Riku stood before the residence of the Arzotoc village's ruler, King Luke, his objective being to convince the king to permit him access to information about this world and to unearth a pathway back to his own realm.
Just a hundred and fifty meters separated him from his destination, and he continued to move forward. Along the way, he couldn't help but take note of the statues placed every four meters, positioned between pairs of pillars.
Riku took in the unique appearance of the statues, sparking his curiosity. 'Could these statues represent the village's deities, or are they simply artistic creations meant for aesthetic purposes?' His thoughts wandered as he proceeded with a measured pace, observing the statues with intrigue.
Drawing nearer, Riku noticed Arisu standing beside King Luke. The king's attire included a resplendent golden crown adorned with crystals, a scarlet cape, and cascading white locks that hinted at his age, likely in his seventies or eighties.
As they approached, Oni, the guard who accompanied Riku, assumed a kneeling position, displaying respect. "King Luke, I have fulfilled Lady Arisu's request and brought the outsider," he stated politely, bowing his head slightly.
Riku instinctively mirrored the gesture, recognizing the importance of displaying deference to avoid appearing disrespectful.
"My name is Riku Hirota..." He introduced himself, pausing slightly after his name, as sharing the truth of his origin from another world would be met with skepticism.
Before him lay a platform of twenty-one steps, leading up to the prominent golden throne of the king.
"I am Luke Hanz, ruler of the Arzotoc village," Luke introduced himself, his statement accompanied by a query. "Are you the outsider who endured the mistreatment of my guards?"
Riku nodded gently, his gaze trained on the red carpet below, as if maintaining direct eye contact was considered impolite in this context. "Indeed, King Luke."
With his white beard, Luke stroked it thoughtfully, casting an inquisitive look toward the woman by his side. "Arisu, what prompts you to present this stranger before me?"
Arisu stepped forward and answered, "We have a proposal, one that could foster growth within our village. As our population continues to grow, it seems wise to introduce innovations that could expand the village's size and prosperity."
"Invent? Why not entrust such endeavors to our researchers?" Luke began, but he stopped, understanding that Arisu wouldn't bring forth such an idea without a clear rationale. "Do you find merit in this outsider's suggestion?" He inquired, his voice imbued with a resonant depth.
Arisu intervened, "Indeed, Father. To gain a better understanding, I ask that Riku explain everything."
"Please stand, Riku. I am curious about the suggestion that has captured my daughter's attention," King Luke instructed.
Riku rose to his feet, noting the presence of a hundred guards surrounding King Luke, each equipped with various weapons. "Of course, King Luke. With Lady Arisu's collaboration, I propose the creation of an invention that can streamline the villagers' daily tasks and elevate your village's status in this world," Riku conveyed, maintaining an air of respect and attentiveness.
"How do you intend to achieve such a feat?" Luke questioned, his curiosity about the outsider's proposal evident.
"Drawing from the knowledge I possess, I am confident in my ability to construct an item that will surpass your expectations," Riku replied, his expression composed despite the internal pressure.
"Hmm... Your confidence is apparent," King Luke pondered, his gaze fixed on Riku. "Assuming your inventions yield successful results and expedite the village's growth, what kind of compensation do you seek?"
King Luke wasted no time, immediately delving into the matter of the man's motivations.
Riku's throat tightened. "While I would be grateful for any rewards deemed appropriate, my primary request is for access to your village's library," Riku proposed, his eyes earnestly conveying his desire to fulfill this task.
A hushed silence fell over the surroundings, indicating to Riku that the library held a special significance within their community.
As Luke prepared to respond, he moved closer to the man standing by his side, clearly seeking the counsel of this individual regarding the outsider's proposals. This man, Cuifer, possessed long light green hair that extended beyond his ears, sharp blue eyes, and pointed ears.
"We cannot afford to grant him access, King Luke. We have no guarantee that this man is not a spy from a rival kingdom. Furthermore, our research team possesses more extensive knowledge than he does. Moreover, this outsider initially lacked the ability to communicate in our common tongue. Lady Arisu had to enlist the magical assistance of Elder Cynthia to enable him to comprehend it swiftly," Cuifer argued, a smug grin directed at Arisu.
In that moment, it became clear to Riku that all the events related to his presence in the village had been promptly conveyed to this individual.
The revelation that Riku initially struggled to communicate in their shared language sparked a realization. "Could you possibly be from the southern kingdom, Riku?"
Eh?!
Why does this question appear?!
How am I can suppose to answer this one?!
Riku's anxiety heightened as he observed the contemplation in King Luke's demeanor, signifying that his answer held significant implications. The decision to lie to the king could inadvertently entangle him in a conflict if the Arzotoc village happened to be at odds with the southern kingdom. On the other hand, revealing the truth about his origin might jeopardize his chances of gaining access to the library, portraying him as a desperate individual seeking refuge.
Yet, in light of these considerations, Riku resolved to be honest. He internally nodded, determined to disclose the truth when King Luke's question arose. "I apologize if this is disappointing, King Luke, but I am currently unable to recall my place of origin. The only information I possess pertains to my name and the knowledge required to create innovative inventions," Riku answered, his tone steady as he conveyed his truth.
Riku was acutely aware that Cuifer could exploit Riku's memory loss to cast doubt on his credibility. After all, who would readily accept that a person who had lost their memories could contribute valuable inventions? Despite this understanding, Riku remained steadfast in his chosen path. Why? Because, even if temporarily, it was the only way for him to secure a place within the village.
Surprisingly, Lady Arisu's subtle gestures indicated her intention to take charge of the situation. A smile graced Riku's lips as he recognized her strategic approach, putting his trust in her ability to navigate the delicate circumstances.
'I place my faith in you, Lady Arisu,' he silently conveyed, relying on her to navigate this complex scenario.
__
Arisu's skilled narration took approximately twenty minutes, during which she conveyed Riku's explanation of technology and the advanced state of his village compared to theirs. King Luke's demeanor revealed his evident astonishment, as no one – including their researchers – had entertained such a notion. Their focus had primarily revolved around fortifying their defenses and developing improved armaments for their guards.
"Could this truly be achievable?" King Luke's exclamation underscored his clear amazement.
"Yes, Father. The key to its realization lies in allowing him access to the library," Arisu responded with a respectful poise, emanating confidence in her stance.
Yet, Cuifer persisted in his opposition to the proposition. In his perspective, the idea that an outsider like Riku could accomplish what was being discussed seemed far-fetched at best and potentially deceitful at worst. "King Luke, we should exercise caution before accepting their proposal. We must not disregard the possibility that this individual is biding his time to gather our knowledge, only to relay it back to his homeland," Cuifer continued his efforts to sway the king's decision.
"Cuifer, bear in mind that this man would struggle to escape our village without resorting to the designated entrance. Is this not one of the reasons we erected a 25-foot wall to shield us from both monster attacks and espionage?" King Luke countered, expressing his viewpoint.
Cuifer's teeth ground together in evident frustration, convinced that the outsider had adroitly manipulated both Lady Arisu and King Luke. "B-But—our primary concern should be mitigating the risk of potential casualties—" His argument was cut short by a decisive gesture from the king.
"Enough, Cuifer. I have gleaned the insights I required, and I perceive this as a significant opportunity for our village's advancement," King Luke pronounced, effectively concluding the ongoing discourse.
Riku couldn't help but feel a surge of elation at this juncture, although it quickly abated as King Luke unveiled his stipulations.
"I will grant you access to our library, but only under two conditions," the king affirmed solemnly.
"What are these conditions, King Luke?" Riku inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"Firstly, you will be accompanied by six guards every time you enter, allowing us to gauge the type of information you seek," King Luke unveiled.
Riku's discerning mind grasped the potential implications – this was likely a strategy to curtail his access to a limited number of books. Nonetheless, he accepted the first condition with equanimity, prompting him to seek clarification on the second stipulation.
"The second requirement is that you must present us with an invention within the span of a month. This will enable us to assess your true capabilities and ascertain whether you are genuinely capable of constructing something valuable or merely leading us astray," King Luke elaborated.
The terms seemed eminently fair to Riku; after all, a month provided ample time to devise a rudimentary invention. "Certainly, King Luke. I pledge that my endeavors will be dedicated to ensuring your satisfaction—" His utterance was abruptly truncated by a reverberating explosion that resounded from outside the confines of the palace.
Boom!
The abrupt explosion shattered the previously tranquil ambiance, throwing Riku's thoughts into disarray.
Amid the chaos, urgent commands resonated through the air:
"Protect the king!"
"Quickly, assess the situation outside!"
The tumultuous turn of events thrust everyone into a state of high alert, leaving Riku bewildered as he sought to comprehend the unfolding situation.