Published: March 21, 2026
The comprehensive exams are over, the report's submitted, so I'm writing this!!
Sorry to have kept you waiting so long.
"Then see you later."
"Don't die, Akira!!"
"You too."
After that, things went smoothly and we set out soon.
Mr. Zeal and the hero party went ahead to the safe house the previous generation hero party used, located at the northernmost edge of the Beastmen territory.
Crow and I headed to Uruk where Gram was.
The heroes moved on with Mr. Zeal marking the way with magic so others wouldn't notice.
Around the safe house there are especially ferocious demonic beasts; even high-ranking adventurers could lose their lives there. They needed to hunt enough for people to be able to live.
To be honest, it was more dangerous than the Uruk group’s route.
No matter how strong Mr. Zeal was, or how powerful the heroes and Kyousuke's attacks were, if you die, you die.
I thought it would be especially tough for the girls and the animal trainer.
I hoped we'd all meet again unharmed.
I gave a wry smile at Nanase and the others teasing me.
"Let's meet safely."
"Just so you know, your side's more dangerous."
Kyousuke said the same thing in his tone, and I rolled my eyes before he nodded seriously.
"I know. But yours is dangerous too. You're probably going to do something big enough to make you hesitate, right?"
Kyousuke’s words made me gulp.
Sometimes he pins things down perfectly. I’d thought that even in Japan, but after coming to this world, that feeling had become a skill called 'intuition' and it seemed to have gotten more accurate.
"…Yeah. I'll be careful."
I managed to move my face into a smile. Kyousuke, still unsettled, went back to the heroes.
"Weren't you going to tell them?"
Crow, who'd crept up beside me without my noticing, asked.
This wasn't something you could just say so easily.
"Yeah. And if I were to tell anyone, it would be Amelia first."
When I said that, Crow gave a look like "uh-huh" and walked over to Mr. Zeal.
No need to make that face after asking—like you'd swallowed a sugar cube whole.
"Akira, it's about time."
"Ah, right. See you."
I waved to classmates I might never see again.
"See you, Akira."
"Right."
I turned my back on the heroes.
Even if that side went well, if we failed here everything would be ruined.
…Time to steel myself.
"Akira, do you know anything about Uruk?"
We followed a path that wasn't maintained—a proper animal trail—toward Uruk. Amelia, hood up so no one could see her face, asked.
Crow leisurely followed behind us.
"Not really. If I remember right, Uruk is the largest nation in the Beastmen territory."
"Yeah. Biggest and richest, I heard. Lots of delicious food."
I laughed—of course that was Amelia's motive.
At this pace we'd reach it in maybe a week or two. I desperately wanted a car. If not that, at least a wagon or cart.
"Uruk is the water town. There are sources of water throughout the city and instead of roads it's divided by rivers. Travel is mainly by boat. It's a beautiful city—tourism probably made it prosper."
I said "oh" admiringly at Crow's words. As expected, he'd done his research.
"Thinking about it, there's a country like that in the world I came from too."
"Really?"
I nodded, remembering a photo from a social studies textbook. I think it was Italy. I’d wanted to go once, but foreign travel is troublesome and I have my mom to think about, so I gave up.
"I'll book a place to stay for you; you can sightsee then," Crow muttered. Amelia and I exchanged glances.
Crow being sweet?
"If we go to Uruk, will we get to see Ria too?"
"I contacted her when I left the inn. If she's free she'll probably show you around the city."
I tilted my head at Crow's reply. Had he always been like this?
"If you have something to say, say it clearly."
Crow suddenly turned sour, and somewhere inside I felt relieved. Yeah, Crow was like this.
"I was just thrown off because you've been acting differently."
I said that, and Crow fell silent. Then he suddenly looked up.
"...I treat those with potential accordingly. Those heroes have none, but you lot do. That's all."