(Delsmo)
Restro and Nadia are flying. Restro is a demon clad in white armor covering his entire body, revealing no hint of his true appearance.
Nadia remains deep in thought about the adventurer's name, which worries Restro slightly, as it's the first time he's seen her so concerned.
"Nadia, why did you react that way when you heard that adventurer's name?"
"Before I became a demon, I was pregnant with a son who was going to be named 'Daniel,' just like his father, my lovely husband. I died giving birth to him; I don't know if he was born alive. I died 16 years ago, the same age as this adventurer… Could it be him? Or what if it's my husband? He's so handsome, he could easily be mistaken for a 16-year-old. If it turns out to be my husband, don't kill him. I'll keep him for myself."
"You want to kill him yourself? Did he cheat on you?"
"Of course not! My husband was faithful, handsome, kind, chivalrous! He was perfect! The reason I agreed to serve our master was because he promised I could be with him again."
"For love, huh? Interesting, especially coming from someone like you… And if it turns out to be your son, not your husband?"
"Then I'll let the master decide what to do with him."
"You won't save him?"
"No. Why would I? I don't even know him. I'd rather avoid trouble with our master."
"Mother of the year, huh? I'll admit his name isn't common here, but you're from World 15. Why would he be in World 1?"
"I don't know, but it's too much of a coincidence… I feel something in my chest; something inside me says he's my son. Maternal instinct?"
"It's just his name and age matching; calm down."
"Fine. Want to hear how I met my husband?"
"Not interested."
"Want to hear how I lost my virginity to him?"
"Also not interested."
"Well, then I'll tell you the 1,000 things I love about my husband."
"I'm not interested, Nadia."
"Number 1: His eyes."
"Didn't you hear me?"
"Number 2: His penis."
"Hey…"
"Number 3: His delicious saliva."
"Tch."
"Number 4: His delicious semen."
"You're crazy."
"Number 5: His cooking."
And so, Restro was forced to listen to all of it during their journey, as Nadia truly listed 1,000 different things about her husband.
•
•
(POV - Daniel)
(Central Town 3)
I sneeze and keep walking through the town… Is someone talking about me? I've been sneezing a lot… That's weird… I never get sick… I don't think I've ever been sick… Despite being dirt poor and living in rough conditions, my health was perfect.
"Why do I want to stop this fight? Maybe my pure heart compels me to stop it, or maybe because I'm starting to hate the Kings… I don't know… I've always felt I should do the right thing, but I don't know why I do it."
I enter the guild, and many adventurers and pretty girls stare at me, starting to whisper.
Let me clarify "pretty girls," because a group of gorgeous girls are gathered, staring at me, winking, and showing off their bare butts and breasts.
Ugh! Is this how women in this world flirt with men?! Arghhh! It's so awkward! Respect your bodies more…! Oh, that woman has huge nipples. What are they called…? Areolas? Something like that.
That woman's are huge; like, 75% of her massive breasts are areolas or nipples, whatever they're called.
Wow… Arghhh! Don't stare, Daniel! Look at her face and body! She looks underage! She's like 140 cm tall! Arghhh! She may have big breasts, but it's way too illegal for my eyes!
"It's him."
"The mysterious adventurer with all types of magic."
"Could he be a demon?"
I feel all the stares and get shy. I've always been popular, but I'm naturally timid. Arghhh! I wish I had a more outgoing personality!
"C-calm down and sit."
I sit at a table, and a waitress, clearly very nervous, serves me. She has long white hair, wears a maid dress, and has red eyes… Wow, wow. That's unusual. She reminds me of Sandro… I don't know why… It's weird… Her eyes are like Sandro's. Identical, except for the color. Wow, wow.
Ugh, am I so guilty about killing Sandro that I see him everywhere? I hope I'm not going crazy.
"W-what would you like to eat?"
"A plate of food and a glass of water, please."
"A-anything specific you want to eat?"
"Anything, please."
"O-okay."
The waitress leaves, and I pull out my phone. Ugh, their eyes may be similar, but their personalities are completely different.
"I need to start memorizing spells. No more excuses, Daniel."
I open the apps… Hmm… Among the apps, there's one for the internet.
"Why would I have an internet app? I doubt we can use it."
God, you could've given me a game instead of this app, or at least music.
I open the map and look for Soular… Hmm… It's shaped like… the United States? Sort of, just more compact.
"It's far, way too far… If getting here took all of yesterday and a few hours today… But flying, I could get there faster… Hmm…"
I study the map closer.
"I think I'd get there in… two hours if I fly."
Yeah, I'm definitely going alone. It'll be safer and faster… Oh, smells delicious. My food! Yum, yum! I was starving. Come to daddy.
The waitress approaches with my food… Huh?!
S-she tripped and fell flat on her face. Poor thing, that must've hurt. Ugh, and I still don't know any healing spells.
"Kyaaaa!"
… No offense, miss, but that scream was cute.
All the adventurers start laughing at her, and I stand to help.
Tch. Rude. Instead of helping, they mock her. No manners.
"Are you okay? Didn't break your nose? Need medical help?"
I extend my right hand.
"Y-yes… I'm fine."
I help her up, and she stares at me, blushing… She looks at me for several seconds… She's really cute… The women in this world are beautiful.
Aside from her eyes being identical to Sandro's, she's gorgeous… No, Daniel, fate is testing you! You'll stay single, period!
But yeah, she's beautiful.
"… I'm sorry, I spilled your food!"
"Don't worry, it's fine, I'll help you clean up."
I touch the food on the floor. Ugh, I really wanted you in my stomach.
"Crea."
I turn the food into water.
"Guess this'll be easier to clean."
"Amazing!"
"He turned the food into water!"
I lower my head, getting shyer. The adventurers are staring too much… They're shocked… Arghhh! Daniel, you need to get used to this!
L-little by little… Little by little.
"I need to get used to this… Could you bring more food?"
"Of course!"
After a few minutes, the waitress returns with my food. Phew. Smells and looks delicious.
"Here you go, I didn't trip this time," she said, smiling.
"Glad to hear it. Thank you, I appreciate it."
I pull some coins from my pocket… Hmm… There.
"Is this enough?"
"More than enough, it's just one gold coin!"
I give her ten coins.
"Keep the rest."
"T-thank you!"
She leaves, a bit nervous, her body trembling so much she nearly trips with every step.
Hmm… Yeah, she was too scared to refuse, that's why she accepted so quickly… Is being intimidating a good thing? I guess 50/50.
I start eating, and Cris enters the guild. Wow, wow. Did something happen? I haven't heard any screams.
"Daniel!"
He looks nervous and worried. Did something bad happen?
"What's up? Did someone attack you?!"
"Are you sure there's no way back? My sister's going crazy here."
Ugh, thank goodness, I was getting scared.
Sonia… Ugh, I don't want to talk to her. I'll leave the Sonia issue to Cris and my grandma; they'll know how to handle her.
"In three or four years, you'll be able to go back. Be patient."
"That's a long time!"
"That's what you get for sneaking into my house without permission. Don't worry, it seems like a rough place, but there's a lot of interesting stuff to see. Three or four years here could be fun."
"Demons…"
"Where are the others?"
"Trying to find a place to sleep, but all ithe inns are full."
"Can you tell them to stop looking?"
"Why?"
"The King gave us a house at the castle."
"A house at the castle?! It must be luxurious."
"It is…"
… Cris is avoiding looking at me directly… He doesn't look at me the way he used to… He's… scared of me…
"Do you remember what I told you when you said Sonia cheated on me?"
"Of course, you said, 'Thanks for telling me, you'll always be my best friend.'"
"And you still are. Since you saw me here, you keep looking at me with fear."
"Sorry, it's because…"
"I know, it's hard to believe you're in another world and that I have magic. But I'm basically still the same."
I don't want to lose his friendship… My grandma and him are the only important things I have left… He's my best friend; I don't want to lose him. I already lost one best friend, Sonia; I don't want to lose my other best friend, Cris.
I extend my right fist.
"Friends?"
"Friends."
We fist-bump.
Cris, you're my best friend, and I want to keep your friendship.
But he's right, it could be boring for them here… Hmm… Got it.
"Maybe you can learn to wield a sword. If you learn swordsmanship, you can go on adventures so you're not so bored. You know, F, E, D-rank missions. With protection, of course, just in case. Remember, you're in a magical world without magic. This isn't a 13+ manga where no one dies; anything here can kill you, and it will without hesitation. Be careful."
"I will. Be right back."
Cris runs off, and I keep eating.
Cris… Ugh… Sorry for everything.
•
•
A few minutes later, they arrive.
They all enter the guild, looking excited… Well, in this world, they're commoners. And Sara gets super excited about noble and royal stuff… I guess the idea of living at the castle thrills them.
Well, we'll live around the castle, but it's almost the same.
"The King gave us a house?!" Sara said.
"Yeah, he gave it to me because I'm helping him with something."
"With what?" my grandma said.
"I can't talk here; let's go outside."
We leave the guild… I guess the war stuff is secret… Secret…? Hmm… I don't think so, but I won't talk about such depressing matters in public.
"Are you going to tell us?" Rem said.
"Let's head to the castle first; I'll explain on the way."
We reach the carriage, and I summon Treis.
"Take us to the castle, please."
"No problem," Treis said.
They all climb into the carriage, and I follow, flying.
I've gotten so used to flying that it feels like part of me, like walking. Is this the advantage of my special memory? I guess having a great memory helped me master flying perfectly, unconsciously, without much effort.
… Ugh… I'm dead, huh?
"Are you going to tell us now?" Alex said.
"I'm going to Soular."
"We're going to Soular?!" Sara said.
Nope, I said I'm going to Soular; I'm not taking them with me.
I'll barely have time to protect myself; I don't think I can protect them if I bring them along.
"No, I'm going to Soular alone."
"Huh?!" Alex, Liz, Sara, and Rem say.
"Dani, why do you want to go alone?" my grandma said.
"I have two reasons. First, it's really far. It'd take me about two hours to get there flying, but in the carriage, it'd take days…"
Ahem.
Treis interrupts me.
"It'd take a week; the path is tough to travel," Treis said.
"Wow, wow."
Yeah, I'm definitely flying.
"And the second reason is that demi-humans hate humans; they'd attack us immediately."
"That's not fair!" Alex said.
"Life's not fair."
"Dani, when are you planning to go?" my grandma said.
"In a week, Grandma—Cristina."
Shit, I almost blew it.
"Grandma?" Sonia said, confused.
"Her name's Cristina Grandma, but she hates her middle name, right?"
"Yeah, I hate my middle name."
"I get it," Sonia said.
That was close.
"We're going to the King's party, but don't get close to the girl who was with the King. She's his bodyguard, but I don't trust her, okay? I'll figure out if she's trustworthy first."
They all nod.
… Ugh… So much has happened in so little time… I need a break.
My head feels like it's going to explode.
•
•
(At King Finder's Castle)
We arrive at the entrance, and some guards approach us. Oh, today they seem… cheerful? I don't know… Kind? Something like that. At least they're treating us with respect.
"The King ordered us to escort you to your new house when you arrived."
"Thanks!" I said, smiling, because their warm hospitality makes me happy.
Finally, a King who's kind to commoners. If this were a democracy and I were a citizen of this country, I'd vote for him… Ugh…
All the nobles are looking at me weirdly… And the women are blushing… I feel popular again… And I hate it.
I stand out too much, and I hate that. I just hope they treat me as an equal, not like a monster, or worse, like I'm superior to them.
Everyone's equal to me; no one's better than anyone else, and I want to make that clear.
"I guess you already know who I am."
After a few minutes of walking, we reach a huge house, five stories tall, practically a mansion.
Wow, wow. It looks comfy. But considering how unadvanced this world is, it probably doesn't have bathrooms or refrigerators… Ugh, I need to get used to this.
"Awesome!"
"It has ten bedrooms, a kitchen, and a dining room," a guard said.
"Another place without a bathroom, huh?"
"The bathroom's behind the house."
Huh? They have a bathroom?!
We head to the bathroom and…
Ugh… It's like those construction site bathrooms… Like a phone booth… Awkward. I hope they cleaned it.
The backyard is huge… I think I'll plant some roses. It's just grass. Looks too sad; it needs more color.
"There's a hole in the ground, right?"
"Yes. Why?"
I was dirt poor, but at least we had a bathroom. I refuse to do my business in that bathroom.
"Shit."
"Watch your mouth, Dani."
"Sorry."
I extend my right hand.
"Retiers!"
I pull a huge amount of dirt from the backyard and split it into six piles.
"Crea!"
I turn two piles of dirt into planks and nails.
"Crea!"
I turn one pile of dirt into a bathtub.
"Crea!"
I turn one pile of dirt into a toilet.
"Wow, wow… If I don't destroy the bottom, it might be easier to use… Cristina, do you know how bathrooms work?"
"Why don't you look it up on the internet?" my grandma said.
… Huh? Did I hear that right?
"Internet?"
"We can use it on our phones."
… What?!
"We can?!"
I pull out my phone and open the internet app… Uwaaah! It works! It works!
"It works?!"
"You never tried using it? Though we can't interact, we can only browse."
"Amazing!"
This'll make things so much easier! Thank you, God!
I browse the web pages… Y-yeah, they're useful!
"It's the internet from my world."
Fufu. This'll make my life here way easier.
I turn to the guard.
"Please tell the King to send lots of servants to help us with something."
"Of course!"
The guard walks away.
"What are you planning?" Sara said.
"I'm making a better bathroom; I don't want to use a hole. With the internet app, I can research how bathrooms in my world work."
"Amazing!" Alex, Liz, Sara, and Rem said.
Fufu. Get ready, girls of this world, I'll show you the wonders of my modern world!
Should I patent the bathroom design and get rich? I could use the money to build schools, create jobs, businesses, etc. I could improve people's quality of life!
Grandma, change of plans, I'm not creating the town "Cristina," I'm creating the city "Cristina"!
I'll talk to the King about my idea later. I need investors.
•
•
(At dusk)
Ugh… I'm exhausted.
I researched how to make the bathroom, gave the materials to the servants, and Liz helped by writing the instructions. It's tricky, but surprisingly, the workers used magic to speed things up. Water would come from a lake near the castle; waste would go to a huge, deep hole I made far from the castle. It'd take a long time to fill, and when it does, I'd turn the waste into dirt and remove it to remake the hole. It was a detailed plan; we wouldn't have to worry about bathing with strangers.
Installing the pipes was complicated, but once they got the hang of it, it wasn't hard anymore.
I heard waste in my world gets dumped into the sea, but since this is a magical world, I think it's better to dump it in a hole and clean it with earth magic.
I'll figure that out later.
•
•
After the bathroom setup, we headed to the party. It's not finished yet, but it will be when we get back.
We arrive at the party… Well, I hope I have some fun.
"Here we are, at the grand party."
Sara was super excited and wandered off to explore. Alex and Liz went to tour the castle. Sonia and Cris started dancing together, since Cris stopped Sonia from asking me to dance. Thanks, you saved me from an awkward moment. Rem, my grandma, and I stayed together, watching.
"Let's have fun!" I said enthusiastically.
Musicians playing boring songs, nobles chatting, some laughing, others dancing, and the princes and King sitting on thrones, observing. It's so boring here; this doesn't feel like a party.
… Yeah, my enthusiasm left my body.
"I'm bored, let's go," I said, bored and disappointed.
My grandma affectionately pulls my right ear, but since it caught me off guard, it hurt a bit.
Love hurts, huh?
"The guest of honor can't leave."
"They're not doing anything fun."
"It's a rich people's party, for elegant folks, Dani."
"Boring. I prefer parties with more vibe. Not sure if you know what I mean… Oh, I see something beautiful."
"Fufu. A girl, Dani?"
"Nope, food."
I see a huge table with food. Fufu. Come to daddy. All that work made me hungry!
"Well, at least there's something good. Rem, join me to eat?"
"Of course!"
I'd invite my grandma, but I think she ate before coming.
We head to the table and start eating. Phew! Delicious! I guess coming to this party was worth it!
Rich people's food never disappoints… At least in this world.
I don't know if rich people's food in the other world is delicious, since I've never tried it, but I assume it must be, considering how expensive it is.
"Delicious!" Rem said.
Rem spoke with her mouth full, and the nobles start staring. Yeah, yeah, I know, it's rude. But understand we're commoners! We don't eat food this good every day.
"Try this meat, Rem!"
I talk with my mouth full, and the nobles start whispering. And I don't care! I'd rather enjoy the party than worry about what others think of me!
"Who are they?"
"Are they servants?"
"Why are they here?"
"Who invited them?"
Fufu. Don't know me? I thought my image was already famous. I guess my name's famous, but not my face. That's pretty good… Uwaaah! That hurt!
My grandma came over and smacked me on the head.
S-she never hits me, b-but I deserved it. I went overboard eating like an animal.
"Eat properly!" she said, angry.
"That hurt, calm down! S-sorry."
I rub my head.
"Relax and have fun. Parties are for that, for fun."
"Dani, you're not a little kid anymore."
"I know, but that doesn't mean I don't want to have fun."
"Ugh… At least eat properly."
"I will."
"Excuse me, miss."
Huh? W-what?
A young noble approaches my grandma. He's wearing a white suit, blonde, with red eyes.
Wow. He looks so… handsome, but also cool… Wow… I'm straight, but I admit I'd fall for him if I were a woman.
Hmm… I don't sense malice in him… I shouldn't judge by appearances, but I won't let my guard down.
"May I have this dance, miss?"
My grandma blushes because he's super handsome.
Ugh… I don't know how to feel about this, considering my grandma's actually an old lady in a 20-year-old's body.
Should I support her and let her dance with him? No… Daniel, it's not your call; it's your grandma's. It's her life, not yours.
If she wants to dance with him, let her dance with him.
"S-sure!"
S-she agreed? I-I hope I'm not meeting my new grandpa. Step-grandpa? Whatever.
My grandma doesn't get swayed by looks, so I'll trust her.
She leaves with the noble, and I shout.
"Have fun, cougar!!"
Rem and I start laughing and keep eating.
I don't care if my grandma's attracted to a man. If she falls in love, I'll support her. She deserves to be happy.
She's been through a lot; I want her to enjoy her new youth… Hey, don't take that!
"That piece was mine!" I said, annoyed.
"I saw it first!"
The nobles keep staring at us weirdly and saying stuff about Rem and me… It's starting to get to me. I feel uncomfortable.
"They're looking at us weird."
"Don't worry, try this!"
She offers me an animal's eye. Yuck.
"Wow, wow. No, thanks… Yuck!"
She shoved it in my mouth! Gross!
I spit it out immediately, but the taste lingers! Arghhh!
"So gross!"
Rem starts laughing, and the King rises from his throne.
"Listen, this party is to celebrate my children's return to us, thanks to a great adventurer capable of using powerful spells and who possesses all types of magic!"
Everyone gasps and starts whispering.
"All types of magic?"
"That's impossible."
"He must be lying."
"Could it be Daniel, the adventurer?"
"Is he here?"
Wow, wow. Really, only my name's famous.
The King lets out a loud shout.
"I present our special guest, the S-rank adventurer, Daniel!!"
Thanks, gra… S-rank?! What?! When did I get promoted?! King, did you…? I'd better not think about this country's corruption.
He points at me with his index finger.
"Come!"
Well, they're calling me to the stage.
I grab some meat and head to the King, eating.
"Coming, hold on!"
I reach the King and stand beside him… Yeah… Ugh… Now what? I'm not kneeling. I respect him, but not that much.
"He is Daniel, our special guest!"
I see all the nobles are shocked, and I hear them whispering.
"That guy's the special guest?"
"He has no manners, eats like an animal."
"What family is he from?"
"Is he a noble?"
Blah, blah, blah. Criticizing as always, huh? Someone needs to teach them a lesson in humility.
I finish eating and start speaking loudly and seriously to be taken seriously and listened to carefully.
"I am Daniel, I have no family, I'm a commoner, and it's true what the King says: I can use all types of magic, plus I can use the Royal family's resurrection spell that hasn't been used in over 200 years!"
I raise my left arm.
"I can see ghosts, I defeated a demon in one hit, I can fly, and I have a pure heart!"
Though I still don't know if the pure heart is useful or just decoration.
I raise my other arm too.
"I am Daniel, the one who makes the impossible possible!"
Sorry for stealing your line, Rose, but I liked how it sounded.
Everyone stares at me, stunned. I don't like bragging, but they're so arrogant and discriminated against me.
Wow, wow. I need to show off in front of all these smug elites. Hmm… Yeah, it worked, they're quiet and staring… Applause? No, footsteps… Footsteps? Coming from my right… Uwaaah!
"Darling!"
Molly runs up and hugs me, pressing her illegal chest into my face as we both fall to the floor. Arghhh! This is way too illegal!
"You're amazing!"
She starts kissing me. No, not on the lips! Someone get her off me…! Kya! She's touching my crotch! Why are all the women in this world so perverted?!
"Molly, stop kissing me! And get your hand off there!"
"Molly, stop kissing him!" the King and Zero said.
Zero and the King pull Molly off me.
"Let me kiss him a bit more!"
My face feels hot from the awkward situation I just went through, and I back away from them for now. I got sexually harassed again! Arghhh! Why are the women in this world so perverted?!
Is she really a princess? She's too bold. When will I meet a shy girl?!
Oh, right, the waitress was shy, though she reminded me too much of Sandro. I hope she doesn't have a perverted, stalker side like him.
I return to the table with Rem.
"That was amazing!" Rem said.
"Thanks. Look how the nobles are staring now. So they learn not to judge people."
My name has some fame, so they didn't dare keep bad-mouthing me.
I guess being famous isn't so bad after all.
"Let's keep eating, Dani!"
"I'm full."
"More for me!"
Sniff, sniff. Smells like flowers… Oh, wow, wow. No wonder.
A noble girl approaches me. She smells amazing. I'll ask her later where she got her perfume. I'll buy one for my grandma.
"Excuse me, would you like to dance with me?"
"I don't know how to dance, sorry."
"I understand, thank you."
The girl walks away. She didn't insist. I like that. If I see her at another party, I'll ask her to dance.
"You don't know how to dance, Dani?"
"No, I don't."
"I'll teach you!"
Rem grabs my hands.
"You put your hands here."
She places my hands on her waist.
"And just follow the music's rhythm."
We start dancing, or I think so… It's easier than I thought… Wow… Is this dancing? Interesting.
"I never knew how to dance, but I think I'm learning now, thanks."
We keep dancing, and I see her smile… She looks so happy… I like her smile… She's a very pure girl.
"Now that I think about it, I never asked your age."
"I was 16 when I died. But if you count the years I was dead… I think I'm over fifty. I don't know exactly how many years I was dead, but it was a lot."
Over 50 years dead… Ugh… I'd have gone crazy. Your mental strength is incredible.
"That must've been so boring as a ghost."
"It really was; I couldn't stand being a ghost. I wanted to leave the river or at least go to the other world… Not your world, I mean the world of the dead."
"Why did you become a ghost?"
"My stepfather killed me when he tried to rape me in the river."
"Did he rape you?"
"No, he killed me while trying to rape me, and when he saw I was dead, he threw my body in the river. I became a ghost because I felt intense hatred toward him and didn't want to leave until I killed him."
"So you stay a ghost if you have unfinished business? Or just out of hatred?"
"I guess so. Probably hatred or resentment."
Rem gets too close to my face.
S-shit, she caught me off guard.
D-don't blush, Daniel. Don't give her false hope. This is a romantic setup. Don't let it happen.
"But thanks to you, I'm alive again. If I die again, I'm sure I'll go to the world of the dead… Thanks, Dani."
She kisses my cheek, and I blush. Arghhh! Idiot, you're giving her false hope!
"N-no need to thank me!"
Liz and Alex appear out of nowhere beside us. Phew. They saved me. Perfect timing.
"I want to dance with Daniel!" Alex said.
"Me too!" Liz said.
"I'm not done!" Rem said.
Huh? A call?
I get a call and let go of Rem.
"I'll be right back."
I pull out my phone and answer.
"I'm at the top of the castle, come," Rose said.
"Alright."
I hang up and put my phone away.
"Sorry, I have to go, I won't be long. I'll dance with you when I'm back."
I leave the castle and fly to the top. Oh, there she is.
She smiled when she saw me.
Daniel, don't do anything that could be misinterpreted.
"Hey, Rose. Why'd it take you so long?"
"I can't fly as fast as you."
"Oh… Yeah, sorry… Why'd you come to this Kingdom?"
"I'm sure you know about the fight against the demi-humans. I was in favor of it because the Kings got me rare books and minerals, but if you're with King Finder, that means you're against the fight, right?"
"Yeah, I'm actually planning to go to Soular in a week."
"Good, I'll tell you everything I know."
New, valuable information?! Thank you so much, Rose!