MTLNOVEL Chapter 18
Chapter 18. In the End, This is How It Turned Out
[I could forcefully trap you in this world. That’s something I can do.]
The cold voice continues.
[But that’s not what I want. I want you to come to this world of your own will.]
“……Then why do you want me to buy the mountain?”
Wouldn’t renting be fine? Am I the only one who thinks that?
[If you rent, you won’t be considered a part of this world. You’ll remain a being of Inari’s world, forever reincarnating there. I want you to become a part of this world. Think of buying this mountain as a kind of contract.]
……I don’t really get it, but I guess you’re saying you want to bind me to this other world.
“But I can still go back to the other world, right?”
[Of course. Your body is made of things from that world, after all.]
[Normally, only those with god-like abilities can travel between both worlds.]
“Wait, am I on par with a god?”
[……I wouldn’t go that far. But you are special, yes. Especially since that tunnel can’t be crossed by beings from either world. Most can’t even see it, for that matter.]
Listening to Inari-sama’s explanation, I start to wonder what I even am.
[Anyway, it would really help if you bought the mountain and lived here.]
As Ignus-sama speaks, Inari-sama looks up at the void, nods slightly, and hands me an A4-sized tablet.
“Huh? Isn’t this Inari-sama’s?”
[If you buy this mountain, I’ll give you a tablet just like this one.]
“Eh?”
When I look at the tablet’s screen, I don’t recognize any of the software or apps. There are only two icons, and they seem to be apps I’ve never seen before. Since they said there’s no signal in this world, I can’t download anything. Maybe if I take it home, I can install something?
“That tablet is for managing this mountain. Most of its functions won’t work in the other world.”
“Eh, not even the internet?”
[No, it won’t work.]
Then Inari-sama explains the tablet’s functions to me.
One is a green-based app called [Hirogerukun]. It seems to be a development app. With this, you can do things like clear and level land, and other tasks necessary for development.
The other is a brown-based app called [Taterukun]. This one is a construction app. It lets you build various structures.
However, using these requires points.
[You can only accumulate those points while you’re in this world.]
“Eh, so just by being here, I can earn points?”
[No, you earn them by maintaining the mountain.]
“Don’t tell me that’s what you meant by management fees earlier…”
I grimace at the bad feeling I’m getting. I thought it was about money.
[Management fees are separate. You’ll need money for your life in the other world, right?]
“Eh, what about here? There are people here too, right?”
[……There are, but almost no one can come this far.]
This mountain feels kind of dangerous, doesn’t it?
I glance around, but all I see is a beautiful place filled with sunlight filtering through the trees.
“There’s currency here too, right?”
[There is, but……you can think about that after you buy the mountain, okay?]
At Inari-sama’s words, I fall silent, muttering to myself.
[What will you do?]
[What will you do, what will you do?]
Honestly, I’m already feeling like I’m done with life in the other world. But at the same time, living exclusively in a mountain in another world feels way too impossible.
——But.
If I can travel between both worlds, and it seems like I’ll get some money too…
Even though I don’t have any kind of life foundation yet, I start to feel like maybe I can make it work if I save up those points or whatever.
More than anything, I can’t shake the feeling that this place suits me.
“I’ve decided.”
I look straight into Inari-sama’s eyes and say firmly.
“I’ll buy it.”
[Yes, sold~!]
As Ignus-sama’s delighted voice rings out, I watch Inari-sama dancing in front of me, saying [Great! Great!], and I can’t help but smile wryly.