Episode 42: Meeting an Old Comrade is Always Awkward, Isn't It?

For the time being, we were kicked out of the room until the girl who had teleported in finished changing. I spent the time waiting for the clock to tick by while casting [Heal] on Kaiser, who had taken critical damage to his retinas.

"Hey... best friend."

"What is it, best friend?"

"You... you’ve never met Laura-san before, right?"

"...This is completely off-script, but I’ll explain that part later, too."

If things were going according to plan, I would have preferred to explain things in order. However, if Laura was here for some reason, that changed things. She could probably help with the explanation, so it was likely for the best to bring it up early.

"This has something to do with why your Summoned Beasts were so enraged, doesn't it?"

"Well... yeah. But let's set that aside for now. You doing okay, Kaiser?"

I gave a wry smile at his characteristically sharp intuition while checking on him. Kaiser was still clutching his eyes.

"It hurts. A lot."

"Sorry. Algol... he’s a bit of a stickler for propriety."

I’d heard the gist of what happened. The moment she had teleported in, Algol had used his snakes to gouge Kaiser’s eyes. I understood his reasoning—he was strict about that sort of thing—but I honestly just felt bad for Kaiser. I took full responsibility for his treatment.

"You may enter, degozaru!"

Just as I finished treating Kaiser, Tsubaki’s voice called out from inside. When we stepped back into the room, we were met by the women, all dressed in kimono.

My Summoned Beasts were also dressed differently than usual. Seeing them in traditional Wakuni attire for the first time in a while felt... well, striking.

I’d wondered why they were taking so long, but it turned out Tsubaki had prepared kimono for everyone.

Seeing Laura in a kimono was particularly shocking. In the other world, she had worn nothing but dresses or armor. Seeing her in traditional Japanese clothing was a first for me.

"…………What is it, Reima? Do you have a complaint?"

"No... I just thought you looked different. In a good way."

"I never got to go to Wakuni with you... so I suppose it would look different to you."

"……………………Yeah. I guess so."

Her silver hair was tied up, contrasting with her black kimono. It was decorated with moon and rabbit motifs, and it suited her perfectly.

I remembered her saying she had always wanted to wear one. I didn't know what to say to her now that she finally was—the words just wouldn't come out.

"Um, excuse me, but aren't Laura and Reima-dono supposed to be meeting for the first time?"

"In this world, yes, Tsubaki-chan."

"………………Is this related to the 'other world' you mentioned before?"

"Yeah. That’s the gist of it."

I’d heard they were childhood friends in this world, but was Laura actually talking about Mythologia? If so, the explanation would be easier, but Shiki and the others were currently standing there with metaphorical question marks floating over their heads. I’d wanted to wait a bit longer to explain, but it seemed I’d have to lay it out now.

"Look, I know you all probably have questions. Who wants to start?"

"…………Your relationship with Laura-san."

"Wait, Ayane... you’re starting there?"

"Ignoring whatever 'prior information' you have, you two seem far too close. Reima, you don't open your heart to anyone besides me and Shiki, do you? Even if you're technically a 'different' Reima."

I know she found out I’m from another world after the fight with Perseus, but that's a difficult question to answer.

"……We were comrades, Ayane."

"……'Were'?"

"Yes…… I am a fool who failed to see things through to the end."

Laura gave a meaningful, self-deprecating smile. As usual, her lack of explanation left me scrambling to fill in the blanks. More importantly, I still didn't know why she was even in this world.

I knew I had to ask eventually. I steeled myself and spoke up.

"Hey, Laura. When did you come to this world?"

"Eighteen years ago. After we parted ways, I realized I had been reincarnated here. I was reborn as a human, given the same first and last name."

Hearing that, I was at a loss for words.

The last time I had seen her in the other world was a year before we defeated the Demon King. I still remembered her disappearing right in front of me.

"Since you're asking, why are you here? From what I've heard, the world you lived in didn't have things like Dungeons, did it?"

"I was planning on explaining that today. You're as sharp as ever, Laura."

"……Should I not have brought it up?"

"No, it's fine. I’ll tell them myself."

While I was talking to Laura, the rest of the group looked completely left behind. They were reaching their limit. I took a breath and addressed everyone.

"First off, you all realize I’m not the 'Reima' of this world, right?"

"Well, yeah. The original Reima had no magic power... which meant he couldn't have a Job."

"It doesn't feel weird at all, and based on Shiki's judgment, we already knew you were a Reima from another world."

"Right. If you've accepted that much, it helps. As for who I am... I’m a Reima from a world where magic and Dungeons don't exist."

"…………No Dungeons? Is such a world even possible? If so, why can my friend use magic?"

It was a natural question for someone from this world. And because Kaiser was the one asking, he had immediately spotted the contradiction. He really is quick on the uptake, I thought as I clarified.

"……That part is complicated. When I was in my third year of middle school, I was summoned to a different world. That’s where I learned magic and became a [Summoner]."

"And that world was the Mythologia where Laura lived? It was quite the place, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. It was a 'The Fantasy' world where common sense meant nothing—a place full of mythological evils, dark gods, and monsters."

"…………Thinking back on it, Reima... since you’re in this world now, were you able to save it?"

"—That’s enough. I’m at my limit."

Luna, who had been watching in silence, finally snapped.

"I don't care if you're ignorant—I won't forgive you for asking that! You, who left first! You, who vanished on your own! You, who are still a scar on Master's heart! The fact that you’ve been living a carefree life in this world makes me nauseous!"

Ignoring the others, Luna dropped her guard and released her power. The entire room began to plummet into a freezing glacier. I tried to step in to stop her, but Sol held me back. I realized then that all of my Summoned Beasts felt exactly the same way she did.

"Hey, Kagura, was it? This house has a place for fighting, doesn't it?"

"—We have a training ground, degozaru..."

Tsubaki answered, clearly suppressed by the sheer weight of Luna’s bloodlust.

Luna’s voice was thick with rage, yet she remained eerily composed, ensuring her aura didn't harm the bystanders.

"…………Lend it to me. I won't be satisfied until I’ve beaten her at least once."

"Hey, Luna…… that’s going a bit far..."

"Sorry, Master…… but I'm not backing down on this. Well, Laura? Are you going to fight me or not?"

She threw the provocation directly at Laura, her gaze sharp enough to kill.

"—Challenge accepted. I have a few things I want to ask you, too."