Side: Noctia

When I cut off the far-sight magic, Pricia and Sanctina both looked relieved.

Filia and I had felt that surge of unidentifiable mana, so we'd kept watch over Kakeru the whole time, from the moment the dungeon appeared right up until now.

"Why is there a dungeon in this world?"

Pricia, who had been about to rush off to the rescue, sank wearily back into the sofa. It really was a hard thing, only being able to watch. Especially for someone who'd always stood on the front lines.

Still, what I couldn't get out of my head was that dungeon. Kakeru had said for certain that there were no monsters in this world, and I didn't think he was lying. It was just……

"Um…… could it be our fault?"

"It's too soon to draw conclusions. But there's one thing I can say. With this world's mana density, making a dungeon would be all but impossible. Even I couldn't do it."

Sanctina was probably thinking of something different.

To begin with, dungeons came in types — broadly, the naturally-occurring kind and the created kind. The created kind was what elves and the demon race built in imitation of naturally-occurring dungeons. In most cases they were only built so the creator could shut themselves away.

I still couldn't say anything for certain, but from what I'd seen through the far-sight magic, that one was probably a naturally-occurring dungeon.

"So you mean it was already there?"

"I'd put it at a ruins-type, rank one dungeon. For a dungeon to form — naturally-occurring or created — takes years at the very least. With this world's mana density, it might take even longer. It's only been a few days since we came to this world, and more than that, Kakeru was summoned to that world on the very same day. Pinning it on our influence is a bit of a stretch."

The world was well-made. Built so that it wouldn't perish from sudden change. I didn't know this world, but factoring in its advanced civilization, I could guess that changes of this sort were probably rare.

It would have been a different story if this side's magical technology were higher. But at this mana density, I couldn't believe its magic was more advanced than ours.

"I'd like to investigate it. That dungeon."

This world might be far more complicated than Kakeru realized. Then again, it was the Hero's world, so maybe that was only natural.

And that thing might just turn out to be the key to sending the girls back over there.

This was getting a little interesting. What a Hero was, what a Demon Lord was. Mysteries that had gone unsolved since the dawn of recorded history over there — maybe they could be unraveled here.

Side: Amahashi Kakeru

When I stepped outside, the school was in an uproar, police and firefighters having rushed to the scene.

It seemed we were the only ones who'd fallen underground, and when we showed ourselves along with the teacher, a wave of relief spread through the crowd.

Where we'd come out, there was nothing but a staircase, like the kind you'd take down to a basement. The police and firefighters were talking with the teachers about closing off the area for the time being, the spot where the fissure had opened included.

"Amahashi-kun, that thing just now. It wasn't a dream, right?"

I was about to head for the changing room to get out of my gym clothes when Horii-san called out to me.

"I don't think it was a dream, but……"

How was I supposed to explain it? Say we'd been attacked by a Lesser Goblin? Say we'd been attacked by monsters that made no sense at all?

That had unmistakably been a Lesser Goblin. Why was one in this world?

Kitamura and Aizawa-san would probably just tell the police what had happened, plainly. Horii-san, I think, hesitated a little. Say there'd been monsters and you'd have your sanity called into question.

"Well, never mind. Thanks for earlier."

I'd started thinking it over, but when Horii-san straightened up and thanked me, I decided to take it as good enough for now.

"Don't worry about it. My body just moved on its own."

Maybe from here on I'd be better off not standing out. The thought came to me, belatedly. Still, it was probably a habit from being the Hero over in that world. I'd just moved without thinking.

After that, we were taken somewhere else and questioned, and Kitamura and Aizawa-san told the teachers and police exactly what they'd seen — that they'd been attacked by something bizarre.

To be honest, the teachers and police listened to us in earnest, but I think they were worried we'd panicked, or maybe hit our heads.

After the questioning, we got checked out at a hospital just to be safe, and by the time we returned to school the sun was already tipping westward.

Horii-san's and the others' families had come to the school. It seemed they'd been given the rundown of everything.

Horii-san and Aizawa-san reunited with their families, all smiles, and Kitamura looked a little sheepish. Well, a lot had happened, but I was glad I'd helped them.

I didn't have any family coming for me. If Grandpa and Grandma were still alive, they'd have worried, I figured.

No point dwelling on it. I figured I'd check in with the teacher and head home, and when I looked around, I got a shock.

"Kakeru, good work out there."

"Filia? Why?"

Filia was chatting cheerfully with my homeroom teacher. I couldn't quite process it. What had happened?

"Ah, sorry. When we called Amahashi's emergency contact, Filia-san picked up. We explained the situation and she came down."

Right, my emergency contact was the house I lived in now. Grandma was supposed to be there. So the teacher had called it. Wait — was this okay?

"To think Amahashi had someone staying long-term as a homestay through his grandparents' connections. We'd been worried, since we'd heard the grandmother who raised him had passed……"

Whether it was thanks to the magic item, or thanks to Filia's way with words, or both — it looked like she'd explained the situation away nicely.

So everything was settled for now……?

"Amahashi, you…… what's the deal! That gorgeous woman!!"

Or so I thought — until Kitamura came charging up to me with a look of disbelief on his face. Thanks to that, Horii-san and Aizawa-san turned their attention this way too.

Huh? What about the magic item's effect? Wasn't it magic that kept people from suspecting anything or finding anything off? I looked at Filia in spite of myself, and she had a wry smile on her face.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Filia. I've been doing a homestay at Amahashi-san's place since last Saturday. Pleased to meet you."

"Uh, ah, yes! It's a pleasure to meet you!!"

Kitamura was visibly smitten, and that was when it clicked for me. The people around them would recognize the girls all the same. They wouldn't find anything off about their presence, wouldn't suspect them — but apparently taking a liking to them could still happen normally.

But man, Filia. Her people skills were impressive. This was supposedly her first time setting foot outside since coming to a strange other world, and she'd been communicating smoothly with the teachers and all.

"Well then, let's head home, Kakeru."

"Uh, ah…… yeah."

Led by Filia, who bowed her head to the teachers and to Horii-san's and the others' parents, I ended up heading home.

Once we were out the school gate, I let out a breath.

"What a disaster, huh, Kakeru."

"Yeah, well. There's a lot I want to talk about."

"Let's save it for after we're home."

I'd actually meant to go look for the girls' smartphones today, but…… tomorrow would do.

I decided to buy groceries for dinner and head back.