I, Izumi Yuuri, delivered a powerful strike that successfully hit the suspicious person claiming to be a god, annihilating them completely.

The subjugation was a success.

(...It was a close call.)

Compared to the monsters I have fought so far, its strength was outstanding.

It is undoubtedly true that the rank is at least intermediate.

I never thought I could defeat such an opponent by myself... Does this mean I've grown too?

(No, it's not just that.)

At that moment, I remembered something important.

The reason I was able to defeat the suspicious person is largely because it was quite weakened.

The greatest contributors should be the members of the [Four Symbols of the Fine Weather] who weakened their power to that extent, not me.

So, I say this to Alicia and the others with feelings of gratitude and appreciation.

"It's over."

Could it be that the tension has finally eased?

Alicia and the others had been wearing tense expressions until now; they then let out a sigh of relief as if in unison.

"...Is it really over?"

"Ah, as you can see."

While replying like that, I check the condition of the four people again.

Everyone seems quite exhausted, but it doesn't look like anyone has sustained any fatal injuries. Phew, what a relief.

In front of me, as I was heaving a sigh of relief like that, Alicia slowly stood up and looked at me with a serious expression.

"Yuuri-san, first of all, thank you. Thanks to you, we were saved... Thank you very much."

"Hmm? Oh, you're welcome."

I thought it would be strange to be modest, so I accepted those words honestly.

However, it seemed that Alicia's business was not yet finished.

"Well, um, how should I put this... There are a few things I would like to ask you."

"Something you want to ask?"

I wonder what it is? I shouldn't have done anything particularly strange during the fight earlier...

Huh! Could it be that she's going to criticize my sense of naming techniques?

Personally, I quite like it, but it might be considered uncool in the global context.

If that gets pointed out, it would be quite a blow to my mental state!

Should I leave this place and run away right now?

In response to my thoughts, Alicia muttered to herself, resting her hand on her chin as if deep in contemplation.

"Just what should I ask first...? The reason you helped us twice without introducing yourself? Or have you been hiding your abilities all this time? No, I'm also curious about how you became so skilled with a sword..."

"Alicia?"

"...Haa! I'm sorry, it seems I got a bit lost in thought."

"That's fine, but..."

"Phew. For now, I've decided what to ask first."

After that exchange, Alicia looked straight at me again with her translucent blue eyes.

And then, she opens her glossy cherry blossom-colored lips.

"Yuuri-san, you are―"

However, those words were never fully spoken.

Because―

"I, finally, found, yoooooooou!!!!!"

―Suddenly, such a loud voice echoed all around.

The sudden voice of a third party caused everyone present to be astonished.

"What's going on all of a sudden!?"

"...Annoying."

"Now's not the time to be saying things like that! Look, over there! Someone's coming out from the distortion that formed where the demon was just a moment ago―"

As if drawn by Tio's words, I turn around on the spot.

And then I saw it. A single person was there.

A beautiful girl with long silver hair, exuding an otherworldly divinity.

No doubt about it. It's been a thousand years since I last saw that figure, but I remember it clearly.

She is the one who reincarnated me into this other world―

"...Aristia."

""""...Huh?""""

For some reason, the ones who responded to that call were not Aristia but the four of them, Alicia and her companions.

By the way, the names Aristia and Alicia sound similar. If this world were a story, the author must have named them without thinking much about it.

Anyway, just as I was about to ask why she was here, it happened.

"Yuuri-san! For now, please come here quickly!"

"Whoa!?"

Her snow-white hand firmly grips my wrist like fresh snow.

And then, with the strength that seemed to come from those slender arms, she pulled me along.

I was drawn into the distortion of space along with her, as it happened.

After passing through the distortion, what welcomed me was the familiar pure white space.

...Yeah, what is it? I still don't know what's going on, but one thing is clear for now.

I was once again brought to the [Time-Space Interval] by Aristia―

◇◆◇

―By Aristia, Yuuri was taken to the [Aristia] (although the distortion in space itself disappeared as soon as the two passed through).

The four of them, Alicia and the others who were left behind, stood there in a daze.

It was because the scene they just witnessed was so shocking.

After about one minute had passed.

Alicia suddenly came to her senses right there.

And then she called out to the other three.

"Everyone, pull yourselves together!"

"""...Hah!"""

The three of them come to their senses like Alicia.

Nevertheless, despite not yet grasping the situation, the four of them exchanged puzzled glances.

"Everyone, did you hear what Yuuri just called that woman?"

"Ah, ah. He definitely said... Aristia... sama."

"I still can't believe it..."

Aristia.

They were well aware of that name, too.

No wonder. That goddess is the supreme deity who rules this world.

For Alicia and the others, she was literally a being from above the heavens.

Why would such a being go out of her way to come and get Yuuri?

To put it another way, Yuuri was addressing Aristia in a friendly manner without using any honorifics.

Given that her mind was already somewhat confused, it was only natural that it would break down with this amount of information.

Amidst the overwhelming questions, everyone is left speechless.

The next person to speak was Monica.

"I now understand everything."

"Monica!? Is it really!?"

"Yeah, no doubt about it. Now that I think about it, Yuuri had a slightly different vibe from the beginning. The reason for that is precisely―"

"""Gulp."""

As the three swallowed nervously, Monica confidently declared.

"─Yuuri is a God!"

"""...A God?"""

An absurd conclusion.

Normally, no one would have believed this prediction.

However, the situation is different now.

"Y-Yes, if Yuuri-san had special circumstances as a god, it makes sense that he would have hidden his abilities and true identity until now..."

"Even being able to handle such sword techniques without magic might need some explanation."

"...I see. If he were an existence comparable to Aristia-sama that grants us skills, then he shouldn't be caught by 'Truth Detection' either."

The misunderstandings that had existed between Yuuri and the four of them had now become the basis for the equation "Yuuri = God."

Once a discussion has progressed based on a wrong premise, it is not so easy to correct its course.

If Yuuri is a god, then all the questions can be explained.

On that point, Alicia and the others agreed with Monica's guess.

"As expected of you, Monica. It was such an outlandish idea that I would never have thought of it myself."

"I am the 'Sage of Blue,' so this is only natural. But, you could praise me a bit more."

Hehehe, Monica puffed out her small chest.

Without knowing that their prediction was completely wrong from start to finish, the four of them continued to get excited for a while longer.

At that moment, Alicia suddenly had a new question.

"I understand now that Yuuri-san's true identity was that of a god. However, now that his true identities have been discovered, will he ever be able to return here again...?"

"That... as it stands now, I can't really say anything about it."

The fact that he has been hiding his abilities and true identity until now means there was a compelling reason to do so.

As a result of Alicia and the others finding out, there is a possibility that he might have to leave this world for good.

Or perhaps that is precisely why Aristia came to call for Yuuri.

The reasoning is completely convincing.

However, their feelings were not like that.

Alicia took a step forward, picked up her longsword, and then gazed up at the sky.

(Yuuri-san. There are still many things I want to tell you, many things I want to talk about. If you would allow it, just once more...)

Are those words woven in her heart truly reaching Yuuri?

Unfortunately, Alicia had no way of knowing that now.

Chapter 35: Yuuri’s True Identity