「— And that's why I suddenly found myself on the roof of a convenience store.」
「Forced transfer... You were brought here from 'Outside Kivotos' under the influence of a technology close to an ancient civilization that vastly surpasses the legacy of the Thunder Emperor, correct?」
「That is mostly accurate.」
「...」
Subaru was revealing his situation to Hina Ozorasaki as she escorted him to what was called the relief room.
He struggled to walk, taking halting steps and avoiding putting weight on his right leg, supported by Hina. Subaru couldn't help but suppress his tears over the current situation, where he could walk without straining his body, thanks only to Hina's care.
He wished to raise a toast to the fate that brought him together with this girl full of good intentions, but her image as a heroine in another world was slightly off.
The dark circles around her eyes, which clearly showed her exhaustion, and her body shape, which could only be described as childlike, meant that the first words that came to his mind were not words of praise, but words of solace for someone working themselves to the point of collapse.
「... What soft hair. It's so soft. Thank you, God.」
「If you touch my hair any more, I will leave you here.」
「My apologies.」
Naturally, if anyone did this to their savior, it would not be strange to be abandoned immediately... But Subaru, a veteran player of dating-sims (of various titles), could discern the red lines that should not be crossed.
In this world of Kivotos, the last method Subaru could employ against violence—a person whose combat capability is less than that of a paramecium—was dialogue.
— To earn points through communication so that he wouldn't die and could manage to survive.
This was his last chance, granted to a person with communication skills equivalent to zero.
「But what a surprisingly quiet city landscape.」
「Even in Gehenna, when the situation is calm, it is generally like this. People heading to work often wait for the Prefect Team's morning patrol before going to their workplaces.」
「I thought it was an academy story... but seeing them self-guarding an administrative area and acting like the police makes it seem like an entire prefecture.」
「Prefecture...? — Please allow me a moment.」
... — *Hmm, hmm*...
Suddenly, the vibration of a phone passed through her body, which he was leaning on, and Subaru realized she was receiving a call... or rather, an operational report. He saw the phone he had told her about: a new type of communication device, or what is known as a 'smartphone'.
「... — "Team President"」
Subaru did not intend to eavesdrop, but due to their extreme proximity, he heard what was being said without needing to strain.
Hina Ozorasaki did not seem concerned about whether Subaru was listening or not.
「... I apologize, there is a person I need to transfer to you immediately.」
「"What... — An external injury..."」
「That is correct. There is no danger.」
「"Even so... Furthermore"」
「It is fine. Once I hand him over to Sena, we will head straight towards the solution. Natsuki Subaru is in the reception room.」
「"Understood."」
After concluding this serious exchange, their walking pace became slightly faster.
What could be inferred from this exchange was the colossal difference in competence, despite them being the same age and high school students.
Clearly, the Prefect Team, and not in a literal sense, occupies a far more critical position in Kivotos than Subaru could have imagined.
「I apologize for rushing you; the matter I was dealing with has turned into an emergency...」
「It's alright. You are truly busy... Are there no other members in the Prefect Team besides Hina?」
「There are capable comrades, but nonetheless, the workforce is insufficient in Gehenna.」
「If I were able, I would offer my assistance to you, Madam, but the current situation makes pretending to be strong difficult...」
「I will accept your sentiment. A girl named Sena from the Emergency Medical Department will arrive soon to meet you. I want you to ride with her and follow the instructions.」
「Understood. I am truly grateful for everything. I wish I could shout 'I love you' in celebration of our friendship! Good luck with your work!!」
「... Thank you, Natsuki Subaru.」
It seemed she had informed them of the meeting point beforehand. She leaned Subaru against a wall near an intersection, gave him a swift farewell glance, and ran off.
— Hina Ozorasaki darted away with a speed reminiscent of a jet plane, demonstrating the urgency she had placed on her current situation.
「...」
「... I must repay this kindness somehow.」
「More importantly, it truly is another world. She even has horns... What was that speed, anyway?」
Luckily, the first person to stand by him was Hina.
Kindness is not merely an act of charity; offering a helping hand and walking together is the very essence of life... Well, he should stop relying on good intentions. The girl coming from the Emergency Medical Department is named Sena.
「She said she is coming by car...」
「How did she get a driver's license?」
I looked around but found no sign of her arrival. Also, what did 'Emergency Medical Department' mean in a high school? These opinions, coming from an ordinary high school student, were utterly invalid in this world, so he chose to remain silent.
While waiting, curious stares surrounded him, though fewer than before, questioning whether the male presence itself was rare; or if the strangeness lay in the injured person carried by Hina Ozorasaki, his lack of a weapon, or merely his choice to wear sportswear.
Vocalizing such thoughts was a bad habit that Subaru attributed to himself.
Suddenly, a student patted Subaru on the shoulder after having overheard his bad habit.
「— The black-haired, wide-eyed, talkative one, with a badly-bandaged right leg; a male high school student who is neither a machine nor a pupil...」
「Isn't that description a bit harsh...!!?」
This was another captivating girl, seemingly fit for white roses. From a different angle, she might have looked like an incredibly beautiful young man, yet her pale complexion and the delicate nature of her uniform would have instantly captivated passersby back in Japan.
「A vintage nurse's uniform, standing on the battlefield... She's truly an angel of the field, like Nightingale. That is absolutely magnificent!」
「The corpse mentioned in the Team President's call is you, correct?」
「Ah, yes... Wait? Corpse?」
「With bandages like that, the injury will quickly worsen. We will perform first aid inside the vehicle. Please come here.」
「Alright, she's the cold type then. This other world certainly doesn't lack varieties of heroines... — Woooah!?」
Her reaction was colder than he expected; while one might wish for a slight pause after hearing such a sudden statement, her gaze went immediately to the ankle injury.
When Subaru extended his hand, she did not take it; instead, she grabbed his neck, like a mother cat, and threw him.
In the direction he was thrown, an armored vehicle—too massive to be called an ambulance—was waiting. Subaru was launched flying through the air toward the open back seat.
「Ooowah!! Wait!? That's excessively cold! Don't throw injured people... — Hey, what is this?」
「Let us begin the work, then.」
Despite being thrown violently, the aim was somehow precise and perfect. He landed successfully, implausibly, as the cushions inside the vehicle absorbed the shock.
The injured area was subjected to no pressure, indicating an unexplainable strangeness that went beyond a mere mysterious throwing technique.
Next, she deftly cut the plastic-bag strip with sewing scissors. With gentle movements, Subaru's foot, which had been disfigured, ugly, and torn, began to transform into a better state.
Upon completing the disinfection, bleeding control, and stabilization, his right leg, now protected by a clean bandage, was transformed into a new companion that would support his miserable life and walk with him once more.
「Ah, thank you.」
「I received a call about a fresh corpse.」
「Corpse... — Anyway, Hina said you would take on the task of guiding me. Can I rely on you?」
「Of course.」
Perhaps it was too late to pledge to be a serious high school student this time around... at least, for now...
「I have a question I want to ask first.」
「What is it?」
「... You are a high school student, correct?」
「Yes.」
「Do you have a driver's license...?」
「— I do. But how is the situation 'Outside'?」
「Ah, no, in... in my country, driving starts at age eighteen. I was just slightly surprised.」
The way she sat in the driver's seat was utterly professional, making it difficult to see her as a high school student, especially since her physically strong build made her look like a university student.
In addition, this girl also had horns, and her halo (the luminous one) had a different shape.
「We are setting off. You can drink the oral rehydration solution from the cabinet; it is good for anemia.」
「Thank you... — *Pffah*」
Even the taste hasn't changed... Could Japan have completely transformed into a new state, and I just came to the future?
「Team President Hina informed me that you are involved in certain special circumstances and lack knowledge of Kivotos' customs.」
「Specifically, your lack of a weapon is less common than students walking naked in the street, so I recommend you purchase a single weapon when we arrive at the school.」
「— Being less common than naked people is unheard of these days! What a strange and rare creature I am!」
「Rumors have already spread somewhat on the internet.」
When Sena showed her phone screen to Subaru, there were photographs taken of him walking closely alongside Hina that had been published and circulated.
「C- copyright... The ethics here really are lenient.」
「I agree. We don't want bad rumors about her spreading, especially since she is so busy... — But let's start with you. Do you have any questions?」
「Ah...」
There are many, many things, such as: Can weapons be bought anywhere? Why aren't they damaged when shot? And what is the state of culture and civilization here?
The things that are easy for Subaru to grasp as 'Other World elements' do not require questioning; if he accepts them as such, there is no need to ask.
— What he really wanted to ask about was one thing only.
「Are there any stories about people who came from 'Outside' and returned to 'Outside Kivotos' again?」
「No. We know nothing about the conditions of the 'Outside' to begin with, so we cannot answer clearly. But if I must say something to you—who came from the 'Outside,' is not an adult, and is a high school student without a halo—」
「— I believe 'returning the way you came' is the wise course of action.」
「...…」
「... Well, thank you. Ah, the 'halo'—is that the thing above the head? That fortress-like thing Hina had, and which you also have...」
「It might appear that way to you, but to us, it looks like nothing more than a faint ring of light.」
Subaru replied with a non-committal "Hmm."
— Return the way he came?
His mind was filled with the image of himself as an unemployed fool who had left his parents behind and vanished.
「...」
From the back window, he saw a tank driving down the road. Combat helicopters were flying in the sky, heading toward the area Hina had just gone to.
「...」
「...」
「I wonder if doing good deeds will enable me to return. I don't think so.」
「Sena, that... when we arrive at the academy...」
「If you have any extra work, give it to me, and I will do my best.」
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