Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"...Huh?"

I suddenly realized I'd spoken aloud. What was that? What's wrong with me? I don't understand. But something inside me had shifted—no, changed. What exactly had changed? The thought was so unexpected that I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Kanata, is something wrong?"

"Eh, no. Nothing's wrong, sis."

"Oh, okay. You're acting weird, Kanata."

The young girl who had been laughing softly at me stopped suddenly and gently took my hand. I was deeply surprised by this action, which had always been so ordinary before. This is strange. There's no reason for such a young girl to take my hand—no, wait, she's my sister, isn't she? Being led by her hand should be natural for someone my age...

At that moment, my thoughts stopped again.

I felt a sense of urgency and anxiety that I couldn't understand. Fear, but at the same time, a part of me insisted that this situation was normal. Even the height of my gaze as I walked down the street felt strange. I felt like my eyes used to be higher.

"Sis, is my name Kanata?"

"What kind of question is that? Yes, I'm your older sister, and you're my younger brother."

"...How old are you again?"

"What's wrong with you? Let me see... I'm eleven, and you're four years younger than me, so you're seven."

"Did we have any other siblings? Like an older brother?"

"Stop it, Kanata! It's just the four of us—Mom, Dad, you, and me! Or are you saying you wanted to be my older brother instead?"

Seeing my sister sulking, I hurriedly denied it. She's always been moody like this. ...That's right, I know her. Our family structure is exactly as she said. Then why do I feel so uncomfortable?

Why didn't I have a sister? Why do I feel like I should have had an older brother? From the moment I was born, she was always by my side. I remember everything from the past seven years. Of course, I don't remember much from before kindergarten.

"...Did I even think this much when I was this age?"

At seven years old, I was probably in first or second grade. My mother used to laugh and tell stories about me and my brother when we were drinking, saying that children that age were like aliens. Wait, wait, wait.

...Hey, what's with that memory? I'm only seven years old—there's no way I could have been at a drinking party. You have to be 20 to drink alcohol, otherwise it's bad for your health. No, why do I know that? I'm Sota, I shouldn't know that. The fact that I knew something I shouldn't know sent a chill down my spine.

"Sota, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. But I'll rest a bit when we get home."

"Alright, I'll tell Mom for you."

What a nice older sister. She's so different from that idiot older brother who dragged me along to soccer just to make up the numbers even though I was tired.

...There it goes again. I covered my mouth in disgust at the mismatched memories, feeling guilty for making my sister panic. We hurried home.

***

"The Kamakura Shogunate was 'established,' right? Wait, I think that changed. Ah, but that doesn't mean I know about the big earthquakes and disasters that happened in modern times. Actually, why does a seven-year-old like me know about the Kamakura Shogunate and modern disasters?"

I lay down on the bed and, while my sister wasn't in the room, I borrowed her history textbook and flipped through it.

The content was supposed to be new to me, yet it felt familiar, as if I had seen it somewhere before. This hadn't happened yesterday. Something had definitely happened on my way home from school. The discrepancy between the dates I knew and the dates in the textbook, the disasters I didn't know about. When I borrowed my sister's math textbook, I felt a strange sense of nostalgia. Half-believing, half-doubting, I tried solving the problems in the textbook using the back of a piece of origami paper I had nearby, and to my surprise, I could solve them.

Needless to say, I was even more confused.

"First of all, it's strange that I can read a history textbook. There are so many kanji characters I haven't learned. Yet I can read them and understand their meaning..."

It was creepy. That was my honest feeling. If I could just be happy that I was a genius, I would feel much better. It would certainly be convenient. But I knew that this situation was abnormal. I understood it. I even felt uncomfortable with my own ability to think calmly about it.

"...Well, the most uncomfortable thing is whatever it is inside my body."

I gently stroked my chest with my hand. As much as my head, the thing that felt most uncomfortable was something inside my body. The more I calmed down, the more uncomfortable it became. This was definitely my body. But it felt like there was something foreign inside me. That was the most disgusting thing of all.

I wanted to throw it up. I thought that might improve this incomprehensible state of affairs. But I couldn't throw up in the room I shared with my sister. I didn't want to worry her, and I didn't want her to see me like that. Once I made up my mind, I got out of bed.

"Ah, Kanata. Are you okay?"

"Sis, yeah. I feel a little better, so I'm going outside to clear my head."

As I left the room and went down the stairs, I ran into my sister, who looked worried. I couldn't honestly tell her I was going outside to vomit.

"Should I come with you?"

"No, this is a matter of male dignity."

"What...? Is it something important?"

"Yes, it's important for men."

"Oh, I see. It's what we learned about puberty in school, right? Got it!"

The word 'puberty' is amazing. I'm only seven years old. And sis, is it okay to just accept that?

"Um, okay, I'm going then."

"Yeah, but you have to be back by five o'clock. Also, it's a rule in the Kuramoto family that you have to tell us where you're going."

"Haha, right. There's a small square surrounded by trees near the factory, right? I'll go there."

"That place doesn't have many people, does it? It's not well-maintained, so the grass is all over the place."

"I just want to relax and look at the sky in a place where no one is around."

"Hmm, if anything happens, shout as loud as you can. And make sure to run away. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got it."

I found her overprotective, but at the same time, I smiled at her efforts to be a responsible older sister. Just yesterday, I felt both happy and annoyed by her overprotectiveness. Shrugging off my own condescending thoughts, I straddled the bicycle parked beside the house. I'd been to the square a few times before, so I should know the way. Visualizing the map in my head, I pedaled away.

Second grade elementary school student. Currently seven years old. I'm going out to clear my head.

***

"Well, I tried several times, but it didn't work."

As usual, I arrived at the empty square and went further into the back to do what I had to do, coughing violently. However, there was no sign of anything coming out of my body. I tried to stimulate my nose with the grass growing around me, coughing hard, but to no avail. I didn't have the courage to put my hand or grass in my mouth, so I didn't vomit. I felt really bad about getting my clothes dirty.

"But what should I do now?"

I put my hand on my chin and sat down on a nearby railing. The strange feeling inside my body still hadn't gone away. Maybe I should see a doctor. But until yesterday, I didn't really understand it, but I felt like this feeling was normal. In other words, at the same time that I suddenly became smarter, I started to feel uncomfortable about this. It's as if this thing was never meant to be part of the human body.

"...Should I just scream? Like, go all out?"

I clenched my fists and looked around. It would be embarrassing if someone saw me. If it was someone I knew, it would be a black mark on my record. This was near a factory, so the noise of the machines would probably drown out my screams. This place was deserted because it was so noisy. I checked my surroundings carefully, stood up from the railing I had been leaning on, and took a deep breath.

I'll try using my whole body, not just my voice. I'll spread my legs wide, plant my feet firmly on the ground, and thrust my hands forward. That feels like something might come out. But then I realized what I was going to scream. My feet are braced, my hands are thrust forward. And then, a loud voice. Somehow, a scene from an anime I watched last night comes to mind. I can't think of what to shout, and it's embarrassing, but as a guy, I want to say this out loud at least once. I nodded to myself, deciding this was good enough.

I take a deep breath. If I'm going to do something, I should do it all the way. Then, I'll give it my all. Take this, you meaningless thing inside me! And get out! With my scream!

"Take this, Dragon Wave!"

With all my strength, my movements and voice echoed throughout the square.

...No, no, no, wait, wait, wait! What is a Dragon Wave? Isn't it a Kamehameha Wave? Such a cheesy name for a move straight out of an anime... and what the hell is "Drag Soball" supposed to mean?! What kind of anime with that title is so popular among kids?! Who's the protagonist?! It's supposed to be a Chinese-sounding name, but it's super Japanese!!

The inner voice in my head was louder than my screams. When I opened my eyes, for some reason my body was glowing. I shouldn't have been surprised by the anime name, but I just couldn't help it! I didn't even know who I was trying to justify myself to, but the sudden brightness blinded me, and I instinctively closed my eyes. My breath stopped for a moment.

The next thing I knew, I heard a metallic clanging sound like something rolling across the ground. When I cautiously opened my eyes, I saw a single red-glowing spear. It wasn't a toy—its appearance, its very presence, seemed to scream at me that it was the real thing.

Honestly, I didn't understand what was happening. Yet, I felt that the spear was mine. It felt like a part of me that had been with me all along. At the same time, I realized that the uneasy feeling I had been carrying inside me had completely vanished. After touching my body to make sure everything was there, I cautiously looked at the spear again.

For some reason, I instinctively felt that the source of that uneasy feeling was this spear. What a fool, I thought, but at the same time, my body seemed to accept it before my mind did. It's okay to touch this. This is my other half. Even though there was no basis for it.

I reached out my hand. Maybe I was captivated by the red glow. Maybe I wasn't thinking at all. Still, I didn't stop. When I was about to touch it, I hesitated for a moment, but then I made up my mind and grabbed the red spear with both hands.

"――!"

Suddenly, I heard a voice that echoed in my brain. It was mechanical, yet somehow seemed to have a will of its own. I couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman. There were so many things I didn't understand. But I had obtained the answers to the true nature of this spear, who I was, and what this world was.

The crimson spear—the moment I touched the sacred artifact, knowledge flooded into my mind. I didn't know anything about this spear itself. But I knew about the sacred artifacts, the other races that exist besides humans, and the horror of this world. I had no idea why I knew these things. But the knowledge was real, proven by the harsh reality around me. The missing pieces, the scattered knowledge, began to form a coherent whole within me. Once I realized it and accepted it, it was simple. I am Kuramoto Sota. But I also possess the memories and knowledge of another person.

I am me, but this might be what they call memories from a previous life. The anxiety that had finally been resolved spread into relief.

At the same time, a dry smile appeared on my face. This is seriously bad. This is seriously dangerous. I know this world. And I have read a fan fiction novel set in this world in my previous life. I even have memories of enjoying it. But why me? Why this world of all places?

I don't know any characters named Kuramoto Sota. I've never seen such a sacred treasure before. In other words, I'm a character who doesn't appear in the original work. If this were a normal manga, I would have been happy. As a background character, I might have had the option of staying safe by not getting involved with the original characters. But in this original work... background characters die left and right. Even ordinary people die without warning. If you have a sacred treasure, the danger level skyrockets. Original characters are also in danger, but at least they can make some predictions and prepare to escape or accept their fate.

But unfortunately, I'm a mob character. I could be killed at any moment by the original story's background or the state of the world. This is a world where even if I'm killed tomorrow, I can't even complain because it's so unkind to mob characters. What kind of world is this, where a novel with a harem comedy about beautiful girls has the habit of using erotic elements like poking nipples to power up? They favor the main characters too much! Be nicer to the ordinary people and the mob!

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? Is it some kind of ability to disappear, like the name and color suggest? What kind of incestuous demon lord and switch princess is this?!"

Is this strong? Can I survive in this world? I might get attacked by the old demon lord faction just because their colors and abilities annoy me! Those guys would totally do that! Plus, since I have a divine artifact, I might end up reincarnated as a demon, killed by a fallen angel, brainwashed by the church, or recruited by a terrorist organization... all of that could happen!

"Damn it, God! Oh, God is dead. At least let me be an ordinary person without the sacred treasure... but even that's scary, like being a stray demon or something. But getting involved with the original story is also scary. What is this seriously dangerous world...?"

I knelt down on the ground, feeling helpless. I hoped it was a mistake, but it seemed like Kuramoto Sota had been reincarnated. Into the world of "High School D×D," a demonic realm inhabited by many races.

Chapter Text

In the end, after screaming my heart out about how unfair everything was, I rode my bike home with the wind whipping against my face. I ate dinner with my family, but honestly, I think I was just going through the motions. Thank God it was Friday. There was no way I could face school in this state. To be completely honest, nothing about my future had been resolved whatsoever. I need to start thinking seriously about what comes next, or I might find myself with a death flag sprouting up out of nowhere.

The reason my mind suddenly cleared up was probably because of my memories from my previous life. The moment I realized this world was the world of "High School D×D," I also clearly remembered my past life. However, it seems like I've just inherited the knowledge and memories from before—my actual personality hasn't changed. I'm still the same seven-year-old who loves manga and games and enjoys playing outside. Well, my understanding and sensibilities seem to have been heavily influenced, so I'll just assume they've somehow fused together. At least, I think I'm still fundamentally me.

I don't know what triggered these memories of my past life, but I'm grateful for them this time. Otherwise, I would have gone on living carelessly without knowing I possessed a sacred gear. Of course, if I could have lived my entire life without ever getting involved with sacred gears, then it would have been better if I'd never recovered those memories. But that possibility seems pretty slim. In that case, it's better to have the knowledge.

"But still... what exactly should I do now?"

I brush off my father, who was trying to take a bath with me, saying, "I'm going through puberty," and enjoy a bath alone while muttering to myself. My sister is hogging my room, and this was the only place where I could be alone for a while. Also, I'll pretend I didn't see the shocked expression on my father's face. The word "puberty" is so wonderfully convenient.

"So does that make me the typical reincarnated protagonist? The one with knowledge of the original work? But what exactly does a reincarnated protagonist do?"

I try to imagine the actions of protagonists who were reincarnated into the world of "High School D×D," but mostly they were just fighting. I know the original work revolves around battles and fanservice, but isn't there any peaceful fanfiction where the reincarnated protagonist just lives a quiet life? ...I get it, writing about a reincarnated protagonist in a slice-of-life setting is way less satisfying than having them fight and be awesome. That's the kind of stuff I've been reading all along. Still, I can't help but sigh.

Deep down, I do have that desire. I have a sacred gear, after all. It would be amazing to defeat enemies with style. There are plenty of cute girls around, and I could appear before them like a hero and save them. Maybe one of them might even fall for me. It would be so wonderful if she became my girlfriend.

But would I actually be willing to risk my life for that?

"Probably not. It's pathetic, and it might be the opportunity of a lifetime, but... I don't think I can do it."

Knowing the original story, I might be able to save the people crying out for help. But is that something I should do, even if it means giving up everything I have now? A loving family, a society that protects me, peaceful and joyful days. Sure, it might just be temporary peace. But I don't want to destroy that peace with my own hands, knowing that once it's broken, it can never be restored.

Above all, I don't even know if I can protect my own life. It's cold, but I don't have the luxury of worrying about others. Moving to help someone I don't even know, when I don't know where they are or when I'll encounter them, that's suicide in this world. It's like hyperinflation of danger. No matter what I do, I need to secure solid footing first.

"So the first thing I should do is gather information."

The first thing that reassured me was that I wasn't in Kuoh Town. This alone allows me to avoid many of the crises from the original story. Yeah, the death flags for Kuoh Town residents are way too obvious. They're all concentrated in one place.

Does Kuoh Town even exist? Does Kuoh Academy exist? And it's also crucial to know when in the original timeline this is happening. The enemies change drastically depending on whether it's before or after the three major factions formed their peace agreement. In fanfiction, the protagonist is often born around the same age as the original characters, but I wonder how that works here. Ideally, I'd prefer this to be set decades after the original story has already ended. It would be nice if the world were a little kinder to background characters.

I'm seven years old, so I can't survive without my parents' protection. I have no money and can't live independently. In other words, I absolutely cannot let any of the factions know that I possess a sacred gear. I don't want to be killed or kidnapped. But I can't run away either. If my family is taken hostage, there's nothing I can do.

When investigating, I'll be extremely cautious. Even if Kuoh Town really exists, I won't go anywhere near it. Since there are definitely devils there, if they sense my sacred gear's aura, it's game over. As for the other characters from the original story, I won't go looking for them either. They're all way too eccentric. Besides, there's no one I could casually meet anyway, so this is probably just me overthinking things.

"Now, what should I do about the sacred gear?"

Should I follow the typical reincarnated protagonist route and go on a training journey? Like running while carrying a rock on my back? My sacred gear isn't like Asia's or Gasper's, supportive or special-purpose types. It's probably an attack-type gear. So physical training might be necessary.

But realistically, how do I train? I could take karate or judo lessons to build my body, but that's probably not the same thing. I doubt I'll find someone who can teach me practical combat techniques that easily. Training on my own is even more impossible. I don't even know the basics of martial arts.

If this were a world where background characters still had it easy, training wouldn't need to be so intense. Unfortunately, this is a brutal world for mob characters. A stray devil might show up yelling, "I'm hungry!" A fallen angel might appear shouting, "Sacred gear! Purification!" I know the church is a joke, and the way they treat gear users, conducting human experiments and dealing with fanatics, is terrifying. If I get kidnapped by some terrorist organization, they might abduct me for their "human resources," and I could end up mentally broken.

If I escape into denial and end up regretting it later, it'll be a complete disaster. Therefore, I need to train enough to master my sacred gear. Since having physical strength won't hurt, I'll start with running and basic conditioning.

Still, I wonder what my sacred gear is actually like. I'm a siscon, but since it supposedly has the same power as that Demon Lord called the "Transcendent," should I think it's strong? Or will it end up in an awkward position like the Switch Princess, where people say, "Hmm, besides her oppai, what else does she do?" No wait, she was amazing too, especially with her finishing move. Why do I only remember that part? Anyway, my sacred gear is probably inferior. I've never even heard its name before.

For now, I should learn more about my sacred gear. With that in mind, I got out of the bath, glanced at my father sitting in the living room, and climbed into bed. Maybe I'd been overthinking things, or maybe I was just overheated, but my consciousness quickly sank into darkness.

――――――

"In conclusion, isn't this way less useful than the Gremory siblings' power?"

I'm still inexperienced, but I couldn't help letting out a sigh. Looking back, unlike the Demon King who could manipulate the very essence of destruction and overwhelm his enemies, my power of annihilation can only be activated through this spear in my hand. Only what I pierce with the spear can be annihilated. Unlike those two, who can throw the power of destruction, change its form, or cover their entire bodies with it, I can only annihilate in points or lines. Their ability to annihilate entire areas is their real strength.

The power of annihilation is powerful, I know that. But knowing there's someone who's basically a superior version of me makes me feel pretty down. In terms of attack power, they're clearly superior.

"Plus, it doesn't seem like I can annihilate just anything. So far, I can only annihilate something if I focus my consciousness on it, and I can only annihilate one thing at a time. ...Though being able to avoid annihilating everything is a useful safety measure."

On Saturday, I told my parents I was going to the park with friends, and since I'd be eating lunch there, I asked them to make me some rice balls. I rode my bike and kept going down the mountain road. Training with the sacred gear absolutely cannot be seen by anyone. Even the plaza where I first manifested the gear yesterday wasn't completely deserted. That's why I headed to a place where there were no people and plenty of natural objects to test the power of annihilation on.

This small mountain, located away from the residential area and preserved under local environmental protection policies, is rarely visited by anyone except the workers who occasionally come to harvest timber. The terrain is rough, and it's considered dangerous for children, so even adults don't go there. It was the perfect place for training. The abundance of natural obstacles was also perfect for my practice.

Manifesting the sacred gear was easier than yesterday. As the Switch Princess had said, once it's been manifested, it can be activated at will. At first, I touched the tip of the spear I was holding to a small stone on the ground, but nothing happened, which surprised me. However, when I said, "Disappear," and stabbed it, it vanished with a soft "whoosh" sound. Next, I realized that it would disappear if I just thought the command mentally without speaking aloud.

Gradually changing the size of the stones, when they were about the size of my palm, only the part where the spear tip touched disappeared, not the entire stone. When I concentrated and thought, "Disappear completely!" I managed to make the whole stone vanish, but immediately afterward, I felt utterly exhausted, as if I'd sprinted at full speed. Through this gradual exploration of my abilities, I came to understand why I'd initially thought it was inconvenient to use.

"In the morning, I could only make stones disappear while gasping for breath, but by noon, I could do it with just mild fatigue. So this annihilation changes based on my level, meaning the strength of what I can eliminate depends on my own power."

It seems that using this spear won't make it easy to eliminate any powerful enemy. If I'm weak, I can only eliminate weak enemies. Even if a strong enemy appears, I can't just stab them once and be done with it. Still, when it comes to point attacks, the power of annihilation seems to work quite effectively.

"This onigiri is delicious. Mm, mm. ...Well, what should I do this afternoon?"

I ate the lunch my mother made and drank tea from my water bottle. I've gained some understanding of this spear's abilities. As for the power of annihilation, I'll just have to keep practicing continuously. For now, my goal is to be able to make something the size of my palm disappear without getting tired.

"The power of annihilation... I wonder if there's anything else I can use it for..."

To be honest, this spear is still far beyond my ability to use in actual combat. Just eliminating an inanimate object like a stone leaves me exhausted. I haven't tried it on living creatures yet, but I can already tell that my current strength isn't nearly enough. When I try to eliminate something with the spear tip, I can sense a difference—some things I can eliminate, others I can't. But if I keep going like this, I don't think I'll be able to survive in this world. Honestly, I'm on the verge of tears.

If I could just train and get stronger, that might be okay. But if enemies appear while I'm still training, I'm screwed. Even if I train for several years, I honestly don't think I stand a chance against those inhuman monsters.

"The scariest thing is the aura emitted by sacred gears. The Boosted Gear was a God-class weapon, so maybe that's why it could sense even a sacred gear that hadn't manifested yet. If that's the case, there's a possibility that I could be detected by any awakened sacred gear user. Whether it's a devil, a fallen angel, an angel, or a terrorist organization, there are still plenty of powerful factions out there, and if I were discovered by any of them..."

They might ignore me, they might not kill me, they might even accept me as an ally. But clinging to such optimistic possibilities is impossible. If they were reasonable opponents like the Fallen Angel Governor, the Demon Lords, or Michael, that would be one thing, but they're all far beyond my reach. Above all, the low-ranking members are the most terrifying. Not just other races, but I'm pretty sure there were also humans who opposed sacred gear users.

The more I think about it, the deeper I feel myself sinking. There's no one safe around here.

"...Maybe I'm just being overly paranoid."

I let out a sigh that even I thought was too loud and leaned against the tree behind me. Hey, maybe I should just try to enjoy myself more. I have memories of my past life, I know about this world, so maybe I shouldn't just keep thinking about dying all the time.

It's okay to think more positively. There's always the possibility that nothing will happen. It's okay to have a little hope that I might meet a cute girl.

"I know, but... At least I need some peace of mind. I don't want to cause trouble for my family. Is there any way to hide or erase the aura of the sacred gear... Erase it?"

I raised my head with sudden determination. I don't know if I can do it. Even the Gremory siblings wouldn't attempt something so reckless. There's no guarantee that I can pull it off. But what if... what if the things I can eliminate aren't limited to just objects?

"I'm sure this spear can choose what to eliminate. If I choose to eliminate the sacred gear's aura, then maybe..."

I know it's impossible to eliminate the sacred gear itself. But maybe I can temporarily eliminate the sacred gear's aura that surrounds me. As if responding to my thoughts, a voice like confirmation suddenly echoed in my head, and I felt like I could actually do it.

"Alright, disappear! My sacred gear's aura! Crimson Destructor Spear, activate!!"

It hurts!! Blood is coming out like crazy!!?

―――――――

"So if the effect only affects myself, touching any part of the spear is enough. I see, I see. This really hurts though..."

I realized that stabbing the back of my hand had some effect, but the effect only lasted while I was stabbing myself. However, continuing to stab myself with the spear would actually kill me—I'd bleed to death. As I was thinking that, I realized the effect only worked when I focused my mind on elimination while touching the spear. In other words, it was a wasted effort. This was a valuable lesson in the importance of staying calm and handling things more carefully.

By the way, the next challenge was the spear's size. In the afternoon, I spent time trying to figure out if I could change the spear's size. I kept manifesting it and training to make it smaller. Thanks to that, I was able to shrink the spear, which was originally much taller than me, to a size that could fit in my pocket. Honestly, it was pretty inconvenient to use at my height anyway. This is the result of my relentless determination.

"To be honest, I thought it was just a weakened version of the Power of Destruction, but if used properly, it might be useful for various things. If 'annihilation' works on things other than living beings, it could be used to ensure safety depending on how it's applied."

I couldn't help but smile—I mean, how could I not? I never expected this sacred gear, which I thought was only good for attacking, to have such an unexpected application. As expected of something created by God, it's amazing. For the first time, I felt a little grateful to the gods. After all, it might have been God who gave me this sacred gear in the first place.

"Hey, Sota. We're going to the hospital tomorrow to have them look at your injury, so go to bed early. I'm glad it wasn't serious, but your mother nearly cried when she saw your wound."

"Hey, sis. I just tripped and scratched myself. You don't have to make such a big deal out of it."

"Then don't get hurt in the first place! Next time, watch where you're going and be more careful. Maybe I should start playing with you from now on..."

"You have your own friends to hang out with. Boys' games are rough and dangerous. Don't worry, I'll be more careful next time."

I swear I'll never act so recklessly again. More importantly, I'll be careful not to get hurt. I don't want to worry my family, and I don't want to get scolded. If my activities get restricted, I won't be able to train.

For now, I was able to make decisions about the sacred gear and my future plans for today. Thanks to being able to control the sacred gear's aura, I feel like I've gained some peace of mind. Tomorrow morning will be spent at the hospital, and my parents will be watching me closely, so I'll spend the afternoon researching this world.

I still don't know what I want to accomplish in this world. I know I'm cowardly and pathetic, but I still want to live my life to the fullest here. My memories of my previous life are vague, and I don't know exactly how I died. Still, I feel like there's a powerful desire within me to not die again.

Since I don't have a clear goal right now, I think I'll just do my best to avoid dying. It's only been two days since I regained my memories. It's only been two days since I started dealing with the sacred gear. I'll take it slow and move forward little by little.

"Well, I'm going to bed now. Good night, sis."

"...Okay, good night, Sota."

It's usually still early enough that I'd be awake, but maybe because I'd been training non-stop, my eyelids quickly grew heavy. The lights went out in the room. In my drowsy state, I gently touched the sacred gear in my pajama pocket. To me, the sacred gear was both a source of trouble and my only lifeline. It was also what had taught me about this world. Since it couldn't be taken away from me anyway, we were in this together. If the sacred gear were taken from me, I would die.

"So please take care of me, partner."

I gripped the sacred gear tightly through my pocket once, then immediately fell asleep.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!"

And then, as I rolled over in my sleep, the small sacred gear accidentally pierced my butt, forcing me awake. Thus began my third morning. By the way, my older sister, who was sleeping on the top bunk, gave me a thorough scolding afterward. Maybe I really am just a walking disaster. Feeling depressed from the lecture and the pain in my rear, I slumped my shoulders in defeat.

Chapter Text

"Tonight's patrol is finished. Nothing unusual to report."

With that light declaration, I leaped across the nighttime rooftops, finally coming to rest at my favorite vantage point overlooking the city. From here, I could see the artificial lights scattered below like colorful illuminations, painting the darkness in brilliant hues. The wind was fierce tonight, though—strong enough to send my still-small body tumbling if I wasn't careful.

It's been four years since I manifested this sacred artifact. The time feels both fleeting and eternal, a strange duality. I was seven then, which means I'm now the same age my older sister was back then. Whether through the artifact's protection or simple good fortune, I've managed to live peacefully without encountering any supernatural beings.

I haven't actively sought out supernatural connections, but since I've never run into any, maybe my luck isn't terrible after all. Though spearmen are supposed to be unlucky—a depressing thought. I wish I could improve my luck stat somehow.

"Whoa, the wind's really picking up tonight. Hey, partner—eliminating the wind in this area... I could only manage that for a few seconds with my current power level. And honestly, that'd be a waste. Intangible or fluid phenomena are such a pain to deal with."

I leaned against the rooftop railing, glancing at the crimson spear propped against my shoulder. Whether it's because this isn't a sacred artifact that seals some divine or demonic beast like Yaya's, or because it simply hasn't awakened yet, this spear is frustratingly silent. Most of the time, I end up talking to myself.

I suppose I could just stay quiet, but somehow I can sense its thoughts. When I wonder aloud, "Can this be erased?" vague impressions like 'Maybe' or 'No way' drift through my mind. It's fine hearing them in my head, but the constant silence makes me feel gloomy and a bit lonely. So even though I know it won't respond, I started talking to it anyway.

Maybe it can't speak, but it might still have a will of its own. If it does, I'd love to discuss all sorts of things with it—but that's just wishful thinking.

"Anyway, it's so peaceful out here. Come to think of it, the probability of being attacked by stray demons is supposedly about the same as being hit by a natural disaster. There was that mention of Kazuma Hido having a dragon sealed inside him that caused all sorts of chaos, so maybe this tranquility is normal."

I stood up from the railing, gripped the spear in my right hand, and brushed the dust off my clothes with my left. The thought that behind this peaceful cityscape, countless tragedies and life-or-death battles were unfolding felt almost impossible to believe. Yet I knew it was true. And despite knowing that, I was still doing nothing about it. A pang of guilt flashed through my chest, but the reality was I had no choice but to continue as I was.

Is this world really the setting of "High School D×D"? This was a question that demanded both caution and urgency. While mastering the use of my sacred artifact, I conducted thorough research at the library and on the internet, transcribing everything I could remember from the original work. Additionally, I meticulously searched through phone books and maps of Japan for any cities with ominous-sounding names based on my knowledge.

This was because there was a possibility that sacred artifacts might be like the "crossover" ones occasionally seen in fan fiction. I focused on places with names like "Uminari City," "Academy City," "Fuyuki City," and "Mahora"—names that felt like death flags waiting to happen. I worked desperately, terrified that a crossover might lead to complete chaos.

Perhaps my prayers were answered, because the only place name that caught my attention was "Komaou Town." I spent several minutes debating whether I should feel relieved or disappointed. Regardless, since there was no definitive proof, I concluded it was safest to assume this was the world of "High School D×D" and began taking gradual action.

"What I'm most curious about is whether there are other people who've been reincarnated like me—you know, the standard trope in fan fiction. That's something I'll only be able to figure out by comparing events to the original work. Also, are there any typical patterns for reincarnation stories that deviate from the source material?"

Maybe I've read too many light novels and web novels. It's probably just a product of my overactive imagination, and I'm likely overthinking things. But for me, this is my reality right now. It might affect me someday. Even if I can't solve everything, I think I should at least consider the possibilities. Though honestly, there's not much I can actually do about it.

"Ugh, I'm getting depressed thinking about this. I'm tired today, so I should probably head home. I'm really sleepy. I could use my ability to eliminate fatigue, but if I don't sleep properly, I won't grow taller. Moderation is key... What? Don't use my ability for such trivial things? But it's so convenient!"

When I mentioned "eliminating fatigue," a thought that seemed to want to protest very strongly was transmitted to me. The elimination ability of this sacred artifact is quite flexible when used on myself. Back when I suddenly felt the urge to urinate but there was no restroom nearby, I avoided an embarrassing situation by declaring, "Eliminate the cause of my urge to urinate!" It was incredibly helpful. Though at the time, I might have sensed quiet anger in that transmitted thought.

However, when trying to activate the effect on others, the difficulty skyrockets exponentially. So over these four years, I've trained to refine my control of the artifact, focusing on precise manipulation when targeting myself. Thanks to that, I've increased the number of things I can eliminate simultaneously. Currently, the maximum is three. While it normally physically eliminates anything touched by the spear's tip, by setting targets within a mental selection frame, I can now eliminate only those specific targets.

This is incredibly convenient. For example, even though I'm terrible at eating fish with lots of bones, if I set it to "bones, begone!" and stab the fish, the skin and flesh remain while the bones disappear completely. It's so amazing I nearly cried tears of joy. Though afterward, my partner gave me the silent treatment for a while, so I apologized during my bath and cleaned myself thoroughly.

"Alright, let's do this as usual. Targeting myself—eliminate 'Sacred Artifact Aura,' 'My Presence,' and 'Gravity.'"

I gripped the crimson spear once more, and red light spread around me in a familiar pattern. I'm used to this by now, but when exploring the night streets, I basically eliminate these three things every time. The pseudo-stealth effect is handy because it makes me undetectable to others—wandering around at night as an elementary schooler is dangerous and could get me in serious trouble. As for gravity, being able to fly through the air has dramatically expanded my exploration range. The ability to fly this freely is the result of four years of dedicated training. I still remember how difficult it was initially, constantly crashing into things and struggling to maintain control.

If I can unlock a fourth slot, I'm thinking about trying to eliminate "my visual presence to others." Even though I can eliminate my aura, security cameras can still capture me. Well, security cameras in this era have poor resolution and are expensive, so there aren't many of them—which is a blessing. Additionally, the level of fatigue varies depending on what I eliminate, so I need to consider that factor as well. Since this power has so many applications, compiling everything into a research notebook (a.k.a. my "black history notebook") has become part of my daily routine.

"Maybe I'll visit the next town over tomorrow. There should be a port there. The night sea must be beautiful... though I wonder if there are any lights to see."

Adjusting gravity on and off, I leap from streetlight to utility pole with practiced ease. This is my fastest method of travel. Despite being ordinary in terms of physical abilities, the sacred artifact lets me become superhuman in an instant. It's no wonder those who possess such artifacts are viewed as dangerous.

I can't tell anyone about my sacred artifact either.

With thoughts of how beautiful the moonlight looked floating in the darkness, I headed straight home.

"Huh? Is it early dismissal today?"

"Oh, you didn't know because you were playing dodgeball during lunch? I think they'll explain it during fifth period, but apparently someone went missing in the neighboring city yesterday. So they're shortening classes by an hour because there might be suspicious people in the area."

"That's lucky! We get to go home early today. Hey, want to come over to my place after school and play some video games?"

From an elementary school student's perspective, it's only natural to focus on the fact that school was shortened by an hour. However, given that the missing person was from a nearby city, the teacher gave us a stern lecture about safety. It seems parents were also contacted by phone, and children were told not to go outside alone. My friends, who had been excited about playing video games, looked visibly disappointed.

If I hadn't known anything about the true nature of this world, I probably would have been just as carefree and excited as everyone else. But knowing this is that world, the word "missing" sends a chill down my spine. It could be a crime committed by humans—but there's also the possibility of a supernatural incident. Every time something like this happens, I find myself desperately hoping from the bottom of my heart that it's just a human crime.

"...Maybe I should just stay home today."

If it's a supernatural incident, the real danger will come at night. Fallen angels or terrorist organizations would eliminate their target and be done with it. If it's a church purge, they'd cover it up before it becomes public knowledge, so that's unlikely. The most terrifying possibility here is stray demons. Demons are active at night—night is their hunting time. There might be a whole series of missing persons cases brewing.

My daily routine includes patrol. This serves multiple purposes: training with the sacred artifact, building my physical conditioning, and investigating whether anything related to the supernatural is happening near me. So shouldn't I conduct today's patrol thoroughly? That's how I feel, but the fear of what to do if it really is supernatural-related churns in my chest. I couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.

First of all, I can't fight. It's not just that I'm uncertain about the sacred artifact's combat power—I simply don't have the resolve to engage in battle. I've tested the artifact's abilities countless times against inanimate objects, but I've never tried using it against a living being. According to my partner's transmitted thoughts, I might be able to target living creatures now. But even so, I can't bring myself to try. I don't even have the resolve to hurt a living creature, let alone kill one.

My patrols are ultimately just a way to maintain my own peace of mind. If I'm scared, I should just hide away quietly. Fortunately, with my sacred artifact, I might be able to escape if necessary.

"But is it really okay to just hide away like this forever? Besides, I can't possibly stay locked up in my house indefinitely. Even if I can't do anything meaningful, shouldn't I at least verify the safety of my surroundings?"

What do you think? I turn my attention to my partner, which is about the size of a keychain charm when not manifested. For someone like me who has no one to confide in, my partner is the only one I can rely on. Of course, it doesn't speak or move, and I can only sense a vague presence. Still, whenever I feel anxious, I always end up talking to it.

Naturally, the sacred artifact doesn't respond to my words. It doesn't speak or move. But a few seconds later, I felt a brief flash of red light in my mind—as if it were telling me, "I'm here." Maybe it was just my imagination.

With my steadfast partner in mind, I decided to go home and search the internet for any updates on the missing person case. If it was human-related, there might be something I could discover.

"Hey, Kuramoto! Let's play soccer during recess tomorrow. Help me gather some players."

"You want to play again? Tomorrow's third period is gym class, so I'll have to change into my gym clothes. There won't be time to play."

"Oh right, I forgot. Well, how about lunch break then? Let's meet up!"

"Okay, sure."

I laughed as I had the usual conversation with my classmates who were taking the same route home, and we exchanged our typical "See you tomorrow!" I waved casually to my friends and headed straight home. I envied everyone who took tomorrow for granted, but at the same time, I wanted more than anything for that assumption to be true. I didn't want anyone to destroy what was normal for all of us.

"Oh, welcome home, Sota! You had early dismissal today, right? That brings back memories."

"Hey, sis. Did high school get out early too?"

"My school ended at noon. I know elementary school kids want to play outside, but stay home until this incident is resolved. You're a student, so you should focus on studying."

"That's exactly what you should be telling your sister who was slacking off during midterm exams..."

"...I'll try harder for the finals."

Sorry, that was apparently a sore spot for my sister.

"Mom and Dad are coming home early today, so we're having dinner early. I'm going to take a bath first. What about you, Sota?"

"Sure thing. I'll shower after you. Let me know when you're done."

"Got it. And don't fall asleep or put on headphones and not hear me calling, okay?"

"I won't."

When my older sister started middle school, I got my own room, which made night patrols much easier. Plus, it's a convenient excuse to nap or listen to music when she's not around—though that's led to her looking down on me lately.

When I returned to my room, I turned on the computer and started organizing my backpack while it booted up. Then I researched the missing person case to see if I could uncover any new information. In the end, all I managed to find was the missing person's name and the last place they were seen. Neither name was familiar to me. I looked up the location on a map and made a note of it just in case.

"...This is near the port I was planning to visit tonight."

The area has many warehouses and seems fairly deserted. I had thought it would be a good spot to relax and enjoy the ocean view. However, now that I think about it, it wouldn't be a bad place for something to hide either. They're probably investigating during the day, but if the perpetrator isn't human, avoiding ordinary people wouldn't be difficult.

My throat made an audible gulp. The chances of them actually being there are probably low. I might be overthinking this... Even if they are there, they might just leave and go somewhere else. But what if they're heading toward this town? What if they start targeting the townspeople? What if I can't even keep a simple promise like "see you tomorrow"?

"...I should at least check, just to be sure."

Spending the rest of the time until this case is resolved in this anxious state would be unbearable.

I want some confirmation, even if small, that my fears are groundless. If something really is there and I find it, that would be terrible—but with my sacred artifact's abilities, I think I can investigate without being detected. It's frightening, but knowing "nothing's there" is better than continuing to worry that "something might be there."

First, I'll take a quick look around the city. If nothing happens, I'll check both the location where the incident supposedly occurred and the port I was planning to visit tonight. When investigating, I'll make sure to eliminate my "sacred artifact aura," "presence," and "physical form" from detection. I don't have magic power, so this should work against most threats. If it's a high-ranking supernatural being, they might still notice me—but if they're that powerful, they wouldn't make such a careless mistake in the first place. They'd cover everything up before word spreads, before the world starts buzzing about it.

"Sota! The bath's ready!"

"Ah, okay! Coming!"

I respond to my sister's voice and the light knock on my door, then decide to take a shower to refresh myself. After dinner, I'll tell everyone I'm going to bed early, and then—I'll venture outside. If something's there, I'll hide and escape. If something's there and there's nothing I can do about it, I'll disappear to a church and leave a letter about the incident, or if it's a stray demon, I'll contact the demons in Komaou Town and ask them to handle it.

"It'll be okay, right?"

I'm weak—both physically and mentally. But I don't want to have any regrets. There isn't much I can do, but maybe my actions could save someone's life. I won't act recklessly. I won't be foolish. I'll just do what I can within my limits.

Gripping the sacred artifact in my pocket tightly, I exhaled deeply and opened my room door, taking my first steps toward the bathroom.

Chapter Text

"Wow, this place is way too atmospheric..."

I leaned against the cold warehouse wall near the harbor and slowly surveyed my surroundings. The darkness naturally muffled my voice, leaving only the gentle lapping of waves against the shore to break the silence. A single lamp flickered at the warehouse entrance, but honestly, it barely provided any light at all.

Just as the neighborhood rumors had suggested, there wasn't a soul in sight—but it was so pitch black that it was genuinely terrifying. If I hadn't come here under the pretense of an investigation, I probably would have turned tail and headed straight home, muttering something like "It's too dark, this is impossible." It was just plain scary.

The time was around ten o'clock. I'd left home at 8:30, so about an hour and a half had passed, I noted as I checked my watch in the dim light. I'd taken my time patrolling the neighborhood today. Maybe because of the missing person case, people were turning in earlier than usual, but with fewer folks around, my patrol had gone smoothly. With a sigh of relief, I'd finally reached my destination.

"I also checked the last place where the missing person was seen, but of course, as an ordinary human, I couldn't sense anything beyond what my sacred artifact could detect. So the only option left is to investigate with my own eyes."

As soon as I'd arrived at the port, I'd activated the sacred artifact to conceal my "presence, aura, and form" from others. You never know what might happen—though naturally, nothing happening would be ideal.

I swallowed hard and began walking toward the warehouse with determination.

"Wow, that container is massive. It's probably several times my height."

I touched the enormous iron gantry crane lifting the container and continued on, examining machinery I'd never seen before. I wondered how many tons it weighed. To be honest, I was only able to maintain that casual curiosity for the first few minutes of my exploration.

"Ugh, scary, scary, scary. I brought a flashlight, but should I use it? Then again, demons can see in the dark, right? If they spot the light, it'll be game over. Better to keep going as is, just in case..."

All I could hear was the sound of waves, but occasionally a strong gust of wind would howl like a scream. I felt pathetic, but I couldn't move forward without muttering something to distract myself from the fear. A little darkness wouldn't be a problem, but it was so black that terror was getting the better of me. Demons supposedly prefer darkness, but I'm human—I feel safer in sunlight. Once I finish this exploration, I'll head straight home and greet the morning with peace of mind.

With such thoughts running through my head, I wandered around the warehouse district for about an hour. The darkness only deepened, but I still didn't sense anyone else's presence.

Are there really no people or monsters here? If that's the case, then I've accomplished my goal. I only came because I had this nagging feeling that something terrible was about to happen, so it's probably better that there's nothing here. Just a false alarm.

Let's go home, I said to my partner, opening my mouth to speak when—

Clang, clang...

"Huh!"

Startled by the sudden noise, I let out a small yelp, quickly clamped my hand over my mouth, and crouched down on the spot. I clenched my teeth to stop them from chattering and pressed my other hand against my racing heart. Taking slow, deep breaths, I scanned the area around me. The scenery before my eyes was exactly the same as before. The sound seemed to have come from somewhere further away—probably from the large warehouse around the corner to my right.

It might just be the wind knocking things around, but I should go check it out. Once I confirm the source of the sound, I'll stop this exploration and hurry back. I know I'm being ridiculous, but I feel like this might have taken years off my life. I even considered using my sacred weapon to erase the fear, but fear serves as self-defense. I should save that as a last resort.

"Let's go, partner."

Gripping the red spear tightly, I muster my courage by speaking aloud. As I move toward the sound source, step by step along the wall, I see another large warehouse of identical design. Even after spotting the warehouse, I still feel no presence of anyone else. The source of the sound remains unknown, but at least I know no one is there.

"...Hmm, what's that?"

When the wind caused the light to flicker, something near the warehouse entrance caught my eye. It was only for an instant, but it looked like a cell phone—probably an older model. Maybe someone had dropped it. It could be a clue. I checked my surroundings several times and cautiously stepped forward. I could feel the artifact's concealment effect working. Remaining calm, I tried not to make any noise with my breathing or footsteps as I slowly approached.

Just a little more... almost there. Maybe I should try poking it with the spear tip first, just to be safe. As I thought this, I took another step forward.

—The world changed.

"—"

I passed through something. I think I just passed through some kind of barrier. Along with that strange sensation, I saw fresh bloodstains.

I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed it before, but there was blood all over the cell phone. The atmosphere around the warehouse had changed completely. Before, there had been no sign of anything—only the sound of night wind and waves—but now a twisted laughter echoed through the space. I could tell something was moving inside the warehouse. There was a presence so overwhelming that I could feel the abnormality even from outside.

Why... why didn't I notice this sooner? Such a massive disturbance. Such intense killing intent. My head was pounding, the metallic smell in my nose made me want to vomit, and the oppressive atmosphere enveloping my body made my legs tremble. The laughter—a disturbing "keta keta keta"—seemed to be directed at someone else. I could tell that the murderous intent was aimed at something other than me.

"—Ah, —Help!"

A scream?

Someone might be inside that warehouse. They might be running from the source of this killing intent. There's a massive presence inside the warehouse, moving around as if it's enjoying itself. Is the person being hunted the missing person? The owner of this cell phone? Someone else entirely? I don't know, but I do know one thing.

This is the underworld—a realm of conflict where people fight to steal each other's lives and existence for the sake of their own beliefs. A place where the weak are trampled underfoot and only the strong survive. In a world like this, surface dwellers have no power. They are nothing but prey to be devoured and plundered.

"...Hidden by a barrier?"

Most likely, a barrier isolating this specific area had been erected around the warehouse. That's why I couldn't detect anything unusual from outside the barrier. I think I was only able to notice it because I physically entered the barrier set up by a non-human entity.

The barrier's effect is probably to prevent anyone outside from noticing anything unusual—not just those on the surface, but those from the other side as well. I wondered if they'd noticed that I'd entered the barrier, but my partner communicated through telepathy that my presence had been completely erased. In other words, they haven't detected me yet.

My goal was to confirm whether this incident was related to the supernatural world. In other words, my objective has been achieved.

I should escape before they notice me.

My worst fears have come true. I cautiously pick up the blood-stained cell phone and activate the screen. The LCD is cracked, but it still seems to function. There's a photo sticker on the back showing three young women who appear to be close friends.

The victim is probably one of these three. They look like college students—all still so young. They weren't on the missing persons list, so this must be a new case. With the phone covered in blood, I don't hold much hope for the owner's safety.

"More screams..."

I want to cover my ears. I want to escape from this nightmare as quickly as possible. I know that with my trembling body, I stand no chance against whatever's in there. If I could be like the heroes in novels and anime—defeat the villain and live happily ever after—I'd do it in a heartbeat. I would call for help right now and do everything in my power to save them. But that's not how reality works.

I should just abandon them. I should pretend I never saw anything and find a way to inform the church or the devils about this. The victims were simply unlucky. I should give up on them.

Even if I went into the warehouse now, I wouldn't be able to fight. Even if I tried to escape with the victims, only I can erase my presence. To make the effect work on others permanently, I'd have to keep stabbing them with the spear. And unlike with myself, I've never tried it on anyone else, so it would be my first attempt. If they noticed us, I don't know if I could escape.

I don't want to die. I can't be the protagonist of some heroic story. I don't have the courage to face them head-on. So...

"..."

I turned toward the barrier exit, away from the warehouse.

***

Why did things turn out this way? I forced myself to stand up even though I wanted to collapse, and moved my feet to get as far away as possible. I felt a sharp pain on my cheek and wiped it with my sleeve, noticing blood. Tears welled up again, but when I heard that mocking voice from deep within the warehouse, I immediately started running.

Today, I'd been hanging out with three friends from the same university. We'd been told to go home early because of the missing persons incidents, but we'd decided to go out anyway. We thought we'd be fine, and despite the seriousness of the situation, we'd even felt a bit relieved that classes had been canceled. We figured we could head home before nightfall—there was no way we'd get caught up in anything dangerous.

We went shopping, then stopped at an arcade to take some photo booth pictures as souvenirs. As dusk approached, we decided it was time to head home and started toward the station. But before we knew it, all three of us were walking toward the port. No one questioned it. Everyone just followed along as if it were the most natural thing in the world. By the time we realized something was wrong, we were already trapped.

"Keta keta keta..."

"No... no..."

When I first saw it, I couldn't believe it was real. A gigantic body more than twice the height of a human, with the voluptuous torso of a woman but an insectoid lower body. Its arms were sharp like a mantis's scythes, with what looked like dried blood crusted on the blades. Emanating a strong metallic odor, the creature smiled at the three of us, its mouth splitting into a horrifying grin.

Stray devils—monsters that were once human beings reincarnated as servant demons through devil magic. However, their bodies had been corrupted by demonic power, and they had succumbed to the overwhelming strength, constantly seeking to satisfy their desires. As a result, they had become "stray devils." These demons, drunk on power, had killed their masters and betrayed their factions, and were now shunned by all sides. Many of them preyed on innocent humans, using them as food.

This place had become a new hunting ground for the stray devil. It used magic to lure humans here, delighting in their expressions of terror, killing and devouring them while treating it all as a game. What stray devils particularly enjoyed was the moment when fleeting hope transformed into despair.

Out of the three prey this time, one had died immediately due to a miscalculation of force. Another had provided some entertainment, but the creature had accidentally slammed her into the wall with its scythe, causing severe bleeding, and she'd stopped moving. Something had flown out the window, but it shouldn't matter. Therefore, the stray devil was carefully cornering the last one, taking its time to play with her.

The rules were simple: a game of chase. Inflict small wounds, gradually corner the prey, and slowly break them down. For the stray devil, this was nothing more than a game and entertainment. Rational thought had long since collapsed—it was a true monster, toying with life as it pleased.

"Where can I run?"

Her labored breathing was a sign of not just physical exhaustion, but mental fatigue as well. Even if she ran, it would eventually catch up. Even if she hid, it would be over once it found her. The will to live and the desire to escape this pain were eating away at her heart.

"Hic... ah... ah..."

She was about to give up when her pocket suddenly vibrated. She almost screamed but managed to suppress it, opening her eyes wide as she brought the phone to her hand. The vibration indicated a call from her friend—the only person who had come with her. Despite there being no signal earlier, it had connected here. She hurriedly pressed the call button, praying he was still alive.

"Hello, Akiko. I'm so glad you're safe. That thing was chasing me, and I thought I was going to die..."

"...I'm sorry, I'm not Akiko. I just found this phone outside and decided to call."

The voice on the other end wasn't her friend's. It was probably male, but high-pitched—maybe a young man or boy.

Still, hearing a voice that wasn't the mocking laughter of that monster brought a wave of relief.

"Listen! I know this might sound unbelievable, but I'm being attacked by a monster. Please, call the police or someone!"

"First, calm down. Are you Kei-san?"

"What? You know my name?"

"It was written on the photo sticker with the phone's owner. Also, from the email history, I can see that the three of you went out together today. I couldn't connect with the other person, but I was able to reach you. I know this might be hard to believe, but I have a pretty good understanding of your situation. Right now, you're in a warehouse, separated from the others, running from the monster. Is that correct?"

Who was on the other end of the line? How did they know all this? Countless questions raced through Kei's mind. Could this be a trap? Could the voice be connected to those monsters? Laughter and earth-shaking sounds echoed from the depths of the warehouse, and she forced herself to keep running despite her trembling legs.

"...That creepy laughter confirmed it. Do you know where in the warehouse you are?"

"Who are you? What's going to happen to me?!"

"Please, just listen to me."

"I don't want to die! I don't want to die yet..."

"I understand. Please, just answer my question! —Sorry, I'm sorry for shouting. But I want to help you. I don't have the power to save you directly, but if you work with me, there might be a way to get you out of this! So please..."

Like Kei, who was in a state of panic, the boy's voice also sounded desperate. She didn't know who he was. It might be a trap designed to give her false hope. Still, she chose to believe in those words that seemed to be torn from his throat—words that showed he genuinely wanted to save her.

If things stay like this, I'll die. So even if it's a trap and I don't know who you are, I want to cling to this chance. Kei bit her lip hard, managed to regain some composure, and said what the boy wanted to hear.

"...I understand. I'm on the second floor, and I can see the ocean from the window. The ocean should be to the south, so I think I'm running along the hallway on the south side."

"South... Can you get down to the first floor? If you can get outside, I might be able to help you."

"No way! I've tried opening every door I can find, but nothing that leads outside will open!"

If she could get outside, she would be saved. Those words gave her hope, but she'd already tried everything. Even the windows wouldn't break, no matter how hard she'd hit them.

"Sealed by magic, then. If you're on the south side, it's probably heading that way too. ...All right, I'll make the east door accessible without it noticing. If you run straight east, you should be able to escape. So please, somehow get away from it and make it outside."

"East... But what if it chases me even after I get outside?"

"There's no guarantee, but I'll try my best. Even if magic or supernatural abilities don't work on it, pure physical attacks should still be effective."

The strained voice on the phone made her anxious, but she had no choice but to trust this boy. She had to escape the monster and get out through the eastern door. It was easier said than done, but if there was even the slightest chance of survival, she would fight until the end.

"—The laughter is getting closer. Please, help me, no matter what!"

"I'm sorry for asking something so reckless of you. I'm sorry I can't help you directly right now. But I'll do everything I can... so..."

The signal wavered, and the conversation became garbled. The next sound she heard was the dial tone indicating the call had ended. She considered calling back, but running while on the phone would increase the risk of being caught. Gripping her phone tightly, she summoned her last reserves of strength and sprinted toward the stairs leading to the first floor.

As night deepened and despair threatened to swallow everything in darkness, they chose to reach for even the faintest glimmer of hope.

Chapter Text

I really think I'm pathetic. Despite this crushing self-loathing, I still gripped the sacred artifact tightly, determined to do whatever I could. This barrier isolating us from the outside world naturally blocks cell phone signals. If I were to destroy the barrier itself, the stray demons would surely notice my presence. However, by piercing the barrier with my spear and targeting only its signal-blocking properties, I managed to temporarily communicate with the survivors trapped inside the warehouse.

"Please... come help us..."

The woman's voice trembled as she fought back sobs. Even I, who wasn't directly in danger, was shaking uncontrollably. The real killing intent I'd only known from anime and manga. The countless bloodstains and grotesque monsters I'd never seen before. No wonder she was terrified. It's only natural to cry. This place is so suffocating that it wouldn't be strange to give up everything and long for the peace of death.

Still, she entrusted everything to me in the end. She gave me hope. She believed in me, even though I was the one making unreasonable demands of someone who desperately needed help while I hid in a safe place.

Even now, I want to escape from this place immediately. I came here by chance, and I have no obligation to help this woman. I know I should abandon her, even though I'll be left with guilt and regret. I can't fight the stray demons directly. I don't have the courage to throw myself into danger to save her. So what can I do but abandon her? I don't want to die either.

"...Yes, I know that in my head."

In the end, my actions are completely contradictory. I'm hiding in safety, pushing all the danger onto the victim. To be honest, my way of helping is incredibly pathetic, and there's a strong element of luck involved, so there's a high chance she'll die anyway. Even so, even if this was the only way I could help, I couldn't leave this place.

The reason is simple. I was just stubborn enough to think I'd be an idiot for giving up so easily. Because I really hadn't done anything. I didn't have the courage to fight the stray demon directly or help her escape myself, but I still believed there was something I could do.

If I abandoned her here, I would definitely regret it. If that's the case, even if it ends badly, I wanted to at least try something, no matter how futile. My actions might just be a pitiful and cruel way of giving the victim false hope. I know that.

I won't do anything reckless. If I realize it's impossible, I'll run away immediately. But until then, I decided to do everything I could within my capabilities.

"I wasn't sure if the phone would connect, but I managed to guide her safely. All I can do now is secure the east exit, ensure Megumi-san's safety after she exits the warehouse, and inform the underground faction about the stray demon."

Just in case, I tried to eliminate part of the warehouse wall and stabbed the sacred artifact into the warehouse window. Due to the magical influence, I felt a slight discomfort at the tip of the spear, but I confirmed that only the area I stabbed had vanished. It felt slightly more tiring than simply erasing a wall. It was my first time eliminating something that magic could pass through, but it seemed like I could manage to make a hole large enough for a person to pass through.

"Ugh! ...The ground is shaking again. Let's hurry and secure the exit."

I glanced at the hole in the window and, on impulse, pulled the bloodstained cell phone from my pocket. I'd wanted to take it home as a memento, but it might help me save Megumi. I thought the owner of this phone would be happier if it was used to help a friend.

I opened the phone and, since it looked similar to a model I'd used in my previous life, I didn't hesitate to fiddle with the settings. Then I tossed it through the hole in the window into the warehouse, making sure it wouldn't break. As soon as I heard the soft impact, I ran toward my destination. I decided no one would notice me now, so I changed my target from concealing my appearance to reducing my gravity.

Even if I help her, the fact that she can safely escape from the warehouse is already a miracle. I don't know if she'll make it that far. But I made a promise. She believed my desperate words, even though she doesn't know who I am.

So I'll do everything I can to help her, believing in her safety. What I'm about to do is a gamble, but if it works, I'll accomplish all my goals. If I'm lucky, I might even be able to defeat the stray demon.

"It's a reckless plan, relying solely on the artifact's power with no caution or strategy, but..."

I know it's cowardly, but I won't hesitate to use any means necessary. After this is over, I'm confident the people involved in the cover-up will be furious with me. I truly apologize to those working to hide the truth, but this is an emergency, so I hope they'll understand. The root of all evil is the stray demon.

And finally, as I approached the warehouse door I'd finally reached, I called out my partner's name.

――――――

"...Hm?"

The stray demon felt a momentary unease about the warehouse it had been using as a hunting ground, but its focus remained on the prey it was about to corner. This prey had been quite entertaining, so the demon's mood was at its peak.

Until now, after just a few minutes of chase, any human's heart would have shattered from despair. Yet this prey was still fighting back. Excited by the sight of its quarry clinging to hope and struggling to survive, the stray demon's mind drifted to thoughts of the futility of it all.

It seemed the prey had escaped to the first floor—its heightened hearing could detect the small but continuous footsteps heading toward the east entrance. "What a waste," it thought, unable to suppress a laugh.

"You're trying so hard, aren't you? Here's a reward for you."

With a cackling laugh, the stray demon swept its scythe-like claws vigorously at the floor beneath its feet. The warehouse floor gave way, and its massive body plummeted from the second floor to the first in an instant. The sudden rumbling and crash, followed by the abrupt approach of despair, made the prey's screams sound even closer than before.

"Come on, hurry up and run before I catch you!"

Raising its voice deliberately, the monster began to walk slowly. The game was fun, but it was also true that boredom was setting in. Out of gratitude for the prey's will to live, it decided not to kill easily, but to take its time destroying it and make it the main course.

What it found ahead was fresh blood. When it touched the crimson with its scythe-like claws and tasted it, it was indeed from the prey currently fleeing. The creature must have been injured by the impact when the demon dropped from above. For a moment, the blood trail continued across the floor, but soon a bloodstained cloth fell to the ground. After that, no more bloodstains were visible, the prey had apparently moved carefully to avoid detection, letting the blood drip slowly to hide its location. The monster couldn't suppress a smile at such desperate effort.

However, in exchange, the footsteps that had been so loud were now barely audible. Perhaps, due to its injuries, it had hidden itself in one of the rooms. The monster thought of the game "hide and seek." That might not be so bad, it mused, and deliberately walked loudly to make its footsteps echo.

If it continued like this, it would soon reach the door on the east side. Just as it smiled to itself, thinking the prey was probably there, it heard a faint sound.

"Huh?"

It sounded like someone sobbing, and when it sniffed, it could faintly smell blood. The sound seemed to be coming from inside one of the rooms. Since it had no memory of hunting prey in this area, the presence of even a trace of blood meant that something was hiding in one of the nearby rooms. Realizing this, the demon opened the nearest door with a smile.

In reality, it knew exactly which room the sound was coming from, but it approached slowly, as if searching, to further terrorize its prey.

The crying had stopped, but it didn't seem like anyone was trying to escape from the room. Having cornered its quarry like a devil's pawn, it mockingly laughed "Checkmate" and opened the door—the last line of defense for its prey. It expected to see the face of a human woman twisted in despair, but what it found instead was—an empty room.

It realized too late that it had been enjoying itself carelessly. Upon reflection, there was no sign of anyone. Then, looking around, it noticed the faint smell of blood and found a bloodstained cell phone.

Suddenly, the phone began to ring like an alarm. The sound that followed was like someone sobbing—likely set to play every few minutes. Such a simple trick, something that might fool a child, had made it think its prey had fled here. Realizing it had been deceived, the stray demon's expression changed from playful to one of intense rage.

"Ah, that human...!"

Its delightful mood was ruined, and its mind filled with fury. This was a trap it would never have fallen for under normal circumstances. It was true that its guard had been down due to overconfidence, but it was also because it had been so excited. That was why it had been fooled. The realization that it had been outwitted by mere bait caused its vision to turn red, and its anger boiled over.

"I'll kill you! You're just prey, so I'll kill you right now!"

The demon's roar shook the warehouse. The stray demon, who had not used magic until now, immediately began searching for the prey's presence. The location its sharpened senses led it to was the eastern exit—its original destination. That much was expected, but it was startled to sense the prey's presence coming from outside the warehouse.

How had it escaped? The question was erased by the rage of "I'm going to kill it anyway," and it smashed through the warehouse wall with its sickle. The darkness of night, devoid of any light, spread out from the blown-out wall. At the same time, a small figure of a human woman appeared in its field of vision. She must have noticed the monster that had broken through the wall, as she sat there weakly, trembling.

Even seeing the face it had been waiting for, the stray demon's anger did not subside. Killing the prey was certain, but it would make her pay for humiliating it. Slowly raising its sickle, it approached her, amplifying her fear. It focused all its attention on her, ensuring she couldn't escape and that it could catch her if she tried.

Therefore—the stray demon did not notice several things. That she, wounded and with no room for error, could have set up such an elaborate trap—albeit a childish one—to make the alarm sound repeatedly. That she had escaped from the warehouse it had sealed with magic. That despite being night, the darkness was so thick that not even a single moon or star could be seen. And that the gaze of the human it had marked as prey was focused not only on it, but also, for some reason, on the space above its head.

If it had noticed even one of these things, perhaps the demon's fate could have been different. However, the monster never abandoned its arrogance until the very end. It never broadened its field of vision. And the one who had been waiting for this moment used the stray demon's arrogance to its fullest advantage, connecting it to a brute force strategy with no tactics whatsoever—befitting a coward.

The stray demon stopped moving at the sound that suddenly reached its ears. It was the sound of something cutting through the wind. The sound didn't seem far away; in fact, it felt as though it was right overhead. Finding this unnatural, it looked around, but there was nothing there. However, the sound didn't stop. As it turned its head upward in confusion, the stray demon's eyes widened as much as they could.

"What?"

Filling its field of vision was a massive red object. Thanks to its highly developed motion vision, it realized this red mass was made of reinforced steel and concrete. And the demon recognized this iron structure—it was definitely the machinery used at this port to transport containers from ships. It was a gate-shaped large crane, over ten times its height, known as a "gantry crane"—a massive iron structure weighing dozens of tons.

Normally, such machinery was installed along the port's wharf and should never have been seen in such a densely packed warehouse area. But what was most incomprehensible was that the massive machine was plummeting straight toward its head. There was no way to escape something of that size. There was no way to support its weight. The demon's thoughts froze in the face of this impossible phenomenon, and those few seconds sealed its fate.

"Ohhh!"

Suddenly, the voice of what sounded like a young boy echoed through the darkened port. The stray demon turned its gaze toward the source and caught a glimpse of the human woman who had been sitting on the ground, now being carried by someone wielding a red, gleaming spear as they sprinted away from the warehouse district. With incredible speed, they leaped into the air and ran at full speed without looking back.

The stray demon also had to flee, but its reaction was far too slow. A massive iron block, likely twenty or thirty meters in diameter, was plummeting toward the ground from a considerable height. The impact of its descent would turn the surrounding area into rubble. Its prideful scythe and brute strength were meaningless against the sheer size, weight, and speed of the falling object. Even if it tried to gather its magic now, it wouldn't be in time before impact.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

And then, as the massive crane plummeted from an unimaginable height onto a corner of the port warehouse, the deafening explosion and ground-shaking tremor caused nearly everyone in the vicinity to leap to their feet, as everything was blown to pieces.

Later, the unusually unnatural crane collapse and the presence of what seemed to be a stray demon led the underworld operatives to frantically cover up the incident, fearing it might be ruled an industrial accident. The explosion from the fall was heard by many people on the surface, and there was no way to explain the overly conspicuous and unnatural scene to them.

Incidentally, the stray demon had already died, so the underworld officials quickly disposed of it. There was no time to investigate, as the commotion on the surface was closing in. They had to act swiftly to prevent the demon from being seen by surface dwellers.

The church officials, who served as the front-line contact with the public, and the demon-related personnel bore the brunt of the cover-up efforts due to the nature of the stray demon incident. By the time the situation was finally brought under control, it was so chaotic that even the clergy and demons ended up embracing each other in relief. To this day, the stray demon incident remains under investigation, but the evidence has been completely obliterated, leaving little to go on. Nevertheless, many people continued to search for the culprit, driven by a mix of professional duty and personal vendetta.

Incidentally, the culprit probably knew they would be scolded, but the fact that they had created yet another reason to hide in the shadows—in various senses—because they had gone too far left them scratching their heads in frustration.

Chapter Text

When unexpected accidents occur, humans sometimes freeze up, unsure how to respond. In emergencies, most people instinctively try to act based on past experience.

But when there's nothing in their experience to handle the situation, they might freeze completely, retreat into denial, or charge ahead recklessly. In such cases, mistakes are inevitable.

Fortunately, I'd somewhat anticipated encountering that stray demon, so I was able to respond with relative calm. The rescue operation, however—that was completely unforeseen. I had to question every detail, no matter how small, gather every available resource, and exhaust every possible option. Even if it seemed excessive, I couldn't afford to fail.

This incident also made me realize how difficult it is to act like the protagonist of my own creation. My handling of the stray demon was completely inefficient—it caused massive damage and showed no tactical intelligence whatsoever.

I still think there must have been better ways, but that was the only solution I could think of at the time. I could have used something smaller than a gantry crane dozens of meters tall to destroy that warehouse. It would have caused less collateral damage while still achieving my goal. But rational thinking like that was swept away by my fear.

I wasn't sure if something capable of merely crushing the warehouse would be enough to stop the stray demon. That uncertainty made me demand something with the size and power to definitely stop it.

I didn't have the luxury of choosing my methods carefully. I don't regret saving her—I was genuinely happy I could save her. I don't think my actions were wrong. Still, even so... I couldn't shake the feeling that I might have gone too far.

"Now, continuing with the news. In the early morning hours, there was a suspicious explosion at the port district. Details remain unclear, and area residents are expressing concern. Police report that an investigative team is looking into the cause, but due to the risk of secondary disasters, they cannot approach the area carelessly. We are currently awaiting their report. Next, regarding damage from the earthquake..."

"That's not too far from here, is it? How scary... There was also that missing person case. I wonder if this area is really safe."

"The current leading theory suggests a large explosion occurred due to oil or other materials stored in a warehouse. Helicopters are prohibited from flying overhead, and information from the maritime side is also restricted. I wonder what really happened there."

"Ugh, yeah. I wonder what really happened... Hahaha..."

Is this what they call a nervous laugh? The TV screen shows a scene that looks eerily familiar. Unlike the dead of night, the port is now bright and bustling with activity—hard to believe it's the same place as yesterday. Yeah, there are really a lot of people there now. In every sense of the word.

There might indeed be risk of secondary disaster, but I suspect the strict security measures are for the reason I'm imagining. I'm really sorry to everyone working behind the scenes—I left all the cleanup to you. If people saw a crane that had been blown away and now lay on its side, it would cause absolute chaos.

"You still look pale. No fever, though... Kanata, you're staying home to rest today."

"Thanks, sis. I'll stay in bed."

"You should. Mom said she'll finish work early today. There's lunch in the refrigerator, but will you really be okay until evening?"

"Sis, you worry too much. I'm already in sixth grade."

I'd collapsed into bed exhausted last night, but managed to get up when morning came. However, seeing how pale I looked, my family decided I should stay in bed. I felt bad for the friends I'd promised to play with, but it couldn't be helped. Honestly, I was grateful—I had things to do, so it was actually a relief. I really am pretty tired, so taking it easy today sounds good.

After seeing my sister off to high school, I turned off the living room TV, which was still broadcasting breaking news. No point watching longer—the information I was looking for wouldn't come up anyway. I ate the breakfast my mother had prepared and went over my tasks for the day. Time passed so peacefully I wondered if yesterday had been a dream.

"I really did mess up, didn't I?"

The more I thought about it calmly, the more distant my actions from yesterday felt.

What I did was simple enough to describe: First, I severed all the support legs of the gantry crane, detaching its massive body. Then I thrust the sacred artifact into the crane, nullifying its weight, and positioned myself weightlessly directly above the warehouse. Once the female victim exited the building, I yanked the spear from the crane, quickly kicked off to eliminate air resistance and impact, then plummeted straight down—grabbing her and fleeing the impact zone without caring about anything else.

That was all, but I'm amazed I had the stamina to pull it off. Must have been pure adrenaline. Unlike with living beings, I've been testing this technique on inanimate objects for the past four years.

It was the first time I'd managed to activate the divine artifact's effect on something that massive, but I'm truly glad it worked. I'd only been running and exercising regularly, but thanks to that, I'd built enough stamina to carry a woman and escape. I really felt the importance of daily effort.

At that moment, I'd been sprinting at full speed with the divine artifact's effect activated, so I was exhausted and on the verge of collapse. But if an elementary school student who was supposed to be home was found lying on the roadside, that would be problematic.

Fortunately, Kei-san lives alone and had given me her address and phone number, so I was able to provide basic first aid. She'd fainted, so I left a note, put her to bed, then headed home.

I was also exhausted and running out of time, so I rushed straight home and collapsed onto my bed, losing consciousness. I was barely coherent toward the end, but I think I managed to hold on. I'm still incredibly sleepy.

"But leaving Kei-san alone was a mistake. She witnessed the underworld connection, and she probably saw my face too."

Above all, she'd nearly been killed by a monster and lost two friends. Unlike me, she knows nothing—has no idea what she's been dragged into, who the people involved are, or what the future holds. I saved her. If I did that, I should take full responsibility to the end. At the very least, I should tell her what she needs to know about what happened.

I washed my finished dishes, stretched to loosen my stiff muscles, and decided it was time to prepare. I changed from pajamas into regular clothes, took Megumi's note from yesterday's pocket, and put my wallet and the note in my current pocket. It would be better to contact her family first so we could both mentally prepare. I put on my outdoor shoes.

"Partner, do your usual thing. After all, if an elementary school student is wandering the streets, the police will pick them up... Oh, right. Is there anything you can do about this fatigue I'm feeling? —What? I have to get tired again to eliminate fatigue? Is my magical tool really that useful or useless...?"

Sensing my partner seemed dejected at that last mutter, I hastily declared "My partner is the best!" with all my might. From the outside, it must have looked like an elementary school student suddenly praising a spear on the roadside.

"Haa... But was that really a stray demon? I've seen their distorted forms in anime, but the appearance and atmosphere were completely different. Could there be more of those things lurking in this world?"

I feel so grateful to be alive! Even in this safe place, I can't help feeling I've been living in a world completely free from conflict. No matter how much knowledge I have about this world, or how many sacred artifacts I possess, I'll always just be myself. With that thought, I shrugged and ran through the crowd, unnoticed by anyone.

I found a payphone in a nearby park and called Kei-san. I did this because I didn't want my home number showing up in call history. However, there was no answer, and it eventually went to voicemail. I reluctantly left a message, but just as I was about to finish, the call suddenly connected.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Kei-san? I'm the one who helped you yesterday. Were you busy? If so, I can call back later."

"No, I'm sorry. I'm fine. I couldn't answer right away—it was an unknown number, so I didn't pick up..."

"Oh, right. I should have been more considerate."

I bowed my head over the phone, thinking I'd messed up. Of course anyone would be wary of an anonymous call. Plus, she'd been attacked by a supernatural being called a "stray demon" yesterday. It's only natural to feel frightened by unknown callers. Why am I like this... I almost sighed but held it back since I was on the phone.

"Um, I was thinking we should talk about yesterday. Is that okay? If you'd rather wait until you're feeling calmer, we can do it later."

"Right now is fine! Um, I'm sorry. To be honest, I'm scared to be alone. If I hear that laughter again, I don't think I can stop shaking. So..."

"It's okay. I know your address, so I'll come right over."

I cut off her breaking voice and told her I was coming immediately. Even though it was unavoidable at the time, I regretted leaving her alone. If I were in her position, I would have felt just as terrified. It's only natural to feel afraid even after returning to daily life, especially when there's no guarantee of safety.

Such an unrealistic incident—she probably couldn't talk about it with anyone. Even if she tried, no one would believe her, and she might end up dragging whoever she confided in into danger. That's why the only person she could discuss this with was me, the one who saved her. Even if I was just a stranger, a mysterious child of unknown identity. I finally understood that.

I quickly hung up, gave my tired body a jolt of energy, and ran straight toward my destination.

Chapter Text

Powers like the Siscon Demon Lord and Switch Princess? From what I remember, stray demons are usually treated as cannon fodder in both the original work and fanfiction—used to test the protagonist's strength, show off their power, or save some heroine under attack. In reality, they pose no real threat in this world.

In the world of "High School D×D," there are countless monsters far stronger than them. My confidence is starting to waver.

There are powerful stray demons, but they're original characters from the source material who were also popular in fanfiction. She's an SS-rank powerhouse who can wield mystical "senjutsu" abilities, and she's also a stunning beauty with cat ears and a tail. I thought to myself, "It's not like adding more S's automatically makes you stronger," but I'll ignore that for now.

All I knew from the original work was that she was formidable. But this much I understand—she operates on a completely different level compared to the stray demon I encountered. That creature was probably nothing more than a minor nuisance to the true powerhouses lurking in this world's shadows. Even to someone like me, who only possesses a sacred gear, or to ordinary humans, it must have seemed like the grim reaper itself.

"Stray demons, devil reincarnation, the three great factions..."

"I can't go into too much detail, but that's what dragged Kei-san into this mess. Normally, the three great factions maintain surveillance to prevent ordinary people from getting entangled in the supernatural world, but sometimes criminals or predators slip through their net. Unfortunately, there are also people from the surface world who become their targets."

"...Are you part of the Three Great Factions?"

"I don't belong to any faction. I'm just an ordinary person with a sacred gear. I know a lot about this world, but that's the extent of it. As for the sacred gear—it's a tool created by God with mysterious powers, as I mentioned before."

"An ordinary person... Then why did you help me?"

"I didn't do anything worth boasting about saving you. The reason Kei-san is alive is because you refused to give up and kept fighting. I just couldn't bear to abandon you, so I desperately tried to do something, anything."

I told her everything I knew about this world's hidden side. No matter what we decide to do next, we can't move forward in complete ignorance. When I arrived at her house, Kei-san was relatively calm and listened quietly to everything I had to say.

This was for her benefit, but it also felt like I'd finally released some of the weight that had been building inside me since my reincarnation. For the past four years, I couldn't talk to anyone about the hidden world. She was a victim, but we could share our fear of this world together. Even if we just kept saying "It's terrifying, it's terrifying," having someone who understood made me feel incredibly relieved. I really am pathetic...

"No, even so, if you hadn't been there, I would have been killed by that monster. So thank you for saving me. Thank you so much..."

"...You're welcome. I should be thanking you for not giving up on life."

"Haha, what kind of thank you is that?"

When I offered those words of gratitude, Kei-san blinked in surprise for a moment, then smiled mischievously. The wounds on her body and mind were still deep, but seeing her smile like that filled my heart with relief. I may be pathetic, but I'm glad I didn't give up. I'm glad she's alive. I truly felt that way.

"Hey, do you think that stray demon is dead?"

"I didn't see it with my own eyes, so I can't say for certain, but I'm confident it's finished. The main reason I did something so conspicuous was to draw the people behind the scenes to that location. Those in power wouldn't just ignore an incident that can't be handled through normal channels. Even if the stray demon somehow survived the crane attack or managed to escape, the commotion would inevitably alert the relevant parties. Professional demon hunters will gather to track it down. It's only a matter of time before it's eliminated, or at least loses the ability to approach this city."

"I see... What do you think those behind the scenes will do now?"

"Right now, they're probably busy with damage control, but once things settle down, I think they'll start investigating what happened. However, I used my sacred gear's power to obscure the scene, and I employed techniques to mask our presence when we escaped, so there shouldn't be any evidence we were there. I believe the warehouse was completely destroyed."

I was about to add "probably" at the end, but decided it was better to sound confident rather than create more anxiety. I don't think the original work covers this particular area. There might be magic, tools, or even sacred gears that could be used for crime scene investigation, but by then it'll be too late. I haven't read the original work cover to cover, so I can't say for certain—which is frustrating. Still, there was no other choice.

Actually, she's in worse shape than me. She was with the two missing victims, and there might be witnesses who saw all three of them together. In that case, she'd have no choice but to claim she escaped by chance, but I don't know if she can pull that off. She's lost so much in this incident, and her wounds haven't healed yet.

"...What should we do?"

"If you want to continue living in the normal world, I think you should keep everything about the supernatural world secret and live as you normally would. Especially now, when everyone involved has gathered in this town. But if you have the courage to live while being involved in the supernatural world, revealing that you're a victim could be an option. If you're lucky, church officials might protect you, or they might teach you how to heal the emotional trauma you've suffered. As a sacred gear wielder, if my identity is revealed, I probably won't be able to return to the surface world. But I think they'd let you go back if you were just caught up in everything."

If that happens, just keep my involvement secret and say you were saved by chance. I'm honestly anxious, but I have no choice but to trust Kei-san.

Besides, I don't think she can live a normal life on the surface as she is now. Even now, the dark circles under her eyes are severe, and she looks exhausted. She told me she occasionally hears the laughter of that stray demon, like auditory hallucinations, and can't bear to be alone in a room. It wasn't until she held my hand—the hand of someone whose true nature she doesn't even know—for a long time that her body finally stopped trembling. I've decided to help her survive.

I believe that's the responsibility of someone who saved her. Above all, I want her to live. That means it's not good for her to remain in this state. But I don't know how to heal Kei-san's trauma.

Even if she goes to the hospital for examination or sees a psychiatrist for counseling, I don't think her symptoms will ever completely disappear. She can't tell people on the surface about what happened in the supernatural world. The wounds she's suffered will remain with her for the rest of her life.

"Kei-san, what do you want to do?"

"What do I want?"

"I have a sacred gear, so I'm already halfway into the supernatural world. But you can choose to live in the normal world as you are, or you can choose to enter the supernatural world. That's why I'm asking."

"Of course I want to live the same way I always have... I don't want to go through that again... I don't want anything to do with demons, the Three Great Factions, or the supernatural world!"

"Kei-san—"

"But, but! I can't just go back to living like I did before, knowing nothing! Even now, his laughter and everyone's screams won't leave my ears. I hear voices asking why I'm the only one still alive... I'm afraid of sleeping, afraid of the darkness... I want to live, but I feel like I have to live for all of us. Even though I understand that, I can't bear to keep living like this forever..."

The tears that broke through, the emotions that overflowed—this was her heart's cry. Kei-san's wish was to live in the normal world, without getting involved in the supernatural. But to live in the normal world, her wounds were too deep, and without treatment from the supernatural side, they would likely never heal completely. There was also the option of receiving treatment from the supernatural world and then returning to normal life, but it was uncertain whether her mind could withstand that process. She was currently clinging to life by a thread.

Being dragged into the hidden world is something that, for ordinary people, would be dismissed as simply bad luck—it's that rare. At least, someone like Kei-san, who isn't a sacred gear wielder like me, might have been able to live her entire life without getting involved. If only she hadn't experienced that trauma.

"I want to go back. Back to when the three of us could laugh together, when we didn't know anything... I want to go back."

"There are sacred gears that can stop time, but none can reverse it."

"Then I want to forget... It's painful that those two aren't here anymore, but I'd rather preserve the happy memories as they were than have them overwritten by bloody ones. I want to forget everything, right now."

"...I do have the power to manipulate memories, but it requires cooperation from those involved on the supernatural side. So if I were to erase Kei-san's memories, that would be the only option..."

—Erase memories?

"...Hey, partner?"

It was just a small whisper to call out to the other presence. But my sacred gear clearly understood the intent behind it. As the thoughts flowed through, I smiled faintly. At the same time, tears welled up in my eyes. Feelings of relief and sadness overflowed within me.

So there's still something I can do, even someone like me.

"Kei-san, if you could really erase your memories, what would you do?"

"Huh?"

"Yesterday, that day, that moment. Stepping into the warehouse, meeting that stray demon, the truth behind your friends' deaths and their screams, the moment you almost died, the despair you're feeling right now... If you could erase all of that, what would you do?"

"Really? Can you erase it?"

She continued crying in shock, and I nodded firmly. I thought I had finally found someone who shared the same burden, but there was nothing more I could do. Above all, I'd come to believe this was the best outcome.

"I did explain the effect of my sacred gear, right? This spear can inflict the power of annihilation on its target. You can also choose what that power targets, and in my case, the effect activates simply by wielding it."

"...Yeah."

"This annihilation has two effects. By selecting a target, you can temporarily erase it, and the other effect completely obliterates the target instantly, leaving no trace. I mainly use the former. However, to use the temporary erasure on others, you have to keep stabbing them with the spear continuously, so I don't recommend it. But the latter effect, which is the original intended use, allows you to activate it by selecting a target and stabbing once."

"Does that mean you can target memories for erasure too?"

"I've erased conceptual things before. Memories are quite delicate, so it takes time and stamina, but... it seems possible."

"—!"

Of course, I've never tried this before, so it'll be a shot in the dark. More than anything, I've only ever tested the sacred gear on inanimate objects. In other words, this will be the first time I've used it on a living being—a human being, no less.

I made sure to explain the risks clearly, but I could already see the answer in her eyes. Part of me wanted her to refuse, but I pushed aside my cowardice and summoned the sacred gear with resolve.

A single crimson spear appeared in my hands. My precious partner, always has been and always will be.

"To erase the memory, I must stab Kei-san with this spear. It will hurt. Blood will flow. Moreover, memories are delicate, so erasing only the problematic parts may take time even after the initial stab. I'll say it again—it will definitely hurt. There are safer ways to erase memories, but those involve getting the supernatural world involved. Even so, do you still want to erase those memories here and now?"

You can think about it more later. It's only been a day since yesterday, and you're probably still in shock. You've received treatment, but your injuries haven't healed yet, and your physical strength is low. Maybe it would be better to wait until your physical wounds have healed. If we give it some time, we might be able to contact the supernatural side and erase the memories more safely.

Kei-san silently shook her head in response to all my concerns.

"...Will Akiko and Yuri be angry with me? For forgetting their deaths, their final moments, and trying to live on with a smile?"

"They'll only be angry if you give up on living. And I'll be angry too. We survived that day because we both fought hard. So please—live your life with a smile."

"Yeah... yeah..."

"If you erase your memories, I think you'll be confused afterward. You'll experience the pain of losing your friends all over again in a different way. Also, I'll take care of you after the memory erasure, so please don't worry."

"I'm really sorry. I'm not just erasing the memories of the demon and those two, but also the memories of you. You saved my life and helped me so much."

"Don't worry about me. But promise me this—you must live until the very end. And please keep smiling. Even if the memories are erased, please don't forget the determination and feelings that refused to let you lose to that monster."

"...Thank you. Thank you so much."

The first person I could finally confide in about what I'd been hiding. The first person I could save from death. The first person I truly wished would live happily. The first person I would stab with my sacred gear. And the person I would never see again.

"Hey, can you tell me your name before we part? Just for a little while, I want to know you properly. Please."

"...My name is Sota. I'm in eleventh grade."

"Haha. I'm a second-year university student, almost twenty."

"Wow, so you'll be able to drink soon."

"Yeah. Oh, but you shouldn't drink, Sota-kun. You can't drink until you're twenty."

"I know that without you lecturing me like a teacher..."

"Ahaha."

Kei-san's smiling face looked younger than her age and was incredibly beautiful. It was only now that I realized how stunning she was. Her light brown hair suited her perfectly, and she had a wonderful figure. If I were the protagonist or main character, I would have already triggered a romance flag.

Instead, I was the one blushing at her smile—maybe that was the real flag. If so, what heartbreak this is. Farewell, first love. Maybe people who wield spears really do have terrible luck stats.

I aimed the spear at her left arm. Her legs would be more important for daily life, and she was right-handed, so that was my target. I tied off her arm with a bandage to minimize bleeding and prepared medical supplies—hot water, towels, gauze, and bandages. I spread a vinyl sheet in the room, had her lie down to conserve her strength, and positioned her left arm higher than her heart.

Everything was ready. All that remained was to stab her with the sacred gear. A shallow stab might fail, so I had to pierce deep enough to penetrate the flesh. I focused on causing her as little pain as possible. As I took my stance, Kei-san closed her eyes tightly and waited for the moment. I closed my eyes once, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

In my previous life, I had never hurt someone like this. I had never held a weapon or cut into flesh. Well, that's only natural—it would be terrifying if I had. Maybe someday in the future, I might have to point a weapon at someone. But in that moment, there won't be time to hesitate or steel my resolve. That's why I can't run away now. I'm going to live my life to the fullest in this world.

"Goodbye, Kei-san."

"Goodbye, Sota-kun. ...Sota-kun, don't give up—live until the very end."

"Of course."

We said goodbye with smiles on our faces. And then I thrust the crimson spear into her.

Chapter Text

High School D×D is billed as a "school romance comedy battle fantasy." It features intense battles, countless cute heroines, and a story overflowing with eroticism that makes you wonder if it's really okay to push boundaries that far. From the very beginning, the fact that the story opens with the protagonist's death establishes a worldview where the law of the jungle—the strong preying on the weak—feels almost too extreme.

The protagonist is an ordinary high school student named Issei Hyoudou, a man loyal to his desires. He's the host of the God-Destroying Weapon Boosted Gear, racing through the world powered by dragon strength, lust, and surprising kindness. His goal is to "create a harem"—an incredibly shallow reason on the surface, yet the fact that he's willing to risk his life for it is simply amazing. As the story progresses, his interactions with an ever-growing cast of heroines are genuinely funny, and their unique dynamics make it easy to root for both him and them. Apparently, my past self loved this series too.

His enemies span a wide spectrum: the fallen angel who initially appears as his killer, reincarnated demons he faces in Rating Games, encounters with Church forces and his arch-rival the White Dragon Emperor, plus a terrorist organization that emerges after peace agreements are reached.

The Old Satan faction—the group I least want to encounter—is part of that terrorist organization. These people are a bunch of insecure losers, so if they spotted my Sacred Gear, they'd probably start whining about it: "Something about that thing just rubs me the wrong way." I hate that I can't even deny that assessment. And it doesn't end there—somehow he ends up fighting Norse gods, the son of an Old Satan goes completely insane and pulls even crazier stunts, and even "Evil Dragons" show up.

I truly think it's fortunate that my Sacred Gear doesn't have a dragon sealed inside it. Dragon energy apparently attracts chaos and romantic complications. The protagonist was casually surrounded by women, but cute girls are always welcome. However, with this parade of death flags, it's hardly a fair trade. Anyway, I doubt multiple girls would ever fall for someone like me. I don't even have that kind of charm. I just want whoever becomes my lover to be happy.

I'm getting off track, but to conclude: this world operates purely on survival of the fittest. There's a clear divide between those with power and those without. If you're weak, you either die quickly or become a disposable pawn. Without something like the protagonist's Sacred Gear, racially-granted power, noble bloodline like the heroines possess, or an unwavering resolve worth dying for, survival becomes impossible.

If I push myself to the absolute limit, maybe I could one day stand on equal footing with the protagonists.

"But I don't have that kind of resolve," I muttered.

Flipping through a notebook filled with analysis based on my memories of the original story, I found myself once again contemplating this world. I wouldn't say I have zero desire to get involved with the main plot.

I'd love to meet those characters, and I'd definitely want to see Rias Gremory—the Switch Princess whose proportions could literally shake the world—with my own eyes. The official setting lists her measurements at 99cm, and I doubt I'll ever get a chance to witness that in real life. I'm a guy, so of course I'm curious.

Still, that's the extent of what I feel. I could just be a spectator from afar, but my nerves are too fragile for even that. They could snap at any moment. I don't have the masochistic tendencies that would let me enjoy the original story while constantly worrying about getting dragged in.

Above all, I made a promise—to live until the end without giving up, to live with a smile. I can still feel the sensation of piercing through someone, as if it's permanently etched into my hands. I remember her face, struggling to endure the pain, on the verge of screaming. I treated her immediately after she lost consciousness from blood loss, the wound on her arm still bleeding. I wish I could have erased her pain along with the memory, but I only had time to set the memory wipe.

After that, I tried taking her to the hospital, but bringing her in like that would've been too suspicious. So once again, I had no choice but to resort to my "forceful Sacred Gear operation." To be honest, I staged an accident to make her injuries look natural. The explosions and ground tremors from yesterday's port incident had caused widespread damage—perfect cover to blend her injuries into that chaos.

I hurried to a secluded spot, used my Sacred Gear to create a scene suggesting earthquake-induced injuries, then called an ambulance to take her to the hospital. She has no memory of the night she was attacked. Both she and everyone around her will likely believe her scrambled, erased memories are due to trauma from the accident. Kei-san no longer remembers anything. And she never will again.

"...I probably shouldn't get involved with the main story. I plan to visit Kuoh Town once to scout the situation, but actually entering Kuoh Academy grounds might be dangerous. I know I shouldn't get too deeply involved with the background plot either. But..."

"Thank you," she had said with that smile, and I felt saved myself. I'm glad she didn't die. I'm glad she survived. If I hadn't been there, she probably wouldn't be alive today. My presence changed her fate. That thought has taken root deep inside me.

I'm weak. But even in my weakness, I have strength. I'm not completely powerless. Even someone like me might have the strength to save people who would otherwise die anonymously in this vast world. Saving the world or becoming a hero—that's something I could never do. That's for the protagonists and those with real power.

So I want to eliminate the threats that accidentally spill over into the surface world, to work in the shadows while the protagonists shine so brilliantly in the spotlight. I want to reduce the number of people who get suddenly swept into the supernatural and brutally killed. I want them to live in the surface world, not the shadows—laughing with friends, doing silly things, getting chased by work deadlines, building families. Walking the path of an ordinary life.

I want to protect that ordinary life—the ordinary life that I myself desire.

"But I don't want to die. So even if I say I'll protect people, all I can really do is gather information using my Sacred Gear, look for openings to escape or defeat threats, and if they seem too strong, immediately contact professionals to handle them."

I slammed my analysis notebook shut and tucked it into a handmade hiding spot in the back of my desk drawer.

Just in case someone saw it, I wrote everything in a way that would look like "edgy middle-schooler fanfiction" to ordinary people, even though it causes me mental damage to read. If someone from a supernatural organization entered my room, that would be a different story entirely, but if that happened, it would already be checkmate. No point worrying about it.

After watching her get taken away in the ambulance from a distance, I went home and slept like a log. As a result, I missed lunch and nearly missed dinner too, but my sister managed to wake me up, so everything worked out. Sorry for making everyone worry. Thanks to that rest, I've recovered quite a bit, but my family told me to take another day off just to be safe, so I'm spending today at home.

If I used my Sacred Gear, I could wander around the city, but there are still plenty of underworld-connected people in the neighboring city. It wouldn't be wise to roam around aimlessly. So I've been using this time to review the original story and think about my next moves.

After thinking it through slowly, I finally decided what I want to do. I've been pondering what kind of life I want to live in this world for so long. I've been afraid of this world because I couldn't see a future, running away from anything supernatural. I'm still scared, but... I've made up my mind to get involved.

It'll probably be a half-hearted existence, walking the line between the surface world and the supernatural, but that suits a cowardly, half-hearted guy like me. So at the very least, if I'm going to do this, I'll give it everything I've got. Even if I can't keep up with this inflated world, even if I can't save everyone and bask in the spotlight, I thought I could at least try to protect small, individual lives.

Maybe it's just the naive rambling of an ordinary person who can't even handle life-or-death situations properly. I know it's foolish to throw myself into danger for such a goal. But I don't want to keep looking away and living in fear every single day.

"So from now on, I'll step into the supernatural world."

Gripping my tiny companion tighter than my palm could hold, I felt courage surge through me and opened my bedroom door, determined to eat the lunch I'd prepared for today.

"Well, here's the first problem: how do I safely enter the supernatural world?"

This "safely" part is my absolute prerequisite. I really am a contradictory mess. Alright, let me recall the original protagonists from the light novels—who are technically my seniors in this world. Maybe there's a hint there!

First option: Get caught up in the situation when Issei Hyoudou gets reincarnated as a devil.

I immediately discarded this idea. The reason is the same as I mentioned earlier—it's an approach that assumes I'll interfere with the main plot. Even if I explained my situation to Rias and the others, while they probably wouldn't refuse to turn me into a reincarnated devil or hide me, this really should only be an option when there's absolutely no alternative. For now, let's avoid any flags involving main characters.

Second option: Get recruited by one of the Three Factions.

Getting recruited by a terrorist organization would be like throwing myself a curveball. The ones I've observed most often are protagonists from the Devil and Fallen Angel factions. Especially Azazel, the Governor-General—he loves researching Sacred Gears and is understanding, so many people end up getting involved with him. He also has kindness and a sense of humor. However, his true nature is that of a troublemaker with mad scientist tendencies, so there's a real possibility he might choose the "artificial host" route (like Vali with Albion) as part of his research, which is a major drawback. I don't want to give up being human.

Above all, I don't know what time period this is, but the Fallen Angel faction has also been killing Sacred Gear users. I don't know if I'd survive first contact. If I could somehow make direct contact with Azazel, I'd love to have a loose relationship where he protects me, I do occasional work for him, and maybe offer advice about the main story from a distance. Even I think that's way too convenient. I'm genuinely scared of the jinx that comes with wielding a spear and having high luck stats. After careful consideration, I'd still prefer not to get involved with him.

As for the Devils, I'd probably be recommended for the servant route. The Church side with the Angels seems safe, but I can't carelessly get involved due to lack of information. In the original story, the Church faction also has less screen time than the other two factions.

I don't have the confidence to survive in a place where thinking like the early heroines Xenovia and Irina is considered normal. There's also the toxic environment created by people like Freed Sellzen and Siegfried. In every faction, the higher-ups are good people, but please—I understand you're busy, but make more effort to educate your subordinates!

For these reasons, given both the danger and lack of information, I think I'll pass on joining one of the Three Factions. At least, there's no need for me to take action yet. I might get involved eventually, but I should wait until I have more intel or can ensure my safety before diving in too deep. Above all, after leaving the aftermath of that stray devil incident entirely in someone else's hands, I'm a bit worried about what might happen if I'm exposed.

Third option: Get involved through back channels.

The lack of prior intel is a drawback, but my Sacred Gear is quite capable for information gathering alone. I can infiltrate a stray devil's barrier undetected and escape by leaping into the sky. I can also erase my presence, so once I lose pursuit, they won't be able to catch me. If someone does notice me, I'd rather not do it, but I could use my Sacred Gear to erase their memories. What kind of assassin have I become?

As far as I can recall, there were several original characters who worked as freelance bounty hunters, operating independently. They hunted stray devils and rogue exorcists to make a living. There were also characters who tried to form a fourth faction, but I don't think I'm active enough to create something that ambitious.

However, starting as a freelancer isn't a bad idea. I'll end up investigating the supernatural world anyway, and I want to observe the Three Factions from a distance while thinking about my future. Above all, the best way to achieve my goal of "protecting the surface world" is to work as a freelancer, even if it means losing organizational backing. At least I'll have the freedom to move around without being tied down.

By gathering intel, I might be able to find someone like a freelance bounty hunter. I think one of the heroines spent her childhood as a freelance exorcist with lightning powers. If that's the case, I should be able to find other freelancers like her and ask for their help.

I could sell the information I gather using my Sacred Gear and legwork, starting as an information broker. I'll seek out threats to the surface world, sell intel about them, and entrust their elimination to someone stronger than me. It's relying on others, but I think it's the right approach—right job for the right person.

Then, over time, I'll build trust and find someone in the supernatural world I can rely on, learning how to fight from them. Going solo or relying purely on my own methods will inevitably hit a wall. I need to learn techniques that can actually be used in real combat. I'll absorb as much knowledge as possible, then think about future plans.

That was my current course of action.

"So here I am—I've come to the warehouse district near the port where I screwed up!"

Having finalized my plan, I immediately sprang into action. First, I needed to find someone who was unaffiliated but had connections to the supernatural world. There was a place where I had good odds of success.

Currently, many supernatural figures are likely engaged in cleanup or cover-up work. That's right—the port in the neighboring city where I caused that huge commotion and created massive headaches for both the surface and supernatural worlds.

Of course, only those with strong connections to the Three Factions would dare enter the warehouse district inside the actual port area. Therefore, the people I'm looking for are those who lack the power or influence to get inside—people without organizational backing who are gathering nearby to investigate the recent incident. If they're information dealers, they could be valuable contacts. They might even guide me toward my goal in exchange for whatever intel they can get.

Those without the power to enter the port wouldn't be able to detect me anyway, since I've erased my presence and made myself invisible.

With that in mind, I spent the day preparing, had dinner, and immediately set off for the neighboring city. As expected, it's nearly deserted at night. Since only a few days have passed since the incident, I occasionally spot police or security patrols.

I don't have any cool abilities like presence detection, so I'll just have to search around the port area manually. If I can't find what I'm looking for today, I'll try again tomorrow. There's no need to rush. If I come up empty after a week or so, I'll change strategies.

"Alright, let's get to work!"

After doing some light stretches to loosen up my muscles, I stared straight ahead at the nighttime port and spoke those words of determination. I was reborn into this world, and until now, I hadn't even been able to take the first step—just standing still. But now I have a new goal I want to achieve. So I'll start from here. I'll aim for my own way of living.

The boundary line I had only ever dipped one toe into. Gripping a red spear in one hand, I slowly stepped forward.

Chapter Text

"Ah, I'm starting to get a little hungry. I can suppress it, but that's not a permanent solution."

I spread newspaper on top of a streetlight in the park and looked out over the city, my legs dangling. Newspaper is an essential item for exploration, so I always make sure to pack a morning edition in my backpack. It's warm when you wrap yourself in it, and since the streetlight is covered in bird droppings, the newspaper lets me sit here without any problems.

I had some trouble with this on my first day, so I started bringing newspaper from then on. By the way, I did consider the option to "remove the bird droppings" when I first saw them, but my partner beat me to the thought with a firm "No way." It's both heartwarming and a little sad how well my partner understands me.

Anyway, four days have passed since I started this mission. I thought finding someone in just one day might be impossible, but searching for someone who doesn't seem to belong to any particular group has proven difficult. Church-related people, on the other hand, were easy to spot—they dressed like priests and nuns, and there were even a few women in white cloaks. Their outfits reminded me of Xenovia and the others' revealing battle attire from the original work, and I couldn't help but look away.

Just to be safe, I approached them while preparing to escape at any moment, but they didn't notice my presence. Thanks to that, I learned various things about the investigation's progress at the port. It seems girls can't help but chat when they gather together, whether in the open or in secret. However, my partner in charge of concealment said he'd been working all night, which made me feel guilty.

"This 'erase presence' ability really is like an assassin's skill. Convenient, but..."

Incidentally, this "erase presence" ability isn't strictly just erasing my presence. At first, it worked like that, but when I was walking down the street, a dog barked at me. When I tried to approach an animal, it noticed me immediately. Even though I'd erased my presence and form, the result was the same.

I tried to figure out the cause and concluded it was due to their heightened senses. No matter how much I erased my presence, they could still detect my footsteps, scent, or body heat if they were insects. It was a blind spot I hadn't considered. Stray devils have keen senses of smell and hearing—there might be other factors that could alert them as well.

I agonized over this at first. If I had to eliminate even my footsteps and scent, I wouldn't be able to use my three elimination slots anymore. After much deliberation, I came up with a brute-force strategy: "I just need to set it up so everything is eliminated." By redefining the concept of 'presence' as "all elements that allow the opponent to detect my existence," the animals no longer paid any attention to me.

Once again, I was amazed by the power of this sacred gear.

Additionally, through my assassin-style information gathering, I learned various things. The stray devil had been stopped by my brute force, and human bloodstains were found in the ruins of the warehouse where it had been hiding, confirming it as the cause of the recent disappearances. Dealing with the families of the missing persons and the media in that area was quite challenging, and while there were no leads on the culprit, there was also plenty of useful information, so the first three days weren't wasted. I also understand why they felt like sighing deeply. I'm truly sorry.

As for the fact that I, in a way, took the life of a stray devil, I was surprised, but that was all. Partly because I didn't do it directly, but I feel more anger than guilt toward him. Even if he was once human, he did something unforgivable. I don't intend to suppress my resistance to taking a life, but I will at least hold myself accountable. I defeated him, and I won't regret it.

"There were a few people who seemed to be related to devils last night. I don't really understand fallen angels, but at least there weren't any people walking around in bondage gear."

Whether they were devils or not, seeing them moving forward in the darkness of night without any light, even someone with poor night vision would understand. There were also a few devils with wings spread out, flying through the sky. They didn't seem to notice me, so I was confident my concealment had some connection to the three major factions.

I didn't know who the higher-ups were, so I didn't approach anyone who looked important. They were careful not to be seen by ordinary people, but they moved with confidence and stood out. On the other hand, people who didn't seem to belong to any group—perhaps because they were individuals without the backing of an organization like the church or the devils—seemed to move cautiously. Come to think of it, at night, when public eyes are gone, the three major factions become active. So it's only natural I shouldn't get too close.

"So it's possible they're conducting their investigations during the day, blending in with the crowd. If you want to hide a tree, hide it in the forest. Tomorrow's a day off, so I'll check out the back alleys and look for suspicious people."

I landed softly, avoiding the light, and made sure to throw the newspaper I'd used into the trash. Environmental protection is important.

As I was about to head home, I noticed someone sleeping on a bench in the distance. Sleeping in a park at night like this? I couldn't help but feel exasperated. With the missing person case and the unexplained port incident that just happened, this place should be safer than anywhere else right now.

I couldn't see their face because they were facing away from me, but judging by their height and build, they were probably an older man with black hair. His chest was rising and falling regularly, so he probably wasn't sick. Actually, looking closer, he was wearing a yukata. It was near the port, and the wind was cold enough to make him shiver. He'd definitely catch a cold. It wasn't winter, so he probably wouldn't freeze to death, but I couldn't help wondering if he was okay. Still, leaving him there and going home felt wrong. Should I at least wake him up? But I'm just a kid, and I didn't want to get involved...

I thought about it for a few seconds.

"Hello? Police? Sorry, there's a drunk person sleeping in a yukata in the park... Yes, it's definitely a yukata. I'm a little worried, so could you wake him up? Yes, I'll go home right away. It's been scary lately. Thank you for your concern."

I lowered my voice and hung up the public phone. Alright, let's go home. I don't really care, but I wish it had been a girl in a yukata. In the original story, there was an old man wearing a yukata... Thinking that, I stopped for a moment. No, that's impossible. I already called the police, and there's no way the top fallen angel is sleeping here. Azazel is a cool, slightly roguish old man. Yeah, so I didn't do anything wrong.

Well, I'm glad I didn't leave a good citizen out in the cold. I headed straight home.

"Huh, I thought it would be a bar or something, but it's a pretty solid building."

Luckily, my guess was right. I kept watch on the alley leading to the port, and a suspicious-looking man with a hood appeared. However, for some reason, even though I could see him, he kept slipping from my consciousness, leading me to suspect he was using some kind of technique. I switched from "Invisibility" to "Cancel the Technique Being Used on Me" and finally managed to get a clear look at the man. This sacred gear is way too convenient.

It seemed like some kind of technique designed to prevent others from focusing their awareness on him. No one else on the street was looking at the hooded figure. Even when someone glanced in his direction, their gaze was easily diverted. It's understandable that anyone would look at a suspicious hooded man like that.

It seems the sacred gear can nullify the effects of this kind of technique on me. Although his presence was concealed, I began moving cautiously, following the man. But how did he perform that technique earlier? If it was demonic power, he might be a devil, but he could also be a magician. Magic isn't supposed to be exclusive to non-human beings.

He's active during the day, so I think he's human, but I don't have any proof yet, so I'd better not do anything rash. But I don't think it was a particularly strong spell. If I follow him with purpose and focus, I think I can track him. When he disappeared, I didn't feel any strain on myself. For now, I'll put aside the things I can't figure out and observe his actions, looking for clues to his identity.

Thus, I found myself observing his mundane activities: lurking around the port area from a distance, hiding to gather rumors from local residents. From this, I concluded he might be an information broker. However, I didn't think he was a spellcaster or non-human. If he were non-human, he wouldn't bother with such tedious methods. If he could use magic, he'd gather information more efficiently.

Therefore, I decided to continue observing his work and tail him to the end. It would also be good practice for information gathering. Finally, after what seemed like an endless task, he stretched and removed his hood in a public restroom, then tried to board the train. I hurriedly followed him, but what should I do? It was rush hour. By the way, I'd already deactivated the "Spell Canceler" and switched to "Invisibility." The moment he removed his hood, the spell he'd cast on the outside world disappeared. What a convenient tool. I want one too.

After following him from the distant station where I'd gotten off for the first time, I finally saw the building he was heading toward. It looked like an ordinary office building. The possibility that the information broker might be an office worker made my cheek twitch. Additionally, it seemed like the entire building was under the same effect as the hood the information broker had been wearing.

Anyway, as soon as he opened the automatic door at the entrance, I quickly slipped inside and moved to the side. Inside looked like an entrance area with a few people, but no one seemed to notice me. However, it seemed my worries were unfounded. The people inside were clearly not office workers.

The information broker was talking at what looked like a reception desk, so I carefully observed the interior. The place wasn't very large. There was someone who looked like an employee at the reception desk, and a man leaning a large sword against the waiting chairs. The person over there seemed to be casually cleaning a handgun. If I were seen, I would definitely be violating firearms laws. It seemed different from what I'd imagined, but this was the place I was looking for.

I silently thanked the old man who had guided me here and spent the remaining time observing the people coming and going. Hiding behind a potted plant at the entrance, I watched the people entering and their behavior. Though it was a world I'd never seen before, it never grew boring. Mentally, I found myself wanting a cardboard box.

There were people who looked like bounty hunters or informants, others with suspicious faces, and even some timid-looking individuals caressing the blades of swords sheathed at their sides. Though the crowd wasn't large, it felt dense with interesting characters. I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding at the thought of potentially interacting with these people in the future.

For now, I'll observe this place and gather information. If it seems safe, I'll devise a plan to establish contact here securely. No matter how hard I try, I'm just a kid with no experience. It's only natural that people would find me suspicious, and I don't mind being underestimated, but I can't afford to be taken advantage of just because I'm new to this underworld business.

I know it myself, but I wish there was a way to change this cowardly side of me. I want to change, but... I don't think I can. As if in response to my thoughts, I felt a sense of affirmation from my partner. I felt like crying.

Before I knew it, three months had passed. At first, I snuck into the gathering of pseudo-freelancers at the company, but now I walk in through the front door with confidence.

"Ah, Master. Good evening."

"Hmm, oh, Shou. How's the information gathering going? Information gathering doesn't happen overnight. You have to keep your feet on the ground, look closely at every corner, and listen carefully to every detail. That's what's important."

"Yes, I always learn a lot from you."

I'm the type who avoids unnecessary conflicts, so I try to keep a low profile and be considerate of others. In simple terms, I just try to go along with what the other person is saying and avoid causing them discomfort. Of course, if I'm treated unfairly, I make sure to speak up, as things can escalate if I don't. From my past life, I know the importance of respecting those above me, and I also know that being favored by superiors can bring many advantages. Yeah, typical Japanese thinking, I guess.

By the way, I only treat people this way if I think they're worth it. There are plenty of intense people in the freelance world, and some of them probably think my attitude is weak and don't like me. I can't possibly get along with everyone. I don't want to grovel to such people, and I don't want them picking on me either. That's why I only come here when there are people who are either friendly toward me or indifferent.

"Still, you're really lucky. Just a moment ago, 'Great Sword' was here, and he got so worked up because his target escaped. It was quite a mess."

"Wow, really? That was close!"

By the way, I knew what was happening inside because I'd been spying on them with my sacred gear, so I avoided trouble by spending an hour browsing at a nearby used bookstore.

Anyway, the guy in the hoodie who'd been gathering information steadily was the one who told me about this place. He became my mentor in information gathering. Since then, I've been investigating this place for days, gathering information about the people who work here and the jobs available. As a result, I confirmed that this is a freelance job agency with established rules and order. I made up my mind to join.

The person I had my eye on to get inside was the man I'd been tailing back then. Since he was the first person I encountered, I naturally found myself watching him often, and thanks to the rumors I heard, I quickly got a sense of his character and personality. The method I came up with to get inside was to get an introduction from someone who works here. If a kid suddenly shows up at this place saying they want to work, they'd definitely raise suspicions at first.

I could use the information I'd secretly gathered to pressure him, but I'm the type who prefers to build bridges before crossing them. If I feel even the slightest unease, I'd rather take the longer, safer route, even if it means more effort. While I can use the sacred gear to gather information, there are still many unwritten rules in the underworld that can only be understood through actual experience. I figured it would be better to learn the ropes from a professional, so I wanted an introduction or a temporary guardian—a mentor.

The person who seemed to fit my conditions happened to be my master. He's been working in this world for a long time and takes pride in his work. His information-gathering skills are nothing special, but he has enough ability to survive in the underworld for so long. He also values trust in information and has a reliable personality that always repays favors. His tendency to talk too much is a flaw, but it's true that I learned a lot from him, so I made sure to take notes on important points.

"Still, it's been three months since you joined us. I was really surprised when a kid like you came to me saying you wanted to be an information broker."

"Master, you really took me in as your disciple, didn't you?"

"Hmph, your personality, the meticulously prepared information as a gift—that alone showed me your true intentions. The fact that you could investigate my background and bring me the information I wanted as a gift proved your ability. I've seen fools who underestimated children and lost their lives. I considered the possibility of lies, but I've been doing this long enough to know. Despite your age, your emotions were easy to read. You tried to look calm, but I'm sure you were panicking inside, weren't you?"

"You're right."

As expected of my master. He saw right through my shallow cunning. I decided it would be better to negotiate directly with him rather than trying to trick him. Furthermore, since I was asking him for a favor, I made sure to prepare a gift. The gift was information about the port he was looking for. Of course, I only told him what I'd heard from the girls in white robes.

Since he was investigating the incident, I gave him what I thought he wanted most. In exchange, I asked him to arrange for me to get a ticket into the underworld. He asked me various questions, and I answered what I could. In the end, he agreed to take me as his disciple. I was so surprised I couldn't hide it, but my master said mercilessly, "You can't do this on your own."

Three months have passed, and I now understand what he meant. Without my master, there would have been several incidents where I would have caused trouble.

By the way, Shou is my alias. Using your real name apparently means you're either extremely confident, have powerful connections, or are an idiot. When I was thinking of a name, I considered borrowing one from my sacred gear, but I found those names too cool to use, so I just took one from the word for "disappearance" (消失, shoushitsu).

Even when I met my master, I was disguised, but he just dismissed me with, "Your disguise is terrible." Now it's loose, but I'm wearing my master's old robe. The hood that blocks perception has runic symbols on the inside of the fabric, so it was indeed a magical effect.

Apparently, it was created by a magician from the Magician's Association.

I never expected to hear the name of the mage organization from the original work here. Magic power is a privilege of devils, but I recall that Merlin, who appears in the Arthurian legends, analyzed demonic magic and developed magic that humans could use. Most of the humans who can use that magic belong to the organization led by Mephisto Pheles, who serves as a council member—one of the devils whose whereabouts are known in the human world outside of Kuoh Town. I think he was an old devil around the same age as the former Four Great Devil Kings. Well, I probably won't have anything to do with him.

Anyway, it seems magicians sell their works as a side job for research funding, and that's how they're being used behind the scenes. The effect is only to prevent ordinary people from noticing their faces, so it's probably fine to sell them for pocket money. I heard the name of the organization from the original work, but magicians, huh. I guess it's inevitable to be fascinated by the word "magic."

"So, what's your next job?"

"Things have calmed down at the port, so I'm thinking of going on a little trip to do some shopping. Keep next week open."

"Can we do it in a day? What about travel expenses?"

"Don't worry. I'm not going to make a penniless apprentice pay for it or keep you out late. It's just a little field experience."

Stop that smirking. For the past three months, I've been struggling to learn the rules here, so I haven't taken any requests. I did the minimum amount of information gathering, but I found out the port incident never reached my neighborhood, so I'm relieved. I think I heard something about the fallen angels getting into some kind of trouble with the police, but I'm probably just imagining things.

"Alright, let me teach you how to choose assignments today. If you get a weird one, you might end up taking a one-way trip to the afterlife."

"Yes, please do. Oh, I brought some Japanese sweets that you like as a thank-you gift. Please have some later."

"...You're really thoughtful. I'll take them."

Building rapport is important. Thanks to my past-life memories from simulation games and dating sims, I've got all the tips and tricks for raising people's favorability. Though, since there are few women here, my targets are mostly men.

In any case, my involvement in this other world had begun, step by step.

Chapter Text

"So, Master, where are we going today? Since it's a day trip, somewhere within the prefecture?"

"Outside the country."

"...Since it's a day trip, somewhere within the prefecture?"

"There are many cases where you only get one chance to obtain information. Listening carefully to even the slightest sounds and memorizing the content without error is important for obtaining accurate intelligence..."

No, no—I didn't say anything wrong, did I? If it were at least within the country, I could understand, but no matter how I think about it, a day trip abroad is ridiculous! It might be possible somewhere in Asia, but it would be an incredibly rushed trip. Above all, I don't have a passport.

He's getting on in years, so maybe he's just a little senile. Or maybe he's teasing me as his disciple? As I pondered this, he stopped his lecture and sighed. Seeing my unconvinced expression, he scolded me: "You're showing too much on your face." Damn it, I should have been more careful not to let him read my emotions. Master shrugged his shoulders and smiled slightly.

"Really, disciple. Where are you right now?"

"At a café near the agency."

"No, the place you're trying to get into. If you're bound by the common sense of the outside world, you'll get your feet swept out from under you easily."

Common sense of the outside world? I furrowed my brows at Master's words but decided to think it through first. The place I'm trying to get into—from the flow of the conversation, it's probably the underworld. Being bound by the common sense of the outside world means thinking that "it's difficult to go abroad for a day trip," right?

But no matter how hard you try, there's still flight time and time differences to consider. It's not exactly normal to go abroad for a day trip.

"...I don't have a passport."

"You don't need one."

"You don't need one? Are you serious? Are you suggesting I stow away?"

"In the end, that might be the case."

"No, no, no—that's illegal—"

Wait. Maybe my way of thinking is just stuck in conventional wisdom. I've been walking around at night without permission, destroying part of the port, eavesdropping on other people's conversations, and fare-dodging—all clearly criminal acts. And now, am I going to turn myself in to the police just because something's a crime? The answer is no. I get it—I need to change my way of thinking.

The idea of stowing away isn't entirely off the mark. Master's use of "ultimately" is probably the first clue. Hiding on a plane or ship to escape the country is definitely the wrong answer. In other words, there must be a way to leave the country that can't be reached through conventional thinking.

Remember, this is a supernatural world of monsters and demons. Dragons, gods, and magic are real. So there might be a method like a "doko demo doa" (anywhere door) that allows instant movement to distant places... Ah!

"Could it be teleportation magic?"

"...Your knowledge is sometimes inconsistent. You don't know the basics, yet you know deep things about this world."

"Ah, ha ha ha..."

"I didn't think you could answer that, but you're right. I wanted to give you some hands-on experience today. I'll teach you one of the techniques I've developed over the years."

"Really?"

I couldn't help but stare in shock, but my expression gave me away again, and I was scolded once more. I need to work on this. Still, I never thought the method I'd just guessed would be correct. But then again, teleportation magic was used so casually in the original story. The world I'm in is one where such supernatural phenomena are taken for granted. I realized once again that I need to stay focused, or I'm in trouble.

In the original story I remember, almost all non-human characters could use it. Human mages could use it too, I think. Demonic teleportation magic has different magic circles for each family, and apparently you can tell which family's demon is coming just by looking at the circle. Being able to identify families just by their circles shows incredible memory. Come to think of it, I think Hyoudou Issei studied this kind of thing to rise up in the demon world. I'm starting to respect him a little for trying to memorize something so difficult.

"Huh, so teleportation magic is something humans can use easily?"

"For short distances or within a city, many can use it. But for long distances across countries, it's not something you can just use casually. Even among magicians, there aren't many who have the skill to use long-range teleportation magic."

"I see. So Master must have connections to a magician skilled enough to use such teleportation magic."

"Of course, there aren't any in Japan."

Wait—that means we can't go abroad. The premise that we have to go abroad using teleportation magic is completely broken. I know this is part of my training, but I scratch my head in frustration at his deliberate refusal to give me a straight answer. The old man watches me with an amused expression. What is this? I'm genuinely annoyed.

"Alright, here's another hint. We're going to meet a certain wizard. Of course, he himself cannot use long-distance teleportation magic. However, if you pay him a price, he will make teleportation possible."

"Pay a price..."

Something caught my attention—the two words 'wizard' and 'price.' That's right, I know someone who demands payment from others. Despite being a fantasy character, he wants business-like, give-and-take contracts. Could this be the answer? Apparently, my expression gave me away again, and I received a third flick on the forehead. However, it seems Master sensed the answer I had come up with from my expression.

"That's right. You said it yourself—this would be real-life experience. Shou, have you ever seen a real demon?"

That was the answer.

First, what are the demons that appear in "High School D×D"? In simple terms, they are beings that grant wishes in exchange for a price from humans. They have human-like appearances, value contracts, and have bat-like wings that allow them to fly through the night. The demons in this world also possess a highly convenient ability called "honyaku konnyaku" (translation jelly). They can form contracts with magicians as part of their work, so the "demon" element is strongly emphasized in the story.

The Four Great Demon Lords, who unite these demons, once ruled the Underworld, their homeland. The Fallen Angel Realm is also said to be in the Underworld, but details are unclear. Demons are often targeted for extermination as evil beings, have weaknesses such as vulnerability to sacred things, and have a low birth rate. Their numbers were greatly reduced in a major war long ago, and further events like a coup against the government seeking to continue the war led to a period where the survival of their species was threatened. The current Four Great Demon Lords are the new rulers who successfully carried out the coup.

The system created to resolve these issues is the "reincarnated demon system." It's an amazing technology that can reincarnate other species into demons, and astonishingly, it can even revive the dead if performed immediately after death. The story begins when the protagonist, who has died, is reincarnated as a demon. Each demon has unique abilities, and they compete in battles called "Rating Games," with the goal of gathering high-quality subordinates, which also serves as their status symbol.

That alone wouldn't be so bad, but the problem is that this reincarnation system may not always be carried out with consent. The main reason I avoid demons is because of the existence of these "demon pieces." There are benefits to being reincarnated as a demon, and if it's done with the person's consent, that's fine. However, there are also higher-ranking demons who force others to be reincarnated as demonic subordinates. Especially those who desire excellent pieces for Rating Games tend to want to turn talented humans—especially those who possess Sacred Gears—into their servants.

Reasonable demons will negotiate, present conditions, or even give up. But to be honest, such demons are few and far between. That's why many have been manipulated by terrorists who exploit their negative emotions. Some are forced to become "stray demons." The "Devil Piece" system is honestly still far too problematic. Depending on how it's used, it could become a tool that harms both humans and demons alike.

"A courier using devil teleportation magic..."

"That's unusual, isn't it?"

"Well, yes. There are such devils, I see."

"That devil is apparently an intermediate-level devil. He can easily create teleportation magic. By paying a price, he can transport people to various places, so he's used as a long-distance transportation method by those in the know."

Since the magician and the devil lived in a place somewhat removed from the metropolis, we traveled there using various means of transportation, taking about two hours. That devil apparently lives in the human world rather than the underworld and is quite an eccentric individual. It seems he struck up a rapport with the wizard he's contracted with, and they've formed an almost equal partnership as a courier service. Both are apparently famous for being eccentric, but their abilities are genuine, so others seem to accept that aspect of them.

Still, I wonder what kind of background led a demon to stay in the human world as a courier and a wizard to form an equal contract with such a demon. In the original story, demons were the ones who could use teleportation themselves. So even if they're famous among humans, it makes sense they don't appear in the original story.

"So, what does that eccentric demon and wizard demand in exchange? The price is usually something difficult, right?"

It wasn't a demon, but some Dragon King who demanded the panties of a blonde beauty as payment and was caught sniffing them.

"Money. There's one more thing I can offer as compensation."

"What? That's pretty materialistic..."

"The reason that devil and wizard live near a major Japanese city is because there's something they can only get in Japan. However, it costs money to obtain. Therefore, they started working as couriers to earn the money to buy it."

"So the other price is the thing they're buying that's only available in Japan?"

What's that? Do they like Japanese culture? When you think of Japan, you think of temples and shrines, so they'd probably live near Kyoto or something. Besides, you can't give a temple as payment. Then maybe Japanese cuisine? Tempura or sushi—those might not be available in the underworld, but I don't think they'd cost that much.

I racked my brain but couldn't come up with an answer. As we chatted like that, we finally arrived at the wizard's house. It seemed he had already contacted the other party, so it appeared all we had to do was hand over what Master was carrying on his back.

"Master, that's quite a large payment."

"The price varies. It was hard work finding this one."

"What could be so hard for an information broker to find?"

"...Apparently, that demon is a big fan of one of the Four Great Demon Lords who rule the underworld. After worshipping that demon lord, he developed the same hobby. He then struck up a friendship with a wizard who shared the same interest, and they made a pact to appreciate Japanese culture together. The fee for delivery is pretty high, but if the payment is in kind, the amount isn't that much."

"What? The same hobby as one of the Four Great Demon Lords... and they appreciate Japanese culture?"

At Master's explanation, my movements froze. Sweat trickled down my forehead, and I repeated his words in my head. A loud warning bell seemed to ring endlessly inside me.

There was one thing that came to mind. I had found it. It was definitely Japanese culture, and one of the Four Great Demon Lords was obsessed with it. But wait a minute—if my imagination is correct, is that really okay? A demon and a wizard?! Especially a wizard! In the original story, there were terrorists who were furious about that demon lord's hobby!

The Four Great Demon Lords of the Underworld: The sister-obsessed demon lord, Sirzechs Lucifer. The engineer who created the basics of Rating Games and the demon pieces, Ajuka Beelzebub. The military strategist of the underworld, Falbium Asmodeus. And the sole female figure overseeing diplomacy in the underworld, Serafall Leviathan. Among these four, there is only one demon lord whose hobby is Japanese culture.

And then, after taking a deep breath, Master knocked on the door with determination, and before I could stop him, he opened it effortlessly. And at that moment—

The world changed.

"——"

Inside the log cabin-like house were countless otaku items crammed into every available space. On the shelves stood hundreds of magical girl figures wielding wands in various poses. The walls were adorned with framed posters of magical girls, and the floor was covered with a carpet emblazoned with the words "Magical Girl Milky."

From the ceiling, intricately decorated magical girl dolls spun around in the air with mysterious sparkling effects.

...This is another world. This is definitely not the human world. Overwhelmed by the sheer presence of it all, I couldn't move. In every sense of the word, my legs were frozen. I don't mean to judge other people's hobbies. If you like something, that's fine, and I think it's amazing that you can be so open about your interests. Still, I think there are limits. Am I wrong?

"Uoooooooh! As always, Milky's anime is so amazing!"

"This is a divine script. The writer's work is truly incredible."

In that otherworldly place, two grown men were sitting side by side, watching anime on a big screen. I knew the anime itself, and I had even thought, "Oh, this is that magical girl anime," and found it surprisingly interesting. I knew the second season had started, so I recognized the characters to some extent. But I was just an ordinary viewer, and I understood that was all I was.

This is what a true fan looks like. The passion and enthusiasm of these two, with eyes sparkling like children's, was overwhelming me. I couldn't win against this. I couldn't imagine a future where I could ever defeat these two. Fearsome, 'Magical Girl Milky.' Is there a curse that those who are captivated by this anime become beings that transcend dimensions?

"Courier, I'm the one who requested your services earlier. I've brought the payment, so I'd like to request long-distance teleportation magic."

Even in this hyperspace, Master's words and facial expression remained unwavering. This is the true form of a professional. Master looked incredibly cool. I was once again moved by how truly worthy of respect he was. And then, Master simply took the payment he had been carrying on his back out of the bag and declared it with confidence.

"Here's the payment. Take it—'Life-sized Magical Girl Milky Doll, Punished with Sparkling Magic! (Sparkle)' version!!"

"Alright, where do you want to teleport to?! I'll take you there and back safely, no matter where it is!!"

...This is weird. This is supposed to be real-world experience in the supernatural world, right? Was the supernatural world like this? No, wait—remember. This is the same world as the "Oppai Dragon" series.

The world where the world's strongest dream dragon, Great Red, says things like "Zum zum, noo!" The world where the legendary Two Heavenly Dragons receive counseling about breasts and butts. Isn't this the true nature of this world...?

Calm down, my values. Don't give up, my common sense. Also, Master—please don't put unnecessary effort into the "kira" sound effect at the end!

The two of them, who had been glued to the anime until just now, accepted the request together, and we were able to use the teleportation magic safely. I felt like I had lost something important, but I'll just tell myself it was my imagination. And so, I had probably succeeded in making first contact with a legitimate demon and a wizard.

Chapter Text

"Huh, you have a disciple? What's going on? Finally getting old?"

"I won't deny my age, but there are only a few years between us. Anyway, where should I put this?"

"Put it next to the life-sized Milky pillow over there. I'll figure out the best spot later. And make sure you place it carefully."

The robed figure who looked like a wizard and my master seemed to be old acquaintances. They spoke casually, as if they were completely used to each other. Habit really is amazing. Maybe my master has given up on him by now. We decided to rest here for about half an hour to adjust the teleportation magic array and watch the anime's ending credits all the way through. It was a fairly long mountain road, so the rest and a drink tasted especially good.

The wizard seems to be officially registered as a "Magician." However, as you can see, he's quite the eccentric, so he sometimes brings his research topics to both the association and the demons. What's more, his research topics are all related to magical girls, and he seems to be developing spells and costumes similar to those of magical girls. I wondered if that was really okay, but it seems he's allowed to continue because his business partners are very interested in his magic. "The research is questionable, but since there's demand for it," he said, and apparently the board has given their approval. Typical of demons—if there's supply and demand, they think like businesspeople.

Still, a wizard... When I play games, I always choose the wizard class. I do admire them, but if I tried to learn from him, he'd probably make me learn magical girl spells, so I'll pass. Besides, I'm currently my master's disciple, so I don't think I have the talent for juggling two mentors. I'll just take it one step at a time.

"You're small. Why did you come all the way here at your age?"

"Oh, sorry. Um, demon-san, do you need something from me?"

"No, it's just that you're about the same age as Milky. I was just curious."

Could you please stop bringing up Milky in every conversation? It's hard to know how to respond.

"Oh, I see. Are there really that few people my age around here?"

"Not exactly. There are plenty of kids younger than you in this world. But..."

"But?"

"Those kids don't have the eyes of children. They don't have hope or dreams like Milky does. They rush through life obsessed with strength, easily throwing away their lives, their eyes clouded by an uncertain future. There's none of that darkness in your eyes. That's why you're rare. Children with eyes like yours don't usually come into the underworld."

A cold sweat broke out on my forehead. He truly isn't human—or perhaps he's a devil who sees right through people. I didn't expect him to analyze me so deeply just by looking at me. And his words hit the mark perfectly. Thinking about it, the only people who would voluntarily enter the underworld are either complete fools or those who've been dragged in.

Ordinary people wouldn't even consider entering the underworld, even if they knew about it. Or maybe there are those who risk their lives out of admiration or a desire for recognition, but such people are probably just rushing headlong toward death.

Thinking about it, I must seem pretty abnormal to others. A child who lived a carefree life on the surface entered the underworld and is now acting decisively to secure his future there, without rushing recklessly through life. When I think about it, that's definitely abnormal. The reason I became this way is undoubtedly because of my knowledge of the original work. I know not only the future but also the deeper aspects of this world.

For example, the dangers of this world. The powerful beings of this world. The structure of this world. My thoughts are based on the knowledge from the original work, and I act accordingly. If I had been reincarnated into this world without knowing it was "High School D×D," and only had the knowledge and divine artifacts I possess now, how would I have acted? First, I wouldn't have ventured into the shadows like I do now, because I truly would have known nothing. I wouldn't have known left from right, front from back.

I know the beings that could become my enemies. That's why I could prepare countermeasures. I know my abilities are inferior in this world. That's why I didn't get carried away by my power. I know the power dynamics and roles of this world. That's why I didn't need to be overly cautious around them. I know who the hero of this world is. That's why I could focus on what I wanted to do with peace of mind. The origin of my actions is almost entirely based on my knowledge of the original work. I've finally realized that.

I could hear the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. Even though these were actions I had carefully considered, they might look abnormal to others. I need to make sure I remember this. I'll continue to reference the original work, but it's just knowledge after all. The thought of unconsciously relying on it and then being tripped up sends a chill down my spine. Still, the knowledge I have is what I can rely on right now. I'll be careful.

"Am I abnormal?"

"I don't mind at all. In fact, I find eyes like Milky's quite appealing."

Thanks, Milky. This is the first time I've ever thanked you. This topic is too much for my heart, so let's change it quickly. I'll just bring up something else.

"So, I heard that this demon was inspired by one of the Four Great Demon Lords and developed an interest in magical girls, which led him to make a contract with that magician. And that Demon Lord also likes magical girls, right? What kind of Demon Lord is she?"

"...You don't find that repulsive?"

"Eh, not exactly repulsive. I actually find 'Magical Girl Milky' interesting and watch it myself. I don't tell anyone else because I'm a guy, though. The story is quite interesting, and each episode has a good cliffhanger, so I can't help but watch it. I'm not exactly a fan, but it's one of my favorite anime."

He silently took my hand and shook it happily. Was he that overjoyed?

"The Demon Lord's name is Serafall Leviathan. She is in charge of diplomacy and is the only female among the Four Great Demon Lords, but she is also a powerful sorceress who can freeze the earth with her ice magic. Despite being a mid-level demon like me, who should be insignificant to her, she treats me as a fellow member of the magical girl fan club, showing a heart as vast as the ocean. She even requested the magical girl magic we developed directly and sent us hundreds of pages of detailed documents outlining improvements. She is the kindest and most passionate Demon Lord I know."

"Huh, that's amazing... A fan club in the underworld? Hundreds of documents? Is that really okay for an underworld diplomat?"

"Furthermore, it seems that her younger sister was recently born, and to celebrate, she and Sirzechs, who apparently had a sister born around the same time, decided to form a sister fan club and distribute their portraits throughout the underworld. She truly values her family and is overflowing with compassion."

"Wait, what happened with that?"

"It was stopped by the strongest one."

As expected of Grayfia-san! She prevented the future heroines' dark history from happening! Her reputation isn't just for show!

Still, the Demon King's true colors are really showing, aren't they, Sirzechs? The hardships of Rias and Sona must have started from the moment they were born. However, I think we got some pretty important information. From what we just heard, Rias and the others probably aren't very well-known in the underworld yet. That means there's a high chance the original story hasn't started yet. Also, "recently"... Well, for demons who live for thousands of years, a few decades is probably just a blink of an eye.

"Hey, demon-san. Do you think I can make it in the underworld?"

"...I don't know. I don't want your eyes to become like those of other children, but this world isn't kind enough for an ordinary child like you to survive. So, engrave your master's words deeply in your heart and be careful not to stray from the path. If anything happens, I'll help you out."

"Really? Thank you so much."

I received advice and a promise of help. The bond formed through Milky is incredibly strong. And in my heart, I pump my fist in victory. Since he doesn't seem to be lying, he must see me as just an ordinary child. In other words, he hasn't sensed the aura of my Sacred Gear. The greatest concern I had before meeting this demon has been dispelled. It has been proven that a general-level demon cannot detect the presence of a Sacred Gear.

If that's the case, then probably my concealment and stealth abilities are also effective. I was able to test them on lower-ranked demons near the port, but intermediate-ranked demons require more caution. I haven't told my master that I possess a Sacred Gear. He also didn't ask me how I gathered information about the port. But I think he probably has a rough idea. He knows that I'll keep my mouth shut if he doesn't ask, so he doesn't bother pressing me. I really look up to my master.

"Shou, the coordinates for the long-distance teleportation have been set. It's time to go."

"Ah, understood. Please take care of us."

"Alright, perfect. It's rare for him to be so friendly, so when you become a regular customer, I'll give you a discount. I really want to increase the number of Milky fans."

"Ah, ha ha ha..."

Maybe I shouldn't come here too often. My thoughts are being converted to Milky's wavelength. Even though I've found a wizard and a demon who like me, my thoughts are being shifted toward Milky's frequency. It's important, so I'll say it twice.

Come to think of it, there was another Milky fan in the original story besides Serafall. If I bring them together... No, I'd better not. It would probably cause more mental damage to me than anything else. I'm not going to do anything unnecessary.

With that, my master and I slowly stepped into the magic circle created by this Milky-obsessed demon. The Gremory family's magic circle was red, but the one we're heading toward is blue. Normally, you can't travel through a magic circle without a certain amount of magic power, but the demon will handle that part. When we return, if we tell them the coordinates, they'll come to pick us up. This is definitely convenient.

Now I can understand the excitement that the original protagonist, Issei Hyoudou, felt when he first stepped into a teleportation magic circle. As we stepped into the glowing magic circle, I felt something rush through my body. Could this be magic power? The magical energy enveloped us in a bright light. I instinctively closed my eyes against the glare, and then felt a momentary sensation of floating.

When I cautiously opened my eyes, I found myself not in the Milky-themed space we had been in moments before, but in a quiet forest surrounded by trees.

"I was wondering why you were shopping in a foreign country, but you came here to buy magic-related items, didn't you?"

"Yes, the headquarters of magicians are mostly in Northern Europe. I ran out of my usual supplies, and I wanted to get some things for my disciple as well."

"What, for me too?!"

"They're simple things... Magic is a technology that humans have developed by analyzing the abilities of supernatural beings and creating ways to counter them. It covers a wide range of fields, each with its own history. We have incorporated some of their technology and used it to navigate this world."

As I listened to my master's words, I found myself nodding in agreement. Certainly, ordinary humans without Sacred Gears have no chance of defeating supernatural beings. Magic must be one of the things that makes such confrontations possible.

In the original work, there were also tools imbued with magical power, such as communication devices and the glasses worn by Student Council President Sona. Those glasses would be amazing if they could shoot beams from the eyes. A princess with a switch that shoots beams from her chest and a princess with glasses that shoot beams from her eyes. An appearance in "Oppai Dragon" would be inevitable.

"Isn't what you're buying for me expensive? Are you purchasing weapons or something?"

"You wouldn't be able to use weapons anyway. As for what's important for those without power—it's not how to handle a crisis when it arises, but how to avoid crises in the first place. Now, here's a question. What do you think the magical tool I plan to give you to avoid crises might be?"

As usual, my master is such a tease. I guess I asked for it. But as a teacher, it's probably just a way to pass the time until we reach our destination. If it's a tool for gathering information, there's the recognition-blocking robe I'm wearing now, or the bracelet my master is wearing to prevent our conversation from being overheard. As for tools to avoid enemies, let's see...

"Ensuring a quick escape? If you have a way to flee immediately upon being discovered, you can avoid facing a crisis."

"Yeah, that's not a bad idea. There are magical talismans that can temporarily enhance physical abilities."

"And then, there's magic to prevent them from sensing our presence, right?"

"Disposable items that can confuse an enemy's detection or prevent them from tracking you. Hmm, you came up with more ideas than I expected."

Both of those were things I've been prioritizing. However, while they're convenient and could free up a slot in our defensive options, they're not exactly groundbreaking. They'd be helpful if we had them.

"And then there's magic to detect magical power."

"Wait, detection? Does that mean we can tell if the enemy is a demon or a fallen angel?"

"Detecting fallen angels requires different magic, but the detection performance for demons and other magical beings is quite high. Magic is fundamentally created from magical power, after all. It can be used to track individuals, their auras, or traces of magical power. This can help avoid crises or serve as a starting point for gathering information. This is one of the essentials."

I'm so happy! This is something I've always wanted. If I had this, I could have uncovered the truth behind the stray demon incident much sooner. I don't have any advanced skills like presence detection, so this is a magical technique I definitely want to acquire.

Magic is amazing. It was only briefly mentioned in the original work, and there were various types of magicians, but perhaps because it wasn't central to the original story, it didn't leave much of an impression. The Gremory family's servants in the original work were power-focused and didn't use such intricate techniques. Later on, the female characters also started using magic, but it was mostly to compensate for their own weaknesses. The only one among the main characters who used magic properly was the Norse Valkyrie, Rossweisse.

Thinking back, the characters in the original work were all incredibly strong, and there were many scenes where they had solid backup. In essence, there was a support organization that handled the rear guard and tedious tasks, allowing the protagonists to focus on taking down the main target. Such intricate magical techniques weren't necessary for them. Instead of wasting time on such details, it made more sense to focus on developing strengths and compensating for weaknesses to keep the power levels escalating. This is also a matter of putting the right people in the right places. In that sense, organizational strength is crucial.

"For now, I plan to buy some other simple items, but make sure you study how to use them properly. If too many ordinary people learn about magic, you might be punished by the magic-using factions. There are spells that can manipulate memories, but it's best not to rely on them."

"...Yeah, I don't really want to use spells that mess with memories either."

While gently touching his companion in his pocket, he nodded firmly at his master's words. In some worlds, if magic is exposed to ordinary people, they might be turned into animals or have their hearts taken. Though magic isn't the strongest force in this world, it's still a dangerous technology. Curiosity about magic can't be extinguished, but self-control must never be lost.

"Alright, this is where the magicians set up stalls to earn extra money for their research. Let me show you around while we look for what we need. Stay close."

"Got it!"

My excited expression earned me another scolding: "Don't let it show on your face." But I'll keep going anyway. And so, I stepped into the world of the magicians.

***

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Chapter Text

"...This is strange. There are fewer people than usual today."

"Yeah, it does seem quieter than normal."

We were walking around an area where magicians from the Magicians' Guild apparently came to earn some extra money, but there were only a handful of stalls—not even enough to count on both hands. We'd expected it to be more like a festival atmosphere, so we were disappointed. It seemed like it was usually much livelier. In fact, the stall owners looked restless, as if they were on guard against something.

While following my master, I got to examine some magical tools and even bought a few. There was powder infused with magic potions that had a jamming effect against detection spells, and simple summoning symbols that could call forth specific inanimate objects or even communicate with them. They were all disposable tools, but somehow I felt like I'd become a real wizard.

Well, in the original story, becoming a magician isn't something you can do overnight. If I recall correctly, magicians in this world are researchers who dedicate their entire lives to refining their magical studies. In other words, it requires exceptional intelligence—not something just anyone can do. There are familiar types like black magic and white magic from games, as well as summoning magic, spirit magic, necromancy, and the rune-based magic associated with that barcode-tattooed priest. Additionally, there are various regional and clan-specific magic systems, like Nordic magic. From there, you choose one theme that suits you and dedicate your life to it—that's apparently how wizards approach their craft.

"I wasn't planning on going, but there's no choice. It's a bit expensive, but that shop should be open. Should I ask what happened while I'm there?"

"Oh, should we head over then?"

"Well, that store is enchanted so you can't enter without the owner's permission. I was thinking of skipping it today since you're here with me, but... maybe we should just call it quits for today."

"No way! I came all the way here to restock the tools my master uses. I'll wait here until you come back, so please go to the store."

It's a bit nerve-wracking, but I can handle it. Plus, I might get some new magical tools, and I could find out what's been happening among the magicians. Hearing my confident words, I noticed a look of genuine worry cross my master's face—and he usually never shows his emotions. Even Milky, who's normally so stoic, is concerned because of me? Please, partner, comfort me a little.

"Well, I guess I'll just stay here and keep a low profile until my master returns."

We talked a little more after that, but in the end, my master went shopping alone. I can't even stay home by myself—how am I going to make it in the future? Of course, I knew this place was different from usual. I'm not that overconfident, so I planned to activate the sacred treasure's effect as soon as my master was out of sight.

I checked my surroundings carefully, slipped into a small alley, and made sure to hide my presence as usual.

"Hmm, I guess I could just wait here..."

I was in a place where there were still people around, and if anything happened, someone from the wizards' association would come. I've always been with my master, so I've been fine, but this is my first time traveling abroad. Most of the people walking around me are white, and of course they don't speak Japanese. I know some English, but honestly, I can only speak broken, awkward English. Translation-type magical tools are quite expensive, so I wasn't allowed to bring one on this trip.

So if I get lost, I'm done for. My master might come looking for me, but I can't put him through that trouble. With no other choice, I sat down at the meeting spot and decided to wait quietly. Curiosity killed the cat, after all.

However, since I have nothing better to do, I decide to try developing the abilities of the sacred weapon. I take out a red spear sized for easy handling with both hands. Just in case, I do this quietly in a corner.

Now, what I tried and succeeded in doing when I faced that stray demon was erasing only a part of the whole. I thought that depending on how I use it, I might be able to do various things. At that time, I interfered with part of the barrier the stray demon had set up and was able to target only the radio wave interference effect. I was skeptical that it would really work, but since it did, I think this sacred treasure can do even more. At times like this, I wish I could get opinions from others. I don't think I'm that flexible in my thinking.

"Hmm, partner, is there anywhere we can try erasing just a part of something? Preferably somewhere that won't cause trouble for the locals later."

As someone who had caused plenty of trouble for local residents before, I think it's important to exercise restraint. I looked around, but all I could see was this old stone-built town. Unlike in Japan, the ground wasn't properly paved with concrete, so it looked somewhat dirty. Then I had an idea. This wouldn't cause any trouble for the local residents—they might even be grateful.

I explained what I was going to do to my partner to get permission. I felt a moment of hesitation from him, but in the end, he agreed with what sounded like a resigned sigh. From my experience with the fish bone disappearance experiment, where my intentions were ignored for a while, I've learned to consult my partner when I'm unsure. But no matter what, he always gives me the okay in the end, so I think he's a good guy. Though calling a spear a "good guy" might be a bit odd.

"Alright, let's go, partner! Eliminate only the dirt on this stone wall!"

Wow! The dirty wall is becoming beautiful before my eyes! Who drew those weird graffiti-like marks here? This side has gum stuck to it, and that side is discolored! ...All right, I'll deal with all of it!

"To be honest, I think I went a bit overboard. But it was fun."

So I don't regret it. In a corner of this old street, the wall was now shining brightly, almost as if it were glowing. There were some small holes that weren't very noticeable, but they added a nice accent. It was clearly a supernatural phenomenon. But as a Japanese person, I couldn't just ignore such minor stains.

Ah, yeah. I was being an idiot. So please stop looking at me with that cold, disappointed expression.

Still, this experiment was pretty successful. Especially when removing discoloration—trying to erase the pigment or target the components causing the discoloration was good training. If I can do this back in Japan, maybe I should volunteer for cleanup activities on my days off. I'll make sure to clean even the most stubborn stains.

"Also, the level of fatigue varies depending on what you're removing, so adjusting the force when dealing with various types of stains like this was a valuable lesson. For someone like me with limited physical strength, unnecessary fatigue is deadly. Learning how to pace my strength is the top priority when using this sacred artifact."

The power of this tool, which is my lifeline, is directly connected to my physical strength and stamina. Therefore, I have to pay attention to even the smallest details, like stamina management, alongside physical training. Since I'm a human with no racial advantages and low physical strength, there's no way around it. When I think about it, the heroic humans who could fight against non-human beings must have trained relentlessly and endured countless sacrifices.

The easiest way to increase my innate strength is clear: reincarnate as a demon and gain physical advantages. If the original story had progressed further, becoming a reincarnated angel might also be an option. After all, the protagonist, Hidetoshi Hino, was able to become a demon and obtain the physical strength needed to wield a God-Slaying Weapon.

...That said, I have no intention of using that method. I don't despise demons or angels, and I don't share the ideology of Cao Cao and his followers who believe "humans are the best!" Still, the idea of ceasing to be human is terrifying.

Reincarnated demons especially have their actions greatly influenced by their masters' intentions. Unlike Rias Gremory's group, where the treatment of subordinates is unusually considerate, most higher-ranking demons don't listen to the opinions of reincarnated demons. They might be forced to fight in rating games against their will or be used for their master's purposes. Those games are status symbols for demons, and all the characters in the original work were striving to become stronger for them.

In other words, there's no way a master would prioritize my opinion—someone who went out of their way to reincarnate a valuable piece just to protect the human world—and simply leave me alone. A high-ranking demon who doesn't care about rating games, which are so important to the demon world, or about promotion, or what others think... Such an eccentric demon is probably very rare.

"Oh no, I've wandered too far from the meeting spot."

But it's just a straight shot back, so I'll be there in no time. I shrink my partner to his usual size and put him in my pocket, then stretch my arms to relax my body after the work.

All right, I refocus, and as I do, I notice a girl around my age standing alone at the end of the corridor. The petite girl was holding a stick that looked like a small branch, wearing a pointed hat and a cape. She looked like a classic witch—or rather, she was exactly that.

She had beautiful golden hair that shone with a foreigner's luster, and blue eyes. But what left me speechless was her stunningly beautiful face, so perfect I couldn't help but stare. Her beauty was evident even from a distance, and despite appearing to be around elementary school age, her features were already well-defined. She was such a striking girl that I was stunned for several seconds.

And then, what was it? Looking at her, I felt something indescribable. That feeling of unease seemed to be coming from her, transmitted through the red spear. It was as if something about her was being conveyed to me. It was my first experience with something like this, and I was confused. With her beauty, she seemed like a mysterious girl.

And then, that blonde girl...

She was being tugged by a small puppy wearing a pointed hat, trying to get her hat back with teary eyes. I couldn't understand the foreign language, but I think she was probably telling the dog to let go. However, the puppy seemed to be doing it because it wanted the girl's attention, wagging its tail happily and refusing to stop pulling. Ah, she finally lost her balance and fell.

Hey, puppy, she fell down, so cut it out. The witch girl's dress is getting dirty on the ground, and her underwear is showing! What a sight! No, that's not what I meant! Still, she won't let go of that pointed hat. It might be important to her, but what persistence.

"...Well, I suppose so."

I couldn't just ignore that scene.

"Um, thank you for your help. I really appreciate it."

"No problem. I couldn't just walk past that scene—I'm not that heartless. By the way, your Japanese is really good."

"Ah, this is translation magic. You're probably from the East, right? This is one of the spells that analyzes demonic translation functions. Magic varies greatly depending on country and region, so it's useful for analyzing words and characters."

Magic is amazing. I think I'll seriously try to learn it. I believe the magical girl named Le Fay Pendragon mentioned in the original story said that even the protagonist could use simple magic without needing complex incantations. By the way, I know this blonde girl isn't Le Fay. She's such a beautiful girl that I tried to recall if she appears in the original story, but there's no match.

The names of magic-related characters I remember are Ravel from the Gremory clan, the Norse Valkyrie named Rossweisse and her relatives, Le Fay from the White Dragon Emperor's team, Georg who was a user of the god-slaying weapon "Dimension Lost" from the Hero faction, and Walburga, a high-ranking member of a magic-user terrorist organization who possesses the god-slaying weapon "Incinerate Anthem."

"Still, it's dangerous to be alone in such a back alley. It's been especially dangerous lately."

"You're in the same boat. You're about my age, aren't you?"

"I'm a magical girl, so there's no need to worry."

The magical girl puffed out her chest proudly. She was incredibly cute. Plus, with the whole magical connection, my luck today was definitely themed around "magical girls." I couldn't help but look off into the distance.

If she can use magic, maybe there really is no need to worry. She's probably affiliated with the magicians' guild. Still, she gets teary-eyed over a puppy, and she's such a beautiful girl. What about kidnappers, perverts, and other dangers—is she really okay? It's not wrong to think that, right?

"Actually, I think you're the one in danger. I'm here for work, but you look like a traveler with connections to the supernatural world."

"Well, I'm here to buy magical tools, so I guess that's not entirely wrong."

"It seems you arrived at a bad time. There's an incident involving the guild, and most of the magicians are holed up in their laboratories until it's resolved."

"An incident involving the guild?"

The magical girl nodded in response to my question. Apparently, everyone in this area knows about it. It seems the information hasn't reached as far as Japan yet. What bad timing. She seemed to have been sent from the association to investigate the incident. She was about the same age as me, but she'd been entrusted with this task, so she must be very talented.

"Yes, that's right. Recently, there have been many incidents of magicians from the association being attacked by someone. So I'm here to keep watch and do my job."

"That's dangerous. And is it okay for you to tell me this? I could be the attacker."

"The attackers are rogue mages. I don't sense much magical power from you, and—I hesitate to say this—but I don't sense any exceptional abilities either. That's why I'm telling you this in detail, as a traveler who knows nothing about the incident, with just a bit of caution. I also owe you a favor for getting my hat back from that puppy."

Thanks to this girl's explanation, I finally understood why this area was so deserted. I see—rogue wizards. I'm sure they're wizards who were expelled from one of the wizard associations for being unsuitable. It's not very peaceful that they're causing these attacks.

The people who were still open for business despite the attacks must be either very confident or desperate for research funds. That's why they seemed so nervous. I thought they could have told us about this, but in a way, being attacked by outcast wizards might be embarrassing for the guild. It's probably something they don't want outsiders to know, so there's not much that can be done about it.

"So once your master returns, I recommend you go back home immediately. It's a shame this time, but we'd be happy if you came back after the incident is resolved."

"...Yeah, it does seem dangerous, so I'll follow your advice. Thanks for worrying about me. You too—even if you're a magical girl—be careful not to get hurt."

"Hehe, okay. I'll be careful. It was a relief that you listened to my story so honestly. You're such a good kid."

"Hey, we're the same age, aren't we?! Why are you trying to pat my head?"

It was embarrassing, but I couldn't bring myself to brush away her hand as she smiled so broadly. Still, it was embarrassing. We weren't that different in height anyway. ...When I get to middle school, I'll definitely grow taller. At least taller than this girl. As a man, that is.

Then, to return to the main street, the two of us walked through the alley together. She said she'd accompany me that far. This magical girl is so dependable. She's cute, she's a magical girl, and while she seems a little naive, she's probably a good person. I hope she doesn't get hurt.

And, how should I put this? I want to talk to her a little more. She's a magical girl I admire, and above all, she's so cute that I'd like to see her again. I wonder if it's okay to ask her name.

"Um, well, if you don't mind, could you tell me your name? If I ever come back to this country, I'd be happy to see you again, even by chance."

"My name?"

"Yeah. I'm... Ah, sorry. I forgot to mention—I don't use my real name. It's rude of me to ask yours."

"It's okay. Even among magicians, there are some who don't use their real names. My name is Lavinia. Nice to meet you."

"Thank you. My name is Shou."

"Shou-kun, right?"

"With '-kun' attached? I'm in sixth grade, so being called '-kun' by someone my age is a little... Also, I think the pronunciation is a bit different. No, I'm not in a position to complain to her." Seeing her dazzling smile, I decided to smile back.

As we chatted like that, our feet came to a stop. The reason was simple. At the end of the alley we were heading toward stood a person wearing a wizard-like hood, their face hidden. They had appeared as if out of nowhere. I stopped in surprise and widened my eyes. At this sudden development, I turned to Lavinia beside me. What I saw was her staring straight ahead at the figure.

"...I'm sorry, Shou-kun. I think I've dragged you into this."

Next, a voice filled with genuine remorse reached my ears. She must not have expected them to appear here either. And "dragged you into this"—that means it's them, right?

"It's Lavinia from 'Absolute Demise.'"

Wow, Lavinia-san has such a cool epithet.

Does she use ice magic? Such thoughts flashed through my mind, but I could feel cold sweat trickling down my back. I'm not that oblivious. In this situation, I didn't need to think twice to realize that the person in front of us was an enemy. The hooded figure was likely a rogue mage.

I slipped my hand into my pocket and gripped my partner tightly. They said they were attacking mages. If that's the case, maybe they'll overlook me. Of course, I think it would be despicable to leave a girl behind, but I feel like I'd only be a hindrance in battle.

With confusion and caution mixed together, I exhaled quietly, trying to think calmly. In any case, I decided to keep watching to see what they would do, keeping in mind that I had to be ready to move quickly.

Also, I hope it's just a false alarm, but there was something familiar about the words the wizard had spoken earlier. I don't know her personally. I've never heard the name "Lavinia" in the original story. But I swear I've heard the name "Ice Princess" somewhere before. Furrowing my brow, I waited quietly for what would come next.

***

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Chapter Text

"You're Lavinia from [Place Name]."

"Are you one of those who attacked the people from [Place Name], including some famous figures?"

"Yes, how delightful to meet you. I never thought I'd encounter the Ice Princess, Lord Feres' prized treasure, in a place like this."

The person before me spread their arms theatrically, speaking in an overly dramatic tone. I was frozen, unable to move or speak, with no choice but to listen intently while straining my mind to gather as much information as possible. Then Lavinia stepped forward to shield me from him.

"I'm your target, aren't I? Then please wait until I've sent him away. He's not a mage—just a traveler who happened to come to this country. After that, I'll gladly accompany you."

"Hmm, he does appear to be merely human."

The man with the deep voice finally turned his gaze to me, but his eyes held a trace of contempt.

Humans—those who couldn't wield supernatural abilities or magic—clearly didn't interest him. He quickly looked away from me, and when his eyes briefly peeked out from under his hood, they gleamed with childlike brilliance.

It seemed I'd truly stumbled into a mage battle. Bad luck, or perhaps terrible timing, to visit this country during an attack. I was glad to have met Lavinia, but now I found myself in mortal danger. This wasn't some light novel where a beautiful girl appears and then a fight begins.

But what should I really do? The other side seemed to have no interest in me, so maybe they'd actually let me go. If that was the case, should I simply obey and run away? Leave her behind?

...Still, I should probably run. Lavinia's face had changed from the dreamy expression she'd worn earlier to a steely gaze that could meet the other's killing intent head-on. This girl could fight. She had the strength and courage to battle a mage, to fight against people. The fact that she didn't seem frightened meant there had to be a way to overcome this situation.

If that was the case, I was only an obstacle to her. Lavinia would surely try to protect me because she thought of me as a child. Even though the enemy she'd been searching for had finally appeared, she'd prioritized my safety despite us having just met.

"Shou-kun, I'm sorry. I've dragged you into our affairs. I'll make sure you get back safely."

"No, I'm the one who should apologize. If I hadn't been here, Lavinia could have handled her business immediately."

"I really enjoyed talking with you, Shou-kun. Don't say that. From here, go back to where we met, then straight down the alley to the right. It's a small detour, but that should get you back to where you were. Please be careful."

"...Are you really going to be okay alone, Lavinia? Is there anything I can do to help? I know I'd only be in the way if I stayed, so I'll do as you say. But if you need help, I can call someone."

"Hehe, you're such a good boy, Shou-kun. But please leave this to me. I am a magical girl, after all."

Just like before, she smiled beautifully and puffed out her chest slightly as if to encourage me. Even in a situation like this, Lavinia put my safety first. She simply wanted me to be safe. She truly was a very kind girl.

Feelings of regret swirled in my heart. Why hadn't I found the resolve to fight? I had the power to fight—so why was I leaving her alone in a dangerous place and simply running away?

I knew nothing about mage battles. I'd simply gotten caught in the middle. Still, I felt so ashamed and found myself pathetic because I couldn't do anything. Even after coming to another world, I was still weak. I wanted to be stronger, but I always put it off, hiding behind my master and Lavinia. I thought that would be fine. I kept telling myself I'd work harder later, but I'd never found the resolve to fight. So this was the inevitable result.

What I should feel toward her isn't regret that I couldn't protect her, but gratitude that she protected me.

I never thought such a weak heart could be so painful.

"...I understand, Lavinia."

"Yes."

"Next time, I'll definitely come back to this country. When I do, please tell me about the local specialties. I'll bring lots of souvenirs from Japan. I'll definitely repay you for today. Please take care of yourself."

"...Yes. Thank you. Promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

I can only try not to get in her way. No matter how turbulent my emotions, I have to hold them back. If I were just a child, I might have thoughtlessly said something like, "I can't leave you behind." If I were truly an adult, I might have been able to think more rationally. If I were the protagonist of a story, I would have faced any challenge for a pretty girl, no matter how weak I was. I can see how half-hearted I am. I can't be as innocent as a child, as rational as an adult, or as brave as a protagonist. Everything about me is half-hearted.

Still, I keep going. I do what I must, what I should do. She said she would "definitely get me home safely." Then I'll do as she said. That's the best I can do for her, even if I'm weak.

I turned around and headed back to the alley where I'd met her. The mage facing Lavinia didn't seem interested in me at all—he didn't even glance my way. Though he said nothing, it seemed he would let me escape. I'd hoped they would just drag me into the fight without questions, but I shook off that thought, turned my back to her, and ran.

I left her behind and ran away. I accepted this fact without hesitation. My vision was blurred by tears, but this was the best I could do right now, and ultimately, this decision would protect her.

"Damn it..."

I gritted my teeth and spat out the words, overwhelmed by regret.

"This alley was straight ahead, right?"

After distancing myself from Lavinia and the others, I followed the path she'd described to me. I considered whether I should use my artifact to sneak back and help her, but I knew nothing about mage battles. In the storm of magic flying around at high speed, it would be catastrophic if I got hit by a stray spell. And if it were her magic, it would be even worse. I didn't want to break my promise to her.

Most importantly, unlike the stray demon from last time, she had the power to fight. And she was probably much stronger than me. So I realized that if I recklessly rushed in, I'd only put us both in danger. ...I understood that much.

"Rogue mages appeared in the original story too... They don't harm ordinary people indiscriminately like stray demons or vampires. But when they have a specific target, they'll invade even forbidden territories without hesitation."

Rogue mages are humans who were expelled from the Mage Association for heresy. Their ideology was indeed dangerous, so Chairman Mephisto Pheles's decision was probably correct. It's harsh, but when a transgressor emerges from the organization you belong to, leadership must take responsibility. Moreover, those who became outcasts were probably obsessed with the idea of taking revenge on the association that expelled them.

This reminds me of when mages attacked Komou Academy out of curiosity. The association had published a ranking of young demons, and those ranked high wanted to test their strength against the top-ranked demon. They believed they could surpass the association's published ranking if they defeated that demon. To achieve their goal, they even took hostages from the civilian population during the day.

What drove them was insatiable curiosity. While stray demons act from hunger and desire, their actions spring from this drive. Though they didn't kill civilians, they left deep emotional scars on their victims. I clenched my fists and continued walking without stopping.

"First, I'll meet with my master. I'll explain the situation and see if I can help somehow. With my master's connections, we might be able to secure the association's cooperation and request their protection. Then..."

While muttering to myself and trying to organize my thoughts, my feet suddenly stopped. I stood there with my mouth open, frozen in surprise. A figure stood before me. They had appeared in front of the path I intended to take, as if to prevent me from leaving, and were staring at me.

For a moment, the thought flashed through my mind that this might be association reinforcements. But no—they looked similar. The atmosphere was the same as the rogue mage I'd encountered earlier. The lifeless gaze that seemed to be observing me, and the childlike curiosity that seemed to dominate the depths of their eyes.

"Are you with those who attacked 'that person,' someone of rank and renown?"

I remembered Lavinia's words. ...Am I an idiot? Someone attacking the association wouldn't act alone. Even if they had allies, that wouldn't be unusual. I hadn't even realized I was still in danger. I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart. The rogue mage's actions were probably unexpected even for Lavinia. After all, their target was the "Gray Mage."

It was only natural that they didn't care about a child who understood nothing of magic and had only accidentally gotten caught up in the situation. Indeed, the man from earlier had seemed to have no interest in me whatsoever.

Calm down, me. Their thoughts are twisted, but they still act with a certain rationality. That means this man has a reason for attacking a child who just happened to get caught up in the situation. It's probably nothing good, but perhaps a chance to break the stalemate. I forced myself to calm my trembling body and addressed the other person.

"Are you with those who said earlier they had something to discuss with Lavinia?"

"Well, you could say that. But I really feel nothing. The Ice Queen must have a lot of time on her hands if she's wasting it with a worthless child like you."

"I think everyone has their own values. Then why did you waste your time coming here to talk with me?"

My words were somewhat sharp, but when someone spoke badly of that nice girl, I felt I had to say something back. I tried not to provoke him too much, but my words didn't seem to interest him. I truly didn't matter to him at all.

"What? I just thought of something interesting, and I figured it would be good to play it safe. I want to test my strength against her, but she's the 'Ice Princess,' so I can't afford to be caught by the association. It's only natural to secure insurance, isn't it?"

I really don't want to get dragged into their whims. And please don't try to convert me to your theories. As I suspected, this seems like a pretty lame reason.

I don't understand what's so interesting about it, but I understand the point of insurance. If they're being so cautious, Lavinia must be a skilled mage. She said she was being pursued by fairly well-known mages. Maybe she was using herself as bait when she was walking alone in that alley. And that's where I came into play.

And though he wants to test his strength against her, he knows it's a double-edged sword. In other words, the insurance is leverage in case he or his allies are defeated. When I realized this, my head felt like it would explode. These bastards attacked us for selfish motives, and now they're trying to drag me into their affairs out of convenience. And in the worst possible way for her.

"Shou-kun, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for dragging you into our situation. I'll make sure you get out of here safely."

She had apologized sadly, looking desperate because she'd gotten me involved in this situation. She stood in front of me to protect me from him, trying to shield me. To reassure me, she smiled and gave me a promise. We'd only met minutes ago. We were nothing more than acquaintances. Yet I'd been delighted to meet Lavinia. I honestly found her cute, strong, and kind.

This bastard casually said something that would hurt her feelings. If she knew I was being held hostage, she would surely regret letting me go alone. It's true that she'd made a poor decision. But what stirred me up the most was how these guys imposed their own interests on others.

"Don't mess with me, you bastard..."

What was boiling in me more than fear was pure rage. The fear hasn't changed until now. If they use me as a hostage, I might not be killed. But what I fear most right now is that something will happen to her because of me. If she wins, they'll use me as a bargaining chip. If they're in a position of strength, they'll probably use me as a tool to hurt her.

For my sake, and especially for hers, I would regret it for the rest of my life if I ran away now. Besides, it seemed they had no intention of letting me escape. I knew there was a way to get away, but I was so angry that I couldn't find peace until I'd hit him at least once.

The boiling rage within me disappeared for a moment. I was startled and my body stiffened, but quickly everything returned to normal. What was that? While confusion reigned in my head, a red light flashed before my eyes. I was surprised, but then I understood what had happened and laughed.

"...I'm sorry, partner. Thank you."

The sacred weapon protects its bearer and responds to their thoughts. My partner had noticed that my thoughts were clouded by rage and had worried about my safety, so he'd temporarily suppressed my anger. The rage is still there, but thanks to this moment of calm, my thoughts are clearer. If I'd continued like that, I would have acted recklessly. I can only be grateful to my partner.

I stared directly at my opponent and stated my conditions for victory. It's not about defeating him. I'd like to punch him, but I'll keep that thought to myself. The most important thing is that I don't get captured or killed by the rogue mage. If I manage that, I've won. Maybe I'm thinking from the assumption that Lavinia will win, but...

There are many uncertainties. There could be other allies out there. But they're in the same situation as me. If Lavinia wins, she'll immediately notice something's wrong with me. Association reinforcements might also show up. In that case, I can focus entirely on buying time without having to defeat him. Hiding and evasion are my specialties.

Most importantly, he's completely overconfident and complacent toward me. He doesn't doubt his victory and sees only a successful future that satisfies his curiosity. I should exploit that without hesitation. Curiosity has ruined many people. He's a mage, a being superior to me. But there are many ways to turn the tables.

"Well, I hate wasting time. If you come quietly, I promise I won't do anything to you."

"...I can't believe you'd make such a promise while taking a little girl hostage."

"You have a foul mouth, boy. Ignorance can sometimes be frightening. You compare the 'Ice Princess' to a little girl, but she's not that weak. ...Well, whatever."

Shut up. No matter how talented Lavinia might be as a mage, to me she's just an innocent girl who had her hat stolen by a puppy and was left half-naked and crying. She was young, but she was also responsible and had the strength to stand against a rogue mage—but she was still a sweet girl her age. That's enough for me. Knowing more about her wouldn't change that.

What I'm about to do isn't a fight. It's a battle. The conditions for victory aren't just defeating the opponent—this is a battle where I'll give everything I have. When I faced the stray demon, I didn't even step onto the same stage; I simply destroyed it one-sidedly. That wasn't a battle. So this is my first real battle.

And so the curtain rose on my first fight.

***

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