As I awaken, I spot Kumako with a goofy expression on her face as she indulges in her sleep.

“Hm?”

Looking around, I notice a glow that resembles the early morning light.

“Damn!”

I hurry to my feet, and as soon as I step out the tent, I find Shigenobu and Hagisawa standing watch as if nothing had happened.

“Ah, you’re up?” Shigenobu asks.
“My turn! I overslept!” I say.
“Don’t worry about it. There weren’t any mamono and Kumako didn’t notice anything either.” Shigenobu says.
“I thought that something like this might happen! By condensing the holy water that repels mamono, I created Holy Water Plus!”

Hagisawa brags as he laughs.

He made something like that?

“Well, it would have been pointless if mamono in this are were stronger than us, but it doesn’t look like that’s the case.” Hagisawa says.
“But still, I…”
“It wasn’t a problem. To be honest, you were sound asleep, so we didn’t wake you. Did you sleep well?” Shigenobu asks.
“…Yea.”

I had a nostalgic dream. It was a good dream. Even if it was in a dream, I feel like got to meet Meguru-san.

“This is also all thanks to Kumako.” Shigenobu says.
“…You’re right.”

There’s no denying it.
It’s a fact that I feel relieved.

This and that happens and noon comes around.
We finally manage to escape the forest.

It’s as if the dream I had was a sign we were about to leave the forest… Although thinking like that might be arrogant of me.

“Whoa… It’s the exit!”

A bright meadow gradually comes into view from the dim forest.

There’s something resembling a road… Curiosity hits me as I wonder where it would go if we were to follow it.

Did Taniizumu and the others stop here and go back to the forest? Or did they go a bit further? I can’t say for sure, but there is merit… in continuing.

“We did it! We’re finally out of the forest!”
Some female classmates cheer out.

“Yeah… I wonder if we’ll be able to reach civilization with this?”
“There’s a path! Doesn’t that mean someone made it?!”

We may have reached a field, but that doesn’t mean that the mamono will be any weaker. Stay on guard!” Shigenobu says.
“Still, unlike the forest, knowing where the mamono are coming from will make things easier.”
“That’s true. Let’s try continuing.” Shigenobu says.

With those emotions, we continue through the meadow until a mamono appears. It’s a mamono called Ecru Middle Rat. At a glance, it resembles a Horned Rat without its horn. Three of them appear and attack us.

“Don’t get careless! Stay alert!” Shigenobu says.
“Gau?”

Then, for some reason, Kumako roars at the Ecru Middle Rats.

　

Startled, the Ecru Middle Rats come to a halt upon seeing Kumako. They then turn around and flee.

“Ah, wait!”
I instinctively pick up a rock and throw it.

“CHU?!”

The stone I threw hits an Ecru Middle Rat.
However, that alone end its life.

“Gau!”
Kumako, in responce to my attack, releases a Wind Punch.

“Whoa!”

The attack hits the Middle Rats and sends them flying.

“Looks like they were small fry.” Shigenobu says.
“I guess we were lucky…”

That’s the mindset with which we continue down the road, but all the mamono that appear are small fry.

I think that’s great, but… a village appears while I’m thinking that.

　

“A village…”

A peaceful village of stone houses like one… from medieval Europe? There’s a strange object like a stove at the heart of the village. In the distance, human like beings are present. Further within the village, some clad in armor are walking around.

Who are they? Are they the village’s guards?

“Now that I think about it, we were so focused on getting out of the forest that we didn’t think about it. Can we even communicate with them?”
“Isn’t it impossible?”

We’ve confirmed this other world has inhabitants.
Right… no one seems to have the black hair and black eyes of a Japanese person. If we calmly go into a place like that and introduce ourselves, there will be a panic.

“If it comes down to it, we can explain our situation with gestures. I’ll go.”

At Shigenobu’s decision to represent us, the class representative also raises his hand.

“At times like this, I, the class representative, should go.”
“And I’ll go with you too, just in case.”

I feel uneasy with it just being Shigenobu and the class representative.
When I raise my hand, they both agree. The others will stay behind and watch the situation.

“Gau?”
“Kumako, you might scare them if Yukinari takes you along. You should stay here and keep watch over everyone.”
“Gau Gau!”

Kumako cries out and clings to me at Hagisawa’s words. She really wants to go together with me.

“But…”
“Gau!”

Then, Kumako transforms into her glove form.
Well, I guess this should be fine, right?

“So the bear is that worried about Yukinari. I suppose it’s best if we just leave you to her.”
“Shigenobu, are you drunk?!” I say.

Kumako, don’t jump around so enthusiastically in your glove form!

“Hanebashi-kun, isn’t this a good idea? If the two of you are together, you’ll be able to buy enough time for everyone else to get to use should anything happen. Those familiar with your abilities come with us too.” the class representative says.
“…Got it.”

And like that, a group of us head to the village.
We determine that those suited for battle will not participate in the negotiations. We don’t want the village to thing we are trying to intimidate them.

　

We approach the village, wondering what we’ll do if they end up being hostile.

Yeah, it is just as I saw before. The villagers appear to be Europeans features. No matter how we look at them, they don’t appear Japanese. Their clothes as well… they are not modern. They have a fantasy feeling about them. I think these kinds of clothes are called Bliaut?

“Hm? Are you travelers?”

Suddenly, one of the western-looking individuals talks to us in Japanese, and although appearing to be wary of us, he asks with a smile.

　

Fu, so we’ll be able to communicate after all.

“Oh, right… I would appreciate if you could wait for a moment.” (class representative)
“Sure?”

The class representative then turns towards us for a discussion. He must have the same question as me.

“Looks like we can communicate in Japanese.”
“Though a westerner speaking to us with such fluent Japanese is off putting…”

Just how does he know Japanese? Etto… communication is possible in games and novels, then is there a mysterious power allowing us to communicate like with our abilities?

“This is a strange question, but could you tell us where this is? You see, we were lost in a forest and just managed to escape recently.”
Shigenobu explains on our behalf while the class representative and I nod our heads.

　

At that, the villager drops the bucket he’s holding.

“Umm… When you say forest, do you mean the forest in the direction from where you came? Your apperances, as well as your hair and eye color aren’t very common…”
“Etto…”

The villager looks us over.
Is there anything wrong with coming out of that forest? Now that I think about it, isn’t this getting dangerous?

Getting concerned, I ready my stance. The villager shakes his head and waves his hands at that to reassure me that he has no hostility towards us.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. I think it would be better for the village mayor to explain the situation.”

It is then that we see an elderly man walking towards us.

　

Why do I feel like we’re not welcomed? Are they pretending to not be hostile so that they can lure us into a trap? In any case, something seems to be terrifying them and there is a high chance it is with us.

“What’s this, what’s this… I’m the village mayor. There seem to be some complicated circumstances. Would you be so kind as to slowly explain your situation to my village?”
“Sure…” Shigenobu agrees.

The mayor then proceeds to guide us into the village.

　

It is still not too late for us to contact everyone, have them come, talk for a bit, and check for danger. As for why, this village… this village of the other world is like those from RPG games, but it is surrounded by a strange atmosphere. That is what I think as we continue walking.

　

Further within the village, I notice something akin to a vast training ground for those wearing armor.

The mayor leads us to his residence deep within the village. A muscular knight-looking person clad in full-body armor is waiting there.

“Greetings. I am the commander of the knights who have been stationed here. I have come to welcome you alongside with the mayor.”

We are reflexively alarmed upon seeing someone in full-body armor, but his overly lively voice gives us second thoughts.

　

Who in the world are these people?

“Ah, thank you…” I say
“Well then, I heard all of you came from the forest. Could you tell me what happened?” the mayor asks.
“We don’t mind, but if it’s okay with you, we’d want to ask some things about that as well.” Shigenobu says.

He consiously makes his request with polite speech.

That right.
There is a sense of viligance in the air.

******

Yukinari Hanebashi:
1) Teleport objects /Self to Earth
2) Point/yen conversion. (Tells others it’s a shopping catalogue)
3) Remote viewing
4) Bestowal transfer
boxing gloves: strawberry wallaby medal, kangaroo knight medal, punching bear medal (belt)
Kitchen knife
Meguru’s Metal turtle sword
Baby Blue Punching Bear Punching Gloves

Effect: Dynamic Vision Increase; Wind Punch; Bear Claw; Earth Crash; Wild Sense
Instant Expansion Ability: Kangaroo Step; Boxer
Baby Blue Punching Bear King’s Medal
Effect: King’s Protection; Glove Strengthening;
Enabled: 1 VS 1

Punching Bear Lv 15
Ability: Boxer
Unique Ability: Assist; Insect Killer

Meguru Hiyama:
1) Teleportation
2) Clairvoyance
3) Material transfer (uses pillars of light)
4) Transfer to the other world

Shigenobu Sakaede
1) Black Smith
2) Mining Correction
3) Equipment Strengthening
4) Grant Effects
Hammer??

Minori Himeno: Has a polite/formal way of speaking
1) Healing/recover mana
2) Charge with mana
3) Repair (doesn’t fix missing pieces/chips)
4) Item box
Crowbar??

Dai Hagisawa
1) Craft things
2) Identify
3) Trade
4) Collection Improvement
Hammer??

---

<Chapter 58
Chapter 60>