Side: Yuki
Yeah.
I was an idiot for trusting Luna.
When she first appeared in front of my wives before, I thought it was just a gag to lighten the mood... Or rather, I tried to convince myself it was.
Because back on Earth, depending on the situation, she wore a suit and did her suspicious recruiting in a way that wouldn't get her reported to the police. So I thought she wouldn't do a vibe-ruining bit during a touch-and-go standoff like this.
I expected her to come out with a grand, dignified entrance—the kind of performance that would make people in this world genuinely think, 'That is a true god.'
"Mm, yes. It's been a while since I've had tea poured by Hiffy. It's delicious."
"I am glad it suits your palate."
And currently, Motome-san is standing behind Hiffy, watching the scene unfold with a troubled look on his face.
With his superior, Hiffy, giving her approval, he can't say anything, but I have nothing but respect for Motome-san's ability to maintain that posture without any explanation.
Military men from World War II sure were patient. If it were me, I would've slapped her with a paper fan already.
"Uh, Yuki-san. What's the plan?"
"...We just observe until Luna moves the conversation forward. Fortunately, Saintess Hiffy happens to respect Luna, so let's refrain from interjecting."
"...I hope the conversation actually goes smoothly."
Yeah, seriously.
Well, Luna herself seems to have a lot of thoughts on this matter too, so I'd like to believe things will actually proceed properly.
...Why am I worrying in this direction, though?
"Sorry to keep you waiting. You called for me?"
While I'm thinking about this, the final cast member arrives.
The former Dungeon Master, Comet Tail.
She's undead, and honestly, I still have no idea what her position is supposed to be.
"Oh, long time no see, Comet. Wait, you're an undead now. Judging by the flow of mana, Hiffy is holding your control?"
Ah, so Hiffy was the one who turned her into an undead.
I thought there was a strange mana flow coming from Hiffy, but so that was the cause.
"My apologies. There were various circumstances..."
"I get it. But for this meeting, I want to hear Comet's thoughts in her natural state, so I'm releasing the control... Wait, oh? You look like you can release it yourself."
"Eh?"
As Hiffy turned around toward Comet in surprise, a sound echoed like a piece of glass breaking.
"Hello~! Man, it's been a long time, Luna-san! Sorry for being dead! Nahahaha!!"
There stood a beautiful woman, laughing out loud.
...Well, she immediately ruins the impression of her beauty by scratching her head vigorously with both hands, turning her previously neat, beautiful hair into a complete mess.
What a waste of a pretty face.
"Your energy hasn't changed a bit. It seems dying didn't change that either."
"Who knows? Actually, fixing my soul via the dungeon might be the reason it's intact, you know? Because other undead are pretty lacking in facial expressions."
Hmm.
I agree with Comet-san's theory.
Unless they're extremely high-level undead, they retain little more than animal-like instincts. In other words, their soul—the information that makes them who they are—is being maintained somehow. Well, even if just a sliver remains, given enough time, even simple skeletons and zombies eventually regain their original emotions.
...Wait, that's not important right now.
I need to focus on the discussion that's about to begin. And yet...
"Wha—Comet, since when!?"
"Well, I could actually undo it anytime from early on, but I didn't want to get controlled again over a misunderstanding. Plus, having a body move on command without my own input was pretty convenient."
"You really are something..."
What a bright and friendly conversation.
"Well, well. Motome-dono! This is the real me, so nice to meet you~!"
"O-Oh... Nice to meet you."
Motome-san can't keep up.
Neither can I.
What the hell is with this energy? What kind of casting process does that useless goddess have?
Once Comet seemed to finish greeting her acquaintances, she turned around to us...
"Well, nice to meet you, my junior! And the hero-dono from another world!"
She saw right through our true identities just like that, huh.
...She's an oddball, but her intelligence might be off the charts.
* * *
Side: Taizou Motome
...I will be honest.
I do not understand the situation.
It was just Yuki-kun, Taiki-kun, myself, and Hiffy-dono in the room. Then, a woman claiming to be Luna suddenly appeared—or rather, someone Hify-dono addressed with the honorific "Luna-sama". And then, there was the total transformation of Comet-dono, who had been acting like a doll until now.
Could someone please explain this situation to me?
Reality is cruel, however.
No one answers my question, and time simply passes... Well, perhaps it is a good thing that time is passing. The situation is moving forward on its own.
Hify-dono is pouring tea for Luna-dono and chatting peacefully, while Comet-dono is talking to Yuki-kun and Taiki-kun.
If time weren't passing—if there were only silence, or if I had the power to stop time and used it—I am not confident I could derive any solution.
By the looks of it, it doesn't seem like a fight will break out on the spot. For now, I can rest easy.
"Pardon me, Hiffy-dono, but could you introduce me as well?"
Seeing Hify-dono and Luna-dono pause after a sip of tea, I speak up.
At this rate, I will become nothing more than a scarecrow.
"Ah, my apologies. This is someone of higher status than me—should I call her my superior? High Goddess Luna-sama."
"Hello~ Must be tough for you, being blown from World War II into a place with a civilization a few laps behind."
"!? Is Luna-dono also from Earth?"
"Ah~ Yeah. Something like that. From the look on your face, you're skeptical about Hiffy being a god, right?"
"......"
"Ah, well, it's hard to say that in front of the person herself. Well, I'm categorized under that suspicious 'god' label too. Showing proof of being a god or trying to convince you is a pain, so you can just think of me as a creature using that title. Treating things as you have so far is fine."
...I see.
She truly seems to possess some power beyond human capability.
Though, as she says, my perception of her as a creature called a god remains unchanged.
"Understood. However, since Hiffy-dono pays her respects and calls you her superior, I shall follow suit and conduct myself accordingly."
There is no reason to deliberately rebel and cause Hiffy-dono distress.
With that thought, I salute.
Luna-dono looks at me saluting, shows a slightly surprised expression, and then bursts into a giggling laugh.
"Sorry. I'm not laughing at you, Motome. It's just that your attitude is way too different from those two over there."
Saying that, Luna-dono points at Yuki-kun and Taiki-kun.
"That is only natural. They are not military personnel. One cannot ask for what does not exist."
"Well, that's true."
"However, Yuki-kun mentioned 'one more person' earlier... Was he referring to Luna-dono?"
"Yeah. I'm that 'one more person,' and the actual culprit who sent Yuki to this other world."
"What does that mean? Right... Yuki-kun did not say he was a hero..."
He only mentioned that it was a similar situation, if I recall correctly.
Was I outwitted?
Well, one cannot show their hand before understanding the other party's thoughts.
...Still, for a youth of his age to think that far ahead. Should I be relieved that Japan's future is secure, or should I lament that such talent was dragged over here...?
"That's how it is. He called me out because he confirmed Hiffy was here. Well, both sides came here without knowing the other existed."
"...So the matter of protecting Hiffy-dono's world was an order from you, Luna-dono?"
"Yep. Though, judging by your reaction, you haven't received much of an explanation."
"My apologies, Luna-sama. Under the current circumstances, I believed we had to pacify the continent first..."
"It is as Hiffy-dono says. Before doing anything to the world, if we do not stabilize the place where we live and build a solid foundation, there is no future. Even if I were given useless information, it would only confuse me. Hiffy-dono's judgment to share necessary information at the necessary time was appropriate."
"Hmm, mm. You've really thought this through. Well, I'll explain everything properly, including all of that. It's better to grasp the whole picture, isn't it?"
Saying so, she steps away from me and Hify-dono, approaching Yuki-kun, Taiki-kun, and Comet-dono as they talk...
And brings her fist down right onto Comet-dono's head.
"Ouch...!?"
A dull thud echoes, and Comet-dono crouches down on the spot, holding her head.
"Why are you acting like it hurts? You're an undead, so you barely have pain receptors."
"No, my brain just rattled, okay!? Luna-san, you really need to realize that you're an out-of-spec creature called a god!"
"As usual, your way of talking hasn't changed even after turning into a zombie. Huh? Even in death and decay, has the stuff inside that head not changed at all?"
"I'm not a zombie, I'm a Lich-type!? More importantly, don't grab my head with both hands and shake it up and down!? It's coming out, today's breakfast is coming out!? Also, I'm not decayed!! I'm fresh and bouncy, newly dead!!"
"Hey, just throw it up then!! And calm down!! Besides, don't eat breakfast in the first place!! I had to work without breakfast, you know!!"
"T-That's just Luna-san's lifestyle... Ugh..."
"Hey, wait! Not until after I've moved away! Aaaaah!?"
Someone explain what is happening.
Women who could be called stunningly beautiful are covered in vomit and making a fuss—it makes no sense.
For what purpose did I arrange this meeting in the first place?
"Motome-san. Well, it's best to accept that this is just how it is."
Before I realized it, Yuki-kun was standing beside me with a distant look in his eyes.
What an incredibly tired look.
"Have you... experienced this many times?"
"You get used to it... probably."
"...I do not think one should get used to this."
There is no way a meeting like this should exist.
...No, is this fine because it is technically unofficial?
It was meant to be like introducing friends, after all?
"Ugh. Ahh, what a waste of breakfast. Oh, I've gotten dirty. Hey, Hiffy, where do I change clothes again?"
"Your internal organs are coming out too!? And, Comet, if you have your own consciousness back, shouldn't you know where your clothes are!?"
The conversation alone might have been heartwarming... actually, no.
The visual is even more unbearable to watch.
Comet-dono's clothes are stained with vomit, and something resembling internal organs is hanging out... How is she even talking under these circumstances...?
Even as Hiffy-dono complains, she pushes the exposed organs back into Comet's body and quickly cleans everything up.
"Yuki, I'm using the outdoor bath at the inn!! This is the worst!"
"Wait right there!! Wash off in a private room!! My wives use that bath too, what if they get sick!!"
"Sick? What do you think a god is!? Are you implying we're dirty!?"
"Then you don't need to wash off, do you? Washing means you recognize you're dirty!"
"Guh... fine. I'll go change at home..."
Things look tough on that side as well.
...The reason Yuki-kun doesn't point out that it's her own fault for shaking someone's head is likely to prevent the situation from becoming any more complicated. If Yuki-kun doesn't say it, there is no reason for me to say it... Or rather, I feel like we would plunge into even deeper chaos.
* * *
"Phew~ Man, I didn't think I'd be taking a bath during the day."
"Ahahahaha. Indeed~"
While the two of them casually laugh together, I find myself sinking even deeper into confusion.
While Luna-dono was talking to Yuki-kun about washing off the vomit, Comet-dono expressed her desire to accompany her. Ignoring Hiffy-dono's attempts to stop her, somehow the situation turned into all of them going to the bath together.
...The flow up to this point wasn't great, but let's say it was acceptable.
However, things became even more incomprehensible from there.
Yuki-kun, saying he couldn't possibly bring them to his base, said something incomprehensible and remodeled the dungeon under this Great Cathedral on the spot, in an instant.
I was surprised that he knew about dungeons, but if he is an acquaintance of Luna-dono, who is connected to Comet-dono, it isn't too strange for him to know. However, when he said he would remodel the dungeon, a ryokan appeared beneath the Great Cathedral instantly—literally in the blink of an eye.
I'm not exaggerating.
Even though we were underground, there was somehow a sky, and despite it being the winter season, cherry blossoms were in full bloom inside, allowing them to enjoy an open-air bath... I know what I am saying sounds completely absurd, but it is the truth.
Despite their surprise at the situation, both Hiffy-dono and Comet-dono were casually led by Luna-dono into the women's bath. Even in my state of massive confusion, I would not commit the foolish act of entering the women's bath.
"Phew. Making me waste DP. Well, in a way, being able to naturally take control of this dungeon makes it fine, I guess? I never know what that useless goddess is thinking, but I might as well do some tinkering while I can."
Beside me, Yuki-kun—who presumably performed this dungeon remodeling—is floating a transparent clipboard-like object in midair, operating various controls.
...Tinkering?
The word concerns me, but for now, I must strive to grasp the situation. It is not a situation where I can ask the women for information. They say three women together make a noisy crowd, but that phrase really is literal.
"Pardon me. Yuki-kun, for the time being, could you tell me what you know?"
"Sure, but... what do you want to hear?"
"...For starters, please begin with the story about the dungeons."
Although I said information should be given as needed, I currently know far too little.
"...For now, I'll pour some tea."
"...Thank you."
Why is this?
I feel as though I was supposed to be the person in charge of this meeting, yet I feel like the one being left behind the most.
