The river was along the highway that was just a little further past the forest and close to the town.

I pulled up the blue-haired girl who was drowning in that river.

"Thank you. You saved me."

"You're welcome... or at least I'd like to say that, but why are you staying in that position?"

Even though she had finally made it to land, the girl did not move an inch from the curled-up position she had been in while drowning.

If anything, the lack of movement is a bit creepy.

In response to my slight retreat, the girl answered without hesitation.

"This is because it is fixing the magical power."

"Fixing the magical power?"

When I tilted my head at the unfamiliar word, the girl nodded slightly.

"Yeah. By doing that, your body's strength increases several times. If you just remember this, it's really convenient because you can protect yourself from strong enemies' attacks. There is a downside, though, you won't be able to change your stance for a while."

"I see... So, this state you're in means you must have been attacked by a formidable enemy?"

"Yeah. Just a moment ago, I was hit with full force by a dragon."

"A dragon!?"

Hearing the words that came out of the girl's mouth, I couldn't help but repeat them out loud.

Speaking of dragons, they are the quintessential top-ranked monsters in fantasy. They are incomparable to the mere bird I just slashed down a moment ago.

This girl, who was fighting such a monster, might actually be quite a formidable warrior.

Thinking so, I asked her, and the girl told me how she ended up here.

While she was fighting the dragon with her party members, she was the first to be targeted and became incapacitated.

Even more unfortunate, she fell into the river, but due to the cost of fixing her magical power, she couldn't move her body.

So, somehow, she was using magical power to stay alive when I happened to pass by.

"Yeah, I'm finally able to move around."

After a few minutes of continuing such explanations, the girl stood up, murmuring to herself.

It seems that the time for compensation has come to an end.

"Are you okay now?"

"Yeah. Thanks to you, I was saved. Really, thank you."

"As long as you're safe, that's all that matters. But still, you're quite calm considering you just got attacked by a dragon. Aren't you going back to your friends?"

"That's fine too. Just a moment ago, the presence of the dragon disappeared. There's no need to hurry back."

That means, surely, this girl's companions must have defeated the dragon.

Her party seems to be really strong.

"Then it seems your friends are okay too, that's good."

"Monica."

"Huh?"

"My name. It's Monica, so call me that. Also, I would like to know your name."

It's a sudden offer, but could this be fate?

I decided to honestly comply.

"I'm Yuuri."

"...Yeah. Yuuri, from now on, please take care of me."

"Ah, please take care of me, too, Monica."

Thus, I had my first interaction with people in another world.

After that, Monica said goodbye as she was going to meet up with her friends.

As I was about to say my goodbyes and head towards the town, Monica suddenly grabbed the hem of my clothes.

"Wait. There's something I want to give to Yuuri."

After saying that, Monica handed over a pendant with a rather cool emblem on it.

"What is this?"

"It's more like a token of friendship from the party I'm part of. I want to properly thank you when we return to town, so please keep this for now."

"...Ah, I understand."

I don't really think I've done anything to deserve being thanked again, but...

I felt it would be rude to decline here, so I decided to accept it straightforwardly.

But what am I supposed to do with just this pendant?

At least, shouldn't we decide on a meeting place or something...?

"Well then, see you later."

"Ah."

While I was pondering this, Monica floated up from the spot and flew towards the forest.

Is that also a type of magical power? Even though we're both flying in the same sky, the elegance is on a completely different level compared to me, who is forcefully kicking through the atmosphere. I'm envious.

In the end, I couldn't ask about everything that was on my mind, but...

"Well, it'll work out somehow."

Monica, who lives in this world, should know the details better than I do.

Even if I don't think too much about it, it'll probably work out somehow.

As I thought about the friend I made for the first time in this world, I headed towards the town once again.

◇◇◇

―However, a few minutes later.

At the town gate, I finally reached.

"What!? You don't have an ID or an adventurer's card, and you don't even have a deposit!? There's no way we're letting someone like you into the town! Absolutely not, get out of here immediately!"

(Eh?)

Except for my sword, I arrived in another world just as I was, and I was immediately baptized by the gatekeeper.

It seems that people who cannot prove their identity are not allowed inside.

(Well, when I think about it, that's actually pretty normal. They can't just let a criminal in by mistake or anything.)

That said, this is troublesome.

I came directly from the [Time-Space Interval] to this other world, and I have nothing but a sword.

Of course, things that can guarantee my identity, and money, too.

If there is anything, it would be the golden stone given by the dog or the pendant handed over by Monica, but―

"Hey, wait. What is that pendant?"

"Huh?"

Looking at the pendant I took out, the gatekeeper's eyes widened for some reason.

Chapter 7: First Encounter in Another World