1
The odd pair of women resumed—or began, in Izumi's case—their long trek down the gorge. After about half an hour had passed in peaceful silence, Yuliana deemed their earlier argument settled and the time ripe for further questioning. Though she was technically the escort to the “visitor”, there was no way to get lost in the straightforward ravine, and so she often found herself trailing behind the older woman instead, occupied with trying to judge what manner of a person she was dealing with.
“What do you mean to do from now on?” Yuliana asked.
“Let's see,” Izumi looked up at the gloomy skies and pondered, “firstly, I suppose we need to find some food, shelter, and rest, in that order. It doesn't look like my body is any different from usual, so I'm getting pretty tired and hungry already.”
“That's not what I meant, exactly,” the knight princess said. “On a broader scale. What do you mean to do now that you are in another world? How do you plan to live your life in a place you know nothing about?”
Deep down, Yuliana had wished for a more compliant champion, something akin to a servant, a faithful, steadfast knight who would accept her as his commander without question. Someone who would patiently listen, do his best to understand and support her in her endeavors. Someone, well, reliable.
Now that I am here, allow me to become your sword and shield on your noble quest! Since I know nothing about this world, I shall depend on your guidance, o' beautiful maiden! I will learn from you and so find my place in your world.
Something along those lines.
From the moment I first laid my eyes on you, you have been on my mind without rest. I...I never wish to part with you again! The goal of my new life should be to be of use to you! Nothing could bring me more joy...
No, that was clearly going overboard already.
Yet...the summoned “hero” wasn't even male.
“My plan?” Izumi muttered. “Ah, that's right, the protagonist needs to have a goal, right? Something important and compelling that gives our journey a purpose and keeps the audience hooked. I wrote down a bunch of ideas for that when I was still in high school, depending on how the situation would pan out. But really, none of that feels very important to me anymore. Since I'm here now, I guess I'll just explore the world and have fun for as long as I can.”
“Er...” Yuliana couldn't believe her ears.
Have fun? What kind of half-baked “champion” was she? She sounded more like a pampered loiterer.
“Listen,” the princess said. “If you're looking for a purpose, perhaps I can give you one. But before I may do so, you must first learn to understand the world you've gotten yourself into.”
“Uh-huh. You mean, the world you’ve gotten me into.”
“It was not by my choice! But, ahem. Please listen. This world is called Ortho. A world of many continents and seas, it's shared by numerous independent nations and many different races. Some good and noble, others varying degrees less so. Some even hostile to all the others.”
“Isn't that how every world is?” Izumi said while covering a long yawn.
“...I have been wondering this since a while ago, but is this not your first time being summoned into another world?”
“It is, though.”
“Then please try to take this a little more seriously. You would be in great trouble out there without even knowing the basics, right?”
“I suppose so, yeah.”
“Where was I? Ah, yes. Somewhere approximately thirty thousand years ago, all the races in the world were united and lived together upon a great continent called, 'Galanthia' in the olden tongue, or 'the Golden Land'. The Divines and Gods all walked among us, and people were said to have been far more advanced than we are today. But unfortunately, that time is now past. It is not known what caused it, exactly, as no written records exist from those days, but there came a war, the War of the Gods, which nearly destroyed the whole world.”
“What a surprise.”
“It's our history, I didn't make it up!”
“How convenient would it have been, had I been summoned to that 'Golden Land' instead? No, is the twist going to be, 'it was Earth all along, just in the future!?'”
“I have no idea what you're talking about...But if everything was fine and well, there would be no need to call for help from other worlds, would there?”
“Well, I'll give you that.”
Yuliana couldn't understand. Izumi should have known nothing about Ortho, so why did she act like she had heard the story before, many times? Yuliana always thought it was a thrilling legend, one she had made her grandfather tell her over and over again when she was a child. And it was not just any made-up fable, but real, true history, the way it happened.
“Either way,” she continued, “the great continent was torn apart in the war, much of lost in the sea. Wonderful, enormous cities were reduced to ashes, all the knowledge and arts with them. Many magnificent races, sentient and beasts, went suddenly extinct. Even a great number of the Gods themselves ceased to exist. The creation was only barely saved in the end.”
“Evidently, it was.”
Ignoring Izumi's remark, the princess continued,
“The Gods recognized that they were not immune to vices, and that the power they possessed was too great for the physical world. So they made the Covenant.”
“Covenant,” Izumi repeated, still without much enthusiasm.
“That's right. The Covenant, the defining event of our civilization. The Gods withdrew into another realm they made with their powers and vowed never to interfere in the affairs of the worldly races, no matter what should happen. Instead, they allowed the inhabitants of Ortho to govern themselves.”
In other words, there are no gods left, or anyone else who can prove that this ever happened, Izumi thought, but didn't feel like picking a fight on purpose. The princess seemed convinced the story was true.
But Yuliana was better at reading people than she expected.
“Oh, I know what you are thinking,” the princess snidely glanced at her and said. “Nobody can prove this ever happened, right? Well, they can. Because the Covenant is still in effect today, even after thirty millennia.”
She was only repeating her old teacher’s argument, though.
“Hmm?” Izumi raised a brow. “What does that mean?”
“During the War of the Gods, the very core of Ortho received a crippling blow. Though the Gods swore never to interfere with this world again, the world couldn't keep on existing without the presence and support of its makers. If the Gods all left, the remaining lands would begin to collapse and everything would die. Keeping that from happening was also the purpose of the Covenant. And so, to both hold their word and sustain the lands, the Gods gave us the Trophaeum.”
“The trophe...What's that?”
For the first time, the woman seemed a little invested in the conversation.
Encouraged by this notion, Yuliana explained,
“Far at the ends of the western continent, across the sea, stands a titanic tower called the Trophaeum, a surviving relic from the Golden Age. Once every thousand years, nations of the world send their champions to conquer that tower. And whoever succeeds in reaching the very summit on the Night of the Covenant is said to obtain the power to nourish the world, prolonging and stabilizing its existence for another thousand years.”
“Ohhh, right, it's like that...” Against expectations, the grand revelation only made Izumi sigh and relax the tension that had sneaked up her shoulders. “And let me guess, you're going there, Yule?”
“Are you going to keep calling me that...?”
“It's a pet name! Isn't it cute?”
“Be serious! Like I said, this is an important matter! Yes, it is precisely as you have guessed. It has been a thousand years since the Covenant was last enacted, and I am on my way to challenge the Trophaeum as a (tentative) representative of the human race. I even managed to gain Lord Aiwesh's blessing. But it is an immensely difficult task. I'm afraid I'm going to need all available aid to succeed.”
“You do? Even though you got such a cool-looking, clearly five-star familiar? Couldn't she mess up that tower thing by herself?”
“What are you saying, my Lord is not a familiar!” Yuliana gasped in shock and shuddered. “Don't even joke about that! Terrible things will happen!”
“She's not?”
“No!”
“Then, she's a god?”
“No, the Divines are not Gods. It's a complicated matter. What I'm trying to say is, that to succeed, I cannot simply rely on the powers of others. To prove my worth, I must conquer the Trophaeum with my own strength. And for that, I'm going to need a good weapon. In other words, the Amygla. Yes, the one in your hands.”
“Is this some kind of magic sword?” Izumi held up the blade again. “It's weirdly light for such a big thing, I guess, but does it do anything special?”
“Light…?” Yuliana grimaced. Aren't you just weirdly strong? “No, it's not a magic sword. It was forged by the elven smiths of Amarno more than eight thousand years ago, of rare ore that fell from the stars. So the legends say. They also say its durability knows no equal. But disregarding its origin and constitution, it's just a sword. Well, it's not just a sword to me. It's the symbol of my kingdom, an heirloom of the royal family—my family. It's intimately bound to my nation and identity. I couldn't imagine challenging the Trophaeum using anything else. Which is why I must have it back.”
“I see, I see,” Izumi nodded. “That's a cool backstory indeed. You're such a brave girl, for all the things you're willing to do for your country and the world. There, there.”
“Don't pat my head!” The knight princess brushed Izumi's hand off. “I'm telling you to return the sword to me!”
“Well, that I can't do.”
“What do you mean, 'can't'? Did my story mean nothing to you? If it's only your personal safety you're worried about, then aren't there plenty of weapons in the world? No matter how you look at it, I need the Amygla more than you do!”
“I wonder about that,” Izumi shrugged. “The way I look at this tale, there was nothing threatening you, the princess of a cozy little kingdom. Yes, this quest of yours sounds pretty dangerous, but nobody's forcing you to do it, right? Even if you don't become the champion of the human race, won't somebody else, sooner or later? I figure there are more than enough volunteers. Then all the hassle and pain you're bound to face is purely self-inflicted, isn't it? You'd throw away your life in a generic tournament arc, which honestly smells like a big scam to me. By giving the sword back to you, wouldn't I only be enabling a suicide? Meanwhile, I, a lonely old woman, need the weapon to survive in a strange and hostile world! What guarantee do I have you won't simply abandon me here, tired, hungry and penniless, the second you get what you want?”
“That's...” Yuliana fell silent.
Not because she had actually intended to abandon the woman, but mainly because she hadn't thought about the matter that far in the first place. What would Yuliana do with her? The decision to summon Izumi hadn't been hers, but then again, as the vessel of Aiwesh, Yuliana undeniably had some responsibility in the matter.
Moreover, the code of chivalry bound her to help those in need. There was no way they could simply go their separate ways after what happened. Yet, there was no way Yuliana could drag this woman with her to what was so aptly described as a suicide mission. The “champion” was clearly not even willing.
Either way, one of them was going to have to give up on her wishes.
Oh, for goodness' sake...
“Fine,” the princess made up her mind. “Then how about this? After I escort you to the nearest town, I shall take it upon myself to find you a proper place to live in. I should have enough coin to provide for your needs, however long you should like. That's good enough, isn't it? You will have a safe haven, where you may get accustomed to your new life at your leisure, and won't be needing the sword anymore.”
“It's not a bad offer and I really appreciate your generosity,” Izumi immediately answered, “but I'm going to have to refuse.”
“And why is that!?”
“Why, why, why, there's nothing but that from you, is there?”
“What else do you expect me to say? I believe it to be a very fair deal! A dream too good to be true for most people.”
“Well, I'm not 'most people' and I don't think it would be any fun at all, being holed up in some shady backwater village, all by myself. That'd be no different from how it was at home. Boring! Don't wanna! Like I said, I'm going to go explore and see everything there is to see about this world! So I'm going to need the sword more than you do.”
“You would refuse stability and security in favor of traveling under the constant shadow of death, with no particular goal or reason?” Yuliana sighed. “You must be the maddest person I've ever met. Or have you already lost your will to live?”
“That's the pot calling the kettle,” Izumi replied. “You're pretty odd to me too. Why is it that you, of all the people in the world, must go to that tower, or whatever? You said every nation is sending their champion, right? Then does it really matter who saves the world in the end? Do you just want power?”
“That's...” The girl paused for a bit. “...Well, I cannot deny it. You are right. I want power. But not for my own sake, dubious as it may sound. The thing is, according to the legend, whoever conquers the Trophaeum and receives the power to resuscitate the world, will also be allowed to have any one of their personal wishes granted. No matter what sort of wish it is.”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“Right, right. I was wondering what the catch was. Of course, nobody would bother without a bait like that.”
“It is a reward for valor, not a bait!”
“So Yule has a wish only a godlike power can make happen?”
“That's right,” Yuliana nodded. “I do have one. A wish that would be impossible without.”
“And what is it? You're not keeping it a secret, are you?”
“I see no reason to hold secrets from you. No, I will tell you, Lady Izumi.”
“Um, could you stop with the 'lady' thing? It's really weirding me out.”
“It is? Then would Mrs Izumi be more appropriate? It's a bit difficult to pronounce, if you pardon me.”
“If you're going with that, it should be Ms Izumi, though,” the woman corrected her.
“Eh?”
“I'm not married—is what I'm saying.”
“Ah, pardon me,” Yuliana quickly apologized. “I'm very sorry for your loss.”
Somehow, a strange misunderstanding had happened, making Izumi frown.
“No, I'm not a widow either. I was never married in the first place.”
“Eh...Haaaa!?” Yuliana staggered. “W-what do you mean, you were never married? Your world doesn't know about marriage? Then, how do your loved ones legalize their relationships? S-surely they don’t just fornicate with whoever they come across like beasts?”
“I should be more surprised that your world has that kind of marriage too. No, that's not important, is it? Our people do get married, alright, but I never did, that's all.”
The princess's confusion only deepened.
“Why? How? You don't like men?”
“Setting my preferences aside, it's just a bit hard to marry when nobody has ever proposed to you. Or more like, because you've never had a date in the first place...”
“But that's—impossible, isn't it!?” Yuliana couldn't wrap her mind around the idea. “Does that mean you have no children either? Just, how can that be? It's absurd! I mean, at your age...Did your people keep you locked up in a dungeon or a tower? Was your father such a tyrant? Or were you cursed at birth by an evil sorceress? Oh, how awful...I am truly sorry for bringing up such sorrowful memories…!”
“No, it's a sore topic, that's for sure, but not the way you think...”
In Yuliana's world, it was common for girls to marry by the time they became of age, at fifteen. The children of nobles would often become engaged already at twelve or thirteen, sometimes as early as nine. Considering the low average life expectancy for both sexes, being unmarried still in adulthood was simply weird. A maiden had to be either a nun, a witch apprentice, or otherwise burdened by exceptional, unnatural conditions.
In Izumi's case, the story was simple, however.
Not like nobody ever showed interest.
Just, Izumi would summarily reject every candidate without exception until the end of high school, by the logic that she would have to split up with them anyway once the time came to depart for the other world. Expecting a couples' ticket would've been too much asked if the partner even wanted to go.
Worse yet, what if such a golden opportunity was presented to her, only for her to realize she no longer wanted it because of love! She could've turned down a literal miracle because of a momentary emotion! What a tragedy!
No lingering attachments—such had been her rule.
And there was always the chance that virginity was one of the necessary conditions to become a “chosen one”. It was a fairly common topic in fantasy tales, after all. Spoiling her chances because of an instance of carnal desire really would have been too bad.
When she got into her twenties, no portals to another world had appeared, and her biology was starting to get demanding, Izumi got more relaxed with her conditions.
However, by that point, she also discovered it was hopelessly too late.
The social networks she had failed to build during her school days wouldn't help her meet potential partners. Nobody would randomly approach her out on the streets either, or come pick her up from her house, of course.
Instead of going to college, like most people she knew, she went on to study martial arts, kenjutsu, and various other archaic, marginal activities. Those hobbies provided contact with lots of new people, yes, but training was training, she wasn't keeping her eyes open “that” way while building her stats.
There was an occasional attempt, both ways, but the already cemented peculiarity of Izumi's personality and the lack of realistic, long-term goals in life ensured nothing ever came of it.
Then Izumi turned thirty and became a walking human-repellent.
Which brought us to the bitter result.
By her thirty-eighth birthday, Itaka Izumi remained an unmarried, kissless virgin.
Maybe she really was cursed?
Sometimes, deep down, she found herself hoping that someone would take her by force, make her abandon her senseless lifestyle and drag her out to where real life and everyone else was waiting, spell out loud what she already knew—that she had to get a grip and live as a human being on Earth.
Nobody did. It wouldn't happen.
Getting so involved with someone, taking responsibility for their life, what real person with a life of their own would be willing or able to tackle a burden that heavy and emotional?
One Monday morning, looking in the bathroom mirror in her small, shady apartment, Izumi unexpectedly reached enlightenment.
“That's right, why would I need anybody?” the Izumi in the mirror had told her with a hollow smile. “All men should just go die. All happy couples should burn. Hahaha.”
A mysterious sense of joy and relief, like the warm flames of a bonfire, had filled her upon that realization, and Izumi had at once become freed of all pain, stress and anxiety for the future.
There was something rather sinister about those flames, but she didn't pay it mind. What was and what was going to be ceased to matter.
There was only the present, where she was perfectly alone, perfectly in balance—and perfectly free.
From that point on, her life became almost frighteningly light to bear.
Even taking life—had become frighteningly light.
“More importantly,” Izumi pushed her recollections aside, “does that mean you're already married, Yule?”
“That naming sense is going to stick, isn't it?” Yuliana responded with a sigh. “I am engaged, yes. Formally, at least. My husband was already chosen for me before I was born, from among the nobles of the kingdom. But though I am already nineteen, we have not been wedded yet. I delayed the ceremony the best I could. Because...Well, because my wish to the Covenant would make a wedding impossible. My father, the King, was vehemently opposed to me leaving on this journey, so I stole the Amygla and escaped the capital on my own.”
“Hence the pursuers,” Izumi nodded. “So what are you going to wish for?”
Without batting an eye, Yuliana announced,
“My wish is to redo my life from the beginning, as a man.”
“Eeh...?”
For once, it was Izumi's turn to be stunned.
“My father was not blessed with a son as his proper heir,” the princess explained. “There is no law prohibiting a queen from ruling, but since ancient times, Langoria has been governed by a king. The citizens might not accept a breach in the line, or me as their leader. The King has never fully embraced me as his child, either. I have never been mistreated for who I am, mind you. Yet, at the same time, I've grown up feeling like a stranger in my own house. A visitor who stays indefinitely, yet who is always expected to leave. Ever kept at a distance, regarded like a fine vase or a flower rather than a person, a friend, family. Even joining the army and becoming a knight officer couldn't change that. I—My only wish now is to free my parents of their shame. Give them a son they may love. Give my people the strong king they deserve, who will make them proud to be Langorians again. I am willing to face any challenge to make it so.”
“You really do love your country, huh?” Izumi said. “Even though they've branded you a criminal for wanting to sacrifice so much for their sake?”
Yuliana looked down, dejected over all the trouble she had caused.
“It couldn't be helped,” she said, “it's not their fault. They wouldn't know my dreams. No way I could tell them either. I just have to make sure I succeed. Then all will be better.”
“I wonder about that, but who am I to say...”
“Shall we do it like this then, Lady Izumi?” Yuliana raised her lavender eyes again. “If you're not willing to part with the sword, then will you bring it with you and join me in my cause? Truth be told, I did not wish to involve you in my country's problems, far less my own. As a knight, I couldn't easily ask you to stake your life. Your summoning was something of an accident, and you bear no responsibility in the matter. I still owe you for saving me as well. Nevertheless, your strength is genuine, as I have verified with my own eyes. If you mean to become an adventurer and there is no turning your head, then what is this if not an adventure of the highest order? I am certain our chances of succeeding would be higher together.”
“You can take on this tower challenge as a team?”
“There are no rules prohibiting it, as far as I know. Even though only one can obtain the reward waiting at the summit and become Ortho's savior.”
“Right. Good to know,” Izumi answered. “I'm not even going to try, though. Thanks for the invite.”
The woman's nonchalant refusal again knocked the air out of Yuliana.
After everything she had said...!
“W-why is that…?”
“What do you mean, why?” Izumi asked in return, as though the answer was clear as day, “I should help you become a man? Why would I want that! You're so cute too! No way. Absolutely not! Never in a million years. Even if I could get my share of the glory, I'm not interested in becoming a god or a savior. That's just boring! I already had my lifelong wish fulfilled, so there's nothing in it for me. Like I said, this whole tournament thing smells, big time. No, thanks. Please give up on it.”
“No good, is it...” The knight princess hung her shoulders in apathy.
Yuliana had believed herself to be accomplished in the way of diplomacy, yet her eloquence had yielded no results whatsoever. Her feet felt a great deal heavier, as they continued their journey.
“By the way,” Izumi suddenly spoke up, “can you tell me more about Ai-chan?”
“Who?”
“Ai-chan,” Izumi repeated.
“You don't mean Lord Aiwesh, do you...?” Yuliana realized and let out a nervous laughter. Izumi shortened the name of a Divine too? Thank goodness, the Lord of Light was a benevolent spirit. Had it been a more destructive Lord, there was no telling what she would have done, for being disrespected by meager mortals. “To be honest with you, I do not know much about her, but is there a specific question on your mind?”
“Don't worry. This is easy. How come you ended up being possessed by an angel?”
“Angel? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the word... In any case, as said, Lord Aiwesh is one of the Divines, 'aesa' in the ancient tongue, a spiritual entity created by the Gods of old, as their servant. It is said that during the Golden Age, there were millions of Divines around the world. And even after the Gods left, when the Covenant was formed, the Divines remained. Each is bonded with a specific 'element', whence they draw their power and sustenance as spirits. After so long, most of them have become barely sentient, invisible faeries that do not deal with people. No different from air or water or whatever element they preside in. But a few are different.”
“Is that so?” Izumi nodded in understanding. “Then, since you're calling her the 'Lord of Light', that means Ai-chan's element is 'light'.”
“You would be correct,” Yuliana nodded. “How should I explain this...? Lord Aiwesh has always been close to our people and also something of a guardian spirit of Langoria. She grants us her blessing and protection in exchange for reverence. Because of that, there was no way for me to take the Amygla without her approval. To do so, I formed a pact with her and became her vessel.”
“Hm? But why's that? Why did she want you as her vessel?”
“I wouldn't dare question a Divine Lord's motivations!” Yuliana cringed. “Though I suppose it has little to do with my personal merits. The Divines are said to at times possess vessels, because as spirits in their natural state, they cannot easily manifest or interact with the physical world. If I am able to pay back to my Lord by aiding her with whatever objective she has in mind, then I will gladly do so.”
“Hmm? But hasn't she totally failed at her job, being a guardian spirit, yet joining hands with a thief and ditching her kingdom?”
Ouch. Yuliana could feel even the normally ambivalent spirit within her shift restlessly.
“Just so you know, as I am her vessel, Lord Aiwesh is present within me at all times. And she can follow our conversation perfectly well, so could you please not insult her too much...?”
“What's she gonna do?” Izumi carried on. “A spirit of light? I know this type. They're the holy do-gooders who are all rainbows and sunshine all the time. Yet she can't even materialize when it's nighttime, or save her own vessel from a pinch, what no-good Divine.”
“H-hey!”
“By the way, why is it that you refer to her as 'Lord of Light'? Shouldn't it be a 'Lady of Light' instead? Or what, is 'she' crossdressing? It's a trap?”
“Are you picking a fight with her on purpose now!? Enough of your slander!” Yuliana was getting angry and frightened at the same time and tried to change the topic by quickly explaining. “Some Divines are called 'Lords' not because of their gender, but because of their rank among the spirits. Lords hold sovereign authority in their element. See, as the Lord of Light, my Lord rules over the entirety of the element of Light, which means that in her presence, no other spirit, monster, or a sorcerer may draw upon the same element unless she allows it. Due to this, when it's daytime, my Lord's power is said to be equal to a lesser God. So I would appreciate it if you didn't annoy her too much.”
“Yet conversely, she can do nothing when it's nighttime. Or without a vessel,” Izumi nodded. “So there are a lot of these Lords in this world? If there are light spirits, does that mean there are dark ones too? Are there many as strong as Ai-chan?”
“It's a complex subject, much debated by the scholars,” the princess reservedly answered, “and to be perfectly honest, I didn't even believe the Divines were real until I met my Lord. Of course, every little town and village out there will claim there's a Divine watching over them, but whether that's true or not is another matter. I have never seen another Lord, at least.”
“I see, I see,” Izumi nodded again. “Then, anything else you could tell me? Listening to you talk is almost making me forget how much my feet hurt.”
“...Our world really doesn't matter much to you, does it?” Yuliana gave the woman a look of deep disapproval.
“Don't get upset,” Izumi evaded her glare and stopped to shake a stone out of her slipper. “The setting does sound pretty cliché to me, yeah, but I have to confirm all kinds of things to get by, don't I? But I'm reeeally getting sleepy and hungry here, and I'm always grumpy when I'm sleepy and hungry. Is it going to be long until the next town? Don't you have anything edible with you?”
“I lost my supplies when I abandoned my horse,” Yuliana answered. She was beyond exhausted herself, after a long day on the run. Manifesting Aiwesh at night took a great deal of her own vitality as well, and her arm and leg still hurt from the fall. Fortunately, the presence of the Divine also boosted her body's natural healing faculties, so she should've been fine by the next morning. Moreover, she was a knight. She had to endure this much without complaints.
“Fortunately, it shouldn't be much longer now,” she said. “We should exit the gorge soon, on the outskirts of the principality of Luctretz. There is a town, Grelden, close to the border. My father's knights will not pursue us that far, provided more are even coming.”
As the princess predicted, they soon stepped out of the gorge for a view over vast expanses of land. Cultivated fields extended from the root of the small mountain range all the way to the unseen horizon. And northeast from where the two women stood, around a narrow river streaming down from the cliffs, was a tidy, cozy-looking town, about a mile across, protected by a circular stone wall and smaller settlements around it.
Or, that's what they would've seen, had it been day.
In the dark, rainy night, only the lights of the town and the pale shapes of the nearest fields were visible, the rest of the details smeared together into a dark gray mass carpeting the land.
Admiring the view anyhow, inhaling deep of the fresh, damp night air, Izumi couldn't help but laugh. It was relieved laughter, but also a bit pained. It had taken a long, long time, but she was finally here. She was really here. Her dream had come true. Everything before her was completely unknown and new to her. A world waiting to be conquered.
It hadn't been only her madness.
“What's funny?” Yuliana asked with a questioning look in her eyes. “Not up to your tastes? The town.”
“No, it's only just starting to sink in,” Izumi said. “I'm not asleep right now, am I?”
The princess couldn't hope to understand. Beside her stood someone, who had been snatched from her home by supernatural powers, cast straight into battle, into rain and cold, in an alien world with mysterious forces, and no guarantees for the future. She had every right to be upset, angry, distressed, shocked, and dejected—and then some.
So why, why did this Itaka Izumi look like she could barely contain her excitement?
What a weird “champion”.