"The world you were just describing and the world we've heard about aren't all that different. However, a crucial change occurred in our world, and that decisively determined the fate of the world."
Since we weren't born at that time, this is only secondhand information—the water god prefaced his remarks with this before disclosing the information.
In the historical period known as the Gregorian calendar, June 23, 2016, marked a major turning point.
The year I was alive before I tripped into this world was 2015.
Even though it's highly likely they're not the same world, hearing that a major incident occurred a year after the trip is...
For those of us who know about it, it's quite unsettling.
≪A life form that appeared from another world—' '—flew to the land of Hinomoto, specifically to Tokyo, which was its capital at the time. Subsequently, another deity arrived in Hinomoto, and eight other deities flew to various parts of the world. It is said that this life form was able to grant humans superhuman powers, and naturally, wars broke out all over the world over these powers. It is reported that Tokyo suffered damage such as the complete destruction of the central area known as Shinjuku.≫外神()
I involuntarily swallowed.
≪At that time, a man who had gained the power of two Outer Gods in Hinamoto annihilated those two Outer Gods who had given him power. The turmoil in Hinamoto surrounding the Outer Gods was temporarily resolved there, but it is said that the conflict continued throughout the world. However, historical records tell us that in 2026, six extraordinarily gigantic Outer Gods flew in, causing unimaginable chaos.≫
I don't really understand what the "Outer Gods" are, but I do understand that they have left a tremendous influence on this world.
≪However, it is said that the turmoil subsided with the arrival of a new Outer God, which lent a hand to humanity. Humanity gained the power of the Outer God and escaped the predicament caused by it. The Outer God that sided with humanity then shattered, and its body fell to the earth as fragments that humans in this world call "fluorite." Thus, humans were able to use these fragments of the Outer God's body to devise their own means of fighting against Outer Gods and their minions—that is what we have been told.≫
In short, what we called fluorite ore was originally the body of that so-called Outer God.
But that means that any monster that can only be defeated using fluorite is, of course, related to an external god...
And my prediction came true in the worst possible way.
However, once humans became capable of defeating the Outer Gods, they conceived the idea of using them as their own weapons. They cultivated and nurtured them, and used them in conflicts between humans.
"..."
"To be left speechless"—that phrase probably exists solely to accurately describe my current situation.
≪And so, in order to reduce the overpopulated world, human leaders unleashed their weapons—beings that humans call "monsters"—on the globe. The human leadership class and the wealthy class closely associated with them then migrated to Hinomoto, the only place where they did not unleash monsters, and began to live there.≫
I instinctively clenched my fists tightly.
≪However, the monsters defied their plans, crossed the sea, and arrived in Japan. As a means of fighting these monsters, monsters like us, who have human personalities implemented, were created. We are the survivors of that era... well, besides the Hagoromo Yanagi, there are no other survivors from that time. We do not have the concept of lifespan, but the others do. To leave proof that they lived, to pass on their memories to future generations, they find each other and reproduce. The fox-horse over there is also a being that was born from that process.≫番()
Yoriko smiled, as if to say that her background explanation was sufficient.
With a parched mouth, I asked the water god a question.
"And... what happened to the humans?"
Almost completely extinct.
And the water god's reply was surprisingly simple.
"Yes, they perished with Chikubu Island as their pillow. We are living witnesses to that. And with the extinction of the people of Chikubu Island, human civilization in Japan came to a temporary halt. Then, the people of Japan who barely survived gathered together, and a new civilization like the one we see today began."
Interestingly, from what you've told me, it seems like you're just repeating the same things over and over...
The water god said this, laughing in a voice like the tinkling of bells.
But for me, it's not exactly a funny story.
And then, they must have noticed that I was clearly dejected.
Yoriko leans close to me and puts her arm around my shoulder.
Just like when she was in the form of a horse, she has a very high body temperature and is warm.
Just having you by my side makes me feel safe.
Looking down at us, the Water God exhaled a breath that smelled like the rich scent of grapefruit peel, and said:
"But that kind of talk about 'world history' or 'ancient history' is irrelevant. Your problem lies elsewhere."
"a..."
"Your sexual desire has become abnormally strong, likely due to the influence of 'Asai Nagamasa' in this world. There's nothing we can do about that now... but if you want to prevent it from progressing any further, you must avoid war. Increase peacetime instead of wartime, and let your personality prevail... that's the only way."
"Increase the amount of peacetime..."
That's right.
The water god nodded in response to my murmur.
"The more you fight and the more people you kill, the weaker your personality, personality B, will become, and the more it will be absorbed by personality A. If you wish to live as yourself, you must avoid fighting. If you do so, the sexual desires that you currently harbor, stemming from personality A, will diminish and converge into your natural instincts."
"Thank you for your precise advice... Water God."
Taishakutsukimo is thanking the giant dragon in a voice filled with sincere emotion.
I, too, hastily bowed my head to the water god.
"Come anytime if something comes up. I'll at least listen to your concerns—since there's nothing to do here except daydream or sleep."
The water god said this and laughed.
Ah, so that's why this giant dragon talks so much—I thought, somewhat disrespectfully.
Unaware of what was going on in my heart, the water god looked at me and Yoriko and said:
"Now, foreigner, you should enter the tower. The fox-horse there is familiar with the structure of this building. It will safely return you to the surface."
Having said that, the water god hastily added a few more words.
"But, Fox Horse, you must not be shown the inside of the tower today. You are only to be allowed to use the elevator. When this foreigner visits this place again, then you may be shown the inside."
"Understood."
Yoriko said this and bowed deeply.
In short, this giant dragon is starving for someone to talk to.
What the water god is saying is, "If you want to know the secret of this tower, come again, and I will be your conversation partner."
It must be incredibly lonely for them to spend all their time alone.
(This monster is surprisingly human-like...)
With those thoughts in mind, we left the Water God's presence and entered the tower.
◆
"Wow... what is this place..."
The moment I stepped inside the tower, I involuntarily let out that sound.
It's that moving.
The central part of the tower was an open atrium, and its structure was divided into dozens or even hundreds of floors.
"Nagamasa-san, please come over here."
"Ah...ah..."
Following Yoriko's beckoning, I proceeded towards the circular pedestal in the center.
Then she touched the rod extending from the pedestal and flicked her supple fingertips.
Suddenly, the pedestal began to float, slowly rising upwards in a spiral motion.
"Wow...it's like something out of a sci-fi movie!"
Below, the first floor recedes into the distance, and the various floors pass by as you go along.
It had reached a level where I should have been terrified, but perhaps my interest was even greater.
However, the fun time came to an end when Yoriko called out to me.
"Nagamasa-san, please look up."
"air...!"
The ceiling far in the distance has split open, and the brilliantly shining sun is visible through it.
And the circular platform carrying us slowly slowed down—and finally, it had finished carrying our bodies to the outside world.
What stretched out before us was the azure sky and the clear, blue Lake Biwa.
Below, deserted shrines and temples lie, overgrown with weeds and trees.
"This is Chikubu Island, Nagamasa-san."
Yoriko said that as she pushed me forward.
Behind us, a circular platform descends, and its entrance slowly closes.
After a loud, mechanical thud as the door closed, the entrance vanished, leaving only the completely camouflaged ground.
Unless you knew that there was a gateway to an ancient civilization there—or even if you did know, it would be virtually impossible to distinguish the disguise from the real thing with the naked eye.
"...So this is where humanity perished."
"Yes, I've heard that."
Climbing to the highest hill on Chikubu Island, I found myself unexpectedly lost in thought.
An island where human civilization has perished.
The ruins still remain beneath the surface, and the remnants of an ancient civilization exist, seemingly protecting them—objectively speaking, this is a truly romantic fact.
That's assuming it doesn't concern me, of course.
"Nagamasa-san"
"What's wrong, Taishakugetsu?!"
The moment I tried to respond to her call.
My body is pushed down onto the soft wild grass and soil.
"H-hey...! What are you—"
"It's already decided, Nagamasa-san."
As Yoriko straddled me, she held the back of her hair with both hands, showing off her pristine white nape, and said:
"There is a blue sky, there is land, and there is a man and a woman... Perhaps only one thing can happen."
"Wait a minute...! Please wait...!"
I tried to get up in a panic, but my shoulders were pinned down, preventing me from moving.
That is clearly not human power.
There was an overwhelming difference in physical strength, enough to easily neutralize the man's power.
"Usually, Nagamasa rides it, but today I will be the one to ride it."
"So, wait...!"
"No, I can't wait."
Yoriko leaned forward, slamming her teeth into my neck as she whispered.
"Wasn't it you, Nagamasa, who said you wanted to embrace me...?"
Licking her lips and with a lewd expression on her face, she says:
"Furthermore, Nagamasa needs to satisfy his sexual desires. And on top of that, Nagamasa cannot return to Sugawa Castle today...so this must be fate that was meant to be."
Taking my hand and guiding it to her slippery, vividly blue vulva, the fox-horse, now in human form, began licking my nipple with the tip of its tongue.
"This is a recommended practice. I strongly recommend that Nagamasa take a concubine."
While she thoroughly wet my nipples with her saliva and playfully teased them, she kissed me and began to suck on my tongue with a slurping sound.