BXBX NOVEL Volume 3, 04: Assemblers under the Eaves
Volume 3, Chapter 04: Assemblers under the Eaves
Why is it that
The more you try to listen to a story
The more you end up telling one
Point Allocation (Mutual Exchange)
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Beneath the blue sky of IZUMO and beneath the eaves there was the muttered voice of an elderly woman.
“That’s right… Horizon, about your mother…”
There on the veranda, the speaking Mitsu was sitting traditionally on top of a cushion with Horizon seated beside her.
In front of her, Kimi and Futayo had put on gloves and were in the yard searching through the vegetable garden.
“Ah, this is a potato! Grandmother, even though it is still widely regarded as a prohibited good… —Confiscated! It’s confiscated!”
“Hmm, the edamame which my father liked are grown here, Kimi-dono. —As an offering to my father\'s spirit, I think I may also take possession of some.”
“Boiled in salt—”
“I had some leftovers so as I said you could do as you please, but what exactly did you come here to do.”
Mitsu said that with half-open eyes; however the two women didn’t listen. That’s why Mitsu paused for a moment and directed her question to Horizon, who was drinking tea by her side.
“Horizon? Why exactly did you come here?”
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Why did you come here? The questioned Horizon considered that.
At first it was just because Kimi-sama had invited me…
She considered it. If she had rather to say the reason she came, that was…
“The reason is that I thought it would be okay to come.”
“It\'s nice being condescending.”
Judge. Horizon raised her right thumb to show Mitsu and she was already returning the same action.
“……”
The two women exchanged gazes, both nodded and then Horizon once again opened her mouth.
“…Anyway, at first I thought that it was meaningless. Even now, I am still conjecturing whether that is true.”
“You’re very straightforward.”
Once again the two of them raised their thumbs. After that, Horizon said.
“Judge, thank you very much. However Toori-sama went ‘Ah!? I am not going. I am definitely not going! I can’t go for your sake!’ and acted stubborn, so I changed my mind and decided I had to come.”
“How rebellious.”
She raised her thumb.
“Judge, thank you very much. In any case, to tell the truth it is a rare occurrence for me to disembark from Musashi; so as a method of study, it is also valid.”
Then, since she had come, she had only one purpose.
“The current purpose is to hear about Horizon’s mother, that is all.”
“I see.”
Mitsu nodded her head. Then she tilted her head and asked the following.
“Why is it you want to know?”
It was a simple question, so that is why she immediately answered. The contents of her reply were…
“It is because I want to be able to understand my mother.”
“Why?”
“If I can understand her, then the eventual sadness will be reduced. Even if I am no longer able to exchange words with that person, I can think about her; and it is possible for me to inherit her will.”
“Well then. —Let us do something like a little test. About how much meaning talking about the past has for you. A test to measure that.”
“Judge, Please do as you wish.”
That was a good answer, Mitsu said. There with a faint smile…
“Okay, I am going to ask? You are saying that understanding is important? In that case… if you can understand something, then is it okay to lose it?”
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Oh?, Horizon thought. She had had a similar discussion but from the opposing stance. It was in London, England, during that act Toori had called a date. Date, that was an English word. To translate it to Japanese, it was “going out”. Toori wanted really badly to go on a date with Horizon, so it was strange.
In any case, considering the words he had said at that time...
What had he replied with when she had said the same words that Mitsu had just spoken?
…Ah.
She remembered, and it was something she could accept; that’s why Horizon said the following:
“That is not correct.”
While trying to stand on the opposite parallel line, she had the feeling that she could somehow understood the words that she had been told at that time.
“There is nothing that is okay to lose, that is what I am thinking.”
While conducting multiple layers of judgment, Horizon formed her words. After thinking over the things which he had told her in the past, she began to speak.
“That is why I do not wish to understand just so that I will be okay with losing something… Unfortunately, everything will eventually be lost; however if you can understand and enjoy spending time together, even when that time unexpectedly comes—”
Was it this kind of thing?
“Would it not be possible to understand what happens at that time? That is my conjecture.”
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“That’s an idealistic thought.”
With Mitsu’s words Horizon simply asked the following:
“Is that what you determine? That it is nothing but an ideal?"
Judge, Mitsu who was resting her chin in her hands spoke.
“If you die, no matter how much time you spend together it is still sad for those who are left behind. It was the same for my husband and for my parents.”
“Is it not possible to have an understanding about losing something?"
“The contents of your question are quite harsh.”
The two of them raised their thumbs.
However, Horizon did not say that she was sorry in response to Mitsu’s words. If she apologized for asking something that was necessary to her, it would mean that she needed to lower her head. That’s why…
“I understand that this will change our topic, but I would like to request a lecture. —Advice on how to resolve the sadness of loss.”
“Those are some nice words.”
Mitsu laughed and then she said.
“Understanding the deceased is quite a difficult task. After all, they are already gone, and on the other hand, there is no way to confirm anything more than that. That’s why as a reference for you who is trying to learn about your mother, I will tell you a bit of my story. You may experience the same amount of hardship, after all.”
“There are hardships?”
Mitsu responded that there were.
“My mother, well that would be the great-grandmother of that kid out there who is digging up potatoes. That great-grandmother, when Toori and Kimi were in elementary school… was it the fifth year?”
“Haha, it was the fourth year, so eight years ago. Have things become a bit unclear?” asked Kimi playfully.
“You just grew up fast because you have nothing above your neck. —Well in that year, Musashi’s route was an eastern circulation via Bizen. It just happened that they came to Hexagone Fran?aise\'s northern IZUMO during the end of the year. However, their great-grandmother was in a bad condition and they wouldn’t make it here in time at that rate. However—”
Mitsu pointed in direction south.
“The deal that Musashi made over in the direction of K.P.A. Italia. —Due to Hashiba starting their full-scale movements, the rule of Nagahama began and the route was no longer usable; so they were forced to stop at Bizen IZUMO at the southern country border of Hexagone Fran?aise. However the Pope-Chancellor of K.P.A. Italia Innocentius allowed trade with the surrounding countries; and in order to obtain repair parts, there were permitted a limited capacity of cargo ships to come and go between IZUMO. So there were also a variety of political factors to continue the trade of other countries with Musashi.”
“That was—”
“They came here, however it was only Toori and Kimi. The border controls were apparently soft on children…”
Hey…
“Kimi, what sort of situation was that?”
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With Mitsu’s question, Kimi raised her body with a state of disappointment within Horizon’s gaze.
“Don’t you remember?”
Well, Kimi folded her arms.
Then she looked over this way and pointed to the eastern sky and Musashi.
“That foolish brother did, right? He suddenly knocked on my door and said ‘Let’s go Sis. If Mum were to find out it would be trouble, so let’s go while we can.’ It seems like he had requested it earnestly of the people in the Provisional Council. Thinking about it now, it is a lot easier for the other side to accept something when it comes from children wanting to go to give their final greeting to a relative.
“Now? Then, at that time?”
“As the adults were suspicious, I was thinking that if something happened I had to protect my foolish brother.”
I see, Horizon nodded. She was interested in the fact that Futayo seemed to be getting excited over the fact that the turnip had long roots, however at the moment hearing the rest of the story was more important.
That’s why Horizon returned her gaze to Mitsu. She thought that she wanted to hear the remainder of the story.
“So that was the way that Toori-sama and Kimi-sama were able to come? Apart from that… did anything else happen?”
“Judge, the two of them only spent a few ordinary days here. After that… on the way back, you returned to the halted Musashi at Bizen IZUMO by carriage and on foot, didn’t you?”
“So? Since the schedule didn’t match up with the cargo vessel, we returned while being assisted by some kind people. On the way back too much stuff happened; even if I talked about it, no one would believe me so that is why I don’t talk about it.”
Is that so, Mitsu said. Then she looked this way and paused with a smile.
“Horizon listen, okay? After some time had passed, a letter arrived from my stupid daughter on board Musashi saying ‘I locked up those two who had returned in their rooms for two or three days.’ Then…”
“Then?”
At the time when she was wondering what had occurred.
Mitsu looked up at the sky and spoke.
“Their great-grandmother, in other words my mother, smiled.”
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“That was…”
Horizon thought that was a normal, everyday reaction. There was a difference between people about the value of the existence called great-grandchildren; however, if they had arrived home safely then you would be smiling.
However…
…In that case, why was Mitsu especially remembering that smile?
She didn’t understand. That is why Horizon did not speak.
“—”
However after being silenced, in front of her Mitsu tilted her brown teacup towards her mouth. Then…
“I wonder why!”
“What is it?”
Ah.
“Mother laughed and spoke. —I don’t know whether my life was meaningful, however if my grandchildren who are connected through my soul came to visit me before I go… I think I lived a proper way of life if it meant they came.”
“That was…”
She realized that she was saying the same words as before.
The meaning that the words Mitsu said was something she thought Horizon would understand; however, she did not. That was why she stopped her words part-way through.
“—I apologize. I am unable to reach an understanding.”
“That is a good thing. After all, I don’t really understand it either. That’s why I told you this story.”
There, Mitsu showed her first bitter smile. Then she adjusted her chin in her hands.
“It is not like my mother spent a lot of time together with Toori and Kimi. After my mother died, I also became sad and wept. However… I think mother at the very least blessed the satisfaction that she felt towards Toori and Kimi.”
Do you understand? Mitsu said, and she then suddenly looked at the yard.
“I wonder what form the satisfaction of understanding takes. —Hey, Kimi!”
“Haha, what is it? I’m in a good mood today so I’ll make an answer across generations, okay?”
“Well then, —Kimi, how was it at that time when you and Toori returned to Musashi? Did you think about anything regarding my mother?”
“Actually grandmother, there’s no way that I remember something from that long ago.”
Ah, however Kimi formed a wry smile.
“Foolish brother said this. —That our great-grandmother was cute. That she was thankful, thankful towards everything, that her being delighted was cute.”
With those words, Horizon nodded.
“Judge. I see, I have understood that part.”
Horizon then said the following with the frank opinion that had formed inside her heart.
“Toori-sama is indiscriminate when it comes to raising flags.”
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The women fell silent and the grandma had eye contact with her grandchild.
After that, the grandchild instructed “calm down” with her hand, and the grandma nodded. After a while the grandchild cleared her throat and spoke to Horizon.
“Okay? Horizon. It’s alright because they are relatives, you know? — You can’t conquer them.”
“In other words, it will be added as part of the supplementary DVD.”
The grandchild looked at her grandma.
“—Grandmother, what should I do at a time like this.”
“How should I know.”
Anyway, said Mitsu. Then, saying however to connect her sentences, she once again took a breath.
“…Ah well, so it is true that Toori looked at my mother in such a way. My mother ended her life being thankful for a lot of things.”
…Ended her life being thankful…?
Horizon repeated Mitsu\'s words within her heart.
Then Horizon thought this.
……I don’t understand.
Why had the fact that the two, Toori and Kimi, had come led to being thankful about anything and everything.
Why had Mitsu’s mother…
“Why was she thankful? Should the thankful ones not be the later generation who had been given birth to and received their upbringing?”
“Horizon.”
Mitsu, while turning back this way asked the following.
“—Do you think that something that has completed its purpose is no longer necessary?”
Judge, is what Horizon began to answer. After all, a machine which had completed its purpose will become an unnecessary, useless object. Once you switch to a new good, it is fine for the old good to be disassembled and recycled.
That’s why Horizon started to voice an affirmative response.
…No.
Composing her thoughts, Horizon shook her head to the side.
“I do not think that is true.”
“Why not?”
“That is because Horizon was once like that.”
That was…
“One may think their purpose is over, and while that may be correct, …being more important than you think you are to someone else is something that usually happens.”
Even Horizon, who believed that she was nothing, was not abandoned at Mikawa.
It was not just her. At England it was the same for Mary, so in that case… perhaps it was the same for others.
That was why…
“If you wish to decide that you are unnecessary, then you must ask everyone in the entire world. Also not just those people in the same generation, but also those in the following generations. The reason being is that I am now thinking about wanting to know my mother. In my mother’s generation, even if her mother had been shunned by the entire world, at this very moment I, of the following generation, wish for her.”
“That is a good answer.”
The two of them raised their thumbs.
So then, Horizon connected her thinking to the previous topic. The reason why Mitsu’s mother was thankful for everything was…
“She was able to believe that not just the physical things in front of your eyes, but also the things beyond such as their thoughts of her, were important to them. …That due to this, two people who were connected to her by blood had come from far away.”
“That’s right. That’s why it will be good to remember that.”
“What would?”
Ah, Mitsu spoke.
“Your mother is not here, however she is glad that you have come here. —Indeed, so am I who has once again formed a connection with you as well.”
“—”
Mitsu formed words as if to connect everything together. Putting You understand? as a preface, she spoke again.
“I was also one of those people who thought of meeting the lost you. Well, to you it might be just a test. That’s why I am trying to teach you to think that meeting me was a good thing.”
That was…
“About your mother.”
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“About… my mother?”
Horizon slightly prepared her consciousness.
She had come here wanting to know about her mother.
However, she had absolutely no memories of her mother.
It was certain that she had one. After all she was here, however…
…What kind of person was my mother?
Was it a result of Phylargia that she wished to follow up on the doubt she had suddenly thought up? That thought immediately became words, turning it into a question. The words which escaped from her mouth were…
“Mitsu-sama, Horizon\'s mother was…”
“There isn’t much I can say.”
Towards she who had become unable to form those words, the old woman showed eyes which looked like the shape of a smile.
“Your mother was a brilliant student. She came to IZUMO during her middle school years; at the time I was at high school doing ritual Shinto spell and ether research when she came to see me. She was doing ley line research and wanted knowledge of the Far East formulas.
“Mitsu-sama, you used to be an instructor?”
“Judge, I am one of the students who participated in the suppression of the Shimabara Rebellion, the reproduction of the Far East Catholic revolt from fifty years ago that was brought forward in time. After that harsh war ended, I returned here and received a recommendation from the Testament Union. Well, they determined that leaving a young girl who liked to go wild was dangerous; so I served as an instructor here, and when my hair started to turn white your mother came.”
“That was—”
“It was thirty… five… six years ago. She came to this middle school the same year as my idiot daughter and they hit it off and got along well.”
In that case, Horizon thought, if that is where she spent her time in middle school then what came next was…
“Was her high school here or at Musashi?”
With that question, Mitsu shook her head to the side.
Then she spoke the same words which had the same meaning as the shaking of her head.
“I don’t know. —Where that child attended high school, I mean.”
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“…You don’t know?”
Determining that parroting her words was meaningless, Horizon followed with another question.
“Why is it that you don’t know? Academies are all facilities which have records being archived. They are after all the cornerstones of the politics and military of each country.”
That’s true, there the corners of her mouth formed a smile.
“I’ll say it in advance, but I’m also one who wishes to know something about it. My daughter was also quite outraged. —However, at a certain time, that child unexpectedly received a single letter and disappeared without leaving a note. Then once again at a certain time, she suddenly came back.”
Breathing in, Mitsu spoke.
“—It was around eighteen or nineteen years ago. She was slightly worn out though, and surprisingly she possessed a permit directly from Mikawa’s Lord Motonobu to live on Musashi. Also, she said the following:
"In my womb is Lord Motonobu’s child. I will live with an escort on-board Musashi. However, before that I will travel through the individual territories of the Far East; so please protect me.”
“I determine that she was selfish.”
“That’s true. My daughter as well said that quite a lot to her. However, well, it seems like she reached some kind of resolution. As expected, after howling about it for three days my daughter was tired about it. Exasperated, she was forcibly dragged by her companion through a journey through the Far East. It was a forced three month march through the most important places.”
That’s true, it was Kimi who spoke while she embraced her body.
“However by that time, she was already pregnant with me. Foolish brother came after boarding Musashi, though.”
“…If that is the case, then Toori-sama was a house warming celebration.”
“…You show no mercy on those close to you.”
Mitsu formed a wry smile and said this.
“Well, that’s about all I can say. If my daughter will not say what they saw on the journey, then it is not for me to say. However…”
“However?”
“I don’t know where she was and what she was doing during those several years she vanished. Honda and Sakai shouldn’t know either, so that’s why it is likely she was not in Mikawa. If anyone was to know, it would be only Lord Motonobu.”
What did you say?
“What do you think about a proposition like this? How about trying to understand your own parents. I still have a long way to go. That’s why, until you get at least to my age, even if you have not discovered the answer you cannot give up. You cannot give up so reach the conclusion that losing something is saddening.”
Having that said to her, Horizon came to a self-realization. It was the fact that her mother was also certainly lost. She was an important existence to her, however she was a stranger. If she was able to understand that existence…
“People who I have not met, and also things I have not seen…… It is really possible to become able to understand these?”
“—You shouldn’t try immediately and come to a conclusion. However, the only advice I can give is to not give up. Get that? I think it would be good for you to go after that child.”
“Why do you think that?”
Ah, there Mitsu said.
“There was a theme that child was researching.”
That was…
“The resolution of the destiny of sin through the ley lines.”
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“—”
At the Horizon\'s side, who had involuntarily lost her words, Kimi and Futayo stood up together after extracting a green spring onion.
“That’s the first time I’ve heard that? Ah, I’m also going to take this spring onion.”
“Isn’t it about time you paid some money? —However, Kimi hearing it for the first time is that kind of thing. After all, it wasn’t something to be told to someone who was not involved, right? However Horizon, Lord Motonobu turned you into the Logismoi óplo in order to influence the end of the world. Your mother was also researching the deadly sins, about the fate of karma that people cannot escape from.”
What do you say?, said Mitsu once again.
“—Don’t you agree that there is great value in understanding?”
●
“That is also something I’ve heard for the first time, sensei.”
Kimi heard an unforeseen voice from the back of the house.
That familiar voice was…
“Sensei?”
Judge, at the same time that her voice, Oriotorai came from the back of the house carrying paper bags filled with goods. Both Horizon and Futayo turned that direction and lastly the grandmother as well.
“Well, it was something that there was no reason to talk to you about, Makiko.”
“Grandmother, do you know our teacher?”
Along with Horizon’s tilted neck question, Oriotorai showed the palm of her hand and urged the grandmother to go on. In a responsive movement, the grandmother placed both her hands on her hips and nodded.
“Who would have thought for Makiko to become a teacher! I was in charge of her history and ritual spell instructions. Enough for her to stay here for a while. She sure ate a lot. —So, well, I also did teach this child’s former official. …I wonder if having two outstanding talents in a row was due to the Apocalypse.”
No, no, Oriotorai smiled and puffed out her chest.
“Someone like me still has a long way to go, sensei. And there were other people who ate more than me."
Oriotorai not referring to herself as sensei was certainly fresh. However, the grandmother and Horizon looked alternatively over there who was repeating deep nods…
“……”
If you were to say that being silent and at a loose end was cute, then this was cute. That’s why…
“Horizon, are you returning?”
“—Judge, I was able to hear a variety of important stories. Then—?”
From here on, Horizon continued her words with that.
“I think that I will look for the obscure circumstances regarding my mother. It will be good if there are still records of her residence, a grave or something like that in Musashi, however.”
That\'s right, Mitsu nodded.
“There are some steamed sweet jelly beans in the kitchen, so take them and go. Also, Toori is-”
“If you’re talking about foolish brother, he will come later so don’t worry. Foolish brother is not good with difficult talks.”
“He’s been an idiot from long ago. However, that idiot became king, huh.”
Mitsu looked towards Musashi…
“—The world is also ending.”
From far away, in the direction of IZUMO, could be heard the sound of a festival orchestra arranged into house style.