Episode 19: View from the Summit

I woke up comfortably for the first time since coming to this world. No, I don’t recall waking up this comfortably even back in Japan after I passed 40. It’s an exhilarating awakening experienced for the first time in decades.

As you age, sleep naturally becomes shallow due to stress and worries. Therefore, although I wake up early, my head is always foggy. My current body is young, so it’s not that bad, but living a survival life constantly under stress, the state is similar. However, right now my body feels as light as if I have wings, and my thoughts are very clear.

When I sat up, a fabric light as paper was draped over my body. Taking it in my hand, it was truly light and soft, hardly feeling like it had any weight. When I moved it off my body, the morning chill crept in. Apparently, this fabric has excellent heat retention and protected me from the night dew.

At a glance, it’s a brushed fabric like silver fur, but its functionality and comfort are on a different level from general fabrics. Wrapping it around my body, it fits snugly and envelops me in warmth. Moreover, it seems to create a layer of air between me and the ground, making it feel like sleeping on a high-quality mattress.

Pulling it with some force, it slides off the body and becomes thin like a vinyl sheet. Despite being flimsy, it’s durable and doesn’t tear even when pulled with considerable force.

Should I call it a magic blanket?

It looks like fur at first glance, but it also seems like chemical fiber utilizing high technology. The touch is completely different when it’s like a sleeping bag versus when it’s sheet-like. A mysterious object. Did the “Spirit of Flowers” give it to me?

Looking around, I was inside a “Fairy Ring” amidst a meadow where flowers like white clover, red clover, and rape blossoms bloomed in profusion, just like yesterday. However, I should have been inside the large central “Fairy Ring,” but now I’m inside a smaller one a short distance away. I don’t remember moving, so did the fairies move me while I was sleeping? Though I felt eerie, I want to be grateful for getting safe and comfortable sleep.

Standing up and stretching greatly, my body becomes light all at once. There is absolutely no stiffness or soreness from sleeping on hard ground. Doing light stretches activates blood flow to the whole body, filling me with dynamism. Vitality and stamina are all fulfilled.

I approached the large central “Fairy Ring,” but I couldn’t advance midway as if bounced back. It feels like an invisible membrane is stretched there. It seems visiting once is the end.

With the “Spirit of the Spring,” I thought I was rejected because I angered her, but is that not the case? Is recovery of wounds and stamina a one-time thing? I don’t understand at all, but was I able to rest slowly this time because I didn’t anger the spirit?

I picked up a bracelet when leaving the “Spirit of the Spring’s” place; did the “Spirit of the Spring” give that to me after all? I noticed a while later that the pseudo-Lycaon fang was missing. I thought I dropped it at some point, but maybe it was taken by the fairies, servants of the “Spirit of the Spring.”

Then, can I take this magic blanket? The Sabertooth Tiger fur was taken… no, I was made to offer it, but the compensation for that would be last night’s “stove and meal,” right? Or is this blanket also included in the compensation?

If four pseudo-Lycaon fangs get that bracelet, maybe a Sabertooth Tiger fur is worth this much… Since taking it silently felt wrong, I folded it small and placed it in front of the large “Fairy Ring.”

“Spirit of Flowers, thank you for granting me a comfortable meal and sleep. Should I return this blanket?”

Saying that, I waited a bit. I don’t think words get through, but I want to believe the meaning of the act does. Truth be told, I want this blanket desperately. This place is somewhat warm, but severe cold likely awaits once I leave here. Originally, at this altitude in the morning, it shouldn’t even be 10°C.

Having the Sabertooth Tiger fur, which substituted for a blanket, taken… no, losing it hurts quite a bit. While debating whether to leave it or take it, the magic blanket placed on the ground floated up softly and wrapped around my body.

“Thank you, Spirit of Flowers.”

I interpreted this as receiving the magic blanket. I felt a bit like a moocher, but necessity knows no law. I bowed deeply toward the “Fairy Ring” and left the place.

Leaving the location of the “Fairy Ring,” the small animals watching from a distance with hostility scattered far away. As expected, only I could enter this area; animals seem unable to enter.

Why do spirits give charity only to humans? Where is the fence separating humans and animals? Is it whether one offers a tribute or not?

I don’t understand spirits at all. Does the spirit appearing after a crystal-like pillar appears have meaning too? In the first place, is the existence of spirits really possible?

Only questions arise one after another, but there is almost no information to derive answers. It might be useless to think about it because it’s a fantasy world, but falling into such suspension of thought feels wrong, and I don’t want to become like that. With the accumulation of experience cultivated in Japan, there are only things I can’t understand no matter what, increasing anxiety and irritation in my heart.

But, what is it? Thinking calmly, it’s very strange why spirits are here giving healing in such a place.

Or rather, isn’t it too convenient?

While there are creatures closer to monsters than animals creating a world of survival of the fittest, finding such healing spots scattered around makes me feel some external intent.

True, spirits are mysterious, and the effects of power appearing to be magic are tremendous. I am very grateful for that. But I feel a snag no matter what. Maybe I’m just suspicious, but I feel like I’m being toyed with by a god-like perspective and power.

Thinking so is very unpleasant. Ideally, I should accept things flexibly like a young person, but for an old man with a twisted nature, it’s difficult and painful.

I shook my head to dispel evil thoughts. Doubting such things won’t help now. Anyway, I got my mind and body healed, was fed delicious meat, and slept peacefully. As compensation, the Sabertooth Tiger fur was taken, or rather, paid. It seems best to think that way and be convinced.

Well, since I won’t understand no matter how much I think, let’s shelve this problem for now. Finding other humans is more important now. I bowed once more toward the large “Fairy Ring” where the “Spirit of Flowers” was and departed for the mountain summit.

Climbing the mountain for several hours, the sun approached near the zenith, but the wind became colder. Parts directly hit by the sun are somewhat warm, but overall it’s cold.

Rock surfaces came to occupy most parts, and places with grass became partial. I must have crossed the timberline. In central Japan, this would be over 2500m altitude, and in Hokkaido, about 1000-1500m.

I don’t know the correlation between latitude and plant distribution in this world, but based on my mountain climbing experience, I think this area corresponds to Japan’s temperate zone. So, I suspect I am around 2000-2500m altitude.

The summit is still ahead, but I can clearly see the rocks forming the peak, and the ridgeline forming the mountain range continues endlessly. I should reach it in another 2-3 hours.

On the other hand, looking back, the ridges, valleys, and streams I followed are spread out covered by forest trees. Beyond that, the lake that was the starting point is visible along with a sea of clouds.

The lake, which looked divided into several parts from the middle of the mountain, is partly hidden by the sea of clouds from here, but I can see it actually has a complex shape with many inlets. Vaguely, it reminds me of an artificial lake like a dam lake rather than a natural one. Moreover, it’s a much larger lake than I thought. Finally seeing the full picture of the lake, I felt like I got one answer.

I gathered dead wood for camping around here. It will likely be difficult to obtain for a while ahead. Also, there was a bird resembling a ptarmigan, so I killed it for food.

Once prepared, I increased my pace climbing the mountain. As I approached the summit, the wind became stronger, but it was clear without rain or fog. Mountain weather is changeable, so I don’t want to miss the chance to overlook the other side.

Large rock masses the size of cars were piled up overlappingly, blocking my way many times, but I jumped over or bypassed them, overcoming them easily to proceed. Naturally, coming to this height, almost no animals are found. Only occasional herds of animals resembling Ezo deer in the distance.

Climbing up the rock wall towering before me, I finally reached the summit. One of the peaks of the mountain range stretching east to west, a world of only rugged rocks. Finally climbing up, I obtained a reasonable sense of accomplishment, but more than that, I’m curious about the scenery on the other side of the mountain I couldn’t see until now.

And the world on the other side of the mountain I could finally see was a world of endless mountains. Ridges of numerous mountains overlapped, and distant mountains were just visible as hazy blue shapes.

I despaired.

Nowhere is there a sign of people or civilization. Only merciless nature exists. I used my eyes’ zoom function to look again and again in detail. Since clouds spread between mountains, I can’t see the lowland parts. If humans build towns or villages, it would be in those parts. I waited impatiently for the clouds to clear, but there was no sign of it at all.

Watching for a while, I saw a vertically long glint for an instant. Since the glint was just for an instant, I thought I missaw something, but being curious, I zoomed to the maximum and stared intensively at that spot.

Then, occasionally there are times when light shines as if popping.

Staring intently, I can flickeringly see a faint black line extending from the ground toward the sky. It appears and disappears due to atmospheric dimming and refraction.

When visible clearly, it felt almost like a line dividing the world. Extending straight toward the heavens endlessly, disappearing and reappearing midway. Looking closer, one might think it connects to the sky.

I proceeded toward that black straight line. No matter how I look at it, it is far away, and I don’t seem likely to reach it unless I cross several mountains ahead. Thinking about that makes my heart heavy, but in this world of only nature, only that seems to be an existence contrary to nature.

Amidst despair, I wanted to cling to that slight clue.

I traverse toward that black straight line. I continue walking on the summit of the mountain range so as not to lose sight of the black straight line. Proceeding on rugged sheer rocks is hard, but the black straight line seems like the last hope to me.

As the sun tilted, the frequency of the black straight line reflecting light increased. Moreover, I feel the visible height extended too. But still, the upper limit is invisible. I traverse intently while watching the black straight line. Meanwhile, no artificial objects are found on the ground left or right.

When the sun began to set and the sky started turning red, my shoes broke. The tree branches used as soles wore down and broke, unable to keep their shape. They lacked strength to continue walking on rugged rocks. I reinforced them when leaving the lake and repaired them many times on the way, but it’s no wonder for an amateur creation with no decent materials or tools. Conversely, I think they lasted well until now.

To repair the shoes, I have no choice but to descend the mountain to some extent to get materials. But I seem to have been walking absorbedly and just realized the sun is setting. It’s dangerous as it gets dark now, so I decided to look for a bed. Shoe repair will have to be tomorrow.

Fortunately, since this is all rocks, there are plenty of places to hide, and almost no beasts are found. With the magic blanket received from the “Spirit of Flowers,” I should be able to endure the severe cold.

By the time I finished eating, it was completely dark around, and only the light of the bonfire showed the existence of a human like me to the surroundings. Straining my ears to search for presence, there are no signs of beasts or birds. Since there has been almost no fighting since yesterday, my feelings are light. If only there were a place to return to, I could enjoy mountain climbing…

By the way, the night sky seen from here is amazing! It’s a starry sky for which the expression “raining stars” is perfect. Countless stars twinkle, and the Milky Way runs across the night sky as a band of light bright enough to be dazzling.

Long ago, when I visited a friend’s house who ran a ranch, I was moved by the starry sky and Milky Way seen there. In Japan, artificial lights interfere, so you can’t see the Milky Way unless you go to a very dark place.

However, the starry sky seen from here is beyond that time. Here, there are absolutely no artificial lights from the start, and being at high altitude where the air is thin and clear, I feel the starry sky is very close. Moreover, the number of visible stars is too different from the starry sky seen from Japan or Earth.

The number of visible stars is very large, and the shape of the Milky Way is clearly different from when seen from Japan. The part thought to be the bulge of the galaxy center looks quite thick, so the brightness of the Milky Way feels dazzling.

It seems certain this isn’t Earth, but deducing from this starry sky, this planet I am on seems closer to the center of the galaxy than Earth. Though, that assumes it’s in the same galaxy, but there are overwhelmingly more bright stars like 1st and 2nd magnitude stars than seen on Earth. Doesn’t that indicate the distance between stars is closer?

I thought about such things while being moved by the beauty of the starry sky. Even if this is a fantasy-like world, it should be in a galaxy, forming a stellar system, and consisting of planets where life exists.

I hope it’s not a flat earth made by God…

However, there is something causing anxiety or doubt. That is the existence of the birdcage-like net above the sky. Looking at the night sky even now, there are times when the lights of stars are blocked for a few moments. Watching this clear night sky carefully, I can see a net is stretched as if wrapping the entire night sky.

Whether that covers the entire planet or covers a flat earth like a hemispherical “cloche” with a handle used to cover dishes in Western cuisine, I can’t distinguish from here.

In any case, the world is covered by a net-like object. In other words, one can think it is captured by someone. Whether that is God, aliens, or due to locals, it’s just a mystery for now.

However, I don’t want to think of it as God. Even after actually seeing spirits and fairies, exchanging something like conversation, and being shown mysterious magical powers, I still can’t fully believe it. No, not wanting to accept it is the truth. If I accept that, the world of science and physics I believed in until now will collapse. That is scary.

Whew…

No good, no good, my thoughts become dark no matter what. Living a survival life in this strange world, I’m probably starting to break… Solitude drives people mad. Haha, it’s true…

While falling into such thoughts, a bright red moon rose from the horizon. It has a dull red color due to atmospheric extinction. Moreover, just peeking out from the horizon, it looks quite large.

When heading to save Lusine, it was a waxing moon visible past evening, but now it’s waning a little past full moon. Almost all surface patterns are visible, but they are clearly different from the patterns seen from Earth. Rather than a rabbit pounding mochi, it looks like a swimming turtle.

Well, setting that aside, the fact that a moon past full is rising around this time means, since about 10 days have passed since that day, calculating roughly, it seems to follow an orbit similar to Earth’s moon. Phases of the moon depend on the orbital period around the planet and the positional relationship with the sun, so I can’t say unconditionally, but I think this planet’s environment is very similar to Earth’s.

From the fact that life exists, I think this planet is in the habitable zone, but the existence of such a moon (satellite) might also be essential for life survival.

Tidal effects brought by the moon’s gravity bring various influences to life. Most familiarly, women’s menstrual cycles. Body changes following the moon cycle are seen, called “moon things” or menses. Spawning of marine life is also like that.

Sun, planet, moon, life, and humans. These are closely connected. Because they have been cultivated in the process of evolution over hundreds of millions of years.

As the moon leaves the horizon and increases in brightness, the glow of the Milky Way becomes faint, and the number of visible stars decreases considerably. This is exactly the same phenomenon as watching the starry sky in Japan. The fact that familiar natural phenomena are the same as what I know means the science and physics I know are applied. This brings me tremendous relief.

Yes, every phenomenon must have a scientific basis. I hope God doesn’t exist by mistake and wield tyrannical power.

Thinking about various things, I got tired. Let’s sleep. Staying awake only brings good-for-nothing thoughts to mind.

Morning comes, and bathing in sunlight refreshes my mood. At night, I inevitably get trapped in my own thoughts and become like a poet. In the morning, I always feel ashamed of my thoughts from last night. This is like my habit that doesn’t change even after decades.

By the way, the magic blanket did a good job. It ignores the cold morning wind after the bonfire went out. Truly wonderful. Looking into the distance, I can faintly see the black straight line. While feeling relieved by that, I prepare for activity.

First, shoe repair. Descend the mountain a bit, go to where wood for shoe materials is available, and repair the shoes. While at it, gather firewood there. Catch small animals nearby and gather tree nuts. Secure ingredients and return to the summit.

Start traversing again from there. Aiming for the faintly visible black straight line, walk intently along the ridgeline. The advantage of traversing is seeing scenery on both sides of the mountain range. Maybe I can find human towns or traces somewhere. And the other is not losing sight of the black straight line.

The black straight line is currently the only non-natural object. I don’t think a straight line reaching the heavens exists naturally. But at the same time, I don’t think it was made by humans…

But right now, I have nothing else to aim for. Nature in this world is too vast to walk without any goal. Scared of losing sight of the black straight line, I walk aiming only for that. Meals and sleep, masturbation and excretion; other than that, I walk silently.

Actually, walking along the mountain summit is equivalent to walking on a mass of rocks repeating severe unevenness, so it’s a struggle. But in return, I almost never encounter beasts. Occasionally attacked by raptors or small animals, I repelled them without problems. With few battles, I traverse the mountain range crossing several particularly high peaks to gain distance.

However, at the same time, the libido that subsided in the “Fairy Ring” attacked me more intensely as if relapsed. Fighting libido became more painful than fighting animals. Masturbation didn’t settle it, and I occasionally started seeing hallucinations of women. Rock masses looked like reclining women, or two round rocks looked like breasts or buttocks.

Still, I could keep my sanity to some extent because the black straight line started becoming a surface instead of a line. It was no longer flickering in and out of view; I could clearly see a black pillar-like object extending toward the heavens as if growing from the earth. However, the upper limit was still invisible, and I had absolutely no idea how far it extended.

Continuing such things for about 4 days, the mountain range was finally coming to an end. Although there were still undulations, the line of mountains that continued almost parallel announced its end, becoming a descent toward lowlands. Below, low mountains appeared overlapping, and nature still spread out. Amidst that, the black pillar that became a surface pierced the clouds and towered.

I once saw the Sky Tree in Tokyo from a certain high ground in Saitama Prefecture. It was about 30km in straight line distance, but looking close, the giant Sky Tree looked small enough that I didn’t know if it was there or not.

Yet, the black pillar is far beyond that distance and still visible like that. If seen up close, I can’t even estimate how huge it is. It must have completely exceeded the realm of artificial objects. It feels exactly like the realm of God.

Or is there a civilization capable of building such a huge structure? I can’t really think so, but…

Still, current me has no choice but to aim for it. Only that black pillar is tethering my heart, which looks like it’s about to go mad any moment.

I descend the mountain. Rocky areas become grassland, and shrubs change to forest. Hidden by trees, when the black pillar disappears from sight, I become anxious, and my whole body buzzes and trembles. Still, since I have to proceed, I forcibly suppress my anxiety and tell myself it’s okay.

Going into the forest, beasts attack as if waiting for me. It’s a pack of pseudo-Lycaons, but I was happy. Fighting is the best medicine to make me forget anxiety.

No matter what big game, exchanging lives through fighting makes me feel alive. My heart dances at the first real battle in a while. Pseudo-Lycaons come to kill me. I kill pseudo-Lycaons and definitely reduce their numbers. Every time pseudo-Lycaon fangs or claws graze my body, I feel the dynamism of running through the gap between life and death.

I move locations while fighting pseudo-Lycaons. I wanted a wide place where I could swing the halberd fully. I found a cave with an open space in front. It’s about 10 meters square, but enough space.

The pseudo-Lycaons take positions to surround me, but I emit intense Pressure to paralyze them. The Pressure released as if venting stress that was about to drive me crazy forms a tough Field, entangling the pseudo-Lycaons like a net.

Surprised myself by the generation of such a powerful Field, I flash the halberd, and the heads of the pseudo-Lycaons fly into the air all at once. When their eight heads roll on the ground, flowers of blood bloom from the necks of their standing bodies. Soon they fall thud thud and are annihilated. Eight black mists appeared and vanished.

But the battle isn’t over.

Even during the fight with the pseudo-Lycaons, there was a guy emitting tremendous Pressure from the depths of the cave. I remember that unique way of emitting Pressure. Suddenly, a stone axe flew from the depths of the cave. It approaches me drawing a curve, but I knock it down with the halberd.

Almost simultaneously, a Hobgoblin rushed out and attacked. This Hobgoblin is smaller than the one at the lakeside, but holds a longsword exceeding 1 meter. Moreover, unlike the lakeside one, he is a skillful guy who handles the longsword like his own limbs.

Seeing the Hobgoblin, I felt my blood boil. Remembering Lusine’s face on the verge of death, uncontrollable anger exploded. However, even if I thrust the halberd in anger, the Hobgoblin parries it skillfully. Quite a swordsman.

I wonder why he can handle a sword this well, but I strive to suppress my anger. Unlike dealing with beasts, dealing with a weapon user is difficult after all. Fighting emotionally plays right into the opponent’s hands.

“Calmly, calmly…”

I say it out loud to tell myself. Then I stop attacking, catching the Hobgoblin’s sword strikes with the halberd several times to measure the distance. Looking at the Hobgoblin’s sword movements calmly, I can handle them without trouble with the halberd superior in reach.

The Hobgoblin stopped moving and readied his sword. I can sense he is forming a Field using Telekinesis. Seems he intends to accelerate his arm movement. At the same time I step in thrusting the halberd, I apply Telekinesis to decelerate the Hobgoblin’s arm movement. Moreover, simultaneously, I kicked a pseudo-Lycaon head rolling at my feet.

The Hobgoblin was surprised by his arm movement dulling, and further dodged to the left to avoid the flying pseudo-Lycaon head. However, what waited there was my charging halberd. Unable to dodge completely, the Hobgoblin took the halberd’s spearhead in the face. The Hobgoblin’s head was skewered magnificently, instant death.

Managing to repel the Hobgoblin, while relieved, I kicked the corpse with all my might in rising anger. His corpse flew, hit the rock at the cave entrance, and snapped in two. Finally, my anger subsided somewhat, and I exhaled deeply.

Whew………

I approach the entrance to check if there are still Goblins inside the cave. At that time, unexpectedly, I could look far through the gaps in the trees. I opened my eyes wide and involuntarily did a double-take.

I saw a road on the mountain slope across the valley.

I zoomed in to look. It’s just leveled ground on a part of the mountain slope, but relatively new ruts, likely from wheels, are carved there. And that road continues to the other side of the mountain.

Finding traces likely made by humans so suddenly without any warning, I was dumbfounded for a while. Gradually, slowly, joy wells up and spreads throughout my body. My whole body trembled, and tears overflowed.

“Uoooooooohhhhhhhh!!!!”

I screamed unconsciously and started running.