Part 240: Students Left Behind

I snapped shut the thick file titled "Investigation Report on the 'Other World'."

Understood, I see.

And so, I come to understand.

The Yonetsu group had already returned to the bus.

I was engrossed in reading documents, just like a student who stays behind after school in the classroom.

"In other words, the 'Otherworld' is a degraded copy of the world we inhabit."

"Based on five rounds of investigation, here's the result... As detailed in the documents, the destruction of the 'Otherworld' was carried out with permission from those above."

With a helpful smile, Rinato-kun, who stayed behind with me.

"In other words, the responsibility for the act of completely destroying another world lies with those people."

"Well, in this case, the harm caused is greater, so there's nothing we can do about it."

"By the way, the 'Gate to the Other World'—it's not the last one, is it?"

"Yes. It seems the 'Gates' exist in various places, each leading to a different 'degraded copy' of the Other World."

"What's the procedure if we need to destroy another 'Gate'?"

"Same process—we'll send out a research team to verify whether destruction is safe, then consult with higher-ups... and then Toru will be deployed."

"Hmm…………"

Nodding vaguely, I think, "Is it really safe to take such a leisurely approach?"

After all, the damage caused by the "zombies" is only increasing.

Still, I understand the need for caution.

Humanely speaking, if there are people calling for help, we can't just ignore them.

"Still, this is truly a troublesome opponent we're up against."

"Troublesome?... What do you mean by that?"

"It's the one who created this situation, you know. You're all going to end up fighting that one, aren't you?"

"Fighting... fighting..."

Namasako-kun looked like he'd just eaten a sea cucumber for the first time,

"Well, I suppose we could fight if the opponent were someone we could actually fight. But the thing is, the enemy can create an entire world from scratch. That's basically like fighting a god, right?"

"Whether it's a god or not, that doesn't give a reckless idiot any reason to be left unscathed, does it?"

"Wow, level 85. …You're really bold."

Riru-kun chuckles, keeping a cautious distance.

"But your companions have the power to destroy that entire world, don't they?"

"I guess that's true... but..."

"Tell Tōru when he wakes up. Say, 'We'll be back to borrow your strength again someday.'"

Then, Ritoru rubs the tip of his nose and nods.

"I understand. I'll definitely tell him... but maybe, just maybe, Toru will come looking for you himself."

"Huh?"

"Well, you know, there's talk that the so-called 'Kingdom' also has a 'Door to the Other World.' Depending on how things go, he might end up chasing after you."

Is that so.

Well, either way, right now, there's nothing I can do but move forward.

...Honestly, I'm not really feeling it, to be frank... Lately, I've been feeling like I'm actively heading toward suicide, somehow.

There's another concern, too.

That attitude of Himiko Tsumuri earlier... Even if she thinks she's hiding it well, it's completely obvious to everyone. Probably even obvious to Miharu-chan.

It seems she really wants someone to come back to life.

Well, in a world like this, it's not surprising to have one or two people like that.

"Phew..."

I rub my forehead, jotting down the recent events in my notes.

Koiuchi Hyakka is probably just a ten or so minutes' drive away by car.

There, I'm certain I'll regain my memories.

So that the actions I've taken as I am now won't be lost forever.

The problems we're currently facing are four in total.

・Recovery of lost memories...

It seems possible if I get help from Koiwai Hakka.

Additionally, Hakka is traveling with a woman named Kurugadou Sasae, who owes me a favor, so she should be willing to assist.

・Regarding "Hungerperson" transformation...

A phenomenon where a "player" turns into a villain with poor skin tone.

It's frightening, so I want to uncover the mystery of this mutation as soon as possible.

Incidentally, when I asked Ryotaru-kun, who's supposed to be the guardian, he seemed completely taken by surprise, as if woken from sleep.

Maybe Tōru-san knows something... but let's just ask him when we meet next.

・Regarding the "Infinite Emergence"...

It's caused by the "Door" from which zombies keep pouring out.

In other words, if we block all the "Doors," the "Infinite Emergence" will end?

The Doors can be destroyed using "Light Magic X." (I wonder if there are any other methods?)

・Regarding the "kingdom" led by someone named Reika.

If the matter of "resurrection of the dead" is true, I'd like to offer cooperation.

They may seem like villains, but maybe they're understandable if we talk things through?

It seems like Shuuri-chan really wants someone to come back to life?

If that's actually the case, I'd like to help as much as possible.]

And so on, and so forth.

I glanced at my watch,

"Well, I should probably be heading off soon..."

and brought up the subject of parting.

Then, Riru-kun,

"Ah—wait a second!"

"?"

"Um, if, uh, 85-san is okay with it... um, how about, maybe... another time, we grab a meal together?"

"A meal?"

Replenishing my magic power, with him?

"I've recently gotten really into cooking. You know, cooking's kind of a precious culture built up by humans, isn't it? It'd be a real shame if it disappeared. Right?"

"I completely agree."

His yakitori was delicious enough to serve at a restaurant without embarrassment.

"That's why I'm treating you. I'll prepare some special ingredients. Please come."

"Alright. I understand."

I thought, if my memories return without any issues, we might meet again someday.

"Let's get together again, if the chance comes."

"Yay!"

"Then, let's both survive this."

"Sure."

It was five minutes later that I realized what he'd just done was a kind of date invitation.

Well, you know...

I thought I completely messed it up.

A hundred percent silence makes the meeting unbearable. A hundred percent, indeed.

...uh, well.

Well.

I'll leave it to my future self to figure out whatever comes next.

I'm counting on you, future me (laid-back).

I'll deliberately not write this incident down in my notes.