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Japan Can be Tough – Part 02

Meanwhile, Hikaru, who had landed in Japan, surveyed his surroundings.

He was right. It was the park behind Hazuki’s house. Strangely, Hazuki’s supposedly vacant home emitted light. Just like Serika, Hazuki and her family were supposed to have relocated to a high-rise condominium, the expenses shouldered by the Japanese government. Serika must be in Hazuki’s house.

“Good grief. Why would she do something so unpredictable?” Hikaru said, trying to ignore the fact that he was late.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the rift. The air ripped, and a large, purple apparition appeared.

“Hahaha.”

It laughed.

“Hahahahaha!”

Laughed as if it couldn’t contain its delight.

“So, you found a way to travel to a different world, huh?”

The evil spirit was Skaer, once a member of the Scorching Goblet party. His physical form had disintegrated, leaving only his soul behind.

“…”

Hikaru looked up with widened eyes, and Skaer burst into shrill laughter.

“Those eyes! Eyes widened in shock! Ah, how wonderful. I’m in a great mood, so I’ll spare your life. I might find a way to become a Perfect Double in a different world!”

The wind rose, ruffling Hikaru’s hair and the hem of his clothes.

“I will, however, devour your companion. Someone with such magical power should be satisfying.”

“I can’t believe it.”

“Hahaha! Tremble in awe and fear! Did you think you killed me?! A worm like you can’t possibly—”

“I thought you were smarter than this.”

“…What?”

“I didn’t expect you to be this stupid. You’re a Wraith now. How can you become a Perfect Double? Besides, this world doesn’t have magical energy, you know.”

Skaer froze.

“Plus, how come you’re so unwary against this spell when you can sense Lavia’s magical power?”

“What are you talking ab—”

“Let pure light shine on the eternal void and illuminate the dark and narrow path.”

Lavia had started chanting as soon as this evil spirit appeared. The incantation was long, but Skaer, excited about entering a new world, hadn’t noticed at all.

Lavia’s body began to shine brightly, illuminating the park.

“Atonement Flame!”

A cloud of dust billowed from beneath Skaer’s feet, and right after, a pure white pillar of fire erupted.

Skaer couldn’t even scream. This spell, a mix of fire and holy attributes, was harmless against ordinary people even upon contact. However, it was incredibly effective against evil monsters.

In just a few seconds, the flames vanished, leaving neither shadow nor form behind.

“Phew… He’s finally dead.”

“That really caught me off guard. You just said to use Atonement Flame if something happens out of nowhere.”

“Sorry. I wasn’t sure if he’d actually show up. I guess he wasn’t stupid enough to attack a cleric like Paula.”

“Was that Skaer, the Half Wraith?”

Hikaru nodded.

He had sensed Skaer’s mana upon arriving in the capital. It wasn’t a coincidence that he showed up; he had been tailing Hikaru. As more people gathered, Skaer believed he could approach unnoticed—a fatal miscalculation on his part.

Hikaru didn’t want him to escape. If he fled in the capital, there could be significant casualties. He wanted to be done with it as soon as possible, so he immediately decided to use the spell for crossing worlds without taking any rest.

The plan was simple: create an opportunity for Skaer, and if he attacked, kill him; if he didn’t enter this world, let the Four Eastern Stars take care of him once they crossed over.

During the journey to Lake Tseng-Ti, Hikaru had used the spell for crossing worlds once to communicate with Serika. The gaze he had felt then likely belonged to Skaer. Wraiths, creatures that were active at night, must possess some sort of special ability that allowed them to sense what a person was doing even from a distance.

Hikaru suspected that Skaer became intrigued by the spell, a suspicion that proved correct.

“All problems solved. That’s a weight off my shoulders,” Hikaru said. “Let’s call Serika.”

The lights in Hazuki’s house were already off. The Four Eastern Stars had sensed the spell invocation, and they were rushing outside.

There was still a bit of time until Paula activated the spell again. When they returned to Serika’s apartment, she was furious.

“Got it?! I don’t care what your itinerary looks like. We will use the spell on December 22nd to open a rift and come back here!”

“I understand.”

“Do you?! You swear?!”

“I said I get it.”

Hikaru’s late arrival had ruined their end-of-year plans.

Selyse laughed awkwardly. “Sorry, Hikaru. Serika and Sara really want to go to the kingdom of dreams and magic for Christmas.”

“Oh, the place with the internationally famous mice.”

“It’s so strange. There’s no magic in this world, but they’re trying to mimic it.”

“Are you feeling rusty? It’s as dangerous as ever on the other side. Plus, I think there’s a pile of commissions addressed to the Four Eastern Stars.”

“Oh.” Selyse laughed. “Yeah, you’re right. We’ll have to take care of some of them, or we’ll get an earful. I have an idea. How about you all join the Four Eastern Stars? Then we can take turn handling commissions. That way, your adventurer rank will also rise—”

“I’ll pass,” Hikaru declined with a smile.

Not a lot of time had passed since he was invited to Scorching Goblet and got picked on. He just wanted to be left alone.

“I’m glad Paula is staying on the other side,” Sophie said, smiling. “It’s been a while since I wore my nun’s habit, but it still feels right. I hope it becomes common in this world too.”

“Please look after Paula for me.”

“I will. We will serve as the Heaven’s will.”

Sophie affectionately cared for Paula, a fellow member of the same Church. Hikaru considered telling Sophie that Duke Nightblaze’s son, Galeicrada, was searching for her, but he decided against it. If fate favored them, the two might meet again.

“By the way, how did you manage to take a picture of Queen Kujastria?”

Hikaru gave a start. “Huh? Oh, I just asked someone at the palace.”

“Oh… I see. I was surprised to find such a photo in there.”

He had left the phone and the data he had taken with it in this world. Sophie and the girls recognized that the photo was of Kujastria.

“Listen closely. The best fast foods in Japan right now are…”

“Okay. Very profound.”

“Out of the currently showing movies, I highly recommend this one. The theater is…”

“I’ve always wanted to go to the theaters.”

Sara and Lavia were exchanging information. Hikaru couldn’t help but wonder when these two became friends, but he let it slide. Sara was definitely the one who sparked Lavia’s curiosity about Japan, so this was fine. He intended to intervene if she tried to impart some weird knowledge.

“By the way, what were you doing at Hazuki’s place?” Hikaru asked.

“Hazuki told us we could use her own house as a base!” Serika replied.

“What?”

“This apartment is too small, and we draw attention no matter what. So, we thought: let’s just embrace it. Hazuki and her parents seem to enjoy the apartment provided by the Japanese government!”

“Oh, I see.”

“If you want to use this apartment, I can give you the keys.”

“N-No, it’s okay.”

“Okay! Ah, it’s about time. We’re heading out!”

The room’s lights flickered, and the air quivered. The rift connecting worlds was about to open.

“You didn’t forget anything?”

“Don’t treat me like a child!” Serika poked Hikaru’s nose. “You’re younger than me!”

Hikaru pulled himself back and chuckled.

Golden light rose, and a rift in space opened. Paula appeared on the other side, waving with a relieved smile as she spotted Hikaru and the others.

“Take care,” Hikaru said.

“You too! Japan can be tough, you know!”

Holding a bag, Serika passed through the rift.

“Hikaru, I hope you seriously consider joining our party.”

“I told you I don’t want to.”

Selyse went to the other side empty-handed. She didn’t seem to have a lot of stuff.

“May your stay be safe and fruitful,” Sophie, carrying a paper bag, offered a small prayer.

“What’s in that bag?” Hikaru asked.

“Manga. I’m thinking of showing it to my colleagues in the Church.”

“…”

I can still stop her, Hikaru thought. Eh, whatever.

He thought it would be interesting if manga culture spread in Ponsonia’s capital.

“See ya later, Lavia,” Sara said, waving.

“Bye! Thanks a lot for the tips!” Lavia was clutching a notebook that contained notes.

Sara nimbly jumped over the rift.

“See you later, Lord Hikaru!”

“Thank you, Paula. See you.”

“Later, Paula!”

“Lavia! Uh… Don’t leave me alone!”

Paula’s feelings surfaced, and tears welled up in her eyes. The rift closed.

“…”

“…”

Silence returned to the room, and the lights stopped flickering.

“Paula was crying,” Lavia said.

“We’ll see each other again soon.”

“Hmm…”

Paula was going to teach Serika how to use the spell for crossing worlds while she was there, so that next time, Hikaru could bring Paula with them to Japan.

“Let’s buy her tons of souvenirs,” Hikaru said.

“Yeah. What would Paula like?”

“This world’s holy scriptures, maybe?”

“But she can’t read Japanese.”

Hikaru and Lavia left the apartment.

A Japanese night breeze brushed against their cheeks. It was cold, but less dusty than the royal capital.

They planned to stay here for about ten days. Hikaru wondered what to do with Lavia during this time, when suddenly a powerful flashlight illuminated them both in the corridor.

“I knew it! There are other travelers from the other world!”

A thrilled woman was holding an SLR camera.

“You too! Japan can be tough, you know!”

Serika’s words from a moment ago echoed in Hikaru’s mind.

Japan, a safe country. A world free from magic and violence.

Hikaru was so at ease that he didn’t use his Stealth.

“This is a global scoop!” the woman exclaimed.

“Ah, I get it.”

Hikaru perfectly understood. This was undoubtedly Japan. While it was safe, it came with other kinds of trouble.

This is tough, all right.