The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

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"Could it be... you're Japanese too?"

Renya was asking in Japanese.

He had anticipated that "Jin," the number two at Luney Trading Company, was Tachibana Moe. But he never imagined that the top, Empress Monon—Lilith Muuteru—would also be from his homeland.

If that were the case, Renya couldn't possibly point his sword at her.

He had an incredibly soft spot for his compatriots.

However, Lilith just smiled silently, neither confirming nor denying.

Renya quickly asked:

"What's your name from your previous life? As you probably realized, I'm Renya—Ioo Renya, just as I've been calling myself. Watabe Neon is with me too. Not just her, but Akimoto, Shishido, Okazaki, Seto, Tokuma, Mita, and Hachinohe are all here. I know that all the reincarnated people in this world now are only our classmates. Honestly, I wouldn't have tried to recruit just the moody Tachibana, but... if there's one more person, that's different. So tell me, who exactly are you?"

Intelligence beyond her years, behavior with dignity.

The most likely candidate would be one of the "Three Goddesses," Ichinomiya Azusa, but—

"Emperor Renya, you can be surprisingly clueless at times."

Lilith was smiling.

"You thought I was a reincarnated person because I can speak Japanese and English? Were there no multilingual people in your home country?"

"Wha—"

Renya held his breath. He hadn't imagined that response at all.

Indeed, the reincarnated people like Renya who could use Japanese had become able to use this world's language. But until now, he had never considered the reverse.

...He'd been played.

Renya clenched his fist. Spilling out all the details was clearly a blunder.

"But... I see. So the 'Eight of the Hidden Palace' were all fellow reincarnated people."

"You schemed this, didn't you?"

"Isn't it just that you misunderstood?"

It's not strange that she knows about the eight people. But having their true identities known was a blow.

Observing Renya's most regretful expression yet, Lilith let out a small sigh.

"So this plot was for their sake?"

"...Do you think I'd tell you?"

By the time he realized he had shown too much on his face, it was already too late.

"I've heard that their races and ages are all different. You have a strong sense of patriotism and camaraderie, don't you?"

"What would you know?"

"Having never experienced reincarnation, I don't know. But thinking that way, I can imagine your purpose... Well, I had already guessed half of it."

Lilith spoke with complete composure.

Renya spat out in irritation:

"You vixen. Fine, go ahead and say it."

"The 'Book of Wisdom,' right?"

"...Tch."

It seems that her claim of having already guessed wasn't entirely a lie. Otherwise, Renya wouldn't have been able to enter the forbidden library so soon after arriving.

"Could it be that you were trying to use the benefits of the 'Book of Wisdom' to find other reincarnated people?"

"That's not it. There's no time for such leisurely plans anymore."

"Then why?"

"I want the 'Creator God Skill.' That's all."

His scheme exposed, his body restrained by mystic arts, the book he sought not found. Furthermore, he had revealed his position and weak points.

Renya, half in desperation, declared his objective.

"I heard from the previous Saint that among the skills in this world, there's a special power called the 'Creator God Skill'? They say it can ultimately wield the power of the Creator God itself."

"...It seems the previous Saint was a bit loose-lipped."

"Heh, she said it was a small thanks for saving her life. Rather, isn't it more unexpected for the Holy Kingdom that you know about it? I heard the existence of the 'Creator God Skill' was top-secret even within the Holy Kingdom."

"Well, that might be true."

Lilith's smile remained unwavering.

She really is an inscrutable woman.

"My goal is just one thing. To obtain the 'Creator God Skill' and return to Japan together with them."

He wanted to go home.

Since reincarnating into this world, that desire had been burning in Renya's heart.

In the other world, he had sickly parents.

He had many close friends.

He had reunited with his lover in this world, but she also had family and friends back there.

Since reincarnating, he had never once liked this world where he had to live risking his life.

He wanted to return to Japan as soon as possible.

For that—

"The 'God of Time and Space,' the 5th God, Kianus. I want his Creator God Skill."

Apparently, the Creator God managing this world is God Kianus.

If so, the Creator God Skill obtainable in this world might be Kianus's power.

"The 'Book of Wisdom' is said to be able to grant that skill. I originally had no interest in the Empire or Mataisa. I've just been using everything to gather information. So, Empress Monon... no, Lilith Muuteru. If you know anything about the 'Book of Wisdom,' tell me."

"...I see. So that's how it is."

Lilith nodded as if understanding.

But her next words were a denial.

"However, your prediction... no, your hopeful observation has a big mistake."

"...What? I know the 'Book of Wisdom' is here. A reliable informant told me so."

"No, that information was correct. Indeed, the 'Book of Wisdom' is here... or rather, it was."

"What do you mean?"

An ominous feeling ran through his chest.

Lilith stated clearly:

"Unfortunately, the Creator God Skill that can be obtained from that 'Book of Wisdom' is not God Kianus's."

"W-Why? How can you assert that so confidently?"

"Because two years ago, I deciphered that 'Book of Wisdom' and obtained its benefits."

"...What... did you say..."

The blood drained from his face.

The "Book of Wisdom" that no one had been able to decipher for hundreds of years.

He never imagined that it had fallen into the hands of the woman before him, of all people.

Lilith calmly stated:

"I'll tell you this much, poor Emperor. The Creator God Skill refers to the 'skills bearing the numbers 0 to 7' that the Creator Gods preside over... in other words, the 'Numerology of the Ancestors.'"

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Lilith observed the emperor, who was dumbfounded and at a loss for words.

Indeed, the Creator God Skill is powerful. It's said that if fully evolved, it could allow one to rule not just a country, but the entire world.

For this reason, the "Book of Wisdom" was sealed in various places by the gods. The Mataisa Kingdom, which had excavated one of them, imprisoned it in the forbidden library, and for hundreds of years after that, the seal remained unbroken.

Until two years ago, when Lilith, brought to the forbidden library by Princess Margaria, deciphered that book.

"The skill sealed in the 'Book of Wisdom' in this country was [Numerology 0: Analytical Eye]. It's a skill imbued with the power of Moman, the 0th God of fiction and imagination. The power you were looking for was never in this country to begin with."

"That's... a lie... It can't be..."

Emperor Renya hung his head powerlessly.

But it was the truth.

"Let me tell you one more thing. Once the 'Book of Wisdom' is deciphered, it changes into a different book. Of course, reading the transformed book won't grant you the Creator God Skill. It becomes something like a mere information booklet."

"..."

"So if you want God Kianus's 'Book of Wisdom,' I recommend searching elsewhere. Though, if someone has already deciphered it, that's the end of it."

"...Wait. Are there other 'Books of Wisdom'...?"

This must be what it means to grasp at straws.

To the emperor who now looked like a child, Lilith answered objectively:

"I think there are. However, only those loved by the Creator God who created the skill, or those who can decipher the book with knowledge and wisdom, can obtain the skill. And to begin with, they're likely in places that aren't easily found."

"...Is there... is there no other information? Please! Tell me anything!"

Lilith felt pity for the desperate emperor.

Honestly, there wasn't much benefit in giving him information. At most, it would earn her a small favor. The resentment for meddling with this country was greater.

...But Lilith was also human.

Just knowing that he was a former Japanese person like Ruruk and Koneru made her feel sympathetic.

"...Alright. This is special. I'll tell you the opening passage. Though, if you can read it yourself, you'll obtain the skill anyway, so I'm not sure how meaningful this is."

"Please! That's fine!"

Lilith sighed and recited the content she had memorized after reading it many times:

"'Once, everything was nothingness.

But then, existence was born. It was the world itself.

On the first day, the newborn existence created void. But the void was born on the other side of the world and could never meet with existence.

On the second day, existence created order. The world was filled with discipline.

On the third day, existence created the summit. The world gained an end.

On the fourth day, existence created circulation. The world became phenomena.

On the fifth day, existence created time and space. The world began to move.

On the sixth day, existence created perfection. The world became imperfect.

And on the seventh day, existence created individuality, and thus the primordial world was completed. The children born from existence blessed the primordial world and began to create further worlds.

Eventually, all worlds overflowed with elements and life, and they revered existence as the Star Birth God. The miraculous seven days brought by the Star Birth God and its children came to be recorded as the Creation Period—'

...That's what it says.

Well, this is the kind of passage about the nature of the gods that anyone in this world would know."

Lilith concluded.

The 1st Star Birth God Truce governs probability and existence.

The 2nd Creator God Arnorgar governs order and chaos.

The 3rd Creator God Blatt governs life and death.

The 4th Creator God Leorio governs phenomena and truth.

The 5th Creator God Kianus governs time and space.

The 6th Creator God Wilmis governs perfection and transcendence.

The 7th Creator God Efi governs individuality and boundaries.

The 0th Creator God Moman governs fiction and imagination.

The Creator God Skill that Lilith obtained was [Numerology 0: Analytical Eye].

Its effect is the ability to know past information about a target object.

For example, even if she looks at the emperor's sword, she can't understand its effects or name, but she can read various information such as the blend ratio of the materials used, the inscribed spells, past owners, and so on.

While it doesn't provide any current information, depending on the owner's knowledge, it could give even more value.

Lilith was able to create high-performance magical devices and mystic devices by combining this skill with others she already had, such as "Mathematician" and "Optimization."

That was the secret behind Lilith being called Empress Monon.

Incidentally, the "Book of Sephirot" was a grimoire that automatically records past events in reverse chronological order from the present time. Because Lilith also has the far-seeing skill "Clairvoyance," she can record information over a quite wide range.

However, its weakness is that the recording method cannot be specified, so the information accuracy is not very high.

"...So, was that helpful?"

"...Yeah."

The emperor looked somewhat tired, but his eyes weren't dead.

However, he was no longer trying to oppose Lilith. Tilting his head curiously, he said:

"I appreciate the information... but are you saying you're just going to let me go like this? There must have been at least some casualties from this incident."

"Of course, it's not something that can be forgiven easily, but is there any meaning to that question? If you wanted to, you could escape anytime with the transfer magic stone you're hiding, right?"

"...Hah, you saw through that too?"

Lilith's [Analytical Eye] is a sibling skill to Ruruk's [Eye of Illusion]. Of course, it can see through things in the same way. There's nothing that can be hidden.

"Besides, when dealing with an emperor, we can't act rashly. You understand that too, don't you?"

"...Oh?"

"I was also surprised that you came in person. We haven't made any behind-the-scenes arrangements or preparations. We're not so carefree as to rejoice at capturing the king of an enemy country here."

"Hahaha, I see. You understand politics at such a young age. You're definitely talent I'd want in my country."

The emperor was impressed.

The Maguu Empire is already a great power. Emperor Renya is also extremely popular among his people.

Capturing the emperor here without preparation would surely spark a full-scale war. Various opposition factions and local nobles would likely cause an uproar. That would be too painful during this time when they lack余裕.

If he would return by transfer, it would be more beneficial to let him go back before anyone knows.

Of course, after being messed around so much, it was hard to forgive.

"...But this is a great favor, you know?"

"I understand. I don't intend to apologize, but I'll withdraw my hand from this country for now."

"Is that all?"

"Since I didn't lose in a public confrontation, there's nothing I can do as a country. Or do you want my personal savings?"

The emperor said jokingly.

"...Then, I'd like you to stop interfering with Luney Trading Company in the future."

"That's an impossible request. I'm not the only one who wants to steal excellent technology. If I withdraw my hand here, others will jump at the chance. Rather, my glare should be keeping them in check."

"I see. Then we have no choice but to withdraw from the Maguu Empire. Please don't involve yourself with us again."

"Wait, I'd like to maintain a personal connection with you."

"But there's no benefit for us?"

"Then, I'll offer some holy relics we possess."

At the emperor's proposal, Lilith's ears perked up.

Holy relics are machines from thousands of years ago, full of unknown technology. She honestly wanted that information so badly she could taste it.

"You can withdraw the stores if you like. But send one person from your company to our palace under the name of a Bargia merchant family. If I favor them as a merchant of the hidden palace, no one will complain. I'll send some holy relics at that point."

"...It's not a bad proposal, but what's your goal?"

"Half of it can be taken as an apology for this incident... but the other half is that I want to buy information in the future. You won't refuse if you're a customer, right?"

"It depends on the content."

"Of course, it's information about other 'Books of Wisdom.' I'll pay whatever price you name."

"Understood. As long as you don't interfere with us in the future, we'll agree to the deal."

"Then we have a deal."

The emperor's expression became lively again, perhaps seeing hope.

As he picked up and sheathed his dropped weapon, he asked:

"Just to be sure, what do you mean by interfering with Luney Trading Company?"

"It means not interfering with 'Ruruk-sama.'"

"...Who's that? Weren't you the top?"

Lilith laughed a little, finding it somewhat amusing that the emperor was confused at this point.

He apparently didn't know that much information.

"I'm just the chairperson. My brother is the representative."

"Your brother... Ah, there was an adventurer called Ruruk, right? That guy?"

"Yes. It wouldn't hurt to remember him."

"I have no interest in mere adventurers. Well then, send someone soon. Don't use the name Luney Trading Company."

"Understood. Oh, and please give my regards to Prince Grill."

"...Tch, you knew about that too?"

Clicking his tongue, the emperor threw the disposable jewel—a one-time use transfer magic device—onto the floor.

As a small act of revenge, Lilith told him one more thing just before he transferred:

"By the way, the one who annihilated the monster army you sent to Stoania was my brother."

"Huh—"

The emperor transferred away with a surprised expression.

By now, he's probably back in the imperial capital, frantically ordering information gathering. Since it was information already circulating in Stoania, it was only a matter of time before it reached his ears anyway.

Feeling slightly refreshed, Lilith smiled as she used [Analytical Eye] to see through the castle.

The emperor had left, and most of the soldiers acting as diversions seemed to have been captured.

While she was talking with the emperor, the confusion had mostly settled down.