Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - Chapter 56

Chapter 56: “Isn’t that a big name?”

“Is it alright not to escort you home?”

“Yes. My mom doesn’t know anything about this side of things, so I’d prefer to keep it under wraps.”

“…I see. I apologize for not being able to greet your guardian, despite borrowing the powers of a minor like Yura-sama.”

“Please don’t worry about that. In fact, it’s better for me if you don’t involve her.” 

Not wanting his mother to find out was one thing, but inadvertently revealing the existence of an angel, Koume, or the aliens Jack and Nancy by getting too close to his house could be far worse. 

It could escalate into a situation far beyond just dealing with a local god. 

There was also one thing he personally wanted to take care of. 

“Then, I shall take my leave for today.”

“I’ll contact you as soon as we’re ready. Please wait a little longer.”

“Thank you.”

Dropped off in front of the middle school, Natsuki bowed deeply to Kaya as he left. 

Given the time, classes were still in session, and it wasn’t yet lunch break.

Kaya had offered to invite him for lunch, but Natsuki, preferring to snack on something bought on the go, had politely declined. 

Dressed in his school uniform, he walked while eating a hamburger and drinking oolong tea. Along the way, he stumbled upon a park where he used to play with Kazuto and decided to stop by, feeling nostalgic.

As he sat on a bench and was about to use his smartphone, 

“Hey, kid, could you spare some change?”

He was startled by an elderly man who had taken a seat next to him at some point.

The man was in the early stages of old age, dressed in a gray suit and wearing a flat cap.

Despite his refined demeanor, his manner of speaking was surprisingly rough.

Yet, Natsuki felt not caution but a sense of fondness towards the suddenly appeared man. 

“You know I’m just a middle school student, right?”

“I can see that. But, you see, I’ve gone and lost my wallet.”

“What about your phone? Your family?” 

“Well, I have a wife, but we had a fight, and I’m sort of on a mini runaway, so no calls.”

“Wow. Well, alright then. Here.” 

Natsuki handed over all 3,000 yen from his pocket, his entire fortune, to which the elderly man responded with a wry smile.

“Kid, not to say anything about you, but don’t you think you’re a bit too trusting? What if I were lying?” 

“People who say things like that usually aren’t lying, I think. I don’t know if it’s enough, but maybe you can get home by taxi or bus?” 

“…Would you get mad if I bought beer at the convenience store?”

“No, I wouldn’t get mad. How you use the money I gave you is up to you.” 

Natsuki believes in extending a hand within his capabilities to anyone in trouble.

He may not be interested in others as usual and dislikes those who are responsible for their own plight, but he has no interest in ignoring those in need. 

For a middle school student, 3,000 yen is a considerable amount, but giving it to an elderly man in need allows him to indulge in a bit of self-satisfaction for doing a good deed. 

“You’re an interesting young man, huh.. That’s great. What’s your name?”

“I’m Natsuki Yura. Nice to meet you.” 

“Ah, I’m Nagi, an old geezer. Nice to meet you too. You can call me Old Man Nagi or Grandpa Nagi, whatever you like.” 

“Then, Grandpa it is.”

“Oh, oh, it’s refreshing to be called ‘Grandpa’ so straightforwardly since I don’t have any grandkids who do that. I like you even more now.”

Smiling, the elderly man who introduced himself as Nagi tucked the bills into his breast pocket.

“But, I can’t be satisfied with just this. Let me tell you something good.”

“…Something good?”

“The gods won’t care if you kill the local god Mizuchi.” 

“…Huh.” 

Natsuki narrowed his eyes, looking at Nagi with interest.

At first glance, he seemed human, but it was clear he was well-disguised.

Despite efforts to appear more human-like, one could sense a divine power within him as radiant as the sun.

Peering any closer felt dangerous, as if one might get burned.

“You’re a god, aren’t you? A high-ranking one at that.”

“What I am doesn’t matter.”

“Right. I’m not too interested, actually.”

“Hahaha, you’re quite the interesting one. Now, the continuation. Go ahead and kill Mizuchi. As a local god, he has devoted over a thousand years to the land. If his soul doesn’t vanish, he’ll be reborn somewhere. Gods are durable, you know. More than humans realize, they can be killed or crushed, but they’ll revive somewhere else.”

“Sounds like a troublesome existence.” 

“Especially gods derived from nature. As long as nature exists and there are humans to revere and fear it, their complete annihilation is impossible. They might become something else, though.” 

Nagi deepened the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes as he spoke to the somewhat bewildered Natsuki. 

“Well, what I’m saying is, don’t worry about it. Humans think killing a god will burden them with karma, but taking a life, whether it’s a god’s or a human’s, the burden is the same. There’s no big or small in it. If you’re afraid of killing a god, then destroying nature is far worse, if you ask me.”

“Ah. When you put it like that, I feel sorry on behalf of humanity, even though I don’t represent all humans.” 

“Hahaha! I’m not saying don’t destroy. I’m just saying, whether it’s a god or nature, the value of life is the same. Just live with gratitude for nature’s blessings.”

Nagi stood up from the bench and ruffled Natsuki’s hair.

For a moment, a big name known to every Japanese flashed through Natsuki’s mind. Then, Nagi put a finger to his lips.

“Right, right, don’t worry if a local god disappears; there’s always someone to take over. Gods are more plentiful than humans know, hidden away.”

“That’s reassuring.”

“There might be some impact, but it won’t be as bad as the Minazuki family head fears, and I won’t let it happen, so rest easy.”

“Thanks.”

“I really like you. Oh, by the way, I think you’ve noticed, but they’re coming soon. Well, do your best.”

With a wave, Nagi shimmered like a mirage and disappeared. The next moment, 

“Found you! Natsuki Yura, I’m going to kill you!” 

An unfamiliar, hostile voice descended from above.

〜〜Afterword〜〜

Please do not delve into Nagi’s true identity. 

Next time, it’s the girl from the prologue! 

Your follows and reviews are greatly encouraging! 

Thank you very much!