Second day of life in another world.

When I woke up, I felt a sense of discomfort that I couldn't put into words.

"...?"

How should I express this feeling?

A sense of pressure, or a sense of fatigue?

I can't find the right words, but anyway, it felt off.

"All right."

That said, it's just a feeling of discomfort, nothing to particularly worry about.

Thinking that, I left my room in the inn where I was staying last night and headed down to the dining area.

"Yuuri-san, good morning."

The one who welcomed me like that was a girl.

Her age is probably about the same as mine, or maybe a little younger. She has a cute appearance that suits her flaxen side ponytail.

Her name is Rina. She's the poster girl here at "Yuugumo Inn."

"Good morning, Rina. Has the Master gone somewhere?"

"It's grocery shopping time. Yuuri ate a lot last night."

"Ah..."

In response to Rina giggling, I felt awkward as I recalled what happened last night.

Last night, after receiving my reward at the guild, I came to this inn seeking a place to sleep.

So, I decided to have dinner there as well... and I was about to receive a great shock.

In short, the food that was served was incredibly delicious.

Of course, if I think back calmly, the taste would be several notches lower compared to the food I ate in my previous life in Japan.

But that didn't matter.

After all, for me, it's a meal after 1,000 years.

In the [Time-Space Interval], there is no need to eat, so I have regained the emotions I had long forgotten.

In the end, I couldn't hold back and ended up devouring all the food at the inn.

Thanks to that, even though I had some leeway to exchange the herbs for money, I am once again broke.

I have to go to the guild today and somehow earn some money.

While thinking about such things, I was chatting with Rina.

Clang clang.

Suddenly, the sound of the door opening fills the store.

Hearing that sound, Rina's side tail twitched slightly.

"Are you a guest? If it's Dad, he should be coming in through the back door. It's unusual for someone to come this early in the morning, but..."

As if drawn by her, I also turn my gaze to the door.

Then, there was an unexpected person there.

"Hey there."

"...Monica?"

A girl with semi-long blue hair that reaches her shoulders, dressed in a robe reminiscent of a wizard from a fantasy manga.

―Yesterday, Monica was the one I saved from the river, and she was standing there.

No, it's not just her.

"Excuse me."

"I'm coming in."

Two more girls appeared behind Monica.

One girl had long, golden hair that reached her waist and strikingly translucent blue eyes.

Wrapped in simple armor, a sword is carried at the waist.

She looked like a beautiful foreign aristocrat.

Another one is... probably a girl.

However, since she is wearing the hood deeply, I can't see her face properly.

The height is about halfway between the blonde girl and Monica, and she carries a bow on her back.

What on earth are these people...

While I was thinking that, Rina was trembling next to me for some reason.

"Monica the 'Sage of Blue,' Alicia the 'Radiant Blade,' and that bow belongs to Tio the 'Guardian of Jade'!? W-why are all of you from the [Four Symbols of the Fine Weather] here in such a place!?"

"...The [Four Symbols of the Fine Weather]?"

I feel like I've heard it somewhere before.

Hmm, where was it again―

"Aah!"

Oh, right! I remembered!

Yesterday, when I passed through the town gate, I heard it from the gatekeeper.

At that time, if I remember correctly, when I showed this to the gatekeeper, they let me through without any trouble...

I took out the pendant that Monica had given me yesterday from my pocket.

Monica exclaims, "Ah!" Upon seeing that.

"Yuuri, that."

"Oh, this is the pendant I got from Monica yesterday. I was wondering what it was all of a sudden, but it really helped me out. Thanks a lot."

"Ahem, you can praise me more."

Monica puffs out her chest proudly.

How should I put it? I've been thinking since I met her yesterday that she's a laid-back person.

"Y-Yuuri-san, could it be that...?"

"Rina?"

Rina was watching me and Monica's interaction from the side and was trembling while pointing at the pendant I was holding.

This person has been shaking nonstop since earlier.

"Is there something wrong with this?"

"What's wrong, you ask...? That's a token of friendship given to allies recognized by the members of the [Four Symbols of the Fine Weather]! Yuuri-san, what on earth...?"

It seems like she's quite shocked, but since I don't really know much about the [Four Symbols of the Fine Weather], I can't give a proper reaction, and I'm a bit sorry about that.

Well, considering the gatekeeper incident from yesterday, these people are probably quite impressive individuals.

I think Monica also mentioned something about defeating a dragon.

Even so, a dragon. A dragon, huh...

If it's a boy who has ever dreamed of a fantasy world, it's a figure that everyone has admired at least once.

I eventually want to defeat dragons like them and be called a Dragon Slayer.

When I thought about it that way, I finally realized how amazing Monica and the others are.

Unlike me, the women here are proper dragon slayers.

And so, while I was immersed in my thoughts like that―

"...I was surprised. I never imagined that the person who helped Monica and the key witness was the same person."

The blonde girl comes up to me while saying that.

Important witness? What is she talking about?

By the way, before that.

"Um, you are...?"

When asked, she opened her mouth with a serious expression.

"I apologize for the delay. I am Alicia von Spring, the leader of the party, the [Four Symbols of the Fine Weather] to which Monica Winter belongs. And Yuuri-san, I came to both thank you for helping Monica and to ask you a few questions."

◇◇◇

After that, the girl who introduced herself as Alicia said she had business with me, so we decided to borrow some space in the cafeteria to talk for a bit.

The four of us sit facing each other at the table.

Across from me were Alicia and a girl wearing a hood.

And on this side, I and―

"...Why is Monica sitting next to me? Aren't you usually over there?"

"If we don't do it this way, no one will be able to sit. Yeah, it makes sense."

"...I see."

Well, if the person is okay with it, then it's fine.

Then, seeing Monica like that, Alicia opened her eyes slightly.

"It's unusual, isn't it? For Monica to open up to someone like this."

"Is that so?"

It was always like this since the first time we met, and I thought it had always been this way.

"Yes, she usually prioritizes her magic research over interacting with others. When I heard she gave away that pendant, I was half-convinced she had been deceived, but seeing her like this, it all makes sense."

"I'm glad the suspicion has been cleared. Then, was this pendant really that important?"

As I asked that question while touching the pendant placed on the table, Alicia nodded slightly.

"Yes, without a doubt, for us. Normally, we only give it to allies we consider equals, such as those with whom we have completed quests together. In fact, you are the first person Monica has given it to."

"...Hmm."

For some reason, it feels like it was handed over way too easily...

Well, I guess it's because she was grateful for saving her life.

"But, is it really okay for someone like me to receive something like that?"

"Of course. It's a fact that you helped Monica."

Alicia straightens her posture on the spot and bows politely.

"Once again, thank you. Yuuri-san, thank you very much for helping Monica."

"...Ah, you're welcome."

Thinking that it would be strange to be overly modest here, I decided to graciously accept the compliment.

After that, Alicia lifted her face, took a sip of the tea that Rina had served her, and then turned a serious gaze towards me.

"I'm sorry to ask right after expressing my gratitude, but... I have a few questions for Yuuri-san. Would that be alright?"

"Ah, now that you mention it, you did say that. Of course, I don't mind, but..."

Suddenly, I felt a sense of discomfort here.

"To begin with, how did you know I was at this inn? From the way you acted when you got here, it seems like you had a plan from the start."

"...Um, about that..."

For some reason, Alicia hesitates a bit here.

Is there something difficult to say?

As I was doubting that, I felt a light poke on my upper arm from next to me.

"What is it, Monica?"

"Thanks to this."

"Is this... about this pendant?"

Monica nods slightly while pointing at the pendant.

"Yes. This pendant emits a special kind of magic, and I can trace that magic."

"Um... so, in other words, whoever has this pendant has their location completely exposed to Monica?"

"Yeah. It's difficult in places with various magical powers like the Great Forest, but I can sense it anywhere in this town."

I remembered the time when I received this pendant from Monica.

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

"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."

At that time, I wondered why they didn't decide on a meeting place in town...

If there were such circumstances, I can understand.

"I see, so that's how it was."

Alicia had an apologetic expression on her face as she nodded at me.

"I'm sorry, Yuuri-san. It seems Monica didn't explain it. I never intended to use that feature from the beginning..."

"It's okay, you don't have to worry about it. For me, it's a relief that I don't have to go looking for it on your end."

"...It helps to hear you say that."

Since the doubts have been resolved, let's proceed with the conversation.

"So, what is it that you want to ask?"

"...That was the matter, wasn't it?"

Hearing my confirmation, Alicia straightens her posture sharply once again.

And then, after exchanging some kind of eye contact and nodding with the people in the hood next to her, she turned her transparent blue eyes straight towards me.

And then,

"Well then, let me ask you frankly."

The atmosphere has completely changed from what it was until now.

In a firm tone, she declared, "I will never forgive anyone who lies."

"Yuuri-san... have you ever defeated a dragon before?"

"Not really."

It was a question whose intent I didn't understand, but there was no time to think, so I answered immediately.

Then, the scene and the atmosphere freeze for some reason.

Chapter 16: Reunion and Response