Huh, what’s wrong?
“I’ve pretty much finished writing, so I have plenty of time before midnight. I’ve run out of things to write in the preface,” I thought, but where did that previous self who was planning all sorts of victory declarations go?
“I was sca-red! I was scared…!”
Sahzan, who had thrown herself into my chest, clung to me as if I were her only refuge.
…No, perhaps it wasn’t “as if.”
“Alex, Ringo, Mitsuki, everyone, everyone died… I have to do something, but…!”
The Soul Ring Bracelet on Sahzan’s left arm was something I brought from the world before rewinding. In other words, that bracelet should be filled with the memories of Sahzan from the previous world, the memories of her friends being killed by a Fragment of the Evil God, and her last desperate act to hold back the Evil God.
“But I was really scared! I didn’t want to be left alone, I couldn’t possibly do this. But, but, only you, only Soma, had to go…”
Now, I understand. Sahzan must have unleashed the Fragment of the Evil God within herself to stop that Fragment of the Evil God. All I could do was sift through shallow memories, so I didn’t know what kind of mechanism was involved, whether it was the power of the Priestess of Sealing or the habit of the Fragment of the Evil God. However, as a result, the largest fragment in the Capital City collided with the Fragment of the Evil God sealed on Sahzan’s right arm, and she managed to hold it back.
“I thought I’d try my best until the end. Even if I couldn’t win, I’d keep him pinned down for as long as possible. But then, he looked at me and laughed, and something flew at me…”
Only, I know that ending too. The slightly smaller Fragment of the Evil God that disappeared before my eyes after activating the Ritual magic must have been Sahzan’s. Sahzan’s sealed Fragment of the Evil God lost, and Sahzan…
“My legs got hot, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t understand anything…! I hurt, I was scared, I couldn’t do anything! I don’t want to be alone, please help me, I really need help—”
“Sahzan!”
I impulsively pulled Sahzan, who was continuing her confession in a trembling voice, closer.
“…Ah.”
Her voice was vacant. I felt the lightness of her unresisting body as pain. So…
“…I’m sorry.”
The words spilled out of my mouth naturally.
“So-ma?”
I embraced her again, her body still dazed with her heart left in the previous world. And then I said the words I hadn’t been able to say until now. The words I wanted to say to our departed friends but couldn’t.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. …You did well.”
The moment I said that…
“Ugh… Uuu, aaaahhhhhh!”
Sahzan cried. She let out a cry like a young child. Gently supporting Sahzan’s small back, I whispered again with a heart full of emotions, “Thank you, Sahzan. …Welcome back.”
“…Are you calmer now?”
When I spoke, Sahzan bashfully lowered her eyes and nodded slightly, “Yeah.” Well, even if she turned her face away like that, her expression was hidden by her mask, so it was best not to mention it.
“I’m embarrassed I showed you that, I… and…”
“Haha, it’s too late for that, isn’t it?”
“That’s why, things like this… Ah, honestly!”
Sahzan pouted in annoyance, not meeting my eyes, and said quickly, “Just, for the record, since I received your help, uh… thank you.” Hearing her words, which were so typical of Sahzan, I let out a small chuckle. Hearing that, she pouted, “What’s with that reaction?!” but seeing her like that, I felt relieved.
“It looks like you’re doing okay now. Well, it’s getting late…”
“W-wait!”
As I was about to wrap things up, Sahzan called out. And, “Can we… sleep here together tonight?” I was taken aback by her unexpected proposal.
I thought for a moment and shook my head. I understood her anxiety, but it wouldn’t be good.
“Ah. I told you before, didn’t I? You might not realize it, but you’re a girl…”
“A-and, listen!”
However, my words were again interrupted by a desperate-looking Sahzan.
“I think it’s only fair to say this, so I will. I saw… just for a moment, the last thoughts of Soma from before the world rewound.”
Ah, I remembered. Right before rewinding, I picked up the bracelet and put it in my bag. Perhaps a little of my memory and thoughts were imprinted on the bracelet at that time.
“And I was so happy to know you cared about me too, so… that’s why, I trust you.”
When she said that with a shy smile, I had no choice but to agree. This is different from that, or rather, that’s precisely why, I thought, but saying such a thing in front of her pure smile would be tactless. Yes, I just need to maintain my resolve. This is unavoidable.
“…Just for today, okay?” Accepting my fate, I said that, and Sahzan nodded with a more buoyant voice, “Yeah!”
“Um, hey. Tell me your story.”
“My story?”
“I’ll be intruding,” Sahzan said, entering the bed with a deliberately haughty but clearly nervous demeanor. The one who broke the strange tension that had lasted for a while was Sahzan’s words.
“Yeah. You were in a different world than this one, right? I don’t know much about you, Soma. So, I want to hear that story.”
“My world’s story, huh…”
At that point, I hesitated a little. In many isekai transfer stories, the protagonist, even if they are around high school age, uses their modern knowledge to reform the fantasy world. The sheer destructive power of it gave rise to terms like “modern knowledge cheat.” However, come to think of it, as a university student who spent his life playing games, I hardly possess any knowledge that a normal high school student would take for granted. I don’t know how to mix black powder, the principles of ancient martial arts, how to make miso or soy sauce, the military strategies used in past wars, the forging process of a katana, or even the correct way to make compost. I have very meager knowledge, far from being a modern knowledge cheat.
“Is it… no? If not, then that’s fine…”
Seeing me silent, perhaps mistaking it for a rejection, Sahzan said sadly. I hurriedly denied it.
“No, it’s not bad! It’s not that I can’t tell you. It’s just that the stories I can tell aren’t that interesting. They’re mostly useless, trivial things…”
But Sahzan just smiled happily when she heard that.
“That’s fine. …That’s good.”
I didn’t quite understand the meaning of her words, but I made up my mind. Without thinking, I opened my mouth on impulse. “Um, well, what should I talk about first? …Let’s see. As I mentioned before, there are no monsters or magic in my world. Instead, science and technology have developed…”
After that, I told Sahzan about modern Japan, as much as I knew. It was refreshing to have Sahzan, who usually did most of the talking, actively listen, and my words flowed smoothly. I was surprised at how many topics lay dormant within me. Surprisingly, Sahzan was more interested in things that were more mundane and closely related to daily life than in overt “science and technology” like airplanes, cars, missiles, or nuclear weapons. Fully automatic washing machines and microwaves. Mail-order shopping, frozen foods, and cup ramen. It’s probably a quirk that her range of interest is biased towards food. And then…
“There haven’t been any wars in Japan for a long time, and I think it’s a relatively prosperous and peaceful country, but there are social problems, problems that arise precisely because it’s peaceful, you see.”
“Social problems?”
“Uh, how should I put it? For example…”
Is it rude to say this is surprising too? Sahzan also showed interest in social issues such as an aging society, a widening gap in wealth, an increase in NEETS and unmarried people. Then, following that thread, I briefly talked about game addicts and botters. …Well, of course, I haven’t gone that far. As we lay in the same bed, talking about trivial things for hours,
“So, the disadvantage of digital distribution is… Sahzan?”
“…Mm, ugh.”
Sensing her lack of response, I looked over and saw that our Priestess of Sealing had already fallen into a peaceful sleep. Seeing her contentedly relaxed mouth, she seemed to be okay now.
“Good night, Sahzan.”
So I whispered, closed my eyes, and immediately fell into the abyss of sleep.
“…Nn.”
My consciousness was awakened by a sudden heat. I vaguely sensed a presence in front of me. But I was too lazy to think, and just as I was trying to return to sleep,
“—Good morning, Soma.”
A mysterious voice, one that seemed familiar yet unlike any I had heard before, pulled my consciousness from its slumber. I slowly opened my eyes and was stunned by the scene I saw right in front of me.
“Miti-a?”
The face of the girl I was familiar with yet had only seen once. As I muttered in amazement at her face, now that she had taken off her mask, “Yes. Good morning, Soma.” she greeted me again, looking pleased. But I had more pressing matters. My drowsy consciousness instantly awakened.
“Why? What about the mask?”
Laughing at my flustered state, she thrust out her left arm. “This ‘Soul Ring Bracelet’ seals souls and memories, so it can also be used as an aid in sealing the Evil God. If I have two of them, it’s okay to take off a tool, a mask, for a little while.”
“I see.”
Now that I think about it, Sahzan had also mentioned something about having another one of these bracelets before. Was that what she meant?
“Um, but Saha- Mitia.”
As I faltered, she chuckled softly. “It’s okay to call me Sahzan. Being called Mitia by Soma feels a little ticklish.”
“Then, Sahzan, is that okay?”
It felt strange to call her Sahzan with her mask off, but she was still Sahzan to me, not Mitia. I decided to call her that without hesitation.
“Why did you go out of your way to take off your mask? You didn’t just want to prove that it’s okay to take it off, did you?”
When I asked, Sahzan’s expression turned serious. “Because there’s something important I need to talk about. I felt that I should say this as myself, when I’m not wearing the mask, when I’m not influenced by the Evil God.”
“I see…”
Sahzan’s mask was for releasing and dissipating the sealed power of the Evil God. While wearing it, her personality was affected. It’s probably not like becoming a completely different person, but it must be a story important enough to not allow even that.
“A-nd…”
“Hm?”
At that point, Sahzan’s serious face broke into a slightly embarrassed smile. “And, I wanted you to see my real face when you woke up, not my mask.”
Her saying that with her mask off, looking so earnest, was like a foul. Seeing that Sahzan had also realized she had said something strange, her face turned bright red. I coughed deliberately to clear the awkward atmosphere and urged her to continue, “S-so, what’s this important talk?”
“Well. I… no, my… ”
“I think it’s okay to say it the way that’s easier for you,” I said, not necessarily out of revenge for what happened before, but to be helpful. Sahzan seemed to think for a moment, then said, “Yes. …Indeed. It seems I’ve changed, not just because of the mask.” She said that with a hint of sadness, but also a hint of happiness.
“Isn’t that for the best? If you told me now that everything about you as Sahzan was a lie, I’d be in trouble.”
“…Soma.”
Even with the Evil God’s influence, living for several years with a completely different personality, it’s unlikely that her original self would remain unchanged. The current her is probably an intermediate personality between the former Mitia and the masked Sahzan. It’s not good or bad, it’s just how things are.
Sahzan looked at me intently again and said thank you. Then, composing her features, she continued, “As you know from seeing my memories, there’s still a Fragment of the Evil God sealed in my right arm. And even if this fragment is defeated, the power contained within it will fly to the main body, and the seal on the main body will break. To truly liberate my clan, there is no other way but to completely defeat the Evil God, not just deal with this fragment.”
“…Ah.”
“But, unfortunately, I can’t defeat it alone. Therefore, I want you to lend me your strength.”
At that, Sahzan bowed her head.
“—Please. Please defeat the Evil God with me.”
Of course, the answer was already decided. Sahzan is also my comrade. I couldn’t possibly abandon her. It was just a little embarrassing to say so directly.
“…Far to the north, high in the sky, there’s a Dungeon called Sky City.”
“Eh?”
Ignoring Sahzan’s bewilderment at the sudden change of topic, I continued, “The core of the Evil God’s fragment is in a high place. Without the Pegasus’s Shoes there, it’s difficult to fight. …So…”
I smiled awkwardly at Sahzan, who was blinking in surprise. “So, after that, if you’d like, I’ll lend you my strength.” My indirect words. But she nodded happily and said, “Thank you!” and smiled.
I thought that was the end of the conversation, but there was still more.
“Um, yes. There’s actually one more thing I wanted to say.”
“One more thing?”
Sahzan nodded shyly at my words. “Yeah. I’ve also found a goal, a dream, and I wanted Soma to hear it.”
“A dream…?”
I never expected to hear such a word here. To my surprise, Sahzan began to speak with genuine delight. “Until now, I vaguely thought I didn’t want to do difficult things, or I wanted to be relieved by defeating the Evil God, and that’s all I thought about. But after hearing Soma’s stories, the stories of Soma’s world, a peaceful world, I clearly understood what I wanted to aim for.”
She spoke with a resolute yet lively demeanor, her will as firm as I had never seen in her before. “Of course, even if the Evil God disappears, the world won’t immediately become peaceful. This world and Soma’s world are different in many ways, and I’m sure things won’t go smoothly… But I’ve decided already.” It was probably a dream of a girl living in this world, not a bearer of sealing. Gifting me her sparkling eyes, she spread her arms wide and declared loudly, as if pouring out her overflowing feelings and shaping her unspoken thoughts, “I will definitely defeat the Evil God with Soma. Then I will bring peace to the world, and if I do that—”
“—I’m going to be a NEET!!”
A modern knowledge NEET!!
With Sahzan’s related plot points resolved, and this intermission concluded, the main story will begin next time.
