Volume 6 - CH 3.7

Galarina piled a mountain of books in a heap on the table, then sat on a sofa in a relaxed manner and read her book. Other than the minimum time for sleeping, it was all right to spend all of her time on reading here during her stay in Romarikku; that was Galarina’s unfeigned mental state.

「Galarina-dono is really an avid reader」

Pouring the water of the pitcher into a glass, Dzeco sighed.

「—In all sincerity, your passion for knowledge is magnificent, but what is Galarina-dono always studying?」

「Did you hear what I talk about with that young man from just now?」

Galarina gave a little chuckle without raising her gaze from the book.

「Yes. It sounded like it was about God or something…」

「Are you interested?」

「Well, it’s not that I’m not. …You might have forgotten, but I’m also a petty magic warrior」

「Far from petty, you’re the branch director of the magic academy, aren’t you?」

「Well, that’s in name only though」

While smiling wryly, Dzeco sat down in front of Galarina.

「—So, what in the world are you investigating?」

「Oh, right… since the opportunity is just right, I want to listen attentively to Your Excellency’s opinion too」

Galarina closed her book and took off her spectacles.

「—I’m studying comparative religion」

「Comparative… religion?」

「It’s a branch of learning where I compare the myths of various countries and investigate their original forms. …To put it more specifically, it’s a research where I compare the myth of Reduntra with the myths circulated in my own country and then think about what kinds of forms they were originally」

In the first place, the various countries of the Holy AllianceLiga Santourear, including Ahmad, didn’t acknowledge gods other than Reduntra. Unless one was a possessor of a highly liberal way of thinking, they probably wouldn’t think of comparing Reduntra with other gods.

Therefore, Galarina had the self-confidence that the one who was furthering this field of research in the world was she herself only.

「…Now that you mention it, we don’t know much about the myths of your country」

「The ones whom you called barbarian believers worship the god of war, Marido」

「I know that much」

「Though the names of other gods are being circulated, the fact that they particularly believe in Marido is probably related to people continuing to pray for victory in battles during the period of time when the southern land was passing a long era of wars」

「I see…」

「Incidentally, I believe that the “Demon”Maroudo that was opposed to Reduntra was transformed from this Marido. Even if the ancient God believers had tried to make the god of the barbarian believers, who were politically opposed to them, into a villain in their own myth, I can understand it on an emotional level; it’s a possible story, after all」

「Then, is Galarina-dono saying that your myth existed first, and that our myth was formed by plagiarizing from it?」

Dzeco knitted his brows and bent himself forward. He, who was a God believer, probably couldn’t act as if he didn’t hear that.

Galarina shrugged her shoulders and smiled wryly.

「Your Excellency… I’m not saying that our myth is older than yours in particular. Of course, I also want to ascertain such a matter someday. However, we can’t assert both now. The only one thing I can say is that the two myths had probably been mutually influencing each other」

「Mutually…?」

「In reality, the two myths are very simple, and they resemble each other very closely. Regarding the myth of Redunta—I don’t need to explain it to you, do I?」

「Yes」

In the ancient olden days, Reduntra sealed the “Demon”, which resented humans, with the assistance of twelve magic warriors—simply put, this was all. The twelve countries that those magic warriors established to protect the seal of the “Demon” were considered to be the beginning of the Holy Alliance, but it was also possible to regard that as a fiction created to enhance the values of the alliance and the Dominas.

「…On the other hand, in the barbarian believers’ myth, it’s a nameless monster that had tried to destroy the world. And then, the ones who defeated it were the god of war, Marido, and the twelve demigod heroes who were descended from him. Though there are some differences because of the regions, the name “Marido” and the number “twelve” are common」

「Hmm… they’re certainly similar」

「Yes, two quite similar myths exist in the north and the south, with the mountain range between each other. …If that’s the case, what I’m interested in is, on the contrary, the part of the small differences」

Perhaps an even older myth, which was the original form of the two myths, might have existed. There was some possibility that it dispersed from there to the north and south of the mountain range and ended with their own variations. Galarina was investigating through what process did the differences between the two myths come about, based on the assumption that the original myth did exist.

Of course, even if she investigated that, it didn’t mean that she’d obtain anything. Her father also ridiculed her, saying that it was a meaningless hobby. However, it was Galarina’s innate character that she couldn’t help but investigate the things she was interested in anyway.

Dzeco, who had briefly heard Galarina’s explanation, nodded many times with a sigh.

「…Galarina-dono is just like a scholar. However, exactly what kind of person is the real you?」

「Me?」

「Yes. You’re not an ordinary leader of a caravan, right? And yet, you’re not a scholar either」

「Who knows. …Though you’re asking like that, you have a conjecture, haven’t you?」

Galarina picked up her book once more and put on her spectacles again.

「You’re always concealing your intentions like that… I think it’s all right to talk candidly once in a while though」

Dzeco put his hands on his knees and stood up, then shook his head exaggeratedly and left the library while patting his waist.

Galarina, who had followed him with a sidelong glance until he was out of sight, raised her lips.

「…To not show one’s real intention, I think the feeling is mutual though」