Outside the Window

She hasn't come to?

Not yet, doc. The whole tribe has been waiting here all afternoon.

Hnngh...

Is anyone in a rush to see the doctor?

No, we're in no rush. You should save the girl first! She's cursed!

She came from the waterfall?

Yeah, that's right. I checked her front and back. She's got no rocks, and she's not hurt. She's holding a tablet she won't let go, though.

She was muttering some strange sounds in the morning, but then she quieted down.

And when I checked on her just now, it was like her breathing had stopped!

—Huh?! Why didn't you say that right away?

If you can't save the girl, then at least help us break her curse. This is my home...

Hey, girl, can you hear me?

So... heavy... ugh...

Who put a heavy tablet like this on her chest?

Okay, I got that off you now.

Phew!

Good, you're responding. How do you feel?

I...

I want some... mint Zubayr ice cream...

You sure you're all better?

Yes, doctor. I don't have any professional medical knowledge, but... I'm well-practiced at collapsing due to heat stroke...

*sigh* Young lady, most people don't get heat strokes in this weather. Are you ill?

I'm fine, physically, but I have a few questions I'd like to ask you.

Please take a look at this leaf. Is this the Beastbrain Leaf mentioned in the book that's supposed to have a cool scent and mind-refreshing properties?

Throw that away right now.

I don't know this Beastbrain Leaf that you speak of, but I assure you that if you grind that leaf and apply it to your forehead, you will attract acid Originium slugs!

Uh, okay... Th-Then, what about this fruit? Can I use it as an emergency ration for the road?

Eat that, and you will only get a taste of the afterlife.

What are you doing? Is that a notebook?

Right, this is my Tentative Travel Plan (Final Draft). It means I'm fully prepared and have made up my mind... but... I suppose now it's (Final Draft-Revised)

Thank you very much for your advice. Do you still have any more outdoor survival tips?

Yes.

Just go home. There's no sightseeing to be done around here.

...

Yes, I understand.

You are sure she's all better?

That's what she says.

I don't think so. I still think she's cursed.

My sister and I found her by the water this morning. She was completely out. Must've gone into the woods we're not supposed to go into.

She kept murmuring the whole time, and she was really loud, too. Even louder than how she's talking now.

Yes, she kept saying she was looking for some totem, some cans with guts in them... She even started ordering people around.

Exactly, I remember too! She kept muttering this one's been dead for so long and that one's been buried for years. What normal person says that?!

Hmm...

If she does anything weird again, I'll cut down all the bad things, just like we cut trees!

Relax, you two. Feeble as she is, she couldn't do anything to hurt anyone, or even get too far on her own.

Alright, who else needs attending to—

H-Help!

Dear me, why are there so many slugs?!

C-C-Ca-Calm down! We're coming to help!

...

I'm sorry...

Didn't I warn you that the plant attracts Originium slugs literally a minute ago?!

I tripped on my way out of the village...

...then I bumped my head into the tree and spooked the slugs under the branches. I got down on the ground and used Arts to try and protect myself, but I didn't get my aim right...

Don't push yourself like that.

The lords ameer used to send people like you here. They'd search the wilds and take home rocks as prizes.

What happened after that? Did they leave empty-handed?

How would I know? They came and went, yet life here has remained the same. The little holes they dug were instantly filled up in a single rising tide.

If you really think you could find any kind of 'history' in this place...

It's okay. I'm not afraid of disappointment.

I've made up my mind this time. Now that I've actually left home, I have to see everything here with my own eyes.

I can decipher the text on this tablet, so I'll investigate everything based on the information written here... even if it doesn't lead to any worthwhile discoveries.

—Besides, I've gathered over a hundred 'Spectacular Rainforest Tribes Sights' from my books. The forest is huge, but I should be able to see at least one, right?

...

*sigh*. Here, take these herbs. Heat stroke treatment, insect repellent, anti-emetic, even wild beast repellent... Just about everything you'll need.

I'll be heading to another village soon. The Archosauria here are kind, but they may not be able to understand you, much less help you.

Okay, thank you...

Right, doctor, may I ask you one more question? The villagers mentioned some kind of curse. Do you know what that is?

Right, like this. Tie a knot around yourself with the vines, then swing it to the other side.

You have to use one hand to hold the vines, though, so set down that big stone you're holding.

It's okay. I can hold it under my arm.

Also, this is not a normal stone. It's inscribed with words.

I've been collecting tablets like this one for some time now. If you find any like it, please do bring them to me. I can pay you for them.

Stones with words on them? I've heard about them.

Really? From whom? May I talk to them?

Well, he's been lying under the ground for a while now. That's what you get for going to the cursed forest. We don't even know if he's worth pitying.

I figured. All the tablets that could be monuments are placed right at the edge of that forest...

What were you saying?

N-Nothing. I'm asking if you could help swing me over to the shore on the other side.

No problem! One, two, let's go—

Wraaaaaaggghhhh—

Hold on! My tablet! I'm going to drop it—

Don't let go! Don't grab—

H-Help—ugh...

Papyrus, you're back! You were gone for so long, I thought you'd left—

Dear me, why are you all drenched again? Had another fall in the water?

N-No... It was the rain... Achoo!

Izaja, register this tablet... Right, the weather forecast tablet that other tribe gave me. Not that knowing it'd rain would help me at all...

Mm... Izaja... Why are you just standing there, not working?

W-Who are you talking to?

—Oh no, you're not Izaja!

Sorry, please forget whatever I just said...! There's no other tribe! I-I was just... Ah...

—You're burning up. No wonder you're talking nonsense.

*sigh*... No more talk of curses. Poor thing. Let's head back inside and get some rest.

Once you're feeling better, I'll tell you which tree oil you can put on your clothes to waterproof them and keep Originium slugs from climbing up your legs.

Thanks...

Silly girl, I don't understand why you keep thanking people. I didn't put the trees there, I'm just telling you how to use them.

After I tell you, you can go tell the next person who could use the knowledge.

Alright, let's go.

Papyrus, why are trying to chop a tree? You need strength for work like this. Can I help?

*gasp*... *gasp*... No thanks... I'm fine...

I just wanted to see if this Arts-powered chainsaw could really save some strength...

That looks amazing! Can I try?

Of course! Just let me figure out how to turn it off first...

Uh, hold on. Papyrus? Don't make that thing spin so fast! You're facing it the wrong way!

Out of the way!

S-Sorry...!

Haha! I knew it! Every time you head out, you bring back some really useful toys!

R-Right... Anyway, I'll make sure your roof gets fixed...

Whoa, this is good!

Hold on... That tablet isn't for frying fowlbeast eggs...

You just want to look at the drawings, right? I'll clean it up before giving it back.

Okay...

Are you not worried about the curse anymore?

What's there to worry about? You've got plenty of those tablets and you're still fine. I even checked on my grandma's grave—if she hasn't crawled back out, then it means nothing bad has happened.

Has she... crawled out before?

Never, haha! You know, I'm a really lucky guy.

Eh, that reminds me, Papyrus. How come I haven't ever heard you tell any stories about yourself?

I told you about the tree that made the spear I used to kill my first prey, but you haven't shared where you come from, how big your tribe is, or how many fistfights you've won...

I... I don't have anything interesting to talk about.

I didn't spend much time with people my age, and I rarely had a chance to step outside my family's manor. All I had in my life was books.

Oh, books! What books do the traders there sell? I love the ones that are all pictures!

No, I'm afraid it's not quite what you're thinking...

I come from a family of academics, so we have a large collection of treasured literature at home that is maintained and expanded by each generation.

Of course, we have books on a variety of topics, but like many people in our city, my father thinks history is the most noble of knowledge.

As for myself... I'm not sure if I like it or just got used to it because I had no other choice. I might be more familiar with how people lived two thousand years ago than my own life.

Two thousand? Whoa, that's like my grandmother's grandmother's grandmother's...

I don't even know how far back it goes! It sounds like you know lots of really fun things, Papyrus!

Fun things...? Right, there used to be a small number of scholars who speculated that the Manticores were the lords of the rainforest, idols worshiped by all.

They pointed to a skeleton found in a massive tomb as evidence, but later, more advanced technology proved that they were simply too creative when they put the skeleton back together.

They put the bones back together in the wrong spots, and made an Archosauria look like a Manticore.

Speaking of Archosauria, there's also an especially famous 'entertainment hypothesis'.

The reason that the Archosauria did not leave any traces in early recorded history is that their intelligence and technology had already developed to a level that was far beyond modern Sargon's.

They had already more than satisfied their curiosity, and so they didn't want any contact with the outside world and intentionally erased all traces of any explorers who found them.

And also...

...Oh, I'm sorry! Once I get into my area of expertise, I tend to go on and on, even if I'm just having a laugh.

What's there to be sorry about? You were telling us a bunch of things we didn't know. It's fun.

Right, every time I hear you say those strange words, it just pulls me in, like I'm possessed!

Ahem... Okay, that was all just academic anecdotes. Whether you understand them or not, please don't take them seriously...

But there's really not much more I can tell besides the stories in my books.

Before I made up my mind to leave home and go on a journey, I had left Menat-Ha'mait, where I was born and raised, only once.

Keep going!

Okay... One day, I had an argument with a friend over some documents. She suddenly slammed on the desk, and said she was taking me to a mutual friend to reason things out.

Maybe we were both too agitated, but we didn't even think of trying the professors at the academy... She contacted a caravan, and we left with them.

At first, I was really scared that my father would find out and punish me for wasting time and putting myself in danger.

But actually, we ended up staying in a carriage compartment that was made to be like a bedroom. I kept following my routine and woke up at seven in the morning to keep working on my thesis.

Our mutual friend rushed to the closest town to meet up with us as well.

The only things I remember about our meeting are her taking some scary photos of a tomb excavation site from unexpected angles for me...

And the weather being so terrible that I kept the window shut the entire trip.

I know that was the right decision for my health, but I still wonder what it looked like outside the window.

I've got a question. What's a compartment? How did it bring your whole room with you?

That reminds me, I also wanted to ask, what's an academy?

...

I still have one more question, Papyrus. You keep on bringing all those strange trinkets, like saws and stones that tell when it'll rain... Where did you get them?

Louder! We're here to make friends! We need to be passionate, and more passionate than the other side!

We'll shout the slogan Papyrus taught us! Nothing will go wrong!

'Make friends', eh? Young lady, the villagers outside are mobilizing to enter the forbidden zone. That was all your idea, wasn't it?

I thought you'd have left by now.

If I hadn't gotten sick or collapsed from exhaustion so much, I definitely would've left...

I'm sorry about the disagreement we had, doctor.

Looks like you didn't heed my advice.

I just think that if the curse doesn't exist, then the other side of the rainforest they're so afraid of is just another tribe. They shouldn't be trapped by their ancestors' legends.

You insist on revealing the 'true history', even if it means hurting the ones who are alive.

No... I've thought it over. Please let me explain.

Just as you said, I can't be sure what will happen when the two tribes make contact. There has been much bloodshed between tribes throughout history.

That's why I've been going between the two tribes in order to compare and contrast them.

If they once had a close relationship and still share common rituals, then the two sides would already have the foundation of a friendly encounter.

Uh, but actually... it was the inventions of the other tribes I've been bringing back that piqued their curiosity. Both sides proactively asked to meet their friends on the other side of the forest.

So this was not your idea.

Right. Thinking back, perhaps I was just playing the role of a Messenger.

Oh, doctor, they're planning to build a bridge by the waterfall. Maybe you won't have to take a detour through the foggiest part of the rainforest the next time you leave.

What about you?

You're a strange young lady. You could've come to this place in those air-conditioned metal monsters like those heralds of the lords ameer.

I can tell your social standing is even higher than theirs. You could've had someone dig up the history between these two tribes for you.

It is within your power to interfere in their lives by sending a Messenger to demand the two tribes form ties or even merge into one. I've seen that happen many times.

Why put yourself through all this trouble?

Because I didn't want to come here for sightseeing... I want to know what it looks like outside the window.

...

Before I left home, someone I really respected once told me to discover the meaning of my journey for myself, and that I should never forget it, but also not think too highly of it.

That's why I tried my hardest. Although going by the results, I guess the only thing that I've gained so far is a whole lot of nightmares...

But I think it's much better to have nightmares every time I see Originium slugs than to touch them curiously in the office before heading back to the desk to document with joy.

You really are a weird one.

Are you happy, after suffering through all that?

Truth is... I do miss the air conditioning and purified water back in the office, and all the books and resources readily available.

Every day, I feel just how insignificant each one of my steps is compared to Sargon's long history.

My father is right in that regard. Compared to my research, the weeks I've spent in this rainforest are all a waste of time.

I was only able to persevere and stay here for such a long time because I wanted to finish one thing.

Those tablets.

Right.

You taught the locals a slogan. Looks like you got plenty of information out of those tablets.

Actually... those tablets only talk about their exploits and feats in battle.

Just as you predicted, the Archosauria are born combative. In the past, the two tribes often came to blows whenever they saw each other.

I think... it's because somebody would go missing every time they went to the other side that the tribes slowly got the idea that the forest curses people.

But I suppose the truth of the past doesn't really matter to the people alive right now, does it?

Very well... I'll keep that secret for you, and I'll keep an eye on the tribes so they don't come to blows again after you leave.

We'll call it my thanks to you for getting them to build this bridge and saving me some time in the future.

Thank you so much... Uh, if you wouldn't mind bringing me with you when you left this time, that'd be even better.

I want to make it to the closest town in one piece and enjoy an ice-cold glass of fruit juice before contacting the Rhodes Island office... I'll pay!

Not standing by your principles anymore?

Th-That's because I'm leaving!

Besides, now that the tribesmen are finally uniting and heading into the forest that they were so afraid of, in hopes of making new friends, I've finally realized...

In the end, the most important thing is taking that very first step.