Chapter 55

Let's get started.

Chapter 3

1

Pushing off the ground, I propelled my body forward.

Running through the forest filled with obstacles, I dodged the trees to the right and left.

I felt the wind. The false wind created by my sprint.

It was a wind that only I could feel in this world.

The pressure of the air, which made me feel as if I was being blown backward despite moving forward, spoke of the abnormality of my speed.

I affirmed that abnormality.

There was something I couldn't protect otherwise. That's why I ran. I kept running. The heat in my chest fueled my body, propelling me forward.

And so, I arrived at a massive fortress.

Its name was Fort Evinus. One of the human world's bridgeheads to suppress the monsters living in the northern part of the dense, magic-infused forest—the Sea of Trees—greeted me in the same manner as when I left.

I was relieved and felt a sense of joy... which was why I felt it couldn't be forgiven.

While calming the anger in my chest, I completed the final stretch to the fortress.

***

"Ah, hey? Could it be, are you Iino...? You're back!?"

A few minutes after being welcomed into the fortress, several acquaintances spotted me walking down the corridor and called out.

They were all my comrades—members of the exploration team.

More than four months ago, we were transferred to this incomprehensible and absurd world.

In the deep forest isolated from human society, monsters that defied common sense bared their fangs at us. To face this visible crisis and find a place where everyone could live in peace, the exploration team was formed.

For some reason, when we were transferred to this world, some of us, the transferees, gained powers that defied common sense.

We named this power, which we used to combat monsters, "cheat abilities." We stood up to protect our powerless comrades who were also transferred to this world and formed the exploration team.

Among us, I possessed particularly strong powers.

The fastest in the exploration team, boasting overwhelming physical abilities, I was known as Yuna Iino, the "Vajra." That's who I am now.

"Hey, what's going on?"

"Where's Watanabe the idiot? What about Jūji?"

"Since we haven't heard from you at Fort Cherea, we were worried here..."

"Sorry. I need to talk to the leader... I mean, the captain about this. I think you'll hear the details later."

While brushing off the acquaintances who called out to me, I hurried to my destination.

Our exploration team was allowed to use several rooms in Fort Evinus. I was heading to the leader's room. Suppressing my urge to run, I walked down the corridor.

"Wait, Iino! There's a guest in the leader's room right now."

"Guest?"

The words of the male student, Asahi Kazu, who chased after me, made me frown.

"Sorry, Kazu, but that guest is probably some baron or viscount's messenger from the empire, talking about greetings or something. Now isn't the time for that."

"No, no, it's not that..."

While having this conversation, I reached the room.

The door, which looked more luxurious than one would expect in a military facility, was evidence of the high regard in which our leader was held in this fortress.

I sensed someone on the other side of the door.

Before I could reach for the knob, the door opened.

On the other side was a tall man, nearly two meters in height.

He wasn't the person I was looking for. The guest Kazu mentioned was probably this man.

He exuded a heavy, imposing presence.

He was probably in his thirties. Broad-shouldered and well-built, his thick frame was clad in heavy armor that was neither that of the imperial knights stationed at Fort Everea nor the imperial army.

What surprised me was that his facial features somewhat resembled ours.

I had heard before that this world had only one race—what we would call Caucasians in our world.

However, the man's face, though deeply chiseled, resembled that of a Japanese person. It might be easier to say he looked half-Japanese. His hazel eyes contrasted with his short, black hair.

The man accompanying him, who was also tall and bald, had a dark complexion. It was much lighter than that of black people in our world but still rare for this world. At least, I had never seen anyone like them in either Fort Evinus or Fort Cherea.

Of course, there are Japanese people with deep features, and it could just be individual differences...

I was able to observe the two men because they were also looking at me.

His hazel eyes, under thick eyebrows, were fixed on me.

It was not a lecherous gaze that a man might direct at a woman. ...In fact, if it were, I would have punched that rock-like face.

Instead, it was as if he was trying to assess my very existence.

Somehow, it reminded me of my father, a police officer.

The stern gaze my respected father used to direct at me when I was young and misbehaving. The familiar strictness made me instinctively shrink back.

"Excuse me, miss."

The man, who had stepped aside to let me pass, placed his hand on his chest and bowed politely.

As the connection was broken, I unconsciously exhaled.

The man, who exuded a terrifyingly heavy presence, walked down the corridor. As I watched him go, I was brought back to reality by a voice from the side.

"...Why are you here, Iino?"

Standing at the entrance to the room was a tall girl in a uniform.

"...Moe."

Moe Kurayama. A third-year student, a year older than me, who served as the leader's bodyguard in the exploration team. Her sharp eyes, under her non-framed glasses, looked at me and the accompanying Asahi in turn.

"Also, why are you here, Asahi? I thought I had given you a task?"

"Ah, um, well..."

"What is it?"

"...Sorry. I'll be back soon."

With a cold gaze, Moe dismissed Asahi, who had followed me. I inwardly gasped.

"Iino, you were supposed to be at Fort Cherea, rescuing the survivors of the colony, weren't you? I remember that you were supposed to continue the rescue mission until further notice."

"Yes, I just got back. I need to talk to the leader. Can you let me in?"

I was a bit intimidated by this senior, who was a year older than me.

I had heard that she was academically excellent in our original world and aimed to study medicine to take over the family business. She was indeed very smart and supported the leader... but there was something dark and cold about her.

I couldn't understand why the leader trusted her so much and kept her close.

...Realizing that I was thinking this, I scolded myself.

This wasn't right. She was a trustworthy member of the exploration team, one of the brave comrades who decided to head to the distant east to protect the students.

Moreover, the leader trusted her and kept her close. Given that, there was no doubt that she was one of the most trustworthy people.

The leader must see her virtues that I can't see.

...Even so, my discomfort with her wouldn't disappear.

"Is that you, Iino?"

So, when the boy's voice came from inside the room, I felt a bit relieved.

"Let her in, Moe. I have a lot of questions for Iino."

"...Understood. Please come in, Iino."

Moe stepped aside, and I was led into the room.

I moved deeper into the room, glancing back at Moe.

In the corner of the spacious room, there was a low table and a sofa facing it. Our leader, Kōjiro Nakashima, was there.

Even to my familiar eyes, he was a boy with a well-proportioned appearance.

A sweet face that wouldn't look out of place in an idol group. Strong eyebrows. A tall, slender figure clad in the clothes of this world.

In the exploration team, some wore the clothes of this world, while others didn't. I continued to wear my uniform from the original world because it was more comfortable, but the leader was the first to adopt the clothes of this world and even disposed of his uniform and other items.

I think it was his way of making a statement. Especially in his position, he often had to interact with important figures from other worlds and their messengers.

Among the exploration team members staying at Fort Evinus, about thirty male students followed his example. I remember laughing with my female friends about how boys were all idiots before we went to Fort Cherea for the rescue mission.

"Good to see you back, Iino. Everyone was worried about you."

The leader, who had stood up, walked over to me.

Just his presence changed the atmosphere. I felt a sense of relief just from being spoken to.

This, I think, is what charisma is.

I was aware of my relaxed state, and that's why I scolded myself.

"Sorry for not being able to contact you. Leader... I mean, Captain."

"Captain is fine too."

This kind of exchange hadn't happened in a long time.

In our original world, we were in the same kendo club. Of course, the activities were separated by gender, but there was interaction between seniors and juniors.

Looking back, he might have been different from the other students even then.

Without him, we probably wouldn't have lasted a few days in this world. Just thinking about myself, I can see that clearly.

When we arrived in this world, I gained extraordinary powers.

However, power alone is meaningless. I tried to protect everyone from the monsters attacking us, but it wasn't enough. It was he who turned my will into reality.

I can still vividly remember it. It was the second day after our transfer.

We hadn't even started building the temporary settlement that would later be called the colony.

We mustered our courage and began exploring the surrounding area.

There were about a hundred of us with known cheat abilities. As we explored the area individually, we encountered monsters multiple times.

The noise of battle attracted more monsters. The battles with the approaching monsters attracted even more.

By the time we realized, it was too late. After all, we had no proper combat experience, having just transferred from peaceful Japan.

We should have been more cautious, but it was impossible for us to act in an organized manner at that time.

Even I, who could run faster than anyone and was somewhat accustomed to wielding a sword, felt despair and darkness before my eyes.

I could have survived on my own.

But what if the hundreds of powerless students, who knew nothing, were attacked by the monsters? ...I couldn't possibly protect all of them.

Thinking about the inevitable, hopeless future, I was crushed by my own powerlessness.

I understood that no matter what I thought, I couldn't do anything.

Still, I knew I had to fight and directed my faltering legs toward the swarm of monsters.

But then, he gathered the other cheat ability holders and came.

Facing the monsters from the depths of the forest, he carried his shining golden sword, a symbol of his power, and patted my shoulder, which was trembling at the thought of the impending tragedy. He said:

—Stand tall, Yuna Iino. No matter who denies you, even if you don't recognize it yourself, I will acknowledge your will as valuable.

—It's not just you, Iino. Is this all you're worth? Is this where it ends?

—I won't accept it. I won't accept a game over here, in this form. Never give up. Follow me!

Swinging his shining golden sword, which already drew attention, he deliberately made himself stand out. He lured the monsters away from the defenseless students he was supposed to protect.

From there, he performed a heroic feat. With his immense power and fearless heart, he slew more monsters than anyone else. However, when other students, inexperienced in combat, found themselves in life-threatening situations, he even came to their aid. Although fewer than fifty students participated in the battle, his efforts magnified their strength many times over.

After the battle, we naturally gravitated toward him as our leader.

The exploration team was formed based on his proposal. Initially, there were about fifty members, but the number gradually increased. There were other attempts to form organizations, but his energetic activities united the students.

He was our hero, who brought together the students, who were just a disorganized crowd despite their powers. He was Kōjiro Nakashima, the "Sword of Light."

***

"To be honest, I'm relieved."

The leader, sitting across from me on a guest sofa, said.

"Since we lost contact with Fort Cherea, it's been a while. With the magical communication methods not working, information in this world spreads too slowly. And with the 'Vajra' at your disposal, sending an inexperienced person wouldn't have made sense. I was even considering going myself."

"That would be a problem, Captain?"

Moe, standing behind the leader, interjected.

"The Captain needs to establish our footing in this world as transferees."

"...As you can see, Moe is being a nuisance. Since I can't move, I'm glad you came back."

"Even aside from that, it's fortunate that she returned now, isn't it?"

"Ah, that's true. It's a good thing she made it in time."

"Wait a moment. What do you mean by that?"

I interrupted their conversation.

"Ah, right. By the way, I noticed something strange just now. The number of members seemed unusually low. Could it be that everyone is out on some mission? Maybe a large-scale operation?"

I inferred this from the phrase "it's a good thing she made it in time."

When I was here, the exploration team, through the leader's negotiations with the knights stationed at Fort Evinus, took on the task of slaying monsters in the surrounding area.

By convention, the transferees who arrived in this world were summoned as heroes to the cathedral church within the empire. However, our exploration team did not respond to the summons because we needed to rescue the other students who were supposed to be in the colony.

Fort Evinus, equipped with long-distance communication, was the best place to receive messages from Fort Cherea, which was closest to the colony in the depths of the forest. If we went to the capital, we would be abandoning our comrades who were trembling in the depths of the forest. There were objections within the exploration team, but the leader's decision kept us at Fort Evinus.

Regarding the slaying of monsters in the surrounding area, the leader offered to do it as a way of not being idle while staying here.

If there was a large-scale operation, it would make sense for the "Vajra" to have made it in time.

"Are the two men from earlier related to that? They had a presence that wasn't ordinary."

"If the 'Vajra' says so, they'd be happy to hear it