"How are you feeling?"
"I don't know," she replied.
I took Chiaki out. I thought she would refuse, but she agreed so easily that I was surprised.
As we faced the night breeze, I nervously opened my mouth.
"Well, um... Hey, how are you feeling?"
It wasn't really much of a conversation.
What the heck was "how are you feeling?" supposed to mean, anyway?
I mean, seriously, my communication skills are terrible.
I thought I saw the corners of Chiaki's mouth lift slightly.
"What's that supposed to mean? Suguru-kun doesn't seem too lively, does he?"
"Uh..."
I chuckled at her teasing.
"I was probably the one who was getting worked up..."
I felt like she murmured quietly to herself.
"My parents are just normal people. They live in the countryside now and work as farmers."
That's where the conversation started, with mundane talk about her family.
She began to talk about various things they did, like growing leafy vegetables, tomatoes, and potatoes.
"We can't afford any luxuries, but that's where I was born, in the middle of nowhere."
It was a typical story about her family.
She was just talking to me normally, and it was a complete contrast to the distant atmosphere we had a moment ago.
Maybe her mood had changed.
"My parents don't have any magical talent like me. There's never been any violence in our family, and we're just an ordinary family. Despite that, they're respectable people. But I had no intention of taking over the family business. Ever since I was young, I wanted to protect the kind of everyday life that could be found anywhere. That's why I decided to become a vassal."
A vassal? What does that mean?
I had never heard of such a backstory before.
Chiaki was just a strong supporting character in the Megashuva game, with a junior high school setting.
She was just one of the combatants who had no involvement in the main storyline.
"One day, I was praised for my magical talent. As a special exception, I entered the military academy at the age of 12. I was able to complete the educational program in one year because of my advanced skills. Well, that's only part of the story before I came here. Do you find it funny?"
"I do," I replied.
"I thought so."
It seemed she was playing a joke on me.
I couldn't help but laugh inside.
In my past life as a "normal person," I would have dismissed such a ridiculous story as a joke.
But I tried not to interrupt the flow of her story.
Wait a minute. Military academy? Could it be...?
"Is the military academy at Sunburst?" I asked, tapping my forehead with my index finger.
Sunburst is a magical academy located on a solitary island in the Black Sea in my past life's geography.
It was an elite military academy that served as a military deterrent against the empire, and it was also a gathering place for talented officers.
"Well, that's the correct answer," she said.
In the fall, there is a big event called the Title Match, which invites magic academy students from around the world.
There are four large magical academies in this world, including Mahoro.
They gather at Mahoro to decide on the most outstanding researchers and martial artists, but Sunburst is a school that excels in alchemy.
"By the way, Chiaki is from Hinomoto, right?"
"Oh, it's different?"
"Huh? You're not from here?"
"My hometown is Americus."
"Americus? What's that?"
"My name is Ayaka Chiaki, but that's my Japanese name."
"Japanese name? What's that? Is it related to seaweed?"
"No, it's not. Alright, got it. By the way, what are the names of your neighbors?"
"Random question."
"Just tell me, please."
"Well, there's Kondo-san and Fender-san. They're both farmers. What about it?"
I understood. This was a gal game world, so there was no concept of Japanese or Western names.
"I was thinking of introducing myself to them someday."
"What does 'introducing yourself' mean?"
"Just tell them 'nice to meet you.'"
"Huh..."
Chiaki stumbled over her words for a moment and began to think.
She seemed lost in thought, so I decided to organize my own thoughts.
I thought Chiaki was Japanese because of her traditional name, but it seemed that the concept of Japanese and Western names didn't matter in this world.
It was becoming quite chaotic. I felt the wave of globalization.
It seemed that it was not valid to think according to the standards of the world I used to live in.
Even Nikubu and Garino didn't have Japanese-sounding names, yet they looked like typical Japanese people.
Moridori had an Elvish name despite being an elf.
I recalled that this world was where beastmen and elves walked around with Japanese surnames.
"I see. I see."
I pulled information from a world map I had read before.
There was the Hinomoto country where I was located, the Transylvania Principality where Maria was from, the emerging Americus Federation, which was formed by a league of small states, and various other countries such as the Greenwood Kingdom, the Holy Gallian Empire, the Mizuho Dynasty, and the oceanic state of Atlantis.
"Can I backtrack for a moment?"
"What's up?"
"Let me organize the story. First of all, Chiaki-kun was born in a very ordinary farming family. After going through various things, She attended a military academy and transferred here in his second year of high school. Is that correct?"
"Yes, that's right. You're already saying that."
"Americus is quite far, isn't it?"
According to my memory, it was supposed to be in the Western world.
"It's on the continent. It takes about half a day to get to Hinomoto, doesn't it?"
Even if it took half a day, it was by plane.
It was ridiculously far.
"Sorry. The story is jumping around, but did you transfer from Sunburst?"
"Yes, I did."
"I didn't know that."
So that's why there was no sign of a scout or anything like that, unlike me.
"You didn't ask me, and I haven't told you a lot of things. But it's not uncommon to transfer or study abroad, especially in a school where students come from all over the world."
"Well... I guess you're right."
I can make some assumptions. Why is she wearing a gothic lolita outfit and beating up punks? I thought it was just chuunibyou, but there seems to be a backstory.
Sanburst, huh? That academy is an institution for preparing weapons using alchemy and training outstanding magicians and knights to counter the Empire, where feudalism prevails and maniacs and GGs are lurking, and the emperor is already insane. It seems likely that Ayaka Chiaki was involved in the main story behind the scenes.
While I was contemplating that, she suddenly asked, "Is it true that you need me to survive, Suguru-kun?"
"Ah, yes. I need you, but the journey will be harsh, and your life will be in danger. I can't force you to come with me," I replied.
"That talk about the world's crisis was just a delusion, right?"
"A delusion...? No, I'm serious. I can see the future of this world. It's heading for destruction. The next year is the turning point. I know you won't believe me, but I came here to eliminate the grudges that are lurking in this world and prevent its destruction."
"Where did you come from?"
"From Yomi."
"Huh?"
She looked at me incredulously. It's not surprising, considering that Komachi didn't believe me at all. It might be even more strange if she were to believe everything I say.
"I didn't know about that."
Chiaki narrowed her eyes and placed her hand on her chin.
"So, you also have secrets like me. Can I ask for the reason or the basis behind it?"
"Sure. Because this world is..."
As I was about to say "the game world I was playing," my voice stopped. I felt as if my head was being bleached, and a painful and unpleasant feeling as if my larynx was being crushed.
"What is it? Hey, your face is pale."
I couldn't say it, could I? I felt like my memories were collapsing. I had to switch my consciousness quickly. I yelled out a strange sound to change my thoughts.
"I need the panties of a gal!"
Chiaki backed away from me, disgusted.
"I'm in trouble. I've broken down."
Where is the boundary? I talked to Kakko and Hisui about Maniacs and Knights of the Apocalypse, and how this world is heading towards its end. That's okay.
However, I didn't mention that this world was originally a game world, and that I am a reincarnated person. Can I not talk about topics that go beyond this world, meta-level topics?
But when I defeated the man in black, I introduced myself as a player, and that was okay.
Where is the boundary?
Come to think of it, I have heard that those in a lower dimension cannot understand those in a higher dimension. For example, those in the first dimension cannot understand the second dimension, and those in the second dimension cannot understand the third dimension.
At the time when I came to this world, was I already prohibited from talking about topics that exceed the fourth wall? It is reasonable to consider that even though this world is three-dimensional, the topic of exceeding the fourth wall itself is prohibited.
Perhaps it is even forbidden to communicate just that, as it literally means stepping into the realm of God.
This world is a world based on games. But it's also a real world, not just a game.
If there is a god, then they should not be inside this world. Being able to wander around the inside of the world means that they are a false god with powers like a god.
If one is a god, then they should be outside the world they created and not interfere with it. Even if someone creates a manga or novel and people live inside it, would the author or actors arbitrarily interfere in it?
No, they wouldn't. They can't do it, because they exist in a different dimension.
Even those who have knowledge of the outside world should not be inside this world. If I were to try to convey that forcefully, there is a possibility that my ego would disappear or I would no longer exist in this world.
"Is that the compulsion of this world?" I asked with a dark smile.
"You've started saying strange things," Chiaki said.
"About the conversation earlier," she continued.
"Oh, right. You really do switch topics suddenly. Are you really okay in the head?" she asked.
"I might not be okay!" I replied.
"Well, anyway, I'm going to save this world. And I need you to do it. There is evidence, but it's difficult to explain. I know that the demon lord and the Knight of the Apocalypse will destroy this world," I said.
"The demon lord and the Knight of the Apocalypse? It's not just your imagination?" she asked.
"It's not just my imagination," I replied.
She closed her eyes and furrowed her brow.
"Is that the only reason?" she asked.
"That's the only reason. I can't say more than that," I said.
She let out a big sigh.
"You're trying to do something to save this world. You're doing something like saving it from destruction. I can't trust you, but oh well. I'll go along with your outrageous delusions. You're my comrade, so I'll make sure you don't do anything reckless," she said.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not leaving the party. I didn't say I thought this guy should be here, but I didn't say he shouldn't be either. If I leave, you'll die, right? I'm not going to let some weirdo like this get you killed."
"Y-Yeah..."
"And he apologized properly, so I'll forgive him."
Chiaki poked my chest.
"You might die, you know."
"I won't die! I'm strong!"
"That's a flag."
"Don't say weird things!"
It seemed like she had returned to her usual self. Don't worry, I won't do anything to let you die. I am a person with a god's perspective, after all. Even if you're on the verge of death, I know two or three ways to save you.
"By the way, Suguru-kun. I heard from Komachi-chan that you want to become a farmer in the countryside after graduating from school?"
"I didn't talk about that. It's just a dream of something I want to become. I want to become the thigh park ranger, actually. It's my dream."
"Oh, I see. Greetings, farming... That's not a bad idea. If it's with you..."
Chiaki nodded to herself.
"Huh?"
I was a little worried about her solemn expression, but since she had decided to stay in the party, I would let it go.
That was close. I hope I won't have to deal with any more human relations issues.