Chapter 91: I still remember the sunset I saw that day

There was a man who used to be my right-hand man. I think we met when I had just established my company. 

While I was sitting down at a cafe, I suddenly spotted a man I became interested in. That guy was quietly reading a management-related book at the same cafe. I approached him out of curiosity and we strangely hit it off. Then I said, if he is interested, he could join my company. He readily accepted the offer and few months later, he became a regular employee.

After that, we worked hard together. Gradually, the number of employees increased, and the company grew larger and larger. I remember laughing with him that his goals were high, and that he was still not satisfied with this. When the company was finally listed on the first section of the stock market, he and I watched the sunset over Tokyo from the president’s office.

The two of us talked about finally standing at the real starting line. He said that together, we would grow the company into the best company in the world. Our goal was to be on top of the world. But—, he betrayed.

As a result of an employee’s mistake, I, the president, was held responsible. It quickly developed into a resolution to dismiss me at the shareholders’ meeting. I was then fired with unnatural ease. As I later learned, I had been betrayed by the man I trusted more than anyone else. However, I didn’t feel angry. How to say, hmmm, it’s like a balloon with a hole in it, just like the gas, my emotions also start to dwindle. Struck by my own misery and stupidity, I chose to quietly leave the company.

I don’t remember much after that. It seems that I splurged as if I was making up for the time I had so far. Before I knew it, I only had a million yen left. For a short time, I seemed to have lost my sanity. And it was at that time that I realized that I had nothing left. I decided to change my mind and sought for a new job. However, all I can get is a part-time job. Then, when I reached my limit, I chose to become homeless. Now, I just think he did a good job for firing me.

“It’s sunset huh…”

When I arrived at Mana, I squint my eyes at the orange sunset that can be seen from the city. I suddenly stopped in my tracks, thinking that the beauty of the sunset does not change even in another world.

Now that my life is finally stable, I began to recall the past.

“Whoa-, it’s Homeless!”

The children who saw me come to surround me. They seem to be having so much excitement while asking, “You didn’t defeat a magical beast today?”. I just smiled, pulled out a bunch of candy balls from the bangle and distributed them to the kids. I bought it as a snack, but I’m sure the candy balls will be more appreciated by the kids eating them.

“Thank you, Homeless onii-chan!”

The children surrounding me dispersed like an ebbing tide. I couldn’t help but admire their vivid movements.

“Yosh-, let’s head to the Lord’s mansion.”

I start walking and head to the Lord’s mansion in the center of Mana City. When people passing by see me, they waved their hands and greet me. Inside a building, a beautiful woman calls out to me, “Would you like to stay just for one night?”. Well, I am moved, but Erna appears in my mind with her staff pointed at me so I decided to refuse.

As I passed through the market, I saw shoppers wandering around at dusk. The store that stands out the most is probably Arnold’s stall.

“Come, buy here! Don’t you want fresh vegetables that are as good as my muscles!? There’s also the Homeless soy sauce and miso which are very rare seasoning!”

Arnold is amazing as he attracts customers while posing. No matter how many times I look at him, his body is perfect. Yet strangely enough, customers who come to his store buy products while looking away. I can’t believe they don’t look at those muscles, the customers are losing out a lot.

I got closer and greet him,

“How is it going Arnold?”

“Fuhahaha! Both soy sauce and miso are selling well! Thank you for making such a good condiment!”

“I see. If it’s selling well then there’s no problem. I’ll come back if I have time.”

After leaving the market, I finally reached the mansion. When I greeted the gatekeeper guarding the entrance, he recognized me and then he quickly opened the gate for me. As soon as I entered the building, the maid guides me inside. I was led to a room and the lord is already there sitting on the sofa.

“I got the letter.”

I sat down on the sofa facing the Lord and then I started the conversation right away. The lord nodded slightly, straightened his collar and adjusted his posture.

“The reason I asked you here today is because I have an important matter to tell you.”

“Important matter? Are you talking about the war?”

“No. It’s something important to you and me.”

With a question mark in my head, I decided to listen first. If the Lord says it is important, then it must be so.

“Hoo-, Alright. Let me introduce myself again, I am the Marquis of Mana. My name is Ryan Doris.”

I learned the name of the Lord for the first time. Until now, he has avoided giving his name. I’m not sure why, but I had the impression that he was a little reserved towards me. Then the Lord stands up and sits upright on the floor. I watched closely to see what he’s going to do.

“I apologize here and now for what happened at that time!”

After saying that, he kneels down on the ground. He then bows his head so deeply that his forehead almost touches the floor. I am so confused by the sudden turn of event.

“Lift your head up first. I have no idea what you’re talking about you see.”

 The Lord did not raise his head. And then, he slowly talked about it.

“There was once a man named Yasuhiko Kanzaki who betrayed someone he respected and usurped his position. But that false glory didn’t last long. He too, lose his position to others. He changed his mind and decided to start all over again with the person he respected. Unfortunately, he was reincarnated in another world at the same time.”

“Yasuhiko Kanzaki…”

I’ll never forget that name. He was my former best friend and right-hand man. I trusted and relied on him the most. Until I was betrayed.

The lord continues to speak,

“He then made it big in another world. The son of a baron rose to become a marquis. As he grew older, he had completely forgotten about his previous life. Until one day, a man with the same name and surname appeared in front of him. He was extremely flustered. Then he decided to take the time to find out if that person is the one he hoped for.”

“What’s the answer?”

“It was him. It is definitely Shinichi Tanaka.”

The Lord then looked up at me. I saw him with a runny nose and tears streaming down his face. However, I could read the emotion of joy rather than sadness in his eyes.

“Kanzaki… Is it you?”

“Yes! I am Kanzaki! I’m Yasuhiko Kanzaki, your right-hand man!”

My tear glands become loose. What a coincidence that my best friend, whom I thought I would never see again, was in another world with me. It’s a miracle!

“Kanzaki!”

“Tanaka-san!”

I opened out my arms to hug each other…… —I pretended. I grabbed Kanzaki by the arm and collar and threw him against the wall.

“Bu-gee!?”

He slammed against the wall, fell to the floor, and then he stood up while clutching his waist.

“What you did just now betrayed me. With that, we are even now.”

“Hoh-, you’re still the same as ever huh.”

Kanzaki smirked as I said that. How to say, it’s that I can’t help but be happy. We sat down on the sofa and resumed talking.

“It’s been a long time, Tanaka-san.”

“That’s right. But you’re older than me now.”

“Yeah. It’s been sixty years since I was reincarnated. I guess I’m getting old.”

Having a conversation with him evoke a sense of nostalgia. It gave me the illusion of going back to those days.

“Wait. How did that happen? You were certainly one year younger than me right?”

“I don’t know either. When I woke up, I was reincarnated as this Ryan Doris. There seems to be a considerable time gap between me and Tanaka-san.”

“A time gap? ….Did Kanzaki see that in Tokyo too?”

“Yes. I was caught when I’m in the middle of looking for you Tanaka-san. I remember being killed by a demonic beast-like creature wearing a black cloth.”

“That guy huh.”

My memories were evoked. The monster that killed Shigeru-san and even got me afterwards. It looks like Kanzaki was also killed by that guy.

“But why did we get reincarnated in this world?”

“That’s also a wonder for me. Was it a prank of God or the work of the devil? Or, was it the mercy of Buddha?”

The cause is still unknown, but it can be said that we were able to reincarnate while retaining our memories. I still think we are lucky. However, the cruel truth may lie ahead. I decided to change the subject for now.

“What happened to the company? I haven’t heard of it going bankrupt since I left.”

“For a while, thanks to Tanaka-san’s souvenirs, sales have risen to an all-time high. However, the current management situation is difficult. It has shrunk to three-quarters of the size it was when Tanaka-san was the company’s president.”

The souvenir he is talking about is the next generation mobile phones. It was an in-house product that was rushed to develop when I was too absorbed in the loss of my family members. Since I was fired, I don’t know much about its subsequent developments though. When I think about it now, at that time, I was really in a hurry to live, as if I was obsessed with something.

“I can tell you now, thank you for firing me. I was crazy back then.”

“At that time….. I-, I didn’t think I could follow Tanaka-san. That’s why I made a plan to dismiss you. However, I kept wondering if I had chosen the right path.”

“No, you were right. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”

Suddenly, when I looked out the window, the light of the setting sun was shining in. I stood up and looked at it.

“Do you remember that sunset?”

“Yes, I still remember it.”

“At that time we decided to be the best in the world. Why don’t we try it again?”

Kanzaki’s eyes widen. The first company was no good. But it doesn’t mean I’m giving up on the next one. Even if the world changes, the dreams we dreamed together could still come true.

“I would be happy to. This time, I’ll follow you everywhere!”

“Then it’s settled. Together, we’ll make Mana the best Japanese food district in this world.”

“Ye—huh!? Japanese food!?”

“What are you surprised about? There’s no such thing as a cellphone in this world. Moreover, I feel that food has a future. I want to establish Japanese food in this world and transform Mana into the best food city in this world.”

“Don’t tell me… Perhaps the soy sauce and miso that are being sold in the market…”

I grinned when I heard him mutter that. Isn’t that a good guess?, as expected of Kanzaki. Moreover, he is quite quick to hear and know about what’s new.

“It’s part of the plan. We will develop Mana as a food capital. To do that, you, the Lord, need to act.”

“I see. That’s what you mean huh. Then please use my power to the fullest.”

“Yeah”

Kanzaki—no, Marquis Ryan Doris got down on one knee and bowed his head to me. He just swore his loyalty to me. Of course, as the Lord, it’s not a bad thing for Ryan either. It’s not hard to imagine that if Mana could attract people to something else, not just the dungeon, the city would be richer than ever. And as the economy develops, the city itself will gain strength. Well, that’s secondary. Honestly, I just want to eat a lot of Japanese food.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes.”

When our talk ends and I was about to leave, the Lord hurriedly holds me back.

“There was something I forgot to mention.”

“What is it?”

“Do you know the new hero of this kindgom?”

“Hero??”

I wracked my brain. I’ve heard it before but I can’t remember where it was. More than that, I wonder what the hero did.

“He was awarded the title of Hero by the King for his success in the last war. His name is Arvish Gloris, he is a young man who is making a name for himself in the royal capital.”

“Arvish Gloris…”

Soon a young man is recalled from my memory. He’s the one who attacked me and Erna. I thought he had gone somewhere, but apparently, he gained strength and returned to the royal capital. I don’t know how things have changed since then.

“In fact, that new hero is criticizing Tanaka-san. He is saying that Shinichi Tanaka, from Homeless party, is a coward and a sneaky bastard. I have a hunch that it will lead to trouble you see.”

“That’s possible. There’s a high probability that he held a grudge against me after all. I now need to think about how to deal with it huh…”

After a short silence, “Well, thank you for the information”, I said to the Lord. And this time, I left the mansion.

I never imagined that the Lord of Mana is Kanzaki. But now, my vague thoughts turned into a certainty. There are other reincarnated people besides me. Moreover, there is a possibility that they have been reincarnated through the ages.

Coincidentally, me and Kanzaki were close in time. However, if there are others, they are not necessarily living at the same time as us. They may be far in the past or perhaps there is someone who is reincarnated in the far future. I don’t know why I could say that, but the fact that I am alive like this is the best proof.

“Maybe Shigeru-san is also alive somewhere.”

 Looking up at the darkened sky, I came to know once again what fate is.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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