Rondel was a city of magic and learning.
Here, a mature system of magical education and a complete framework for magical research had long been established.
Academies, libraries, laboratories—every facility was present.
The mages had even advanced to the point of writing theses and holding conferences to share their research with one another.
In terms of civilization alone, the city far surpassed most regions of this world.
At this moment—
Saito and Louise were walking hand in hand across Rondel's Fountain Square.
To their left rose a golden, hourglass-shaped fountain in the center of the water, while to their right shimmered the clear blue surface of the river.
The weather was bright, the sun brilliant.
Cool breezes, carrying a mist of water, brushed over them, making one feel deeply at ease.
"Saito, what do you think we should do next?"
Louise suddenly stopped, letting go of Saito's hand. With a troubled look, she leaned against the railing, her eyes fixed on the rippling waves of the river.
"You want to go back?"
Seeing her expression, Saito guessed her thoughts.
Not long ago, they had followed Hodolew into the Forest of Koan.
By then, the "Elven Village" had already been reduced to scorched earth and ruins under the fury of the Fire Dragon.
Everywhere there were corpses black as ink and withered trees still holding residual heat.
Yet, in the well beneath the "Elven Village," they had unexpectedly found Tuka unconscious.
When she awoke, they learned that although the summoned Hodolew had already lived for several months on the continent of Halkeginia, only a single night had passed for Tuka.
This strange relationship between their times astonished everyone.
But none of them wished to probe deeper into its cause.
What mattered most was that Hodolew and Tuka, father and daughter, had been reunited.
Still, it wasn't long before they all realized that their situation ahead was becoming rather awkward.
Because they had assumed the search for Tuka would be a long and arduous ordeal, everyone had braced themselves for hardships along the way.
Yet to find her so quickly—wasn't that far too hasty?
Where was the thrilling adventure in that?
After all, they had taken the risk of offending the World Government!
Saito still remembered how he had nearly lost his mind at the time, ranting inwardly.
Something about the way things had unfolded felt wrong…
Back then, Hodolew had suggested that, to avoid the Fire Dragon' range of activity, they should first leave the Forest of Koan and find somewhere safe to settle.
As for where to go, naturally, that was his decision to make.
After all, they were all from another world.
In the end, after careful thought, Hodolew decided to head for Rondel, to seek help from a mage named Cato, whom he had known more than twenty years ago.
But once they arrived, they learned that Mage Cato had been gone for nearly a decade.
No one knew where he lived now—and even if someone did, they wouldn't tell him.
Helpless, they had no choice but to stay here for the time being.
At this moment, Louise heard Saito's question.
She did not hide her feelings; she nodded in admission.
"Yes. This place is beautiful, and Tabitha and the others do like it here, but it isn't our home…"
"Last night, while I was asleep, I dreamed of Princess Henrietta… and of Father, Mother, my eldest sister, and second sister."
As she spoke, Louise turned her head and looked at Saito with pitiful eyes.
"Do you think we can ever go back?"
"Uh…"
Saito opened his mouth but found no answer.
Hearing her say that made him start to miss his own mother—and Siesta—back home as well.
"I think returning to my world shouldn't be a problem. After all, without your help, the World Government's armies can't get in."
"The ones to watch out for are the shinobi. But to go back to your world… the risk is too great."
"My guess is your family has already been placed under control or surveillance by the World Government, just waiting for you to walk right into their trap."
Saito rubbed his chin, voicing his thoughts.
"Then what are we supposed to do, Saito? Hurry up and think of something!"
Louise grew anxious at once, clutching his arm and shaking him frantically.
"Uh…"
Saito's face showed his distress. How was he supposed to know what to do?
When they had acted before, they hadn't thought this far ahead at all.
In the end, they were just a group of teenagers—kind-hearted, doing their best to help their friends.
Of course, their lack of trust in, and reverence for, the World Government had something to do with it too.
Adding Louise, Kirche, and Tabitha into the mix—each of them former high nobles of the Kingdom of Tristain—they were used to living freely.
Even if they considered the consequences of their actions, they rarely cared too much.
In their minds, the worst that could happen was being scolded a bit or locked up for a few days.
After all, they weren't hurting anyone.
They just wanted to help Mr. Hodolew find his daughter.
And, along the way, help prevent war and disaster from spreading into Saito's world.
Wasn't that doing good deeds?
We're not in the wrong!
"Alright, alright. Since we can't stay in the Kingdom of Albion any longer, then let's find a way to bring your family here. Whether they live in my world or in this one, let them choose for themselves."
Shaken so hard he felt dizzy, Saito hurriedly blurted out the sudden idea that flashed in his mind.
"Hm?"
Louise froze, then muttered under her breath: "Bring my elder and second sisters back?"
At once, her eyes lit up, and the worry on her face vanished.
"Yes!"
"Wow, Saito, you're brilliant!!!"
Overcome with excitement, Louise couldn't help but rise on tiptoe and kiss his cheek.
"Hehehe, well, it's nothing. I just thought of it now."
Saito touched the spot where she had kissed him, grinning from ear to ear.
The more he thought about it, the better the idea seemed.
His own world might be a difficult place for Louise's family to get used to, but in this world they would have no such problem.
Once they were married, they could always use the "Gate of Ginza" to travel freely between the two worlds, visiting back and forth.
How perfect was that? Hehehe~~
Saito was already lost in sweet fantasies of their future life together.
His only regret was that he would rarely see Princess Henrietta again.
But she was married now—better to let go of that thought.
"Then let's go find Tabitha and Kirche and talk it over. This time we have to make a proper plan!"
Louise, eager and impatient, grabbed Saito's hand and pulled him along.
"Don't rush, Louise. I think it'll be hard to pull this off with just the few of us. It's best if Mr. Hodolew calls in some skilled mages to help!"
Dragged forward at a quick pace, Saito raised his voice in helpless protest.
But Louise, intent only on hurrying back, paid him no mind.
...
The Nuclear Weapons World
Inside a room temporarily used as a general's office, the atmosphere was oppressively tense.
Shiki's mood steadily darkened with Budo's report.
From Tokyo, two auxiliary brigades had entered the "Special Region World" through the "Gate of Ginza."
One brigade—everyone vanished except for the brigadier. Most likely, the entire unit had been wiped out.
The other brigade had fared much better.
At the time, only one battalion had stepped through the "Gate," while the rest were still lined up behind.
In other words, they had lost nearly 6,000 auxiliary troops this time.
On top of that—
Even the tunnel of the "Gate of Ginza" had been blocked by the enemy with solid frozen earth.
"According to the account of one of the brigadiers—Colonel Ferdinand Schörner…"
"They encountered a woman on the other side—wielding a large scythe, dressed in a gothic skirt."
"She should be a mage from that world. Before Ruri Seiji pulled him back, he only saw Chūnin Kaguya and Yuki engaged in battle with her."
Budo read the report in his hands with a grave expression.
"And what about the other brigadier? Did he say anything useful?"
Shiki kept his eyes fixed on the port base and the seascape outside the window as he asked.
"No. It's said that Brigadier Erwin Rommel, having lost his entire unit, has sunk into deep depression and refuses to speak with anyone."
Budo replied in that manner.
"Hmph. What a weak-willed fool. His men are gone? Then just raise another batch. Soldiers are meant to be spent. To waste thought grieving over them!"
Shiki curled his lip in contempt.
"General Pershing of the Auxiliary Army requests instructions—whether to assign manpower to clear the 'Gate of Ginza' tunnel and send troops into the 'Special Region World' to resume operations."
After a moment's thought, Shiki said: "The 'tunnel' must be cleared, but hold off on deploying troops for now."
"Our focus right now is conquering this world. By the best case, break the militaries of every nation before year's end. At the latest, the fighting must be over by January next year."
"As for the 'Special Region World,' leave that to Umigakure. Have them send in more shinobi to scout for intelligence."
"Tell Umigakure—I don't care how many die, but I want a clear report on the situation across the Gate. Especially on the mages and the origins of that 'Gate' itself!"
Standing behind Shiki, Budo jotted each order carefully into his notebook.
With a calm expression, he closed his notebook and strode out of the office.
But the next moment, he abruptly stopped, turned back, and opened the door once more.
Hearing the sound, Shiki turned his head in puzzlement.
"Something else?"
Budo spoke: "May I request permission to go to the 'Special Region World'?"
"Hah?!"
Shiki blinked, then gave him a long, meaningful look. "What's this—you don't want to stay by my side anymore?"
"No. I just want to fight for an opportunity. You know well that I'm only a major general right now."
Budo's face remained steady as he explained: "I don't need to bring a single soldier. I can go with those shinobi, or I can act alone, adapting as the situation demands. If I'm fortunate enough to return, I'll gladly continue serving as your adjutant."
Shiki's mood visibly lifted at that.
Over this time, he had grown accustomed to Budo always standing at his back.
"But have you considered—the 'Gate' isn't under our control. It could disappear at any time. And that world on the other side has gods."
"Precisely because of that, if I can achieve results there, the merit I gain will surely be considerable."
After saying this, Budo paused, then added: "Of course, this is only a request. If you are unwilling, you can treat it as if I never spoke."
"Hm…"
Shiki fell into thought, his expression hesitant.
Budo indeed had both potential and ability. If he took a step further, a lieutenant general's rank was surely within reach.
Of course, as Shiki's adjutant, becoming a lieutenant general was a matter of time anyway.
But clearly, Budo wished to advance faster through his own effort—even if it meant venturing into a mysterious world and risking his life.
"Shihahaha!"
Shiki threw back his head in wild laughter, spreading his arms as he looked at Budo.
"Fine! I won't stop a man willing to gamble his life for his future!"
"But you're not going alone!"
"Aren't those shinobi sent out in teams of four?"
"Pick three colonels from the 'Sky-Cleaver Unit'!"
"You're my adjutant! No matter what world you're in, you've got to carry the banner of my name!"
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