Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - V4 Chapter 23

Chapter 23: “Time to Say Goodbye?”

“Ahem. Anyway, Yuu-chan, glad to see you back to your usual self. And, well… sorry for dragging you guys into all that mess. More than anything, I can’t thank you enough for driving those Kyoto guys away. Seriously, I appreciate it.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Haha, really, thanks. By the way, Nacchan…”

Now fully recovered, Yusuke was happily eating with the Rokurokubi and Futakuchi-Onna he had cozied up to.

Every time the Futakuchi-Onna skillfully used her hair to feed the second mouth on the back of her head, not only Yusuke but even Natsuki and Senju clapped in admiration.

Watching the three of them fool around, Nurarihyon chuckled before turning back to Natsuki.

“Yeah?”

“That Madoka kid from the Abe family… his deceased friend had the same name as you, right?”

“Senju-san already pointed that out, but there’s no connection. I mean, didn’t that guy die? If that were me, then I wouldn’t be here, right?”

“Well… yeah, I guess that’s true.”

“Just so you know, I was just a regular kid back then. Maybe a little cute, but still just your average boy. If an oni had attacked me, chomp—that’d be the end of me.”

Logically speaking, if the Natsuki Yura who died in Kyoto was actually this Natsuki, then he obviously wouldn’t be standing here right now.

Until he was summoned to another world a few days ago, Natsuki had been nothing more than an ordinary boy—someone who didn’t even have the slightest connection to fantasy, let alone psychics.

Of course, there was always the possibility that something had happened without his knowledge, but that was another matter entirely.

“From my perspective, though… it just seems too convenient for the same name to pop up like that.”

“Yeah, I get that.”

“There’s a yokai that can see into the past, you know. Wanna have them take a look?”

“I told you, that’s not me. And honestly? If a yokai peered into my past, they’d probably lose their mind. I mean, right now, I might seem like just a kind, ordinary boy, but I really did some crazy stuff in that other world. My past is pure poison—I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“If anything, I’m more worried about your mental state after going through all that, Nacchan. Also, for the record—someone overflowing with kindness wouldn’t go around kicking people in the groin!”

“Come on now, every hero’s first skill is a groin kick. The second is punching an enemy in the face until they pass out. And the third? That’s kicking a woman across the room when she tries to sneak into your bed to ‘create an established fact.’”

“That sounds like an absolutely awful world. Shouldn’t it have been more like a game? Y’know, full of dreams and hope?”

“Yeah, right. There was nothing but despair, despair, and more despair!“

“Nuranura… utterly horrified.“

Natsuki let out a light laugh—hahaha—but deep down, he wasn’t happy about it.

The price of his strength had been an isekai life devoid of dreams or hope.

If he had the choice, he would have loved to be the typical overpowered protagonist, living it up with a harem.

But reality never gave him that kind of luxury.

“Well, anyone who gets sent to another world is bound to get stronger.”

“…I mean, Yuu-chan, you got pretty strong too.”

“Maybe getting isekai’d is just like one of those intense training camps—you go in weak and come out overpowered.”

“From what I’m hearing, though, that doesn’t sound fun at all, at least not from nuranura-ojichan’s perspective.”

After that, they continued chatting and spent the rest of the time enjoying themselves.

Looking back, despite the earlier trouble, Natsuki felt satisfied—he had a genuinely fun time with the yokai.

Watching them celebrate and revel in the festivities, he felt relieved knowing that as long as they lived peacefully here, he wouldn’t have to fight them like Madoka Abe wanted to.

Even though Natsuki was quick to resort to violence, at his core, he was still a pacifist.

If a fight could be avoided, he’d rather keep it that way.

Of course, if a battle did happen—he wouldn’t hold back.

“Nacchan, Nacchan! Ittan-momen finished warming up, so you guys can head out anytime.”

“Wait, Ittanmomen-san was warming up this whole time!?“

“He says he wants to race you again on the way back. Sorry, but just go along with it, will ya?”

“Well, of course, I accept the challenge! But this time, I’m definitely blowing past him with ease.”

“Oi, Yura! I can already see the future, and it ends with us getting dumped into the ocean again!“

“…Then we can just have the merfolk save us again! Not fair that only you and Yusuke-kun got to mess around with them!”

“We weren’t messing around!”

Senju tried to protest the fact that they were once again being roped into a race, but instead, Natsuki turned it into an argument about fairness.

With a resigned sigh, Senju took back the clothes Nurarihyon had washed for them—though his expression turned bleak as he muttered, “I’m probably just gonna get soaked again anyway…”

“Alright! Time for me to warm up too!”

As Natsuki started doing radio calisthenics, the nearby yokai—now perfectly drunk—gathered around and began stretching along with him.

It was a bizarre sight, to say the least.

And then—

“Alright then, Nacchan, Sen-chan, Yuu-chan! You three are always welcome here, so come visit anytime!”

“Of course! And if anything happens on your end, don’t hesitate to reach out!”

As the time for departure arrived, Natsuki and his group shook hands with Nurarihyon while the yokai gathered to see them off.

The kappa, unwilling to let their Kappa Hero leave so soon, clung to Natsuki, prompting a series of farewell hugs and promises to reunite again.

“Miss Nekomata, Miss Rokurokubi, Miss Futakuchi-Onna… I will! Definitely come back! For you!“

“…Well, thanks for everything. And for the souvenirs too. I’ll make sure to enjoy them.”

They had received dango, miso, and sake made in the yokai village, all safely stored away in Natsuki’s item box.

Senju, knowing full well that he was definitely getting thrown off Ittanmomen at some point, had made sure to hand his share over to Natsuki just in case.

Waving goodbye to the yokai, Natsuki floated up into the air, while Senju and Yusuke climbed onto Ittanmomen.

“—See you again!”

“Goodbye!”

“Later!”

And with those parting words, the signal was given—Natsuki and Ittanmomen’s rematch had begun.

In the end—

—Natsuki won by a narrow margin and arrived safely in Mukaijima City.

—Meanwhile, Senju and Yusuke were dropped somewhere in Tokyo Bay.

〜〜Afterword〜〜

Merman: “Hey there, boy. Taking a little swim out here? But these waters have strong waves and a deep current. Let me take you back to shore. Come now, grab onto my biceps, boy.”

Yusuke: “GYAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! NOT THE MERMAN AGAINNNNNNNNN!”

Senju: “Just accept it. Be grateful he’s even rescuing you.”

Merman: “Yes, that’s it! Hold on tighter! TIGHTER!”

Yusuke: “UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!”

Mermaid: “Dad, you’re scaring the poor human. Here, you can hold onto me. I’ll take you back to shore.”

Yusuke: “YAAAY! A CUTE MERMAID!”

Mermaid: “Oh my, what a smooth talker. Alright, let’s go.”

Senju: “Wait, hold up! Why am I still stuck with the merman!?”

Merman: “Very well, boy. As a special service, I shall let you ride upon my glorious back! No need to be shy, just plop right on! HURRY! HURRY! FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!”

Senju: “YOUR ENERGY LEVEL IS WHAT SCARES ME!”

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