The migration is easier than I expected. Whenever we encounter mamono, the battle group, Shigenobu, and I come forward to fight and repel them. The base group members have been divided into groups, and each group is given experience points. Also, even though our march is somewhat forced, no one has ended up particularly hurt. Whatās different now is that a rotating night watch has been established to defend against attacks.
It canāt be helped since we no longer have a barrier. Also, while this is the most mentally exhausting task, everyone has come a long way adapting to it. Like this, the members of the base group have managed to raise their Lv more easily than I expected they would. Naturally, some have gotten their Lv 5 expansion abilities as well.
In some cases, abilities which werenāt combat-suited, which is to say the base group, were reevaluated. For example, sewing and cultivation.
Sewing is able to create clothes and repair things. We thought that was all it was good for until now, but it turns out that the necessary tools such as needles and scissors can be used at any size. As such, the person can fight with large needles and scissors. If I were to compare it to a game, itās a character type who requires a special weapon.
Cultivation is the class representativeās ability, but until now we thought it was only for growing plants. We understood from Ono growing thorns and I taught the class representative. The fact that this was only revealed now is probably because he isnāt the type to play games.
Due to all this, itās being recognized that as long as the battle group and base group work together, this really is not that bad of a situation.
āItās almost strange how smoothly itās goingā¦ā
āThe mamono that we were struggling against before are so simplyā¦ā
Iāve also heard that some members of the battle group were able to easily defeat opponents they had been struggling against until now thanks to Shigenobuās strengthening and effect-granted equipment. Iām taking the lead as well, so I know from experience how the battles are going for the battle group. This continues for five days.
Shigenobu: āYukinari! Calm down!ā
As I start running to chase after a mamono that had realized it was at a disadvantage was escaping, Shigenobu grabs me by the shoulder and calls out to stop me.
Yukinari: āWhy should I stop!? The escaped mamono might call its friends and counterattack!ā
Shigenobu: āI get it, but calm down! Recently, youāve been acting strange.ā
Hagisawa: āYeah, youāve been careless.ā
Hagisawa has the same opinion as Shigenobu. Those of the battle group nod as well. Thereās no wayā¦
Shigenobu: āKeep your distance while chasing after retreating mamono, and protect yourself using your shieldā¦ no matter how good your equipment is, thereās no reason to be reckless, right?ā
Yukinari: āBut! If they escape here, they could counterattack. Someone here might get killed if thereās a counterattack! Is that really what you want!?ā
Shigenobu: āThatās why, calm down! If you donāt calm downā¦ if you mess up, chase too deep, and get caught in a trap, youāll die!ā
Thatāsā¦ not scary. Iāve committed an unforgivable sin. If I were to receive my punishmentā¦ Itās at that point that Shigenobu and Hagisawa exchange glances and shrug.
Shigenobu: āAnywayā¦ just calm down. Pay more attention to your surroundings. Like in the past.ā
Hagisawa: āItād be good for Hanebashi to look around more.ā
Yukinari: āEven so, Iā¦ā
Beginning with Hagisawa, he, Shigenobu, and the battle group all sigh. As if to change the mood, one of my classmates looks at me with a hand on his belly.
Classmate: āHey, arenāt you all hungry?ā
Classmate: āYeah, itās almost dinner time.ā
Minori: āCan you start cooking? Iāll start a fire and wait.ā
When Minori-san asks the one in charge of cooking, everyone shakes their head in unison. Huh? The one in charge of cooking is waving his hands, too?
Classmate: āI want to feast on Japanese food.ā
Classmate: āYeah! I want to eat the convenience store bento that you bought the other day.ā
My classmates nod together. But the convenience store bento that I bought from Japanā¦? I suppose everyone has their own cravings.
Shigenobu: āThatās why, Yukinari. Please go back to Japan and buy food for everyone.ā
Hagisawa: āIāll give you enough points for everyoneās meal.ā
Classmate: āAnd also, eat some ice cream and calm down.ā
With those words, Hagisawa and a member from each of the battle groups give me the necessary points, about twenty thousand points. With this much, I should be able to bring food for everyone here.
Yukinari: āAlright. What do you want to eat?ā
Classmate: āHamburger!ā
Classmate: āBeef bowl!ā
Classmate: āTempura bowl!ā
Classmate: āFried Chicken!ā
Well, with that said, I take notes on what everyone wants to eat while Shigenobu gathers all the opinions like a survey. I take the memo and transfer to Japan. I put my equipment in my room and hide it.
ā¦ Are they going to start moving as soon as Iām goneā¦ they donāt. After confirming it with my visual transfer, I hurry to the town.
Japan hasnāt undergone any major changes.
ā¦Shigenobu has been encouraging me to sleep in my room in Japan at night. Recently Iāve been doing my best not to go back to Japan, but in the words of Shigenobu, Hagisawa, and Minori-san, itād be wrong not to rest in a safe place when possibleā¦ or something like that. But even if itās unreasonable, Iām sleeping over there. There might be enemy attacks at night after all.
I move through the bustling city at what feels like a natural pace and enter a MD burger shop. Iām ordering for quite a lot of people after all.
So, I order it as a takeout, and look outside. People are walking about restlessly. Even if they donāt hurry that muchā¦ stop. Iām just venting my anger.
ā¦Just a while ago, I felt guilty about being the only one able to return to Japan, but now I feel disgust. Though itās for everyoneās sakeā¦ thinking that I am away not knowing when an attack might come makes me uneasy.
The clerk was surprised by how much I ordered for my surviving classmates, and seeing him diligently working while unaware of the circumstances irritates me. I donāt want to make a mistake ordering.
Clerk: āThank you for waiting, numberā¦ā
A pile of bags have been prepared at the counter and I go to pick them up. Due to the amount, the bigger bags for large orders were used. For now, I decide to forcefully take it and leave the store. The people passing by stare at me, but I donāt care.
From there, I continue ordering takeout at other stores, and so on. Then, the last order. Preparing the pizza for takeout takes some time. The final thing Shigenobu and the others requested was pizza. They had a specific order as well. Furthermore, Iām to bring everything back together. I have to wait 15 minutes for it to bake.
In the meantimeā¦ I realize my frustration over letting that mamono escape has calmed down a littleā¦ yeah.
Probably, Shigenobu and the others were careful not to rush me. That muchā¦ I canāt help but understand.
I go to a secluded back alley and start the transfer specifying where Shigenobu and the others are as the target. Iāve been keeping watch of the situation, but if I check too often, Iāll consume too much magic power and render myself unable to go back to the other world. It was easier back when I could alternate with Meguru-sanā¦
I can replenish it if I sleep, but itās still bad. In order to reduce the burden on Minori-san, Iāve been putting up with the frustration of not watching at all times.
When I entered the pizza shop, Shigenobu and the others were still waiting there, but now no oneās there.
Yukinari: āWhat happened!?ā
Looking closely, I see a bunch of large mamono-like footprints. Did they run away after being attacked by a large mamonoā¦? I did hear about a strong mamono that the battle group had to reluctantly retreat from after being unable to handle it. They said that it was only found in the north, but maybe itās here too.
Kuā¦there was something I forgot to buy because everyone was setting up camp. The last time I checked was 10 minutes agoā¦
I spontaneously start hitting the wall out of frustration while starting my cast to return to the other worldā¦ letās say I didnāt see any cracks from my striking the wall. I also transfer back the items I left in my room while Iām moving about.
Yukinari: āShigenobu! Everyone!ā
I hurry after the footprints, slashing at the mamono that appear with my metal turtle sword. Originallyā¦ Shigenobu and the others had defeated them, so there arenāt that many. In any case, I wonāt have the time to deliver food until I meet up with Shigenobu and the others at camp. Moving around the forest with food would be difficult, so Iāve left it in my room for later. Right now, I have to catch up with them as fast as possible!
Yukinari: āWhy at a time like thisā¦ā
Itās a situation that makes me want to click my tongue. First, I canāt follow the footprints anymore. They lead into the rocky area.
Also, theyāre mixing with mud and getting harder to recognizeā¦ the river cuts through the forest. I heard from the battle group that a river appears midway through, but I never thought that this would be where I lose track of Shigenobu and the others.
Apparently, Taniizumi changed directions a few days after crossing the river. Thatās why the battle group estimates that we can escape the forest on the other side.
Yukinari: āCrossing the river like thisā¦ might be dangerous.ā
This isnāt the Amazon river. Still, who knows what kind of mamono might be lurking within it. That said, the river is muddy and that muddiness might have a cause. Thereās a high chance that Shigenobu and the others passed through here. I feel like I can catch up soonā¦ I target myself and designate an empty spot on the other shore for a transfer.