I Am a Light Novel Master in Japan Chapter 422
Why, he suddenly...remembered the short story "Little God" that he made up based on his dream...
※※※
At the same time, hundreds of kilometers away in Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, in a house surrounded by mountains and forests, in a warm room, the cat teacher was lying on a soft cushion.
"It's so boring. It's almost September and there aren't any novels to read yet. It's so boring..."
Mr. Cat said while lying on the soft cushion, lazily looking at the contents of the third volume.
"Ah, we are still talking about senior's novels, Mr. Cat, you still like senior's novels as always."
Natsume Takashi, who was tidying up the room, looked at Mr. Neko, who was reading the novel again after a while, and said with a gentle smile.
"Who told me that I like the novels he wrote? This guy's writing is just a little bit more to my taste. It's still far from good." Teacher Cat snorted and said.
"...Is that so?" Natsume Takashi smiled lightly, naturally understanding what the cat teacher was thinking, and responded.
"Of course, this guy originally had time to improve his writing skills, but he kept causing trouble everywhere, being dragged in by the mirror, and his identity was suddenly replaced. Maybe this time he will be delayed in writing due to some trouble. When it comes to novel work, he is really an author who is not doing his job properly. I don’t know, but Misaki and those guys are beginning to understand how boring it is to have nothing to do and no cultural consumption.”
Teacher Cat turned a page and said in a slightly scolding tone.
"..." Natsume Takashi listened quietly and said with a smile: "Teacher, don't you think your senior's lifestyle is very similar to mine?"
"Same?" Teacher Cat raised his head and asked.
"Yes, senior was once just like me, just a lonely person. However, as we grew up, we gradually began to change our lives, and there were more and more gentle friends around us... Although for senior's past , I have only heard some rumors, and it is not easy to get over it at all... However, I know that senior is the kind of person who once fell in love, once loved, will not choose to leave."
Natsume Takashi looked at the rainy scene outside the window and said with a smile: "So, I am thinking that when the storm passes and the sun shines on me, the future will definitely get better and better..."
"...You rarely said such optimistic words before." Neko-sensei looked at Natsume and said.
"Is that so..." Natsume Takashi was stunned for a moment, then showed a gentle smile and asked softly.
However, there are still some differences between him and Li Yan. From beginning to end, Li Yan's life was based on the mortal world, while for him, most of his life was always dealing with monsters.
In the long drizzle, in a dark forest, the figure leaned down and carefully searched the world dripping with water...
"I believe that most of the time in life, we will be accompanied by loneliness. However, the best way to face loneliness is to work hard to grow... Ever since I heard this sentence from my predecessor, and lived by this sentence Then, I felt like I had to do something."
Natsume Takashi said quietly.
A bolt of lightning suddenly flashed in front of Natsume Takashi and Cat Teacher. They all looked out the window in surprise. It seemed that the wind and rain outside were a bit scary.
However, back at Asahigaoka's shrine, streaks of lightning illuminated the surrounding dark woods.
Wearing a white robe and a strange mask, a figure that seemed to be about the same height as Lian Hua was playing with the horn-shaped object in his hand in such lightning and thundering weather.
"..." The figure sitting in the shrine looked at the dragon horn quietly, seeming to be a little worried, watching quietly.
"...I'm sorry, that item was dropped by my student."
Suddenly, a steady voice came from deep in the woods.
This petite figure was slightly startled and looked over.
In the black rainstorm, this figure wearing a raincoat slowly walked out of the woods. The pair of eyes that were as cold as rain in front of the rain stared at it and said.
【……】
The little figure sitting in the shrine looked at him quietly without saying a word.
As a result, a person and an unknown existence confronted each other.
At this time, Li Yan finally understood that the reason why he couldn't find it was not because it was difficult to find, but because the dragon horn containing Connor's power probably attracted some monsters.
Li Yan was naturally wary of this monster of unknown origin, and was thinking of getting back Connor's precious dragon horns in a peaceful way, but for some unknown reason, he really felt that the figure in front of him gave him a somewhat inexplicable feeling.
【What a rude human being. 】
"?"
Suddenly, this petite masked monster scolded him. Although it didn't sound harsh at all, when Li Yan heard the voice, he felt an inexplicable thump in his heart.
[Let’s not talk about whether what you said is true as a human being. I found this item. Is this how you plan to get the lost item back from the hands of the gods? 】("I" is used to describe Japanese local self-proclaimed)
Li Yan was shocked when he heard that it claimed to be a god. In the rain, he stared at it blankly and asked: "...Excuse me, are you a monster or something else?"
[I am the mountain god of this mountain, but humans have forgotten my existence a long time ago, and now this shrine is somewhat abandoned. 】
This petite god sat in front of the money box and said.
"...Mountain God?"
Mountain God...
Li Yan has seen many types of monsters, even angels, demons, and ghosts, but this was the first time he saw with his own eyes the god known as the "Earth God" in China and the "Mountain God" in Japan.
Although he had doubts about the identity of this self-proclaimed god, he still believed in its statement. Li Yan placed his eyes on Connor's corner and said: "...Yes, Lord Mountain God, that item is My student's valuable items have no use in themselves, I hope you can return them to me."
[This item contains power that humans cannot control. I think it is a treasure. I will not return human items in vain. Just like before, please offer me a tribute made by humans. When I am satisfied, I am willing to return this item. treasure. 】
"...tribute, what tribute?" Li Yan asked.
This mountain god was slightly emitting a golden light. He looked at Li Yan and said: [I miss you so much. In the past, when humans still remembered me, they always offered cakes with a unique taste... However, if other humans like to eat them, Delicious food is fine, as long as there is one tribute that I think is delicious. 】
With the rustling sound of rain, the quiet shrine was filled with rainwater and a wet scenery. Li Yan silently looked at the mountain god who was wearing a strange mask and couldn't even see his hair, and finally thought about it carefully.
After all, the item was probably dropped by Lotus, and it is a Japanese rule that you should be rewarded for returning it. And if it is really a mountain god, then for the sake of Fujinomiya Kumi and this peaceful village, the relationship must be handled even more carefully.
"After all, it's just a small matter."
Li Yan thought to himself, he agreed, and under the rainy weather, Li Yan began to take action to find a suitable tribute.
[...] The "mountain god" sitting in the shrine watched quietly. For some reason, it was as quiet as the quiet woods around it. The sound of dripping rain seemed to beat the world of the soul.
※※※
On the roofs and on the streets, the heavy rain splashed a layer of white mist, which was as thin as a sea of clouds but carried by the wind.
"Um……"
Li Yan looked at the snacks and pastries in the village's grocery store, but felt that they seemed a bit too shabby for a god.
"Um...Mr. Uesugi?" Kaga Shanfeng looked at Li Yan and asked in a low voice.
Li Yan came back to his senses, nodded, and asked, "Yes, what's the matter?"
"Yes, the lease seems to be expiring today. Don't you have any plans to go back now?" asked Kagayama Kaede, who was sitting in front of the cashier.