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The Perseverance to Survive in this World – Part 02

In the dead of night, Hikaru paid a visit to Kujastria. He needed to explain the situation and secure the formula and magic catalysts essential for the spell for crossing worlds.

However, things wouldn’t go that easy.

“No, I want to watch. And you can’t stop me. Do you want me to miss out on the most exciting event of my life? That’s like telling me to die.”

Kujastria’s refusal made no room for rebuttals.

Hikaru did want to demonstrate the spell for crossing worlds to Kujastria by sending Serika through it. But their prior attempt to activate it in the princess’s chamber had ended in a deafening roar and a fierce gale that wreaked havoc inside. Kujastria was unable to conceal the incident, and magic symbols were applied to her room to prevent further spellcasting.

Kujastria could prepare the magic formula for the spell herself, and even wrote it down, but to actually execute it, she needed to leave her room discreetly. An officially authorized experiment required the presence of Court Artificers. Because of the potential complications that could arise if they succeeded in sending a human to the other side, particularly with regards to Japan, Kujastria and Hikaru had decided to keep this magic formula confidential for now.

Kujastria was well aware that the only option was to give the formula to Hikaru and conduct the experiment elsewhere. Nevertheless, it was only natural to dislike the idea of having one’s research tested somewhere without their supervision.

“In that case, please take me with you.”

“I can’t do that. I don’t want to be charged with kidnapping the Queen.”

Although the likelihood of being discovered was minimal, such an incident would be inconvenient for the Four Eastern Stars.

With the spell’s formula he coaxed from Kujastria, Hikaru set off for an old warehouse on the outskirts of the capital. The Four Eastern Stars had stumbled upon this abandoned warehouse while working on a commission.

The night had grown late. As Hikaru entered the dilapidated warehouse carrying a large backpack, a musty, damp odor greeted him. A lantern cast light from one corner.

“How’d it go?” Serika asked, sitting alone on a rickety chair.

Hikaru set down his backpack. “All good. Have you said your goodbyes?”

“Nope. I didn’t even return to the hotel. Seeing them might weaken my resolve.” Serika cast her eyes down awkwardly.

She’s still conflicted. Maybe she sees returning to her world as abandoning her friends.

Hikaru couldn’t help but wonder if this was truly the right decision.

“Let me reiterate. While we managed to connect two worlds, we haven’t sent any humans through it yet. We don’t know if this spell works over there, so if you decide to return, we’ll need to cast the spell from here once more.”

“I got it. To do that, you’ll need a huge elemental magic stone, right? I’m not sure how much it costs, but all my assets in this world are right there. You can use them all. If it’s not enough, put it on my tab. I’ll pay you back once I return.”

A sizable bag sat at Serika’s feet. If it was filled with coins, it would be a significant sum.

Hikaru wasn’t overly concerned about obtaining an elemental magic stone. While it might be difficult for him to obtain one personally, with the Four Eastern Stars’ connections, it should be possible.

“Thirty days from now, at the same time, 10:00 PM, I’ll activate the spell here again. It’s a gamble whether the portal will appear at the same location or not, but if it doesn’t, we’ll figure something out.”

“All these variables are making me uneasy.”

“It worked last time.”

When they used the spell for crossing worlds in Kujastria’s room, Hikaru glimpsed the streets of Japan. In fact, he saw a road sign. It bore the name of a place not too far from where Hikaru and Serika lived.

Hikaru and Serika arriving in the same Kingdom of Ponsonia suggested that physical distance remained constant when crossing worlds. Hikaru hypothesized that if they used the spell for crossing worlds again in the same location, it might connect to the same spot in Japan.

“Well, I guess we just have to try it,” Serika said.

“Yeah. If, for some reason, we can’t perform the spell here, we’ll try again in another thirty days.”

“Gotcha.” Serika stood up. “Hey, if I can’t come back, would you explain the reason to the girls?”

“Sure.”

“Thank you.” Serika stretched, as if to dispel her anxiety. “All right, let’s get on with it.”

Hikaru nodded and began the preparations. He spread a piece of paper with the runes on the ground and placed the magic catalysts on it. The runes started emitting a faint light.

“Wow, that thing’s huge,” Serika remarked when Hikaru took out a large, yellow elemental magic stone from his backpack.

“Placing this should do it. The magic formula will activate, connecting the worlds.”

“Um, what about incantations or something? Abracadabra stuff?”

“There are none.”

“Oh, right… It’s sorcery, so it makes sense.”

As the prospect of connecting worlds became more real, Serika grew increasingly restless.

“…Should we stop?” Hikaru asked.

“No, I’m going through with it. If I don’t do it now, my resolve will only weaken.” Serika slapped her cheeks. “Let’s do it.”

“Understood.”

Last time, they drew the final lines of the spell after placing the elemental magic stone. However, this time, the formula was already complete. Hikaru wanted to avoid any mistakes when adding the lines since Kujastria wasn’t present.

Hikaru held the elemental magic stone in both arms and stood in front of the runs. Although there was still some distance away from where he was supposed to place it, the symbols started to react, emitting a sparkling light.

“Serika, thirty days from now, at 10:00 PM. Don’t forget,” Hikaru reminded her.

“I won’t.”

“I’m going in. Watch out for the light and wind.”

Hikaru felt that there was something more he should say, but no words came out. He placed the elemental magic stone at the center of the magic formula and jumped beside Serika.

There was a blinding light, and the wind gusted. Unlike last time when they were unprepared and blown away, this time, they managed to withstand it.

“Ugh…”

“Hang in there!”

While shielding her face with both arms, Serika’s legs wobbled, and her robe fluttered. Hikaru grabbed her to keep her steady.

Mineral branches grew from the elemental magic stone like trees, and the space right in front of them began to open with a loud noise.

“The portal is opening!”

A rift opened wide enough for them to stoop and pass through.

They could see Japan on the other side. It was nighttime there, too.

However, this place—was it a home? It seemed like the front of someone’s house.

“Wait. I know this place,” Serika muttered.

“…Huh?”

In the next moment, Serika dashed forward and jumped into the rift.

She was standing. On the asphalt.

The rift stopped expanding, then immediately started closing. Serika turned and reached for this side.

However, her hand never crossed the rift, as if blocked by something. No sound could be heard. She opened her mouth, but Hikaru couldn’t hear her voice. Strangely, only the sleeves of her robe seemed to have made it through to this side.

Is it impossible for her to return from there?

A heavy feeling washed over Hikaru, and his vision turned dark. Even if he cast the spell again thirty days from now, Serika might not make it back here.

The rift rapidly shrank. When it was about the size of a palm, Serika reached into her pocket.

She shouted something, but Hikaru couldn’t hear it. She tossed something to him. It passed through and landed in his hand just as the rift closed.

“…”

The light and wind died down, as if they had never been. The burnt-out magic symbols emitted a smoky odor, and the elemental magic stone, branches jutting out, had lost its light.

Serika had returned to Japan. Remarkably easily.

---

As Hikaru was preparing to leave the warehouse and gather his belongings, Sophie, Sara, and Selyse appeared before him. Sophie’s eyes were red, like she had been crying, Sara looked awkward, and Selyse, who was usually all smiles, appeared stupefied.

“Thank you, Hikaru,” Sophie said.

“Thank you for sending her off, Adventurer Hikaru,” Selyse added. “Honestly, I don’t know much about you… but Sophie and Sara say you’re trustworthy, and if you’re from the same place as Serika, I won’t say anything.”

This was almost the first time Selyse had talked to Hikaru as himself, not as Silver Face. They had met before, but not really spoken like this.

“Did… Did Serika go back home?” she asked.

Hikaru nodded.

“I thought I saw her toss something towards you at the last second.”

“She did.”

Hikaru handed over a glass figurine shaped like a dog. It was one of the items Serika had brought with her from Japan and the sole survivor of her subsequent harsh life here. She referred to it as her lucky charm.

Sobbing, Sophie accepted the figurine from Hikaru, tears streaming down her face. Hikaru wondered if it held some sort of significance.

“This is something from your world, right?” Sara said. “Sophie liked it, and she used to talk about opening a shop with cute things like this together with Serika someday.”

“I see…” That must be the reason Serika wanted to come back here.

“Hikaru,” Sophie said with a tearful voice. “Why do you think she gave this to you?”

“I have an idea. Actually…”

Hikaru proceeded to explain everything. Earlier, Serika tried to check if she could return here, but strangely, her hand stopped, as if hitting an invisible glass-like barrier, even though the sleeves of her robe had gone through. She must have realized that even if Hikaru were to use the spell for crossing worlds again in thirty days, she couldn’t come back.

“She might have wanted you to have it, because there’s a chance she can’t come back.”

Sophie shook her head slowly. She took out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes.

“I disagree,” she said. “I think Serika trusted you.”

“…Trusted me?”

“I liked this thing so much and watched it all the time, but she never gave it to me. I don’t really have materialistic desires, but for some reason, I really wanted this. And she gave it to you, not me.”

“To me…”

“Yes, to none other than you. She wanted to say she had faith in you.” Sophie returned the glass figurine to Hikaru.

While the rift was closing, Serika shouted something. Perhaps she said something along those lines.

“And I will believe in you, too. So, for now… Let’s do what needs to be done. Please come with me. I will tell you about the Proselytizer’s Path.”

“Sophie.” Hikaru handed the glass figurine back to Sophie. “Please keep this. I don’t need it.”

“But…”

“I got the sentiment. I will live up to Serika’s trust. So please… keep it.”

“…”

Sophie cradled the glass figurine gently in both hands, clutching it to her chest.

“Thank you,” she said.