kscans

Chapter 34 - A New Resolve

I led Tina inside the house.

We sat facing each other, and I told her everything.

The book I found on Earth. The master I met when I came to this world. A brief summary of my two years of training. Joining the guild.

And then, I told her about yesterday’s reunion and mortal combat with my friend on Earth.

I think I spoke for about an hour.

Tina listened in silence.

"Is that true? A world like that really exists? Do you have any proof?" she asked, her eyes filled with doubt.

It was a natural reaction. I went to a cupboard in the house and took out a digital clock. It was a solar-powered model that didn’t require battery changes.

Clocks existed in this world, too, but they were all spring-wound.

A guild employee had to wind them every morning. To me, it was an antique.

Tina looked at the clock.

"This is a clock? There are no hands, no hole to wind it up. The numbers just keep changing. I’ve certainly never seen anything like this in this country, or any other. I’ll believe you."

She set the clock down.

She continued, "And about the fight to the death on Earth. With your acquaintance... May I be frank?"

I nodded.

"In this world," Tina began, "it’s common to fight and kill people you know. No one pays it any mind, and no one blames you. In a life-or-death battle, no one knows who will live and who will die."

"I won’t say you shouldn’t feel guilt, but those who survive have a corresponding duty and responsibility. I’m not saying you have to do something amazing."

"...Just don’t forget. Never forget that you took a life. I’ve killed people, too. So many I can’t even count. But I still have to live. As an adventurer and as a human being, I will keep living until this life runs out. That is my answer."

I listened to Tina’s perspective.

In a way, her view was right and straightforward. In contrast, the way I came to this world was a thoughtless act, done on a whim. Yet, since arriving, I had been captivated by a constant stream of surprises and excitement.

...And when I killed for the first time, I did it with resolve.

...But my friend's death and his parents’ words had shaken my heart. Still, it was wrong for me to try to act pure now.

However, my classmate’s disappearance was being reported. If the investigation continued, they would eventually find their way to me.

I turned to Tina.

"Tina, I have a favor to ask. Will you come to Earth with me?"

Around noon. At my home on Earth.

I had finished my preparations and was waiting. The doorbell rang, and I went to the entrance.

I opened the door to find two police officers.

"Good afternoon. I’m Sergeant Tanaka, and this is my subordinate, Arai. You must be Kaikawa-san, who called us earlier. You said you had something to tell us regarding the disappearance of Takeo Wada."

I replied, "Welcome. I’m Shinsuke Kaikawa. Please, come in."

I invited the two of them inside.

I led them to a tatami room with a view of the garden, and we sat cross-legged across a low table. From the hallway, Tina, dressed in clothes from this world, brought two cups of tea.

The clothes were hand-me-downs from my mother. After placing the tea down and greeting the officers, Tina excused herself.

"Is that your wife?" Tanaka asked.

"No, she’s a friend, though we are in a relationship. She often comes over to help with housework."

Tanaka looked skeptical.

"I see. She appears to be a beautiful foreigner. Does she live in this town? It’s just that, as a rule, foreigners require a residence certificate to stay here. I’m just confirming."

"She was born and raised in Japan," I replied. "I believe her mother is Italian. I don’t think she has a residence certificate herself."

Tanaka seemed to accept this.

"I see. My apologies for the tactless question. Now, you said on the phone that you had something to show us regarding Wada-san’s case. What is it?"

Tanaka took a sip of his tea, and his subordinate did the same.

"Before that," I said, "I’d like to tell you about Wada-san and myself. We were classmates in middle school, but we hadn’t seen each other at all since graduation. Then, about two days ago, late at night, I was wandering through town looking for a bar to have a drink."

"I ran into him by chance. Since it was our first time seeing each other in a while, we went for a drink together. He told me he’d been fired from his job and was unemployed. I’m unemployed too, so we hit it off. When we left the bar, I invited him over to my house."

"The reason I invited him was that I told him I knew a way to make money even without a job. Wada-san agreed. He came over around noon yesterday, and I taught him how to bet on horse races. I made a killing at the Nakajima Kinen the other day. I invited him over to teach him the ropes."

"I have all the racing forms and data here at home, so I was teaching him until late afternoon. Then I got up to make us dinner—just cup noodles, though. That’s when I saw him from the kitchen window, walking toward the big tree in the garden."

"At the time, I figured he was just stretching his legs and didn’t think much of it. After dinner, I saw him off, and then I went straight to bed. I had nothing else to do, and I was sleepy."

"The next morning, I woke up and saw on the news that he was missing. I wondered if something had happened, and then I remembered seeing him walk toward that tree in the garden. So I went to have a look. The tree is what I wanted to show you. I’ll take you there."

After my long story, I walked with the two officers through the courtyard.

I led them to a large tree. Pinned to the back of it with nails was a straw doll.

Seeing it, Tanaka recoiled.

"Is this... a curse? Looks like someone held quite a grudge."

Tanaka’s face was tense. Arai had a similar expression.

"When I found this, I wasn’t sure if I should tell the police," I said. "After all, anyone who would go this far must have been in a very dark place mentally, and I didn’t think you’d believe me if I just showed up at the station. That’s why I asked you to come all the way out here."

As I finished speaking, Tanaka rubbed his eyes.

"Uh, yes. I’m sorry. I think I’m feeling a little dizzy. May I rest on the veranda for a moment?"

I nodded in assent.

Tanaka and Arai sat on the veranda, both looking weary.

Tina, who had appeared on the veranda at some point, approached them.

"Have you been convinced by what you were told today?" she asked, her voice imbued with magical power.

Tanaka replied, "Yes. It seems Wada-san was under a great deal of mental strain. We’ll proceed with the investigation based on this."

He spoke with a vacant expression.

Arai nodded in agreement.

Tina placed her hands on both their shoulders.

"Then I leave it in your hands."

As she spoke, both men snapped back to awareness with a jolt.

They seemed to wonder why they were sitting there, but I interjected.

"So, what do you think? Will this be helpful to your investigation?"

Tanaka replied, "Y-Yes. Just understanding Wada-san’s state of mind is a big help. Thank you for your cooperation today."

After thanking me, the two officers left the house.

Once I was sure they were gone, I asked, "The suggestion is set, but... is there any chance it will wear off?"

Tina answered, "It will be fine. On a person with magic, it would wear off in a few minutes, but those two had no magic at all. It will never fade. Besides, the suggestion itself is complex and hard to grasp. Without the will to try and understand it, it can’t be broken. As long as they don’t question it, the suggestion will hold forever. That’s the nature of suggestion via water magic."

I recalled seeing a suggestion-casting potion at a tool shop with Tina before. I had asked her if it was okay to sell such a thing. She explained that it wears off in minutes on anyone with magic, and it’s typically used on monsters to create an opening. The inhabitants of that world all have some magic, big or small, making them resistant to suggestion. But Earthlings, with no magic at all, could potentially be affected semi-permanently.

With that in mind, I had asked Tina for her help.

The plan was to call the police, tell them about my meeting with Takeo and what happened after, and then show them evidence of behavior that a person suffering from stress in modern society might exhibit. Even if my name came up during the investigation, the two officers’ report on Takeo’s state of mind would complicate things and likely clear me of suspicion.

"Thank you," I said to Tina. "You really helped me out."

"Not at all," she replied. "I’m just happy I could help. Besides, now I know that a world called Earth really exists. That said, don’t you think you should tell Leona, Bardos, and the others?"

"You’re right," I said. "Secrets always come out eventually. I learned that the hard way. The sooner I tell them, the better. Let’s go get them right now."

Tina agreed with my decision.

After returning to the other world, Tina and I went straight to the guild. We told ‘Beautiful Sword’ and Bardos we had something important to discuss and led them to my house.

Once everyone had gathered, I told them everything about myself and about Earth.

They didn’t believe me at first, but I used the magic circle to teleport them one by one to Earth and show them. After that, they were all convinced.

"I see," Bardos said. "So that’s why your armor and the way you use magic always seemed strange. You should’ve just told me. I don’t care where you’re from."

Leona responded to him, "It’s understandable. Even as partners, the story is just too incredible. We can handle it calmly because we know his character, but other people—especially nobles and royals—would never be able to ignore it."

"After all, it would mean a being that could threaten their way of life has appeared in this world. We know he wouldn’t do anything, but it’s difficult to convince people who don’t know him of that."

Leona explained it matter-of-factly.

Bardos conceded with a, "Well, I guess you’re right."

Milfy added, "We know that the person Tina has feelings for can’t be a bad person. Rumily and I aren’t worried at all."

Rumily nodded in agreement.

I had been truly lucky since coming to this world. I was realizing just how wonderful and pure trust could be.

I said to them all, "Thank you."

No other words came to mind.

Their expressions and gestures all said, Don’t worry about it.

Seeing this, Tina proposed, "I know! Since we’re all here, why don’t we go to the sea? I want Shinsuke to learn more about this country, and I think it would be a good change of pace. What do you think?"

Tina put her hands together as she made the suggestion.

Everyone agreed it was a great idea.

At that moment, I felt two things.

One was happiness for their consideration, and the other was excitement to see what the sea in this world was like.

Lost in thought, I gazed out the window at the distant view.

(Takeo, I will never forget that I killed you. But I have no intention of turning myself in. Even if that makes me a monster, I won’t change my mind. But I have no intention of falling into wickedness, either. I will atone for dragging you down a path of madness. So wait for me in hell. I’ll be there someday, too.)

I was lost in my thoughts.

I am a hunter.

Not one who simply hunts beasts.

I am one who hunts life and lives on what I take.

With new resolve and determination, I decided to live in this world.

Addendum:

The fracture in my left arm was completely healed by a High Potion Tina always carries.