The starlight serves as our lamp as Snow and I practice magic against each other in the training ground.
Having realized we’ll be spending a long time together, we decided to test each other’s abilities today.
Snow placed her hand on a rock in the training ground, causing it to shudder and develop small cracks simultaneously.
“…This is my specialty magic.”
With those words, Snow made the cracked rock tremble and split lengthwise.
I knew immediately, as I was deploying 《Dimension》, that her specialty magic was ‘vibration’.
“You’re making the rock vibrate?”
“…Yeah. My attributes are ‘Void’ and ‘Fire’. Combined with my magic’s nature and ‘Ancient Magic,’ I can do more interesting things.”
Snow took out several magic stones from her pouch, imbued them with her magic power, and scattered them around.
Then, Snow muttered softly.
Suddenly, the magic stones she had scattered began to glow, and her voice echoed throughout the training ground, layered multiple times.
“…Combined with your dimensional magic, this could become an astonishing weapon. That’s what Palinkron told me.”
It sounded as if I were surrounded by speakers, Snow’s voice emanating from every scattered magic stone.
“Amazing… You’re controlling vibrations to produce sound from stones?”
“…Yes. I imbue the magic stones with my ‘Clinging Magic Power’ and use an application of ‘Ancient Magic’ to reproduce sound. This ability has caused me a lot of trouble.”
When Snow lightly snapped her fingers, the vibration of the stones that were emitting voices stopped.
“Can you do this even from far away?”
“…Yes. I’ll support you with this. That’s the promise I made with Palinkron.”
I broke out in a sweat at the abnormality of Snow’s ability.
In this Other World, means of communication are scarce.
For instance, if you want to maintain constant contact over long distances, you have to establish a ‘Magic Stone Line’. Even with that, I doubt the voice transmission would have been so smooth.
In other words, Snow possesses technology several stages ahead of this world, all by herself.
It’s like being in a world of carrier pigeons and being the only one with a mobile phone.
“Certainly, with this magic, it seems like many interesting things could be done. Will you help me with this magic?”
“…Yes. I will support you.”
Snow nodded.
Then, she slightly widened her sleepy eyes and continued with a voice filled with determination.
“I will keep my promise with Palinkron. But, as agreed, I will do as I please from now on. As I please—”
“Ah, of course—”
I thought she was about to negotiate freedom within the guild and tried to agree.
However, before I could, her powerful words interrupted me.
“You were recently calling yourself ‘Christ Eurasia,’ not ‘Kanami Aikawa.’ It’s highly probable that Palinkron erased your memories from that time using Mental Magic. That ‘bracelet’ is likely the core of the magic array. You should destroy it immediately.”
Snow mentioned the name ‘Christ Eurasia’ and claimed Palinkron had erased my memories.
I was surprised.
The name and the matter of memory shocked me in a double sense.
“Huh—? W-well, huh? What do you mean?”
“For now, that ‘bracelet’ is the most suspicious. You weren’t wearing any ‘bracelet’ back then either.”
As she spoke, Snow approached me and reached for my ‘bracelet.’
“W-wait a moment! This is necessary for me! I’ll be in trouble without it!!”
I brushed away Snow’s hand and moved away from her.
This ‘bracelet’ stabilizes my magic and provides support for my linguistic abilities.
Given that I was repeatedly told to always wear it, I couldn’t possibly take it off.
—No matter what happens, I absolutely cannot take it off.
“…It’s all a lie. You too are being toyed with by Palinkron.”
Snow spoke to me sternly from where I had retreated.
However, I couldn’t understand the meaning of “being toyed with” at all.
“Sorry, Snow. I don’t understand what you’re saying. So, even if you say the ‘bracelet’ is suspicious, I can’t believe it.”
I flatly refused.
Hearing this, Snow lowered the hand she had extended towards me and muttered softly.
“…I see.”
It was a weak murmur, lacking the strong determination from before.
Hearing her small voice, I regretted rejecting her too harshly. As if making an excuse, I began to explain my reasons.
“Snow, this ‘bracelet’ is very important to me, so I can’t take it off. Also, even if you suddenly say something like that, there’s nothing I can do about it…”
“…It’s fine. But when you can believe my words, break that ‘bracelet.’ I believe it will give you a chance to reclaim yourself.”
Snow didn’t try to force me.
I felt no intensity in her attempt to push her opinion.
I thought she truly had a cold personality, just like snow.
And then, as if making an excuse, she continued:
“…I did give you a warning. I’ve done the minimum required. Please remember that much.”
“Ah, I understand.”
I nodded.
There was no problem with just remembering.
Moreover, from her expression, I could tell her words were genuinely concerned for me.
The conversation paused, and Snow and I faced each other in silence.
It was Snow who broke the silence first.
Looking tired, she spoke.
“…It’s troublesome to continue this conversation any further. We’ve mostly finished confirming our magic. Shall we end it for today?”
“Yes, let’s wrap it up then…”
“…Come with me. I’ll guide you to Kanami’s room.”
“Eh? Ah, okay.”
I followed Snow as she left the training ground.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t asked Palinkron about accommodations.
More accurately, I hadn’t asked about anything since entering the guild. From what I could see, Snow seemed to be in charge of explaining things.
While on our way to the room, I asked her about something that had been bothering me.
“Hey, who told you about ‘Christ Eurasia’?”
“…Kanami.”
Snow answered concisely.
However, I had no such memory.
For one thing, I had never met Snow until today.
The number of people I’ve met since wandering into this Other World is few. And I couldn’t imagine forgetting the faces of those few people. Especially such a distinctive and beautiful girl.
“Then, do you know the meaning of ‘Christ’ and ‘Eurasia’?”
“Meaning? I only know them as part of your name.”
“I-I see…”
Snow merely tilted her head, looking puzzled. Apparently, only I, who knew about my previous world, felt a sense of awe towards this name.
However, I understood now.
Snow doesn’t know about my original world.
She must have simply heard the name ‘Christ Eurasia’ somewhere. But she doesn’t know from whom.
While I was speculating about the source of the information… Snow’s steps stopped in front of a certain room.
“…Here.”
Snow entered the room.
I followed behind her.
It was a spacious room.
Minimal furniture, with faint traces of habitation.
I thought there were many items for a newly prepared room.
Especially a lot of small accessory items. It looked as if a girl had been living there.
“Is this my room?”
“…No. It’s my room.”
My observation wasn’t wrong.
These were the traces of a girl’s life—or rather, Snow’s life.
“Why are we in your room now?”
“…I heard that you were to sleep here. The Guild Master’s room hasn’t been prepared yet.”
“Ah, unbelievable…!”
I groaned, clutching my head with both hands.
At the same time, I cursed Palinkron in my mind for deciding this.
“…I thought you’d say that. If there’s a problem, I’ll sleep on the roof.”
“Snow on the roof? That’s even more unbelievable. In that case, I’ll sleep in the corridor.”
“…I thought you’d say that too. I can sleep anywhere, but you won’t be satisfied. Troublesome, very troublesome. …So, I’ll compromise.”
“Compromise?”
As she said, Snow approached me with a very troublesome expression.
Then, she extended her hand towards me, about to touch me—
Sensing an abnormal amount of magic from her hand, I leaped back.
“—!”
“…Too bad.”
” you just tried to cast magic on me…”
“…Because it was troublesome, I wanted to knock you out by surprise. But I failed. You were stronger than me when we first met.”
Snow, looking disappointed, took off her thick jacket and lay down on the bed.
Even though she was still wearing clothes underneath, I averted my eyes, thinking it was tempting.
“Then, I’ll sleep in the corridor. I’ll be fine with a roof and a blanket.”
“…I feel bad about that. At least sleep in a corner of the room.”
“In that case, I’ll sleep in my sister’s room. It’s probably Palinkron’s harassment. There’s no need to obey his orders.”
“…I see. Then do so. But I did introduce you to this room as instructed by Palinkron. Please remember that.”
“Ah, I understand. I’ll be sure to remember it. …Well then, goodbye. Good night, Snow.”
“…Yes, good night.”
With that bedtime greeting, I left Snow’s room.
Snow doesn’t try to push her opinions.
When an argument seems likely, she immediately backs down. While finding her unusual willingness to compromise a bit strange, I headed towards Maria’s room.
Along the way, I felt the moonlight streaming through the corridor window and looked outside.
A crescent moon hung in the sky.
It was no different from the moon in my world—waxing and waning.
Since the moon had phases, the concepts of calendars and time seemed similar to my world.
It seems that if similar humans inhabit planets with similar environments, they arrive at similar ideas.
I found that coincidence disturbing.
It was too perfect, making me feel like I was living under someone’s thumb. It was unpleasant.
Come to think of it, today—it had been thoroughly unpleasant.
A sense of unease that I couldn’t quite name lurked constantly behind me.
The feeling of wrongness I’d felt since morning hadn’t faded.
I was making a mistake. I was forgetting something.
It was a more profound sense of wrongness than having fastened the wrong button.
With that unsettling feeling, I reached Maria’s room and entered.
“Maria… It’s me…”
“Older Brother…? Welcome back…”
Maria’s face brightened upon hearing my arrival.
Even upon meeting my beloved sister, the unease didn’t disappear.
However, I couldn’t continue to wear an unpleasant expression in front of Maria. I dismissed the reasons for my discomfort with a simple “It’s because it’s another world” and spoke kindly to Maria.
“Maria, has your headache stopped?”
“No, it’s gotten a little better… but a dull ache persists. Also, I have a strange sensation… like I’m doing something wrong… I feel a little nauseous…”
I was surprised.
Maria was experiencing the same feeling as me.
“It’s understandable since you’re not used to this Other World. Don’t think too deeply about it, just rest well for now.”
“Yes…”
I stroked Maria’s head, urging her to rest.
Her eye injury and burns hadn’t fully healed yet.
She definitely needed to rest as much as possible.
“Say, Maria, I don’t have a place to sleep tonight. Can I use this room?”
“…! O-of course! Rather, I wish you’d stay here all the time!”
“I see, that’s good. Then, I’ll borrow that chair.”
“No way! Sleeping on a chair! …Older Brother, let’s sleep together. The bed is wide, and we’re siblings, so it’s fine. You won’t be able to sleep properly on a chair, will you?”
“Eh, but—”
“Please, Older Brother.”
Maria’s tone was firm, and her expression was anxious.
Perhaps she was extremely worried and just wanted me to sleep with her.
We are siblings. Sleeping together for reassurance wouldn’t be particularly strange. While I felt we might be a little old to share a bed, I decided to overlook it, considering the current circumstances.
“Then, let’s do that.”
“Yes!”
Maria smiled happily, and I lay down beside my precious sister.
Then, Maria affectionately took my hand.
“Your hand is cold and feels good, Older Brother…”
Then, with a sense of relief, Maria relaxed her body.
From her appearance, I realized she had been tense the entire time I was gone.
Naturally.
Lost in an Other World, losing her sight, waiting for her brother in darkness—her heart couldn’t have found peace during that time. Until she touched me, Maria must not have felt safe even for a moment.
Even if I were given the Guild Master’s room, I decided in my heart to continue sleeping with Maria from now on.
Never to leave her side. I’d be there.
It felt like a promise I had made.
Remembering that promise, I felt the warmth of my cherished family through her palm.
However, the feeling of wrongness still wouldn’t disappear.
Even amidst the happiness of being with my sister, something felt unsatisfactory.
I shook my head slightly, trying to drive away the feeling of unease.
I need to rest now.
First, I must ensure our safety in this Other World.
While solidifying my position in Laura Via, I need to earn money for Maria’s medical expenses. To do that, I have to work hard starting tomorrow. I don’t have time to be troubled.
And so, I gripped Maria’s hand tightly and fell into a deep sleep.
Into a deep, deep slumber—
