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"Wait, Takeshi? That's Japanese, right?" I wondered.
Takeshi is a Japanese name, isn't it? Then why was the boy named with a Japanese name?
Well, this is another world, so- Ah, it doesn't matter in the end, there are also western names too, so I guess it can be whatever.
"Huh?!"
The two kids ended up looking at me, surprised.
"Hm? What?"
Nonetheless, when I voiced my thoughts, the two kids were left surprised when I said the word "Japanese".
"What's wrong?" I asked.
I felt a bit surprised as these two kids were shocked by this word.
"Nee-sama… Y-You're from another world, right?!" Asked Takeshi.
"Nobody would even know about the word 'Japanese' in this world if it wasn't for someone from Earth too!" Laura exclaimed.
"Oh, I guess you found me out! But that means you're also from Earth, right? H-How? Did you get reincarnated like me?" I asked.
"Wait, you're a reincarnated person?" Asked Lucifer.
"Huh? What's reincarnated?" Partner added another question.
"Maria, your soul is from another world?!" Emeraldine added yet another question.
Oof, I guess it's big reveal time now.
"Indeed, but I only regained the memories of my previous life when I died, funnily enough. While alive, I didn't remember my previous life, but when I died, I remembered them, but forgot the memories of when I was alive…." I sighed as my explanation was a bit confusing.
"An otherworldly soul…." Muttered Lucifer.
"Is it common? I thought I was unique, but I guess Laura and Takeshi here are also from Earth," I said.
"No, reincarnated people are actually not unique. There had been tales about them from long ago, don't you remember that you read about a Hero of the past, and the Human Heroes? They were summoned using powerful Dimensional Summoning Magic. Heroes summoned in this world come packed with powerful Unique Skills and dangerous powers… They were incredibly strong from the start and a real threat to the Demon King…." Sighed Lucifer.
"I've also heard of them… Aside from the Summoned Heroes of old, there are also tales of other people that have been summoned into this world or reincarnated. People with memories of past lives… of worlds different from our own. The remarkable thing about all of them is that they're intelligent from the start, even as babies, and they develop unique powers named Unique Skills, just as Lucifer said!" Emeraldine added.
"I see… Ugh! I thought I was super unique… But I suppose I am not that special, huh? There's always a bigger fish out there," I muttered.
"I don't think that metaphor really works in the current context, but sure," Said Lucifer.
"Y-You're pretty strong already, Maria… Stronger than all of us combined," Said Emeraldine.
"Yeah! Maybe you're being a bit too humble there," Said Lucifer.
"Hahaha! M-Maybe? Well, anyways, kids, tell us more about you, how did you come to this world, and what the heck are you guys? And what are those glowing cores in your chests?" I asked.
"Ah, well…"
Takeshi and Laura looked at one another before nodding and mustering up the courage to explain.
"We barely remember exactly how we came here…" Said Takeshi.
"But we know that one day when we died back on Earth, we arrived here," Said Laura.
"I don't want to be the one to ask such a thing… But how did you die? Okay, I'll go first! I died being buried by books after an earthquake in my visit to Japan… Hahaha…" I laughed.
"Huh?! You died like that?" Asked Lucifer.
"Poor Master…" Partner began to pet my head and caressed my hair while hugging me.
"Hahaha, it was funny, no worries," I laughed.
"W-Well… I died by drowning… I went to the beach with my family, but when I went swimming in the water, a large wave took me, and… I died…" Sighed Takeshi.
"I'm sorry… to hear that. …At which age did you die?" I questioned him once again.
"Around 12… We might seem older, but our current bodies are around four years old. We developed quickly due to our composition," Said Takeshi.
"I see… So you're technically 16,"
"I died a bit older at 15… A plane crashed in the apartment where I lived," Sighed Laura.
"A plane…? Wait… which country are you from, Laura?" I asked.
"I... I'm from the USA,"
"Then… where you lived… by any chance… were these the Twin Towers?!"
"Yeah… How did you know?" Asked Laura as she perhaps thought I had died before her.
"Dear… that happened in 2001… And I am from 2021," I said.
"Ah…!"
Laura looked at me in disbelief.
"The year when I died… it was 1985," Said Takeshi.
"What?!"
So strange… what is with this time difference?!
They certainly came before me, but our years apart here are so tiny. They had only lived for four years here, yet both of them weren't much older, younger or older than each other… and they were summoned at the same time?
And four years later, within this world, I was summoned from 2021.
…
Could it be? Are we not from the same Earth? Or there is another possibility, something within this Universe holds our souls and then releases them as we are reincarnated or summoned elsewhere. But who says that time here is the same here as on Earth? It could probably be completely different.
"I am sorry for having asked this. Perhaps I should have been more considerate… Sometimes I get a bit too ahead of myself. I am a bit… nuts, you know…." I sighed.
"Oh… No, it is fine. We were also curious." Said Laura.
"Yeah… it is important to talk this stuff out, so we know each other better, Nee-sama," Said Takeshi.
"Aw, you two are such sweeties!"
I hugged both of them before sitting down between the two on the bed. They felt my hug; although cold, I tried to use mana to "warm" my materialized body, and I guess it worked a bit.
"Let's strive together for a better future… I'll take you two into my party, but you better tell me the truth regarding your origins too… First of all, what… exactly are you two?" I asked.
"Well…"
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