Like that, 6 days passed without any major problems.
It was rather peaceful. Aside from Balisong's constant advances, of course. That man is persistent, I'll give him that, but I refuse to be 'examined' by him. His ulterior motives are so clear it's sickening.
During this time, I also made sure to follow miss grim reapers warning, trying my best to not make eye contact with anyone. However, it was a lot harder than expected.
Even a slight glance would trigger it, which happens more often than you think.
It was harder than I expected, and I failed a few times too. But compared to when it happened with Calliope, everyone else just ran away screaming.
Better than having my life threatened, but not by a whole lot.
"I wonder if closing my eyes or something would help?" I muttered as I changed out of my hospital gown.
Today was my discharge day, and I was excited. After all, it was another world! The typa shit weebs have wet dreams about!
And it's an urban fantasy instead of medieval fantasy, so the conveniences of modern life are still abundant. And thank god for that, if I had to shit in a bucket, I'd be a very, very, angry man.
"I wonder if they have McDonald's here."
Anyway, upon exiting the hospital, I looked around for a bit and pulled out my GPS. Among the few things that followed me to the other world, my phone was one of them.
Dunno how it's working in another world, but y'know what? I won't question it.
God bless American engineering.
Now, I should probably explain why I pulled out a gps. As it turns out, I didnt walk out of the hospital with only generational debt to my name.
You see, when people spontaneously arrive through the extra dimensional gate, they only have the clothes on their back. No identity, no job, and no place to call home.
As a result, they would be unable to live like a regular person, and start behaving how they usually do.
Which, most of the time, is in opposition to civilized society. Very chaotic, so I've heard.
So, the government decided to make some new laws to turn these displaced newcomers into refined citizens.
They would provide free food, housing, and a monthly allowance for one year so as to let these people adapt to their new environment.
Once they're able to stand on their own two feet, they'd be released into the concrete jungle and everybody hopes they don't cause problems.
Of course there's extenuating circumstances, but that's basically the jist of it from what Dr. Balisong told me, as well as my own extensive research.
As a displaced migrant myself, I'm also entitled to these benefits.
So I'm off to my new residence.
.....
....
...
..
.
"And here we are."
It took a damn long time since I didn't have a car and couldn't afford an Uber, but I made it to one of the hotels hosting people like me.
I looked up at the massive letters on the building and froze.
"Holo Hotel...?"
Huh?
Holo... I've heard that somewhere before, haven't I?
I stood there for a couple of seconds before shrugging.
It seemed to be something from my previous world. It wouldn't help me here.
Speaking of previous world...
Man, I miss earth.
I'm already not the type to travel, but now I'm stranded in another world with monsters and debt, and no one to accompany me.
I tried my best to distract myself, but unfortunately, homesickness isn't that easy to get rid of, and going back to earth isn't an option.
According to my research, the Extra Dimensional Gate changes it's mana frequency every second, with each frequency corresponding to a different world.
And there are (supposedly) an infinite number of worlds.
So the chances of my worlds frequency appearing isn't just small, but infinitely so.
And even if it does appear, it's only for a second. Not even enough time for me to step through.
The odds of going home are so low, it may as well not even fucking exist.
So I have to let it go. I can cry over my circumstances all I want, but thinking about home is just foolish. This IS my home now.
All I need to do is keep going.
When the shitty company I worked at went under, I didn't give up. (Instead I got another job at another shitty company.)
When my greedy landlord doubled rent because I pissed him off, I didn't back down. I exposed him for money laundering and bought a house with what I skimmed off the top.
Even when that same house was blown away by a tornado mid winter, I didn't despair, I stayed at my friends house and eventually got back up on my feet.
I miss my old life. How could I not? Back on earth was everything I had built with my own blood sweat and tears.
"But it doesn't matter now."
All of that is behind me, and it ain't coming back.
My life is defined by struggle, so if I gotta start from zero, if I need to claw my way back up, I will do so without hesitation.
I must move forward.
-Second Blessing [Unburdened] Activated-
Unburdened, huh? That's nice and all, but WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?
"... Tch. That voice won't talk regardless of what I say."
Trust me, I tried every phrase in book.
Taking a deep breath, I cleared my mind and marched through the door, preparing to greet the front desk.
Before feeling a wave of heat smash against my face.
The hotel lobby was on fire.
"AAAAH!! MIKO CHAN WHAT DID YOU DO!?!"
"HOT, HOT!!!!"
I close the door.
I open the door again.
"MIKOCHI!!!"
"WATER!! DOES ANYONE KNOW ANY WATER SPELLS!?!"
I close the door again.
Hm.
"Should I go somewhere else?"
I would, but rent is only free if I stay here.
What a dilemma.
After contemplating for a couple of seconds, I slowly open the door one more time.
The lobby is soaked and there are multiple people with burn marks all over.
Among them is short woman with dark blue hair who has a stone cold expression on her face.
"Again? You started a fire, again!?"
Her voice gradually grew louder as she admonished the person who I assume was to blame.
Wait, what do you mean again?
"Miko-chan, I understand you can be a bit clumsy, but this can't keep happening! We've already had our budget cut due to your all's exploits, at this point I'm gonna have to take some of your allowance!"
"WAAAH, not my money, please!!"
"Then behave yourself! What were you even thinking bringing a bucket of lava into the hotel!?"
"I'm sorry..."
The pink haired shrine maiden apologized repeatedly while bowing down.
Hm, is now my chance?
"Ahem."
"Ah, welcome in, just give me a second."
The woman clenched her fist and held it above her head, before bringing it down on the pink woman.
Her body crumpled as her head was sent straight into the flooring, shattering it.
"Everyone, as you were. Thanks for your assistance Flare."
"Ah, no problem! My water magic isn't all that great, so it's nice to get some practice in!"
"Magic?" My ears perked up.
The blonde, tan skinned elf replied with a happy expression, before walking away with the others, seemingly discussing what just happened.
None of them mentioned the inhuman strength just displayed, nor did they bother to help the shrine maiden who just got folded like a napkin.
"Uh... Is she gonna be alright?"
"Of course. I made sure to put enough force to knock her out for 3 minutes. I've gotten quite good at it."
How many times have you done that to "get good at it"?
I wanted to ask, but I have a feeling that something scary might happen, so I kept my mouth shut.
"That expression... Ah, you must be worried that I'm some sort of brute who only uses fists."
The woman read my expression with ease and soothed my concerns.
"Don't worry, it's exclusively Miko-chan who faces my wrath. She doesn't learn otherwise, you see."
Glancing at the unconscious shrine maiden who seemed to be on the verge of waking up, she hurriedly introduced herself.
"Anyway, my name is Friend A, the general manager, or 'Director', of this establishment. You must be a visitor from another world, correct?"
"Yeah, how'd you tell?"
"The paperwork said you'd be arriving today, and nobody else is stupid enough to step into this place."
"Stupid...?"
"Ah, no offense to you. You just don't know yet."
What the hell is she talking about? Why doesn't anyone come here? Is there something that keeps them away?
Suddenly I remembered dialogue from not even a couple of minutes ago.
"Again? You started a fire, again!?"
"What were you even thinking bringing a bucket of lava into the hotel!?"
No.
Surely this is a one off thing. This can't be the standard, right?
Did I make a mistake?
"There it is. The look of fear."
Miss A seems satisfied with my expression, and turns around to pick up Miko.
"W-wait, are you not gonna explain?"
"Sorry, I don't have much time, I need to put Miko-chan here in timeout before she runs away. Plus, theres a lot of paperwork that needs to be done due to what just happened."
Lifting Miko with surprising ease, she looks back at me.
"Just look for a brown haired woman with a pink lanyard around her neck. Tell them you're a new inmate."
With those words, she walked away with the pink shrine maiden slumped over her shoulder.
"Inmate...?"
When I turned to open the front door, I found that it wouldn't budge. I pushed and pulled with all my might, but only found myself getting tired.
.....
....
...
..
.
"I should have left when I saw the fire..."
I roamed the halls while lamenting what just happened to me.
Friend A, which is an odd name, seemed incredibly busy, as she didn't even have time to explain anything. She mentioned paperwork too, which made me shudder.
As someone who used to work in an exploitative office, the mere mention of writing reports made my skin crawl.
Anyway, I walked through the winding halls, searching for the woman Miss A described.
"Brown hair, brown hair... Ah."
I ran into a woman with bright blue hair. She had on a white and blue japanese sailor uniform with a grey cardigan over it.
When she saw me, I almost made eye contact with her, but I immediately averted my gaze.
for a second, my body screamed danger. My neck experienced a buzzing sensation, like my head would just fall off. My muscles also experienced a strange fatigue, and sweat dripped from my palms.
This woman was dangerous.
I tried to slip past her while looking down, desperate to get away.
But unfortunately, I don't have much luck.
"Excuse me."
I suddenly felt an overwhelming force latch onto my wrist, completely stopping all momentum.
"I've never seen you here before. You must be new here, right? Nice to meet you!"
"Ah, yeah, nice to meet you too..."
I kept my eyes on the ground while keeping a straight face.
I couldn't even risk making eye contact with her. I was certain I'd die the same instant.
"Hm? Is something wrong?"
"Oh, it's, uh, nothing. I just have trouble making eye contact with strangers you see?"
She nodded, seeming to understand before pausing.
"Wait, mister. You don't know me?"
I tilted my head.
"Should I? It's the first time we're meeting isn't it?"
The young woman smiled before her aura darkened. a shiver went down my spine as an almost invisible energy rose from her body.
"No, not that silly. My name is Hoshimachi Suisei, a super famous idol! Don't you know me?"
I have no fucking clue!!! I never gave a shit about idol culture, what the hell am I supposed to say!?!
Suisei's smile widened, but her eyes grew increasingly empty.
In this situation, I realized that saying I didn't know her would lead to a bad end. But claiming I did, and being unable to prove it would likely lead to a worse fate.
At this moment, I almost began to panic, but stopped.
For I had the perfect Alibi.
"I... don't know."
The aura sharpened into an axe like form, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to rise.
"I don't know the idols of this world! I only got here a couple days ago, so I'm clueless!! Please forgive me!!" I almost screamed in desperation.
And she froze.
She stared at me for a couple of seconds, as though trying to discern the truth, before nodding her head she smiling.
"So you're an otherworlder like me? That makes sense."
The darkness receded, and her face returned to normal. The axe-like aura disappeared without a trace.
"Phew! That's good then. For a moment, sui-chan almost thought she had to "reeducate" you."
"Ahaha, w-well that's great then huh?"
Suisei nodded, and I could only laugh along.
"Well, if that's all, then..."
"Of course! Don't let me keep you mister!"
I took 3 steps before I heard her voice again.
"Oh, and make sure to check out my performances, okay?"
"Uh, yeah, sure."
I absolutely will not.
Taking a deep breath, my tense muscles relaxed and I began to reflect on the encounter.
The entire time, I was trying my hardest to keep my eyes away from her face, but sometimes, they drifted over without me realizing.
"Oh, I just realized, you probably don't know your way around right? Let me guide you!"
Her voice reminds me of something, and in the glimpses of her face that I've seen, she seems extraordinarily familiar.
It brought me back to when I first saw the name of this building.
"Mister?"
Holo Hotel... Suisei...
These two things seem inextricably linked in my memory... But in what way?
"Ugh..."
My head ached as I tried to pry my own mind open. Oddly enough, my eyes were throbbing too.
"Hm? Mister, are you okay?" She tapped on my shoulder.
The deeper I looked into my memory, the worse the pain got. But for some reason, I didn't stop.
"Hey, mister."
It feels like I can't give this up! It feels important, like something I absolutely shouldn't forget!
"Mister!"
What is it? What's hiding in my memories?! Who took them from me!!
"Oji-san!!"
"WHAT!!"
A sharp aura cut through my thoughts, and I finally responded to the voice in my ears.
"Are you okay?! Your eyes are bleeding!"
I felt a warm liquid fall from my eyes, and wiped them.
Red.
"Ugh... I uh, think it'll be fine. Probably some leftover damage from-"
I looked up, and found Suisei standing right in front of me.
Looking me in the EYES.
-Activated first curse, [Elders Gaze]-
-Activated first blessing, [Death Instinct]-
"This is getting ridiculous..."
×Chapter 4: Familiar Faces×