NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 109
It feels like I’m being treated as some kind of state guest… With that thought lingering in my mind, I climbed into the vehicle Yuzu had guided me to. Inside, Eri was already waiting. The spacious interior even had a small refrigerator in the corner, stocked with what looked like wine bottles.
“Would you like something to drink?”
I was a little tense, as the scene felt like it was from another world. Eri, who had taken a seat next to me, offered me a drink. Since I wasn’t particularly thirsty, I politely declined. Eri looked a bit disappointed, but then started fiddling with a tablet-like device, busying herself with something.
Yuzu sat across from me, and once again, I was struck by how different yet beautiful both of these women were. Sitting in a luxurious vehicle with them by my side, I couldn’t help but feel like a successful businessman.
…Well, just having that thought made me realize how much of an ordinary person I really am.
“There will be a slight jolt when the engine starts. Please brace yourself.”
“Got it.”
As the military vehicle in front of us slowly began to move, I felt a brief floating sensation, a slight but noticeable jolt.
“Is this vehicle hovering like a skoot?”
“No, a skoot uses jet engines to hover. This vehicle uses counter-repulsion energy to manipulate gravity.”
“Ah, I see…”
“Vehicles using counter-repulsion energy are quite stable, which is why they’re widely used in the Empire. Though, they are rather expensive.”
So, it’s like using magnetic repulsion to float?
“Kind of like… a maglev train, right?”
In my world, there was a technology similar to this, used in maglev trains. I didn’t know the exact science behind it, but I remembered that it used magnetic forces to achieve propulsion—an advanced form of transportation.
But here, they were using something called counter-repulsion energy, which seemed far more advanced. It could be something completely different from maglev technology.
On the way here, Rene and I had passed through the city’s entertainment district, but now the vehicle I was in traveled along a glowing rail in the sky towards our destination.
We were quite high up, and the view from the car window was incredible—massive buildings stretching vertically and horizontally, some towering hundreds of meters into the sky. At certain points, we even weaved between these colossal structures, like being on a thrilling rollercoaster ride.
Despite that, the interior of the vehicle felt stable, as if we were still on the ground. Soft classical music played in the background, and both Yuzu and Eri sat silently, their posture perfect, eyes closed in a calm waiting stance.
Their calmness allowed me to enjoy the scenery of the Star Capital without feeling too self-conscious.
“This really is like a world of the future,” I muttered, leaning my elbow on the armrest and resting my cheek in my hand, taking in the view.
“Lord Allen, are you by chance from Earth?”
Eri, who had been waiting with her eyes closed, responded to my casual remark. I realized Yuzu, too, had opened her eyes and was now watching me with interest from across the seat.
“Yes, I live in a place called Tokyo… Have you heard of it?”
“Yes! During the era when humanity still lived on Earth, Tokyo was the capital of Japan, the precursor to the Sakura Empire.”
“…Wait, does that mean no one lives on Earth anymore?”
I knew humanity had spread across various galaxies in this era, but I hadn’t known the current state of Earth. From the way Eri spoke, it seemed like Earth was now uninhabited.
“Currently, Earth and the Solar System are protected under international treaties, so civilians are not allowed to enter. They say Earth has been returned to its natural state, with all man-made structures removed.”
“Is that so…”
Apparently, once humanity had fully ventured into space, they decided to preserve Earth, their birthplace, by removing all artificial structures and restoring it to a planet of pure nature.
Despite this, Earth and the planets of the Solar System were regarded as sacred places, being the origin of humanity’s journey into space. Even the surrounding space was off-limits to civilians.
“The era when humanity lived on Earth is something we in this age admire. There are even private projects in the Sakura Empire aiming to recreate Earth, you know?”
Eri explained that, to the people of this era, Earth was more than just a symbol of nostalgia—it was a place of deep admiration. While many records of Earth’s past, such as photos and videos, remained, very few physical items still existed, making them extremely valuable.
Feeling playful, I decided to pull out the pen I always carried with me. It wasn’t just any ordinary pen—it was a high-quality pen given to me by Ryuugen, the head of the Saioji family. Its surface was a deep wine-red, coated in titanium, and engraved with the name “Saiou” in silver letters.
Originally, I had thought of keeping it safely stored away, but both Ryuugen and his daughter had insisted that tools were meant to be used. So, I carried it with me everywhere.
“…And what about this?”
“It’s a ballpoint pen I received from Ryuugen, my employer. Since I wasn’t comfortable using a fountain pen, he had this ballpoint pen custom-made for me.”
I had never been able to get used to the feel of a fountain pen, so Ryuugen had gone out of his way to gift me this one-of-a-kind ballpoint pen instead.
Among the things I had received on Earth, this pen was perhaps my most prized possession. Now, I wondered how much something like this would be worth in this era. With that thought in mind, I showed it to the two women.
And then…
“Hey, Eri?”
Suddenly, Eri collapsed onto my shoulder, as if a tightly wound string had snapped. I gently shook her shoulder, but she didn’t respond—she had fainted.