Chapter 6

"......I see, the language you used to chant that spell is called 'Nihongo,' is that right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

The pronunciation of 'Japanese' by the principal was a bit off, though.

It felt like a foreigner who isn't fluent in Japanese saying 'Nihongo.'

I am currently in the principal's office on the top floor of the school.

After that, the principal strongly warned the people who were present—Reiza, the guards, and Claris—

"Whatever happened here today is to be kept secret. If you tell anyone... I will consider the death penalty, you know?"

The part about considering the death penalty was a bit joking, but the principal is a scary person to defy, so all three of them immediately responded with a yes (though their responses varied).

After parting with the three, the principal said to me,

"I have something to talk about with you, so please come with me. It's better than being put in the punishment cell, right?"

Of course, I don't want to go to the punishment cell, so I followed her as she said.

While the situation still doesn't look good, it's better than spending the morning alone in the punishment cell.

And I don't really want to be handed over to that guard again either.

The principal's office was quite spacious.

Unlike the dull and stern principal's office in my previous world, it had a lavish feel, like a living room of a wealthy person.

The room was adorned with such opulent decorations that one might ask if the principal is from some royal family.

The long, black desk, which looked like it belonged in a principal's office in an anime, didn't seem much different from the one in my previous world.

Perhaps it was made of ebony?

The principal folded her hands on the desk, looking like a commander.

Despite her appearance, she exuded a mature and dignified presence.

The first thing the principal, who was wrapped in such solemnity, asked me about was the language.

After I finished explaining Japanese, she raised her gaze.

"Could you recite the spell again, but in a way that doesn't activate it?"

"......"

"What's wrong?"

I suddenly realized.

It's just the two of us here.

If I activate the spell and bind the principal, could I escape...?

The principal gave me a piercing glare.

"Let me tell you, it's not a good idea to think of anything funny."

"......W-What are you talking about?"

Did she just read my thoughts and warn me?

......

Well, even if I bind her and escape, I don't think my situation would improve.

Moreover, I have very little information about that spell.

It seems safe to use for now, but it's better to be cautious.

Being able to use it and understanding it are subtly different.

Right now, I should prioritize understanding it.

If I plan to escape, it's still too early.

She seems to know something about that spell.

Most importantly, I need to gather as much information as possible about this world.

It would be too harsh to suddenly become a wanted person without knowing much about this world.

"Alright, I'll leave it to you."

She cleared her throat.

"Understood."

I recited the spell again, omitting the last few characters.

I read it fluently, as if it were etched in my mind, without making a single mistake.

When I finished, the principal pressed her fist to her lips and began to think deeply.

While waiting for her response, I observed the principal.

She seems quite intimidating, but looking at her closely, she is really beautiful and cute.

To put it plainly, she looks like a beautifully crafted doll.

"That's quite a difficult language... Is it possible to decipher it as text?"

She pulled out a sheet of paper from a stack on the desk and turned it over, then picked up a quill pen from the desk.

She handed me the pen, which was held in her small, delicate hand.

"Could you write the spell on this paper?"

I wrote the spell as instructed.

The principal, with a thin, bird-like hum, scanned my handwriting, which couldn't be called beautiful.

"Complex characters... As a language, it's more intricate than clumsy ancient scripts."

Then, the principal had me repeat a part of the spell again.

After I finished, she, who had been listening carefully, began to make sounds like "wa" and "yo."

Then, she sighed in disappointment.

"The words don't connect properly... I see, just mimicking the surface doesn't work. In other words, you can't read it unless you understand the meaning of the words and phrases in your head... This means, even with time, it might not be possible..."

Ah, I see.

So the principal was trying to see if she could chant it by mimicking it.

She ran her fingers through her hair and glared at the characters I wrote.

"Is the combination of pronunciation and words the reason it can't be read? If so, it means the spell itself has some magical effect..."

Muttering to herself, the principal seemed to be thinking hard.

Hmm.

What does this mean?

Since coming to this world, I have been able to understand the language here without any difficulty.

In fact, I can even understand proper nouns.

For example, when I was lying down near the school, the silver-haired beauty—whom I would like to meet again if I get the chance—said "Seiru no Suredo," and I could clearly understand it as "Saint Renous Suredo" in my mind.

From the fact that our conversation is going smoothly, it seems that the words I speak are understood by the people in this world.

Yet, the principal can't read the characters written in the spellbook.

This means... in other words, I can use both the language of my previous world and the language of this world.

On the other hand, the principal can only use the language of this world, both in reading and writing.

Even when I speak Japanese, it is heard by the people in this world as the language of this world.

However, when I read the characters in the spellbook—written in Japanese—I am speaking in Japanese...

Is that how it works?

......

Hmm.

I'm not good at thinking about complicated things.

But with this way of thinking, I can at least explain why I can communicate normally in this world and why I can read the characters that no one else can read.

But wait?

Then there is one question.

If that's the case, who wrote the characters in the spellbook—

"Ah, forget it! It's impossible!"

The principal spread her arms and slumped onto the desk.

"Looking at these characters makes my head hurt. Ah, it's so troublesome."

Troublesome... The principal sat up and leaned back in her chair.

Her expression was a mix of fatigue and resignation.

She sighed.

"Hey, Kurohiko."

"Yes?"

"From now on, I will ask you questions assuming that you are an 'innocent,' 'honest,' and 'good' person."

In other words, if it turns out that I am actually an enemy or that I lied, she's hinting that she won't show any mercy.

......

She's a tough one.

You can't judge a person by their appearance.

Well, I can't think of any benefit in lying.

I'll answer honestly if I can.

Mind games are tiring.

I shrugged my shoulders in resignation.

"I'll do my best to meet your expectations. Please, go ahead."

"Then, I'll ask you frankly."

The principal folded her hands on the desk again.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Who are you?"

"Who am I?"

"First, your attire is not typical for someone from the Eastern Kingdom."

I looked down at my clothes.

The principal continued.

"But, I can assume that you tried to adapt your clothing to this country when you came to Saint Renous Suredo... Still, it seems a bit odd."

I see.

These clothes are from my previous world.

They might seem a bit strange to the people here.

Reiza and the guards didn't seem to mind much, so they probably don't find them too out of place.

"But... your accent, or rather, your pronunciation is quite different from that of Saint Renous Suredo or the southern part of the continent where this country is located. Of course, it's different from the western and northern parts as well... and it's different from the Eastern Kingdom, which is supposed to be your homeland. Yet, you were able to read the characters that no one else could. So—where did you come from?"

Hmm... What should I do here?

Should I tell the truth?

That I came from another world.

But will they believe me?

The story of being transported to this world from another world.

But lying here would be a bad move.

Because I know almost nothing about this world.

Even if I tried to make up a story, it would probably fall apart.

So... I think the only option is to tell the truth.

I don't know if they will believe me, but it's better to tell the truth than to stumble through a fabricated story and end up flustered.

The principal is waiting for my response.

......

Alright.

In the end, I decided to tell the truth.

Actually, I wasn't completely without hope.

From the reactions so far, it seems that being able to read the characters in the spellbook is very unusual.

So, it's highly likely that it's a language that people in this world can't read.

If that's the case, the explanation that it's written in the language of my previous world, which I can read, might have some credibility.

Of course, it's still a risky bet, like walking on a thin thread.

"Hmm... From another world, you say."

After I finished explaining, with some hesitation, the principal went back into thinking mode.

She seemed to be processing it in her mind.

Well... I did a pretty good job explaining, considering my usual self.

But maybe it's the effect of the rejuvenation, or the fact that I'm in a situation with no escape, but since coming to this world, I've been surprisingly proactive, even to myself.

They say that when pushed to the limit, a person can display incredible strength... Maybe this is one of those situations.

The principal, still in thought, turned her gaze to me.

"First, understand this?"

"Y-Yes."

"It's very hard to believe."

"Indeed, I agree."

The principal's eyebrows twitched.

"Oh, you are aware of that?"

"Well... I still can't believe what happened to me."

Makina, sitting across the desk from me, looked at me with her ruby eyes.

"Hmm."

Her suspicious eyes had a hint of something trying to gauge the situation.

"Wrapped in white light and suddenly in another world... It's so unbelievable that it almost seems real."

"I have no other way to prove it, so I'll leave the judgment to you, Principal."

The principal propped her cheek on her hand.

"Well, not trying to struggle is admirable."

Oh, a good reaction?

"One more thing, okay?"

"Yes."

"Do you have any idea why you were brought to this world?"

"Not really. But—"

"But?"

I tried to smile, aware of my handsome face.

"Being transported to another world... it's a man's dream, isn't it?"

"Hmm."

It was dismissed with a "Hmm."

And she seemed completely uninterested.

The romantic notion didn't resonate with the principal.

But the reason... Could it be that God felt sorry for my failed life and gave me a chance to start over?

"Ahem."

The principal cleared her throat, as if starting over.

Even her cough was cute.

"Well, your explanation about why you can read the spell does have some credibility. The pronunciation issue can also be understood if you were somehow transported from another world."

She straightened her posture in the chair and placed her hands on her knees.

Her expression was sincere.

"Also, your lack of knowledge about Saint Renous Suredo, this school, and general common knowledge can be explained. If you were lying, you would be a great actor. Or perhaps a writer with a promising future."

"......You believe me?"

"I have a good eye for people, at least in my position."

Makina smiled slightly.

It was a self-deprecating smile.

"Unlike Reiza, my eye is for spotting people, not for nurturing them."

Being the principal, she must have a lot on her plate.

"Alright."

Makina nodded lightly.

"I'll believe your story about coming from another world."

"Really?"

"I said I believe you. Didn't you hear me?"

"Well, that, um, thank you."

I scratched my head, feeling a bit confused.

While I had some hope, I didn't expect her to believe me so easily.

I thought even if she listened, she would ask more detailed questions.

Maybe it was a good decision to tell the truth instead of making up a story on the spot...

"Well... then, about your future treatment."

"Huh?"

At this moment—

For the first time today, the principal smiled, a very beautiful smile.

She tilted her pale, slender neck and said with a smile.

"How about becoming a student at this school?"