NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 110
The pen I received from Chairman Ryugen as a simple show of curiosity ended up causing a reaction far beyond what I had expected.
“…”
“Isn’t that the writing instrument personally gifted by Ryugen to you, Akira-sama? Without a doubt, it’s a national treasure… Normally, something like that would be enshrined in the Imperial Treasury, but since it’s in Akira’s-sama possession now…”
Eri, who was sitting next to me, had fainted and was leaning against me, while Yuzu, seated across from me, was muttering unfamiliar terms under her breath, half-escaping from reality.
“Um, Yuzu-san?”
“Can our current security forces really protect Akira-sama and such a priceless artifact? If this information leaks, it won’t just cause an uproar… Should we silence all the guards to ensure complete confidentiality? Or should we wait for Lord Minato’s instructions? But that might be overstepping…”
I tried talking to Yuzu, but she didn’t seem to hear me. She just kept muttering to herself, like a broken robot, letting all her thoughts spill out in a soft, mechanical voice.
Was this pen really such an extraordinary item? Well, even in the modern world, a pen gifted by Chairman Ryugen would certainly be quite expensive.
Still, objects like this are more than just monetary in value, so no matter how much someone might offer, I have no intention of ever selling it.
(I should probably avoid showing anything else from the Saioji family…)
Just as Chairman Ryugen had given me this pen, I had also received a keepsake from Saioji.
It was a simple pendant with a small rainbow-colored gem attached to it.
The chain was a ready-made product from Earth, but the small gem hanging around my neck was something Saioji had acquired in the world of Asphial, a rare and precious gemstone.
Apparently, it could be used as a medium for magic, but I had no idea what sort of magic it was typically used for.
I wasn’t sure what had happened to Saioji in this world. Perhaps they spent the rest of their life in Asphial, or maybe they returned to this world.
At the very least, after some light research, I found no trace of a person named Saioji Shizuku in their family records. This led me to believe that Saioji might have stayed in the world of Asphial.
However, that’s just a guess on my part, with no real evidence to support it, so it remains a mystery.
—
The place known as Area 1 in Star City seemed to be where high-ranking officials from the Holy Kingdom stayed when they visited Zerad for any reason.
Unlike the reddish-brown wastelands that typically characterized Zerad, this area was lush with greenery, featuring shopping malls, theaters, and various other facilities, making it almost like a resort.
It reminded me of the Royal District in Cainriese’s capital, a beautifully crafted place where nature and urban areas existed in perfect harmony. I even saw people jogging with pets that looked like four-legged dogs along the neatly paved paths.
It was a completely different world compared to the rest of Zerad.
“It’s amazing. You even managed to arrange a hotel in a place like this?”
“We already have several high-ranking officials from the Zerad government on our side, so as long as it doesn’t involve large-scale military action, there’s no worry about the government finding out.”
After we safely arrived at our destination, Yuzu disembarked first, offering me her hand to help me out. As I stepped off, I was greeted by a stunning sight: a long line of staff members.
There weren’t just ten or twenty of them. Judging by their neat uniforms, I assumed they were employees of the hotel Yuzu had arranged.
A bright red carpet stretched from where I got off to the entrance of the hotel, and dozens of employees lined up, all bowing their heads to me in unison as I passed.
For a moment, I felt like a Hollywood star… and then snapped back to reality, glancing at Eri, who still showed no sign of waking. Yuzu, now by my side, coldly said, “Leave her be,” in a voice so frosty I’d never heard anything like it before, making me quietly nod and turn my attention forward again.
I had a feeling Eri was going to be in trouble when she woke up… I thought to myself as I slowly made my way to the hotel entrance.
—
Through Chairman Ryugen, I had become somewhat accustomed to social gatherings in high society, but by the time I was finally alone in the private room prepared for me, my nerves were completely shot, and I was mentally drained.
To make matters worse, the “private room” they had prepared was so enormous that I couldn’t even relax. It was clearly a room meant for multiple people, possibly with full-time room service. In fact, this room was probably larger than my house in the royal capital and maybe even bigger than my home back in Tokyo.
I wasn’t used to using such a large, luxurious space so freely. In fact, I preferred simpler, smaller places that felt more comfortable, so being in this overly opulent room felt more suffocating than anything.
(I would’ve been fine with a single room in a business hotel…)
The room was obviously designed for a large group, with a massive TV screen that was practically the size of a movie theater, several high-end sofas and chairs, and outside, there was a spacious veranda and even a large Jacuzzi-style pool. The place was truly outfitted with every possible luxury.
“Guess I’ll take a break…”
Unable to relax in the grand living room, I decided to rest in the bedroom until it was time for my next appointment. After some wandering around, I finally found a place that seemed somewhat peaceful.
“This should do…”
Even the bedroom was an expansive space, with a bed larger than any king-sized bed I had ever seen, plush carpeting that seemed too luxurious to step on, and all sorts of extravagant furnishings.
Still, after exploring for a bit, the most peaceful place I found was the walk-in closet next to the bedroom, designed to store clothes.