Dia and Sis.
Before I talk about their return home, I need to provide some context.
“—I told you before why I came all the way to the Allied Nations, right? Because I was an “Apostle,” my parents abandoned me. I wasn’t even given a name, I was just continuously revered as ‘Sis-sama’… I despaired, thinking there was no ‘I’ anywhere, and ran to the Allied Nations.”
Knowing that Dia uses “I” only when she’s feeling weak, I started to stop her. But immediately, she shook her head, assuring me she was fine, and continued quietly.
“The biggest trigger for me deciding to go back… honestly, it was the dream Kanami’s sister showed me. I don’t forgive that, but thanks to that dream, I realized I had everything I needed for ‘Diablo Sis’. Also, after completely separating into different bodies from Sis, and being able to talk as equals, various worries seemed silly.”
Dia spoke her honest thoughts. Even though she hated the word “Apostle,” she seemed to feel a strange friendship towards Sis as an individual.
“In any case, I decided I had to go back once. I thought I should settle things with my family, just like Kanami.”
The situation was likely not much different from what I saw in Hidaki’s “Winter Otherworld.”
There was just one thing.
If there was a difference from that dream, it was that instead of parting ways with Sis, the “Apostle” who was the root cause, I went back home with her.
“Of course, I knew that even if ‘I’ returned, my parents wouldn’t see me as their daughter. I understood that. —So, I went home together with Sis, the ‘Apostle,’ side-by-side. This way, no matter how hard they tried, my parents couldn’t call me ‘Sis-sama’! They would have no choice but to talk to ‘me,’ their own daughter! Haha, I showed them!”
Dia laughed like a boy who had pulled off a prank.
However, considering her parents’ feelings, I couldn’t laugh so easily.
“Did your parents believe that? That the slightly disappointing Sis was truly an Apostle?”
“The priests who accompanied us explained it carefully… However, the decisive blow came from Fran and that Old Man Aleis. No, the influence of family status is truly unfair, isn’t it? They had been doubting the priests’ story all along, but as soon as the Four Great Noble Families were involved, it was over.”
Just like in the dream, she had returned with her friend Franryure and Fenrir Aleis, who had become her guardian. With Fenrir, the head of the Aleis family and renowned as the “Sword Saint,” things would have indeed been settled quickly.
“After that, my father and mother praised me, saying, ‘You worked hard’ and ‘You fulfilled your duty.’ But honestly, those weren’t the words I wanted… My parents never understood until the very end that I wasn’t living for things like that. That’s why—”
Dia had been continuing her story with a constant smile, speaking calmly.
However, only this part was tinged with sadness.
“I’ll tell Kanami honestly. I thought that in some situations, I might impulsively kill my parents. That’s how much I hated my family. I hated everything about my hometown… But I couldn’t. I couldn’t possibly do something like that.”
Originally, Dia had become an Explorer to become a rich and powerful person and prove everyone wrong.
In front of me, she was pure and straightforward, but she was not a girl entirely without malice or murderous intent.
“I went home, and a lot happened. A *lot* happened—so, in the end, I just kind of hit Sis on the head. We decided that was that, and it was over.”
“Wha-What…?”
I let out a confused sound at the sudden disciplinary action against Sis.
Yet, I could easily imagine the scene. Sis, with tears welling up, protesting, “Wh-Why!? Why me!?” after being hit.
“It’s only natural. The biggest cause was the Apostle reincarnating without permission in the first place. In the end, Sis bowed her head to our parents. Or rather, I made her bow.”
“U-Uhm. Well, I guess so. Yes, I think that’s the best solution too.”
If the current Sis and Dia were to fight, Dia would have an overwhelming advantage. So, I could easily imagine Sis tearfully apologizing, “So-Sorry…”.
At the same time, I couldn’t help but give a wry smile at Dia’s kindness and leniency for forgiving with just a hit.
“From there, Fran and Old Man Aleis, who had accompanied us, expedited things. They came to discuss my being adopted into the Aleis family and being transferred from the Fuziaze registry. I didn’t understand the details, but it seems I became part of the Aleis family.”
While Dia was talking with her parents, Franryure and Fenrir had likely been watching from behind.
If Dia had become desperate and tried to lay hands on her parents, they would have stopped her, even at the cost of their lives.
“In other words, like Kanami, I’ve become almost estranged from my family! Haha! But I do plan to visit occasionally! Because someday, it might be possible to talk normally!”
And Dia laughed off the entire story, calling it a good experience.
I finally understood why she was telling me all this now.
Dia was gently encouraging me with the hope that someday, I too might be able to speak with my parents normally.
Her warm consideration brought a smile to my face.
“Thank you, Dia… I feel a little lighter. I feel like someday, I’ll be able to meet my parents with a smile too…”
Gratitude overflowed from my lips.
It was completely different from yesterday. Unlike Kuuneru, who only spoke for her own benefit, Dia’s words resonated deeply within me.
“No, the thanks are mine, Kanami! When I first came to the Allied Nations at level 1, if I hadn’t met you, I would have died normally! Probably, easily in the labyrinth! But because I met you, I was able to come this far! Thanks to you, I was able to return to my homeland! I finally returned!”
In her dream, Dia had parted ways with her innate differences.
However, in reality, Dia befriended her innate differences.
Seeing the smile on Dia’s face that showed this difference filled me with hope.
For me, too.
For everyone.
I could believe from the bottom of my heart that a better future awaited us.
No, it definitely would. I would surely draw a better future.
Feeling the courage welling up, I checked her status on the display.
There, it showed—
【Status】
Name: Dia Aleis HP 741/741 MP 3412/3412 Class: Explorer
—Dia’s new name.
Unfortunately, the skill “Overprotection” had not yet disappeared. However, the target of that skill was no longer just me. Unintentionally, after Ragune killed me once and I was forced into a harsh battle with Hidaki—just as that “???” became the “Contractor of the Deepest Part of the Labyrinth”—I, as the creator of the status, knew that the skill “Overprotection” was about to evolve into the next domain.
While I was away, Dia had continuously cooperated with her companions and made more friends.
Now, the target of the skill “Overprotection” included everyone, Sis included.
I believe that Rustiara had been aiming for this solution from the beginning. I was truly happy to witness the moment that goal was achieved.
“Kanami, my adventure is over. After meeting you, I made many friends, and I had a serious confrontation with that Apostle, which finally settled things. I’m truly glad I came all the way to the Allied Nations.”
Dia spoke her words with deep emotion.
One could say that this was the ending of Dia’s story.
I offered her a smile just as fitting for that scene.
“Me too. After meeting you all, I had a serious fight with my sister Hidaki, and everything was settled. Despite everything that happened, I’m really glad I came to this different world too.”
I had lost a lot. However, there was no regret or lingering desire, and I tried to convey that I was now living by looking only forward—Dia, seeing my face, let out a sigh of relief.
“Ah… H, hahaha. That’s great! It’s truly great!”
“…Great?”
Dia repeated the same word three times. After the second time, I felt it wasn’t relief for herself, and I questioned it.
“I was so worried. There was a period not too long ago when it was difficult to watch you, Kanami. Compared to that time, you have such a good face today. You’re just like your usual self!”
Then, after that final battle—Dia spoke about myself two months ago.
“W, was I that bad? I thought I was behaving normally the whole time.”
“You were that bad!! You were always looking into the distance, seemed a bit unsteady, and didn’t seem to grasp time… Seeing you force yourself to act cheerful pained my heart!”
It seemed my determination to not worry my companions had instead caused them concern.
Hearing that assessment, I felt embarrassed. Thinking back, I realized I had been unusually high-strung.
I reflected and, to prove that I was fine from now on, I spoke a certain name.
“Dia… I understand now. If I keep moping around forever, “Rustiara” will get angry. Nothing will be solved by looking down, so I have no choice but to face forward. We have to move forward with the continuation of our story.”
“Ah, you’re right. That’s exactly it. Hahaha… You really do love “Rustiara,” don’t you, Kanami…”
Dia, relieved, laughed.
And she repeated the name I had spoken, with more affection than I had.
That name held something truly special for us, a mix of deeply intertwined emotions.
Dia, with an expression that seemed both happy and sad, spoke about Rustiara.
“I loved Rustiara very much too. I truly loved Rustiara, who was always smiling beside me while I was always going off the rails… So, I have one request for you, Kanami.”
I knew those feelings of hers.
A thousand years ago, in the original world, I had experienced similar feelings.
“—Please let me stay by your side from now on. I loved Rustiara, and I love you just as much. Right now, I truly don’t want to be separated from those ‘two’.”
It was an emotion intertwined with parting and unrequited love.
Furthermore, Dia seemed to feel guilty about standing by my side in a world without Rustiara.
Seeing her like that, I couldn’t help but speak.
Perhaps, a new “contract” with Dia too—
“There’s no need to confirm that with me. You don’t have to be separated from anyone anymore. No, from now on, ‘I will always be by Dia’s side’ ‘No matter what happens, I will surely be there’—”
“—! K, Kanami…? Stay by my side… Huh…?”
I hadn’t expected such an extravagant response.
Dia’s face turned red as she began to look flustered.
I thought I faintly heard a phantom voice from somewhere say, “You damn seducer! Die again!”
However, since my statement was made with Rustiara as ‘The One and Only Destined Person,’ I wasn’t actively trying to flirt. I believe it was on the borderline of being acceptable as a person—or at least, I’d like to think so.
Even as I wished that, as if to deny my excuse, Dia, unable to process her emotions, tried to run off down the street alone.
“Eh, ah, ahh—!!”
“—Default!!”
I wanted to avoid drawing attention right now.
I distorted the distance between myself and Dia, who was moving away, using magic that I had decided to use as little as possible.
“Wha!?”
I grabbed the wrist of Dia, whom I had pulled closer, and caught her.
When she realized she couldn’t escape now that her arm was being held, she gradually began to calm down.
Then, still blushing, she took several deep breaths and reprimanded me for my words and actions.
“Haa, haa…! Uh, sorry, Kanami. I lost it for a moment… but you were wrong just now! I really think you were wrong this time!!”
“Yeah, I was wrong! I was trying to look cool just now! Because you were in front of me, I was really trying to look cool! I’m sorry!!”
“Ah, so that’s how it is then!! That’s why Kanami is no good, just like Rustiara and Maria said!! Ah, geez! Kanami, you really are!”
There was no room for excuses, so I just kept apologizing.
After taking deep breaths, Dia let out a big sigh, “Haaah…”, and with teary eyes over her blushing face, she glared at me.
I’d come to understand recently that Dia’s evaluation of me as a companion had drastically changed.
At the beginning of our adventure, she had trusted me implicitly and eyed Maria with hostility, but now it was the opposite.
She had finally come to see me as a “shady, show-off kind of guy.”
In this way, we continued to hold hands, synchronizing our breaths, and gradually calming down.
We had regained our composure, but as a price for our outburst, curious glances from those around us began to turn our way.
“I made us stand out a bit, didn’t I? It’ll be bad if we get discovered.”
In the past two months, the faces of the former ‘Shiso’ and former ‘Apostle’ had become known to many people.
I worried that we wouldn’t be able to move around town calmly, but Dia was different.
“No, it should be fine. I’m in my usual disguise, so people probably think I’m just an unremarkable man.”
“Y-Your usual disguise? No, that’s not…”
Absolutely not.
That answer would be proven, not by me, but by a child passing by in the street.
“—Ah, it’s an Apostle.”
One of the curious glances was from a little boy, shorter than Dia, who stared at her with pure, innocent eyes and murmured.
“No, I’m not an Apostle…? I’m just a swordsman, like any other—”
“Huh? But, the older sister who cured my illness at the Cathedral a while back…”
“No, no, no, that’s wrong! Don’t you see, I’m an older brother, not an older sister!?”
Completely denying it, Dia drew the ‘Crescent Pectoral Azure’s Straight Sword’ from her waist, right there in the middle of town. Furthermore, she struck a decisive pose as if from a tokusatsu show. The children were delighted with her admirable pose, cheering “Oooh,” but the rest of the populace wasn’t fooled. Instead, the recognition began to escalate.
“…Huh. It really is the cute kind of Apostle.”
“The cute one from the Cathedral?”
“That child, she’s the lovely Dia! That means the person next to her might be…”
Even in disguise, Dia was adored by the common folk.
The adults watching from a distance clearly called out her name. Annoyed by their reaction, Dia stomped her foot and corrected them.
“No, you guys! I’m not the cute one, I’m the cool one!”
She no longer intended to hide her name—or rather, Dia reflexively denied what she thought was being mistaken.
Because she had implicitly confirmed her identity as Dia, the murmurs from the surroundings grew.
As one person called out her name, the spread of information couldn’t be stopped. A crowd began to form around us—
“—Is it… the Shiso?”
A young girl, without looking at Dia, approached me.
I was currently wearing the explorer’s attire and a Tida mask. Nevertheless, the fact that she recognized me as the Shiso meant she had quite a high ‘Aptitude.’
The girl then began to pray to me with an almost fanatical fervor.
“Shiso! Oh, please let me pray! Because of you, we were able to survive. During the reconstruction, the divine revelations that spread throughout the Allied Nations saved us, who were slaves, and greatly changed our ‘destiny.’ Our very survival now is entirely due to the Shiso’s miracles and grace. The new orphanages and residential districts—”
This is bad.
From her expression and words, I immediately understood she was a former slave.
And precisely because I understood, I shook my head.
“I’m sorry. Praying to me is over. There is a proper new Shiso now, so please pray to them.”
“A new Shiso? …Ahhh, you mean that arrogant woman! Apostle Sis, who is stealing the achievements of ‘Aikawa Kanami Christ Eurasia Valt Fuziaze Von Walker’!”
“No, that person is more admirable than me. Unlike me, who only thinks of myself, they continuously think only of saving the world. I believe she is the only one in this world who is a true ‘friend of justice.'”
“I-is that so? No, but that person… It’s not just their personality, but their very being is, how should I put it, rather unfortunate…”
“That’s why she helps everyone with her heart, not her head. And from now on, many children like you all.”
“………I still don’t accept it. I will continue to respect you and pray. Until the day I die.”
It was no use.
She was probably a child of the “Reformist Faction” of the Revannism cult, who were fanatically devoted to me.
And while I was struggling with her reaction, the crowd around us had completely turned into a wall before I knew it.
Everyone was muttering “Shiso” and “Apostle” before our names, with such fervor that it felt like a spontaneous prayer service was about to begin in the plaza.
I knew Revannism was becoming popular again with the reconstruction, but I never imagined it would be to this extent.
I decided I had no choice but to cut off everyone’s gaze with my mastery of Dimensional Magic and high-speed movement and escape. Just as I was about to pick up Dia—
“—Those kinds of prayers are wrong! They’re not good!”
Before I could, Dia’s loud voice cut through.
It was clearly audible even in the bustling marketplace.
Her subsequent earnest voice, sharp and clear—spread endlessly, like a gospel echoing in a cathedral.
“Prayers offered unilaterally are just ‘curses.’ At least, I’ve always felt burdened by one-sided prayers… So, please understand. Today is not that kind of day for us. If you want to pray, do it at the proper time and place. Rules are important, you know. If you pray at the cathedral, we will respond. We will definitely respond… Please.”
I was surprised.
More than her words, however, it was the reaction of the people around us that surprised me.
“I-I’m sorry…! We were a bit too loud…!”
“Yes, we’ll move away immediately! Please, you two, just enjoy yourselves!”
“We understand, Dia-sama! That’s what you mean, right!”
In contrast to me, who was amazed by Dia’s dignified demeanor, the people around were very gentle and lighthearted.
Some of them were even interpreting it in a slightly different way.
Dia responded to their words with a smile.
“Thank you for understanding! Well then, until next time! Let’s go, Kanami!”
“Ah, yes…”
It seemed that while I was working in various parts of the continent, Dia had been deepening her connections in the local Allied Nations.
Now, it felt like the townspeople knew Dia’s character better than I did.
Thanks to Dia, I was able to escape from a tight spot. As we walked until the believers were out of sight, she muttered while looking at her clothes.
“—Haa. In the end, I was found out… Is it my clothes? These are the ones I’ve been using for cross-dressing, and they seem completely the opposite of what I wear in the Cathedral…”
From her tone, it was clear that Dia was confident in her disguise.
However, to others, including myself, it was completely transparent.
“Sorry, Dia. I don’t think that’s much of a disguise. I think I told you before, your gender just isn’t hidden.”
“Damn it, it really didn’t work, huh… I liked it because it looked cool, but I guess I’ll stop wearing it outside of labyrinths for a while.”
Denied by me as well, Dia sulked, pinching the hem of her clothes.
Seeing her, I invited her.
“Well then, I’m getting hungry too. How about we go to a clothing store next? Let’s go buy some new clothes.”
I suggested shopping for clothes again, just like yesterday.
However, in this Other World, it would likely be custom-made tailoring shops rather than proper retail stores. Unlike the Original World, body shapes and physical characteristics tend to vary greatly among individuals due to differences in race.
I turned my feet towards a clothing store.
I tried to take her hand, wanting Dia to fully enjoy her day off, just like Kuuneru. But—
“No, it’s fine. More importantly, can you give me something to hide my face with from your ‘Inventory’?”
“………”
She refused.
From her expression, I could tell she was hesitant, thinking, “It’s not worth buying.”
Today, I had planned to be her shopping companion and wallet, just like with Kuuneru.
However, Dia’s frugality exceeded my expectations, and I felt my perfect plan crumbling, being forced to move forward.
Reluctantly, I interfered with Dia’s clothes and my own Inventory using a new spell formula I had devised a little while ago.
“—Magic [Default: Weapon Destruction].”
I said, snapping my fingers.
Dia noticed the activation of the magic. But trusting me, she accepted [Default: Weapon Destruction] without any resistance.
As a result, the magic costume change was complete.
In an instant, Dia’s male attire was replaced with “Otherworld Clothes” as a souvenir.
A set of clothes that included pleated one-piece outfits that I thought would suit Dia, along with accessories like socks and boots. It was certainly not a cheap set.
“—O-oh!?”
“I bought some clothes yesterday that would suit you here as a gift. If you’re not going to a clothing store, please accept them now… Kuuneru made me buy about thirty outfits, so you really don’t need to worry about it.”
“A gift?”
If I framed it as a gift, even Dia wouldn’t be able to refuse.
She looked at the clothes she was wearing, from her toes to her sleeves.
She accepted the present from me without hesitation and puffed out her chest.
“H-how is it? Kanami, does it suit me?”
“Yeah, it suits you very well, and it’s cute. Of course, it does, since I bought it thinking it would suit Dia.”
“Heh heh… Is that so!”
I had planned to get a larger mirror from my Inventory somewhere since we couldn’t go to a clothing store. However, Dia’s eyes sparkled with joy, so much so that there was no need for it.
She walked down the street ahead of me, checking various parts of her outfit with an air of extreme good cheer, as if she might skip at any moment.
She must be happy.
That fact made me happy too.
Above all, I could tell from her actions and expression that she would cherish the gift.
— I’m really glad I could give it to her now.
After making sure Dia had sufficiently enjoyed the present, I took out the originally requested larger scarf from my Inventory.
“Here. And this is for hiding your face, too.”
If she wrapped it around her neck and buried her nose in it, she could hide her appearance considerably.
“Ah, right. I need to hide my face.”
“This one isn’t a souvenir, it’s hand-knitted, but it’s also a present. I learned from Snow and make them occasionally, so here’s some to share.”
“This one is hand-knitted… Thank you so much, Kanami!! Alright, next time I’ll ask Snow to teach me! I have to give you something in return!”
Dia was determined to knit a scarf and give it to me as well.
However, since I regularly receive these knitted items from Snow and Maria, I wish she would try something different.
Dia immediately wrapped the scarf she received around her neck.
This time, she ran down the street with dancing steps.
“Hehehe…”
Dia, with a soft smile, spun around.
Her back hair, like a tail, twirled and bounced with the scarf.
It would probably be impossible to hide her gender now. However, her drastically different demeanor from usual should have reduced the possibility of her being recognized as Dia compared to when she was dressed as a man earlier.
Having achieved my initial objective, I asked.
“Dia, if you’re not going to a clothing store… where do you want to go next?”
“Hmm, I can’t think of anything! Absolutely nothing!!”
“Absolutely nothing… Didn’t you have somewhere you wanted to go with me today?”
“I did!! But, somehow, my heart is full right now!!”
It seemed that Dia, like me, had her original plan blown away.
She was completely immersed in the joy of simply walking down the street, dressed in the clothes I gave her.
She’s such an innocent child…
The desire-filled Kuuneru shopped to her heart’s content to the limit the moment she realized I’d be her wallet – and even then, she was far from satisfied. Yet, Dia is like this without any calculation.
Even if Dia herself claims not to be an Apostle, it’s understandable that whispers of “The true angel sent from heaven must be Dia-sama” still circulate.
“Then, if not clothes, how about a sword you want? It’s okay if you want to buy one or make one. I think you can do many things if you borrow the workshop of the Guild ‘Epic Seeker’.”
I tried my best to draw out Dia’s desires.
I made suggestions that I thought might suit her taste, but–
“Epic Seeker? Then, I’ll go to Snow’s place. I believe she said she would train at the Guild all day today since I’m with Kanami… Kanami, you have presents for everyone too, right?”
She already satisfied herself and thought it was time to think about her companions.
Dia naturally thought that way.
“…Of course, I do. Then, let’s do that. — Magic (Connection).”
Deciding it was pointless to push further, I moved to a nearby alley and created a magic door for transportation.
Dia and I passed through that door—and instantly teleported to the office at Epic Seeker headquarters.
The noise of the streets of Valfala country disappeared, and the tranquility of a prime location in Laura Via country enveloped us.
No one else was in the room. There were only two desks, one for official duties and one for visitors, which felt familiar. I immediately tried to expand my Dimension to search for Snow’s location, but—I was blocked by a pulse of magic that struck my entire body.
“—!”
Dia, who had also teleported, frowned and turned her face towards the direction from which the magic pulse came.
Her gaze was directed at the wall of the office, but she could perfectly grasp the magic of the two people on the other side.
“Their magic is too distinctive, it’s easy to identify… Is it because of their opponent? Anyway, Snow is this way, Kanami.”
“It’s conspicuous when these two fight. My skin is trembling intensely.”
“It seems that many things of the ‘Neutral attribute’ cause things to tremble. Fran told me.”
It is likely that the mages of Valfala country tremble in fear every time these two fight.
The magic pulse that makes our skin tremble is that tremendous.
Using the trembling as a guide, we moved.
We exited the office, went through the guild’s corridors and stairs, and entered a facility located outdoors.
This was the place where I, who had lost my memory, took the test to become Guild Master.
Although smaller than the theater ship Valfala, it was a training ground more than sufficient for a guild to own.
Currently, another test was underway there.
