After deciding to accept Baal, Yumi, and her subordinates, I gave nas to several of the most exceptionally strong followers to have them lead the other yokai.
To the tsuchigumo—whose lower body was a giant spider and whose upper body wore the armor of a warrior—I gave the na Rane, inspired by the spider of Greek mythology. The yokai resembling a tengu was simply nad Tanku, fitting the impression he gave. The most striking of them all, however, was the most classic and widely recognized: the nine-tailed fox. With her snow-white fur and vulpine features, she wielded a blue fla unlike any I had ever seen; I nad her Miho. According to Yumi, these were "soul flas," though I wasn't entirely sure what that entailed.
I also gave nas to a few others, including a yokai fused with a wheel like a Ghost Rider and a jet-black skeleton clad in dark armor.
The wheel yokai beca Oborokumura, while the armored skeleton resembled the Japanese yokai known as Gashadokuro.
I nad the wheel yokai Kuruma and the skeleton yokai Gaikotsu.
There was another who reminded of a warrior in a woven bamboo hat. While his presence and energy were lacking compared to the first five, his technical skill was superb. I considered naming him as well, but he was the first to refuse. In his own words, he had "not yet reached the ultimate secrets of the sword," or sothing to that effect.
Thanks to the diverse sorcery, skills, and magic of these five nad yokai led by Yumi, the city's developnt proceeded smoothly. The realization of the floating island they had envisioned seed well within reach.
One peculiar trait they possessed was their ability to disguise themselves as humans in their daily lives. They explained that they could not exist in the human world in their true forms; while they couldn't unleash their full power while disguised, it allowed them to completely conceal their presence.
Essentially, this ant they could easily slip through the barrier magic installed in human nations.
Just as I thought everything was proceeding perfectly, I received word from my parallel existence stationed in Ingrasia.
The report indicated that a troubleso situation had arisen in the Kingdom of Ingrasia. Believing that the loyal Drago and the dragon siblings could handle most things, I decided to head to Ingrasia personally, leaving my parallel existence behind to manage things here.
Upon arrival, I imdiately understood the problem my other self had ntioned.
The number of guards had increased.
These guards were none other than knights of the Western Holy Church. As I've ntioned, I am not religious, and I've never been fond of the Church—especially one that makes the extermination of monsters its core tenet.
They operate under the guise of helping the weak and protecting people from evil and monsters, but in my eyes, they are nothing more than an occult sect.
Whether the Western Holy Church intended to expand its influence beyond its own borders or not, they had established a council right here in Ingrasia.
To put it simply, they were like the Paladins you see in gas. While defeating them would be trivial, I preferred to avoid them. They are the type to pick a fight with anyone deed an "enemy of humanity," even if that person is of a draconic lineage.
The most dangerous among them was Hinata Sakaguchi, the leader of the Ten Great Saints—the Church's ultimate combat force. Despite her youth, her prestige was known throughout the land, and it was said that once she marked a target, she never let them escape.
There were others, the Seven Luminaries, but I had no interest in them.
As Vertis made his way to his clinic, he was greeted by a humanoid golem in a maid outfit. Amrita handed a letter containing a brief request for a eting, along with a date and location. The sender remained anonymous.
I was suspicious, but the writing felt sincere, so I decided to et the author.
****
When the appointed date arrived, I traded my usual white clothes for sothing more formal and waited in the designated park.
Thirty minutes before the eting ti, a familiar voice called out from behind .
"Hello."
The woman who greeted with a light bow was Izawa Shizue. A forr adventurer and current teacher at the Free Guild, she was also a patient I had treated in the past.
She had been plagued by Ifrit, a high-ranking fire spirit. I had resolved her crisis by creating a high-ranking water spirit capable of suppressing Ifrit and having it dwell within her body instead.
We had parted on good terms, so why was she seeking out now?
"It has been a while, Izawa Shizue, the Ruler of Scorching Fla."
"Please, no need for such nicknas. Just call Shizu."
"...Very well, Shizu. Why did you ask to see ?"
She remained silent for a mont.
It seems there's sothing weighing on her...
"...Shall we move elsewhere?"
She led to the Free Academy, a school where children aspiring to be adventurers were trained.
Thanks to Shizu's status, I passed through without issue. Once we entered her dormitory room, Shizu finally relaxed her expression.
"It's a nice room," I remarked.
"Thank you."
I sat on the floor, and she sat demurely across from .
"Now, would you like to tell what's on your mind? Also, you can drop the formal speech. We look to be around the sa age, after all."
"Then... may I begin?"
****
The reason she had summoned to her room was that she needed my help. Before explaining, Shizu pleaded with to keep everything she was about to say a complete secret.
For soone known as the 'Demon Instructor' to be this insistent, this must be a grave matter.
To ensure I understood the context, Shizu asked how much I knew about otherworlders.
"Not much... just that they're people from another world."
"I'm not sure why I'm explaining this, but I want you to understand the differences among us otherworlders. Among my students, so possess imnse power like Hinata, while others, like Yuuki, possess no skills at all. It is not an absolute law that every otherworlder gains a skill."
Hmm... so it's the classic 'summoned to another world' cliché found in countless manga?
Explain it in plain English!
"So, you're saying there's a difference between those who arrive accidentally and those summoned via a magic circle?"
Shizu nodded. In my case, my strong will and soul led to the anomaly of being reborn as a mber of a draconic lineage, but most are brought here either by chance or by design.
"Exactly. Just as I gained a skill when I was summoned by Demon Lord Leon, those summoned for a specific purpose always acquire so form of power. That power varies based on the individual's desires or purpose. While abilities may be similar, no two are identical."
To summarize: during the transition from Earth to this world, one absorbs a massive amount of energy, which manifests as an ability.
Normally, summoning a person from another world requires a week-long ritual involving over thirty summoners, and even then, the success rate is low.
But what happens if such a complex ritual is bypassed for a simpler, cruder thod?
The answer is grim. The success rate remains low, and those who are successfully brought over are usually children. These children often fail to develop skills; instead, the massive amount of magicules that should have beco abilities simply condense within their bodies. The energy is absorbed by the body rather than being converted into a skill.
The conclusion is obvious.
These unstable children live on borrowed ti, eventually succumbing to the energy within them.
Yet, nations always crave powerful assets. In this world, quality outweighs quantity; a single powerful otherworlder is worth more than a hundred soldiers. Consequently, nations conduct these unstable, secret summonings. When the resulting children prove useless as military assets because they lack powerful skills, they are simply abandoned.
It is the classic tragedy: sacrificing ten thousand to create one hero.
Hearing this, I felt a bitter familiarity. Human nature is the sa, whether on Earth or here.
"Because of this, the nations readily handed over the children who had no combat value."
So if they're useless, they're disposable. How selfish of them, considering they're the ones who dragged these kids here in the first place.
"Even if a 'proper' summoner arrives, they usually end up as re tools to protect royalty or the nobility," Shizu added.
"You knew that?"
"I know that much. But that's not the only reason you hate this world, is it?"
Having glimpsed her mories, I knew exactly why she loathed this world. I also knew the guilt engraved upon her soul...
As Shizu's expression darkened with the mory of that day, I scratched the back of my head and spoke.
"Look, it might be strange coming from , but no matter how much you regret the past, no one can go back and start over. But you can start from *now* and create a new future. Even with a sad past, happy days will co. I think your friend would want that for you."
Those words were from Karl Barth, a Swiss theologian, and they had beco my own motto in life.
In my previous life, I had witnessed the death of my own beloved son. At the ti, the grief was so overwhelming that I felt the urge to follow him. But eventually, I found the strength to overco that sorrow, resolving to live my life to the fullest for both of us.
Shizu's burden was different. Regardless of her intent, the fact that she had killed a precious friend was an immutable truth.
"So, stop making such a gloomy face and smile. They say smiling brings good fortune, right?"
I used my finger to pull up the corners of my mouth in a goofy grin. She let out a small "pfft" and looked at . That expression suited her far better than a frown.
Then, her request beca simple and clear.
She asked if I could save these other children from their predetermined deaths, just as I had saved her.
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