“As expected of you, Kanami. No, you go by Christ now, don’t you?”
A voice from above. It was the same as with Teeda. I’m not good at noticing things happening above me. Especially after concentrating on a fight, that bad habit seems to become more prominent.
As I glared suspiciously, Rustiara leaped down from the tavern’s roof.
“It’s been a while. Have you been waiting long?”
She approached me, her golden hair bouncing. Her clothes were the same fine, light fabric as when she attacked me before.
There was only one difference. She wore a silver sword at her waist.
Rustiara and I made eye contact. Her eyes were as unnerving as ever, making her seem less than human.
“Not really… I wasn’t waiting,” I retorted firmly, maintaining eye contact with Rustiara’s deep golden eyes.
I was different now than I was on the first day. I had grown accustomed to this world and gained the strength to resist it. The oppressive feeling I’d felt before was no longer as intense.
I remained in a perfect defensive stance, ‘gazing’ at her.
[Status]
Name: Rustiara Fuziaze HP 670/689 MP 312/315 Class: Hero
Level 15
Strength 11.01 Stamina 10.56 Dexterity 6.78 Speed 7.89 Intelligence 12.38 Magic Power 8.78 Aptitude 4.00
Condition: None
Innate Skills: Weapon Combat 2.12 Swordsmanship 2.02 Divine Eye 1.00
Magic Combat 2.27 Blood Arts 5.00 Divine Magic 1.03
Acquired Skills: Reading 0.52 Physical Constitution 1.00
[Heavenly Sword Noah]
Attack Power 7
Consumption Rate -99%
Details about Rustiara, which I couldn’t see before, flowed into my mind. Level, skills, weapon. All first-rate.
However, it was within my acceptable range. If I were still Level 1, Rustiara would have been ten times stronger. But now, I could fight her.
“How cold. I’ve been waiting for this day for so long.”
“Cold? It’s your fault I was in such a terrible situation just now…”
“But for you, Kanami, that wasn’t a big deal, right?”
“Th-that… ‘big deal’?”
Rustiara described a top-class duel between humans as merely “that.”
“More importantly, let’s drop the polite language. We’re supposed to be lovers, you know.”
Rustiara smiled, as if there was no need for that between us. And, shamelessly, she stated with conviction, “we’re supposed to be.”
I became more wary. Her selfish behavior had caused me trouble many times before.
“That’s fine. I don’t intend to be polite to someone like you either.”
“Hehehe. You’re getting bold because your level increased… Ah, I should stop using polite language too. This overly formal speech doesn’t suit talking with Kanami.”
“Let me be clear – I won’t do as you please. Even if you attack me, I won’t lose anymore.”
“Attacking? I always approach you with goodwill and affection.”
“And the result of that is Radiant, I presume?”
“It was beneficial, wasn’t it?”
Rustiara continued to speak nonchalantly. There wasn’t the slightest trace of wavering in her demeanor. She genuinely seemed to think that duel was insignificant.
My standing in the tavern. The danger of sword duels. The impression any knights would have of me. She didn’t consider any of it.
“There’s no way it was beneficial—”
“If you were framed, you should have patiently explained. But Kanami, you accepted the duel. You thought, ‘If it’s the Seven Knights of Heaven, they won’t be a match for me. Perfect for a little sparring,’ didn’t you?”
“—!?”
Her golden eyes. Was this ‘Divine Eye’ skill allowing her to see through me? She was definitely reading my thoughts. Lately, I seemed to be facing one person after another with eye-related skills. It was so inconvenient. I found myself missing the innocent Dia.
Seeing my silence, Rustiara continued speaking on her own.
“Exactly. You and Sera-chan are different. The density of the souls you carry is different. The difference in levels is almost nonexistent. I wanted to teach you that, and to share it with you. I thought it was perfect for both of us.”
Rustiara’s cheeks flushed, and her nostrils flared as she spoke. During her speech, her eyes shone with madness. Her tone became theatrical, revealing how carried away she was.
“You and I are on a higher stage of existence, closer to the spotlight of our story. We are loved, given to, and blessed by the world. We are chosen beings. Soon, we will be alone, with only each other by our side—that’s why I’m saying we should join hands.”
Rustiara finished speaking and extended her hand to me. I had to choose my words carefully to avoid being swept away by her madness.
“…Your logic might have some merit. But it’s narrow-minded. So, what exactly do you want?”
“Huh? Your reaction is lukewarm. I put quite a bit of thought into that invitation!”
Rustiara tilted her head at my calm response, unfazed by her momentum.
“See? You’re just doing this for fun. So, I’ve only been half-listening to you all this time.”
“Hmm, I admit half of it is for fun… But I want you to believe that the other half is serious. I’m genuinely looking for a partner. To put it simply, I want to join your dungeon exploration… Will you be my companion?”
“No. I refuse.”
I answered reflexively without much thought.
“That was fast! Huh? Think about it a little. It’s too soon!”
Rustiara frantically waved her hands. I calmly processed her reaction.
“Of course. You’re far too unpredictable.”
“If I were predictable from the start, it wouldn’t be fun! Don’t you think it would be more interesting to discover my true self as time goes on?”
“No, I’m not looking for fun…”
“Eh? Then why are you exploring dungeons?”
“That’s… to go home.”
There was no one around, but I might be overheard, so I didn’t specify *where* I was going home to. However, Rustiara, who likely knew about the existence of two worlds, should understand.
“Eh, you’re going home?” Rustiara replied, surprised.
“Of course. That’s all I’ve been thinking about since that day.”
“Heh… Hmm. In that case, I think you’ll need me even more.”
I understood what Rustiara was implying. It was true that with Rustiara’s cooperation, exploration would be much easier. Her talent, on top of her frontline combat abilities, was something I desperately desired. Recognizing Rustiara’s value naturally softened my tone.
“Certainly, it would be reassuring to have you as an ally… but I don’t know enough about you. At the very least, I need to confirm our interests align.”
“Interests, huh… I think they do align.”
“Then tell me. What is your objective?”
Rustiara’s objectives. Healing me on the first day. Attacking me in the middle of the night to forcibly level me up. Having the ‘Seven Knights of Heaven’ pursue me. Arranging a duel with Radiant, the knight, only to introduce herself. Unless I understood the reasons behind these actions, I would forever consider Rustiara an enemy.
Perhaps sensing my unwavering resolve on this point, Rustiara showed a different expression and spoke softly.
“I have only one objective. I want to try… adventuring.”
Her eyes were still fixed in a mad gaze, but unlike before, I sensed a human-like longing within them.
“You want to adventure?”
“Yes, an exciting adventure. Preferably with companions, enjoying dungeons together. Oh, and by companions, I mean people who won’t treat me specially! And people who can keep up with me. This is important.”
“Certainly, I fit those conditions…”
“I’ve always been bored… Ever since I was born, I’ve been confined. No excitement, nothing. Just a prison where everything is given to me. That’s why I envied the people in heroic tales and adventure stories. I envied a life where you could lose or gain things through your own will… I couldn’t help but envy it.”
Rustiara spoke with an unstoppable flow of emotions. It was obvious and easy to understand. It sounded like a heartfelt cry, a childish and innocent yearning. It felt like a child’s tantrum, and I sensed no falsehood in her passion. Then, I realized who she reminded me of.
“…I think I understand your thoughts, mostly.”
“If you understand, then you should take responsibility. Before I met someone as amusing as you, I was able to control myself. But then you showed up with a skill called ‘Foreigner,’ at Level 1, crippled, at the absolute limit, exploring dungeons alone—seeing someone so enviable made me unable to hold back anymore. I was dying of curiosity about what kind of adventure the protagonist of this story was planning. So, please, let me join you.”
Her request started as a demand and ended as a plea. Her attitude was inconsistent. Rustiara’s emotions shifted visibly every second. The more we talked, the more her instability was revealed. She was a terrifyingly unstable being, like a house of cards about to collapse. A mature body and level paired with an immature mind. Judging by our conversation, she was likely a typical sheltered girl. That contrast gave others the impression of a child playing with ants.
“…Sigh. I can certainly see that you’re very childish.”
“I’m serious, Kanami. I’ll help with your ‘going home’ objective, so please help with my dream too. Please.”
Hearing my candid assessment, Rustiara became indignant and continued the negotiation with a serious expression. From her demeanor, I confirmed she was indeed age-appropriate. It was certain that Rustiara still posed a danger. However, if her intentions were not unknown, then she could be utilized. The negotiation terms were not bad. If I could skillfully manage her childishness, she was undoubtedly an unparalleled talent. Furthermore, letting her go would present greater disadvantages than any potential benefits. If she, who possessed information about me, were to escape, the possibility of that information leaking would constantly loom. Therefore, monitoring her within my sight seemed the most appropriate course of action.
I quickly assessed the pros and cons in the limited time I had. Then, I carefully chose my words.
“…Alright. I always welcome collaborators. If it’s just forming a party to see how it goes—”
“Yay! Thank you!”
Before I could finish, Rustiara excitedly grabbed my hand. While being dragged along, I presented the conditions for the party.
“However, if you do anything strange, I’ll strike you down immediately. I’ll incapacitate you and kick you out of the party.”
If I determined she couldn’t be controlled, it would be an immediate silencing. I had to commit to this. Though, I was rather doubtful about how much I could actually silence her.
“Okay, okay. I just want to play in the dungeons with Kanami. I won’t do anything strange.”
“Also, please clear Radiant and the others’ misunderstanding.”
“Eh? Hmm, let’s keep that going. If we’re in a romantic relationship, I think we’ll attract fewer pursuers. They revere love so much, it’s more advantageous for us.”
Revere love? True, I believed love was a noble thing. But it seemed like a concept unfitting for this world.
…It’s no use thinking about it. What’s important now isn’t that. It’s about the pursuers.
“Wait. So, will your pursuers always come along?”
“You get me, and you get sparring partners! Kanami, isn’t this a great deal?!”
It seemed they would. Indeed, at this point, I had to admit that those opponents were merely sparring partners. Even if I felt I was being slightly manipulated by Rustiara, it was worth a try. If necessary, I could abandon everything. Above all, duels with knights were truly educational. They weren’t too strong, nor too weak, and their skills were abundant. Since they were governed by rules, there was no killing intent. In my fight with Radiant, I chose a quick victory, but in other situations, I could carefully observe the enemy’s techniques.
“Haa… Well, I guess…”
“Alright! You nodded just now! You definitely nodded!! You can’t take it back later!!”
Seeing my vague nod, Rustiara seized the moment, gripping my hand tightly and shaking it.
[Rustiara Fuziaze has joined the Party]
Party Leader: Aikawa Uzunami
And then, the ‘display’ for party participation appeared in my vision. I had used the party system somewhat casually, but it seemed that the conditions from our recent conversation had been met. While I didn’t know the specifics, it appeared that simply acknowledging each other as companions verbally was enough.
—And so, my party now consisted of four people. Two new members in just two days. It probably wouldn’t hurt to have them, so, it’s fine… Probably…
“Well then, shall we go to Kanami’s base? Wow, I’m looking forward to our adventures starting tomorrow!”
“Wait, wait, wait. You’re coming to my house just like this?”
“Is there a problem?” Rustiara replied with a smile, as if it were natural. Her smile was filled with girlish charm. It wasn’t androgynous like Dia’s, nor childish like Maria’s. She was a girl about my age. I couldn’t help but be aware of it.
“J-just a moment…! Let me think…!” I hastily stopped her.
Rustiara intended to make my house her base. I didn’t know the customs of party relationships in this world, but was it common for them to share sleeping quarters? For a novice explorer with no money, it would be understandable for the sake of economy. As companions, I wouldn’t mind cooperating—but if one had the financial means, wouldn’t it be more natural to stay separately? Besides, although I had agreed to be companions, I wanted to keep some distance in normal times. She wasn’t a weakling like Maria.
“Kanami, still thinking?”
“No, I was just a bit taken aback… But could you please not stay at my house? I don’t know about this world, but in my world, it’s a bit embarrassing for men and women close in age to sleep under the same roof. Let’s stay separately. You have money, don’t you?”
“I don’t know much about this world or your world, but… in books, companions always stayed at the same inn. I think that sounds more fun, and money isn’t infinite. We have to save when we can. That’s what I think.”
Rustiara also seemed to be unfamiliar with the common sense of adventurers. However, she had learned some things from her reading. If that’s how it was in the adventure stories of this world, then adventurers here must be doing the same. Saving when possible. I agreed with that value system.
“R-really…? Then, is that how it is…?”
When I was attacked before, they didn’t take my life. So, I didn’t think there was a risk of Rustiara killing me in my sleep. The remaining issue was my own embarrassment. The issue of a beautiful girl like Rustiara being so close. As a man, I was indeed pleased, but it was also certain that such feelings were a waste for me right now.
“Does it have to trouble you so much…? Can’t you just take it easier…?” Seeing me lost in thought, Rustiara interjected.
“…Understood. You can come. There are plenty of rooms.”
“Eh, plenty of rooms? Not an inn?”
“Ah, I have a house. I acquired it just the other day.”
“Wow, that’s lucky. I was kind of looking forward to a rundown inn like in the adventure stories, though. Like the one you stayed at before.”
“You mean the place from the first day? That was actually an expensive inn.”
“Ohh. So, does that mean there are even more rundown and cramped inns than that? Sounds fun.”
Rustiara seemed to have an inclination towards a life of poverty. Anyone suffering from actual poverty would probably be furious. This kind of insensitivity was one of Rustiara’s flaws.
Thus, having finished our conversation, we began preparations to return home.
“Ah. Lastly, please stop calling me Kanami. I’m going by Christ Eurasia here.”
“Hmm. Understood, Christ. …By the way, what does that name mean?”
“It’s the name of a famous teacher and continent from my world. Anyone who knows it would be very surprised.”
“I see, so it’s convenient for finding people from your homeland. Hehehe, it’s quite amusing for a coincidence. Just like me.”
“Speaking of which, wasn’t your surname a country name? Does having a country name mean you have royal blood? That would be a bit unpleasant.”
“Hmm. That’s true, but it’s not unusual in this Allied Nations. Over a hundred powerful figures and nobles call themselves king. This Allied Nations is governed by many kings. It’s a remnant of when they foolishly absorbed many small countries.”
“Heh… It’s interesting since I don’t know much about this world.”
“The leader of the former great nation, Fuziaze, was an incredible fool, and it’s quite amusing. It’s one of my favorite heroic tales. After stealing the country, instead of killing the kings, he praised them. He failed many times, but that leader never gave up. He fought for decades, wishing only to bring smiles to people’s faces. And then—”
Rustiara seemed to enjoy herself as she began to tell the story of the hero. Listening to her, I started walking home. Rustiara continued talking beside me without losing interest. I thought it wouldn’t be bad to learn about this world’s history, so I continued to listen to Rustiara’s endless tale.
And then, I considered what would happen after we returned. Maria would be waiting at home. Although my party had become four people, Dia, Maria, and Rustiara—each of them probably thought they were in a two-person party with me. It had become a bit complicated, and I thought about how to explain it to them, then stopped. It would probably just end with brief introductions. It wasn’t a big deal. I walked towards my home, where Maria was waiting, without any particular apprehension.
