000 Mikon points.
“Are your eyes telling you that you can't see that crazed boar?”
“Calm yourself. It is, at best, a boar.”
“A boar that's charging at us covered in flames?”
“Then we simply must not let it touch us, correct?”
Right. If it doesn't hit us, we'll be fine.
“Then let go and get out of the way so it doesn't hit us!”
“Why don't you let go?”
“I grabbed it first, so it's mine.”
“Hmm... our conversation seems to be running in parallel lines. I'd rather not see blood shed, but….”
Even now, the crazed boar is charging at us at an insane speed.
Its eyes are bloodshot, and it's the size of a house.
If it hits us, it's instant death.
I was only just reincarnated; I'd rather not die a painful death.
Worse, I can't even use the power of the Beast right now.
In my previous life, I used too much power trying to maintain that Singularity, and as a result, I've become nothing more than some ordinary boy.
I don't know when my power will recover, but it certainly won't be before that boar kills me.
In other words, I'm quite desperate right now.
“Get lost, quickly!!!”
“Such harsh words. I am trying my best to be courteous, but if you continue in this manner, even a gentle soul such as myself might become angry.”
“Fine. You want to die together, you, the 'gentle' one, and me, the 'discourteous' one? Then so be it.”
At this point, my pride was getting in the way, and I was even less willing to let go.
The object she and I were both claiming as our own was a sword.
A perfectly ordinary sword with a blade, a guard, and a hilt.
I had stumbled upon it by chance while being chased by the boar.
Running was no longer an option, so I'd grabbed the sword with the intention of fighting, but as luck would have it, I'd grabbed it at the exact same time as this girl.
While we were arguing over whose it was, we were both about to die.
I guess there's no choice. I'll just have to hope for a better next life.
I calmed my heart and was about to close my eyes, but I couldn't, because the girl was giving me a strange look.
“You got a problem?”
“Aren't you a far fiercer beast than that boar? Why are you so frightened?”
“Why do you think? It's because I can't use my power.”
“Aha. Now I understand.”
What in the world did she understand?
That I'm pathetically weak?
“Then let's take care of that thing first and think later. Though this sword will become mine in the end, of course.”
“Says who?”
The girl held her palm out in front of her.
Golden ripples shimmered in the air. Like pebbles thrown onto a lake's surface, about five more ripples appeared.
The girl had merely flicked her hand.
Dozens of weapons shot out from the ripples, turning the boar into a pincushion in an instant.
The beast, which had seemed invincible, tumbled to the ground.
The girl turned to look at a stunned me.
Her golden hair fluttered. Her crimson eyes, like inlaid rubies, looked down at me.
“As I please, of course.”
A flick, another flick. An absolute charisma emanated from the girl as she gestured for me to hand over the sword.
As if to say, ‘You must obey my command,’ like someone waiting for a final stamp on a matter already decided.
She firmly believed, without a shred of doubt, that I would present the sword to her.
I walked up to this ever-so-confident girl, and
“Piss off.”
I gave her the finger and bolted.
If I were my older self, I wouldn't have even squabbled over the sword. I would have just given it to her out of sheer annoyance.
But I'm different now.
With the vigor of a young body, I can do reckless things.
More than anything, it's fun.
“Besides, you've got a whole pile of shiny weapons, so why are you so worked up over this one?”
I ran with all my might out of the forest.
With all my might, until the girl was out of sight.
I reached the edge of the forest, and a great river came into view.
I looked back, but I couldn't see anything. It seemed she'd given up the chase.
As I caught my breath, I examined the sword I had taken.
It had no distinguishing features to speak of.
Having no features was this weapon's feature.
A colorless, odorless sword. A sword faithful only to the meaning of cutting down an opponent.
I liked the simple, unadorned sword.
“Does it please you so?”
“You scared me.”
It was the golden girl from before.
“Wake up. This is mine.”
“Hah… I have no intention of fighting a Beast just yet, so I will make a special exception and lend it to you.”
“Lend it?”
The girl spoke, putting forth the abnormal logic that ‘All treasures are mine. Therefore, that sword is also mine.’
“It is mine, but you may use it for now. It will come into my hands eventually, so until then, I shall lend it to you.”
“I've never met anyone in my life with your way of thinking.”
“That is because I am special. Of course you haven't.”
She was a girl with immense narcissism.
In any case, if she'd given up her obsession with the sword, I didn't need to concern myself with it any longer.
“Alright. Farewell. I'm leaving.”
“What? Where do you think you're going?”
Vines, which appeared from who knows where, bound my hands and feet.
When I tried to break them with strength, it had no effect. I even had the illusion that I was trying to uproot a tree with my bare hands.
There was no need to even think about it. This was the girl's doing.
I glared fiercely at the girl, but she just smiled brightly back.
“What do you think you're doing?”
“I cannot know what strange things you might do with my property, so it seems I must keep you under watch.”
The vines bound me.
The girl grabbed the end of the vines and started dragging me along.
My pleas to be let go fell on deaf ears. It seemed she intended to ignore my words completely.
My head bumped against the stone ground, thump, thump.
“Where are we going?”
Only when I brought up another topic did the girl finally respond.
“To my country.”
“Country?”
“It is called Uruk. It is small for now, but it will soon develop into the greatest city in the world.”
What kind of otaku nonsense is that?
“Do not think strange thoughts. It is annoying.”
“Well, I'll be.”
She was quite the queen.
“So? What do you plan to do with me?”
“Let me see. I brought you here on impulse, so... nothing comes to mind.”
“A queen without a plan. I pity your subjects.”
At the cheap taunt, the girl shrugged. At her gesture to say my piece, I too closed my mouth.
Before long, a small wall came into view.
The wall, which seemed to be made of mud, exuded an air of impregnable confidence despite its material.
“You are impressed, are you not? You may praise it more.”
“Hardly. To impress me, you'll have to bring me a 100-meter building.”
“That is a matter of the distant future, so that would not be possible now.”
...Huh?
Did she not just speak as if she knew of the future?
“What are you?”
“Pardon?”
The girl smiled faintly. Her bewitching red eyes flashed.
“Come to think of it, you already knew my true identity.”
“Yes. You are Mr. Beast, are you not? I heard you wander about quite a lot. Though that is all I know.”
A slight chill ran down my spine.
I thought she was just an ill-tempered brat, but she was quite the big shot.
People have a certain unique aura, and this girl was radiating the most intense one among them.
She was, without a doubt, the most dangerous person I had ever seen.
“What is your identity?”
“You might faint from shock.”
Slowly, the city wall opened. The sound of trumpets announcing the king's return could be heard.
“If it is my name you ask, I can answer.”
“...What is your name?”
The girl bent down to meet my eyes.
“Gilgamesh.”
Gilgamesh. I'll admit, the four-syllable name had an overwhelming presence.
However,
“Who's that?”
“.........What?”
I have no idea who that is.
“King Gilgamesh, have you returned? A considerable amount of work has piled up in your absence... King?”
“Please wait, Siduri. Just a moment. I have something I must do.”
What is it?
Why are you looking at me like that?
The smiling girl, Gilgamesh's expression didn't change one bit, but,
the temperature around us seemed to have dropped by about five degrees.
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