New chapter of Single Old Man is out! (2/2 chapters)

 

 

The Contents of the Wooden Box

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

Now then, I secluded myself in the underground workshop and placed a wooden box upon the table.

“Let me see, its size is… about as large as could be enclosed within both hands. The material is wood, and it is secured with a lock. However, perhaps due to considerable corrosion, both the key and the hinges are utterly decrepit… Yet, this was preserved for over 2000 years, was it not.” (Gentoku)

I did not know whether it had been preserved through some manner of magic.

Yet still… it is quite remarkable that it endured so long.

I summoned light magic at my fingertip, and combined it with water magic to fashion a lens in order to peer inside… simultaneous use of differing magics, surprisingly, was not at all difficult to perform. Through the lens, when I examined the keyhole, I perceived the truth.

“Well now, it seems as though it could be opened rather easily… the true difficulty lies in the fact that, should I fail to act with caution, the metal fittings may crumble away.” (Gentoku)

I felt grateful to my grandfather who had held a locksmith’s license. My grandfather could do many things and had imparted much knowledge to me, and thus I was now saved.

“Very well then, I shall fashion a set of picking tools. With earth magic I shall extract the metal buried within the soil and refine it…” (Gentoku)

From the soil meant for the flowerbeds, I refined metal and, guided by an image within my mind, shaped it accordingly. With the completed, specially made picking tools in hand, I immediately attempted to open the lock.

“Secure it with a tension wrench… carefully, carefully… yes.” (Gentoku)

With a click, the lock opened. I cautiously lifted the lid, and within was revealed–…

“……This is a music box? And besides that…” (Gentoku)

It was a music box’s gearbox, and a ring. The gearbox was heavily worn, with missing parts, incapable of producing sound. Yet though rust and grime abounded, with careful disassembly and cleaning, it might be restored.

But as for this ring…

“…A wedding ring, perhaps.” (Gentoku)

For some reason, I felt it improper for me to touch it with bare hands, so I polished it with a handkerchief and wrapped it.

Then I removed the gearbox, preparing for disassembly.

“As for the broken parts, earth magic’s ‘transmutation’ ought to suffice… the true problem lies with this box. This wooden box is no longer serviceable. The paint and decorations upon its sides have all flaked away, leaving me ignorant of its original appearance… there is no helping it. I shall craft a plain wooden box of equal dimensions.” (Gentoku)

Somehow, I felt as though I had become one of those eccentric inventors who were always said to dwell in some town. This music box was not a magical tool but merely an ordinary music box. No magic stone was embedded within it, and had I encountered it back in Japan, I might simply have repaired it on the spot and returned it.

“…Was it Atsuko-san? This ring… could it have belonged to her husband?” (Gentoku)

A woman who, after being transported to another world past the age of seventy, had established an organization called the Witch Council. How Atsuko-san’s knowledge had influenced the twelve who became magical technicians, I could not know.

Yet still, as a fellow traveler from another world, I addressed the ring.

“I shall ensure this music box is properly restored.” (Gentoku)

Now then, let us proceed with the repairs.

 

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After some three hours had passed–…

I crafted a new wooden box, and with “transmutation” I formed new hinges and attached the lid. It had been concealed by compacted grime, but I discovered that this music box was a hand-crank type. I attached a new crank, disassembled and cleansed the gearbox, and replaced the broken parts through transmutation.

Thereafter, I secured it to the box.

“At last, it is complete… now then, let me hear what song it holds.” (Gentoku)

I wound the crank. The melody that flowed forth was… a nursery rhyme. A song reminiscent of red dragonflies in flight. A nursery rhyme. The classical sound of pins struck within the music box resounded throughout the air.

It was mysterious. Before I knew it, my eyes were closed, and I was utterly enthralled by that sound.

“…Why did Atsuko-san possess this music box…? No, to ask such a thing would be boorish. I shall ensure it is properly returned.” (Gentoku)

I placed the polished ring within the box.

Thus, the task was completed… all in all, half a day’s work. And for this, a payment of one billion… my sense of money might soon become deranged.

“Ossan, are you here!!” (Rosso)

“Oji-sama~” (Blanche)

“Oji-san…” (Ao)

Voices calling for me. Each with a different manner of address, making them easy to distinguish.

Carrying the music box, I ascended to the second floor. At the entrance stood the three familiar young ladies.

“Yahho, we finished work early so we came to play!!” (Rosso)

“Fufu, I have brought a magic stone as a gift.” (Blanche)

“…Oji-san, do you have an underwater scooter?” (Ao)

“Indeed, I do. I have prepared them properly.” (Gentoku)

I led the three to the beach, opened the storage shed, and brought out three underwater scooters that had been stored inside.

Upon seeing their respective colors, the girls’ eyes sparkled.

“I have the red one!? Nice!!” (Rosso)

“White… could it truly be that even mine has been prepared?” (Blanche)

“…Blue. That is good.” (Ao)

“Each matches your image color. These are slightly improved versions of the earlier prototypes, so the maneuverability has increased.” (Gentoku)

“Yay!! All right then, immediately!! Tohh!!” (Rosso)

“Oooh!!” (Gentoku)

Rosso instantly stripped off her bikini armor, revealing a swimsuit, yet…

“R-Rosso!! You are disrobing far too much!!” (Blanche)

“Hmm? Ah, I even took off the bra.” (Rosso)

“…Fool.” (Ao)

Rosso tossed away her bra as well, standing topless…

Indeed, most ample. My gratitude.

She seemed unbothered by my gaze, possessing little sense of modesty, and calmly retrieved the fallen bra and reattached it.

“Ehehe, Ossan saw meee!! Such a pervert!!” (Rosso)

“Now see here, that is… do not tease an adult so!!” (Gentoku)

“Okaaay!! Then, I am off!!” (Rosso)

“…Hmph, I as well. Oji-san, lend me a room. Blanche will also change.” (Ao)

“Very well. Then, Oji-sama, I shall borrow a room.” (Blanche)

The two refrained from undressing on the spot and instead changed clothes within the villa before returning. Meanwhile, Rosso was already racing across the waves.

“Uhyoo, this is fun!! Such speed, amazing!!” (Rosso)

She swam at the speed of a motorboat, dove beneath the water, then suddenly burst upward, leaping into the air. Remarkable, like a dolphin.

I seated myself upon a beach chair and sipped chilled fruit water.

“Let us race, the three of us!!” (Rosso)

“Oh, how delightful. Fufufu, I shall not lose!!” (Blanche)

“…As an assassin, I am the swiftest.” (Ao)

The three lined up and dove simultaneously… apparently a contest beneath the water.

Even I could hold my breath for nearly two minutes, yet they did not resurface even after five… then, after seven minutes, they finally emerged.

Seven minutes… at a level fit to be a world record.

“Buhhahh!! Damn it, Ao wins!!” (Rosso)

“…Ugh, how vexing.” (Blanche)

“Fufun. No one can best me underwater.” (Ao)

They seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. I watched on, entertained.

Time passed quickly, and soon the sun was preparing to set.

“Hmm, most amusing indeed.” (Raslanuf)

“Ah, you are… Raslanuf, was it not.” (Gentoku)

Standing beside me, clad in a swimsuit with a veil, was the silver-haired elven beauty Raslanuf… I had not perceived her approach at all.

Raslanuf smiled brightly and seated herself upon the beach chair beside mine.

“Indeed. I have somewhat to discuss with you.” (Raslanuf)

“Something to discuss…? You had only just departed, and now you wish to speak again? Were you not occupied?” (Gentoku)

“Well, yes. Yet it is a matter requiring your consent.” (Raslanuf)

“My consent? Ah, very well, wait a moment.” (Gentoku)

I returned to the villa and brought out the new wooden box, along with the old.

“This is, could it be…” (Raslanuf)

“I performed repairs. This wooden box was far too decayed, so I constructed one of similar shape myself. As for the ornamentation, you may reproduce it from your memory.” (Gentoku)

Thus, the box was plain and undecorated.

Raslanuf, being a magical technician, ought to find such a task trivial.

“This handle… now that you mention it, Atsuko…” (Raslanuf)

“You must turn it to open the lid.” (Gentoku)

Raslanuf, with trembling hand, turned the handle and gently lifted the lid.

At once, the sound of plucked pins… the nursery rhyme began to flow. The image of red dragonflies flying appeared vividly before me.

“…Ah, I had forgotten… yes, this sound. Two thousand years ago… I heard this sound.” (Raslanuf)

The sun was sinking, painting the sky a radiant orange.

“This ring is…” (Raslanuf)

“Most likely, her husband’s. And this music box as well, perhaps a gift from him.” (Gentoku)

“…How do you know this?” (Raslanuf)

“On the older wooden box, I discovered an engraving of Atsuko-san’s name. It read, ‘To Wada Atsuko’. Surely, these were mementos of her husband.” (Gentoku)

“…So that is the truth.” (Raslanuf)

“Here, take this.” (Gentoku)

When I disassembled the gearbox, I recorded notes regarding the parts’ characteristics and required components. I handed these specifications to Raslanuf.

“Should it break again, you may repair it. If you were Atsuko-san’s friend, it is better that you do so.” (Gentoku)

“…Indeed.” (Raslanuf)

Raslanuf embraced the music box… and a single tear fell. No doubt, they had been friends. No doubt, many memories remained. Yet I had no intention of inquiring further, for memories belong to the one who carries them.

I lit a cigarette, exhaled smoke, and said nothing.

“…My gratitude, Gentoku. There was another matter I wished to discuss, yet… I shall leave it for the morrow. Today, I shall return with these memories held close to my heart.” (Raslanuf)

“Very well, do so.” (Gentoku)

“The payment shall be transferred later. Then… until we meet again.” (Raslanuf)

Raslanuf departed.

And then, as though to take her place, Rosso and the others returned from the sea.

“Ahh, that was fun!! But I am hungry, so let us continue another time!!” (Rosso)

“Fuu, Oji-sama, may I borrow the shower?” (Blanche)

“…Oji-san, I shall return the underwater scooter to the storage.” (Ao)

As the three began walking toward the villa, I too rose to return and that was when it happened.

“……” (???)

“…What?” (Gentoku)

Upon the shore stood a woman.

She wore a white one-piece dress, with black hair and a straw hat upon her head… when she turned toward me, she smiled gently.

“Thank you for repairing my memory, oh magical technician.” (Mysterious Woman)

In the instant of a blink, she was gone.

Could it be that what I just saw was…

“H-Hey, Blanche… there are no ghost-type magic beasts remaining here, are there?” (Gentoku)

“Of course not. So long as my talismans remain, they could never enter.” (Blanche)

“…I thought as much.” (Gentoku)

Well, it matters little. Even if it were truly a ghost, to receive such gratitude with such a smile… there could be no unpleasantness in that.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)