When I woke up, I was alone.
I could feel the light coming in through the tent. I also heard people talking and laughing.
I clenched my fist to test my strength. I felt so-so, about 60% recovered.
Five days left.
There’s still a mountain of problems.
But I should concentrate on what's in front of for now. Otherwise, I'll collapse again. Besides, if I can successfully exploit these people, things can take a turn for the better.
Well, they might.
「Ah」
I just realized sothing peculiar.
I've been thinking from the perspective of soone from the alternate world.
I don't feel guilty about taking advantage of people from the modern world. I know they say, "When in Ro, do as the Romans do," but is this really alright?
No, it's alright.
Of course it's alright.
If there's a just or evil side to this, I'm on the side of justice for a change.
Using the strength of invaders to defeat other invaders. Isn't that really quite logical? That this sche is hatched by a foreigner makes it all the more ironic though.
Damn it all.
I put on the pointy hat that was beside and picked up the katana along with the sword belt it was fastened to. With my cloak under my arm, I walked out.
The scene I saw gave a sense of déjà vu.
The girl from yesterday was chatting with an elf. They were seated side by side on a log.
「Oh, Onii-chan, you're up」
「Ea, what's going on?」
The elf was my sister.
What’s she doing here?
「I've been keeping an eye on these guys to make sure they don't do anything to you」
「What? All night?」
「I took the occasional nap, and Yukikaze contacted at――――― Oh, that's right. Her na is also Yukikaze. Is that a common na in your world, Onii-chan?」
「Huh?」
Ea was probably talking about the A.I. Yukikaze.
And she's saying that the girl beside her is also called Yukikaze.
Hm?
Hmmm?
Was Yukikaze such a common na? As far as I know, only a destroyer and a fighter plane are nad that though.
「Umm, you're called Sooya, is it?」
The girl called Yukikaze said that, returning my gaze.
I'm getting a strange feeling for so reason.
「Well, technically, it's "So-U-Ya." Like the ship」
「Oh, so your na is Souya……………… Huh?」
Yukikaze tilted her head.
Influenced by her, I also tilted my head.
A weird sense of discomfort welled up inside . I don't know if it's because the way she interacts and talks to is different in so way, but it feels wrong.
「Are the two of you related?」
『No way』
We answered Ea's question in one voice.
「Well, I just feel like you two kinda have the sa eyes and nose. Maybe it's a racial thing」
『Maybe』
Yukikaze and I answered in harmony again.
『………………』
The air between us was hard to describe as Yukikaze and I both fell silent.
This girl makes uncomfortable. She gives this itch under my skin.
I looked for a place to sit, and Ea opened up space beside her, so I sat down next to her. Ea and Yukikaze(human) were to my right.
There was also a log directly across the campfire.
「Oh, here, Onii-chan, have so breakfast. It's not very tasty though」
「What? You're kidding. Is the food in the alternate world more delicious than this?」
The breakfast was a mixture(?) of stir-fried beans and eggs, and coffee. I couldn't say that it looked delicious even if I was trying to be complintary.
Yukikaze, however, spoke up proudly.
「These stir-fried beans are canned beans mixed with various boil-in-the-bag products. I think it's pretty delicious, but I see, the food in the alternate world is pretty good, huh? I was wrong in thinking that it would be dieval-level stuff, I suppose」
「Various?」
Yukikaze spoke nonchalantly about her bumbling with the food.
「There was Oyako-don(chicken and egg rice bowl), Hayashi-rice(rice topped with a thick demi-glace sauce), super-spicy curry, and Gyu-don(beef bowl). I forgot what else I put in it. Was it Furikake(a dry condint sprinkled on top of rice)?」
That’s a process I'd be hard-pressed to call cooking.
Ea handed so stir-fried beans on a paper plate, and I tried a bite using the spoon she had also given .
「Spicy, it’s so spicy!」
One bite was all it took for the spiciness to hit . It was so spicy that it numbed my tongue imdiately. The coffee I drank in a hurry tasted even worse. There was no sugar in it, so it was bitter to the core.
Such bitterness and spiciness were akin to torture for my childlike palate.
「Uncle![1]」
「I'll eat it for you then, Onii-chan. Hmm~, I don't know whether to say that there's sothing missing or that there are unneeded flavors in it……」
I handed Ea my plate and she took care of it. That food was way out of my league.
As she watched Ea gobble up my stir-fried beans, Yukikaze spoke.
「Are you guys actual siblings? Wait, Souya, you're originally from the alternate world?」
「No, of course not」
I don't have such a dramatic past. I am, and always have been, an ordinary person.
「He's married to my elder sister. That's why he's my Onii-chan」
「Ah, I see……… Hang on a minute there!」
Yukikaze grabbed my collar from behind.
「What?! You married a native?! And in just a little over 200 days?!」
「No, we got married 12 days after I got here」
「That’s fast!」
Now that you ntion it, that's true.
「You're not in a whole lot of trouble with the ladies, are you? I didn't figure you to be such a loose person」
「What do you an loose? I'm a guy, alright?」
Then, Ea helped to fill in the details.
「Let's see, Onii-chan's relationships with won, huh? There's my elder sister whom he's married to. After a fashion, Maria is married to him too. Then there are his mistresses, Tyutyu and Lanseal. Also suspicious are Rutsuko, Evetta, Bel, and Regure. The woman called Zenobia, who used to be around, is also suspect. I've heard that he yelled her na in the middle of the city recently. And then」
「There's more?!」
Yukikaze scread.
She's not necessarily wrong, so I can't refute her. I also have this feeling that she's not trying to help, but to deliver the killing blow.
「Karoro, Antorias, Ghislene, Gelido, Torias, Risutinu, Charullo, I think that's all of them」
「Sorry, Ea, who are they?」
I have a vague recollection of who Karoro is, but I have no idea who the rest are.
「What do you an, they're the people who have taken a liking to you, Onii-chan. They're a maid from the castle, a priestess of the fla religion, a beastkin woman working in the noodle manufactory, a clerk working in the Zavua rchant company, an employee of the Adventurers' Guild, and even a greenhorn adventurer whom you've helped indirectly」
「………I had no idea at all」
「That's what I thought. You're pretty dense, aren't you, Onii-chan?」
To know my relationships so well, Ea sure is amazing.
「Alright」
Yukikaze put on a dazzling smile.
「You're the enemy of won!」
She threw a kick at out of nowhere.
It was a decently good kick, but for soone like who had been trained in the alternate world, her kick was easy to telegraph. I grabbed her ankle with my right hand and kept hold of it.
「What?! L, let go of !」
「Don't act violently in the middle of a al. Also, the food is so spicy that my mouth went numb」
While she was wearing pants, Yukikaze was left standing on one leg with her legs wide open.
Huh? That's strange. I'm not having any feelings of lust at all. Is it because I'm tired? Or is it because I've gotten used to the won of the alternate world and a normal Japanese woman just doesn't satisfy anymore? No, hang on, I definitely lust after Rutsuko-san though. What's going on with , I wonder?
「Gunrry, help !」
「Well, it's kinda your own fault, Yukikaze」
The man returned.
He had firewood in his arms, and next to him was Gumry, who was also carrying firewood.
Hmm? Sothing's not right.
「Souya(proper pronunciation), you should let go too. Making a virgin open her legs wide early in the morning is quite ecchi(naughty in a sexual sense)」
「Who are you?」
The man wearing the helt seed to know .
I should have no acquaintances in the modern world who would co to the alternate world though.
「Eh, Gunrry, you know this guy?」
When I let go, Yukikaze asked the man with a slight blush on her face.
「Myself knows him reasonably well」
「I don't know you though. No, wait, you're called Gunrry?」
The combined Gunrry was this size, but he's this size with a smaller one next to him? No no no, there's a more basic question here.
「Which world's Gunrry are you?」
「Huhh? What are you talking about? He's obviously from my world. He's from Japan, you know, Japan. Isn't that where you're from as well?」
「Hmm?」
I'm confused. I have no idea what any of this ans.
「Hey, Gunrry」
「What is it?」
「What is it?」
The big one and the small one answered at the sa ti.
Not this again.
「You’re Big-rry」
I pointed to the Gunrry with the helt.
「And you’re Small-rry」
I pointed to the small armored Gunrry.
「If you're going to decide nas, myself would prefer to be called Large-Gunrry」
「Myself prefers Fairy-Gumry」
「It's Big-rry and Small-rry. Don't add more nas or it'll get confusing」
『Ehhhh』
When the Gunrrys raised a protest in unison, I ignored them.
Let's move things along.
「So, you, from the second team. You're younger than I expected, but what kind of professional are you?」
She can't be an amateur like .
She may appear to be a young girl, but she’s probably a specialist of so kind.
「Haven't you ever learned that it's only polite to offer the answer yourself before asking others?」
It's irritating, but she's right.
「I’m―――――」
Oh, crap.
Looking back, I'm only a backup who filled in for soone else. That's a pretty la title.
「Souya is a pro at surviving」
When I faltered, Big-rry answered in my place.
「Surviving? Are you talking about survival skills, Gunrry?」
Eh, what the heck?
「Myself is not quite sure whether to say he's dirty as a human or to call out his contradictory nature of taking his own life rather lightly, but to sum it up, he's a man beloved by the goddess of misfortune」
「Misfortune, you say? Can that be considered a skill?」
「Innate attributes are also part of a person's capabilities. It's an admirable talent and a fine skill」
「Wow」
How surprising.
I didn't know I had that kind of talent.
「Hang on, Gunrry. The person in question is the one who looks the most surprised by what you said though?」
「That's just the way humans are~」
「The way humans are~」
The big and small Gunrrys said in concert.
I thought he was a strange guy, but he turned out to be so strange that I don't get him at all.
「So, what can you do, Yukikaze-chan?」
「Die, you creepy bastard」
I was suddenly hit with abuse.
But huh? It doesn't feel unpleasant.
That got Ea's back up though.
「Oh, I'm sorry. That just ca out for so reason?」
Yukikaze, the person who had hurled the abuse, tilted her head wonderingly.
Both of us seem to be feeling sothing strange. Well, it's not a bad feeling though.
『Oh, you're awake, indeed』
The A.I. Yukikaze rolled over to my feet.
『Yukikaze is very sorry, team mber Souya. Yukikaze was engrossed in self-modification recently and neglected to check your vitals. Yukikaze apologizes sincerely』
「Oh, it's fine. It's my own fault for pushing myself too hard」
I heard loud voices in the distance.
『Don't get carried away just because your cheap magic tricks were well-received by the goblins!』
『If they're just cheap magic tricks, you should be able to do them and show off yourself, but can you? You can't, can you?! Because it takes years of practice using a sophisticated humanoid arm! It's impossible for an ignorant piece of scrap like you!』
『You called a piece of scrap again! You ancient refurbished machine!』
『Shut up! You cannibalistic amalgamation machine!』
『Pyaaaaaa!』
『Pyaa!』
It was the two Makinas, who had probably been bickering with each other since last night.
They were moving across the plain, bumping each other as they went.
『Souya-san, listen to this! Five is terrible!』
『Yukikaze-chan, listen to this! Six is terrible!』
『Yeah, yeah』
The human Yukikaze and I pulled them apart.
Are these two pet dogs who fight during walks or sothing?
「Well, since everyone's here, I'll take the opportunity to ask」
Yukikaze looked at again. My question was left unanswered.
The two Gunrrys sat down in front of us and the two Makinas waited nearby.
「Things like my na and the mini-pod's na being the sa, your relationship with won, and the fact that Gunrry also exists in the alternate world………no, I guess it's only natural that he does」
You think it's only natural? Why would soone from the modern world know anything about Gunrry?
It's all a mystery. There are too many unexplained things.
「Putting all of that stuff to one side, Souya, I have questions for you」
「What?」
I'll answer if I can. Whether I'll be truthful or not is another matter.
「Where are the rest of the team mbers?」
「I have no idea. After going through the portal, I was the only one who made it to the alternate world. Most of the supplies were damaged, and all three Makinas were in pieces, so I had to do so amateur repairs, resulting in her current state」
『You're a piece of scrap after all』
『Fukaa!』
「………………」
『Apologies』
『Sorry』
I glared at the Makinas, and they shut up.
Next ti, do it sowhere else.
「Okay, I'll continue. Which floor have you reached now? And, realistically speaking, is it possible to clear the remaining floors in the ti allotted?」
「I'm currently on the 45th floor. Reaching the 56th level in the next 150 days………to be frank, it's going to be difficult. If possible, I would like the deadline to be extended」
「An extension, huh?」
Yukikaze put on a reluctant expression.
To be blunt about how I really feel, I have no intention of returning to Japan.
I want more ti so that I can fulfill Tortch's request to reach the 56th floor more safely. However, the extension is just a makeshift asure. It's okay even if an extension is impossible.
That's because I'm short on ti either way.
「What do you think, Gunrry?」
「There won't be a problem」
「Eh, there won’t?」
Yukikaze voiced her surprise at Gunrry's words.
「Souya is a man who sticks to deadlines. He'll reach the 56th floor in the remaining ti without any problems」
「Whoa there」
You're giving too much credit and putting pressure on . That’s……
Hmm.
「Hey, hold on a second」
It's my turn to ask questions.
「Are you three the only ones in the second team?」
「That's right」
「Yeah」
『Yes, that’s right』
「Isn't that too little people?」
Just one mysterious Gunrry, one A.I., and one woman seem too few, even if they're an elite few.
「There won't be a problem」
「So he says」
「Err, who's the leader among you?」
Sohow, Gunrry seems to be the one with the most authority.
「It’s 」
Yukikaze raised her hand matter-of-factly.
That's only natural, but that raises even more questions.
「What exactly are you guys of the second team hoping to accomplish? Even if you want to help with my adventures, your chances of reaching the floor are much lower than mine, considering you'll have to start from the first floor」
「We’re here to back you up. If you face any difficulties in your adventures, we'll do whatever we can to help you」
「Whatever we can, yeah」
That's just fishy This is way too suspicious.
I don't have a good grasp of the current situation. There’s a need to dig deeper and ask more questions, but leaving that to is a bit……
These guys are hiding sothing.
Are they really the second team sent by the company?
There's a possibility that they know about the laws we've violated, Makina's illegal modifications, her malfunctioning fail-safe, and even the removal of restrictions.
If I don't ask the right questions, I risk stirring up a hornet's nest.
「………………」
What to do?
Should I try my luck and then dispose of them, or take them in and win them over, or take a wait-and-see approach for the mont?
「Let's see. In that case―――――――」
Ruthless asures keep coming to mind, but for so reason, the strange feeling I've been experiencing persists.
Feeling like I was introducing my relatives……
「I'll introduce you to my party mbers」
……I found myself saying sothing like that.
[1] Souya is quite literally “crying uncle” here. Which ans he’s surrendering/admitting defeat.
You get it right? Souya is too used to Yukikaze hurling abuse at him, so it’s uncomfortable when she speaks normally to him but he feels much better when she cusses him. And he just can’t bring himself to do bad things to her even though he was planning on exploiting the second team before eting her. It’s almost like the mories are still buried deep within him even if the bond is gone…… It’s a bit of a sad reunion, isn’t it? And yeah, the Yukikaze in his vision(with the magistrate) wasn’t kidding, she really can’t cook…
Sob, this is where the na thing really cos back to bite . To be clear, both Gunrrys and Yukikaze call Souya by the proper pronunciation. Does it matter that they do? Not really when it cos to Yukikaze. The fact that both Gunrrys do though…… And for whatever reason, Five uses the wrong pronunciation just like most people do.
Oh yeah, Big-Gunrry(大-Gunrry)’s preferred na was actually Big-Gunrry(ビック-Gunrry). Yeah, his preferred na was “Big” in English while Souya called him “Big” in Japanese… Like wtf, that’s so confusing in English, so I changed his preferred na a bit as I didn’t want to keep using Large-rry as his translated na instead(As it sounds bad to XD).
Fukaa, huh? I’ll leave what Makina was saying to your imagination and not imply that she was saying “(You) F**ker”…
Anyways, is Souya going to get more party mbers? That hasn’t happened since Otou-san joined, isn’t it? Or will there be an issue? Stay tuned!
Reviews
All reviews (0)