Mirage City - Dragon Quest V - The Legend of Tatsuhiko Tanaka - Action Novel

Author: Yoshiaki Tanaka
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: The four brothers, like characters in a chapter mystery, drove past a bend and found the sea before them. The summer evening sun cast orange-red sunlight onto the water's surface. The passengers in the four-wheel-drive vehicle had never seen this sight of the Sea of Japan before. The road extended along the coastline, with fierce waves splashing countless tiny bubbles, which acted like small lenses, irregularly reflecting the sunlight. "Brother, let's rest here for a bit," said the youngest, Yo. At this, the eldest, Ryuichiro, who was driving, nodded silently. Just as he parked the car by the roadside, Yo eagerly jumped out from the passenger seat. A second and a half later, Yo's younger brother Yo emerged. On this empty road, they sped along, gazing out over the sea through the white guardrail, their voices filled with cheers. The sign indicating "30 km to Higashi-Nihon City" glowed brilliantly under the sunlight. Higashi-Nihon City, with a population of approximately 600,000, is the largest city along the coast of the Sea of Japan in Japan. It did not develop as a city centered around a feudal lord's castle but rather flourished as a maritime stronghold of the Sea of Japan and a trade base for the Asian continent. Although Higashi-Nihon City is just a local city, since World War II, it has become the base for major global enterprises. These companies include Higashi-Nihon Automotive Industry, Higashi-Nihon Electronics Industry, and Higashi-Nihon Ceramics Industry. All three belong to the Myon Cloud family, and together they generate annual sales of 4 trillion yen. In addition to being a famous industrial city, Higashi-Nihon City has a beautiful seaside beach on its western side, where the scenery of the Sea of Japan can be enjoyed. In recent years, the number of tourists coming from Tokyo has been increasing. This day was September 1st. The four brothers of the Ryuichiro family—Ryuichiro, 23; Yo, 19; Yo, 15; and Yo, 13—left Tokyo early in the morning and drove themselves to Higashi-Nihon City. There was still some distance to their destination, and it seemed they could have dinner before setting off. Yo looked very excited, speaking animatedly. "It's so hot; we could go for a few swim sessions. Brother, let's go for a swim?" "We're not here for fun. Mr. Higashi has something to ask us, and you can't forget that." "I know, you've said it so many times already that I'm getting sick of it." "It's you who forced me to say it so many times. Well, if you insist, you can cook the calluses for dinner today." "You, you're deliberately bullying me, aren't you?" Ryuichiro paid no attention to his younger brother's protest and sat in the driver's seat, waving his hand to signal them to get in and continue the journey. The three younger brothers returned to their seats, and the car immediately started moving. It took about forty minutes to drive from the coastal road to the city center of Higashi-Nihon. "I guess Mr. Higashi is in some trouble," Yo said, frowning slightly. Perhaps the sunlight coming from the west was a bit dazzling? "We'll find out when we get there. Anyway, this is something Grandfather entrusted to me before he died. He said that if Mr. Higashi asks for help, we must never refuse." Ryuichiro replied, gripping the steering wheel firmly.