What, Failure to Transition!? Volume 3 Chapter 5 (Patreon)

Chapter 5 – To Another World with Everyone

The first thing that caught Karin’s eyes as she entered the living room was a beautiful silver-haired woman in a tracksuit – in other words, Alana.

“Are you the……one from that time?”

“Hmm? Do I know you from somewhere?”

But what she got was a tilted head instead, as if the other party totally didn’t know her.

“Alana, this is Karin. Karin, this is Alana. She was the one who took care of you when you first came to our house, if you don’t mind asking.”

“Oh! Thank you very much! You really helped me a lot on that occasion.”

“Eh? What is she……?”

But when Alana bowed deeply, it was Karin’s turn to tilt her head in confusion.

“What language does she speak? It doesn’t seem to be English……”

“……ah, right. Here you go.”

Alana, who wears earrings with translation effects, can understand Karin’s words, but Karin, who has neither the magical tools nor skills, cannot understand Alana’s words.

Yoichi gave Karin the necklace-type magical tool that he had left over to solve this.

“What is it? Are you giving it to me?”

“Try this on for now.”

“Ah, un……”

With a somewhat unaccountable look on her face, Karin put the necklace she received around her neck.

“Then, let me begin again. My name is Alana. I really appreciate everything you did for me back then.”

Then Alana bows her head again.

“Oh, no. Don’t mind it…….Eh? I mean, how!?”

Karin looked at Yoichi in surprise at the sudden comprehension of Alana’s words.

“Ah, I’ll explain that to you later, but first, let me introduce her to you as well.”

Yoichi pointed to a dark-haired, bespectacled beauty in a sweatshirt ―― that is, Misato ―― sitting on the sofa.

“This is Misato.”

“I-It’s nice to meet you….”

With a slightly nervous look on her face, Misato lightly bows her head.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you too. Um, M-Misato, you’re from the southern town, right?”

“What? You know her already?”

“Aren’t you the one who’s been yammering me about it?”

“Eh? Me?”

“The days before you moved in! Don’t you remember?”

“Oh……”

It was then when Yoichi recalled the events when Karin visited him, and that time when he was in a daze by the sudden disappearance of Misato.

In the almost empty room before he moved out, he told Karin about what happened with him and Misato and the scene where she comforted him afterward.

“Um, that time, that was……sorry.”

“No, don’t mention it. In fact, I was the one who should be……”

Yoichi looked apologetic and somewhat embarrassed as he cast his eyes down. As for Karin, perhaps remembering what had happened, she blushed, averted her eyes, and mouthed a few words.

“Ehem!”

It was only when Alana’s somewhat deliberate coughing dispelled the becoming uncomfortable atmosphere between the two.

“So, Ms. Karin,” Alana started the conversation once again. “What is your relationship with Mr. Yoichi?”

“Oh, yes. I’m kind of……an old friend of Yoichi’s, and we sometimes meet up and have dinner together.”

Karin, who had heard about the relationship between Misato and Yoichi and guessed that he also had an unusual relationship with the silver-haired woman in front of her, tried to be careful and deceptive in her tone.

“Mm…… But at that time, you two……were very intense that……”

“Eh? That time?”

But that tone did not last long as she glanced at Yoichi next, who just shrugged his shoulders with a contemplative look.

“……You see, the wall between the living room and the bedroom of this place is not that thick.”

Alana continued.

“Mm? Uhm……”

“That means that the sound from the living room can be heard perfectly in the bedroom.”

“What?”

Then it was Yoichi’s turn to interject.

“I see. What Alana meant is, that time, she was already conscious, and she has heard the sounds coming out of the living room, is it?”

“Waa!?”

All of a sudden, Karin’s face turned red and she slumped down. This was because she just recalled how she tangled with Yoichi like a beast every time she left the bedroom after nursing Alana at that time.

“I think that Mr. Yoichi and Ms. Karin must have a very deep friendship to be able to do that……You even did it all night.”

“No, I’m the one that…….”

Struggling on what to say, Karin glances at Yoichi as if seeking help.

“Ah……I guess this is it, huh.”

At the sight of Karin, Yoichi was scratching his head, looking a little annoyed, but then lifted his head up as if to get back into the swing of things.

“Karin.”

“Hyaa!?”

When Karin was called by name in a serious tone of voice, she responded a bit silly.

(What the heck, she’s so cute, damn it…….)

Yoichi resisted the urge to relax his cheeks at the adorable sight of his lover, and with a serious expression on his face, he began talking.

“Karin. I’m living with Alana and Misato right now. They have become very important to me. Very precious.”

“Mr. Yoichi……”

“Yoichi…….”

Alana and Misato’s cheeks flushed with surprise at the sudden confession.

As for Karin, she just gave a troubled smile at the sight.

“Fufufu. Well, I already expected it. Alana and Misato are both amazingly beautiful. Compared to me, I’m just――”

‘I consider you equally important as them, Karin.”

“――Come again?”

Karin’s voice was once again dumbfounded by the words that interrupted her own.

“But that’s……no way, right?”

Ignoring Karin’s confusion, Yoichi continues his story.

“You know, a while back when I saw you and when we spent time together after a long time, it just……come to think of it, the times we spent together are shorter than the times we parted, but anyways, I still like you.”

“No way!? S-s-sherioushly? Y-you still……me?”

“Yes, I love you. I still love you. Very much.”

“……?”

Karin’s breath was caught in her throat at Yoichi’s very natural words.

It had been ten years since she had given up on having children and decided to live her life solely through her work.

Her mind and body were exhausted, and although she was unaware of it, she was approaching her limits.

It was then that she met Yoichi again by chance.

Just a few words and physical contact with Yoichi healed her, and she realized that she had been pushing herself too hard for far too long.

After meeting with Yoichi several times, it rekindled her long-forgotten feelings for him, and she wished to spend time with him more often. To the point that she even hoped to be in his embrace for a long time.

“Aah……uu……”

However, the time they were reunited, she gradually felt it. She felt that Yoichi was keeping a secret from her.

It bothered her, but Karin did not dare to mention it, fearing that she would be shunned for going too deeply into the matter if she tried.

She knew that he was deeply involved with other women, but she believed that having a convenient relationship with him was enough, where they would occasionally meet for physical encounters.

“Uuu……”

In fact, when the two women appeared before her, she was already prepared.

Both of them were young and beautiful women whom she would not be able to compete with even if she stood on her head.

But despite the fact that he was with both of these beautiful women, he still told her that he liked her.

‘Uguuu……”

Tears began to fall from the corners of Karin’s eyes as the emotions she had built up over the years broke down.

“Eh? Ka-Karin?”

“Uuu, fuguuu……ueeeee……”

After that, Karin covered her face and sobbed.

“Wait……Karin? What’s wrong?”

“Why……hic…..why are you telling me this now?”

“What? Huh? Now? Which is it?”

At Yoichi’s bewilderment, Karin looks up and gives him a sharp look.

“Why are you telling me you love me now?”

“……What?”

“You didn’t tell me that at all when we were going out!”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

“I see……I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize to me now! I’m so happy, though!”

“Ehhh?”

“Uu……fuguu……hicc……”

“Ah……um……”

When Karin covered her face again to sob, Yoichi became unsure what to do.

“Um, here……”

It was then when Misato walked up to Karin with a handkerchief and gently offered it to her.

“Uu……thank you…….”

“No, it is I who…….um, let’s just sit over here for now, okay?”

“Uuu…..okay……”

Karin sat down on the sofa at Misato’s urging and continued to tremble her shoulders in sobbing for a while, while Misato sat next to her and rubbed her back soothingly.

Yoichi was still staring in bewilderment. As for Alana, she watched with a gentle smile on her face.

“You see, I…… already thought I was set to be alone for the rest of my life.”

Karin, who has settled down after crying for a while, began to talk faintly.

“My work is……hard, but it’s worthwhile, and I don’t have to worry about the future anymore. I thought that was enough to make my life happy.”

Karin wiped her eyes with a handkerchief in her hand.

“But then……when I saw Yoichi for the first time in a long time, and after we spent time together…….my body and mind became lighter……at first I thought, Oh, I must have been overworking myself.”

“Karin……”

“But then……I want to see Yoichi. I want to be with Yoichi. My body keeps telling me that…… But I have my job, and Yoichi has his life to live……And yet, every time I see Yoichi, every time he hugs me, my feelings for him grow more and more…….”

Karin covered her face with her hands again.

“At that point, I realized……I couldn’t go back to being alone anymore……”

Karin……then, if you’re with me……”

“……is it really fine?’

With that, Karin looked up and gazed at Yoichi.

“You, together with someone like me……”

As she says this, Karin looks apologetically at Misato and Alana.

From a woman’s point of view, they are both beautiful women, and Karin must have felt somewhat intimidated, wondering if she, who is not so young and inferior in appearance, could be with such gorgeous women.

“You are never “someone” to me. Besides, I think that’s my line.”

“Yoichi?”

“I know it’s selfish of me to ask you this, but it’s not just you. I like Misato and Alana as well.”

At that moment, both Misato and Alana’s eyes widened, and they both gasped for air, but Yoichi did not notice.

“I’d also like to spend time with them from now on,” Yoichi continued, “But first, I want to ask you. Will you stay by my side, Karin?”

When Karin shifted her gaze, both Misato and Alana’s cheeks were stained red and somewhat in a daze. Karin’s cheeks relaxed, though she was unsure if this was because she felt funny or for some other reason.

The tears had stopped before she knew it.

“I’m fine with it. The more, the merrier, I guess? Though it feels strange saying it in this situation…”

“Are you really, really fine with that?”

“Fufu. I told you, I just want to be with you. I never said I wanted you all to myself.”

“I see……..Then, can I have a word with you two next?”

When Yoichi looked at them, both Misato and Alana were looking at Yoichi, but their eyes were somewhat unfocused.

“Misato? Alana?”

“……Huh? Uh, yes. Um, I’m fine, as long as it’s okay with Yoichi.”

“Umm………yes. I don’t disagree with your decision either, Mr. Yoichi. I am also indebted to Miss Karin, after all.”

Yoichi tilted his head at the two of them, who seemed a little flustered for some reason, while Karin, who had somehow guessed what was going on, smiled happily.

“Fufufu……Misato and Alana must have really liked Yoichi.”

“Yes! I like him very much!”

“Fufu, my love for Mr. Yoichi is as great as everyone here.”

“Hey……eh?”

Yoichi was flabbergasted by the sudden confessions, but Karin just expressed a relaxed smile, while Misato and Alana seemed to have regained their composure.

“Ahaha~. Well, I like Yoichi very much as well. So I guess we’re comrades on that part, then?”

“Yes, comrades, it is.”

“Umu. Oh, right. Miss Karin, please call me Alana.”

“Ah, please call me Misato, too.”

“I see. Then you can call me by my first name, too. I’m looking forward to being with you from now on.”

(It seems an All-Girls Alliance has been firmly established……I was completely left out, though.)

Seeing the friendly atmosphere between the three, Yoichi felt glad, but he also felt left out as if he had been somewhat shut out of the conversation.

〇●〇●

After calming down a bit, Yoichi told Karin everything.

He told her without hiding the fact that he had been in an accident and had gained skills, that he had used his skills to obtain weapons and funds, that he had met Misato, that he was in another world, and that Alana was from a different world.

If Karin felt she could not stay with him after learning all this, he had no reason to hold her back.

“Oh……oh……”

After hearing everything, Karin let out a short voice with an appalled expression on her face. And then――,

“Take me with you!”

He appealed to Yoichi in a quick manner.

“Haaah…….I knew you would say that.”

Sighing in a dumbfounded but somewhat relieved expression, Yoichi lightly shook his head as he blurted it out.

“Of course you do, Yoichi! Who do you think taught you about Light Novels, huh?”

“Ah, yes. Come to think of it, it certainly is the case.”

Yoichi has been exposed to manga, anime, and video games since he was a child, but he had no connection to light novels.

It was Karin who recommended the light novel genre to Yoichi.

And as Karin had hoped, Yoichi fell deeply in love with the genre itself.

In later years, he also began reading Web Novels, and it would be fair to say that this was when he first came into contact with otherworldly fantasy.

“Really, going to another world without me even though I was the first who taught you. Yoichi is so unfair.”

“Eh? Wait. Aren’t you having too much faith in me? You already believed me even though I have yet to prove it!?”

“Normally, I wouldn’t believe it, but when someone hands you something like this, you have no choice but to believe it somewhat!”

Karin picks up the necklace around her neck and brings it up as she complains to Yoichi.

It was the magical tool for communication, allowing her to converse with Alana, who spoke another language entirely.

“You gave me this as a quick and easy way to convince me, didn’t you?”

“Well, that’s part of it, I suppose.”

Apparently, she was able to see through Yoichi’s intentions well.

“Anyway, now that Karin has agreed, all that’s left is Misato. So, how is it? Would you like to go to another world too?”

But when Yoichi turned his gaze to look at Misato, he saw that she was looking at him with somewhat dissatisfied eyes.

“Uhm……Misato?”

“Uhm……do you really need to……be that reserved to me?”

“Come again?”

“I may be the youngest compared to the two, but I’m……”

“I see. You’re already an adult.”

“W-well……if you don’t want to, it’s fine……I’m not……really bothered with it.”

Misato looked away from Yoichi with her mouth pursed.

“Ah……then, come with me, Misato.”

Misato looks back at Yoichi with a snap.

“……Yes!”

“Ooh…”

Yoichi couldn’t help but let out a squeak when he saw Misato’s slightly embarrassed but happy smile.

“Oh my, she’s so cute……”

“Fufufu……”

Karin and Alana watched the scene with cat-like smug on their faces.

“So, the thing is……I was wondering that if Karin and Misato are having second thoughts about going to the other world with me――”

“Nope, not me. I’m fully on it.”

“Me too. I want to go too……”

“I-I see. That was quick, wasn’t it? How about we give them what they want, Mr. Yoichi?”

The last line was spoken by Alana. she was a bit taken aback at first, but she recovered immediately.

As for the two, Karin looks confident with her chest thrust upwards, while Misato has a worried expression on her face.

However, Yoichi was still bewildered about the careless response. As if they didn’t think much about it at all.

Seeing the two needed support, Alana supplemented.

“I don’t know what you’re worried about, but I don’t think they’ll be in much danger if you just walk around town. Or are you planning them to plunge into the Jana Forest and have them fight against monsters right from the start?”

“Ah, come to think of it, that’s also an option.”

Yoichi was thinking in terms of his own first visit to another world.

After all, when he visited the other world with Alana, he also [returned] to the Jana Forest. So he assumed that going to the other world meant enduring battles with monsters and having a survival test before reaching Meilgrad.

“I guess it would be all right if we just teleport to the inn for the time being. Yes, let’s do that.”

Yoichi dazedly talked to himself, nodded a few times, and then turned his gaze back toward Karin and Misato, who were sitting side by side.

“Well, let’s go to another world after breakfast, shall we?”

At these words, Karin snickered, and Misato’s expression brightened.

“I’ve been waiting for you to say that from the very beginning!”

“Yes……!!!”

〇●〇●

“Sorry for tagging along.”

“Don’t mention it. Or rather, it’s faster if I’m with you.”

Yoichi was accompanying Karin towards her place.

Karin’s unit was simple, with not too many things, tidy, but cozy with a proper sense of life.

Yoichi was relaxing on the living room sofa, sipping a cup of coffee that Karin had brewed for him.

Then, he asks Karin, “How about work?”

“It’s weekends, you know? Or have you forgotten?”

In response to Yoichi’s question, Karin responds by rummaging through her closet and the other compartments.

“Ah, right. Today is Saturday……but what about the days after that?”

“Of course, I’m going to take the day off. And I will spend all that paid leave I am piling up.”

“No, wait. Isn’t work something you can’t just take a day off at a moment’s notice?”

“A successful woman can always take a day off whenever she likes it. Well, I do need to show up at the office on Mondays, though.”

“But isn’t that what it is to work in a company?”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean……ah, there it is……and this too.”

After about thirty minutes of preparation, Karin was ready to go.

“Hello again!”

“Oh, I haven’t seen you in that tracksuit for a long time.”

From in front of Yoichi stood Karin, wearing a red tracksuit.

“Fufu, this is what I wear in battle after all!”

Unlike Yoichi, Karin started archery in high school and has experienced going into college with a sports recommendation.

She continued to perform archery in college, and the red tracksuit she was wearing was provided by her college club.

In addition to the tracksuit, she was wearing a black chest guard covering her left breast, a plastic arm guard on her left forearm, and nearby was a pair of sneakers that she must have used at the time, although she is not wearing them right now because she is indoors.

In her hand was a large bow with a pulley.

“What’s that bow? Isn’t it too big?”

“It’s called a compound bow. Cool, right?”

Recurve bows are used in Japanese archery, and Karin had also used one when she was a student.

“You see, I went to the U.S. on a business trip once, and when I mentioned that I used to play archery, they said, “Try this.” I was hooked and bought it.”

Karin pulls the string and plucks it empty as she speaks happily.

“The tension can be adjusted from 25 pounds to a no pound. I have the best stabilizers and scope sights, so even an amateur can use it well. Well, I’m not an amateur anymore.”

After receiving the compound bow, maintenance supplies, a replacement string, and several dozen practice arrows, Yoichi put them in the [Infinite Storage+].

“Wow, they’re really gone…….”

“I can always bring it up. Here.”

The compound bow reappears in Yoichi’s hand.

“Oooh! Wait. Isn’t it a little cleaner than before?”

“Ah, right. My [Infinite Storage+] also has a maintenance function.”

“Wow, how convenient! Then, this one too, please.”

After storing the compound bow again, Karin handed Yoichi the chest and arm guards she wore and had him store them.

“I wonder if I should clean these as well. They’ve been stored away for so long that the smell of mothballs is quite strong.”

As she said this, Karin sniffed the sleeve of the tracksuit.

“I’ll do it right away, then.”

“What do you mean “right away?”…… eh?”

Yoichi touched Karin’s waist and buttocks and put the tracksuit in the [Infinite Storage+].

“Wait, kyaaa! what are you doing?!”

And having her tracksuit removed, Karin wriggled into a position as if hugging herself to hide her body.

She was wearing only underwear and a T-shirt under her red tracksuit. Her bra was peeking out from under the T-shirt, her panties were completely visible, and her plump thighs were on full display.

“Mm, still as beautiful as ever. “

Yoichi had often seen Karin’s body in a more outrageous state, but this had something else that intrigued him.

“Idiot! Quick, give it back to me…….!”

“Hahaha, my bad.”

Thinking it was cute that Karin was getting a little teary-eyed and complaining, Yoichi took out the tracksuit that had been cleaned by the maintenance function.

“Give me that! Geez, I can never be too careful when I’m with you……”

Karin snatched the tracksuit and began to put it on with her back to Yoichi.

(Needless to say, it’s sexy to see a woman taking off her clothes, but it’s also sexy to see the other way around.)

Yoichi stared at Karin dressing up while thinking about this.

“Ready?”

“Yep, ready.”

Yoichi then puts on his shoes at the door and hugs a still slightly grumpy Karin, who stands by his side.

After confirming that there was no particular resistance when he put his hands around her waist, Yoichi [returned] to “Grand Court 2503”.

“Really, though. All that distance, in just a moment…”

Karin rolls her eyes at the instantaneous arrival at the entrance to Yoichi’s room.

As for Alana and Misato, they had just finished getting dressed and were waiting for them just outside the doorway.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Yoichi spoke to the two first.

“Sorry as well. It took me time to find this,” Karin said next as she lightly pinched the chest area of the tracksuit.

“Hmu. I guess I have to prepare clothes and armor for Mr. Yoichi and Karin.” Alana spoke next as she stared at Yoichi and Karin, who appeared side by side at the entrance.

Yoichi was dressed in the casual, slightly more demure attire that Karin had selected for him in the southern town, an attire that would just barely fit in with the rest of the world, and Karin was in the red tracksuit that was stated the last time.

Yoichi was also wearing a robe to cover up his appearance in order to not stand out so much.

“Uh, Yoichi, I’m sorry, but…”

“Ah, right. Here.”

A long black coat then appears in Yoichi’s hand.

It was one of the belongings Karin had left for him to store for the time being.

“How about this?”

“Well, that’s about right for now.”

Karin draped the long black coat next. But even with that, the tracksuit pants still remained visible from the hem of the long coat, as it was just reaching below the knees. It made her atmosphere feel undeniably awkward.

Nevertheless, it was enough to be classified as acceptable in terms of concealing the eye-catching tracksuit attire, so it didn’t bother Alana anymore.

Incidentally, Alana has left her armor with Yoichi and is wearing her usual body-hugging one-piece dress.

“Misato is……well, I guess she’s all right.”

Misato was wearing a white shirt and a gray knee-length skirt with a light cardigan over it.

“Misato, Alana. Come.”

Yoichi held Karin by the waist with his left hand. Then, he opened his right arm to invite Alana and Misato to join him, where they hugged him in return as they walked up to him.

“‘All right, then, let’s go to another world, shall we?’”

Alana was with her relaxed smile, but Karin and Misato seemed a little nervous.

“I’ll be fine. It’ll all be over in a flash.”

Karin soothed the anxious Misato.

Perhaps having experienced [Return+], albeit once, has given her a little bit of leeway.

Misato still looked nervous, but she nodded silently not to waste Karin’s words.

After looking at the three women staring at him in turn – Karin, Misato, and Alana – Yoichi nodded lightly.

He then activated [Return+] to go back to the “Frontier Home,” the inn Yoichi and Alana stayed in another world.

                                                   .

The scenery suddenly changed from the modern, spacious apartment to a small, old wooden room.

“Ah……eh……?”

Misato was the first to be taken aback by the sudden change of scenery, that is without any particular darkening of the field of vision, nor any kind of floating sensation.

“Welcome to another world. But I don’t think you can really feel it in this room yet.”

Seeing the transfer was successful, Yoichi untied his arms from their embrace and turned his attention to Karin and Misato.

“Hm? What’s up……?”

Misato, who was experiencing [Return+] for the first time, still looked surprised, while Karin, who had experienced it once, looked somewhat surprised but somewhat relaxed, but eventually, these expressions turned sour, as if blood was being drained from both of their faces.

It was followed by their breathing, which gradually became more labored as time went by.

“Huh? Karin, Misato, What’s wrong?”

Both Karin and Misato had put their hands on their own chests and were trying to regulate their breathing, but it was of no use as it became more and more labored, and their expressions became more and more distorted with anguish.

“Fuuuh……what……is this……?”

“Mmhh……hah……ugh……”

Karin closes her eyes in agony while holding her chest, and Misato bends over while holding her mouth.

“Both of you, the bathroom is over there.”

Alana’s words made Karin and Misato look at each other.

“Misato, you go ahead……”

“Ugh……but……”

“Just go……”

“Sorry……and thank you……”

With that, Misato wobbled a bit, ran to the bathroom, and began to vomit.

“Karin, if this is okay with you……”

“Nn……Thank you…….”

When Alana held out the trash can, Karin turned her back to Yoichi, cowered, and vomited straight into the bin.

“What? What the hell is happening?”

But while Yoichi was horrified by the two’s sudden illness, Alana seemed calm.

“It must be magic sickness.”

“Magic Sickness?”

“Oh. It’s a general term for physical illnesses caused by magic. Like motion sickness, but in this case, the cause is magic power or mana.”

“You mean magic is the cause? But how?”

“The most common cause of it is when one consumes a lot of magic power at once. The other is when you are hit by a strong monster’s magical power, or when you step into a magical pool, a place where the concentration of mana in the air increases to an extreme level.”

Alana smiles to reassure Yoichi, who is turning worried.

“In their case, it was probably caused by the fact that they came from a place with no magic at all to this place, which is normally full of magic. But don’t worry. They will recover after a little rest.”

Soon after Alana finished saying this, the sound of water flushing in the toilet echoed, and a slightly woozy but looking better Misato came out of the bathroom.

At about the same time, Karin also got up.

“Karin, Misato, are you okay!?”

Yoichi ran to them and gently rubbed each of their backs.

“Nn, I’m fine now…….probably.”

“Yes, I’m fine. Sorry for worrying you…….”

After their breathing disturbance subsided, Misato looked at Yoichi again, this time with curiosity.

“Um, Yoichi, are you all right?”

“Seeing he’s okay, I think he is. Though I expect that you must have thrown up all over the place at first, too.”

“No, I’m fine. Or rather, it didn’t happen to me at all.”

“Right. I just remembered. Mr. Yoichi here does not feel any magic power at all.”

“ “Eh……?” ”

Both the newcomers looked at Yoichi with their eyes widened at the same time.

“Ummm, actually, it is true……. I mean, what does magic power feel like?”

“I don’t know…… it’s like it’s going round and round in my body like this.”

Saying this, Karin points to her own chest area and twirls her finger around it.

“Even if I want to say it, I can’t put it into words……all I can say is that there is “something” surrounding us.”

On the other hand, Misato spread her hands to indicate that “something” in her surroundings.

“And do you still feel it? Do you still feel like throwing up?”

“No, I’m much better now, but I still feel a kind of discomfort.”

“I’m okay now. But if this is what you call magic, then yes, I can feel it.”

Yoichi also looked down at his chest and around him as if to check something, but he could not detect any presence they were talking about.

“Mr. Yoichi.”

“Hm?”

“Karin can feel the magic that travels through her body, while Misato can feel the magic in this space, right?”

“Seems so.”

“Then what you feel is indeed magic power, or mana. Probably.”

“……I see.”

Karin and Misato seemed convinced and dazzled by this, however.

“And if that’s the case,” she continued. “The two of you can possibly use magic and skills now.”

“ “ “Eh?” ” ”

Yoichi, Karin, and Misato’s eyes widened at Alana’s words.

〇●〇●

“Skill is the use of magic power to cause a phenomenon, and Magic is a part of Skill in the broadest sense of the word.”

After pointing out to Karin and Misato that they might have the potential to use magic, Alana went on to give a brief lecture to the two.

Alana continued, “Although, there is often a distinction between non-magical skills, magic, and magic techniques.”

“Magic Techniques?”

Yoichi reacts to the new word that had been said.

Karin and Misato also listened in passing, but they are not feeling well enough to ask questions since they had just been through an ordeal.

“Umu. There are two main “techniques” or “Practices” in using magic. The first is to use magic power to visualize a phenomenon and make it materialize by instinct. That is “Sorcery”. The second is to record a phenomenon and make it materialize accurately and precisely using a tool called a grimoireSpellbook, which is called “Wizardry”. By the way, Sorcery Practitioners often use tools such as staffs or wands. They use it to amplify their magic spells.”

“So Sorcery is power-type, and Wizardry is skill-type. By the way, is a grimoire different from a scroll?”

“Oh, they are quite different. With scrolls, anyone with the item and magic power can invoke its magic, but with Wizardry, you must first prepare a grimoire for yourself, “inscribe” the necessary spells in it, complete with its specifications and such, and finally, “stock” all that details inside your head. Only from there, you’ll be able to cast the spell.”

“……So you’re saying that the grimoire itself is not the trigger for the spells, but this “stock” or whatever it is called that is put in your head?”

“You sure understand quickly, Mr. Yoichi. Compared to Sorcery spells formed on instinct, Wizardry spells follow a systematic approach, which gives more precision and control over your spell.”

“So the grimoire is like the magazine for the gun, huh.”

“Magazine?”

“Err, it’s like a quiver of sorts, for my weapon.”

“I’m not really sure, but I can tell that it’s a quiver, while also not. If we base on arrows as spells, and the quiver the grimoire, then this quiver has unlimited capacity, but the arrows are not actual arrows but blueprints of them. To create an arrow, you mold it inside your head, and after molding it, that is only when you are ready to fire it. The advantage is that you won’t need any material but your mana unlike actual arrows, and you have precise output over it.”

“……”

“……”

Karin and Misato are listening to Alana’s story in silence.

Unlike Yoichi, they had no knowledge of the Scrolls in this world, but they understood it to some extent from the comparison of Yoichi and the conversation back and forth.

“You don’t need to actually understand it right now. Or rather, I will explain what I mean by “stock” when you actually have the grimoire in my hands, just to make it clearer.”

“Uhm, I just wanted to check first, for information. About this “Grimoire” thingy.”

Soon, Misato asked a question. She was fully recovered.

“You said in your comparison that the grimoire is like a quiver with an unlimited capacity. Does it mean that there is no upper limit to the number of spells I could put in it?”

To which Alana answered back.

“Yes, in theory. But that’s not how it works in actuality. Unlike Sorcery spells or Skill, Wizardry spells consume magic power or mana even when “stocked” inside your head. To compare it with the “quiver carrying the blueprints” earlier, it’s like each blueprint, when “learned”, will manifest some kind of weight that can burden the user if it is loaded too much of it. Thankfully, you can ”unlearn” them to ease the burden on your mind. That is actually why we called the process “stocking spells” instead of “learning” them when they are put inside our heads.”

(Wait, isn’t this the same logic as installing and uninstalling programs in your computer?)

“So “stocked” spells consumes mana even when idle, huh……”

“Yes. And although it depends on the physical condition and condition of the person on how much magic power is recovered over time, if the amount of magic power consumed for the “stocked spells” exceeds the mana recovery, the person will gradually lose mana even just by standing still.”

“In other words, I also need to pay attention to my mana recovery rate when “stocking up” Wizardry spells, is that it?”

“Yes, that’s basically it. It also means that Wizardry practitioners need to switch the “stocks” they keep according to the situation.”

“What is the cost of replacing these stocks?”

“When you take a “stock” spell out of the grimoire or put one back into the grimoire, I think each consumes about the same amount of magic power needed to activate the stocked spell.”

“Which means you can’t just swap out “stocks” readily. I see. I see…….”

Beside the dazzled Yoichi, the other two repeatedly nodded as if they were convinced.

“Well, you know what? There’s no point in saying any more complicated things here. Let’s try some magic spells right away.”

Once she had broken off her explanation and differences between Wizardry and Sorcery, Alana suggested to Karin and Misato that they try it for themselves and then raised her index finger in front of her face.

“The key to casting magic spells is the image. And the quickest way to establish an image is to actually see it.”

With these words, the three of them watch Alana’s fingertips.

“Here is a magic spell called “Light”. Magic is the embodiment of an image in your head, so the effects may vary from person to person, but they are still similar, well, to some extent. Therefore, a magic spell is sometimes given a name according to its effect.”

Alana concentrated her magic power on her fingertips while explaining simply.

Then, light about the size of a miniature light bulb appeared at her fingertips.

“Oooh……”

“Wow…….”

Yoichi and Karin looked impressed, while Misato observed it silently.

“You two, give it a try.”

Alana directed the “Light” to Misato while maintaining it.

“O-okay”

“Me too……”

They nodded and held up their index fingers, mimicking Alana.

“‘You can feel the magic traveling through your body, can’t you?’”

“Yes.”

“Now imagine it gathering at your fingertips and creating light.”

They both focused their attention on their fingers, staring at its tips, with their brows furrowed.

“Ah…”

What came next was Yoichi letting out a short gasp at the faint light that appeared at those fingertips.

Compared to Alana’s, the light was weak and unstable, but it was certainly the light that Karin and Misato had created, respectively.

Though Karin’s light seemed fainter and more unstable.

“No way…”

“We made it……”

But after those dazzled reactions, the light they both created flickered several times and disappeared almost simultaneously.

Alana also released her own “Light” accordingly.

“Yoichi, Alana, I, I can use magic!!”

Karin then hugged Yoichi.

“Did you see that?” It’s magic, magic! I’m not dreaming, aren’t I!?”

“Oh, good for you.”

Yoichi had slightly mixed feelings when he saw the two of them using magic that he could not do himself, but it did not matter anymore when he saw Karin’s joyful expression.

“Magic……so this is really……a different world…….”

In contrast to Karin, Misato slumped down on the spot and stared at her palm, trembling slightly.

Tears began to spill from her eyes.

“Eh? Misato, what’s wrong?”

At Yoichi’s words, Karin also turned her gaze toward Misato.

She turned away from Yoichi and crouched down beside the girl.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“With this……I can be finally of help to Yoichi……”

Saying this in a trembling voice, Misato looked up at Yoichi.

Yoichi felt a tightening in his chest as Misato looked at him with tear-stained eyes.

“If I master it, I will no longer be a dead weight that drags everyone down……”

“Misato……”

“And finally……I now have the right to be together on this side of the world too……”

“So that is what you meant”

Truth be told, Yoichi was still opposed to bringing Karin and Misato to another world.

Even now, though it was not as against as before, he was still hesitant on the idea.

There was no telling what dangers they might encounter.

It was another matter if they have skills like Yoichi’s, but the two are just ordinary people. And being civilians from a peaceful nation on another planet, they would never know what kind of dangers they might get involved in by visiting another world.

That is what he was afraid of.

Regardless of Yoichi’s concern, Karin hugs Misato’s head to her chest.

“If you want to stay with us, you should stay with us. It doesn’t matter if you’re useful or not.”

Then Karin looked at Yoichi.

“Right, Yoichi?”

Karin smiled, but she, too, was somewhat uneasy.

(Damn it. What is wrong with me? If there is danger, I can just protect them. Alana is here too.)

Yoichi now realized that, for whatever reason, leaving Karin and Misato, who wanted to be with him, behind on Earth would be an act that would greatly hurt them both.

Even though he was saving them from the harm of this “another world”.

“I’m sorry. Let’s be together from now on.”

“……Yes.”

“Hmph. Of course, you do.”

“I’ll protect you no matter what.”

“Fumu. Don’t forget me as well.”

Alana too, crouched down beside them and lightly placed her hands on Karin and Misato’s shoulders. “But you needn’t worry too much about them,” she also added.

“Hm? What do you mean by that……”

Yoichi gave Alana a questioning look, and Misato, who was released from the embrace, also looked at Alana with a puzzled expression.

“The “lights” I just showed you are the rudiments of magic. It is something simple that anyone can use with practice.”

Alana looks at Misato and smiles with a hint of assurance.

“But to be able to do it just by seeing it once, and in such a short time, while living a life that has had nothing to do with magic, is quite something, even for me. Especially Misato’s “Light”. With a few more practice sessions, it should be enough to be of practical use.”

“Then, that means……”

“Umu. That means Misato has a talent for magic.”

Alana’s words brought a twinkle to Misato’s eyes.

“What……you mean I don’t have any talent……?”

In contrast, Karin’s expression clouds over.

“Don’t worry, Karin. Even if you don’t excel as a mage, you can probably master magic in another way. After all, I have a suspicion that Karin has a different talent from Misato.”

“Different talents?”

“Karin. You described your magic power as something circulating in your body, right? Unlike Misato, who seemed to sense magic power as something that filled the space.”

When they were asked in terms of how they felt the magic power, Karin indicated her own body while Misato indicated her surroundings.

“You see, those that are able to sense more strongly the magic surrounding their bodies often excel in Martial Arts Skills.”

“Martial Arts……”

“For example, Archery.”

This time, it was Karin’s turn to brighten up her eyes.

〇●〇●

Walking through the town of Meilgrad with Yoichi and Alana, Karin and Misato were surprised and pleased to see the unfamiliar townscape and the wide variety of people, their gazes darting about.

“Gnnnnnnnnuuhh……”

However, all the girls were taken aback by the sudden noise behind them.

When they faced the source, they saw Yoichi, his brows wrinkled as he stared at the index finger held up in front of his face.

“Mr. Yoichi. Why don’t you just give up?”

“Unnnnnnnn……”

“You can’t do a spell without magic, you know?”

“Gahh……!! Haah……”

He exhaled loudly and let his hands drop slack.

He then quickly straightened his posture and looked at Alana.

“No, but. I’m sure there’s a lot of magic power in my body that I borrowed from the Administrator, you know?”

As he said this, Yoichi tapped his chest with his thumb.

“Even if you put it that way…… No, wait. Could it be that that magic power is the one that is causing it?”

“What do you mean?”

“The administrator you are referring to, Mr. Yoichi, is she some kind of God or similar entity?”

“Maybe.”

“I just had a theory. Is it possible that the magic of this god-like being supplying you is so strong that you cannot sense the magic around us as a side effect from it?”

“Ahh……”

“And is it possible that the magic is so powerful that you can’t master it on your own?”

“Wow, that’s a likely scenario.”

(I will have to question her in detail the next time I see her.)

“But then again, Magic Spells that can be learned from a grimoire is a different story. There may be a possibility that you can still use it after getting one. So we’ll just have to hope for the best.”

“I hope so. I really hope so.”

“Here we are.”

Alana stopped in front of a building.

It was a wooden building, a rarity in the commercial district of this town.

Surrounded by a hedge, it was a huge, old-fashioned, quaint Western-style building, and Yoichi, Karin, and Misato looked up at it with open mouths.

“This is it?”

“Mm-hmm. The Mages’ Guild.”

Alana led the way and went inside.

Yoichi, Karin, and Misato followed Alana’s lead and stepped through the magnificent door next, which was left wide open in front of them.

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