The next day.
Waking up a little early again, I finished bathing and breakfast quickly, and headed to the Coliseum alone from the morning to receive an explanation for the Magic Combat Individual Match preliminaries. It seems Alice and Milia will enjoy the festival together.
In front of the Coliseum entrance, there was someone I knew well. My homeroom teacher, Eric Barton-sensei.
"Barton-sensei. Good morning."
"Hoshimi-san, is it. Good morning."
"What are you doing?"
"As you can see, commanding security. It's my main job."
That's right. Barton-sensei was an elite of the Magic Corps, if I recall correctly.
"It gets more crowded on the second and third days. Since it requires manpower, I was reassigned to charge of the outside here."
"Sounds tough. Please do your best with work."
"Ah. Thank you. Hoshimi-san is participating in the Individual Match, right? I'm rooting for you from here."
"Thank you very much."
I bowed politely and left him.
Then I went to the reception and was guided inside the arena. Since I arrived early, there weren't many people at first, but by the time the explanation started, a total of forty participants had gathered. Argus also came midway, so we talked happily.
The preliminary is a survival match. One person from each group of five, a total of eight people can advance to the finals tournament on the third day. As a result of the lottery, luckily, I ended up in a different group from Argus. I was relieved at this result. If we were to fight, I wanted to go all out one-on-one in the finals tournament anyway.
Parting with Argus, just as I left the Coliseum alone.
"Yo! Young man!"
A loud voice came from right behind. Surprised, I turned around, and there was that Wandering Thomas. He is dressed as strangely as ever. Who did he call? I looked around, but there was no one applicable nearby. No way, it wouldn't be me.
However, surprisingly, he pointed his finger at me.
"I'm talking about you. Young man."
"Me!?"
"That's right! Boy."
Young man. Boy, he says. My true identity is completely seen through! How did he figure it out!? I'm a woman right now. I shouldn't have transformed in front of this person.
Such doubts were dispelled by his next words.
"You're making a face asking why I knew you were a man. Let me be blunt. I am a FabL. Ena of the [Horoscope] came, you see. I heard about your ability from her."
A FabL!? This person!? And Ena. I thought she was done in by Will, but was she safe!?
As I was completely surprised, he pointed his thumb at his own face vigorously and said triumphantly.
"And! My name is Thomas Graver! Self-proclaimed Wandering Thomas! Nice to meet you from now on!"
Even though I didn't ask, I was pushed through with self-introduction with the same high tension as when he was MC. Honestly, it's a vibe that makes me slightly pull back. His right hand is offered. A very large and rugged hand.
"Ni-nice to meet you..."
When I also offered my right hand timidly, it was gripped powerfully as if wrapped in his hand. A rugged and hard sensation just as it looks returns. It was a handshake after a long time.
"Alright! I have a little talk, so let's go to a place with no people!"
"Heh?"
No time to think. He took my hand vigorously with his left hand, and made some mysterious sign with his right hand.
Suddenly, just as I felt a floating sensation, I flew to an unknown place in an instant with him. The surroundings were a wilderness with no vegetation. Far away, mountains were faintly visible.
"This is...?"
"About twelve thousand kilometers from Sacris. So to speak, a place like the end of the world."
"End of the world!?"
"Yeah. Since humans of this world haven't reached this area yet, we can talk without worrying about prying eyes."
Thomas says it as if it were nothing. If true, it was amazing. In fact, it is true that I came to a completely unknown place. I stared at the muscular man in front of me with surprise. What is this person? Even Inea-sensei's Teleportation Magic can't fly that far.
Apparently, he intends to tell me something important here. But before the talk, there was something I absolutely wanted to ask. I was curious.
"Before we talk, may I ask one thing?"
"What?" Thomas tilts his head.
"Among so many people, how did you find me? I shouldn't have done anything conspicuous at all."
This wasn't just out of curiosity; it was important. If there was something I overlooked while intending to be careful, and my being a FabL was seen through because of that. I must correct it quickly. Because I don't know who might target me where I don't know.
Thomas answered without reluctance.
"Ah. First, Ena's ability. She can divine anything, and although not perfect, she seems to understand rough things. So since she said you were around here."
"Is that so."
I see. First narrowed down the location by divination. Was Ena's ability something like that?
"Yesterday, I was watching the situation while MCing. Since many people come for the festival, I thought maybe. Then, bingo!"
But just being around here, you still can't identify me, right? Whether he knew my question or not, he revealed the trick immediately.
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"And, the way to distinguish is simple! My ability is one where the surroundings accept whatever I do! This me, not to toot my own horn, has quite a cool sense, right?"
"Ha, haa..."
Aren't you just dressed like a muscular weirdo? From here, no matter how I think about it, you're just a pervert. I don't understand the sense of otherworlders, or rather. Is this person just weird?
"Just because of the ability, normally no ooone cares about this me. Except FabLs."
"Except FabLs..."
"So. I can tell just by observing carefully whether they feel something from this me intensely! The one who felt it is my comrade! My ability doesn't work only on the same FabLs."
I see. So that was it. I was relieved for the time being that there was no fault on my part.
Still, an ability that changes the perception of surroundings conveniently no matter what he does. A tremendous ability. Depending on how it's used, he could easily do terrifying things. On the other hand, as for me...
I looked down at my frail body and sighed heavily. Will's [Interference] that can destroy the world if he feels like it, Ena's [Horoscope] that can know anything, or this person's ability.
Why are other FabLs' abilities all broken like this?
Even though my ability is just like this. Certainly being able to use both Qi and Magic Power is convenient, but it's like a jack-of-all-trades master of none. Normally one strong power would be enough, and in front of overwhelming power, no matter how many things I can do, I'm powerless after all.
Haa... To think I entered the same category as such outrageous guys. Can I manage properly? Especially since I'm being targeted by that guy... My heart is about to break at the overwhelming difference in ability between the surroundings and myself.
Still, humans have no choice but to manage with what is given. Carving that fact into my heart again, I raised my face. And looked Thomas in the eye firmly and said.
"I understood well. So, what business do you have?"
"Well. Since I happen to arrive at this star, I was asked to pass on two messages since you should be here."
"Messages, is it."
From who?
"First one. There's a FabL named Lenks, do you know him? He says he's your acquaintance."
Lenks. I certainly knew that name. No way.
"Lenks Stanfield, is it!?"
"Ah. I think that was the surname."
It was a shock. Seriously!? That guy was a FabL!?
Lenks Stanfield. He was a blonde brother who often played with me for a while after I was taken in by relatives after losing my parents. He was a mysterious person. I didn't know where he lived. Even though he looked like a foreigner, he spoke Japanese fluently. Apparently he was Mom's best friend, and he cared about me excessively.
I didn't know his age, but at the time I think he was just about a little older than current me. From me who was still small back then, he looked extremely old. But we were really close enough to call him "that guy" or "you" with familiarity.
But one day, he left a note saying he was going on a journey, and disappeared without permission. Without saying goodbye.
『If you ever go on a journey someday, let's meet again then』
At the end of the letter, it was written so. But that was it, we never met.
I remember being quite angry at the time. Disappearing without permission, that's terrible. After the anger subsided, loneliness remained. I remember it was quite painful. Since that pain settled with time, he was a presence I worried about occasionally. Wondering if he's doing well somewhere.
But, I see. He was a FabL. Then, I can accept what happened back then. Because, he had no choice but to say so...
While I was immersed in sentiment, Thomas conveyed the content.
"So, the content of the message. 『Seems you went on a journey. I was doing well. I might be late, but I'll definitely come to see you, so wait for me』, he says."
I see. Lenks, he's coming to see me. Knowing that an old friend is coming to visit, I felt reassured and happy. Even though I thought I could never meet him again since I left Earth. I can meet him again!
As if taking advantage of me inadvertently relaxing my cheeks, Thomas said.
"Also, 『I thought so from before, but you as a girl are my type』, he says. Indeed that appearance, seems quite cute, doesn't it."
He smirked teasingly.
"Ha!? T-t-that guy, he's saying such things!?"
I felt a sensation of my face suddenly flushing. Now that he mentions it. I remember. Even though I was small and looked like a girl, the way he doted on me was abnormal.
『If only you were a girl』
He often said that while grinning, which was annoying. I finally understand. That guy, so he saw 'this me' inside since back then! Did you say that knowing I would become like this, you bastard! Next time we meet, I'll definitely complain. Definitely. Decided!
Besides, there were many other things I wanted to tell him. About after he left, and various things. I'll tell you everything, so come quickly.
At that moment, Thomas made a face as if he had been careless.
"That's right! I almost forgot to say the crucial thing."
"Crucial thing?"
"Ah. 『In the world where you are, a dangerous guy named Will seems to have left a souvenir, so be careful』, he also said."
That guy again... Suppressing the urge to click my tongue at the guy who appears frequently even if I don't want to be conscious of him, I asked Thomas.
"Be careful of the souvenir, do you know what that means?"
"Ah. I know. Will bastard is quite a crazy kid even among FabLs. A hopeless bastard who loves to crush worlds to kill time."
"Crush worlds!?"
I thought he might do it if he felt like it, but is he really doing such things!? Looking at my terribly surprised face, he continued.
"That guy, sometimes he leaves a dangerous factor that would destroy the whole world when he leaves. That thing works due to some trigger, and he kills time observing the world perishing. Good grief, even though there's no point doing such useless things."
Listening to it, it was a story that made me sick. It's not at the level of bad taste. Because combining Thomas's story and what Lenks said——.
If things go badly, this world where I am. The world where Alice and others live might perish.
That's what it means, isn't it...!
At this time, for the first time, I felt intense indignation rather than fear towards him. Ah. He is certainly scary. Still, if his interest is directed at me, it was a problem that ended with only me being frightened.
But. If the spearhead of his terrifying power is directed at this world, the story changes. Worst. Precisely because I know his scariness. I had a conviction that surely he must have prepared something that would definitely destroy the world.
Unforgivable. Destroy the world to kill time? I won't let him do such a thing. I won't let such a guy do as he pleases with this world I like!
Before I knew it, I raised my voice and snapped at Thomas.
"Do you have any idea what that souvenir is!?"
"Who knows. I didn't hear that far."
"Then could you cooperate? I want to eliminate that dangerous factor!"
However, Thomas shook his head calmly.
"No way. I am strictly a Bystander. It's my nature to like watching."
I couldn't believe those words. What bystander! What liking watching! Knowing everyone might die, having power that might be able to do something about it. And yet, why don't you try to do anything!? I doubt his nerves.
"Why is that!? You have power, don't you!?"
To me questioning strongly, he doesn't deal with me with a tone of "good grief."
"Boy. You're young. Indeed I have power. But, I have no obligation to help people."
"Such...!"
Cold. It's too much! He pushes me away to the end. With a somewhat terribly cold face.
"Besides, I don't care about one tiny world. I'm tired of such things already."
"Cc... Don't say you're tired! Please! It's my favorite world!"
I clung desperately. There is only this. My tiny power won't manage anyway. But, if it's the power of a real FabL who overturns the logic of this world, not a half-wit like me. He might be able to deal with his demonic hand. Because I thought so.
However, Thomas stubbornly didn't nod vertically.
"Great power creates distortion in the world if used in the wrong place. I can't use it lightly."
"That is... might be true but!"
"On that point, your power seems still small. There should be no problem even if you go all out."
"What do you want to say."
To me shaking my shoulders with anger, he said with force.
"In short! If it's a world you love so much as you say, you protect it yourself! I'm not saying alone. Combine forces with humans of this world."
"With humans... of this world..."
"That's right. Listen. You are 'living' in this world. Don't forget that. You can do it. But it's impossible for me anymore. Because I am always just 'existing'."
His will seemed firm. But with his words just now, I felt like I somewhat understood his way of life. Values are different. He is really a bystander. He never gets involved in the world actively. I shouldn't ask him for cooperation. I thought so.
"Understood. If anything happens, I'll try to manage."
"Ou! That's the spirit!"
Thomas laughed heartily.
"So, talk deviated, but back to messages."
"Yes."
"The other one is from Ena. 『Although it was to save you, I'm sorry for attacking you. Next time we meet, I want to welcome you as a comrade』, she says."
I see. Well, I've vaguely understood that Ena doesn't seem to be as terrible a person as I thought at first. So I don't feel much resistance even if told she wants to welcome me as a comrade.
Certainly it was scary when she tried to kill me at first. But even that feels faded because of that guy later.
Just. What I've been concerned about since before is the word "to save me." Does the fact that that guy stopped the murder mean it would have been better if I were killed? I just don't understand the logic.
"Is that so. That part about 'to save me', I just can't be convinced though."
Then, Thomas made a face saying it was unexpected.
"Hmm? I agree that 'to save' is pushy though. You, are you perhaps a genuine rookie?"
"Yes. This is my first other world."
"Oh... My goodness. Then, you still don't know..."
He made an extremely sympathetic face.
"Know what?"
"You... You've become unable to die."
"Ha?"
At the outrageous fact, I felt like time stopped.