Chapter 40

The distance covered today was grueling. We walked roughly 42 kilometers, and by the time we reached Lakenhain, the sun was sinking into the western sky, staining the winter-bare groves a deep reddish-purple.

Since it’s the sixth day since our last summons, today is the day we return to Japan. We haven’t had a single chance to sell any merchandise since the last trip, so we won’t need to restock during this return. The effort of having ourselves summoned from the middle of Ginza turned out to be a waste of time. I’ve spent most of my funds anyway, so if I do buy anything, it’ll just be for personal use.

However, I have a lot to do once I get back to Japan. Since Emi and I are divorced now, I have to find a new place to live and move my residency registration. I can’t impose on Yoshioka forever.

We were sent back at 2:00 PM on Sunday, December 19th, Japan time. We returned via the small room in the gap.

Despite walking from dawn until dusk and being bone-tired, Yoshioka’s healing magic has me feeling completely refreshed. Even with the clock winding back to 2:00 PM, I feel like I can still get things done.

“The re-summoning is at 8:00 PM tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah. Back to the office tomorrow… I wonder if I can even function at work.”

Subjectively, it feels like it’s been 25 days since I last went to the office. Since I last punched in on December 17th, only two days have actually passed in Japan. I’m starting to forget my actual job description.

“It was only the day before yesterday that we bought those crossbows in Akiba. It’s hard to believe,” Yoshioka said.

I really felt that. After parting ways with him, I headed to an internet cafe to search for rental properties. I need a parking space, too. Now, where should I set up my base? Near the office would be easy. Ideally, somewhere within walking distance.

Then again, if business in the Kingdom of Saxens keeps going well, I plan to hand in my resignation. My activities over there will become my main focus. But even then, being “unemployed” in Japan might be bad for my image. Maybe I should start a business as a front. I’ll figure that out once I have more money.

Initially, I thought about a weekly or monthly furnished apartment just to tie me over. But apparently, you can’t register your residency at those. You have to move your residency within 14 days of relocating. Even if I spend most of my time in Saxens, it would be… problematic if I suddenly realized I was officially “homeless.”

In that case, it’s better to rent a proper place and move my address officially. Searching near the office’s closest station, a lot of old apartments built 48 or 59 years ago popped up. The rent was cheap—between 35,000 and 45,000 yen. Since I’ll barely be there, maybe this is fine.

Oh, wait. No. No bath.

I’m living a bath-free life in Saxens, so I at least want to soak in a tub when I’m back in Japan. I’ve heard that once we reach the Capital, we’ll have to live in official quarters, which effectively kills our ambition of adding a bath to our house there. At the very least, I want to wash my body properly when I’m sent back to Japan.

Still, it’s surprising how many apartments without baths still exist these days. Yotsuya still has that retro atmosphere if you step just one block off the main road.

Scrolling further, I found a one-room apartment built 46 years ago. Checking the details, the interior had been renovated and it included a unit bath. Rent was 52,000 yen, with one month’s rent for security and key money. Total initial fees were only 31,600 yen? That’s cheap. It felt like enough for a temporary base.

I passed the real estate agency’s screening and moved into Room 201 of “Ikenami-so” that very day. From the outside, it’s a wooden apartment that doesn’t look like much, but the inside is well-renovated. The wallpaper was a blinding white, and the floors were finished with new laminate. I didn’t have a futon, but laying down a camping mat and a sleeping bag made for a perfectly fine “den.”

There’s no internet line, but I can get by with my smartphone for now. Since I was just moving gear from my car, the move was finished in less than 30 minutes. The 13.78 square meters of living space felt strangely vast—maybe because I had so little luggage, or maybe because I was the only one here…

That night, I fell asleep while watching videos online for the first time in a while.

There’s a theory that the necktie originated from scarves worn by Croatian soldiers. It supposedly started with mothers and wives giving them to soldiers to wear around their necks as a prayer for their safe return.

As I tightened my tie for the first time in about a month, I transformed back into a “corporate warrior.” Oh, wait—this was a tie Emi gave me as a present a few years ago…

The office is a 15-minute walk away, so I had plenty of time. I picked out a different tie and headed in. I spent the early morning reading through documents and notes to desperately recall my duties, but there are limits to that. I managed to stumble through my work in a state of total “post-vacation” brain fog.

In my case, I confessed the news of my lightning divorce to my boss first thing in the morning, so he overlooked my minor mistakes with a bit of sympathy. He even graciously gave me the afternoon off to handle the paperwork at the ward office.

And just like that, it was lunch break.

I headed out for a meal with Yoshioka, partly to show him my new place.

“Whoa, it smells like the Showa era in here,” he remarked.

The description was spot on, but I thought, You were born in the Heisei era, kid. He shouldn’t even know what “Showa” smells like. Compared to him, I’m a true child of the final Showa years—born in year 63 (1988).

…I’m really starting to feel the generation gap.

Then again, I wasn’t even conscious back then, so I don’t really know the “Showa smell” either. We’re in this together!

“So, Senpai, how was it?”

“How was what?”

Yoshioka slumped onto the laminate floor, looking utterly drained. I’m sure my face looked exactly the same.

“I can’t do this anymore. Being at the office has been agony for the last few hours.”

I had to agree. The gap in a double life between Japan and an isekai is just too extreme. It gets harder as time goes on. One day you’re having a duel with weapons, and the next you’re expected to compile an analysis report on development progress—it makes your head spin.

“I want to write my resignation letter today.”

“I get it, I really do. But let’s wait until the next deal is a success. If we move all that stock, we’re looking at over 60 million yen. Hang in there.”

While I soothed Yoshioka with my words, I was hitting my own limit.

In the afternoon, I managed to hit the ward office to file my moving-out and moving-in notices. At the very last second, I even squeezed into the Driver’s License Center to change the address on my license. I’m exhausted; I feel like an old man. Honestly, trekking 40 kilometers in Saxens feels less tiring than this. Why is that?

“Yoshioka, Healing Magic, please.”

I couldn’t help but ask the moment I reunited with him at the company gate.

“And a massage for me, please.”

Our grueling day in Japan was coming to an end. Only 21 minutes remained until the re-summoning.

The Count of Bremen was welcoming a friend to his castle. His name was Viscount Dennis Rietz of Merigen—a childhood friend and a long-time rival. The two competed over everything, but it was merely a reflection of the depth of their friendship.

Today, they had gone hunting in the Count’s private grounds. Winter hunting was both a pleasure and a required social skill for the nobility. The day’s haul: the Count had one duck, while the Viscount had taken a deer, a ptarmigan, and a rabbit.

“That was a pleasant hunt. Since my haul was larger than yours, I’ve worked up a thirst. Jurgen, do be a good host and serve some tea before dinner.”

The Viscount requested tea with a light jab, but the Count listened with secret delight.

Here it comes! Enjoy your sense of superiority while you can, Dennis. I’m about to blow your mind.

The Count maintained a nonchalant air as he instructed his butler.

“You heard the man. Serve the Viscount tea. I believe I shall join him…”

The servants had already been strictly instructed to use the newly purchased tea set for the Viscount.

“Regardless, that new bow I bought is a fine piece of equipment. The craftsmen in Bombel do excellent work. Jurgen, you should buy one yourself. It might actually help you catch something for once.”

Normally, the Count would have felt a sting of frustration at the Viscount’s tone, but today it didn’t bother him at all.

“Pardon the intrusion.”

The butler returned, leading maids carrying trays.

“But really, I believe the arrow is more important than the bow,” the Viscount continued his lecture on hunting. “Specifically the shaft. The material used for the shaft affects the accuracy—”

The Viscount, who had been quite enjoying his own monologue, suddenly stopped mid-sentence. His gaze was fixed on the tea set being arranged on the table, his mouth hanging open.

“Hmm? Please continue, Dennis. What happens to the accuracy depending on the shaft material?”

The Count asked with a smile, meeting the Viscount’s look of utter shock.

“J-Jurgen… these pieces… what are they…?”

“Indeed.”

“Wh-where did you get such things?!”

A delicious sense of superiority filled the Count’s heart. You want to know, Dennis? I bet you’re dying to know.

“Never mind that, let’s talk more about bows and arrows. I’m interested.”

“Jurgen! I beg of you, we’ve been friends since we were boys!”

Seeing his old friend crying out so pitifully, the Count finally lost his battle to suppress his laughter.