kscans

Chapter 262 - Medical Books and the Oldest Memory

The ship that departed from the Royal Capital sailed on, heading for the Eastern Country.

Hayato's group were the only passengers aboard. When he spoke to the captain, he learned that it was usually like this, and that he was surprised to have nearly a month's worth of customers board all at once today.

Hayato could tell the captain's good mood was thanks to the fare. It was 10,000 G per person, and nearly twenty people had boarded. A month's earnings in a single day was enough to make anyone's smile unstoppable.

As a result, they were given free rein on the ship. Most of the members were out on the deck fishing, seemingly competing to see who could catch the biggest fish.

Just as Hayato was thinking they had better not catch a Kraken, Mist, with a wry smile, Damian, with an exasperated look, and Ruth, with a complex expression, approached him.

"Um, did something happen?"

When Hayato asked, Damian let out a heavy sigh before speaking.

"Could you warn her from your end too, Hayato? Mist here has been reading a book nonstop recently, without eating, drinking, or even sleeping much. And now she's doing the same thing on the ship."

"A book?"

"She apparently got it from Diite over there, but I can't imagine it's something worth reading to that extent."

"I have many things to study. But I understand. I will eat properly and get my sleep. I will ask Hayato-san for a meal, so you two go and catch some fish."

"You'd better," Damian said, before walking with Ruth toward the other fishing members.

Mist gave an embarrassed smile.

"It is an old habit of mine. When I get too focused, I tend to lose sight of my surroundings. Damian used to get angry at me just like that back in the day. It brings back a certain nostalgia."

"I see. But a book? You said it was from Diite-chan."

"It is actually a medical book. I told Damian and Ruth it was something else so they wouldn't see it, as it might trigger their memories."

"A medical book?"

"Yes. A hundred years have passed since my time, you see. I wanted to see how much medicine has advanced, so I asked Diite-san. She then handed me a considerable number of books. They were so interesting that I just kept reading. Doing that in the real world would cause me to collapse, but in virtual reality, it is not a problem, which I am grateful for. Though I still get scolded by Damian all the same."

Inside the cryosleep pods on the Interstellar Spaceship Aphrodite, their physical conditions were being meticulously managed, with nutrients periodically administered to prevent malnutrition. Going without food or drink in virtual reality would have no effect on their real bodies.

However, regarding sleep, Hayato had heard in a casual chat with Diite that the system was designed to stimulate their brainwaves to induce sleepiness periodically for the sake of their physical health.

Mist had been so engrossed in the book that she didn't even notice that sleepiness.

"That's some incredible focus. I've stayed up all night reading manga or novels, but to do that with medical books..."

"It is merely a difference of interest. In my case, the thing that happened to catch my interest was medicine."

"Just being interested in medicine in the first place makes me feel how different we are... wait a minute. Was there an item like a medical book?"

To begin with, books containing real-world medical knowledge didn't exist in the game. It seemed like it might be related to raising the Human Anatomy Knowledge skill, but Hayato had never heard of such an item.

Mist shook her head. Then she opened the book and briefly showed it to Hayato.

"This is not an item called a medical book, it is simply a book with information on modern medicine written in it. It has no special effects."

"There are blank book items, aren't there? So Diite-chan wrote in it."

Items like memo pads and pens existed in the game, but blank books did as well. Just like a notepad, players could write freely in them, and some used them to write down strategy information or keep diaries.

Hayato glanced at the open book, but while he could read the words, he had no idea what it was about. He thought it would probably put him to sleep quite well.

"The day after I asked Diite-san, she brought me nearly thirty volumes. What's more, they were stripped of all superfluous information, containing only the facts. If these existed in the real world, I think anyone in the medical field would want them."

"That's incredible."

Hayato glanced over at Diite.

She was fishing with Esha and the others on the starboard side of the ship, arguing with Ren about whose catch was bigger. She looked her age.

"By the way, Hayato-san."

"Yes? Oh, sorry, I was looking away for a moment. What is it?"

"I am sorry to ask, but could you make some food? I would like to put Damian and Ruth at ease, even if it is just for show."

"Of course. Since they're fishing, how about a fish dish? I'm not sure what they've caught, but maybe some meunière..."

"Yes, that would be wonderful. Do you happen to have any white wine?"

"I did bring some. Just one glass, though, okay? It's not even noon yet."

"That is more than enough. My, eating a fish dish with white wine on a ship. What a luxurious situation."

"It feels luxurious even in virtual reality, doesn't it?"

Saying that, Hayato went to ask the other members to share some of their caught fish.

If Mist was eating, it was only natural that the other members would want to as well. Since some of them hadn't had breakfast due to the early departure, Hayato ended up cooking for anyone who wanted some.

While the flavor didn't change, the feeling of eating the very fish you caught yourself seemed to make it taste even more delicious. Combined with the highest-quality taste, their appetites seemed to know no bounds, despite it being morning.

After the meal, everyone relaxed. The warm sunlight, the pleasant climate, the gentle rocking of the ship, there were plenty of reasons to feel sleepy.

Looking completely unaffected by the situation, Diite approached Hayato.

"Hayato-kun, you were looking my way earlier. Did you need something?"

"I only glanced at you, but you're sharp. I heard you prepared some medical books for Mist-san."

"Ah, that. I am an AI, so something like that is simple. I just gathered the necessary information from the net and compiled it, so it was not much trouble. The only thing that took a bit of time was verifying whether the information was true."

"Mist-san was singing its praises. It's almost scary how you seem to be able to do anything, Diite-chan, even without being the game administrator."

"That may be so, but I have no intention of doing anything other than being the game's administrator."

"Is that because you were made that way, Diite-chan?"

"That's not it. It is because I want to manage this place. Do you remember when I took you to space before, Hayato-kun? I think I told you then, but I like gazing at this world from that place."

"That feels like such a long time ago. I do remember you saying that."

After Hayato and Diite had their direct confrontation, various things happened, and the two of them flew into outer space. They had gazed upon the world of Another Frontier Online from there.

Diite had certainly said that she liked looking at this world from that place.

"My oldest memory is of seeing this world. I still remember it. The first sight I saw when I became self-aware was the view from that place. The first thing I thought was, 'How beautiful it is.'"

"That happened? Wait, you didn't create this whole world, Diite-chan?"

"That's right. I have modified it a fair bit now, but a certain amount of it was already complete from the start. Well, even if I say it is a memory, it is a memory that remains in my memory area. It is possible that an even older memory existed, but if it was erased, I would no longer know. So the first memory in my memory area is still that one. And after that, I heard a voice, telling me that I should manage this world."

"Is that—"

"Please do not misunderstand. As I said just now, I want to manage this place, I am not being forced to. I also remember being happy when I was told that. I want to manage this place and make it even more beautiful. I believe that thought is absolutely my own will. So no matter how much I am capable of, what I want to do is be the administrator of this place. Thinking about it now, it might be the same feeling Hayato-kun has about wanting to run a cafe... though, with all that has happened lately, I wonder if I am fit to be an administrator."

Diite, who had been speaking cheerfully, dropped her shoulders and looked down. Hayato felt that Diite had been emotionally unstable lately.

"Don't get down all of a sudden. Let's think about something more fun. Um, is the Eastern Country a place you made, Diite-chan?"

Diite, who had been looking down, immediately lifted her head, her face brightening up.

"As a matter of fact, it is. It is a place I asked Infinity to create after gathering all sorts of information from the net. With what is going on with Mist-kun and the others, you may not be able to enjoy it to the fullest, but I do hope you enjoy it a little."

Diite looked happy as she said that. Or rather, she looked like she was itching to say all sorts of things.

Just as he thought it might be better not to ask any further, the captain shouted, "We're almost there!"

Hayato looked in the direction the ship was headed.

Azuma, the capital of the Eastern Country. Its port was visible across the sea.