The Girl of Baltigo

The girl in Baltigo who reads books praising archaeologists

…and so they slowly made progress on technology for dating unearthed documents.. In that place, the pioneer's struggles were stacking up, and the people who wanted to know the "truth" had insatiable, questing hearts…

o-o-o

"Really, you're reading again?"

As I was following the script, the screeching mountain monkey-like voice came down. Bosao's voice. Agh, already? I thought, looking up to the heavens.

Bosao had a metal pipe strapped to his back, so he struggled with it a bit as he sat in the chair next to me.

"So, what are you reading today?"

"Nothing particularly special."

I closed "The History of Archeology" with a snap and turned away with a sigh.

Seriously, why did Bosao have to come interrupt my precious reading time over and over again.

Whether I was reading in the archives, the reference room, or even today's change of pace in the mess hall's corner, he would always sniff me out. Are mountain monkey's noses that sharp? No, that's not right. He's simply just bored right now. He walked over like a mountain monkey too, and hit the reading girl.

"You know," the bored mountain monkey continued to screech. "I keep saying it, this is the Revolutionary Army, you know, the Revolutionary Army. Army meaning everyone here is a soldier. Including you, so instead of just reading books, you should train your body too, right?"

"Leave me alone. I like books."

"Yeah, and you're really good at reading them. But if you don't train every day like I do, you won't be able to fight when the time comes." As Bosao said this, he proudly showed me his fist.

Whaaat training? What you do is just playing around. Gathering 6 or 7 little kids younger than yourself and carrying out a mockery of the adults' training… was the good comeback I thought of, but it would be a waste of time, so I said nothing. I wanted to quickly finish up this exchange with Bosao and get back to reading my book.

But, Bosao didn't sympathize with me and continued chatting.

"Hey, listen to this. I was finally able to use something like Sabo-san's Ryuusouken!"

"You were?"

It would have been better to let it go, yet I thoughtlessly asked that in response.

"Yeah. Thanks to my continuing practice with my grip strength, I managed to crush an apple with my bare hands. …Well, it doesn't feel like I've crushed one yet, but I can definitely say I almost crushed it."

"Haaah. Congratulations."

"Yeah, thanks!"

Looking at the sparkles now in Bosao's eyes, I thought, That boy really is simple, isn't he? No, rather than that boy, it might be better to call him Bosao.

You see, "Bosao" isn't his real name, it's a nickname I gave him. He looks up to the Revolutionary Army's Number 2, the Chief of Staff Sabo-san, yet they're nothing alike. That's why I call him the opposite of "Sabo," "Bosa." He wears goggles on his forehead and carries a steel pipe on his back, so his style is pretty close, but one of the goggle's lenses is cracked and the steel pipe is too long, so it sometimes rattles as it drags on the ground, which is annoying.

He's ten years old, like me. However, he came to be protected here at the Revolutionary Army's Headquarters in Baltigo about a year before me, so I guess he's something like my senpai. Eh, being childish is okay since he's not a bad guy, but I really wish he'd quit interuppting my reading.

"Anyway, shouldn't you read books about how to use weapons or how to make bombs?"

"I'm not interested in those. I want to be an archeologist."

"Do you think I can learn to do it? Ryuusouken?"

"Sure, whatever."

If you really wanted to learn something, Koala-san would teach you Fishman Karate─ I tried to continue, but, but, I really don't like that either. I just can't come to like rough things.

"There's just one more piece of news," continued Bosao.

"What? There's still more?"

If it was like usual, he would have cooled down after a topic or two and soon leave, but today, Bosao was taking a long time.

"Don't be angry. This news is sure to surprise you too."

"Me too?"

"Yeah, I overheard the adults gossiping about it: soon, that person, Nico Robin, is going to come here."

"Huh?!"

Without thinking, I turned towards Bosao, (what?) surprised. His expression was smug.

The guide, Bunny Joe-san, was leading Nico Robin-san into the headquarters building. Those who noticed stopped working and their jaws dropped. The silence spread like a wave.

Robin-san was headed for the room where the Revolution's Leader, Dragon-san, and other important people were gathered, so we only got to see her for an instant, but even so, Robin-san's presence was overwhelming.

"That person is 'The Light of the Revolution'…" one of the adult soldiers murmured to themselves as we watched Robin-san leave.

"So she's the only light, like a candle that's been hidden for a long time," was the stupid comment of Bosao from beside me. I didn't really notice in my staring, so he continued quietly, "But why's a candle got boobs?" I stepped on his foot for that. "Ow! What was that for!" the mountain monkey howled, but I'd shut him out of my awareness.

"The Light of the Revolution"─ That's what the Revolutionary Army has called Robin-san for many years as they continued to search for her. I don't know the true meaning of that title, but I can imagine it. With the word "Light," I can guess that Robin-san is meant to illuminate some kind of darkness. It's certainly something like the world's darkness, history's darkness. The light that radiates in that darkness is probably Robin-san's deep "Knowledge" and rich "Words"─

I want to try talking with her… I watched Robin-san leave as well.

The only survivor of Ohara. Also, the only person in the world who can read the ancient script─

Ever since I decided that my dream for the future is to be an archeologist, I've had this longing to meet the woman called Nico Robin and speak to her at least once.

But, how long will Robin-san stay here at headquarters…? I became a little uneasy. If she's talking with Dragon-san and the others, she shouldn't be leaving for somewhere soon, right? Then, if she stays for a long time, even a kid like me could have a chance to go near Robin-san, right? If I was able to go, then Robin-san just might be the kind of person to respond with a little chat.

But, but─ I really wanted to talk to her. About the country she was born in, this "Island of White Soil," and other things I don't know about, like things about the world or history, I wanted her to teach me.

o-o-o

And, this opportunity to visit her came unexpectedly fast.

Robin-san had arrived at headquarters two days ago and I was reading in the cafeteria when I heard one of the executives call out, "Excuse me, but could you take this coffee to Robin-san?"

When I thought about it afterwards, this job might have been a favor from the executive. This soldier knew I wanted to be an archeologist and sent me to my idol with the expectations that I might speak with her a little─ though the reality is I don't know if that was their thoughts or not.

Anyway, I felt like jumping for joy from my sudden good luck. This is it! I can go to where Robin-san is!

"Yes sir, right away!" I answered, tucking the book I was reading under my arm and taking the tray loaded with a coffee cup and pot from the executive.

"Should I come with you too?" said Bosao. He was also there, always wanting to tease me about reading. Really, he has nothing to do─

"No thanks," I return. Then I got instructions from the executive to get to where Robin-san is.

o-o-o

The Revolutionary Army's headquarters building was made so that it was chiseled directly into the rocks and in the middle there is a wide terrace.

Robin-san was sitting alone in a chair. Beside her was a small table. With the wind pulling at her long hair every now and then, Robin-san was reading a very thick book.

As soon as I saw her, I became stiff from the sudden tension in my body. It felt like I floated all the way here, but what would I do if I couldn't speak to her properly, if she responded coldly before I could say anything? Anxiety quickly started to build up in me.

"Ah─!" I said as I stumbled because of that tension.

I lost my balance and the tray with the pot and cup fell from my grip. With a poof, another hand bloomed from my wrist, reaching for the tray and pinning down the cup and pot rolling down it. And another hand that bloomed from the ground caught the book that fell from my side.

"Are you alright?"

My face paled as Robin-san was talking to me.

"Ah, well… Yes!"

"That's good."

Seeing Robin-san smile at me, my tension gently melted away.

"You want to become an archeologist?" Robin-san said, looking at my dropped book. That book was made up of a collection of ancient manuscripts. Even though I say that, it was a rather difficult book. Seeing as I'm only ten years old, it's still tough.

"Yes, I do," I answered. Also, this might be a little shameless, what I was thinking, but this was a rare opportunity, so I gathered my courage and continued. "Um, there are parts of this book I don't understand. Would it be okay for you to teach me a bit…?"

"Of course it's okay."

Robin-san pulled up another chair for me and I opened the book at the table.

With a variety of reference books, I tried to read the ancient documents on my own, but no matter what I tried, there were passages I couldn't read. I pointed to one of those with my finger.

"…I can't read this sentence. There are a lot of characters I don't know. For example, this one."

"I see, this is a kind of decorative character. In other words, even without this decoration itself, the sentence's meaning is unchanged. In documents to kings and the like, this decorative character would be used."

You can see this style of writing from time to time in documents from this age of the ocean calendar, what we call decorative characters and other types that exist as well…

… I was surprised. And moved as well. The passages I had been struggling with for months, Robin-san could read with a glance. She read it as if it was only natural, she was too amazing, too brilliant, and I just felt like letting out a laugh.

And for a while after that, Robin-san let me ask her questions. I got to take in a bit of Robin-san's knowledge from directly at her side. For me, this was a blissful time. I was also happy to increase my own knowledge of course. However, being near Robin-san gave me a strange sense of peace.

What is it, this feeling?... That's it, it's exactly like when my mom was still around, that kind of feeling…

o-o-o

"Why do you want to be ab archeologist?" Robin-san asked after a while.

I unconsciously lowered my eyes. My smile left my lips and my face took on a serious expression.

If I talk, that difficult feeling will be resurrected. But if it's Robin-san, Robin-san who lost her hometown of Ohara…

I raised my face.

"The country I was born in was a small island in the North Blue. But, that country has already been taken over by the World Nobles and the people who originally lived there were either turned into slaves or, like me, they escaped outside the country."

That small island was rich in mineral resources. Once the World Nobles got their eyes on it, the military was sent in. There was power to resist and the Revolutionary Army also sent its support, but after all that, my home country ended up yielding to the World Noble's violence. Because they got caught up in that war, everyone in my family died. I probably would have died in that distant land too if the Revolutionary Army hadn't taken me in and protected me.

"… the World nobles stole my home country, our resources, and not just those, they stole our words too."

My home country's official language was different from the world's, creating a unique language culture. But the World Nobles killed that language.

Words like that are dirty, eh.

It's better to get rid of such vile people's words, amasu.

They forbid the use of that language and burned all of its writings.

"…that's very tough," Robin-san gently whispered.

Yes, very much so, I wanted to say, but only nodded.

"But here's what I think. In the world's history, I've encountered countries and languages that were like my hometown, and there might yet be more. Some still exist, but they might cease to exist too… That's why, for those counties, those languages, I…" want to become an archeologist and save them.

"I see…" Robin-san said and quietly nodded. "I think it's a splendid motive."

"But I don't know if I'll be able to achieve this dream or not…"

"If you want to be able to achieve that," Robin-san said, gently stroking my hair, "you'll need to read lots of books, travel to many different places, see different places, and think for yourself. Right?"

"…right."

"Whatever work you do as an archeologist, I'll wait and look forward to it."

"… Yes ma'am!" I said with a big nod. We were similar in having lost our homelands in the past, yet they weren't words of comfort or sympathy, and receiving this straight call to arms made me happy. My mouth had already curved into a smile.

"Oh, that's right, Robin-san. Here at headquarters, there's a boy who's the same age as me who's a very annoying guy."

I told her about Bosao. It dampened the atmosphere a bit, yet even though the air changed at that time, I finished that mountain monkey's story.

No matter where I read my books, he always comes to bother me─

"I see, that would be bothersome," Robin said with a clinical laugh. "But you really should forgive him. From the sounds of the second part of your story, he just wants to train with you because you're both in the Revolutionary Army, that's all."

Ah, but… there the tone of my voice dropped a little. "… Really, what Bosao said, it's not entirely wrong, I think. Because no matter how many books I read, it won't defeat enemies or protect my allies…"

"It's not that." My voice died away and Robin-san continued in a clear voice. "People fight in their own ways. It's not limited to just guns or swords. 'Knowledge' and 'Words' are also weapons. There are things a bullet can't hit that knowledge and words can overcome."

"… Knowledge and words are also weapons…" As I slowly tried repeating those words, I understood the slowly rising courage.

"I believe that."

I met Robin-san's deep eyes.

"…right!"

Robin-san really is an amazing person. Not just her knowledge, but helping me understand the different kinds of courage for battle. And then I had a sudden thought. She's amazing, Robin-san is perfect, but─ I had to ask.

"But Robin-san, isn't there anything you think is scary?"

"Good question…" Robin-san said, looking around as she thought about it a bit. "When I was running from the Marines and World Government all on my own, I was scared. But I'm alright now."

"You're alright?"

"Yes, because I have nakama who are very strong and I can trust in completely."

As she said that, Robin-san showed me her biggest smile yet. It was a smile like a suddenly blooming flower.

A mysteriously smiling Robin-san is good, but this smiling Robin-san was beautiful, and I smiled in response.

"Hey," Robin-san continued. This time with something I thought looked more like a mischievous smile. "About that boy you were just telling stories about."

"Bosao?"

"Yes, him. Next time that boy comes to stop you from reading, how about saying this? ─"

"Wow! That is some small print! How can you read something like this! If it was me, I'd be asleep in a second."

It was the day after my talk with Robin-san and I was reading in the archives when, just like always, Bosao showed up.

"Anyways, you really should take battle training more seriously."

This is the part where I always say, "What now?" and turn to face him, but today I didn't do that. This time I cleared my throat and got ready to speak.

"Let me say this clearly: I'm no good at fighting. That's why I've decided. I'm going to let nakama who are good at fighting protect me." Then I brought my face in closer to Bosao's. "In other words, you better do a good job protecting me!"

"Ah," Bosao's face was gradually turning red. "Ah, right… of course… I… will…"

o-o-o

Since that day, Bosao hasn't interrupted my reading. I haven't stopped seeing him wherever I go to read, but he doesn't come over and stop me anymore. He stands still at a reasonable distance and if our eyes meet, he quickly looks away. And his cheeks turn red.

Relief floods my chest. Finally, I can read in peace and quiet.

It's just like Robin-san said. Words can become weapons… or something like that.

Translation Notes

About the nickname "Bosao"

Japanese is a syllabary language, what is one letter for them is usually two in romanji, so Sabo is written "sa-bo," which reversed is "bo-sa" (as semi-explained in the narration) and then the "o" on the end is like Trafalgar's nickname of "Torao" in that it is a pronunciation of the kanji for man that is tacked on the end, which is how you also get the translated nickname of "Tra-guy." I didn't do "Bosa-guy" or something similar because I felt it didn't really fit with the more intellectually inclined narrating girl.