Earth and [Earth]

(Sakura)

Spoiler :

Sorry…I totally forgot to post this…I don’t know where my head has been lately…it is like it has run away leaving me with nothing…or something.

Anyway in this chapter you will see how the MC is completely different from most of my MC’s for example though in my opinion she is a nice person it doesn’t change the fact that she often misbehaves.

Before we get much further with me explaining what I know or rather ‘knew’ about the world possibly worlds this world I now reside in is based on I think I should explain at least one other thing.

That is, the difference between the world you the reader probably reside in “Earth” and the [Earth] that I think that I lived in, in my past life.

In short, not the same thing.

In longer, I am not sure if the multitude of similarities stem from the two simply being parallel worlds or perhaps unknown coincidences of ridiculous and epic proportions which happened to somehow create at least two technically unrelated worlds that shared a lot of traits.

By the way I am not that talented with words so I can’t really think of a way to describe what the two world have in common other than ‘similar’.

Some things are more exaggerated while others are toned down. For example the culture of the [Earth] I know is much more conservative I guess you would say, we didn’t really have any cultural revolutions when it comes to clothing so the majority of those of [Earth] compared to Earth are more modestly dressed.

On the one hand [Earth] has had less world wars less major conflicts compared to Earth and it is relatively safer and more ‘wholesome’, on the other hand it is in many ways a far more boring place…there is less art less creativity and less spiritual things available like religion.

As with everything there are excesses and lacks so I would never be able to say that one world is better than the other.

What I am trying to say is that I am not exactly an earthling, so while there are many things that I will say that you will probably understand no problem, there might also be many times where I will confuse, bemuse and confound without meaning too…well at least for most of those times.

I admit it now that there may be times that I can’t resist changing details here and there and will try to deceive you on purpose…but keep in mind that those times will usually be for your on good rather than my own amusement.

I swear.

Back on topic, remember around a chapter ago when I said that in my past life I spoke ‘English’, and that the light novel etc. of this world was fan translated (mostly machine) from ‘Nihongo’ probably more likely to be recognized as ‘Japanese’?

Well that confusing idea is what this chapter is supposed to clear up.

‘We’ decided before sharing this story that we needed to keep things as simple as possible and in order to do that there is such a thing as: “know your audience”.

While there are indeed many similarities between Earth and [Earth] so much so that it is like someone took one and made a slightly distorted funhouse mirror reflection of the other one, it doesn’t change the fact that the two or really different, and one of those differences is understandably language.

For example you know that language I spoke in my past life? Well it is really hard to pronounce in true English…more like impossible. The same goes for pronouncing English in a body that speaks that language. I don’t know why this is but maybe the humans of Earth and [Earth] are just built differently or something.

So in order to make things easier on us both…and by us both I mean myself, you guys the readers and our translator you know as the ‘author’ Frostypine we decided to attempt to switch around a few things in order to try and make it easier to understand.

Here is an example of what we did using countries. *note that as I said it is near impossible for those of Earth to pronounce [Earth] words and vice versa so the words you see before you are only an approximation rather than a direct sounding out.

[Earth] : Earth

Vinland: USA some of Canada some of Mexico and a lot of islands including alternate Hawaii and Porto Ricco.

Northland: Canada and Alaska

Nihon: just as you might expect alternate Japan

Zongo: China

Jo’son: Korea

Anglhend: England

Franco: France

Sindhus: India

Rus: Russia

Latinca: South America

Ifritta: Africa

Convenient or confusing? For me it is really confusing but while FP was taking my dictation she got mad at the fact that I continually failed at sticking to narrating in such a way that I did not use any slang or [Earth] terms.

I have no clue what she expected, but speaking while sticking to only some words and phrases is just unreasonable right? I mean many of the things I use to express myself all come from a natural and instinctive language and that I feel that I have lived in for over 16 years as well as the many additional cultures that I have lived in afterwards; how am I to suddenly change it and act like it is not a part of me?

To give you an idea of what it’s like, play one of those word games where you can’t speak any words that start or end with certain letters and see how you do.

Even worse, FP’s other suggestion was that I try to pretend that I am from Earth and using a dictionary and an internet access to both that world as well as a parallel world that is closer in likeness to your Earth, just talk all I want and then later on make a few substitutions.

Hearing this I was like ‘just a few substitutions’ ay? Come on now really Frosty! I thought that I was narrating to you in the first place was because I was doing you a favor and now you want me to do even more work?!

So to once again make a somewhat long story short this is the compromise that we settled on. I would talk however and whatever way that I wanted to, and on the side of Frosty Pain in the n- excuse me Pine wouldn’t have to bother with each and every little slip up that I made when trying to use Earth words instead of [Earth] words.

If you are curious to see an example of one of my little mistakes I think there is still one in one of the earlier chapters in which I say my Mother is a Miss Vinland beauty pageant Queen rather than a more neutral Miss Universe or Earth biased America.

Anyway you the reader(s?) might not be appreciative of all the hard work that myself and she-who-will-not-be-named-while-I-am-annoyed-with-her are doing in order to make things easier to understand. In fact you might be thinking ‘I don’t care about this sort of thing anyway so stupid to do that when it doesn’t matter’ or something similar right?

Well let me tell you a little secret which is obviously when you think of it not so secret.

If you yourself had in the past read any other light or web novels of any kind, though it may not be as obvious as the message in this chapter you have most definitely read about an [Earth].

Even the times when you thought (wow this is really believable and realistic) when it came to reading the description you were probably not reading about Earth but rather another [Earth].

They may change things here and there so it seems more like Earth, but it is usually a [Earth] they are talking about nonetheless, they just aren’t as honest about it. Or if they are it is usually a major part of the story.

Though I hate to admit it something that both I and FP have in common is our honesty…or rather inability to be dishonest and or deceive. On purpose at least.

Though we both like the idea of writing a story without any outside interruptions is awesome and kudos to the many many authors and possibly narrators’ who are able to do such a thing without breaking any of the immersion. In the end we did not and possibly cannot.

While I don’t exactly think my background is a major part of the story it does have some impact on various things that take place in the future, so even if I could do this narrating thing the way it is supposed to be done without breaking the fourth wall in all I probably wouldn’t bother doing it.

Besides it took a lot to even get this far.

It was only after a lot of back and forth arguments between the two of us that we even managed to settle on this somewhat stupid compromise…so if any of you readers have an argument or bone to pick with this…let me say that at least one or both of us has probably gone over it to death already.

To bring an end to this chapter let me say I think my greatest fault as a narrator lies not in the differences in that remembered world versus yours but rather in the many other things that I am lacking. I won’t bother to go over all of them now mostly because you will soon find them out for yourself if you haven’t already.

Just keep in mind that from my point of view I am a very ordinary person who doesn’t know much of anything to begin with so hopefully all these many lacks are somewhat excusable and won’t get in the way again after this chapter.