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A New Otherworlder Bursts Onto the Scene – Part 07

“Yup, looks like murder at first glance.”

Hikaru was caught off guard by the unexpected power of Atonement Flame. This hybrid magic, a blend of holy and fire attributes, was not deadly to humans, but still undeniably spectacular. Just before getting hit by the spell, witnessing the Flame Wall composed of actual flames and feeling its heat caused the Mafia members to erroneously think they were being consumed by white flames. They screamed in the illusion of excruciating pain, ultimately losing consciousness.

“Are you okay? Any injuries?” Lavia asked Hikaru in the other world’s language.

Hikaru nodded. “The timing was perfect. Thanks. I thought they’d run away if things went south, so having you on standby was a good call.”

“Hehe. You should count on me more.” Lavia proudly puffed her chest. “So, what do we do with these people?”

“For now, let’s tie them up with a rope or something and call the police. They said they wouldn’t come, though.”

“Hey! Is it over?” Doyama, the old man, stood on the veranda, aiming his flashlight towards them.

“Yeah!” Hikaru shouted back. “Be careful of the broken glass.”

“Cutting my feet on glass is nothing compared to what you did.” Holding an umbrella, the old man slipped on his sandals and walked over. “So, what’s with the light on the roof?”

“I told you, we’re streaming this to the world.”

“Streaming, huh.”

Squinting from the brightness of the floodlight, Hikaru shouted at the roof. “Turn off the camera! The stream is over!”

There was movement on the roof, and the floodlight turned off.

Hikaru had no idea what was happening with the mirrored streams and their viewers.

The surroundings plunged into darkness, with only the old man’s flashlight illuminating the ground.

“Did you call the cops?” Hikaru asked Doyama.

“Yeah. They’re busy as well, but they said they’d send one squad car. Even after what happened last time, they’re only sending one. Sounds to me like Fujinota police are slacking off.”

Hikaru laughed. The police likely never anticipated there to be so many guns.

“Hmph. Let’s see if they can load these ruffians in just one car.”

The sound of sirens echoed from a distance, accompanied by the rain.

Hikaru felt reassured that they could leave it to the authorities. He didn’t know how much impact the live stream would have, but attention on the Doyama residence could attract media coverage, making it difficult for people to buy land.

The members of the Fujinota Future Society, who were hurriedly lowering the floodlights, would also likely be concerned about the Doyama residence. Hikaru thought it might be a good idea to enlist locals as their bodyguards. Though they had almost strayed from the path, fortunately, they hadn’t completely derailed. Hikaru believed that, at this moment, they could still get back on track, given they were able to stop and correct their mistakes.

Hikaru had no idea how they ended up here, though.

The old man observed the young people on the roof, a contemplative expression on his face.

“See you, old-timer. You better get back inside, or you’ll catch a cold.”

“Wait a minute,” the old man said as Hikaru and Lavia attempted to depart. “Who exactly are you two?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why put me in your debt? Don’t tell me you’re super heroes.”

“…”

Hikaru had no particular reason, really.

Dragged around all over the place by Ayano, Hikaru decided to stick his nose into the matter to ease his conscience and then settled the issue since he was in too deep. He doubted the old man would believe him, though.

“Why are you protecting the mountain?” Hikaru asked.

“Where is this coming from? I’m the one asking a question.”

“If you want to thank us, then show us the mountain. There must be something special about it, right?”

“Well…”

“If you don’t want to, that’s fine. That is our only request, and if you can’t accept it, we’ll just leave.”

“…”

Doyama stayed silent. Hikaru sensed he probably wouldn’t agree to show it.

For him, Mt. Midori held immense significance. No, not just for him, but for the Doyama family that had persisted through generations, Mt. Midori was everything.

“Goodbye and take care. Look after the mountain.”

Hikaru turned his back on the old man.

“Tomorrow—no, it might be tough with the police questioning. Come back in three days.”

Hikaru couldn’t immediately grasp what he just said.

“Come again?”

“Don’t you get it? I’ll show you the mountain.”

Excitement welled up within Hikaru, a mixture of curiosity about the reason and the thrill of being shown a secret. Still, he couldn’t understand why.

“Don’t make that face. I just thought the mountain was restless because it knew that someone like you was coming.”

Once again, the same words came up. What did the mountain being restless mean?

“Three days later won’t work. We’ll be gone by then.”

Today marked the eighth day since they arrived in Japan. By the tenth day, Hikaru was supposed to return to the other world using the spell for crossing worlds.

“What, you’re leaving Fujinota?”

“Well… something like that. We’re going somewhere far away.”

“How about the day after tomorrow, then?”

“The day after tomorrow is fine. And I know this sounds weird coming from me, but you don’t have to show it if you don’t want to.”

Doyama snorted. “After all you’ve done? First of all, I’m not an ingrate, and second, I’m not stupid. I can tell whether you’re good or bad.”

“Is that so?”

“Come around in the early afternoon.”

“Okay. Good luck with the rest.”

Hikaru glanced at the incapacitated attackers, and the old man snorted once more.

The sirens were getting closer.

The day for a parliamentary secretary started bright and early. Striving to reach the parliamentary building by 8 AM, they had tasks that demanded attention beforehand.

This involved collecting information, checking the electronic editions of the four major newspapers, and perusing the local papers of parliamentary members. Even for Tokigawa, a master of speed reading, this routine took about thirty minutes.

Sipping coffee while scanning the newspapers, he felt his mind coming to life. The headlines focused on the government’s recently announced economic measures from the previous day, while the local paper highlighted a newcomer in offshore wind power generation.

Just as he thought there was nothing out of the ordinary, his phone rang. Glancing at the display name, Tokigawa froze.

“Good morning, sir. What can I do for you?”

He served a parliamentary member who also held the position of the current Finance Minister.

Considering the minister’s advanced age and early rising habits, he knew it had to be something significant for him to contact him at this hour.

“Turn on the TV.”

“What?”

As it turned out, the minister’s request was to turn on the TV. Blinking, he obeyed, and the early morning news program showed on screen.

“Suspicions of a new person from the other world? What is this? I know nothing about it. I’m not sure why you’re asking me, sir.”

Tokigawa thought that discovering a new person from another world would cause a stir again, but it quickly became evident that the minister had a different concern.

The news anchor delivered the revelation. A person appearing to be from another world had been found in the town of Fujinota Town in Y Prefecture.

“Tokigawa, now the public eye will be on Fujinota. Do you understand what this means?”

The minister’s voice was calm. But Tokigawa knew that the minister adopted this tone when he was furious.

“The Prime Minister will be pleased; he’s that kind of person. He can announce the major project in Fujinota now that it’s getting attention. But this also means buying land is no longer possible.”

Tokigawa swallowed nervously. “Ah, um… there might still be a chance.”

“None. The opportunity for making money and the chance for you to become a member of parliament are gone now.”

“S-Sir! It’s not over yet!”

“It is. You don’t need to come to the parliamentary building starting today.”

Click. The call ended.

It was also the sound of Tokigawa’s aspirations being shattered.

“Ah… this is the life.”

Hikaru soaked in the outdoor hot spring, gazing at the cold sky. After enduring freezing rain the previous night and feeling chilled to the bone, he somehow managed to return to the inn and relax in the hot spring.

Hikaru had thought that if he caught a cold after warning the old man, it would serve him right. Surprisingly, when he woke up the next morning, he felt fine, albeit a bit tired. Lavia seemed even more lively; perhaps because of the one point in her Soul Board’s Stamina.

With nothing to do today, they found themselves once again enjoying the hot spring.

After leaving the bath and returning to the room, Lavia, dressed in a yukata, was engrossed in a smartphone. They were supposed to have headed to the hot spring together, but she had finished earlier than Hikaru. He had spent quite a long time in there.

However, her fair skin had a faint reddish tint, suggesting that Lavia had also enjoyed a long soak. Hikaru couldn’t help but feel a bit flustered by the alluring charm of Lavia as a woman.

“Oh, Hikaru, take a look at this.”

Lavia showed him a news website featuring interesting headlines.

“Another Otherworlder Besides the Four Eastern Stars? Magic Live Streamed.”

“Mafia Attack in Fujinota. Otherworlder Using Magic Spotted.”

“For Those Who Missed the Live Stream—Get the Latest Info on the New Otherworlder in 1 Minute.”

It was about the events from yesterday.

“That was fast,” Hikaru muttered nonchalantly.

His email account had been receiving replies to the emails sent to various news agencies about the meeting between Tokigawa’s secretary and Marumigawa Estate’s president. It might be a result of them connecting the dots when a new otherworlder appeared in Fujinota.

Hikaru knew nothing about it though, since Ayano managed the email account. Their roles were already done.

Fujinota had received plenty of attention. Snatching up old man Doyama’s land for a low price should be impossible now. The issue of whether Tokigawa and the others’ conspiracy would be exposed or not had already slipped from Hikaru’s hands.

“Hey, Hikaru. Do you think Sasakura will go back to Nitto Shimbun?”

“Who knows? Common sense dictates she will.”

Last night, Hikaru and Lavia made a quick exit before the police arrived, but Ayano should have stayed at the scene. Once again, Hikaru left all the cleanup to her. However, if Ayano intended to continue working as a newspaper reporter, having covered the entire attack on the scene, a little work shouldn’t be much of a problem.

“Let’s take it easy today.”

Hikaru lay down on the futon. Surprisingly tired, drowsiness crept in. He sensed Lavia snuggling up to him.

A lot happened, but we’re returning to the other side soon. Paula is probably waiting. Once we meet Mr. Doyama tomorrow, it’ll be over.

Reflecting on his eventful stay in Japan, Hikaru drifted into sleep.