While we shared information over dinner in the dining hall, night fell quietly around us. After that, it was time for the much-anticipated bath.
People in this world can handle simple elemental skills like fire or water without much effort. Since we’re not originally from this world but ended up here through teleportation, we’ve learned to use those skills too. Everyone pitches in to help fill the large bath together.
Here, combat strength isn’t decided by raw strength or training, but by skills. Because of that, it’s normal to see women working as soldiers. That’s why this old barracks building has two large baths—one for men and one for women.
”Ahh, soaking in a bath after eating Yawashi’s cooking really brings me back to life,” one of the boys sighed, sinking into the water.
”Living for this… and the brothel, y’know? Hey, should we go today?” another asked casually.
”No way. Unlike you First Division guys, I barely get any allowance in the Fourth Division,” someone said with a dry laugh. “So just Doushimo should go.”
”Nasu, what about you?” he added suddenly.
They turned to a boy so quickly, I couldn’t answer right away. By the way, Nasu is my family name—my full name’s Nasu Takumi.
”I…”
”See? Nasu’s saving money for Nagai-san,” one of them teased.
”Yeah,” another muttered. “I get that I should buy her something, but…”
”Nagai-san, huh? But no matter what, whenever I’m tempted by the ladies at the shop, I just—”
”I know. I get it…” another nodded. “By the way, I heard there’s an elf girl working at a high-class place on Dream Street.”
”For real? Even though we’re in the same world, elves are so out of reach. It’s frustrating.”
”I wonder… if any girl in our class would ever let me…”
”I’d die for Aria-san,” someone said seriously, and everyone laughed.
Even though we’re divided into groups and allowances vary, people in the First Division don’t look down on the Fifth. That’s probably thanks to the bond we built from living in a dorm school before getting thrown into this world… and especially thanks to Ginza Kito, the leader of the First Division. He’s our class’s ace, but modest and kind, so he keeps things from getting tense.
Everyone was being silly on purpose—to shake off the fear of today’s battles and laugh for a while. But for non-combatants like me and Jiro Yawashi, these moments always feel a little distant.
Later that night, after bathing, I was back in my room organizing tomorrow’s shopping list when I heard a knock.
”Sorry for the wait, Takumi-kun,” Hikari-chan said as she stepped inside.
Hikari-chan has a dignified, gentle aura. She’s very cute, with a high ponytail and the third-largest chest in class—not that I pay attention to those rankings. She was once in the Hyakunin Isshu club, but now she’s the leader of the Fifth Division, carrying a spear and hunting weak monsters that even we might manage to defeat.
”Sorry, Hikari-chan… and thanks again, as always.”
”No, I know it’s not much compared to what you’ve done for us,” she said softly, “but this is the only way I can give back.”
As she spoke, she quietly knelt by my bed and sat beside me.
She didn’t speak further, but her expression held the same calm determination as always. Her kindness was never loud. It was in her actions—how she helped me even when it made her uncomfortable.
”I’m sorry… for putting you through this,” I said, lowering my gaze.
”It’s not your fault, Takumi-kun,” she replied gently. “We all made our choice back then. Thanks to you and the others, we can survive out there. That’s more than enough.”
Our strange agreement had started months ago. When I first refused their “gratitude,” I thought it was wrong. But in this world, that kind of thinking doesn’t get you very far. Many of the girls—especially in the Fifth Division—are keeping their virginity not out of love or pride, but out of necessity.
If the time comes and they’re forced to sell themselves to survive, their price will depend on that one cruel fact.
That’s why romantic relationships are rare. Only a few couples in the elite divisions—those with steady income—can afford that kind of thing. The rest of us… can’t.
And even among the unlucky, some have fallen further. Kahoru Nagai, once our classmate, now sells her body in the lowest part of town.
Still, the Quvarian Empire is peaceful. There’s no war. Just survival.
After she finished helping me, Hikari-chan sat beside me quietly, as if nothing had happened.
”You’re always so kind,” I whispered, brushing her hair behind her ear.
”I’m glad I could help,” she said with a faint smile.
A girl like her—strong, pretty, and still so young—wears worn-out leather armor and walks into danger every day. Thinking about that made my chest ache.
”I’m sorry, Hikari-chan. We’re always asking so much from you.”
”It’s okay,” she said, her voice steady. “We all decided together—what’s best for each of us. You’ve been supporting us since the beginning. Because of that, we can keep moving forward.”
We don’t stay up late. Morning comes early. And before dawn, we’ll step outside the castle gates again—risking everything for another handful of magic stones.
Me? I do the shopping. Run errands. Handle the supplies. Nothing heroic.
But someday… I’ll change that. I’ll break free from this.
With that silent vow in my chest, I closed my eyes and fell asleep.