Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 239

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Infinite Talent Reset Life Episode 239

61. Good Things Come Together

Grrrr!

A massive rock tied with rope ascends up the mountain.

“Huff! Huff!”

“Haa. Ha.”

The first snow falls and melts over the hot breath being expelled.

How many years has it been already. The time spent working to move this single rock.

A small girl, only 10 years old now, watches the large back moving silently forward while blood drips from her mouth and nose.

For several hours like this.

Finally, when blood flows from the eyes of the middle-aged man dragging the rock, when the high sun sets beyond the mountain, they arrive at their destination.

“Ah!”

The Resting Place of Spirits, where long and thick rocks are erected in two circles, always inspiring admiration upon arrival.

But today it’s welcome for a different reason.

“Big Star Wind! It’s the resting place! It’s really the resting place!”

They really moved this huge rock with human strength.

“Phew! What did I tell you. I said we’d eventually succeed even if it seemed impossible, didn’t I.”

Just like the previous Star Winds did.

“As long as humans will it, nothing is impossible.”

Everything except flying in the sky and breathing underwater, which are only permitted to certain animals and spirits.

“…I’m sorry.”

‘But it was such an absurd task.’

For a person to move a rock larger than themselves.

And to carry it up a mountain at that.

She thought it would be impossible even with unity with a great spirit.

But Big Star Wind pushed logs under the rock to drag it and eventually succeeded like this.

“Small Star Wind, just as I used logs to help move this rock to this place, when you face seemingly impossible tasks in the future, examine those records left by the previous Star Winds.”

Then most things will be resolved.

Small Star Wind nods while looking at the rocks erected in two circles.

The record stones of the inner circle engraved with the positions of the great spirits’ stars, and the record stones of the outer circle where previous Star Winds recorded various knowledge and wisdom they saw, heard, or learned from the stars.

It’s a treasury of knowledge accumulated over thousands of years.

“And you must also leave records.”

The new knowledge and new wisdom you will see, learn, and realize in the future.

“…Yes. I will.”

“Good.”

Big Star Wind, stroking Small Star Wind’s head as if she’s proud, takes a chisel and hammer made of stone, wood, and bone and sits at the edge of the rock they brought up to the resting place.

Tap! Tap!

“What are you recording… huh?”

Small Star Wind tilts her small head.

Something seems strange.

Lines that look like wriggling earthworms.

“What is that, Big Star Wind?”

“Something to be used somewhere in a distant world, something that will be needed by us in the future.”

Something not needed yet.

Something that will be needed in the future when dozens or hundreds of tribes come together to live.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

She can’t understand dozens or hundreds of tribes living together either.

“Then what about hunting?”

If that happened, the nearby prey would quickly run out. Animals, plants, tree fruits too.

“…Let’s just say these are another form of expression that can record those expressions in a condensed way.”

“I see…”

She still doesn’t understand.

But soon her eyes light up.

“Then did you create this, Big Star Wind?”

“The stars taught it to me.”

“The stars?!”

“I saw it in a dream.”

That records could be left in this way too.

It was a very mysterious and wondrous experience, and based on that dream, Big Star Wind was able to create the foundation of a new form of recording after ten years of effort.

‘And I told the chiefs of various tribes, but…’

They either scolded her asking why she was wasting effort on such things, or showed no interest at all.

‘They’re not ready to accept it yet.’

Currently it’s a time of mild weather with abundant prey. A time when Star Wind’s knowledge and prayers aren’t particularly needed, so it’s even more understandable.

That’s why she wants to carve it into the record stones like this, so it can be used later, perhaps in the distant future when the time comes to accept it.

The knowledge conveyed by the stars, the method of expression she created the foundation for.

“Wow!”

‘Yes. You just need to remember it.’

That small Star Wind will become a big Star Wind and pass it on to a new small Star Wind, and as it continues like this, there will surely come a time when it’s needed.

“Now, remember this. This is an expression meaning star.”

“Wow?”

Big Star Wind taught carefully one by one, and their night was gradually approaching.

It was the 4300s BC.

* * *

Brand USA, the US tourism board, becomes extremely busy when the new year arrives.

They need to promote America as a desirable travel destination to travelers worldwide throughout the year, and must plan comprehensive introductions of all 50 US states and 5 territories including Guam and Puerto Rico.

They must promote American tourist destinations through every possible means: TV, YouTube, SNS, digital advertising, magazines, airport advertising, and more.

Moreover, since Brand USA is a public-private partnership corporation whose directors are appointed by the US Secretary of Commerce, they must also coordinate operational plans with the Commerce Department, making them even more pressed for time.

“Las Vegas is fine, right?”

“Well, it’s the same as always. Gambling, drugs, crime, homeless…”

“Not that stuff!”

“Hehe. The Nevada team is busy again this year.”

“Sigh, exactly. It’s completely different from us in Idaho who just need to promote the Rocky Mountains. I wish we could be busy too… hehe.”

“Hey, you…! If you want to be that busy, why don’t you ask Johann Jefferson where he lived!”

“Oh my. How can you say that. You can’t carelessly mess with stars like that.”

“Ah, please just get lost!”

“Hehe. How about Oregon?”

“Us? This year we’re thinking of promoting the coastal area… oh.”

Everyone who was drinking coffee and teasing near the Nevada team, which handles Las Vegas, America’s largest tourism and entertainment city, quickly moves aside when they see the zombie horde approaching with coffee in one hand.

The California team, undoubtedly the busiest team in their US West Coast tourism promotion department.

The people who were looking at them pitifully become puzzled when they notice those whose faces have turned completely black with death.

“What’s this. The LA team looks like they’re about to die?”

They’re famous tourist destinations and big cities so they’re always busy, but this year their faces look like their souls have completely departed.

“Why else. Because of Johann Jefferson.”

Johann, who announced at writer Diana Kistgo’s sculpture exhibition last year that he drew “The World Watched by Stars” and other works himself.

Plus, while sculpting “Afternoon Chase,” called the Renaissance Revival, a new landmark was created in LA, causing Johann’s past achievements to be re-examined.

“So they have to create new promotional themes from Santa Catalina Island where Norton I’s gold coin was discovered, to LA National Cemetery, to the LA Archdiocese where he was knighted.”

“Oh dear… That’s why you should prepare in advance.”

While promotional themes are decided at this time, usually plans are made beforehand.

“Sigh. We’re also dying because of that Johann Jefferson.”

“Why Washington state too?”

“It’s because of the recently discovered Starburst’s altar, what else would it be?”

“Oh… What are they saying from above?”

The discovery of Starburst’s altar is quite socially sensitive. In America, issues related to Native Americans are close to uncomfortable truths and ignored realities.

Native Americans who, despite having freedom of movement, cannot properly engage in economic activities outside due to racial discrimination and other reasons.

“The tribes also prevent external activities from within, so we can’t just blame everything on outside problems…”

Native Americans themselves restrict this for various reasons including bloodline preservation, which is why only a small number of Native Americans leave the reservations.

On top of this, drugs that have secretly spread within the reservations have been increasing the number of addicts daily, leading scholars in related fields to express concerns that all Native Americans could disappear within 100 years.

“There’s also the Native American support fund.”

Living assistance support funds that can be received just for being Native American.

In the past, the government forced Native Americans into reservations while paying monthly compensation to maintain a certain standard of living, which has been renamed as living support funds.

“But if you use this carefully, it’s enough to maintain daily life…”

Free money that allows one to live humanely without any particular effort. Many Native Americans have given up economic activities and are living day by day without purpose.

Seeing this phenomenon, some conspiracy theorists have proposed that the US government spread those drugs and is trying to eliminate Native Americans through support funds, and quite a few people sympathize with this conspiracy theory.

After all, it’s true that countless Native Americans are dying from pleasure and laziness.

In this situation, ruins that could awaken the Native American spirit have been discovered.

“It’s already spread all over the media, so what can we do about it.”

“Oh… Then this year’s promotional theme for Washington will be Native American-related attractions?”

If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.

Otherwise, the Washington department head’s expression couldn’t be so dark.

“Yeah. That’s what happened…”

It’s a decision from the Department of Commerce, and the important themes are even Starburst’s altar and Mount Rainier National Park.

According to dating results, the characters carved on the rocks of Starburst’s altar are estimated to have been created around the same time as Mesopotamian cuneiform writing, which is considered humanity’s first writing system.

Because of this, the academic world was naturally turned upside down.

Everyone makes pitying expressions seeing the Washington department head’s face darken.

“Hey! What are you doing here! The contest photos have arrived!”

“Already? Got it! Well, good work everyone. I’ll go first.”

“Oh, good work!”

“You guys get out of here too! Is this a break room?”

“You guys are the most fun though.”

“Hey-!”

The Washington department staff head to the conference room, hearing the shouting from behind.

What they saw were large photos filling the entire wall of the conference room.

“Wow, these are the works that made it to the finals of our Washington’s first contest of 2017 and the 8th Tourism Promotion Contest?”

America the Beautiful, the banner and global campaign launched with the establishment of Brand USA.

Since they’re doing marketing centered on emotional experiential content, such tourism promotion contests were extremely important events.

“Yes! Wonderful photos were submitted this time too!”

It seems photographers who were disappointed last year have challenged again.

“Oh, really?”

Perhaps because of the large prize money, quite renowned photographers also submit to the tourism promotion contest.

The works currently hanging in this conference room were finalists that had been filtered once by Washington.

“The first work is Seattle’s dawn ocean.”

The contest is completely anonymous. Rankings shouldn’t be determined by someone’s reputation.

“Oh…”

Seattle harbor at blue dawn, with sea fog faintly hanging.

The red and yellow sails of several boats heading out to sea make an impressive sight.

“It has feeling…”

The waters off Seattle, where the ashes of Chief Seattle, who gave Seattle its name, were scattered.

It fits perfectly with this contest’s theme, which had to be hastily changed after the discovery of Starburst’s altar.

“It’s presumed to be Jim Pouldens’ work.”

Even though it’s anonymous, since artists have their own unique styles, they usually end up guessing.

“Pouldens? Ah, now that you mention it, it really does seem like it.”

Giving points with intense primary colors among the dreamy colors of dawn is Jim Pouldens’ style.

The department head nods and looks at the next work.

“Is this… Olympia?”

On a clear day, the state capitol building visible behind a small fountain surrounded by sharp-leaved plants.

It’s a scene so cozy and warm that it makes you stare blankly and sigh naturally.

“So what’s the relationship with Native Americans?”

“Ahem. Since it’s the state capitol building, surely the chief of the tribe that was in Olympia stayed…”

“Eliminated.”

“Yes.”

After examining half of the dozens of works and declaring eliminations and passes, the department head suddenly sighs and gulps down coffee.

“Almost all landscape photos again this time…”

“It can’t be helped.”

Washington has nothing particularly notable besides natural scenery like oceans, islands, and mountains.

Of course, Washington also has the major city of Seattle, but compared to America’s representative major cities, it inevitably falls short in scale.

‘Milking Sleepless in Seattle is only good for a day or two.’

Sleepless in Seattle starring Meg Ryan was released in 1993, already 14 years ago. Seattle was no longer an attractive city.

“Well… this one was shot with feeling though. It’s like looking at Hollywood streets.”

People of all kinds leisurely walking around in short clothes and street artists trying hard to catch their attention.

You can really feel the warm and peaceful summer tourist destination vibe.

“The title says Bellevue Square Mall.”

“Oh, was there a place in Bellevue Square Mall that gives this kind of feeling?”

Bellevue, a city next to Seattle and a metropolitan area city.

Bellevue Square Mall was the largest shopping mall in Bellevue.

“Put this in the rankings.”

Only by showing scenes of people bustling and mingling like this can Washington shed the perception of being just a state located on the way to Vancouver, Canada, a countryside with nothing to see except natural scenery and fishing.

‘Places like Oregon, Idaho, and Utah are the real countryside!’

Washington is still a place with a metropolitan city network of 4 million people. Recently, headquarters of various companies including famous IT companies have been relocating here, creating development potential.

“Yes!”

“Oh, this also has people… Oh.”

It’s not just the department head. All the Washington department staff purse their lips looking at one picture.

Although it’s a natural landscape that directly contradicts what they just said, their eyes are captivated.

A space with cold yet warm colors, white bee-like snowflakes falling from honeycomb-shaped columnar joint cliffs, and people smiling brightly while holding coffee cup-like objects in the snow field in front.

But the blurry light spread behind them creates a shape that makes it look as if other people are standing behind them, taking the same poses.

“…I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but don’t the shapes appearing behind those people in hiking clothes look like people from the old days?”

“Huh? I was just thinking the same thing…”

Like people from the pioneer days who wore leather clothes.

“The woman behind this pretty lady wearing a mask looks like a Native American.”

Perhaps because of this, it feels as if past and present coexist, continuously holding one’s gaze.

A photo with the magic that makes you want to keep looking the more you see it.

“Columnar joint cliffs… Do you know where that is?”

“Well. Mount Rainier? Saint Helens?”

Since Washington has several volcanoes, they’re also puzzled.

“What’s the title of this?”

“First destination, in front of the honeycomb cliff. Location: Sacred Mountain, Rainier… Ah, it must be Mount Rainier?”

“Oh, Mount Rainier.”

Mount Rainier National Park, where Starburst’s altar was discovered.

“Put this in the rankings too. …No, as a grand prize candidate.”

“Yes!”

A contest where a total of 4 works are selected.

Among them, it was such an excellent work that no one objected to the department head’s opinion to nominate it as a grand prize candidate.

* * *

February of some day in 2017, when about a month had already passed since the new year dawned.

Despite having made a great discovery not long ago, Johann and Emily’s nest remains quiet.

Johann sprawls on the sofa where winter sunlight pours down, preparing to gradually leave, reading a book with drowsy eyes that keep closing.

Emily, who had been touching his hair while tapping on her laptop, opens her mouth.

“Honey, we need to decide soon.”

The classes to take in the second semester, spring semester.

“…Wow, I’m awake.”

“Hehe. Don’t like it?”

“Do you like it?”

“No.”

It’s been barely half a year since becoming a university student, but I don’t know why studying feels so undesirable.

“Ah! I even declined the Grammy Awards stage performance to rest…!”

2016 seemed to have passed busier than expected.

So I was resting without doing anything, but Johann’s face crumples as the time when he must do something approaches right before his eyes.

“Our son needs to get his act together now, right?”

“Yes, Mother.”

It was when the two were looking at each other and giggling.

Bzzzz! Bzzzz!

“Huh?”

The mobile phone suddenly starts ringing.

“There’s no one who would contact… Oh, it’s the tourism board.”

“Really?!”

Hello, Writer. This is Brand USA, the American tourism board. Your artwork has won the grand prize in this Brand USA Washington tourism promotion photography contest, so…

“Kyaaah!”

Johann also clenches his fist tightly.

‘Grand prize!’

His first contest award received through photography.

Even though he’s won first place many times, whenever this moment comes, thrills always tingle throughout his entire body.

Yet anxious thoughts arise.

‘They didn’t figure out it was me, did they?’

A small, ominous doubt about whether they gave him the grand prize knowing who he was.

“Kya! The reactions are good too!”

“What?”

Emily, who had somehow accessed Brand USA’s official homepage, examines posts on the free bulletin board.

-Should I visit Washington this year?

└I like Seattle’s Dawn Sea too, but I think the first destination appeals to me most. Is it because I like mountain climbing?

└Oh, Comrade! How about going before the snow melts?

-The mystical mountain, Rainier… Did they hastily Photoshop this because of the recent discovery?

└For something done hastily, the quality is too high? It must have been this intention from the beginning.

└Seeing them smiling brightly in the snow field makes me want to travel with friends after a long time. Thank you for the good artwork.

-Where are these people going?

└Right. If that place is the first destination, there must be second and third ones too… Wow, I don’t know who the writer who took this is, but they’re really devious.

└The name is Johann, but there should be more than one or two Johanns.

└Gasp! I feel like I’ve seen that woman somewhere…

Thank goodness. The ominous thought he had just heard disappears with a whoosh.

And…

‘It’s here!’

The reaction he wanted.

Johann quickly picked up his mobile phone.

“Yes, Professor Arthur. I think we can proceed now.”

The personal exhibition.

Johann twisted his lips.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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