Chapter 4

Interdimensional being? And another world?

Just now, this old man said "interdimensional being"...

No, before that,

"Nice to meet you. My name is Kato Toshiaki."

He stood up from the sofa and bowed deeply.

From his attire, he is probably a higher-ranking existence than the knights. If he greets me with respect, I won't feel bad. At least, he doesn't show any hostility. I need to show my willingness to comply... even if it's not from the heart.

"Hmm. Well, please sit down. Standing for too long is tiring for an old body like mine."

The old man sat opposite me, with the knights standing on either side.

"Then, I will take my leave. However, sir, I am not familiar with the customs here. If I inadvertently show disrespect, I kindly ask for your leniency."

"Very well. I don't expect an interdimensional being to know the etiquette right away. Besides, the customs of this world are not so different."

"Thank you."

I sat down lightly on the sofa.

The old man in front of me, he keeps dropping bombshells...

An interdimensional being, a world not so different from this one...

And he doesn't deny being called "sir"...

This world has had interdimensional beings before, and they know something about that world. The old man in front of me, who is called "sir," is of the noble class.

I'm starting to understand... an interdimensional world... but I can't believe it so easily.

"Sir, may I ask a question?"

"Answer my question first."

A knight glared at me. Sir's question? Was it about that earlier?

The old man smiled faintly, not minding.

"Sir, did you ask if I am a candidate for a hero from another world? If so, I must first confirm that this is indeed another world to avoid lying to you."

"Very well. We can't have a conversation without understanding the situation. Kato... right? No, in your world, the last name comes first. Toshiaki?"

The knight looked like he wanted to say something but was stopped by the old man's hand.

"Yes, that's correct. My name is Toshiaki. If it's difficult to say, you can call me Toshi."

The old man nodded and began to speak.

"Then, Toshi. Let me prove that this is another world."

As he said this, a knight drew his sword.

It wasn't the color of swords I've seen on TV or in games. It was a truly silvery white, almost wet-looking. The knight used it to cut off his own finger.

"!?!"

I couldn't help but wince. It must hurt.

Blood was gushing from where the knight's finger used to be. It was impossible to reattach it now.

The knight, his face red from pain, showed me the wound.

"Indeed, it's missing, right?"

I could only nod in response.

The knight took a bottle from his belt and drank from it.

Then, the missing finger began to regenerate before my eyes.

"!? Y-Your finger is growing back!?"

I couldn't help but exclaim. A finger growing back? It's like a light horror movie...

"How about that? Does such a medicine exist in your world?"

The old man, still smiling faintly, asked.

"N-No, sir. It's impossible. I've never seen such a medicine before."

"Is that so? Then, do such people exist in your world?"

Then, the knight on the other side removed his helmet, no, his full-face helmet.

Out came a man with dog-like ears. He even had a tail wagging, and his ears were moving busily...

"This... indeed... is a beastman, right?"

The old man slowly nodded and continued.

"Yes. Do you understand now that this is another world? Ah, I'll show you magic later."

Magic!? Now it's really a fantasy template...

Well, if there are hero candidates, there must be magic to defeat the demon king.

"Y-Yes. Sir, thank you for your consideration. I am convinced that this is another world. But, when you say hero candidate, what makes me a hero candidate?"

"Hmm, that's the important part."

Knock knock

The door was knocked on.

The dog-eared knight opened the door, and a maid with dog ears came in.

She was a dog-eared beauty, really wonderful.

She had a model's figure, slender but with all the right curves. She bowed and prepared tea.

Ah, there's a cup for me too... This smells like black tea? It's much appreciated; my throat is parched.

After the tea was served, she turned at the door and bowed, saying,

"Then, I will take my leave, nya."

"Cat!!"

The sudden loud voice made the dog-eared beauty tear up, and the dog-eared knight gritted his teeth and glared. The finger-cutting knight, expressionless, put his hand on his sword.

And...

The old man sitting opposite me wasn't smiling...

I might die... sooner than I thought...