Names:
Koori no Kuni no Amaryllis (氷の国のアマリリス)
Amaryllis in the Ice Country
Author: Takeshi Matsuyama (same Author as Iris on Rainy Days)
Illustrator: Paseri
Synopsis:
The ice age had come, the whole world locked under the layer of ice. Humans maintained dormant in cold sleep facilities called ‘The Snow Princess’. The robots responsible for taking care of them formed a small village and lived forever underground.
Amaryllis, a young girl robot, as the vice-chief of the village, worked hard every day with other villagers to repair ‘The Snow Princess’ that had been damaged by the collapsing incident and its aging components. This was all for being able to walk hand-in-hand with humans to the future.
But one day, the village chief made a statement that shocked Amaryllis and her companions.
“I believe humans ought to perish.”
What decisions would they finally make? This is a heartwarming story of the robots’ choice of life.
In a distant future, the world was frozen. Humans waited underground in cold sleep facilities for the spring afar. To regulate these facilities, robots created a village there and resided in it. They embraced a dream of living with humans one day. This was the story of the Ice Country.
Prologue Teaser:
Spoiler! :
The sun spilled its radiance on the small court in the conservation park.
“Don’t cry anymore, Fuu-chan. Be good, okay?”
I did my best to comfort the sobbing girl with big droplets of tears overflowing from her eyes, but however I tried, she wouldn’t stop.
“Yuu-kun, apologise!”
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Yuu-kun pouted his lips and turned to a side. He was the little bully in the conversation park, and he had always been on bad terms with Fuu-chan.
“It was her fault for not giving me the ball I demanded.”
“But Fuu-chan was the one who started played it. Why did you have to snatch it?”
“I told her to lend it to me to play, but she didn’t.”
“Enough…”
The aqua-blue ball rolled to my feet, shaking back and forth under the wind.
“Fuu-chan, the ball is here.”
“Wuaghhh!”
“Yuu-kun, apologise now!”
“I don’t want to!”
—Wuagh… What should I do in this situation?
I like children, but helpless under these circumstances.
—What should I do? What should I do?
When I was at a loss…
“My, my. What happened?”
“Warden!”
“Thanks for your hard work.”
The warden comforted me with a smile, his wrinkles becoming even deeper. He then stroked Yuu-kun’s and Fuu-chan’s heads.
“Do you want to play this ball?”
Warden asked, lovingly. Fuu-chan nodded.
“Do you want to play this ball?”
Being asked by the same question, Yuu-kun kept his head at a side and nodded.
“So that’s the case.”
Warden nodded, and nimbly made the ball spin on his index finger. The aqua-blue ball spun round and round on his index finger, seizing the eyes of Yuu-kun and Fuu-chan.
“If both of you want this ball so much…”
Warden smiled softly, preparing his chopping action.
“Let’s halve it.”
A hundred years had passed since then.
I could still remember that past scene.
The azure sky, the warm sun, the golden, sparkling conservation park, Warden’s maliciously painted smile, and the children’s dazzled eyes.
Time flew, and Warden passed away. Yuu-kun, Fuu-chan and other children grew into adults, aged, and finally passed away as well.
The only one who knew of things back then was I. And those memories I held never lose their colour.
Before my consciousness was cut, I suddenly had a question.
I think this one got ranked 25th on the KonoSugoi last year or something. Certainly a nice read; not as emotional as Iris, but I feel this has better character interaction compared to Iris
If you have the chance next time, Pudding, try reading the Snow-Winged Freya (雪の翼のフリージア), also by the same author.
Teh_ping wrote:I think this one got ranked 25th on the KonoSugoi last year or something. Certainly a nice read; not as emotional as Iris, but I feel this has better character interaction compared to Iris
If you have the chance next time, Pudding, try reading the Snow-Winged Freya (雪の翼のフリージア), also by the same author.
I saw 雪の翼のフリージアdid not receive good rating on amazon.
Japanese rankings don't appeal to me. I don't really enjoy mainstream stuff anyway
