2 - To Live in This World
At first, he thought it was coming from somewhere far away, but as his consciousness cleared, he realized it was an unbearable noise ringing out right beside him.
The morning of the second day of his life in another world. It began with a shrill metallic sound.
"Wake up! It's morning!"
Wondering what was happening, Ray hurriedly sat up to find Rui banging a wooden stick against the iron bars of the door.
"Shut up! I'm already awake!"
"You overslept. The sun has been up for ages."
"What time is it now?"
"Who knows?"
From Rui's tone, Ray gathered that there were no clocks, at least not in this cave. Nor did they seem to have a habit of sleeping in. He had no choice but to get out of bed and head toward the exit of the room.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, much better than I expected."
He had complained plenty about the room, but once he actually lay down in the bed, he had fallen asleep instantly. Ray hadn't realized it, but he seemed to have been quite exhausted.
"I see. Well, go wash your face."
"Where?"
"In the back."
"The back? Not outside?"
There were clearly no water pipes. Ray had assumed he would wash his face at a river or a well, which he thought would be outside the cave.
"There's a place where water flows in the back. That's the water source."
"I see. It's well-made."
Though he didn't know if the cave had been artificially modified or if it was naturally like that, it seemed to be reasonably easy to live in.
"Of course it is, it's a home."
Rui puffed out her chest proudly toward the impressed Ray.
(Even if you thrust that flat chest at me, I won't feel anything.)
Keeping those words to himself, Ray headed to the back as told. He found the water source immediately without needing to search.
Water flowed in from the bottom of the cave wall. It passed through a slightly wide reservoir and was sucked into the opposite wall.
It really was well-made. As he crouched down and scooped up water with his palm, the coldness, greater than he expected, instantly blew away the lingering sleepiness.
"This feels great."
After washing his face a few times, he felt somewhat refreshed. Managing to resist the temptation to douse his entire body in water, Ray headed to the room where everyone was likely waiting.
"Ah, look, it's the sleepyhead!"
Kara, spotting Ray, called out happily.
(Yeah, she really is cute.)
While his heart was healed by Kara, Ray sat in an empty seat.
"Sorry. I lost track of time."
"You don't need to worry about it. You'll get used to it eventually."
"I hope so."
"Are you hungry?"
"...I think I am, but maybe I'm not. I didn't have a habit of eating breakfast originally."
"I see. That's helpful."
"Helpful?"
The flow of conversation felt a bit strange. Ray had expected a scene where a delicious breakfast was prepared, but it seemed he was mistaken.
"Actually, we don't have much of a habit of eating meals."
"Eh? Is it okay not to eat?"
"Yes. Well, drinking once every few days is enough."
"Drinking?"
"Blood."
"...Excuse me?"
Unexpected words flew from Kamiira's mouth. Thinking he had misheard, wanting to believe he had, Ray asked again.
"We primarily get our nutrition from blood."
"...Are you perhaps vampires?"
"Ah, I hate that name. That's just what the Human Race calls us on their own."
In other words, he was correct in a sense.
"Um, Vampires?"
He tried to recall the conversation about races from yesterday. In the end, he figured they were just using a different name.
"Close. One letter off."
"Eh?"
"We are the Vampio race. Please remember it correctly."
"Vampio. So it's a bit different from my original world."
"What do you mean? Are you remembering it wrong?"
"Actually, in my original world, there were imaginary beings called Vampires."
"...I see, how strange. Well, fine. Our name is the Vampio race. That is the correct name for our race."
In another world, a similar existence went by a race name that was one letter different. Ray vaguely thought that perhaps various worlds were connected in some way.
"May I ask something rude?"
"Don't ask anything rude."
"Ah, then never mind."
"I'm joking. What is it?"
"If my blood is sucked, do I become a Vampio too?"
"Yes. If we suck your blood with that intention, that's what happens."
"With that intention?"
"Increasing our kin that way is something we rarely do. It's a last resort for when the race is on the brink of extinction."
"Why?"
The Vampio race of this world was slightly different from the vampires of Ray's knowledge. Though his knowledge of original vampires wasn't the truth either.
"I want to bear children from my own womb. Our race has a hard time having children. That's why we want to cherish blood ties. A blood tie through becoming kin is something thin. It cannot be called family."
"...I think I understand."
"Anyway, that's why we don't have a habit of making meals."
"Then what should I do? I don't have the confidence to live on blood once every few days."
He understood what kind of beings Kamiira and the others were. However, there had been no explanation yet regarding Ray's own meals.
"I know that. I'll procure food later."
"Then I'll help too. It's for my own sake."
"I'd like you to, but..."
From Kamiira's tone, Ray realized there were other problems. On the second day of his life in another world, Ray began to feel its harshness.
"Is there some problem?"
"Are you strong?"
"I have no confidence at all."
"I thought so. What about magic?"
"I can't use it."
Kamiira asked if he could use magic as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Magic did indeed exist in this world. Knowing that made Ray a little happy.
"You can't use magic either?"
"Magic didn't exist in my original world."
"This is going to be an uphill battle."
"I'm sorry."
To live in this place, the power to fight was necessary. Ray understood this through his conversation with Kamiira. Lacking that, Ray had no choice but to rely on Kamiira.
"It's not something you need to apologize for. Well then, I should make this clear."
"What is it?"
"Don't leave this cave."
"Not even one step?"
The area outside the cave was already a danger zone. This was unexpected for Ray. No wonder Kamiira said it would be an uphill battle.
"One step is fine. Let's see. About twenty meters from the cave exit."
"That's close. What happens if I go further?"
"I can't guarantee your life. Well, you'd be fine if I were by your side."
"Why is that?"
"This area is a dangerous place with a large number of Magic Beasts."
"To intentionally live in such a place... ah, that's exactly why it's dangerous."
Ray could figure that much out, he wasn't stupid. Rather, he was quite intelligent. He just hadn't used it.
"Exactly. Because the Human Race won't come near."
"Then, is Kamiira-san the only one who can walk around?"
"Rui is fine to a certain extent too."
In other words, Rui was also far stronger than Ray. When Ray looked over, she was puffing out her chest proudly again.
(I'm telling you, I have no interest in flat chests.)
While thinking that, Ray spoke of something else.
"That's inconvenient. Or rather, at this rate, I'll be eternally dependent on your care."
"True. You can't leave this place."
"It's not that I particularly want to leave. It's just, being looked after without being able to do anything is a bit..."
"Then, do you want to try training a bit?"
"Can I become strong if I train?"
"There's a possibility. No, you will surely become strong. More than you think."
Kamiira told him this with strange confidence. Ray took it as her encouraging him.
"I hope so. But regardless of the result, it's better than doing nothing. Could you please?"
"Yes, of course."
"...Ray is unfair."
"That's right. Only Ray gets to do it, it's unfair."
"True, then shall Kai and Kara start training too? That would be just right."
"Yay!" "I did it!"
Ray couldn't honestly be happy about having companions to train with. Those two would undoubtedly become stronger than Ray. Imagining himself losing to children about ten years younger made him feel a bit sad. Even so, he couldn't afford to do nothing.
"Well, shall we begin?"
"Ah, already?"
"Oh, are you motivated?"
"Of course I am! But I wondered where we'd start."
"For Ray-kun, it's decided. First, from the point of becoming able to use magical power. You can't move forward without that."
"Huh? Just me?"
"Kai and Kara are of the Demon Race. They've known how to use magical power since birth."
"Ah, I see..."
It seemed Ray had misunderstood. It wasn't that the two would become stronger than Ray, they were already strong.
(Hey, Rui. This isn't the time to laugh. It's the time to encourage me.)
He appealed in his heart to Rui, who was looking at him with a smirk, but naturally, it didn't reach her. —And so, the magic lesson began immediately.
"There are stages to releasing magic. The process of awakening magical power, then the process of circulating it within the body. After that, you convert the attribute as needed and release it outward."
"What about chanting?"
"Chanting is merely an aid. To perform the processes I just mentioned smoothly. First, you attempt to use magic without chanting. Once you can do that, you use chanting to increase efficiency."
"I see. I understand."
"Then, starting with the process of awakening the magical power in your body. To do that, you first have to feel the magical power."
"That makes sense."
"I'm going to flow my magical power into your body now. Feel it, and search for the same existence within yourself. Understand?"
"Vaguely, in my head."
"Well, it's a sensation. Actually trying it is the best way."
Saying this, Kamiira stood behind Ray and placed her hands on both his shoulders. Again, Kamiira's sweet scent tickled Ray's nostrils. It felt as if his heart were floating. For Ray, this was like a reward and torture at the same time.
"Discard your stray thoughts."
"...Yes."
Every time Ray thought of something impure, Kamiira warned him. He couldn't help but feel his thoughts were being read. Eventually, Ray felt something warmer than a palm on both shoulders.
"...How is it? Do you feel something?"
Kamiira whispered gently in Ray's ear. This was, honestly... too deliberate.
"Are you doing this on purpose?"
"I've been found out. I'm joking. It's just that Ray-kun's reactions are funny."
"Please be serious. Also, about my shoulders, it feels like they're holding heat."
"Ah, yes. That's my magical power. Now I'll let it permeate into your body."
"Permeate?"
"Yes. I'll follow the path of the magical power. If I do, I'll reach the place where magical power gathers somewhere in the body. I'll stimulate that spot."
"I've got a vague image of it."
"Really? That's a good thing. Image is more important than anything in magic."
"Yes."
However, things became difficult from here. The heat around his shoulders continued to rise, but there was no sign of it spreading into his body.
"...Is it perhaps not working?"
"Yes, the path is narrow. The magical power isn't flowing as intended."
"Is that how it is? Is it because I've never used magical power?"
"Probably. Well, let's go slowly without rushing."
"Yes. Please."
Slowly without rushing. Ray was told that, but internally he was quite anxious. The fact that Kamiira was struggling made him feel that his body was simply not suited for using magical power. Ray could feel it spreading bit by bit, but it hadn't left the area of his shoulders yet.
"Um?"
"What? It's fine even if you don't rush, we have plenty of time."
"What kind of path does magical power take?"
"It's not known exactly. It's thought to be close to the path where blood flows, or perhaps the same."
"Blood vessels, or near them. Um."
"What?"
"Can you flow it from the nape of my neck? Ah, maybe the collarbone?"
Saying this, Ray pointed to the position of his collarbone with his finger.
"...I'll try it."
Kamiira shifted the position of her hands slightly as Ray suggested and tried the same thing again. Ray felt the temperature descend from around the collarbone.
"Did it pass through?"
It had been a random suggestion, but it seemed to have worked.
"I'll continue."
He felt his entire body gradually becoming warm. Just as he thought it had spread considerably, he felt the area around his stomach suddenly become hot.
"Found it!"
Apparently, that was the gathering place for magical power. It was the place commonly called the dantian. Kamiira had told him to search for it himself, but Ray felt that what was happening now wasn't on that level. He felt as if his own magical power was being forcibly dragged out from the gathering place. That sensation spread through his body.
But as a result, it worked. Heat equal to or greater than the magical power Kamiira flowed began to cover Ray's entire body.
"You're feeling it. Don't let it go."
"Yes."
He concentrated his consciousness on the magical power. He focused on the flow so as not to lose sight of it.
"I'll withdraw my magical power. Grip it firmly so you don't get swept away by it."
"Yes."
Ray felt Kamiira's magical power receding.
"Ignore my magical power! Concentrate on your own power!"
Without the warning, his consciousness would have almost been entirely taken away by Kamiira's magical power. To not lose sight of it, to continue feeling the flow. He simply concentrated his consciousness deeply. Then, rather than his head, some kind of sensation gripped it firmly. After that, he was enveloped in a mysterious feeling. The self within himself. It raced through his body. However, the floating sensation stopped abruptly at a certain point.
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"I feel like something is caught, and it feels unpleasant."
"I imagine so. That's what I mean by the path being narrow."
"Is that so..."
"Ray-kun's immediate tasks have been decided."
"What are they?"
"Becoming able to awaken magical power freely on your own, and circulating magical power to widen the path."
"I see. That certainly seems necessary."
"If it's that, you can do it just by sitting. You won't even have to go outside."
"But, if that's the case..."
Ray felt a bit disappointed, thinking that training that could be done only inside the cave would be limited, but Kamiira, sensing his feelings, gently admonished him.
"Don't rush. Building a foundation is important for anything. Only when the foundation is firmly established can the things built upon it be high and large. Think of it that way and work hard with patience."
"Yes."
Those words instantly filled him with motivation. Moreover, Ray was sufficiently happy just knowing that he, an Otherworlder, possessed magical power. When the guidance for Ray ended, Kamiira moved to the training of Kai and Kara. They left the cave and went outside. Ray decided to watch from near the entrance, while continuing the circulation of magical power.
"Alright. Shall we begin?"
"Mm." "Yes."
Kai and Kara stood lined up in front of Kamiira. It seemed they were a bit nervous for their first training.
"It's too early to hold swords. For a while, it'll be basic taijutsu. Now, imitate Mother."
Saying so, Kamiira took a light stance. The two children imitated her.
"Right. From here, a thrust diagonally forward. Ha!"
"Ya!" "Ei!"
"Next, the same with the other hand. Now!"
"Ya!" "Ei!"
"Now, continue. Fu! Ha!"
"Ya! To!" "Ei! Ya!"
If he only heard the voices, a heartwarming scene of cute children learning karate or something from their mother would come to mind, but what was before his eyes was not such a gentle thing. Along with the shouts, he heard the sound of fists cutting through the air. Ray could not clearly see the movements of the fists being unleashed one after another.
"Man, this brings back memories. I was like that at first too."
Rui spoke happily to the surprised Ray.
"Were you like that from the start?"
"Well, yeah. Since those two are beginners, that's probably how it is."
Ray and Rui's conversation was not clicking.
"No, not that."
"Hm?"
"Are the Vampio race so amazing even as children?"
"Amazing? They're just throwing thrusts. What's amazing about that?"
"Then I'll change how I ask. Do the Human Race of this world have about that much power?"
"Who knows? I've never seen a human. But they can probably do about that much."
"I guess so. Since they're fighting."
The Human Race of this world was at war with the Demon Race, who possessed that kind of power even as children. While he wouldn't say they were equal, they must have close abilities. Ray's feelings, which had been elated just by being able to move magical power, cooled instantly. The people of this world were abnormal. In terms of physical ability, even Olympic athletes might not be a match for the average person of this world. Thinking about that, his own weakness became unbearably pathetic.
"Is something wrong?"
"I can't move my fists that fast. The power is on a different level too."
"...Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"Man, at this rate, you'll never be able to leave the vicinity of the cave for the rest of your life. Even for me, depending on the Magic Beast I encounter, defeating it can be tough."
"I have no choice but to train."
"That's true, but."
"Anyway, I have to get as close as possible."
"...Well, good luck."
Anyway, he had to train his body. That said, there was no way there was a special method, so Ray decided to do plain muscle training on the spot. First, squats. He set the goal at one hundred reps.
"...What are you doing?"
Rui, wondering about Ray who was repeating standing and sitting, asked.
"Huff, muscle, huff, train, huff."
"I have no idea what you're saying!"
"Huff, body, huff, train, huff, ing, huff."
"Enough already."
Thinking he was being made fun of, Rui became a bit sulky. But Ray had no room to care about that. He continued the squats until the end.
"What is it now?"
When Ray started something different, Rui spoke to him again. Just watching Kai and Kara's training was boring.
"Huff, huff, muscle, huff."
"...I really don't get it."
"Ab, huff, dom, huff, in, huff, al, huff, muscles, huff, train, gueh!"
Rui's fist slammed into Ray's stomach. The person probably intended it to be light, but for Ray who received it, it felt like he'd been punched with full force. The air was instantly knocked out of him, and he felt like he was suffocating.
"Explain yourself properly!"
"Cough, cough. Wh-what are you doing! That hurts!"
"It's your fault for not paying attention to me!"
"I'm in the middle of training!"
"You're just lying down, aren't you?"
"I'm lifting my upper body!"
"What meaning does that have?"
"I'm training my abdominal muscles."
"Can you train with something like that?"
"This kind of training existed in the world I was in."
"Hmm. But there's a better way."
"Seriously?"
"Try putting strength into your stomach."
"O-oh."
He put strength into his abs as Rui told him.
"Are you putting it in? Alright, here I go. Take this!"
"Gubaa!"
A tremendous impact assaulted Ray's stomach. A pain as if his internal organs were twisting.
"Huh? Hey, are you okay?"
Rui's voice sounded distant. And then, Ray's vision was immediately dyed in darkness.
◇◇◇
"...Are you... Ray-kun, Ray-kun!"
And when he came to, Kamiira's face was right in front of him.
"Hm?"
Crimson eyes, as if harboring flames, looked at Ray worriedly. Kamiira's hair falling on his face was a bit ticklish. Kamiira smelled of the usual sweet scent.
"Are you awake?"
"Ah, yes."
"Honestly, Rui. What are you doing?"
"But, this guy..."
"Ray-kun did what?"
"It's his fault for being weak."
(Rui, that's not an excuse.)
"Rui!"
As expected, Kamiira raised her voice at Rui's answer.
"But I didn't punch him with full force."
"Even so, there's no doubt you punched him enough to knock him unconscious, right!? Before making such excuses, apologize to Ray-kun!"
"Ah, I'm fine. Rui didn't do it with malice."
"But. Are you okay? Is there any pain?"
"...I'm fine."
To be honest, pain still remained, but thinking that Rui would be scolded further if he said so, Ray kept quiet.
"I see. Then I'm relieved."
"Yes."
"So? Why did it come to Rui punching Ray-kun?"
"I was training my abdominal muscles. Rui said there was a better way than what I was doing."
"And so she punched your stomach?"
"Yes."
"So that's what happened. Well, in that case, Rui certainly had no malice."
"See!"
"But, not being able to gauge the opponent's strength is no good."
"Y-yeah."
"From the look of it, Ray-kun hasn't done that kind of training. It's the same as magic. Don't rush, you have to train steadily. Especially the Human Race, unlike other races, their growth is slow. Ray-kun isn't exactly human, but I think it's the same in that regard."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Rather than the Human Race being slow, other races are fast. The Demon Race and Elf Race grow a considerable amount during childhood. Conversely, their growth stops there."
"Growth stops?"
"Yes. Otherwise, other races would never be pressured by the Human Race. Both the Demon Race and Elf Race are far longer-lived than the Human Race. As for the Elf Race, some live for several hundred years. If they continued to grow throughout that time, other races wouldn't be able to compete, right?"
They could continue training for several hundred years. If they continued to grow throughout that time, they would certainly become incredibly strong. However, it was designed not to be so. Ray wondered if some kind of will was at work.
"Why is it like that?"
Ray asked the question that came to mind.
"I don't know. But there's one thing I do know."
"What is it?"
"It seems that living for several hundred years is difficult. For the Elf Race, not only does physical growth stop, but mental growth stops as well. Apparently, that's necessary to live through several hundred years. When the mind becomes aged, the Elf Race reaches the end of its lifespan. That's how it's been passed down."
"...Getting tired of living. Is it something like that?"
Ray understood this feeling a little. Not several hundred years, but a life of a little over ten years, not that he was tired of it, but that he had given up. Despite having no memories, such a thought surfaced in Ray's heart.
"Yes. I think it's something like that."
"The Demon Race too?"
"...The Demon Race doesn't have the luxury of getting tired of living."
As she said this, Kamiira's eyes held a sad color. For the Demon Race, this world was a harsh one. Far from getting tired of living, it was a world where they had to do their utmost just to survive. Ray could not voice the words that came to mind. He didn't think it was right for him, who didn't know those hardships, to say it so easily. Ray felt, albeit vaguely, the true meaning of the harshness of living in another world.