Volume 5 Chapter 10-2 Professor Burnstein
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The fish the professor says is a relative species of Atlantic salmon, it seems that a small number has been swimming upstream to a little further above the royal city since long ago.
The professor, who noticed that it resembles Earth salmon, made a hatchery and succeeded in a big increase of fry.
Until then, it was good, but the downstream countries, which had no interest in salmon until now, saw a splendid school of fish swimming upstream in front of them and could not leave it alone. They set nets and built fishways, and caught them all at once.
It seems they also discussed at the national level to manage the fishery resources, but other countries apparently did not listen. The parent salmon that swim upstream completely disappeared, and it seems that the hatchery was finally closed.
Huh? Does the issue with salmon have anything to do with the canal being closed?
I have never actually seen Atlantic salmon, but smoked salmon packs were occasionally sold at the supermarket, the taste was just normal salmon. I wanted to eat it, really.
”Stupid people ruin salted salmon, huh. And now they started a farm, huh?”
”That was started by our young people. I hope it goes well.”
Isn’t this person the person responsible? It was a bit off, but it seems they are involved.
”Then what are you doing now?”
When Mr. Raoh casually asked a question, the professor’s eyes sparkled and he invited us into the next room.
”My specialty is fisheries science. But since coming to this world, I have become interested in archaeology despite being an outsider. I believe that because I am an amateur, I can think freely without being constrained by common sense. Even Schliemann was considered a fraud but left a great legacy. I will overturn the world myself.”
Mr. Raoh, who started gathering materials eagerly, seems like he will tell a long story again. The two of us look at each other.
When I glared at Mr. Raoh, who was saying unnecessary things, he looked sorry, but it was too late to regret now.
I wonder what the professor’s new research theme is, exactly?
I was surprised to see the large number of ceramic shards casually arranged on the long table. The reason was that the ancient script engraved on the shards was something I was familiar with.
”I had also found a few old books on magic by searching through libraries and secondhand bookstores, but the professor’s collection was even older. After all, ceramics last longer than paper.”
While messing around with my editor skill, I became fairly proficient at reading ancient script. The contents engraved on the ceramic shards are mostly something like inventory lists, but among them, there are also clearly important pieces of information, like annals.
I couldn’t help but start recording everything with my editor skill.
”Oh, you have an interest in the ancient script, do you?”
Oops, did I?
Ms. Hóa had advised me to keep the fact that I can read ancient script a secret.
”No, it’s just that, um, it’s beautiful pottery, isn’t it?”
I feign ignorance using my fraud skill.
”Old pottery is wonderful. When I’m polishing them alone in a dark room, they whisper to me. They tell me secrets hidden under the veil of history. This is an ancient script known as ‘the divine script.’ It is very different from the script currently used in this world, and it even shares similarities with ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform.”
The fact that you know the ancient script means you’ve done some serious research. But still, there’s no way Mesopotamia has anything to do with this world.
It’s clear that they’re a smart person, but they seem like a bit of a space case.
”This world has had exchanges with Earth since ancient times. Oh, I see that look on your face. You’re skeptical, aren’t you? Let me show you a piece of evidence.”
The professor had Mr. Dogor prepare writing tools.
”Now, Dogor, write ‘Earth’ on this paper.”
Mr. Dogor can write. Of course, it’s in the script of this world. The professor is trying to make me read it.
”Can you read what it says on this paper?”
Of course, I can read this much. Recently, I’ve even been able to read novels I borrowed from Shea-Shea by myself. Since it’s a phonetic script, it’s easy to read.
”Is it ‘Aratos’?”
”Yes, Aratos. I can’t understand Mind Communicationskill, but if I write it down like this, I can learn the correct words of this world. In other words, Aratos is the name of this planet.”
The Mind Communication skill mediated by the spirit of words is like a deteriorated telepathy, and it gets conveyed to the other person by pronouncing the words. I’ve decided to think of myself as an excellent simultaneous interpretation device.
If you don’t pay close attention, all languages sound like Japanese, which gets in the way of learning the languages of this world. In that regard, written words on paper are not affected by the skill.
Reading books and learning the words of this world is a good method, but it seems like there are few Heroes who seriously study because Mind Communicationskill is too convenient.
The professor can not only read and write the characters of this world, but he is said to usually talk with Mr. Dogol without Mind Communicationskill. He must be an excellent person.
”Aratos. In other words, this world was the lost continent of legend, Atlantis!!”
He seems to be a person with quite a bit of imagination. Certainly, both start with A and end with S, but by that logic, Arakawa Sandbar could be Atlantis too.
Well, certainly there is romance in legends and continents. I won’t make a thoughtless retort to someone who is sparkling with excitement like a child; I’m a man who can read the atmosphere. Anyway, let’s pretend to be surprised sincerely.
”Wha, what did you say──!! Is Atlantis that legend?”
”The plants and animals living around the royal capital here are closely related to species living in Minor Asia, the Mediterranean coast, and North Africa. If the ancient world-ruling Atlantis teleported to this planet, it would be no wonder.”
He’s talking like it’s a fact, but isn’t the great flood the one with Noah’s ark? You can’t mix fiction and history together like that.”
”There is also a legend of the Tower of Babel, in ancient Earth, the languages of all humans were understood, exactly the same as now. Ancient Atlanteans invented this divine script long before alphabet was created. At the Tower of Babel, it was transmitted to the Sumerians, and became the root of cuneiform writing.”
Now it’s the Tower of Babel again… Such delusions have become quite elaborate. The more he speaks passionately, the more it makes me feel clouded or dull to listen.
”A notable point is that divine script was often recorded by converting it into base-4 numbers. Apparently, this is the code table, but”
The professor reverently takes out a fragment of a large jar from the wooden box. At a glance, I get goosebumps.
Even if the Atlantis thing is just the professor’s tall tale, how important this could be… isn’t this the ASCII code in divine script.
It is the cipher table that is the key to converting the meaningless string of numbers into characters.
The patterns drawn on the jar are carefully recorded with editor skill. It’s unfortunate that there are missing parts, so it’s not perfect.
”How important this could be cannot be fully explained in words. Biological DNA information is in base-4. In other words, the Atlanteans even had the technology to manipulate genes.”
Was DNA that? Deoxyribonucleic acid? I think I learned it in biology class, but I don’t remember the detailed content well. Well, I think it’s about genes and chromosomes and that kind of thing.
The reason linking divine script and genetic manipulation is just base-4, that alone is unreasonable.
Base-4 was also in Edo period currency units, but that has nothing to do with genes.
What just makes me curious is that various monsters that could be seen as biological weapons appear frequently in the mythologies of this world.
Homunculus is obviously one of those plausible examples. Everything can probably be explained by magic, but if that magic was created with an editor skill that uses divine script, then maybe there’s some connection, even if slight.
Maybe, even in the professor’s delusions, a fragment of truth might be mixed in.
”Genes, right? Like genetically modified soybeans or something?”
Suddenly, Ryou-san interrupted the teacher’s talk, and the teacher looked a little annoyed, but then recovered and continued talking.
”Yes, indeed, for ancient Atlantis people, genetic modification of crops was probably not difficult. After all, they used genes as a recording medium.”
”Wow, did ancient people record anime in their genes or something?”
Ryou-san… perhaps deliberately teasing the teacher? He probably got tired of listening to the absurd story.
”That’s impossible, do you understand? Characters written on paper will eventually disappear. But information recorded in genes will be passed forever with life. The ancient Atlantis people must have left their wisdom for us across the distant ages.”
”Did they leave a treasure map or something?”
Ryou-san’s eyes became a little serious. Legends about treasure are romantic, huh.
”The Red Chic Record, a crystallization of the wisdom of an ultra-ancient civilization. Yes, it should be called mankind’s treasure…”
”The Red Chic Record, huh, I don’t know the details, but it’s an occult story, right? It’s becoming endlessly suspicious.”
”So, how much do you think it would sell for?”
”Selling it is out of the question. It’s an imperishable existence that has no price…”
”I’d prefer a pile of gold coins. A legendary treasure hidden deep in a dungeon. A pile of gold coins covering the floor, to the waist. The final boss guarding the treasure should be a huge dragon or some super-strong creature. The hero challenging is countless, but no one has returned yet… that’s the idea.”
Ryou-san’s fantasies are romantic. If such a dungeon was really cleared, the gold market would crash, but dwarves would be happy because the materials would increase.
”That’s a very secular sense of value. First, how are you going to carry that many gold coins back?”
”It won’t fit in my bag. I’d love to say that just once. If I can’t carry it back, I’ll bury it; then I’ll make a treasure map, tear it into several pieces, and give them to various people. A grand adventure to seek King Pakkyamara’s treasure will begin.”
It’s a truly romantic delusion, but if you actually imitate it, it seems like it would be a bloody mess. There are many people who don’t care about getting involved with a lot of money, so I want you to stop holding events that captivate their hearts.
”That’s absolute nonsense, listening to you is making my head go crazy. You were talking about something important, didn’t you forget it? You’re really something…”
”Cut it out, I’m embarrassed.”
”I’m not praising you… it’s about time for everyone to come back, would you like to have dinner together?”
”Yeah, if I make something crappy, this guy will laugh at me, after all, he’s the best cook in another world.”
No, I’m not even as good as a cooking apprentice, but being praised that much is rather embarrassing. Still, I don’t mind being praised, maybe LAOU-san has the skill to carry a drum too.
Since the staff of Hero Farm will be coming back, it’s convenient for me, so let’s consider this a treat.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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