“Wait a second!”
“Eh!?”
“…W-Who are you?”
Since a fight looked about to break out inside the mansion, I hurried into the guest room next door.
I felt bad for ruining Yuuka’s efforts to keep me hidden and protect me, but I couldn’t allow her to risk her life fighting Aoi.
If the Sword Saint and the Magic King—two people possessing cheat-level Unique Skills—fought seriously, they could end up changing not just this mansion, but the surrounding landscape itself.
…More importantly, there was a very high chance that I’d get caught in the middle and die.
“Aoi-san, my name is Kakeru. I apologize for eavesdropping, but I heard your story from the room next door. I brought these items from Japan using my Unique Skill.”
“W-Wait, Kakeru!?”
“…! W-What exactly do you mean?”
When I took several Japanese products, such as soy sauce and miso, out of my magic bag and showed them to her, astonishment spread across her face.
Then her long, pointed ears twitched.
Having finally seen Aoi-san in person after entering the guest room, I realized she was a small girl who looked about ten or eleven years old.
However, her skin was so pale it seemed almost transparent, and the ears peeking out from her shining golden hair were much longer than those of humans.
Just as Yuuka had told me, her race was exactly what one would expect from an elf in a fantasy anime.
There were apparently several kinds of reincarnation.
According to what Yuuka had explained, there were two patterns for people being reborn into this world.
The first was being born as a child of the world’s native inhabitants.
The second, which applied to both Aoi and me, involved a completely new body being created before being sent to this world.
In such cases, not only could one’s appearance and age change, as mine had, but one might also be reborn as a race entirely different from humans—such as beastfolk, dwarves, or elves.
“That’s how I can return to Japan, but Yuuka wasn’t able to.”
“…F-For now, I understand that you possess a Unique Skill that allows you to return to Japan.”
Since Yuuka and Aoi had been on the verge of a serious battle, I stepped in and explained my Unique Skill and everything that had happened so far.
After showing her several Japanese goods I had bought on yesterday’s trip to the flea market, Aoi finally accepted that I truly possessed the ability to travel back to Japan.
Considering how close we had been to a fight only moments ago, she was listening surprisingly calmly.
…Actually, something about her behavior seemed odd.
She refused to make eye contact with me and fidgeted nervously.
Pulling up the hood attached to her robe, she held out a staff tipped with what looked like an expensive crystal.
Just as Yuuka had warned me beforehand, Aoi appeared to be an introverted and shy person.
Apparently, she had acted much the same way when Yuuka first met her.
Taking her personality into account was exactly why we had invited her directly to the mansion.
Still, we had been naive to think things would go smoothly.
Her desire to return to Japan must have been far stronger than we had anticipated.
“Yuuka, I’m sorry about earlier. I let my emotions get the better of me…”
“It’s fine. …Given the circumstances, if our positions had been reversed, I probably would have tried to force the information out of you as well.”
Aoi apologized to Yuuka.
Considering everything both of them had gone through, it was understandable that they would cling to any clue about returning to Japan, no matter the cost.
At the very least, she no longer seemed intent on forcing us to do anything against our will.
And if that was the case, then there was something we could help with.
“Aoi-san, I can’t help you kill that person. However, if the evidence from your trial still exists, we might be able to clear your name and ensure that your superior receives legitimate punishment. We may also be able to support your parents.”
“!! P-Please! I-I’ll do anything within my power! Please, Kakeru-san, lend me your strength!”
Aoi bowed her head before me.
Thank goodness.
At least for now, she was choosing to prioritize clearing the false charges against her and helping her parents over killing her former superior.
“I understand. But there are a few conditions.”
First, I formed a contract with Aoi as well.
Just like the agreement with Yuuka, she was forbidden from telling anyone about me and would act as my bodyguard in times of danger.
I had also intended to ask for financial assistance.
However, Yuuka insisted on handling that entirely by herself, so we left it out.
Besides, thanks to the flea market, it looked like I’d finally be able to earn at least some money on my own.
At long last, I seemed to be escaping the status of being a complete freeloader.
…Well, having two women act as my bodyguards was a little awkward in its own way, but in this world, gender didn’t really matter all that much.
We tried once to see if I could take Aoi back to Japan with me, but just like with Yuuka, it didn’t work.
Of course, even if Aoi had somehow managed to return to Japan, there was a high chance she would immediately go after her former superior and kill him, so I had planned to bring her back at once.
Fortunately, that turned out to be an unnecessary concern.
After discussing things with Aoi and Yuuka, I headed to Japan to gather information first.
I immediately stopped by Yuuka’s family home and received her smartphone, whose contract had already been renewed.
Apparently, with modern smartphones, once you sign up for a new SIM card, you can simply insert it and connect to the internet right away.
“…I see. It looks like the situation has progressed in an even worse direction than Aoi-san had imagined.”
After gathering the necessary information and taking screenshots on the phone, I returned to the mansion in the other world.
“H-How did it go?”
When I got back, Yuuka and Aoi were waiting for me.
Yuuka was still keeping a close eye on Aoi, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
Although we had agreed to cooperate, she didn’t fully trust Aoi yet.
That said, the information I found online matched the real name Aoi had given us, so it seemed safe to lower our guard at least a little.
Still, what I was about to tell her might make Aoi lose her temper and go on a rampage, so if things got out of hand, Yuuka would have to restrain her.
“Please stay calm while you listen. Just as you feared, the official story is that Aoi-san embezzled the company’s money, and it even made the news.”
“Ugh…!”
I showed her the first screenshot on the smartphone.
The headline stated that the trial of suspect Aoi Kurosaki, accused of corporate embezzlement, had been concluded due to the death of the defendant.
Aoi’s expression darkened as she read it.
But the real problem was the next screenshot.
“What’s more, according to what people were saying online, Aoi-san embezzled the company’s money and then took her own life out of guilt over it.”
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