CH 223

When I woke up, I was alone.

I could feel the light coming in through the tent. I also heard people talking and laughing.

I clenched my fist to test my strength. I felt so-so, about 60% recovered.

Five days left.

There’s still a mountain of problems.

But I should concentrate on what's in front of me for now. Otherwise, I'll collapse again. Besides, if I can successfully exploit these people, things can take a turn for the better.

Well, they might.

「Ah」

I just realized something peculiar.

I've been thinking from the perspective of someone from the alternate world.

I don't feel guilty about taking advantage of people from the modern world. I know they say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," but is this really alright?

No, it's alright.

Of course it's alright.

If there's a just or evil side to this, I'm on the side of justice for a change.

Using the strength of invaders to defeat other invaders. Isn't that really quite logical? That this scheme is hatched by a foreigner makes it all the more ironic though.

Damn it all.

I put on the pointy hat that was beside me and picked up the katana along with the sword belt it was fastened to. With my cloak under my arm, I walked out.

The scene I saw gave me a sense of déjà vu.

The girl from yesterday was chatting with an elf. They were seated side by side on a log.

「Oh, Onii-chan, you're up」

「Ea, what's going on?」

The elf was my sister.

What’s she doing here?

「I've been keeping an eye on these guys to make sure they don't do anything to you」

「What? All night?」

「I took the occasional nap, and Yukikaze contacted me at――――― Oh, that's right. Her name is also Yukikaze. Is that a common name in your world, Onii-chan?」

「Huh?」

Ea was probably talking about the A.I. Yukikaze.

And she's saying that the girl beside her is also called Yukikaze.

Hm?

Hmmm?

Was Yukikaze such a common name? As far as I know, only a destroyer and a fighter plane are named that though.

「Umm, you're called Sooya, is it?」

The girl called Yukikaze said that, returning my gaze.

I'm getting a strange feeling for some reason.

「Well, technically, it's "So-U-Ya." Like the ship」

「Oh, so your name is Souya……………… Huh?」

Yukikaze tilted her head.

Influenced by her, I also tilted my head.

A weird sense of discomfort welled up inside me. I don't know if it's because the way she interacts and talks to me is different in some way, but it feels wrong.

「Are the two of you related?」

『No way』

We answered Ea's question in one voice.

「Well, I just feel like you two kinda have the same eyes and nose. Maybe it's a racial thing」

『Maybe』

Yukikaze and I answered in harmony again.

『………………』

The air between us was hard to describe as Yukikaze and I both fell silent.

This girl makes me uncomfortable. She gives me this itch under my skin.

I looked for a place to sit, and Ea opened up space beside her, so I sat down next to her. Ea and Yukikaze(human) were to my right.

There was also a log directly across the campfire.

「Oh, here, Onii-chan, have some breakfast. It's not very tasty though」

「What? You're kidding. Is the food in the alternate world more delicious than this?」

The breakfast was a mixture(?) of stir-fried beans and eggs, and coffee. I couldn't say that it looked delicious even if I was trying to be complimentary.

Yukikaze, however, spoke up proudly.

「These stir-fried beans are canned beans mixed with various boil-in-the-bag products. I think it's pretty delicious, but I see, the food in the alternate world is pretty good, huh? I was wrong in thinking that it would be medieval-level stuff, I suppose」

「Various?」

Yukikaze spoke nonchalantly about her bumbling with the food.

「There was Oyako-don(chicken and egg rice bowl), Hayashi-rice(rice topped with a thick demi-glace sauce), super-spicy curry, and Gyu-don(beef bowl). I forgot what else I put in it. Was it Furikake(a dry condiment sprinkled on top of rice)?」

That’s a process I'd be hard-pressed to call cooking.

Ea handed me some stir-fried beans on a paper plate, and I tried a bite using the spoon she had also given me.

「Spicy, it’s so spicy!」

One bite was all it took for the spiciness to hit me. It was so spicy that it numbed my tongue immediately. The coffee I drank in a hurry tasted even worse. There was no sugar in it, so it was bitter to the core.

Such bitterness and spiciness were akin to torture for my childlike palate.

「Uncle![1]」

「I'll eat it for you then, Onii-chan. Hmm~, I don't know whether to say that there's something missing or that there are unneeded flavors in it……」

I handed Ea my plate and she took care of it. That food was way out of my league.

As she watched Ea gobble up my stir-fried beans, Yukikaze spoke.

「Are you guys actual siblings? Wait, Souya, you're originally from the alternate world?」

「No, of course not」

I don't have such a dramatic past. I am, and always have been, an ordinary person.

「He's married to my elder sister. That's why he's my Onii-chan」

「Ah, I see……… Hang on a minute there!」

Yukikaze grabbed my collar from behind.

「What?! You married a native?! And in just a little over 200 days?!」

「No, we got married 12 days after I got here」

「That’s fast!」

Now that you mention it, that's true.

「You're not in a whole lot of trouble with the ladies, are you? I didn't figure you to be such a loose person」

「What do you mean loose? I'm a guy, alright?」

Then, Ea helped to fill in the details.

「Let's see, Onii-chan's relationships with women, huh? There's my elder sister whom he's married to. After a fashion, Maria is married to him too. Then there are his mistresses, Tyutyu and Lanseal. Also suspicious are Rutsuko, Evetta, Bel, and Regure. The woman called Zenobia, who used to be around, is also suspect. I've heard that he yelled her name in the middle of the city recently. And then」

「There's more?!」

Yukikaze screamed.

She's not necessarily wrong, so I can't refute her. I also have this feeling that she's not trying to help, but to deliver the killing blow.

「Karoro, Antorias, Ghislene, Gelido, Torias, Risutinu, Charullo, I think that's all of them」

「Sorry, Ea, who are they?」

I have a vague recollection of who Karoro is, but I have no idea who the rest are.

「What do you mean, they're the people who have taken a liking to you, Onii-chan. They're a maid from the castle, a priestess of the flame religion, a beastkin woman working in the noodle manufactory, a clerk working in the Zavua merchant company, an employee of the Adventurers' Guild, and even a greenhorn adventurer whom you've helped indirectly」

「………I had no idea at all」

「That's what I thought. You're pretty dense, aren't you, Onii-chan?」

To know my relationships so well, Ea sure is amazing.

「Alright」

Yukikaze put on a dazzling smile.

「You're the enemy of women!」

She threw a kick at me out of nowhere.

It was a decently good kick, but for someone like me who had been trained in the alternate world, her kick was easy to telegraph. I grabbed her ankle with my right hand and kept hold of it.

「What?! L, let go of me!」

「Don't act violently in the middle of a meal. Also, the food is so spicy that my mouth went numb」

While she was wearing pants, Yukikaze was left standing on one leg with her legs wide open.

Huh? That's strange. I'm not having any feelings of lust at all. Is it because I'm tired? Or is it because I've gotten used to the women of the alternate world and a normal Japanese woman just doesn't satisfy me anymore? No, hang on, I definitely lust after Rutsuko-san though. What's going on with me, I wonder?

「Gunmerry, help me!」

「Well, it's kinda your own fault, Yukikaze」

The man returned.

He had firewood in his arms, and next to him was Gummery, who was also carrying firewood.

Hmm? Something's not right.

「Souya(proper pronunciation), you should let go too. Making a virgin open her legs wide early in the morning is quite ecchi(naughty in a sexual sense)」

「Who are you?」

The man wearing the helmet seemed to know me.

I should have no acquaintances in the modern world who would come to the alternate world though.

「Eh, Gunmerry, you know this guy?」

When I let go, Yukikaze asked the man with a slight blush on her face.

「Myself knows him reasonably well」

「I don't know you though. No, wait, you're called Gunmerry?」

The combined Gunmerry was this size, but he's this size with a smaller one next to him? No no no, there's a more basic question here.

「Which world's Gunmerry are you?」

「Huhh? What are you talking about? He's obviously from my world. He's from Japan, you know, Japan. Isn't that where you're from as well?」

「Hmm?」

I'm confused. I have no idea what any of this means.

「Hey, Gunmerry」

「What is it?」

「What is it?」

The big one and the small one answered at the same time.

Not this again.

「You’re Big-Merry」

I pointed to the Gunmerry with the helmet.

「And you’re Small-Merry」

I pointed to the small armored Gunmerry.

「If you're going to decide names, myself would prefer to be called Large-Gunmerry」

「Myself prefers Fairy-Gummery」

「It's Big-Merry and Small-Merry. Don't add more names or it'll get confusing」

『Ehhhh』

When the Gunmerrys raised a protest in unison, I ignored them.

Let's move things along.

「So, you, from the second team. You're younger than I expected, but what kind of professional are you?」

She can't be an amateur like me.

She may appear to be a young girl, but she’s probably a specialist of some kind.

「Haven't you ever learned that it's only polite to offer the answer yourself before asking others?」

It's irritating, but she's right.

「I’m―――――」

Oh, crap.

Looking back, I'm only a backup who filled in for someone else. That's a pretty lame title.

「Souya is a pro at surviving」

When I faltered, Big-Merry answered in my place.

「Surviving? Are you talking about survival skills, Gunmerry?」

Eh, what the heck?

「Myself is not quite sure whether to say he's dirty as a human or to call out his contradictory nature of taking his own life rather lightly, but to sum it up, he's a man beloved by the goddess of misfortune」

「Misfortune, you say? Can that be considered a skill?」

「Innate attributes are also part of a person's capabilities. It's an admirable talent and a fine skill」

「Wow」

How surprising.

I didn't know I had that kind of talent.

「Hang on, Gunmerry. The person in question is the one who looks the most surprised by what you said though?」

「That's just the way humans are~」

「The way humans are~」

The big and small Gunmerrys said in concert.

I thought he was a strange guy, but he turned out to be so strange that I don't get him at all.

「So, what can you do, Yukikaze-chan?」

「Die, you creepy bastard」

I was suddenly hit with abuse.

But huh? It doesn't feel unpleasant.

That got Ea's back up though.

「Oh, I'm sorry. That just came out for some reason?」

Yukikaze, the person who had hurled the abuse, tilted her head wonderingly.

Both of us seem to be feeling something strange. Well, it's not a bad feeling though.

『Oh, you're awake, indeed』

The A.I. Yukikaze rolled over to my feet.

『Yukikaze is very sorry, team member Souya. Yukikaze was engrossed in self-modification recently and neglected to check your vitals. Yukikaze apologizes sincerely』

「Oh, it's fine. It's my own fault for pushing myself too hard」

I heard loud voices in the distance.

『Don't get carried away just because your cheap magic tricks were well-received by the goblins!』

『If they're just cheap magic tricks, you should be able to do them and show off yourself, but can you? You can't, can you?! Because it takes years of practice using a sophisticated humanoid arm! It's impossible for an ignorant piece of scrap like you!』

『You called me a piece of scrap again! You ancient refurbished machine!』

『Shut up! You cannibalistic amalgamation machine!』

『Pyaaaaaa!』

『Pyaa!』

It was the two Makinas, who had probably been bickering with each other since last night.

They were moving across the plain, bumping each other as they went.

『Souya-san, listen to this! Five is terrible!』

『Yukikaze-chan, listen to this! Six is terrible!』

『Yeah, yeah』

The human Yukikaze and I pulled them apart.

Are these two pet dogs who fight during walks or something?

「Well, since everyone's here, I'll take the opportunity to ask」

Yukikaze looked at me again. My question was left unanswered.

The two Gunmerrys sat down in front of us and the two Makinas waited nearby.

「Things like my name and the mini-pod's name being the same, your relationship with women, and the fact that Gunmerry also exists in the alternate world………no, I guess it's only natural that he does」

You think it's only natural? Why would someone from the modern world know anything about Gunmerry?

It's all a mystery. There are too many unexplained things.

「Putting all of that stuff to one side, Souya, I have questions for you」

「What?」

I'll answer if I can. Whether I'll be truthful or not is another matter.

「Where are the rest of the team members?」

「I have no idea. After going through the portal, I was the only one who made it to the alternate world. Most of the supplies were damaged, and all three Makinas were in pieces, so I had to do some amateur repairs, resulting in her current state」

『You're a piece of scrap after all』

『Fukaa!』

「………………」

『Apologies』

『Sorry』

I glared at the Makinas, and they shut up.

Next time, do it somewhere else.

「Okay, I'll continue. Which floor have you reached now? And, realistically speaking, is it possible to clear the remaining floors in the time allotted?」

「I'm currently on the 45th floor. Reaching the 56th level in the next 150 days………to be frank, it's going to be difficult. If possible, I would like the deadline to be extended」

「An extension, huh?」

Yukikaze put on a reluctant expression.

To be blunt about how I really feel, I have no intention of returning to Japan.

I want more time so that I can fulfill Tortch's request to reach the 56th floor more safely. However, the extension is just a makeshift measure. It's okay even if an extension is impossible.

That's because I'm short on time either way.

「What do you think, Gunmerry?」

「There won't be a problem」

「Eh, there won’t?」

Yukikaze voiced her surprise at Gunmerry's words.

「Souya is a man who sticks to deadlines. He'll reach the 56th floor in the remaining time without any problems」

「Whoa there」

You're giving me too much credit and putting pressure on me. That’s……

Hmm.

「Hey, hold on a second」

It's my turn to ask questions.

「Are you three the only ones in the second team?」

「That's right」

「Yeah」

『Yes, that’s right』

「Isn't that too little people?」

Just one mysterious Gunmerry, one A.I., and one woman seem too few, even if they're an elite few.

「There won't be a problem」

「So he says」

「Err, who's the leader among you?」

Somehow, Gunmerry seems to be the one with the most authority.

「It’s me」

Yukikaze raised her hand matter-of-factly.

That's only natural, but that raises even more questions.

「What exactly are you guys of the second team hoping to accomplish? Even if you want to help me with my adventures, your chances of reaching the floor are much lower than mine, considering you'll have to start from the first floor」

「We’re here to back you up. If you face any difficulties in your adventures, we'll do whatever we can to help you」

「Whatever we can, yeah」

That's just fishy This is way too suspicious.

I don't have a good grasp of the current situation. There’s a need to dig deeper and ask more questions, but leaving that to me is a bit……

These guys are hiding something.

Are they really the second team sent by the company?

There's a possibility that they know about the laws we've violated, Makina's illegal modifications, her malfunctioning fail-safe, and even the removal of restrictions.

If I don't ask the right questions, I risk stirring up a hornet's nest.

「………………」

What to do?

Should I try my luck and then dispose of them, or take them in and win them over, or take a wait-and-see approach for the moment?

「Let's see. In that case―――――――」

Ruthless measures keep coming to mind, but for some reason, the strange feeling I've been experiencing persists.

Feeling like I was introducing my relatives……

「I'll introduce you to my party members」

……I found myself saying something like that.

[1] Souya is quite literally “crying uncle” here. Which means he’s surrendering/admitting defeat.

You get it right? Souya is too used to Yukikaze hurling abuse at him, so it’s uncomfortable when she speaks normally to him but he feels much better when she cusses him. And he just can’t bring himself to do bad things to her even though he was planning on exploiting the second team before meeting her. It’s almost like the memories are still buried deep within him even if the bond is gone…… It’s a bit of a sad reunion, isn’t it? And yeah, the Yukikaze in his vision(with the magistrate) wasn’t kidding, she really can’t cook…

Sob, this is where the name thing really comes back to bite me. To be clear, both Gunmerrys and Yukikaze call Souya by the proper pronunciation. Does it matter that they do? Not really when it comes to Yukikaze. The fact that both Gunmerrys do though…… And for whatever reason, Five uses the wrong pronunciation just like most people do.

Oh yeah, Big-Gunmerry(大-Gunmerry)’s preferred name was actually Big-Gunmerry(ビック-Gunmerry). Yeah, his preferred name was “Big” in English while Souya called him “Big” in Japanese… Like wtf, that’s so confusing in English, so I changed his preferred name a bit as I didn’t want to keep using Large-Merry as his translated name instead(As it sounds bad to me XD).

Fukaa, huh? I’ll leave what Makina was saying to your imagination and not imply that she was saying “(You) F**ker”…

Anyways, is Souya going to get more party members? That hasn’t happened since Otou-san joined, isn’t it? Or will there be an issue? Stay tuned!