Kaoruko stared at the Arkdragon and elf, and looked a bit surprised when they mentioned her. Maybe she was nervous about being in the same car as the women from a fantasy world. It wasn’t often that most people found themselves surrounded by mythical beings, after all.
“Oh, no, I actually woke up in my bed,” stated Kaoruko. “I was just talking about how strange it was and wondered if it really was a dream at first.”
Even I had wondered about that. They hadn’t been around when I woke up that morning, and I even saw that my front door had been locked. That meant we had gone to the dream world in my bed, but they woke up in their own beds at home. That was indeed strange but convenient. I didn’t want everyone crowding the bed, and I liked taking my time when waking up. Could that be why? Did some higher power make room for us so we could wake up comfortably?
I felt like someone managed our transportation to the dream world. For example, I had fallen into lava and ended up in a safe place some distance away the next time I visited. With the Ichijos, I felt some personal emotional input played a role, where someone decided it would be better to have them wake up at home. If I ever got the chance to meet this mysterious administrator, I would like to ask them what this all meant.
Shortly after, I tapped on the steering wheel and said, “Hmm. So you wake up from your dream if you fall asleep on the other side, even if I’m not there. Maybe you’re just like me, then. If I die, fall asleep, or get vaporized, I wake up in my bed.”
“I-I would like to avoid dying. That’s scary, even in my dream,” said Kaoruko. “But when my husband took a nap, he said he fell asleep normally. I know I had a poor choice of words earlier, but I sometimes think about how I’d love to go play in that world with you two. Please protect me if I do visit again, Kitase-san.”
She sounded rather enthusiastic about it. I was all for it and was looking forward to showing them around the dream world, but there were a few things I wanted to know first.
“I wonder why you don’t go back to your world when you take a nap there,” I said.
Marie, who was eating snacks in the seat beside me, looked at me with a confused expression. She licked her finger, then turned toward the back seat.
“Come to think of it, I’m not sure. I wonder how it works?”
“That is how it works for me as well. Without Kitase, I could not have returned to Japan or my world. Perhaps those from Japan and us are treated differently. Our world is a dream realm from the perspective of those from this world, but we obviously do not see it that way. I wonder about that sleepy-looking Kitase there. Just look at his face. If he dies in Japan, I would not be surprised if he woke up in our world, mumbling about how well he had slept,” said Wridra, pointing at me in the back mirror.
I also caught Kaoruko giggling through the mirror. Did I really look that sleepy?
Kaoruko was a huge fan of video games, and it was dawning on her that she could visit a fantasy world whenever she wanted. She looked at me with a twinkle in her eye and asked, “Do we get to choose any skill we want? I’ve always wanted to be a magic caster!”
“Well, you are in luck,” said Wridra. “It just so happens that Marie and I are adept magic casters. Though, I suspect your trait would be closer to that of an elf.”
That reminded me of the incident a long time ago when Kaoruko had seen an ice spirit that shouldn’t have been visible to ordinary people. I remembered talking about how she might be well attuned to spirits. Curious, I joined in on the conversation.
“I’d always traveled solo, so I don’t know anything about my trait. I didn’t have opportunities to see other people’s skills. Is it like a person’s natural-born talent?”
“Indeed. It is an ability with high potential to develop and can become one’s defining characteristic. While it could become a worthless skill, it could be charming and useful in its own way. I do not recommend forcing yourself into an archetype such as a Knight or whatever else is popular nowadays.”
I thought knights were cool and wished I could have been one. If I had been bigger, I would’ve liked to wield a metal shield and giant sword. Come to think of it, my weight limitations weren’t as strict anymore after my movement skill had changed.
“Yeah, I’ve decided. I’m gonna get a cool set of armor and cape―”
“No,” interrupted Marie, making my resolve vanish like a wisp of smoke. I looked over to find the elf girl making an “X” with her arms, and a bead of sweat rolled down my face.
“I hate the thought of you wearing such an outfit. If you buy something like that, I’ll write ‘Kazuhiho’ on your helmet.”
“Marie... I wouldn’t just be doing it because I think it looks cool. It’s so I can protect everyone...” I tried to explain, but she wasn’t having it.
“I’ll write ‘Kazuhiho is here’ on your cape too.”
It was no use. Marie wasn’t backing down from this one.
I told her I gave up, and she nodded as if she had been expecting it. Wridra and Kaoruko also nodded. Women didn’t understand that guys loved that look. I believed it was more unnatural to roam around the dungeon in casual clothing. Still, I couldn’t get any of them to agree with me.
As I expected, we slowed down quickly. By the time we passed Kinshicho Station and the Sumida River came into view, we encountered heavy stop-and-go traffic. Instead of getting frustrated, the passengers seemed to have a good time.
“I’ve always felt you were someone special, Ms. Wridra. You seem even more wonderful now that I know you’re a dragon,” said Kaoruko.
“Hah, hah, there are many dragons out there, but very few are as intelligent as I am. You have quite the discerning eye,” responded Wridra, touching the tip of Kaoruko’s nose. Just then, Kaoruko pressed her palms against her cheeks and squealed.