While we waited for Matsumoto to arrive, I asked the ancient elf questions about the facilities .
“…I see . So these facilities…were built near dungeons with dragon veins, as it allowed them to gather the bare minimum of mana . And the mana was used to power the summoning experiments . ”
‘Positive . However, there are only four facilities remaining that I can identify . ’
“And are these experiments being carried out by actual ancient elves?”
‘Negative . The experiments would be carried out by the independent thought devices called ‘Nova . ’ I am one myself . ’
“Do you have a name?”
‘Positive . I was named Karma . ’
So, she wasn’t an ancient elf, but an ‘independent thought device . ’ An amazing tool that told you everything that you wanted to know . I was starting to wonder why it was telling me these things . You’d think they would be classified .
‘As there is an elf present, such restrictions have been lifted . ’
That seemed a little lax…
‘Furthermore, if it becomes known that you have ties with enemy forces, you and this entire facility will be destroyed . ’
And so extreme .
Just then, a door opened in the air and Rachel, Matsumoto, and Manager walked out .
“Mister Asagi… Master Rachel brought me here . Uh, where are we?”
“And I was dragged here too, for some reason . I was still talking to someone, so I would like to go back as soon as possible . ”
“Hmph . Can’t you see that I gathered everyone together that is from Japan?”
“What? Japan?”
Matsumoto looked at Manager and Rachel .
“…Ah, this person is Japanese! And master, you too?”
“Oh, so you didn’t know?”
“You never told me! I thought Mister Asagi was the only other one…ughhh…”
How lonely it must have been . But you haven’t felt anything yet .
“Matsumoto . Manager . Sorry for calling you like this, but there’s something I have to tell you . ”
“Did you learn something then?”
“Mister Asagi?”
“…”
This would hurt . But not as much as hiding it . I paced the room for a moment and then told them the truth .
I felt horrible . I could have gone the rest of life without seeing Manager cry like that .
“I…traveled all of this time…even though I felt like I was dying…even when I had to sell myself…it was all so I could one day return…! And yet…”
I hadn’t realized how hard it would have been for her to travel alone . Or maybe I hadn’t wanted to face it .
“Aaaah… No… No… Mom… Dad… . ! Aaahh…”
While he was a Hero, Matsumoto was still a kid . No matter how strong he was physically, he was still young mentally .
“Asagi…how…how can you be so calm…? You can never go back…! To your…family…!”
“I…I…wanted to go back too… But I made my decision…”
“…You’re a lucky one… I don’t have anything to keep me…”
“…”
I didn’t know what to say . I suppose I had been lucky in life . But…still…
“I’m sorry… But this doesn’t change anything between us . ”
“Ah… I know . I was just…lashing out…yes…”
She nodded . There was nothing I could do . I could have held her and comforted her . But knowing how she felt, and how it couldn’t be reciprocated… It would only hurt and humiliate her in the end .
“Daniela…”
“You do not have to say anything . Go and help Yasushi . ”
“…Yeah . ”
I had known this would happen… I was honestly regretting it now . But this was the only time I would be able to crush what little hope they had .
Matsumoto was staring at the floor as if he had lost his mind… No, he wasn’t staring anything at all .
“Matsumoto . ”
“…Oh… Asagi…”
He raised his head when I called him, but then it dropped back down again . I sat down next to him and stared at the floor .
“…Would you have preferred it if I hadn’t told you?”
“I…I was so sure that I would return one day . You know, isn’t that what always happens when you get sent to another world…?”
“Well…maybe…”
“But this…I guess it’s different…”
The reality was always harsh . Seeing things you didn’t want to see . Hearing things you didn’t want to hear .
“I can’t ever see my family again either… I felt so hopeless when I first realized it . ”
“So…you really are just like me . ”
“Yeah . Maybe a little different, but we’re in the same situation now . ”
One day, we were suddenly called to this world . Without warning or a choice . And the unfamiliar world had been full of trials for us .
But we both found someone to love…well, he found people who loved him, anyway .
“I wanted to see my family . But I couldn’t… . It was those times that Daniela supported me . A person I love who also loves me . Surely, there is someone like that in your life?”
“Someone I love…who loves me…”
“Yeah . ”
Matsumoto had saved many lives . There was a time when I felt like he was getting too excited, just because he was in a different world . But it wasn’t everyone who was able to save people and create such tight bonds . It was only possible because he had a kind personality .
“And I decided to live for her . You’ll have to decide what to live for too . ”
“Mister Asagi…”
He treated me with respect, just because I was older . But he had come here first and was much stronger . And yet, here we were . I wanted to help him and Manager . But I didn’t know if there was anything that I could do . All I could do was show them their options . However, as the one who had made the decision, I was the only one who could give them that .
“You know, living as a Hero and for those here that you love, is not a betrayal of those back home . ”
“…”
I told him that it was wrong to feel guilt over it . But maybe this was all very presumptuous of me . Maybe it was wrong to give up . And yet, I still wanted them to live without looking back .
After he had calmed down a little, Rachel took Matsumoto back to Lambrusen .
“Mister Asagi… I’m going to live here with the others . I don’t know if that’s the right decision, but I have to start from there . ”
He said as he smiled weakly . His eyes were still puffy, but but there was determination there .
He was strong after all . And he was only getting stronger . He had already changed from just a few minutes ago . Having a strong heart was something you needed to live . It was a hard trick for me to learn . But he was different…maybe it was because he was a Hero .
As for Manager, she cried into Daniela until she fell asleep from exhaustion . Neither I or Daniela could do anything . And so we just sat there . Manager had her head on Daniela’s lap, but she opened her eyes before too long .
“Uhh…”
“You’re up . ”
“…Ah…so I’m still here…”
It was as if she had hoped to wake up and find that it had all been a dream .
“Reality… Ah… Oh, well . ”
“It cannot be helped?”
Daniela suggested .
“You will have to continue on . You are here . In this world . ”
“…Yeah . ”
“Yes . ”
Manager wiped at her eyes, which were just as puffy as Matsumoto’s . Then she grinned .
For better or worse, she was quick to adapt . That was important for survival . It was a good thing .
It was an important trick to living .