By the time I safely reunited with Lunamaria and returned to Lilia’s mansion, the sun had set and it was well into the evening. While getting separated in the city had been entirely my own fault, Lilia seemed incredibly worried. She questioned me repeatedly to make sure I was unharmed, so I explained exactly what had happened—how a kind demon girl had stepped in to help me.
Lilia, perhaps being a bit overprotective, asked if she could hold onto the necklace I’d received from Kuro for a while. She wanted to investigate it to ensure no strange enchantments had been placed on it. Since I had no reason to refuse, I handed it over.
Dinner followed shortly after. I’d been bracing myself for the sheer formality of a ducal feast, but Lilia must have been feeling considerate. Instead of an intimidating, multi-course affair, the meal was served in a style more like a high-end restaurant. It was delicious.
Afterward, I was given a brief tour of the mansion. I was assigned a guest room that was far too large for one person and given a schedule for the baths. It was only natural, but I was currently the only male living in the mansion. Consequently, bath times had to be staggered, and mine was strictly designated.
In a light novel, this would have been the part where a cliché "lucky lecher" encounter occurred. Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—I didn't seem to possess any "protagonist perks." I simply soaked in the overly spacious tub alone and returned to my room without incident.
I walked down the hallway, which was illuminated by mysterious orbs of light that floated in the air rather than using fire or electricity. As expected of a duke’s residence, the place was massive, though it wasn't so absurdly vast that I’d lose my way between my room and the restroom. Still, the silence of the corridor was a bit eerie, reminiscent of the atmosphere in a traditional inn late at night.
"...u... san..."
Perhaps it was the stillness of the night, or perhaps my senses had been sharpened by the underlying tension of my first night in another world, but I heard the sound of sobbing coming from behind a heavy, supposedly soundproof door.
I stopped in my tracks. If I remembered correctly, this was the room assigned to Yuzuki. Was she crying? It wasn't surprising. To be suddenly whisked away to another world and told you couldn't return home for a year—it was only natural for anxiety and loneliness to well up once the initial shock wore off.
...But even so, there was nothing I could do. To her, I was just someone from the same hometown; we had barely even spoken. All I could do was pretend I hadn't heard and keep walking.
I took a quiet breath and started moving again as if nothing had happened. After ten paces, the sound faded, and the silence returned.
However, as luck would have it, I ran into someone else just a few moments later—Kusunoki was walking toward me from the opposite direction. I’d had a stereotypical image of medieval sleepwear being something like a fancy negligee, but she was wearing a simple white nightgown that just looked a bit old-fashioned.
"..."
"..."
To reiterate, I wasn't close with Kusunoki or Yuzuki. We were just strangers sharing the same predicament. We exchanged a brief, silent nod and prepared to pass each other by.
"...Miyama-san."
"Yeah?"
I was a bit surprised when she suddenly spoke. I turned around to see her staring down the long hallway. With her beautiful black hair down and without her school blazer, her back looked far more fragile than it had during the day.
"...You're remarkably calm, aren't you, Miyama-san?"
"Do I look that way?"
"...Do you actually trust what Lilia-san and the others are telling us?"
She didn't answer my question. Although the hallway was dim, I could see her small shoulders trembling.
Did I trust Lilia? Did she mean the promises to keep us safe and provide for us? If that was the question, my answer was simple.
"No, I don't know yet. At least, not entirely."
"...Eh?"
"I think she's a kind person and she's treating us well, but if you're asking if I trust her, I can't say yes. I can't place total faith in someone I met less than half a day ago... Though, I also realize there’s no one else we can rely on right now."
"...I... see."
Exactly. I didn't mean to imply that Lilia or Lunamaria were villains or that they were lying. I was grateful for their help. But if asked if I trusted them, "I don't know" was the only honest answer I could give.
After all, we hadn't spoken to anyone else in this world besides Lilia and her staff. We had no point of comparison. I wasn't optimistic enough to let my guard down unconditionally.
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence descended. I wondered what she was really trying to get at.
"...Why did you agree to go shopping alone with Lunamaria-san so easily?"
"Because we needed things, I guess?"
"...I'm terrified. Being in a place I don't know, receiving kindness from people I've never met without them asking for anything in return... it's just so frightening."
"Because nothing is more expensive than something free? That's a healthy sense of caution to have."
"...Then why do you seem so unfazed? Even though I have Hina-chan and Mitsunaga-kun here, I'm so anxious I feel like I'll start crying if I stop tensing up for a second... I'm not saying Lilia-san means us harm, but you got lost in the city, didn't you? You were suddenly all alone in a foreign world. How can you be so composed?"
"It's not that I'm not worried, it's just..."
"...Don't you ever think... that you could have been hurt, or even killed?"
I see. It seemed Kusunoki was frustrated that I didn't seem bothered by the fact that I’d wandered off on my first day. I hadn't actually been that composed at the time, but I suppose that’s how I looked to her.
I’m fully aware that I’m a coward at heart. When I got lost, I was incredibly panicked. But that situation was over now, and I didn't see the point in dwelling on it forever.
Still, looking back, it was true that things could have ended badly.
"Well, it's already over... and if I had been hurt or died—I guess I'd just have to chalk it up to 'bad luck.'"
"...W-What?"
Kusunoki finally turned to look at me. Her eyes were wavering, shadowed by a hint of fear.
"It’s not like you’re only in danger because this is another world. People die when they die. No matter how much you protect yourself or your health, whether you’re a saint or a sinner, if your luck runs out, it’s over. I'm not saying I want to die—I'm scared of it, just like anyone else—but when things are out of your hands, they’re just out of your hands."
"..."
"Ah, wait... sorry. That was probably a bad way to put it. I wasn't trying to force my philosophy on you. I just meant you shouldn't overthink things that have already passed..."
"...No, it is I who should apologize for asking such a strange thing."
This was no good. Between my long years as a loner and my lack of social skills, I had no idea how to smooth things over. We were going to be in this together for a year, and I really didn't want to cause any unnecessary friction.
"...Can I ask one more thing?"
"Sure."
"...Miyama-san, how do you want to spend your year in this world?"
"..."
Inside a large, high-ceilinged office, Lilia Albert sat with her arms crossed, her expression strained.
"...I feared this possibility, but it has happened far sooner than I expected."
"...I am truly sorry, My Lady. This was my failure."
"No, Lunamaria, it isn't your fault. To be honest, I didn't expect that both you and the Shadows would lose track of Kaito-san at the exact same moment. I was careless... Though the full report isn't in yet, there is no doubt that Recognition Inhibition Magic was used against him."
They were discussing the incident from that afternoon. While Kaito himself viewed it as nothing more than getting lost in a crowd, to them, it was a grave security breach.
"Agriculture, industry, cuisine... the individuals summoned as Heroes in the past have brought about countless revolutions. There are always those who attempt to seize that knowledge for their own profit. However, the Hero’s protection is absolute, making them difficult to exploit."
"...But this time, 'Otherworlders who are not the Hero' appeared. Which is why you acted so quickly to bring the three of them under your protection."
"Yes. If word spreads, some will certainly resort to forceful measures. But to think they would use magic on the very first day... I have to assume there was a 'mole' among those present during the summoning."
When Kaito had gone out, Lilia had sent several elite guards skilled in concealment to follow him. She had wanted to ensure that those coveting forbidden knowledge wouldn't make a move. The fact that every single one of them had lost sight of him simultaneously was an outcome she hadn't prepared for.
"Shall we inform the three guests?"
"We can't. They're already anxious enough about being in a new world; how could I tell them they’re being targeted? We will have to resolve this ourselves. Secure enough anti-recognition inhibition tools for every Shadow immediately, and send word to my brother—His Majesty the King."
"Understood. Still, it is strange. To use such a trace-heavy spell as Recognition Inhibition Magic only to take no further action..."
"...Perhaps they were simply unable to take action. What about the demon Kaito-san mentioned?"
"As expected, the name was obscured. It was likely Information Concealment Magic, the kind favored by high-ranking demons. Given that the spell on Miyama-sama was 'forcibly dispelled,' we can assume we are dealing with a very powerful entity. Furthermore, there is this..."
Lunamaria placed the necklace Kaito had surrendered onto the desk.
"...The results?"
"The purity of the Magic Crystal is 90% at a minimum. As for the formulas... our mages were unable to decipher them, but there are at least ten separate layers of enchantment."
"...A 'National Treasure' class artifact... While the motive remains unclear, I have no desire to find myself in a conflict with a demon of that caliber."
"Indeed. Unless we involve someone of a Court Mage's standing, we wouldn't even be able to stand our ground."
"Regardless, we must tighten our security. And the mansion?"
"Multiple Detection Barriers are active, and I have placed the Shadows on high alert. I’ve told them not even a mouse is to pass through."
"...I truly hope we can resolve this quickly."
Once the mansion had fully settled into the silence of the night, I stepped out onto my balcony to look at the stars and the moon.
The sky of this other world looked much like the one back on Earth. The constellations were probably different, but I didn't know enough about astronomy to tell.
As the night breeze ruffled my hair, I thought back to Kusunoki’s question.
—How do you want to spend it?
What did I want to do? What were my goals? Since I was a kid, those had always been the questions I hated most. People say you know yourself best, but I’ve always felt like I know myself the least.
Even now, I wasn't sure. Was I excited to be here? Or was I disappointed? Both felt true, yet both felt like lies.
I’d chosen my high school because it was close to home. I’d gone to university not because I had a career in mind, but because I didn't want to start working yet. I’d figured I would just drift through my student years and eventually become an ordinary salaryman.
I liked playing games. Specifically RPGs. In a game, you don't have to think—the enemies and the goals are all laid out for you. Clearing them gives you a nice, simple sense of achievement.
I liked reading light novels, too. Standard stories are comforting. You can empathize with the protagonist as they face hardships, make decisions, and overcome obstacles.
I think it's incredible to face suffering and still reach a goal. It’s noble to have a dream and work toward it. So, was I a broken person because I lacked that? Was I just running away? Did I have to change? I’ve never found the answer.
Part of me thought that if I worked hard, I could change who I was, but another part of me felt it didn't have to be today. I wanted to change, but I also wanted to keep drifting along, taking the path of least resistance.
It was the same when I was summoned here. I was relieved this was a peaceful world and I wasn't the Hero, but at the same time, I was disappointed that I wasn't the protagonist of the story. I was a mass of contradictions.
I wanted to change, but I lacked the effort and the courage to do it. So I just stared up at the empty sky with my mouth wide open, waiting for some windfall to conveniently drop right into my lap.
It was pathetic, really. It wasn't like anything was actually going to fall from the sky just because I was waiting for—
"Then how about some baby castella instead!"
"Gubuh-ack!?!?"
As I stood there spacing out with my mouth open, a mountain of baby castellas was shoved inside. A cloud of brown crumbs exploded from my lips.
Good children should never, ever try this. To think that my first brush with death in another world would be caused by a baby castella—that was beyond any possible expectation.
Dear Mother, Dear Father—windfalls don't actually fall from the sky. But—baby castellas apparently do.