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TWO WHO MEET BY CHANCE

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*****

The Interworld Train, having departed the 910th World—a realm of endless water—arrived at its next destination, even after the incident involving Rob’s slime-catching spree.

Once they passed this world, there were only four stops left until the final station.

『――We will shortly be arriving at the 989th World, Nichirin Archipelago, Nichirin Empire, Izun Islands, Udou Island.』

Accompanied by Cubas’s cool, clear announcement, the Interworld Train slid smoothly into a cove on an uninhabited island.

As the train created a platform deep within the inlet, Rob and Arcelia, accompanied by Pashe, transferred to a small cruiser moored in the cove.

「It’s not like I’m uninterested, but are you sure it’s safe to disembark? If anything else happens, I feel like your career prospects—or whatever you call it—are going to be well and truly hopeless.」

Rob muttered this while scanning the interior of a cruiser with a design he felt he’d seen somewhere before, feeling as though trouble tended to follow them whenever they left the train.

「There should be no problem... theoretically. I have received permission from headquarters.」

Arcelia had stopped thinking about her career advancement. To begin with, she didn't want anything more than to simply be an investigator.

「Hmm, I see. So, where are we going?」

「I am certain you will like it, Rob-san.」

For some reason, Arcelia was being vague.

「Well, that’s as may be, but if I don’t know what’s there, I can’t really say.」

That back-and-forth continued a few more times, but Arcelia refused to reveal their destination.

***

The cruiser departed the uninhabited island and arrived at a pier about two and a half hours later.

Familiar place names, a familiar-looking cruiser, and a concrete pier.

An impossible thought occurred to Rob, but after they had been at the pier for a while, a large vehicle appeared. Seeing the bizarre investigator who stepped out of it, that thought began to turn into certainty.

「――Welcome to the Nichirin Empire. I am called Edmond Ristal.」

He was a middle-aged blonde man wearing a boater hat, *kiragashi* (kimono-style leisure wear), and wooden *geta* sandals.

It was surprising enough that this was the local investigator in this country, but what surprised Rob even more was that bizarre, Japan-obsessed outfit.

「When I was researching worlds similar to yours based on your interview, it just so happened that this location was on the Interworld Train's schedule, so I obtained permission from headquarters to land.」

Arcelia explained in her usual manner, though a hint of pride at having surprised Rob drifted through her words.

Rob, having forgotten even how to be surprised, followed the two of them as they guided him.

「In the Empire, arming oneself as a civilian is prohibited, so please allow us to hold onto those. The use of magic and supernatural abilities is also strictly restricted; please be careful that self-defense does not escalate into excessive force. As for your status, you are officially registered as coming from a small nation within this world.」

「Rob-san... you do not need to change clothes. Investigator Arcelia, please remove your investigator’s uniform and change into these.」

「Now then, allow us to guide you through the Empire.」

Saying this, Edmond ushered them into a car and headed for the station.

They boarded a train with a dull silver body and blue stripes, transferred after ten minutes, and after being rattled about for another hour, they got off.

Rob had been surprised by the investigator's strange appearance, surprised that cars and trains were all powered by magic, surprised by the familiar station, surprised by the people coming and going, and surprised by the Japanese(...) overflowing in the streets—but by this point, he was starting to realize it.

It was a world that looked just like Japan.

But it wasn't Japan.

It was a country that looked very similar to Japan.

The only differences were that everything was substituted with magic and magical tools rather than natural science, and that there were no power lines.

Not knowing what to say, Rob looked at Investigator Edmond, then at Arcelia, and suddenly scanned his surroundings.

Akibahara Station.

It looked like the central station of a local city—a sight Rob had seen many times in the past—but for some reason, he felt a gaze upon him. There were curious stares at the strange foreigner who was obsessed with Japan—no, obsessed with the Nichirin Empire—but this was a different presence.

「...I will explain later.」

Edmond said this, and after leaving the station, he rented a car at a rental agency, left the city center, and headed further out into the countryside.

He continued to feel the gaze, but after about an hour, it faded away.

Bridges, rivers, rice paddies—they moved further and further away from civilization, and the car finally entered the forest.

And a little further on, there was that house.

A traditional Japanese house.

Perhaps because he was from a highly urbanized area, Rob had seen one, but had never actually stepped inside.

「We have arrived.」

Wondering if this was Arcelia’s way of trying to soothe his fatigue in a country that looked so much like Japan, Rob glanced at her, but for some reason, Arcelia looked tense.

"Huh?" he thought, and as he walked toward the Japanese house, he saw a nameplate that read "Fujita."

While he was pondering whether this was some kind of homestay, the head of the household appeared.

It was an old man. His back wasn't hunched; he stood perfectly straight.

「...I am Saburo Fujita. Are you Tayama Routa?」

Rob held his breath.

He immediately understood why he had been asked for his pre-reincarnation name.

However, he still couldn't fully believe it.

It seemed the other party felt the same, staring at Rob with suspicious eyes.

That was to be expected. Rob had reincarnated and no longer kept his original appearance. That was true from his facial features alone, and his haphazardly brushed dark brown hair, his orange eyes, and the two deep, gunshot-like scars running along his temples were things no ordinary Japanese person possessed.

***

「――What is the military in Japan?」

It was an abrupt question.

「Ah, uh... leaving the reality of it aside, the military supposedly doesn't exist. All that exists is the Self-Defense Force.」

Rob answered, straining to pull up his distant memories.

「Which country holds de facto control over the Northern Territories?」

「...Russia.」

「Who are Japan’s allies?」

「America... were there others?」

Several questions followed, and Rob answered each one.

He understood that he was being tested with questions that only a Japanese person would know, but he wondered why the content was biased toward a military perspective. Just as he thought this, the final question came.

「――There is some airspace above Japan where Japan does not have freedom. Where is it?」

「Eh? No, I don't know. Okinawa?」

Rob panicked, but Saburo’s expression softened slightly.

「Certainly, in my day, part of Okinawa's air traffic control was under the US military, but there is also the airspace up to 7,000 meters above one city and eight prefectures that is US military airspace. Though, if you apply, you can get permission quite easily... I see. You really are Japanese.」

By asking questions that a typical Japanese person might know, as well as questions that were rare to know, Saburo seemed convinced that Rob was a former Japanese citizen.

Saburo opened the sliding door wide, straightened his posture, and faced Rob.

「――Let me introduce myself properly. Former JASDF First Lieutenant, Saburo Fujita. I did something similar in this country, but I am retired.」

For a rare occasion, Rob straightened his back and answered firmly.

「I was Tayama Routa in Japan. I was a fourth-year university student. I go by the name Rob here. As for my work... I am currently unemployed.」

Not even Rob knew what would happen to him from here on out.

Saburo didn't seem to mind the "unemployed" part, nodding with a nostalgic look on his face.

「――I hate to interrupt while you are rekindling old friendships, but there are a few points of caution.」

Edmond, who had been listening silently until now, cut in.

「First, the fact that you, Rob-san, are a former Japanese citizen has been withheld from this country’s government. I believe it would be more meaningful for your stay in this country if we keep it hidden as much as possible. Your stay is for three nights and four days. I will come to pick you up by noon.」

「Thank you for everything. But three nights and four days—this feels quite long this time.」

When Rob said this, Edmond smiled.

「Arcelia-san insisted to headquarters, the conductor, and the passengers. Besides, it is a joyous thing for the Alliance as well that you, Rob-san, having achieved the great feat of slaying the Demon King, are able to reunite with a fellow countryman across worlds. The same goes for Saburo-san, who was summoned indiscriminately.」

Hearing that, Rob looked at Arcelia and thanked her.

Arcelia shook her head slightly.

「I should be the one thanking you. I haven't been able to do my job properly until now, and I’ve only caused you trouble.」

It was Arcelia’s "otherworld guide" which had backfired on many occasions, but for Rob, being able to see the reality of this world, this world that continued on, was not that much of a hardship.

「Then, until four days from now.」

With that, Edmond left, and Rob and the others were invited inside Saburo's house.

「...If my granddaughter were here, I could have offered you slightly better hospitality.」

That night, being the first day, they had a late-night drink while picking at some takeout food that Edmond had apparently arranged.

Without either of them forcing it, Rob and Saburo talked, bits and pieces at a time.

What happened to Japan after Saburo was summoned?

How had Saburo lived after being indiscriminately summoned?

How had Rob lived after being summoned through reincarnation?

It continued until late into the night, and Arcelia and Pashe listened without getting bored.

*****

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