Chapter 35

Six days had passed since the last time we were summoned.

Today, we were staying in a small town called Battingen. Well, I say “staying,” but Yoshioka and I were actually heading back to our own world. Over these past six days, we had covered 211 kilometers. That made it 430 kilometers in total from Ebba-berg. We were getting significantly closer to the Royal Capital.

To save on lodging expenses, we decided to have ourselves sent back before checking in. After all, Clara-sama was the one paying for the rooms. Even though the fee was only about 500 Marques, I wanted to lighten her burden as much as possible.

We would be sent back at 5:00 PM local time, arriving back in Japan at 8:00 PM on Saturday, December 18th.

“At what time should I re-summon you tomorrow?”

Clara-sama asked for the time. Even if she sent us back now, it would be 8:00 PM Saturday. We wouldn’t have much time for shopping. If that was the case, we’d have to wait for the shops to open at 10:00 AM tomorrow to source our goods. I’d be grateful if we could have a bit more time.

“I plan to stay in Battingen for another night tomorrow anyway. There is no need to worry about the time. I must give Blitz’s legs a rest.”

Even horses need a break. Blitz had carried Clara-sama, clad in her plate armor, for 430 kilometers. We had to show him some appreciation. I made a mental note to buy some apples—Blitz’s favorite—while in Japan.

“What do you think, Yoshioka?”

“I’ll search online during the night to scout out promising shops for our stock. Once 10:00 AM hits, we can split up and hit them all.”

“Sounds good. So, re-summoning at around 3:00 PM?”

“Personally, I’m fine with 2:00 PM.”

I went with Yoshioka’s suggestion, and the re-summons was set for 2:00 PM Japan time the following day. That would be 11:00 AM in this world. It seemed like the perfect time to bring back ingredients for lunch.

In the small room in the gap, I exchanged the Marques for yen. Five bundles of 100,000 yen and twelve 10,000-yen bills.

“For now, you hold onto it, Senpai. I hate carrying around that much cash.”

I’d feel the same way if I didn’t have Spatial Storage.

“Got it. But what about tomorrow’s shopping?”

If we were going to split up, Yoshioka would have to carry cash too.

“I guess I’ll just put it on my card and have you reimburse me later.”

“But wait, what’s your credit card limit, Yoshioka?”

“Oh, right…”

Credit cards have spending limits. The items we were planning to buy tomorrow were going to be quite expensive. Even if he could make the purchase this time, once we went back to the other world, time over here would freeze. By the next time we came back, he would definitely hit his limit and be unable to buy anything.

“I guess we really have no choice but to stick together.”

Come to think of it, wandering around the city with large bags was dangerous anyway. It would be a disaster if the tableware got broken. Once purchased, the items needed to go straight into Spatial Storage.

“Alright, just send me a message once you’ve decided on the shops for tomorrow’s meeting spot.”

“Understood.”

Talking as we went, we left the small room. Stepping through the red door, we found ourselves in Shinjuku. Yoshioka turned on his smartphone, and I followed suit.

It looked like it would be sunny here tomorrow too. I didn’t even need to check the weather forecast to know; my skill told me.

I parted ways with Yoshioka and headed home. Suddenly, the smartphone in my hand vibrated, giving me a start. It had been a while since I’d felt that sensation, so it really surprised me. Is this what you call “isakai brain fog”?

I looked and saw a message from Emi.

—What are we doing for dinner?

Crap, I’d completely forgotten. In my mind, the last time I’d spoken to Emi was morning about two weeks ago. But for Emi, it had only been half a day.

I really need to think seriously about the two of us. We’re still a married couple. If… if Emi still needs me, then I should give her requests the highest priority. In the worst-case scenario, I’ll have to stop making dangerous contracts even if I go to the other world, and I’ll have to start refusing any long periods of stay.

But, if Emi truly no longer needed me…

No matter the outcome, I decided I would face her properly tonight and talk things through. With the person I was now, I felt I could listen to anything; I felt I would be alright no matter what she said. After all, I had at least six times the courage I used to.

“Hello? Yeah… I’m in Shinjuku now. …Right, I’ll be home soon.”

The Chuo Line pulled into the station platform.

Emi Hinoharu stared at the cold dinner as she thought. She wondered how many days it had been since she had last cooked a meal.

Her husband, who had said he would be back by 7:00 PM, still hadn’t returned even by 8:00. She felt a flash of anger, but reflecting on it, she herself was hardly ever home. The reality was that they hadn’t had a proper conversation as a couple in months.

She had just received a call from him, and from the sound of it, he had been about to board the train, so he would likely be home any minute. Emi was waiting for Kota Hinoharu with a certain resolve, knowing she had to tell him tonight.

The sound of a key turning told her he was back.

“I’m home.”

When she looked up at her husband’s face, Emi was struck by a considerable shock. Did this man always look like this? Was this the result of not looking at his face properly for months?

Without her noticing, his features had become much more intrepid and sharp than the version she remembered. He was kind, yes, but hadn’t he always looked more… unreliable? While she regretted the time they had spent failing to face one another, Emi’s mind was already made up. It was far too late to turn back now.

“Dear, we need to talk.”

When she said this, her husband quietly sat in the seat opposite her.

“I’m listening.”

He didn’t have his usual timid attitude. The strangeness of it made Emi’s heart stir with unease. But… Emi always believed that when you had something clear to convey, you should choose simple words. And so, tonight, she chose the minimum amount of words to tell Kota.

“I want a divorce.”

For a split second, her husband’s body twitched, but he showed no further signs of agitation as he quietly opened his mouth.

“Could you tell me why?”

It was a right he naturally deserved. She felt that at the very least, speaking honestly was one of the few things she could still do for him.

“I’ve fallen in love with someone else. He’s from another company, someone I’m working on a project with.”

They had met eleven months ago. Working on the same job, struggling together, sharing joys—somewhere along the way, affection had sprouted. It wasn’t that she had grown to hate her husband, but she had come to love this other man more deeply.

They hadn’t been physically intimate yet, but he had proposed to her, asking her to leave her husband and remarry him. He had pressed her several times, but she felt she couldn’t move forward until she had settled things with her husband. She had agonized over it for months, but she wanted to be sincere in at least this one regard.

She explained all of this to her husband.

This is bad…

Why is it bad? Because I’m sitting here, and I’m surprisingly calm.

Sure, I’m sad. A woman I love just told me she wants to leave. Of course it hurts. But, I’m not shaken.

This isn’t because of a skill. Is it because I expected it? No, that’s not it either. I had a feeling it would come to this, but it’s not like I was prepared for it. Is it because my heart is already in another world and Emi was just an obstacle? Not at all. Half of my heart was always right here.

Rather, I think my resolve solidified in this very moment. The resolve to live exactly as I want in that other world.

Until now, every time I did something dangerous, Emi’s face would flicker in my mind. I had even thought about turning down the Royal Capital City Guard missions if they seemed too risky. But now, there was nothing left tying me to this world.

Even if I were to cry and scream now, it wouldn’t change Emi’s heart. In that case, I would use the Gifts given to me by the gods and live to the fullest in that other world. That was the resolve I had reached.

Perhaps humans can keep moving forward even while being hurt, as long as they know what they want to do. At the very least, I’ll play it cool at the end.

“I had a feeling it would turn out like this. …Did you bring the divorce papers?”

Emi produced a blank divorce form. She hadn’t signed or sealed it yet.

“I want to set one condition for the divorce, if that’s alright?”

“I’m the one in the wrong, so I’ll make as many concessions as I can.”

Having her say that made things easier. I wanted to cut these lingering attachments as quickly as possible.

“I’ll agree to the divorce unconditionally. In exchange, I want everything finished by tomorrow morning. I don’t need the apartment or the joint savings. I just want to finish everything tonight so I can move forward. Just let me leave with nothing but the clothes on my back.”

My words seemed to give Emi quite a shock.

“Are you… sure about that?”

“Yeah.”

Four years of married life were about to come to an end.

“It feels strange. I’m the one who asked for the divorce, but it feels like I’m the one being thrown away.”

In that moment, what I felt was guilt. It was exactly as Emi said. Just as Emi was abandoning me, I was abandoning Emi.

“This is for the best. It’ll thin out the guilt for both of us, even if just a little, right?”

After signing the divorce papers, I tossed my belongings into the car. I took my mountain climbing gear, my bankbook, a change of clothes, my computer equipment, and a few books. It felt like enough.

“I want you to throw away the rest. Can I ask you to do that?”

“Are you really going already? I never expected things to move this fast…”

“Take care…”

Saying goodbye with those brief words, I felt tears threatening to well up in my eyes. I hurriedly turned on my heel and ran down the stairs. I felt that if I waited for the elevator, she would see me cry.

Once I got into the car and finally caught my breath, I pulled out my smartphone. The person on the other end answered after a few rings.

“What’s up, Senpai?”

“Yoshioka, can I cry on your shoulder?”

The date hadn’t even changed yet.