Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - Chapter 77

Epilogue 02: “Isn’t Earth Quite the Fantasy Too?”

“To the slaying of a god, cheers!”

In Natsuki’s room, Koume, Ginko, Jack, and Nancy raised their canned beers in a toast.

The floor was scattered with potato chips, nuts, and rice crackers. 

After dinner, Natsuki’s mother cheerfully announced she was going out for drinks with a friend for the first time in a while.

Truth be told, she had never gone out at night since it had always been just her and her child, but now, with new housemates, or rather, a new family, she felt reassured enough to leave. 

Ginko was even a police officer.

Although Natsuki and the others didn’t intend to exclude their mother, they couldn’t involve her in their supernatural affairs. After she left, they turned the evening into a celebration.

“Man, it’s incredible. The land god of the Minazuki family was said to be very powerful, so I was a bit worried. But, given Natsuki-kun made even Koume-san, an angel claiming to be Lucifer, cry, I guess there was no need for concern.”

“I didn’t cry!”

“Thanks for your help. Oh, what about Uncle?”

“I did tell my dad. Mixing personal with official business a bit, but we’ll keep Natsuki-kun’s god-slaying between us. The Minazuki family seems to have already reported the disappearance of the land god to the Institute, but they framed it as the god taking on the land’s corruption over many years, so it should be fine.”

It seems the Minazuki family is taking steps to keep Natsuki’s involvement under wraps.

“But still, thanks to me and the alien, Natsuki’s power was contained to just that mountain. Be grateful!”

“I figured, but it was indeed Natsuki-kun who altered part of the mountain owned by the Minazuki family.”

“You fool! It only ended up that way because of my barrier, the protective walls, and Jack’s cosmic barrier—three layers! And for your information, I was going all out!”

“Sorry about that. And Jack, my apologies. Who would’ve thought the spaceship would break?”

While Nancy sipped her beer cheerfully, Jack, munching on potato chips with interest, swallowed and flashed a toothy grin.

“My friend, don’t worry about it. Considering you helped save my beloved Nancy, a spaceship or two doesn’t bother me in the slightest.”

“But won’t you be stranded and unable to return to your planet?”

“It’s all covered by insurance, so no worries. I don’t want to impose any burden on Natsuki. Besides, I have friends here on Earth, and if necessary, I can always ask my father to come pick me up.”

“So, we’re practically under alien occupation, huh.”

“That’s a misunderstanding, Koume. At least on my planet, we don’t desire conflict. Of course, we’ll fight if challenged, but we’ve concluded that strife is futile and we detest it. We aim to interact with everyone in a friendly manner.”

“What a gentleman. I wish we could make some of the big shots in certain countries drink a concoction of your nail dust.”

Natsuki nodded in agreement.

By now, Ginko had already finished her third beer. 

Koume, not to be outdone, was gulping down her third beer as well.

Nancy and Jack seem to enjoy sipping their drinks slowly.

Since Natsuki is underage, and just out of the bath, he’s refreshing himself with sparkling water.

“Ah, right. I completely forgot, but God has a message for Natsuki.”

“Why would God have…!?” 

Surprised, Natsuki nearly spat out his sparkling water.

“He’d like you to follow Him on social media. Oh, and Ginko, He wants you to follow Him too.”

“Following God on social media is a bit… Wait, God uses social media!?”

“Yes, He does. We’re forced to follow Him. And if we don’t regularly like His posts, we get an earful.”

“That’s power harassment! Power-harassing God!”

“Exactly! Leave it to Ginko to give Him a piece of your mind!”

“Well, I don’t think I can do that.”

“Don’t go all serious on us now!”

Koume was enjoying her banter with Ginko, clearly having become good friends. 

What was more curious was how Koume, while playfully interacting with Ginko, managed to unlock Natsuki’s smartphone with one hand and open up a social media app.

(…My smartphone is clear. So it’s safe!!!)

Despite the password being a series of numbers without any obvious pattern, it was unclear how Koume managed to unlock it so easily.

The computer’s password is a complex mix of letters and numbers, so it should be secure, but Natsuki thought it might be wise to change the password later.

(Thinking back, I’ve been so busy since returning that I hardly touched my smartphone or computer. No, that’s not quite right. It’s because I have Koume-chan, Ginko-san, Jack, and Nancy around that I don’t feel the need to use my phone or anything.)

In the other world, where decent humans were scarce, there was little opportunity for lively conversation. 

The nobles would kill demons, then throw celebratory feasts, drinking and eating as if they had achieved something monumental, despite having done nothing themselves. 

Being forced to participate, Natsuki could not see these nobles as fellow humans and despised them. 

The sight of humans trying to ingratiate themselves, despite Natsuki’s abstention from eating and drinking, was enough to make him sick multiple times.

(By now, the human side, in my absence, is probably being crushed by the demons. The Demon Lord, more rational and powerful after being freed from the control of the shitty Demon God than while under its influence. Well, I won nonetheless..)

Just as humans had killed and enslaved demons, it was only a matter of time before demons did the same to humans.

With Natsuki, the only one to have defeated the Demon Lord, having returned, there are no forces left on the human side. 

It seems hero summoning isn’t always possible, and though it’s unclear whether it’s true, he’s heard sacrifices are necessary.

There were powerful humans, but without a grudge against demons, they quickly abandoned humanity. 

Only the power-hungry sought to defeat the demons, while everyone else was merely caught in the crossfire.

Natsuki was also approached by humans on the demon side multiple times, but his goal was returning to Earth, not befriending demons. Had the demons known a way back to Earth, perhaps he would have allied with them, but unfortunately, that was not the case.

(Well, that other world I’ll never see again doesn’t matter anymore. Honestly, the past four days back here have been so eventful that I might completely forget about the desolate other world.)

As Natsuki was chuckling to himself thinking that, Koume, a bit tipsy with flushed cheeks, handed him his smartphone.

“I’m so kind I went ahead and followed God’s account for you!”

“Hey, wait, what are you doing—wow, this is crazy! His follower count is infinity! Was this even a feature?”

“That’s God special.”

“God’s amazing, huh!”

As expected of God, receiving special treatment on social media.

“Um, among the individuals God is following, there are names like Zeus-san, Odin, Nagi-ji, Nami-ba… There are even some who aren’t even trying to hide their identities. This one’s from scary myths!”

“It’s wild. There are definitely some figures in there you wouldn’t want to mess with.”

“And, look, Satan is mutually following God on social media.”

“Well, they’re supposedly parent and child, so I guess that’s fine?”

As Natsuki was about to close the smartphone, feeling a bit overwhelmed, a notification popped up that God had followed his account back.

“No waaaaay! God followed me back! Isn’t this crazy? Shouldn’t I send a greeting or something?”

“Ah, Natsuki-kun, you got a message.”

“I don’t want to see it.”

“You gotta check it! Ignoring it would be bad!”

“Ugh.”

He hesitantly checked the message section, as expected, it was from God.

[―Nice to meet you, Natsuki Yura-kun. I’m everyone’s God. Thank you for the follow. If you don’t mind, I would love to have a chat sometime. I would be particularly happy if you could share your experiences from the other world.]

“All-knowing, indeed!”

Natsuki could only respond with, [I’d be delighted.]

―The hero Natsuki Yura, having returned from another world, encountered a police officer, an alien, an angel, and after slaying a god, ended up connecting with God on social media.

[Earth turned out to be even more of a fantasy than the other world!]

〜〜Afterword〜〜

It’s only been four days since returning from the other world, you know?

With this, we conclude Volume 1.

The next installment will be Volume 2, featuring the second childhood friend and stories related to Koume-chan.

I eagerly anticipate your ongoing support.

Your follows and reviews mean the world to me.

Thank you!