Chapter 2

Kousuke stood there, enveloped in the stench of blood that seemed to cling to his nerves. He should have been kneeling in the abandoned building, feeling as if he had been abandoned by the world. He should have been drowning in the darkness, which felt like concentrated despair. And yet, the air here was clear. The place was even mystical. It was faintly lit. He thought it had been just a moment, a blink of an eye. Kousuke had not been deprived of his vision for long. The knife had indeed succeeded in delivering the fatal blow to end his life. Just before that, he thought he had heard a strange voice, but... well, hallucinations couldn't explain reality. Kousuke was confident he wasn't that delusional. However, he didn't have the means to accurately grasp the reality in front of him. He decided to reserve judgment and gather more information. Kousuke had always lived in a way that allowed him to remain calm in any situation. Anxiety and confusion only wasted time and did him no good. If so, they should be discarded as much as possible. By thinking and acting according to this style, Kousuke had achieved his goals. Therefore, even in this unbelievable hallucinatory state, he would not let go of his rationality. From what he could see, it looked like an ancient temple. Perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a ruin. Dozens of stone pillars stood, supporting the ceiling, but several were broken, and many others had cracks. Part of the ceiling had collapsed, raising serious questions about its safety. It seemed to be surrounded by a forest or a grove, as the scenery was filled with green. Roots spread across the stone floor, indicating that it had not been used for a long time. The climate was somewhat warmer than the winter in the real world, but only in comparison to Japan's winter. If a corresponding season had to be named, it would be closer to autumn. In other words, it wasn't particularly warm. When he turned around, he saw an altar in front of him. It was made of stacked stones, which he thought was called a stone altar. Still holding the knife, he stood up to check if anything was on it. There was a stone tablet, but the text was worn away and unreadable. It seemed to him that it was not a language that existed in the real world, but this was just a hunch, as he had no such knowledge. After gathering all the information within his line of sight, he didn't really gain anything. However, a new question arose. Why didn't he just go ahead and commit suicide? He had intended to do so, so it shouldn't have mattered whether he was in an abandoned building or a mysterious temple. Yet, in reality, he was checking out this place instead of attempting suicide again. Why? The only reason he could think of was the hallucination. "Isn't it a waste?" That's what he heard. It meant that committing suicide was a waste. In the real world, he had no reason to live. That's why he had decided to die. If this scene was real, what could it mean? If he didn't want to live in the real world, could it mean he should try living here? But that didn't seem right. So, what was it? It didn't matter. Once he had decided to die, he couldn't make a weak choice just because the environment had changed. Kousuke once again placed the knife to his neck. "I command you to shatter [Volkar Wong]." Just as he was about to slash his throat, the blade turned into particles. "――――!?" What surprised Kousuke more than the phenomenon was the voice. From what could be called an entrance, a figure appeared from a low step leading to a staircase. "Wow, you're really determined to commit suicide, aren't you? But maybe you should stop." It was a girl. Her silver hair, as clear as a stream, flowed down to her waist. It had a beautiful luster, gently reflecting the sunlight. Her eyes, reminiscent of obsidian, were droopy like a friendly cat, and her cheeks were relaxed in a pleasant way. She approached with a thin, pinkish lip curved into a smile and her slender arms in her pockets. If described in modern terms, she was wearing a short dress. A black cloth was wrapped around her waist, and an apron-like garment was draped over it. She looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, but she had a well-endowed chest. Her appearance was reminiscent of a barmaid in a game or other fiction. "You thought I looked like a barmaid, didn't you? You're right. I work as a barmaid." The girl, speaking in a light tone, stopped a few meters away from Kousuke. "I'm Shiro. That's what they call me. What's your name?" Kousuke threw away the knife handle and glared at the girl. "I have a question." The girl tilted her head as if asking a question. "What's your name?" "Is this the real world?" "What's your name?" "Where am I? What country is this?" "What's your name?" "I was in a completely different place just a moment ago. What does this mean?" "What's your name?" The girl repeated the same line like an NPC. Kousuke let out a sigh and responded. "Kuro Kousuke. Is that good enough? Then answer my questions." "Hmm. Kuro. For now, that's a good name. Japanese names aren't common in this world." The concept of being Japanese seemed to be present in the girl, but since she said it wasn't common, it was likely that Japan either didn't exist or was extremely obscure. After all, even being called Japanese was not recommended. "Oh, you're Japanese, right? Occasionally, someone with Japanese features calls themselves 'Yamatojin' or 'Wanokunibito,' but most of them are Japanese. Of course, people from other countries come here too, but we generally lump them all together as visitors. You're one of them." "So, this isn't Earth?" He was surprised by the absurdity of his own words. "I appreciate your quick understanding, but it's a bit creepy. It would be more endearing if you showed more surprise." He had read such a manga before. A boy who was a mediocre student in the real world would one day dive through a portal to a different world, where he would develop special powers and embark on adventures with a diverse group of companions. He had been captivated by it as a child. The excitement he felt back then was a distant memory. It seemed so far away, as if it wasn't his own. Was he in the same situation as the protagonist of that manga now? From Japan to a different world. That's what it meant, right? It was an unbearable thought. "If I'm a visitor, why do you stop me from committing suicide?" Even if this was reality, he couldn't accept everything immediately. He was also wary of being forced into some strange role. He had his own way of thinking and living, and he had no intention of blindly following someone else's will. He would find some means and commit suicide. The girl changed her lip shape cutely, placed her index finger on her cheek, and began to speak. "Because I'm a guide. It's not very nice to start a game without any explanation, right? Without rules or a world overview, it's very inconsiderate. So, I'm here to be considerate. Of course, I'm a living person. Actually, I was originally a visitor. I came here from a different world. Got it?" "That's not an answer." "You're right. It's not an answer. Well, about suicide, the reason I stop you. I was reborn here after an accidental death, and people like me hear words of sympathy. But for people who commit suicide, they hear something different." The girl gave Kousuke a mischievous smile. "It's a waste, they say. That's the reason I stop your suicide. Hey, Kuro. Want to hear a story? This world is fun, I promise. At least, it's much better than the world you were in." Her inviting voice had a hint of a devil's whisper.