When I looked back at dramas from the late ’80s and early ’90s, they seemed quite stimulating, compared to modern fare. Perhaps I’d grown too accustomed to them, and that was why I always felt unsatisfied with more recent works. I wondered if that was why a lot of people had gravitated toward anime and manga instead.
“I don’t care if you make me an orphan,” said Magical Pink. “It’s the truth.”
“Grandmother, she agrees.”
“In that case, you’re more than welcome to sleep at my place, dear. Two others already live there, and I have an extra room or three. One more resident won’t make much of a difference. We can discuss your role in the pretend family some other time.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. In fact, there is even one—an adult, old enough to know better—using my home as a temporary residence because he finds moving too much of a pain. I was shocked—shocked, I tell you—when he started having his mail forwarded to my address. The gall!”
Ms. Futarishizuka was looking directly at me as she spoke.
When she put it like that, there wasn’t anything I could say. I knew I needed to find a new place to live soon, but I just hadn’t had the time. I felt bad about not making any progress. Besides, if I wanted a place in the city with proper security, it was going to set me back hundreds of thousands of yen in rent each month, at least.
For a former corporate drone, the psychological barrier to paying that much a month in rent was almost impenetrable. Was it okay for me to live so indulgently? That was the life of an aristocrat. I might have the money, but it seemed wrong somehow.
“Um… Thank you, Futarishizuka,” said Magical Pink.
“Oh! That’s the first time you’ve called me by name. You’ve moved this old woman to tears, dearie.”
Meanwhile, it seemed the magical girl had secured a place to live for the time being. Whether or not she’d really move in remained a question, but I was happy she at least had a place to go. At this rate, maybe I should stay in Karuizawa, too. I could rent an apartment.
“While we’re on this topic,” said Prince Lewis, “may I have a role to play as well?”
“I recommend the position of Elsa’s elder brother. If we treat you two as siblings who live nearby, it will not harm the setting. Entire families can be friends with other residents in their neighborhood—I have seen much literature describing such a relationship as normal in this country.”
“Ah. Very well, then.”
“No, Your Highness!” exclaimed Lady Elsa. “While it may be only temporary, I would never presume to share blood with you, sir!”
“I fear I would be a feckless elder brother, but will you accept me anyway, dear sister?”
“O-of course, sir! And that’s not true at all!”
As always, Lady Elsa seemed to be struggling with how to behave around the prince. Count Müller had probably warned her not to act out of turn around her superiors. I wondered how she would react if we ever revealed Peeps’s identity to her.
“By the way, Elsa, in what manner are we treating the good bird?”
“The bird? He’s our family pet, sir.”
“Indeed. That is my role. You may feel free to address me casually—as simply Peeps.”
“O-oh, my. Chaos indeed…”
The same went for Prince Lewis. His expression betrayed how odd he felt about treating the Lord Starsage as a neighbor’s pet.
After we were done with the pretend family, Peeps and I headed to the otherworld. We’d been going once every three days lately. Unlike in Japan, where I was always rushing around, I’d been blessed with relative comfort in the otherworld. Recently, however, I’d been spending most of my time there searching for a good video idea.
During our last two trips, we’d only managed to make our routine stops—updating Count Müller and delivering diesel fuel to the Kepler Trading Company. I’d tried to practice my magic, but I couldn’t focus, and my results were meager. I’d only managed to memorize the words for a few more spells.
This time, we once again headed to Allestos to deliver Lady Elsa to her father, then warped to the Republic of Lunge and completed our transaction with Mr. Joseph. Once we’d finished our main tasks, we returned to our regular lodgings in Baytrium. We’d probably stayed there for more than a year straight, in this world’s time.
“The change in the flow of time between worlds seems to be slowing of late.”
“A day in my world is about a week in yours, right?”
“Yes. I believe it will continue to stabilize.”
“Do you think it’s related to how frequently we travel?”
“We have also stopped bringing so many large, heavy items along with us.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Before, we would bring a few tons of sugar with us every trip, and that was just one of the goods on our list. We’d also been selling chocolate, manufactured goods, and everything else that caught our eye. To transport it all, we’d had to spend a lot of time making multiple jumps for a single trip.
These days, we only ever brought a few tons of diesel fuel at a time. We stored it in two-hundred-liter drums, and brought it from the warehouse all in one go. We would have had to spend almost an hour operating a forklift to move it all normally, but levitation magic made the task trivial.
“Personally, now I’m wondering if it’s reversible.”
“As am I.”
“Should we try making fewer trips? Just for a little while.”
“I don’t mind, but what of your trade with this world?”
“Oh, yeah. If we reduce it any more, it might cause problems. I don’t want to worry Mr. Joseph.”
“A difficult quandary indeed.”
The fact that Peeps had been collecting data from the start allowed us to investigate the matter quickly. If I’d been alone, I’d probably just be starting to take notes.
“Did you plan on checking the tunnel’s progress?”
It had been over half a year in the otherworld since we last visited the tunnel. I should probably make an appearance, or things could turn ugly.
“Right. Would you mind taking us there, Peeps?”
“Very well.”
With that, Peeps teleported us straight to the Alterian region. A little settlement had formed at the site; aside from the now-familiar lines of tents, we saw several houses and buildings assembled from wood. Structures that had been half-built during our last visit now stood completed—and many more construction projects had begun.
A number of carriages were parked nearby. Facilities had been set up for the horses, too, and they were now tethered and grazing on hay from a trough.
I was able to meet with Mr. French’s father and younger sister right away. In fact, Mr. French himself was with them.
“Sir! Thank you so much for coming so far! Please allow us to welcome you!”
“I didn’t realize you were visiting, Mr. French.”
“I had an errand in Rotan, so I decided to stop by. I’m so happy I was able to get out here. I’ve wanted to come see my father and sister for a long time.”
“I’m glad.”
We were in a wooden building near the middle of the settlement. The tidy room was set up as a reception office; it even had a sofa set, and judging by the fresh woody scent, it was probably produced right here on-site. The two sofas faced each other, and Mr. French sat down across from me, with his father and sister standing behind him. I tried asking them to take a seat, but they stubbornly refused.
“Rotan is brimming with life now, thanks to you,” said Mr. French. “I was in town to meet with Count Dietrich, who is there taking charge of the kingdom’s finances. He told me repeatedly how much he wanted to thank you.”
Wow, I haven’t heard that name in a while. Come to think of it, he’d assumed the post of finance minister at the same time Count Müller became chancellor, giving him control over Herz’s wallet. House Müller and House Dietrich had put their past disputes aside and now handled the country’s affairs in solidarity.
“Sir, Rotan’s renewed prosperity has led to unprecedented levels of trade with the Kingdom of Blase across the border. Herz’s sudden boom seems to have shocked all our neighbors.”
“I’m happy to hear that.”
“And it’s all thanks to you, sir!”
Despite Mr. Joseph’s pessimistic view of the excavation, everyone in Herz seemed to be pleased with it. When Mr. French told me what the workers on-site were saying, I began to feel like it was all worth the trouble.
I glanced at the distinguished sparrow on my shoulder, and he bobbed his head. My work here must pale in comparison to the Lord Starsage’s feats of statesmanship, but I hoped I’d managed to wash away a needless apprehension or two in the bird’s mind.
“Actually, Dad—how is the project going?”
“It is proceeding according to schedule, Viscount French.”
“H-hey! Quit doing that in front of the boss!”
Mr. French’s father bowed reverently before his son, like a subordinate addressing his superior. Actually, it seemed even more formal than that. His son looked shocked.
The father, however, continued to speak in great earnestness. “Our family was elevated to peerage starting with you, Viscount. Before His Excellency, I cannot disrespect the very first Viscount French. And it is only thanks to you and His Excellency that I have a job here.”
“But look—the boss doesn’t know how to react, either!”
“I would ask your forgiveness and tolerance in that regard, Viscount French,” I replied.
“Heh. Maybe you should just get used to it,” his sister cut in.
“How the heck am I supposed to get used to this?!” he exclaimed.
The son’s sudden promotion seemed to be a challenge for the family.
Once we’d finished talking, I decided this was a good opportunity to help out with the excavation. Menial labor felt pleasant after all the mental work I’d been doing lately. I was able to focus solely on using my golem spell to expand the hole. And before I realized it, it was time for us to return to Japan.