Helios Orb Chronicle – Chapter 1

An Engraver is someone born with an Engraving and who has mastered an ancient art known as Engraving Magic.

I, Yamato Mikami, am also an ordinary high school student born into a family of Engravers.

What? Ordinary high school students aren’t born into such special families?

I don’t know about that.

Besides, it’s not that rare.

Most of my relatives and childhood friends are also Engravers.

Well, there’s no doubt I was born into a tougher family than an ordinary Engraver.

My training was seriously grueling…

But thanks to that, I am who I am today.

However, right now, even my father, who is probably my Master, and my relatives would likely be surprised.

“Where… am I…?”

When I came to, I was in a grassland near a forest.

Just moments ago, I should have been fighting a monster I’d never seen or heard of…

“This doesn’t look like Japan. For now, there’s nothing I can do by staying here. I guess I’ll try contacting my older brother or sister.”

I took out a portable Engraving Tool from my pocket and called my sister.

“Huh? It’s not connecting? Why?”

Upon closer inspection, there was no signal.

This was unexpected.

“Ah, seriously? No signal? I never thought a place like this would exist these days.”

Without a signal, I couldn’t make calls or check my current location.

I was at a bit of a loss.

“Still, where in the world am I?”

As unlikely as it sounds, could this be a different world?

…No, it can’t be.

There are still unexplored regions on Earth, and there are unknown creatures.

Come to think of it, I think someone spoke to me earlier.

After that, I found myself here, so it’s probably not unrelated…

“Whatever the case, thinking here won’t help. I guess I’ll look for a place where people might be, be it a town or a village.”

I was getting a bit hungry, and I definitely didn’t want to camp out in a place like this.

I simultaneously activated Dolphin Eye, a C-Rank Water Element Search Spell, and Sonar Wave, also a C-Rank Water Element Search Spell, and began walking along the forest edge, checking my surroundings.

“Still, these trees are unlike anything I’ve seen. The 印子 (Inshi) also seem to be active, and I have a bad feeling about this…”

I don’t know all the flora on Earth, but if such a plant existed, it would be news.

Also, 印子 (Inshi), which is like the life energy used for Engraving Magic, seems to be activated, making my body feel lighter than usual.

Ah, I’ll think about that later.

After walking for about 30 minutes, two women burst out of the forest.

Both were in Dresses and seemed to be fleeing from something, but that’s not the point.

They looked so alike, I thought they might be sisters. It wasn’t impossible to understand that one of them, who I presumed to be the younger sister, was holding a spear, as it could be a response to an attack. Spear-shaped Magical Tools are not uncommon.

The problem is that both of them had dog-like ears on their heads.

One of the girls even had white wings growing from her back.

I have a lot I want to ask, but first, I need to help those two.

“Accessories… it’s not possible, is it? Could it be real?”

“You there! Hurry and escape!”

“Don’t mind me. Or rather, I have some questions. Could I have some of your time later?”

“We don’t have time for that!”

As the girl’s voice rose, their pursuers appeared from the forest.

“There they are!”

“Stop wasting our time!”

What appeared were unmistakably magnificent Thieves.

Some of them looked injured, but I presumed the girls had done that.

Even though they were wearing Dresses, they seemed quite capable.

And they’re brandishing swords and axes… this is a crime no matter what country you’re in.

“Prim! You escape, even if it means leaving me behind!”

“I can’t do that! I’d rather die than leave Mother behind!”

I thought they were sisters, but they’re mother and daughter?

She’s a remarkably young mother, but I’ll deal with this after we get rid of these guys.

“There’s just one thing I want to ask, are these guys also Thieves?”

“…Can’t you tell?”

They’re wary of me.

Naturally, so it’s fine, but since the other party are Thieves, they’re criminals, so I don’t need to hold back.

I’ll go easy on them, though.

“What the!?”

“An ice… Barrier?”

I generated the short sword-type consumable Engraving Tool, Multi Edge, from the Engraving on my right hand, and the bracelet-type decorative Engraving Tool, Mirror Ring, from the Engraving on my left hand, and activated Nibelheim, a C-Rank Water Element Wide-Area Targeted Spell.

The dog-like beast person? mother and daughter are surprised by Nibelheim, but the Thieves are equally surprised, and some of them are trying to escape.

But Nibelheim, and indeed any A-Rank Spell, is also highly effective as a Barrier.

So they couldn’t get out of Nibelheim.

Honestly, there was no need to use Nibelheim, but I don’t know where I am or how strong they are, so it’s just for safety.

Engraving Tools can only be generated from innate Engravings, known as “birth Engravings,” and it is said that only about 30% of Engravers can generate them.

Furthermore, I have Engravings on both hands, but usually, people only have one.

Globally, there are few Engravers with Engravings on both hands, and in Japan, there are only three of us: my father, my mother, and myself.

Well, having Engravings on both hands doesn’t necessarily make you stronger.

In fact, I still can’t beat my older brother or sister, and my relatives and Masters are so famous that almost no one in the world doesn’t know them.

Ah, I’m feeling a bit down.

Even among my peers, I’m considered one of the top-ranked individuals!

“Wh-what is this Barrier!?”

“D-damn it! It won’t break!”

“D-don’t panic! We just need to eliminate that brat!”

“If you can, that is. Hmph.”

Nibelheim is a wide-area targeted spell, affecting not only the entire area but also designated targets.

I launched the ice blocks I created towards about three nearby Thieves.

“Gyaaaaaaah!”

“Gehaaaaa!”

“Geu!”

The ice blocks, which I had launched considering the activation of the 印子 (Inshi), easily crushed the targeted Thieves and took their lives.

While this isn’t the first time I’ve taken a life, this is still tough.

Besides, I went easy on them, didn’t I!?

“You… have some skill, don’t you?”

“…I didn’t intend to kill them.”

“Even if we incapacitate them, it’s impossible to take this many back to town. Besides, since they’re Thieves, we can get a reward if we prove we’ve eliminated them!”

The girl spread her wings and rushed at the Thieves, enveloped in flames.

By themselves, two of them were burned to death, and she then swung her spear at another.

“Well, if that’s the case, I guess I don’t need to hold back either.”

In this era where Engraving Magic is practical, it’s also used for crime and terrorism.

Tools called Engraving Tools are widely used for communication and fashion, making them difficult to prohibit. Even if they were restricted, those who can generate Engraving Tools like myself, known as “Generators,” can respond by creating their own.

Moreover, the power of Generators is in a different league from ordinary Engravers. If you were attacked by one, your life would be in danger.

Therefore, the Engraving Magic Management Law stipulates that it is permissible to take an opponent’s life only when one’s own life is threatened, and several people are protected by this law every year.

Last year, I myself benefited from this law when I had just started generating Engraving Tools.

Also, many families of Engravers are trained in how to deal with criminals and terrorists through their family’s education.

Of course, our family is like that too, and not only my parents but also my relatives are world-renowned Generators, so my siblings and I have been targeted more than once.

For these reasons, I have already taken the lives of several people.

It’s not that I’m free from guilt, but I have no intention of showing leniency to criminals or terrorists unless there are extenuating circumstances.

With that, I activated Icicle Lance, a C-Rank Water Element Attack Spell, within Nibelheim, and pierced the Thieves one after another.

“You… who are you? I’ve never heard of magic like this before…”

The mother, who is close to me, looks at me with a look of astonishment.

Indeed, it’s not surprising to be amazed, as opportunities to see A-Rank Spells are rare.

Besides, what is magic?

It might seem like magic, but this is the first time I’ve been called that.

“After I deal with them, I’ll talk to you. I have some things I want to ask as well.”

“What things?”

“About what happens next. Good work. You’re pretty capable.”

As I was talking with the mother, the girl returned.

“You too. Not only that unheard-of magic, but what kind of Hunter are you? I’ve never heard rumors of you in Valentia, let alone in the neighboring country of Amister.”

“Hunter? What’s that? And I’ve never heard of countries called Valentia or Amister.”

“Eh?”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Or rather, from the flow of our conversation, is this country called Valentia?”

“It is… but Valentia isn’t a small country, and Amister is the largest nation on this continent, so there should be no one who doesn’t know of it…”

I’ve never heard of these countries.

I know about the largest nation on the continent, but it doesn’t fit any of them.

My bad feeling is becoming a reality.

“Could it be that you are…? Forgive me, but may I see your Library?”

“Library?”

Another unfamiliar word.

I can’t possibly carry a library, so it must mean something else, but I don’t understand the meaning at all.

“You don’t know what a Library is either? It’s this. ‘Ryburring’.”

“Woah!?”

Suddenly, a card-like object appeared from the girl’s left hand.

“You may look.”

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

I don’t know what it is, but since I’m allowed to look, there must be some significance to it.

I took her up on her offer and looked at what she called her Library. It read as follows:

Primrose Hydrangea
17 years old
Lv. 48
Beastkin – Winged Tribe – Foxy
Daughter of former Duke Hydransia, a winged white fox beastkin.

This is what’s called a Status, and I was later told it also serves as an ID.

There’s too much to react to.

At 17, she’s the same age as me, so that’s fine.

Foxy probably means fox, and although I thought they were dogs, they were foxes, but since they’re both canine, I’ll let it slide.

But what is a Beastkin?

She’s a Duke’s daughter, so she must be from a noble family, but why is she here with her mother, being attacked by Thieves of all people?

And level 48, isn’t she quite strong?

“I have a lot I want to say and ask, but how do I do that?”

“You mean… you don’t know how to use Ryburring either?”

“Yeah, I don’t. At least, no one around me knows.”

Primrose gives me a look of exasperation, but I can’t help it if I don’t know or haven’t heard of it.

“Prim, I think we can resolve your doubts by looking at his Library. Extend one hand forward and say ‘Ryburring,’ and it will appear. Like this.”

The first half was directed at Primrose, and the latter half at me, as the Duchess instructed.

Apricot Hydrangea
36 years old
Lv. 32
Beastkin – Foxy
Former Duchess of Hydransia

From her Library, I learned that this lady’s name is Apricot.

It seems that a Library shows a person’s name, age, level, race, and possibly occupation?

Now, it’s not right to only look at others’ Libraries, so I guess I’ll try it.

“Is this it? ‘Ryburring.’ Woah!?”

It appeared.

This must be my Library. Let’s see.

Yamato Mikami
17 years old
Lv. 55
Human – High Human
Engraver of a Different World

“Uh…”

Wait, wait, wait, wait!

What is this!

Level 55, I can’t immediately judge because the standard for strength is unclear, but isn’t that quite high?

And what is this race, High Human!?

I’m a normal human!

And “Engraver of a Different World” clearly states that this is a different world, doesn’t it!?

“Y-you… were a guest!?”

“As I suspected.”

Primrose is surprised, but Apricot seems to understand.

Besides, what do you mean by guest?

“A guest is a person from a different world, possessing rare knowledge and immense Magic Power. However, such beings haven’t been confirmed for about the last hundred years.”

“…”

“Uh, are you okay?”

“…Only barely, I suppose.”

The shock is too great, but meeting these two here might be lucky.

However, there’s one thing I need to ask.

“I have a mountain of questions, but first, I need an answer to this: can I return to my original world?”

“That is…”

“I don’t know how to put it, but it’s probably impossible. Historically, there have been several guests confirmed in this Helios Orb, but all of them have died in the Helios Orb. And even so, how did you possibly come to the Helios Orb…”

“Is that so…”

I expected it, but it’s still tough.

Certainly, I don’t know how I came to this world either.

It’s not like I have no idea, but if my guess is correct, returning is hopeless.

This is beyond “trouble,” but what am I supposed to do…