Chapter IX - In which much needed exposition is delivered through Rabanowicz.

Rabanowicz waited for Watanabe to comfortably seat himself on to the cold, hard ground before continuing to speak. “So, first off, would you like to learn about the how or the why?” said Rabanowicz as she started a conversation that’d most likely last for one whole chapter.

“I’d first like to learn how you managed to write in my language.” replied Watanabe.

Also, since you seem to be a well-educated character, I’d like you to give me some exposition about the systems of this world. Maybe I just shouted the wrong English phrases when I first arrived, added Watanabe silently.

“Well, the Divine works in mysterious ways monsieur. I happened to, a few weeks prior to this, chance upon a certain book and buy it out of curiosity.” said Rabanowicz as she handed Watanabe a thin book bound in leather.

Watanabe stared at the cover for a second, before quickly realizing that he was illiterate. “…I can’t actually read whatever the title is.”

“Oh right, sorry. I thought that, since you can speak fluent Lahanezite, that you might actually be able to read it.” said Rabanowicz as she pointed at some text written on the cover, “The title of this book is ‘Records and Observations on the Many Queer and Errant Otherworlders That Have Ended Up Coming to My Court’.”

“That’s a bit of a mouthful, isn’t it?” asked Watanabe as he heard the title that sounded like a synopsis. After a second or two, he had already forgotten the full title.

“No, in actuality, this title is a bit on the short side compared to other ones. This book apparently tells of, well, I think it’s apparent from the title.” replied Rabanowicz. “When I bought it, I thought it was only a creative work of fiction that talked about fantastic lands like many other works. Until I saw,” Rabanowicz pointed at Watanabe “someone who perfectly fits the description of a Nihounczien as written in that book.”

Huh, how can there be a book that describes- Unless, thought Watanabe as he had an epiphany that shook him to his very core, though he was having so many such epiphanies that one wondered if maybe he should get his shaky core checked, unless there are other people who come from Earth!?

“You seem to be demonstrably shocked, monsieur.” said Rabanowicz as she gauged the reaction of Watanabe, “I take it that my thesis, which is that you are not Lahanezite nor from the far south, is correct?”

“No, this is ridiculous, doctor! Do you really believe that I come from whole another dimension?” replied Watanabe as he tried to BS his way out of being found out, “While I do not like doubting and objecting to a lady like you, I have to say that you may somehow be mistaken, for people coming from another dimension is such an absurd concept that it couldn’t possibly be real.”

Rule 5 of Being Sent to Another World: No good protagonist should ever reveal where they come from, thought Watanabe as he continued his series of made-up rules.

“Well then.” said Rabanowicz as she took the book back from Watanabe and flipped the pages until she came to the one she was looking for. “You’ll now see that this thesis is fully based on observable facts and trusted sources.” She then began reading a passage from the book.

“From my observations, I have come to the conclusion that there are three distinct nations that these otherworlders originate from. Those three are as follows: the Chonguoren, the Hankukin and the Nihounczien. While all of them have their differences, they also share some odd similarities in their behavior. First off, all who come from another world tend to share the delusion that they are destined for greatness, or that they are the hero of some story. Second off, they all ask about ‘systems’, ‘levels’ and ‘cheats’, and expect that those will lead them to greatness. Thirdly and lastly, they all have black hair and have faces that can only honestly be described as 'forgettable'.” said Rabanowicz as she finished reading the passage and continued speaking, “Now, monsieur. Do you think of yourself as a chosen hero? Also, did you intend to inquire about these so-called ‘systems’ and ‘levels’ when you learned that I was of the educated sort?”

“Uhm… No, I totally do not and did not.” said Watanabe. This woman must be some sort of high-level magician considering how she’s currently reading my mind. The ones with the high intelligence stat are the ones to watch out for, he thought at the same time.

“Then I’ll have to disappoint you by saying that I, and I’m pretty sure no one else, have no idea what a ‘level’ or ‘system’ is.” replied Rabanowicz as she ignored Watanabe’s poor attempts at denial.

Damn ye who are actually erudite, thought Watanabe. Why do you have to crush my dreams like so? Maybe the system that is to be found in this setting is hidden from plain sight, waiting to be uncovered by someone worthy from another world who can abuse it to become overpowered?

Rabanowicz ignored Watanabe, who was in deep thought, as she continued talking. “Other than various descriptions of your ilk, this book also contains a small dictionary of common phrases that one can use to communicate to these otherworlders. If the dictionary was correct, then the phrase I used meant ‘Can you read this?’ in the Nihonczien language.”

“I-” said Watanabe.

“Now, monsieur, before you open that mouth of yours again and tell me that Nihon is to the far south of the continent and not in whole another world, I implore you to instead tell me the truth.” said Rabanowicz. “Your face tells as much and is as open as the book in my hands.”

Or you are just reading my mind, and it has nothing to do with my face, thought Watanabe.

“I am not reading your mind, so quit looking so surprised that I can read what is as visible as the sun.” said Rabanowicz and continued, “I do have to admit that you have some skill in bluffing, considering you have managed to fool a whole company of men and kept calm while doing so. But I have to warn you that these same tactics won’t work on someone more refined. It would only waste your and, most importantly, my precious time if you keep on trying to keep up the act with right now.”

“…Alright.” yielded Watanabe as he aggressively shrugged. “You got me. I’m not from the far-south but from a whole another world called Earth.”

“Fascinating, fascinating. Rarely does one, in the world of reason and logic, get something right in the first try.” said Rabanowicz as she began frantically writing down some notes on the journal she had shown earlier. “Haruto Watanabe, from Nihon… Then, before I answer the why, I have a few questions for you.”

Watanabe had already capitulated and surrendered. Instead of climbing to the top of the walls and conquering the heart of a maiden, our hero had instead met with a surprise countercharge that left him defenseless. Now is definitely not the time to attempt to bluff or fool anyone. I should just accept the progression of the plot and answer the questions of this lady, who is most likely going to become the deuteragonist. She may not be a jade beauty, but she is what I have.

“Alright, it seems that you have no objections. First question, when and where were you born?” asked Rabanowicz.

“29th of February, 1997 in Osaka.”

“Osaka, 29th of…” said Rabanowicz as she noted the information. “Right, you do probably use a different calendar. How old does that make you and how was the weather when you were born?”

“25 years old, it was probably snowing outside in February.”

“Right, then I can just note it down as being born in 604, somewhere in mid-Winter…” said Rabanowicz as she continued to take notes.

“Say, why are you suddenly interviewing me?” asked Watanabe who was getting impatient with the banal questions. You are supposed to give me more exciting exposition, not ask me about when I was born!

“Well, it’s always important to have as much information in hand, monsieur.” replied Rabanowicz. “You are getting impatient but be assured that I’ll soon hand you a reply as to why I have wanted to speak to you right now.”

“What, are you in love with me and wanted to see me?” asked Watanabe with a small drop of hope in his voice, which only prompted a series of cackles from Rabanowicz.

“Ah, excuse me for the horrible way in which I laugh monsieur, but love? With someone I just heard about yesterday and saw today?” she then continued uncontrollably cackling (for half a minute) in a manner that was most damaging to Watanabe’s self-esteem. Rabanowicz only stopped as she took a deep breath and calmed down.

“Thank the Divine who hath allowed me to laugh genuinely this morning.” added Rabanowicz as she again resumed to a serious tone and went back to the deadpan expression she had carried previously. “Anyways monsieur, if you are to disabuse yourself of the notion that you have any chances at wooing me, I’ll answer the why when you answer this last question. What type of education did you receive?”

Rabanowicz’s laugh had hit Watanabe like a speeding truck, but he managed to keep his composure well enough to give an answer. “Well, I graduated from university, though I didn’t receive a doctorate like you.”

“Then, as you have gone to such a higher institution of learning, how well-versed are you in mathematics?” asked Rabanowicz.

“I worked with a lot of computers in my old job and had to fill many tables of data and other things that required math, so yes, I would consider myself to be well-versed.” replied Watanabe.

“Oh, a team of computers?” said Rabanowicz in an excited manner. “So, you have experience in computer work?”

“Wait, you people have computers?” replied Watanabe who was now more excited than Rabanowicz, “Yes, most of my work experience is in computer work!”

I thought that these fantasy people wouldn’t have the technology, but I guess I am being proven wrong. Finally, a way for me to shine: becoming an IT expert in another world! Thank the author who has brought me such an opportunity, thought Watanabe.

“Then monsieur, we now arrive at why I was interested in you.” began Rabanowicz. “From the book that I showed you, I learned that most who come from another world have graduated from a university or have at least received some type of formal education. I have also learned that, where you come from, it was common for women to work in jobs with men. Is this correct?”

“It is. One of my co-workers I frequently collaborated with was a woman.” answered Watanabe as he remembered about Tanaka from the office.

“Which means you’d have no problem working for a woman?” asked Rabanowicz.

“I have no quarrels with that.” replied Watanabe.

Plus, working with or under a woman means ample opportunity for romance to develop and for me to gain a harem member, silently added Watanabe.

“Then, monsieur, I can see that you are homeless and unemployed in this world you find yourself in.” said Rabanowicz. “How about, in exchange for food, lodgings and some coin, you become a computer?”

“I become a… What?” said Watanabe.

Become a computer? Do computers in this universe require a human soul or a sacrifice to function? How do food and lodgings benefit me if I’m stuck into a machine, thought Watanabe.

“A computer. I thought you already knew what it was.” said Rabanowicz.

“Yes, I know what a computer is, I’m confused as to how you can make me become a machine.” replied Watanabe.

“A machine? No monsieur, I don’t know what you think a computer is, but a ‘computer’ is a job. A computer is a person who computes, it’s that simple.” said Rabanowicz. “I constantly need to do calculations in my work, so I wanted to hire someone to help me.”

Educated people are normally expensive to hire but someone who’s as desperate as this fellow should be cheap, thought Rabanowicz as her thoughts suddenly began appearing in the narration.