Where am I?
That's the first question that popped in my head after seeing my surroundings.
It was a wide room with a white stillness spreading up to the horizons. A white room with visually no end. A plain and empty place.
I looked around and analyzed my situation.
First, I should be inside the inn. Then why am I here? Second, I was sleeping just moments ago. Then why am I standing here when I opened my eyes?
Third, this isn't a dream… Or so I think… As I can still feel pain after I pinched my cheeks. Fourth, I know not a single place on Earth nor in this world where there exists a room like this.
And last, basing on games, manga, anime and light novels, there should be some sort of event happening right now, or an annoying flag was raised.
Still… Nobody seemed to be within sight.
"Welcome, young one."
Suddenly, a somewhat soothing female voice came echoing from behind me. When I turned around, I got no choice but use my arms to block my eyes.
Too bright!
"I manifested myself partially but still, as a mortal, you will find it hard to stare at my figure."
I forced myself and still tried to look at the source of the voice but as if I was staring at the sun, it was hard to keep my eyes open.
Who are you?
I can't help but ask. Still, no voice came out. The other party seems to have heard what I thought of and slowly answered.
"I am the world. The humans call me the god of Creation or the goddess of Life but I prefer being called by my name, Sapphire."
A god?
I can't help but doubt. This was a common scene in most manga and light novels but seeing it firsthand was really unbelievable. It makes me think that the other party was insane.
I don't believe in gods.
I spoke in a slightly forceful tone. However, in response to my rudeness, the self-proclaimed god giggled lightly.
"It's fine if you don't believe in us. I was only here as a representative of the gods. I'm not here to force you to believe that we exist."
… Somehow, I feel weird…
Following this flow, the main topic would surely come next. And just as I expected, she dropped the bomb.
"Nazo, or should I say, Nanami Kamizo. We request of you to save this world."
A name. A very familiar name. After I heard that name, some flashes of memory came back to me. It was some short captions of people's smiling faces. Faces that sent my heart aflutter.
… Is that… Really my name?
"Yes. According to your memories which you yourself can't remember, that's your name. Nazo was apparently the pet name your friends gave you."
Pet name… So that's why I can remember it faintly?
So I really was sent to another world?
I asked full of hope.
"… No. Actually, you weren't sent to this world but more accurately, you wandered into this world."
... what do you mean…?
"Based on your memory, you were being chased by armed men until you reached a forest area. Then, when you lost your balance, you fell from the cliff…"
… Did I die…?
"No… I don't think so… The moment you fell, your soul clung to life desperately and caused a certain phenomenon. You were suddenly moved to this world together with your physical body as a result. Also, due to the shock that your ethereal body received, some of your memories got locked, especially the proper names of people, places and things. Then…"
… Then Mary and Nina found me… Right?
"Yes."
There were still tons of questions within my mind. Also, my memory has yet to return even after I learned my name. It was a bit unsettling but I have no choice for now.
So? What's that about saving the world?
I faintly remember her words earlier but my mind was a bit muddled so I can't remember quite well.
"Yes. That is, we wish you to rid the world of the demons that roams freely."
Can I even do that?
"Of course. If not, we wouldn't even be asking you here."
… Is it connected to me coming from another world?
"That may be so but if you think that you are stronger than others just because of that, you are mistaken. Our world works the same as yours. The only difference is that mana here is stronger than there. The stronger the mana, the more abnormalities can be seen. Animals mutate and became monsters that knows nothing but to kill. Bigfoot and such mystic creatures are caused by mana anomalies in your world. Though nobody knows of it."
… That's somewhat hard to swallow… But I wasn't called here to quarrel with her so for now I need to confirm a few things.
You mean, my large mana capacity was like that even in the previous world?
"Yes. Just that since mana there is thin, your mana reserve never recovered above a certain amount. You can say that if you absorb all the present mana in your world then you can fill up your high mana reserve."
... Is that so…
"… As to how to save the world. It is simple. All you need to do is to destroy the facilities that are causing most of the mana anomalies in this world. These facilities were built all around the world about 2 thousand years ago and due to some circumstances, it causes mana disturbances up till now. Also, there are strong Cosmology level demons guarding each facility. That's why nobody up till now managed to destroy even one facility."
Facilities huh? Let me guess, as the mana anomaly is high, it got warped into something that doesn't even resemble the facility anymore?
"A correct deduction. As you have thought, they have turned to something that you may call a Dungeon. However, don't worry as I assure you that you can clear them all. The only problem for you would be the guardians."
Cosmology level right? If I compare it with the greater demon I fought, how strong is it?
"That is quite vague but let's just say that a cosmology level is as strong as a thousand greater demons."
W-Wait! You mean they are monsters thousand times stronger than something that almost took my life?! How the hell would you expect me to fight it?!
"By using your skills. You have a great talent in making magic tools. And we thought that as long as you have the right resources, you will surely be able to create God Class and Myth Level weapons. That is what we Gods decided to provide you with as help. In the form of books of lost knowledge."
And if I have that, how will I compare to the cosmology level demons?
"Almost equal. If you have a God Class weapon, then you can fight it at the same level as how you fought the greater demon."
That sounds appealing but… You probably don't think that I would simply place my life on the line just to have a few books right? What else are you going to offer?
"Pretty perceptive aren't you? That's right. As compensation for completing this request of ours, we would fix your memories and also give you the chance to ask for 1 wish. Any wish would be fine as long as it is acceptable. Of course, immortality and such aren't possible as it will greatly destroy the balance of the world though."
She seems to be laughing lightly after saying that. Well, I don't want immortality anyway. I don't have that much things to do so I am sure that it will be boring. Still, there's a single wish that popped into my head almost instantly.
…Can you all… Send me back to my world?
A confirmation. I want a solid proof. Since they are gods, or so they say, I think that lying is not in their nature.
"… If that's what you really want by the time that you finished this quest, we would gladly do so."
She spoke in a provocative tone of voice filled with the playfulness of a child.
What do you…?
I wanted to ask her for confirmation but suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew and stopped my question mid-sentence.
"Looks like it's time. Well then, we are expecting great things from you."
Then, I was suddenly sent flying off into the horizons. I was sent flying with some speed. Suddenly, the scenery turned 90 degrees and now I'm falling. Looking behind me, an endless darkness extends. Then, I suddenly felt my back hitting the hard ground splattering me into pieces.
"GUHAH–!!!"
I stood up from bed. Yes, from bed. Looks like I made it back in one piece. Cold sweat covered my whole body. I once again confirmed my body but looks like I was really alright. I heaved a sigh of relief before finally lying down once more.
Still, I remember how my body scattered and how it felt. Before I noticed it, I was already shaking in fear.
I was trembling uncontrollably. I couldn't get that disgusting sensation out of my mind. Was that how it feel being smashed into a pulp? What a disturbing sensation…
I couldn't return to sleep and after I noticed it, there were faint beams of light coming from the window. Looks like I woke up when it was almost morning already.
I quickly stood up and opened the window. I let the cool morning breeze to clear my mind from unnecessary thoughts.
"Haaah… Okay."
Finally, I managed to regain some composure. Then, I was surprised as I turned around. That was because a tower of books was placed by the foot of my bed without me noticing.
"Is this… The help that the self-proclaimed god said?"
What a lot of books. I checked some titles but all of them looks quite grand. Most books are written in English and Latin while there are some in Japanese. As I knew my name from the self-proclaimed god, I also remembered that I was a Japanese in the original world. I also faintly remember that I have mastered over 10 languages from my world.
… Well then, what should I do from now on?
While thinking that, I slowly got lost in the maze of thoughts.