chapter 31

Yukinari: “Looking at the expansion abilities, there seems to be a difference.”

Well, in the first place, from looking at the trend of my abilities, it seems like it’s for procuring goods from Japan. You can’t really judge it as anything else from its expansion ability for point conversion transfer. So, the fundamental purpose of my ability is completely different from that of Meguru-san’s.

Given that I can see how it might turn out to an extent, if we find a safe place… for example, a village or a town, if we find a place with people like that, I plan on finding an opportunity to tell them about my returning to Japan. By then, everyone should have calmed down.

Meguru: “But if I become able to send items, then Yukinari-kun’s role will be completely…”

Yukinari: “Impossible, it won’t happen.”

Hagisawa: “That’s right. At the moment, Hanebashi can order items from modern Japan. Claiming that Meguru-san’s ability is an inferior version of his is wrong.”

Hagisawa, you’ve really changed. It feels like we get along better than we did before the transfer… Wondering what kind of expression he’ll make when I reveal that I’m the only one who can return home makes me a little nervous.

Shigenobu: “When Yukinari becomes Lv 10, he might gain a similar ability for transferring people. It’s still too early to apologize.”

Shigenobu also comforts Meguru-san with his answer. Yup, if that happens, I’ll… send everyone back to Japan. That much is clear.

Yukinari: “That’s why it’s fine for Meguru-san… to not worry about me.”

Meguru: “Okay… then shall we go back to discussing about battling at night?”

I nod in response to Meguru-san’s words.

“Yeah, if we go somewhere far away from the base, there’s a much higher chance that light won’t be exposed. Let’s give it our best.”

“It might be good. Recently we had some trouble, having to withdraw against flying mamono.”

“It’s manageable if you aim for the timing of the attack, but their wings are troublesome…”

Yeah, the mamono we fought yesterday at noon were a bit troublesome. They were small bird-type mamono called Duck Blue Eight Bird.

They were tough to fight. They flew around at high speeds, sending blades of wind with their wings. They’re not worth considering unless we can somehow or another knock them down from a distance. Reluctantly, we had to withdraw.

At that time, I put on the gloves and drew the attention of the Eight Bird so that we could retreat. Those gloves are pretty convenient for evasion. Not being able to do any magic attacks, it really sucks that we’re limited to physical attacks.

Hagisawa: “Sakaeda, don’t you have any weapons that are good for this?”

Shigenobu: “Yeah… it’s not that there aren’t any useful ones amongst the ones that Taniizumi and the others requested but…”

Hagisawa: “What?”

Shigenobu: “They’re single use, and although I’ve made a weapon that fires magic when shaken. It’s very inefficient.”

Hagisawa: “Isn’t that pretty convenient? Wouldn’t we be able to abuse it if Minori-san replenishes its magic power?”

Shigenobu: “That’s… the ingredients for it are scarce. I don’t know if we’ll be able to collect them. The points required are also pretty high, and I don’t know if I can make one in time.”

Hagisawa: “In that case, the problem is whether we encounter it at night. Speaking of which, I wonder if there are bird-type mamono at night?”

Minori: “I’d rather not fight it. It’d be even better if we could turn off the lantern whenever it flies by to avoid being found.”

At Minori-san’s suggestion, Meguru-san raises her hand.

Meguru: “From my clairvoyance, it seems like there are mamono that only appear at night. Although there was one that I had never seen, I don’t think I saw any Eight Bird.”

“Then we should be able to avoid it.”

“Is our current issue dealing with enemies that flee into the sky and make long ranged attacks?”

“That’s right. Either way, let’s wait for Shigenobu’s expansion ability before considering it. It might give us a new option.”

“It feels like we’re at a bit of a stalemate, but if possible, we should do it.”

“At worst, I can just make a bow and we can shoot them with arrows. I’ll do that.”[1]

We decide on our plan and waited for nightfall.

I walk around the settlement during the day. Since I had finished what Taniizumi and the others ordered me to do, I have nothing in particular to do. I’m using that time to look for people who are in a bad condition. Besides, staying inside Shigenobu’s workshop all the time would be suspicious. Also, it’s probably better to show my face occasionally. While walking, I crash again an empty space.

Yukinari: “W-what the?”

Looking carefully reveals a transparent wall… a barrier. When I unconsciously tilt my head in confusion, I hear a giggle. Looking in the direction of the voice, I find a classmate with the barrier ability boldly pointing and laughing at me in front of a prepared house.

Yukinari: “…What kind of behavior is this?”

When I try to approach, I’m blocked by the wall again. Is this a prank? This is a pretty lousy hobby…

A chef passes by beside me… he passes through the barrier that I’m blocked by, and then he laughs at me as he does so. What’s with that attitude? I have the ability to transfer, you know? Don’t you realize that I can pass through this level of obstacle? It’s that. Looks like bullying has finally begun even within the base group.

As my patience runs out and I think about going back to Shigenobu’s workshop… I see Meguru-san and Ono talking in the middle of the settlement. Is Ono on watch today? Personally, I don’t really like Ono, but I’m a little worried that Meguru-san is with him.

Meguru: “Sorry but… I’m not interested.”

Ono: “Did you really just say you’re refusing my invitation!? I’m seriously inviting you here!”

Meguru: “Don’t have Otsuka-san? Haven’t you been getting along pretty well with the other girls in class too?”

Ono grabs Meguru-san’s hand to stop her, but Meguru-san refuses in displeasure… what kind of trouble is this?

Meguru: “If you really want me, then how about bringing Hagisawa-kun, Kuromoto-san, Minagawa-san… and Hanebashi-kun as well?”[2]

Ono: “Why do I have to bring them along! They’re all useless!”

Meguru: “…With those words, I have no desire to go along with you. Don’t think that you can tempt me just because you can fight.”

Shaking off Ono’s hand, Meguru-san… notices me and rushes over.

Meguru: “Yu— Hanebashi-kun, what’s wrong?”

She almost unreservedly calls me by my first name but stops her mouth by making an X with her index fingers.

Meguru: “What happened…”

I silently touch the wall blocking me. Guessing my meaning, Meguru-san’s eyebrows quickly knit in displeasure and she turns in the direction of the classmates with the barrier ability.

Meguru: “Should I tell Minori?”

With that warning, the classmate with the barrier ability seemingly changes the setting and the barrier disappears. According to rumors, that guy likes Minori-san. Claiming to be necessary for everyone, he constantly asks Minori-san to heal him and enjoys their time together. It’s a creepy story. However, because his important Minori-san was made to follow the battle group, his stress accumulated and now he’s venting on others… he’s the worst.

…Is it that? He’s trying to escape the reality of this stringent lifestyle by fantasizing about Minori-san? I think I’ve seen that kind of mentality in anime or military groups. It’s why soldiers hang posters of women.

Then, Ono, who had just separated from Meguru-san, started talking about something with that classmate with the barrier ability. Those two are a pretty strange combination. Both before and after that transfer. Did they get along without me knowing? But, the classmate with the barrier ability has an expression of disgust on his face. What are they talking about?

Yukinari: “What was that?”

Meguru: “Hm… he’s inviting people from the base group to raise their Lv? But he said no boys.”

Yukinari: “That doesn’t sound like a bad idea, but… the second half is concerning.”

Meguru-san nods at my reply.

Meguru: “That’s why I refused.”

Yukinari: “Wouldn’t it have been fine? It wouldn’t be bad to openly become stronger, or no?”

Gaining even just a few experience and points isn’t a bad idea. Ono is a bad guy, but he should be pretty strong.

Meguru: “I’m fine raising my Lv along with everyone, and more than anything else, I dislike Ono-kun’s scheming attitude.”

Yukinari: “Ah… well then.”

I don’t think it’s sexual harassment, but it sounds like he’s really full of himself. The player group might be influencing Ono to act strangely.

Meguru: “When he invited me, he said, “Since the strong me will support everyone, Meguru-san should come with me as well!” …He called me by my first name without permission.”

Yukinari: “Well, I don’t really like Ono either, but… is it fine for me to call Hiyama-san by your first name?”

Since there are people around right now, I’ve been calling her by her surname. Meguru-san then whispers in a soft voice.

Meguru: “If it’s Hanebashi-kun, then not using honorifics is fine? Call me Meguru.”

I-It feels as if Ono is glaring at me intensely. This is clear jealousy. If possible, I’d like to avoid trouble.

Yukinari: “I-I can’t do that because it’ll worsen my position here even more!”

Meguru-san giggles after hearing my reply.

Meguru: “Sorry, sorry, that’s how it is, isn’t it?”

Cheat sheet

Yukinari Hanebashi:

1) Teleport objects /Self to Earth

2) Point/yen conversion. (Tells others it’s a shopping catalogue)

Kitchen knife, boxing gloves, wallaby coin

Meguru Hiyama:

1) Teleportation

2) Clairvoyance

3) Material transfer (uses pillars of light)

Metal turtle sword

Minori Himeno: Has a polite/formal way of speaking

1) Healing/recover mana

2) Charge with mana

Crowbar??

Shigenbou Sakaede

1) Black smith

2) Mining Correction

Hammer??

Dai Hagisawa

1) Craft things

2) Identify

Hammer??

[1] There’s no way to tell if this is actually Shigenobu talking since the word “I” was never used in the sentence. This can easily be a recommendation for him instead.

[2] This is the first time Kuromoto and Minagawa have been mentioned. They are probably girls as they were referred to with “san.”