Author's Note
In this episode, there is a scene, even if it only lasts for a moment (a few seconds), in which a character is engulfed in flames.
If this offends you, please feel free to skip this chapter.
Reiko's Perspective
"Shameless? You lost sight of Kaoru so easily and left her there without even trying to search for her, and now you've come to search for her in your place, and you're asking me for the bare minimum of skills necessary to do so, and you really are going to say that to me?" (Reiko)
"Uh... Wait, what? Search? for Kaoru? But Kaoru's soul and consciousness have completely disappeared..." (Celes)
"That's not for you to decide. It's not like you've checked the Akashic Records or anything, has it?" (Reiko)
"Ah, yes, a low-ranking being like me cannot access the Akashic Records… If it’s the main body, it’s possible to see it if it’s absolutely necessary… So, all I can confirm is a very limited and simplified record of what is on this planet." (Celes)
Just as I had heard from the Earth God.
"In that case, there is a possibility. The probability is never zero." (Reiko)
"…………" (Celes)
The goddess was silent.
"Could you please tell me what happened at the time and provide as much information as you know?" (Reiko)
"...I, I understand..." (Celes)
As for the special benefits, maybe I could say that they were somehow approved in a vague manner...
Okay. I'll show you how relentless the Kuon Clan is!
"This is another world, Verny. The world where Kaoru exists... And over there is Aras, the capital of the Brancott Kingdom. The place where Kaoru disappeared..." (Reiko)
Well, let's test my abilities first!
If you suddenly use magic without any practice, something unfortunate might happen. Well, even though it's called magic, it's actually a phenomenon that was supported by scientific methods. It didn't seem like there were any magical spirits or anything like that.
I don't know how they support us, but there's this thing that says, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Well, let's not think too deeply about it.
"Water ball..." (Reiko)
Oh, a block of water! Great, now I don't have to carry a water bottle around and I won't die from running out of water!
"Fireball..." (Reiko)
Great, now I won't freeze to death and cooking is easy! Next is...
"An entity darker than twilight, redder than the flow of blood..." (Reiko)
...Yeah, nothing happened!
The mountain over there was originally carved out!
Probably so. Definitely so.
Ok, let's set off for the royal capital!!
After paying three silver coins at the city gate, I arrived safely in the royal capital, Aras. It seemed that this "three silver coins" had not changed since ancient times. Then, I headed straight to the palace. Of course, it's not easy for ordinary people to enter the royal palace... except for one place. Yes, there was one place. The "Holy Land."
Angel, Kaoru-sama. Some people call her the "Goddess of Another World"... but what is that girl doing...?
Anyway, this was where Kaoru sacrificed herself to prevent a war between the kingdoms of Balmore and Brancott and was called to heaven. The huge rock that was said to have crushed Kaoru was stuck so tightly in the hole that it could not be lifted out of the way, so it seemed they removed it by digging a hole of the same size next to it and rolling the rock into it, but what remained there were only charred fragments that were so crumbled that they no longer retained the original shape... It seemed that these charred remains were carefully preserved as "holy relics", but...
The only route leading to this "holy place" was surrounded by a strong wall, preventing access to other parts of the palace, and only worshippers were allowed to pass through. The building itself, including the former audience hall, was now treated as a temple, and a new building had been constructed in its place next door. After carefully observing this "holy place" among the general worshippers, I left the palace. Of course, my purpose was to find lodging and a meal.
...And then, late at night. I sneaked out of the inn and headed to the palace. As expected, the passage to the "holy land" that was open during the day was closed at night. But in the face of magic, all of this was meaningless.
"Invisible field!" (Reiko)
Thanks to the invisibility magic... which was probably actually something scientific, like the ability to transmit visible light or warp space... I became completely invisible, and confidently walked past the soldiers, down the corridor, and into the building. I used unlocking magic to unlock the door and slid through the slightly opened door. Then, using night vision magic, I proceeded through the deserted building, towards that "Sacred Room"...
"Well then..." (Reiko)
There were no guards inside the building, so a little bit of talking to yourself was no problem. Well, that much security on the outside should be enough, and in the first place, there's no way that anyone would steal from the "Holy Land". This was the "world where the Goddess really exists," after all. ...Also, the Goddess was rather strict with people she found annoying...
The God of Earth only heard the report from the Goddess of this place, Celestine-sama. However, Celestine-sama was so depressed and anxious that she was in no state to give a proper report, so the God of Earth somehow managed to reconstruct Celestine-sama's broken story and understand the situation. And the goddess of another world, Celestine-sama, seemed to basically be someone who lived in a sunny flower field.
According to Celestine-sama, the reaction from Kaoru's soul and consciousness had completely disappeared, and there had been no reaction even when the search range was expanded to the entire planet. This was said to be confirmation of Kaoru's complete disappearance, but... That was the judgment of someone who had only known Kaoru for a little under five years. There's no way that Kaoru would just leave us behind and die like that. Yes, just like last time... This time too, Kaoru would definitely be waiting for us...
I heard the whole story. Over and over again, down to the smallest detail. About the body Kaoru had gained. About the abilities Kaoru had gained. ...And about the entire situation at that time, down to the last detail. At that time, if it's incense.
If it's incense, what do you do?
And after much thought, I came to this conclusion.
Where was the last access door opened?
It's reasonable to assume that the item closest to the opening was the last one put in. Then...
"Space-time vibration magic! I create dimensional vibrations and forcefully tear open the door to the item box that is in tune with the other person's mental waves! Open, dimensional door!"
Brrrr...
Space-time trembled, the world distorted, and then a giant dimensional quake occured...
"Is this the source of the 'distortion'?!" (Celes)
Then, a goddess with a desperate look on her face appears...
Pong!
A girl appeared. Around 12 years old (Based on this world). The girl had a vicious, evil look in her eyes. And then...
"Aaaaaaaah! It's hot, hot, it's so hot!!" (Kaoru)
Yes, the girl was engulfed in flames and had literally become a fireball.
"Fire extinguishing potion, give meeeeee~!!" (Kaoru)
"Extra-large water ball!!" (Reiko)
"Aaaaaaah! Water, water, wateruuuuu!!" (Kaoru)
Boom!!
And the girl with the mean look in her eyes was swept away by the tons of water and disappeared somewhere...
Author's Note
At the end of this episode, there is a scene where a character is engulfed in flames, albeit only for a moment (a few seconds).
Some may think that this is the time we are making this announcement, but the part indicating that this state of affairs would occur was already written and announced three weeks ago, and I believe that our readers are aware that this was not done with any strange or ulterior motives.
Also, the description was written three weeks ago, in which the "fire crisis" was safely overcome and the characters were saved in an instant, and I felt that first-class creators would not want the flow of the work to be forcibly changed in some strange way, so I decided to develop the story in the way that it was most natural for this work, and that is why I decided to proceed as I had decided long ago.
Thank you for your understanding.