What appeared before me after leaving the bookstore was bizarre, dreadful, and horrifying.
The sky was pitch black, like ink spilled across a canvas, slowly consuming the sun until it too began to turn dark. The atmosphere felt oppressive, a stark contrast to the familiar surroundings I expected.
"Suzu! Suzu! Where are you!?" I shouted, desperation creeping into my voice. I ran as fast as I could, circling the area, frantically searching for her. The sky could turn completely black for all I cared; finding Suzu was the only thing that mattered.
She usually plays at the park near the supermarket. Maybe she's there.
I pushed myself harder, my chest burning and my breath coming in ragged gasps. Running a bookstore had left me out of shape, but I couldn't stop now. From a distance, I spotted a small figure. The way she moved... it had to be Suzu. I'd recognize that stride anywhere, etched into my memory from years of caring for her.
"Suzu!" I called out, but she didn't respond. She seemed oblivious to my voice, her focus elsewhere.
As I got closer, ready to call her again, something felt off. A man in a black robe and hood was approaching her, his face hidden in shadow. The way he moved, slow and deliberate, sent chills down my spine. He looked dangerous. I had to get Suzu away from him.
"Uncle!" Suzu finally noticed me and ran towards me, her eyes wide with fear.
"Suzu!" I ran to meet her, scooping her into my arms. She clung to me, trembling.
"Uncle! I'm scared!" she cried, burying her face in my chest.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'm here now," I soothed, trying to calm her down. "That guy over there... he's just a cosplayer friend of mine. We met at an anime festival. You trust me, right?"
"Yes, I trust you," she mumbled, still shaken.
I glanced back at the hooded man, who had started moving towards us with a quicker pace. His presence felt... wrong. Familiar, yet unsettling. A sense of déjà vu washed over me, like I'd seen this play out before.
"Listen, Suzu, my friend and I need to have a long talk. Why don't you head back home? I'll come to get you soon, and then we'll go to the game arcade, okay?"
Her face lit up a bit. "'Kay! That's a promise, 'kay!"
As she ran off, I turned my attention fully to the hooded figure, who was now much closer. An eerie feeling of nostalgia enveloped me. I'd experienced this before... but where?
"W-Who are you?" I asked, my voice barely steady.
!?!?
Without warning, the man moved faster, a huge black scythe appearing in his hands out of nowhere. He swung it at me, and I barely dodged in time, instincts kicking in. Flashes of memories—dark, chaotic—filled my mind. This was how it all started.
This is the origin.
A red portal suddenly opened in the sky, casting a crimson glow over everything. The man spoke, his voice echoing with an unnatural resonance.
"Because the sins, hatred, and evil that this world has accumulated are too great for it to contain, these dark energies have formed a being of pure malice beyond this plane. As a result, 'we' are here to collect 'payment' from this world as compensation."
My heart sank as he continued, "That girl was chosen as one of the 'payments'. Human, are you ready to take her place?"
Now I remembered everything. The choice that had defined my previous life. The decision that set everything into motion.
"Yes. No matter how many times this repeats, I'll never regret my decision. I'll go in her stead."
The world around me began to blur, fading into darkness...
___
!?!?!?!?
W-What did I... How did I get here?
I slowly raised myself up, scanning my surroundings. The dense trees, the chirping of birds... back in the forest, huh?
(So you're awake, master~ You've been out for about four hours, but after three, you got teleported out of the grimoire's dimensional space. You reached the maximum time you could spend there~) Lilith's voice echoed in my mind.
I see... So I've reached the time limit. Can I enter that space again tomorrow?
(Yup~ You can enter for three hours each day, and you can only summon us into this world for three hours a week. That's the current limit~) Lilith explained, a hint of teasing in her tone.
By the way, can you all hear my thoughts? I asked, suddenly wary.
(E-Eh? You're communicating with your thoughts? I-I don't know...) Lilith's voice wavered, not very convincing.
...
(It's funny how you're bad at lying, even though you're a succubus) Griselda remarked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
(S-Shut up! You just told me not to let him know we could hear his thoughts and see what he's seeing through the magical glass! I didn't have time to prepare!) Lilith shot back defensively.
The magical glass? I tried to recall the space inside the grimoire, and then it hit me—the television in the living room.
"Ah... So they can see what I'm seeing from there," I muttered.
The medium must be the grimoire, and since it's under my command, I can stop it.
(E-Eh? Wait!) Lilith's voice sounded panicked as I gave the grimoire the command to stop transmitting my thoughts and vision.
(NO!!! Why did you turn off the magical glass!!!) Lilith's voice screamed inside my mind, followed by Griselda's indignant demand.
(Connect us again this instant!!!) Griselda was not pleased.
I'll turn it back on in ten seconds. It's not like I'm keeping it off permanently.
(Hey! Please turn it on again! I want to see the outside world!!) Lilith pleaded.
(I want to see outside too, master!) Azelia added cheerfully.
So they didn't hear me say I'd turn it back on in ten seconds. The telepathy must have been cut off one-sidedly from my end. That's good.
"Television on," I commanded.
(Ah! It's back on! Thank you, master!) Lilith's voice was filled with relief.
"What's with all this 'master' stuff?" I asked, a bit uncomfortable with the term.
(Well, we're basically your summoned spirits, right? As our summoner, it's just appropriate to call you master, isn't it?) Lilith reasoned, her tone innocent.
"That logic isn't wrong... but being called 'master' feels a bit odd."
(Hee~ Do you have a fetish for being called 'master' by girls, master?) Lilith teased, her voice dripping with mischief.
"I don't," I retorted, trying to sound firm.
(D-Don't tell me... You get turned on if you're called that by men instead—) Lilith's voice was sly, as if she were making a shocking discovery.
"Of course not! I'm perfectly normal and straight!!" I nearly shouted, flustered.
(Hehehehehe~) Lilith laughed, clearly enjoying my discomfort.
(Stop it, Lilith. You're bothering master) Arturia interjected, her voice calm and commanding.
"Even you, Lady Arturia..." I sighed.
(Isn't it fine, master? We'll only call you that until our contract is over. Please allow us to act as your summoned spirits for the contract's duration, master) Arturia added, her tone respectful yet firm.
"Sigh! Do as you want," I conceded, feeling slightly defeated.
(Thank you, master) Arturia responded, sounding satisfied.
(Anyway, do you have any destination in mind, master?) Lilith asked, bringing us back to practical matters.
"Hm... Honestly, I have no idea which way to go to get out of this forest. Since I don't know anything about this world yet, I don't have a specific destination in mind," I admitted.
"But I suppose I need to find a job where I can use my fighting skills to earn money. Money's important, after all. Do any of you, being from this world, have any suggestions?"
(Hm... I'm not too familiar with human society, though~ What about you, Arturia, Griselda?) Lilith deferred to the others.
(If you want a stable income, becoming a knight for a noble or a kingdom could be an option, or you could join a kingdom's military as a new recruit and start fresh) Arturia suggested.
(But since you said you like freedom, I doubt you'd want to be bound by a noble or a kingdom. The other options are becoming an adventurer or a mercenary) Griselda added, her tone pragmatic.
"An adventurer! A classic fantasy career path!" I clenched my fist in excitement.
(But becoming an adventurer takes time to become stable and profitable. Rising through the ranks can take a long time. The only job where you can immediately take high-paying jobs is as a mercenary, I guess) Griselda cautioned.
"I see... So if I want to gather money quickly, I need to become a mercenary first, huh... Well, it's not like being a mercenary is bad," I mused, thinking it over.
A nostalgic dream flashed through my mind—the one I'd had while unconscious. Memories of my past struggles and sacrifices surfaced, mingling with the faces of those I'd once protected. No matter what, I couldn't forget the pain and suffering of my past. I had saved her life, her future, but the cost had been high. Even if I had to do it all over again, I would make the same choices.
(Master? Why are you suddenly so silent?) Lilith's voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.
(A-As expected... I-I punched you a little too hard, didn't I... Please forgive me) Arturia muttered, her voice timid and apologetic, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor.
"Hahaha! It's fine, Arturia. Rather, I'm grateful. You reminded me of some important things I mustn't forget. So thank you," I said, genuinely appreciative.
(Thank you?) Arturia sounded puzzled.
(He's thanking you for punching him. He's a damned masochist pervert) Griselda teased, her voice tinged with amusement.
(Ah~ So you swing that way, huh~) Lilith joined in, her voice lilting with humor.
(Master is a pervert~) Azelia giggled.
(P-Pervert...) Sylphia whispered, her voice barely audible.
(So the hero master has those kinds of preferences...) Cynthia mused, her tone contemplative.
(Hmph! To think you love to be hit...) Hestia scoffed, sounding almost disgusted.
(....) Eira remained silent, as usual.
"I'm not an M!! Anyway, let's get out of this forest. Time to start the adventure!" I declared, shaking off their teasing and focusing on the journey ahead.