Character Story 2: The Creation of a Legend and an Argument to the Contrary
Yuni ran into a miniature disaster on her way towards the "Aquamarine Abyss." Having by chance saved Yuni from that situation, Yuuki then gradually caved to her firm requests and became a fellow traveler of hers.
Yuni
"From then onward, the journey continued very well."
Yuni
"I continue down the main road, physically lighter than before. I'm sure it's thanks to him that I can feel the illusion of having wings sprout from my shoes. Also in charge of carrying my things, this person is to me, my first frie--"
Yuuki
1. What's that notebook?
Yuni
Howaaaa!?
Yuni
Wh-What's with you, approaching from behind all of a sudden...! Don't go carelessly peeking in on a young girl's break time. I'm the type of person who likes getting into character when I start writing something.
Yuni
... Well, if you have to ask, the answer is, it's a lot of things. To me, it's where I keep logs of my travels, reminders for myself, as well as other kinds of notes. Other times, it can serve as my poem notebook.
Yuni
I'm something of a memo demon.
Yuni
Of course it goes without saying, for those of us who study magic, there are a number of ways to save information other than "writing," but-
Yuni
I just like the act of "writing" itself.
Yuni
If you must know why, it's because the act of visualizing your studies and realizations by turning them into words is the process of turning simple "information" into one's "knowledge."
Yuni
It's not for the sake conveying it to someone, and not for the sake of leaving behind something in the world. Just for the purpose of raising one's knowledge, I let my pen run wild!
Yuni
-- Is something that would be cool to say with ideals in mind. As much as I can go on about saying I live for my research, I'm neither a scholar nor a sage.
Yuni
Although I receive quite a bit of special treatment, I'm nothing more than a humble student trying to submit their assignment for a grade. *sigh*
Yuni
That being the case, as part of the plan to continue my assigned essay, I've left the "Ivory Tower" due to the necessity of performing a field study.
Yuuki
1. What's your assigned essay?
Yuni
Are you referring to the topic of my research? Hmm, I'll tell you everything, the topic is --
Yuni
... Hm?
Yuni
... Huh? What was it again?
Yuuki
1. Did you forget?
Yuni
Hey, hey, that's ridiculous, who do you think I am? I didn't want to have to say this about myself, but I'm a modern-day gifted woman who passed the entrance exam at the top of the class at St. Teresa's School for Girls.
Yuni
Having said that, even gifted women are people. I'll admit there are times where I have lapses in memory. Wait a bit. Uhh, it's times like these that somewhere in my notebook --
Yuni
Ah, okay, I've written it down. Now once more, the topic I'm researching is --
Yuni
"The fundamental falsehoods that lurk within the world."
Yuni
Well, it's not at the stage where I can say too much about it, but in short, in the current world there lies a great deception within it...
Yuni
And that's what I've hypothesized. Heh heh, what do you think? Magnificent, isn't it? Once I present this, I assure you the academia will be astonished.
Yuuki
1. But it'd just slipped your mind a second ago...
Yuni
Don't make me say it again. Gifted women are people too, everyone has those days.
Yuni
In fact, I read in some book that characters with a few quirks here and there are more relatable to the reader than ones without any. Now then, relate to me. Relate to me to your heart's content.
Yuni
Hii... Whew... Wait, Kouhai. We should take a break soo -- wait, no. There's been reports of monsters around here. We should continue carefully.
Yuni
I'll set up a net of detection magic. Now that we've made it this far, there's no need to rush. The place where the "Aquamarine Abyss" is said to be shouldn't be far now.
Yuuki
1. What exactly is the "Aquamarine Abyss?"
Yuni
Who knows. I've got no idea.
Yuni
No wait. Stop right there, Kouhai. Enough with the increasingly pitiful gaze on this modern-day gifted woman.
Yuni
This isn't a lapse in memory, I have a reason for this. It's because I don't know what it is that I've come to find out what it is. This pursuit of knowledge is what it means to learn.
Yuni
In any case, I'll share with you whatever small amount of information I have. According to an ancient document, this area was once inhabited by humans. The "Aquamarine Abyss" describes the mysterious large hole, feared by the village people of those times.
Yuni
As a result, they claim it to be bottomless, connecting all the way to Hades, or something like that. Haah, to think, Hades, the realm of the dead. This idea came up a lot from storytellers long ago.
Yuni
A mysterious spot tied to the next world, just within walking distance of the school. As someone who tries to challenge the secrets of the world, when I heard about this rumor, I shook off my laziness and set off in the pursuit of neighborhood archaeology.
Yuni
Anyway, from here on, even if we were to run into a monster, to be honest, I'd rather not have to retreat.
Yuni
That's where you come in, baggage-carrying Kouhai, or rather now, bodyguard Kouhai. I'll be counting on your manliness should an emergency arise. Surely, you didn't just decide on a whim to stick that sword to your waist to show off, right?
Yuni
By the way, this absurdly large battleaxe I'm carrying is 40% for show, 40% brought on a whim, and 20% for showing it off in magic pictures. It's a bluff as a weapon, and is unfortunately in no way useful at all in battle.
Yuni
Well, of course. My muscles have been spoiled by days of doing nothing more than flipping pages all day, so there's no way I could swing around something as heavy-looking as this.
Yuni
The stern battleaxe representing the symbol of war, and its unique design, the top resembling the tip of a fountain pen representing the symbol of knowledge, combined make for a feeling that incites "romanticism," so I ended up buying it on impulse upon finding it during one of my travels.
Yuuki
1. Can you fight with magic?
Yuni
Hah? What kind of wild thing are you saying?
Yuni
Can't you tell? My specialty is academic research. My position is the embodiment of the phrase, "the pen is mightier than the sword." Savage skills such as shooting a fireball are things I've learned as simply theories.
Rosetta
Pon! A notice to Doctor Yuni from Rosetta!
Yuni
Mu? What is it, Rosetta?
Rosetta
Several moving bodies detected, currently drawing closer at very slow speed! Based on gait analysis, they are presumed to be unintelligent life!
Yuni
So it's monsters... Hmmm, we'll have to avoid them if we want to keep moving forward.
Yuni
Hm? Ah, that voice just now? I'll introduce you, this is my treasured stone mineral. It's a navigator for lone journeys, an impromptu, easily-made, imitation golem named Rosetta.
Yuuki
1. It just looks like a small rock.
Yuni
There are times where solitude invites insanity. Over long periods of staying shut inside, I felt the need for someone to talk to, so I installed a virtual personality in a rock on the roadside.
Yuni
Just from its looks, it's a rough rock, but it's got a playful side to it, similar to me. Its life lasts only until it runs out of energy, but until then, I want you to get along with it.
Rosetta
It's my first time, so be gentle!
Yuuki
1. That sounds like your voice.
Yuni
You've got good ears on you. That's right, golems and virtual personalities are outside my area of expertise after all. The way I did it was simple, I recorded words into it beforehand, and those words will be replayed depending on what set conditions are met.
Yuni
Still, it's not something to be looked down it. For example... Okay, Rosetta, how is my biorhythm today?
Rosetta
Yuni-chan pretty! Yuni-chan sexy! Yuni-chan pretty and intelligent super popular queen!
Yuni
Eheheh--
Yuni
And as you can see, it's capable of a faint mental enhancing effect.
Yuuki
1. Did you record the line just now yourself?
2. Why does it sound like a parrot?
Option 1.
Yuni
Solitude invites madness. I too am a woman, and there are nights where I want to get dirty. No, young boy, don't stare at me with those pure eyes.
Option 2.
Yuni
Thinking about it now, I don't remember it in too much detail, but I probably wanted it to feel a bit like someone else was saying it. As previously stated, there's a playful side to me.
End of branches.
Rosetta
Pon! Designated response, entered sight range! Please transition to withdrawal or interception phase!
Monster
Grooowl!
Yuni
Hmm, doesn't seem to be a good time for idle talk. Darn monsters, there's more than I thought there'd be. If we move now, we might still be able to retreat, but...
Yuni
What do you think, Kouhai? You're the one fighting, so I'll leave whether we stay or fight to you.
Yuni
Hm...? Hey, what's with you -- that magic... No, is that even magic? Just what are you --
Rosetta
Cannot be identified! Corresponding data is not registered!
Yuni
Howa... Something, something's coming...! Something, a power that I'm not aware of...! Uoooh... very interesting! It feels as if all the cells of my body are boiling strongly!
Yuni
I've got this!!!
Monster
Grooowl!!!
Yuni
Howaaaa!
Monster
Grooowl!!!
Yuni
Ooh, my brain feels free... Things I only knew the theory to are linking to my senses... When I wave my arms, a savage ball of light shoots out... What is this... Just what kind of miracle principle is this...!?
Yuni
Haha, hahaha... thank you for this unprecedented experience... My intellect-seeking heart is trembling incredibly. In layman's terms, there's no way I can lose.
Monster
Groooowl!!!
Yuni
Taste knowledge, you monster!
Monster
Grooooowl!!!
Yuni
Oops, you'll get hurt, stand back, Kouhai. Ehehe... this unknown power, there's great merit in testing it out. Let's put this power to good use, scientifically!
Yuni
The pen is mighter than the sword!
Yuni
Howaa! Howawaa! Howachaaa!
Yuni
Ow. Ouch...
Yuni
I got too wild for my age today. Haah, I wanna hurry back and seclude myself in the "tower" to write this down...
Yuni
However. As expected, it seems like the legend wasn't true.
Yuni
The mysterious large hole was said to be connected to Hades. In reality, it turned out to be nothing more than an abandoned old pond.
Yuni
There were traces of the village people who lived there long ago around the area. Based on many legends from both the east and west, my conjecture is, the way the "Aquamarine Abyss" got started was probably something like this --
Yuni
Once, the people who lived in that village, made up a scary story about the pond so that children wouldn't dare approach it.
Yuni
Eventually, as generations changed, the village was abandoned, and monsters took its place. A simple made up story for kids became quite blurred, and today, it's left over as being called a legend. The end.
Yuuki
1. "That was disappointing."
Yuni
Hm? Disappointing? Why is that? This is just the result I'd predicted...
Yuni
Aah, I get it. You thought I was depressed and were trying to cheer me up?
Yuni
The consideration is misplaced, but is somehow appreciated. In layman's terms, thank you.
Yuni
Come to think of it, I'd never told you. My apologies. Thing is, I was initially on the side of rejecting this legend. And now, by performing that exploration, that's been proven. I'm ecstatic.
Yuni
Thus, there's no need for your concern. If anything, I want you to be proud. That success was due to your cooperation today. So let me say it once more, thank you.
Yuni
This is one of my stubbornly held beliefs, that in the pursuit of knowledge, truth and falsehood are secondary.
Yuni
To me, learning is precisely the act of learning something. What's important is finding out the answer, and not the answer itself.
Yuni
Hmm, allow me to equate it to a quiz tournament, for example. It means my goal is to have the right answer to a question, and not to win or get the reward.
Yuni
Well, you'll understand soon enough. The pleasure from learning something is more precious than the money or honor that may come from it.
Yuni
It's for that reason that I'm moving my pen everyday. I'm counting on you from here on, my comrade.
Right then, as she was saying something good, Yuni nonchalantly called Yuuki her comrade. Yuni had just appointed her errand boy.