--- Third Person POV ---
Rudeus Greyrat wasn't in the best of moods.
Before being reincarnated into this new life, he'd been a 34-year-old NEET—a shut-in, though "shut-in" might not be the right word, since his family had already kicked him out.
Anyway, he remembered aimlessly wandering through the rain-soaked streets before spotting a young couple arguing in the middle of the road.
Remembering that a truck was on its way towards the couple, his body simply moved on its own.
In one final act of what he liked to call "heroic stupidity," he'd thrown himself forward to shove the couple out of harm's way — a fittingly dramatic end to his pathetic little life.
But even in the grand finale of his miserable life, things refused to go his way. Out of nowhere, some white‑haired punk showed up, booted him square in the ass, and stole his heroic moment by saving the couple himself.
The same white‑haired boy—now calling himself Satoru Gojo—stood there in the hall before him.
Seeing him again, Rudeus instantly remembered the humiliating pain of that final moment before his reincarnation. Not that he held any grudges. It wasn't like he had enough dignity left back then to protect anyway.
Rather he was quite grateful towards Gojo, for saving his life before his inevitable reincarnation.
So now, seeing Gojo standing there, Rudeus found his head buzzing with the same questions that were clearly tormenting Nanahoshi.
What confused Rudeus the most were the bizarre abilities Gojo seemed to have. Even back in his old world, he remembered the white-haired boy teleporting like it was nothing. But seeing him appear here, casually dragging Arumanfi — one of Perugius' strongest familiars — like a sack of laundry? Yeah, that rattled him even more.
Beside Rudeus, Ariel Anemoi Asura watched in silence as the white-haired boy—who had so brazenly entered Perugius's hall—now spoke with Nanahoshi in a language unfamiliar to her.
She quickly concluded the boy was someone Nanahoshi knew from her world. Meanwhile, Cliff, Elinalise, Sylphy, and Luke all kept their eyes locked on Gojo, each of them sizing him up in their own way, curiosity practically leaking off their faces.
"These are the people I've been working with these past few years," Nanahoshi replied, gesturing toward the group gathered behind her.
'Past few years' the words from Nanahoshi hit Gojo, and his face twisted into a frown.
"Wait—wait, hold up. What the hell are you talking about?" Gojo cut in, waving his hands at Nanahoshi, stopping her before she could continue.
'A few years? I've been here for hardly an hour now and she's been here for a few years?'
Gojo's brows tightened, confusion flickering into irritation.
"What do you mean 'past few years'?" he pressed, tone sharper now. "How long has it been for you since you arrived here?"
Nanahoshi hesitated, glancing briefly at the others—who watched the two of them with wary, confused eyes, unable to understand a single word. She returned her gaze to Gojo.
"…About six or seven years," she answered quietly. "I've been here since that day."
Gojo's expression froze.
"…Six or seven years?" he repeated, disbelief slipping into his voice. "No. That doesn't make sense. I got here maybe an hour ago. Two, if I'm being generous."
Nanahoshi's eyes widened slightly. "Then… for you, no time passed at all?"
Gojo shook his head. "Not a second."
The hall remained silent, everyone watching but understanding nothing, only sensing the tension building between the two.
Nanahoshi lowered her voice. "If that's true… then something about your transfer was different. Very different."
Gojo exhaled slowly, gaze hardening.
"Yeah. I'm starting to realize that."
A sudden thought struck Gojo. "Wait… your boyfriend—was he with you when you got here?"
Nanahoshi blinked, taken aback by the sudden question. "Akito? No… he wasn't. He—he wasn't with me when I came here," she said quietly, her voice tinged with a bit of sadness, carrying the weight of years.
Before Nanahoshi and Gojo could continue, Perugius interjected, "Nanahoshi, it seems you know this man. I take it he's from your world as well?"
Nanahoshi shifted her focus back to Lord Perugius. "Yes, that's correct, Lord Perugius. This man is Satoru Gojo, and he's from my world." She replied back.
Remembering how Gojo had entered with an unconscious Arumanfi at his side, she added, slightly bowing her head, "I ask that you forgive him for harming Arumanfi. He was only just teleported to this world and doesn't know its language."
Perugius' gaze swept over Gojo, noting the boy's calm demeanor and the faint, confident grin playing on his lips.
"Very well, I shall forgive him," Perugius replied. He had little reason to hold a grudge—after all, the boy didn't understand the language of this world, and he could easily imagine the miscommunication that must have occurred between him and his familiar.
"Oh, are you talking about little old me~?" Gojo said with a smirk. He didn't understand their words, but he caught Nanahoshi saying his name.
Gojo's smirk only grew wider as he casually stretched his arms. "Well, since we're all being polite… I guess I should properly introduce myself to everyone, huh?"
Nanahoshi let out a quiet sigh, glancing nervously at the group who stared at him in shock—or curiosity. She stepped forward, speaking to him in Japanese, her words flowing too quickly for anyone else to understand. "Gojo, calm down. They don't understand a word you're saying yet. Let me handle this."
Nanahoshi just wanted to get this over with—she was eager to ask Gojo the questions that had been gnawing at her about his strange abilities, and she still needed to properly introduce him to Rudeus who was also originally from their world.
Gojo tilted his head, a teasing grin on his face. "Ah, so you're my translator, huh? Got it."
"Alright, Ms. Translator, do your thing," Gojo said, his usual arrogance loud and clear for everyone to hear. "My name's Satoru Gojo, and I'm the strongest!"
Nanahoshi blinked, taken aback by his words. Even Rudeus, who could understand Japanese, raised an eyebrow at Gojo's arrogance. 'Yeah, maybe in your old world,' he thought, recalling his own encounter with the Dragon God Orsted.
Nanahoshi, though slightly exasperated, complied and translated his words for the rest of the people in the hall.
Everyone in the hall stiffened slightly at Nanahoshi's translation, their eyes flicking between Gojo and each other in a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
Perugius leaned back slightly in his throne, his gaze sharp and assessing. "Quite arrogant for a mere human," he remarked aloud, his tone carrying both amusement and a hint of intrigue. Even the familiars on either side of him exchanged cautious glances, clearly intrigued by this bold newcomer who dared speak so confidently in their domain.
Nanahoshi then turned her gaze toward Perugius. "Lord Perugius, I ask that you allow this man to remain in the castle with me, as there is still much I need to learn from him," she said, her tone measured and respectful.
"hmm, Satoru Gojo..." Perugius recited Gojo's name, chewing over it.
"Very well, I permit him to stay."
"Thank you Lord Perugius" Nanahoshi replied, giving Perugius a small bow.
"Hmm, you may go," Perugius said, excusing Nanahoshi and Gojo. His gaze shifted back to Rudeus. "Now, speak, boy. What is it that you require?"
Nanahoshi turned back to Gojo, "Lets go, follow me."
"What, we're leaving already?~" Gojo mused, a playful smirk on his face. "I thought the old man would have questions for me, considering that I knocked out his servant." Gojo said to Nanahoshi as they made their way out of the hall.
"Yes, we're leaving. Lord Perugius has permitted you to stay in the castle. He isn't questioning you because I've already explained your situation," Nanahoshi said, glaring at Gojo. "And don't call him 'old man.' Address him properly."
"He is Perugius Dola, the Armored Dragon King, one of the most influential people in this world." Although Nanahoshi wasn't one to care much for the customs of this world, she still showed the respect owed to figures like the Dragon God Orsted and Perugius Dola.
Gojo shrugged nonchalantly, flashing a cocky grin. "Look, I don't care who's important or what titles you've got—I'm still the strongest," he said, his tone dripping with arrogance and self-assured superiority.
After all, "The Strongest" wasn't a title Gojo gave himself—it was a fact the world had no choice but to acknowledge. A universal law that everyone abided by.
Nanahoshi sighed at that, 'Seriously this guy is impossible!'
--- End ---