* * * *

“Hah! I still won’t admit that you’ve won against me!”

After the many more battles, the two finally stopped. In the recent battles, it was Takeharu’s win, but it seems that Gram won’t admit his loss easily.

“Even though after I won 15 matches, you still won’t give me the permission to marry your daughter?”

“You only won 15 of them. I won the almost-close-to-50-matches before!”

“Father, you’re being too stubborn. After that match, have you won against him even once? Besides... I think that he is pretty nice.”

“Eh, but, that was…” Flabbergasted by his daughter’s words, Gram could only fell into silence.

“Eh?! Really?! You will accept me? Yahoo!!!”

“Tch, fine. Young lad, I will permit it if you will truly make my daughter happy. In exchange, if you ever make her sad, I will make you regret it!”

Seeing the three of them, Shou could only scratch his head while thinking ‘I’ve totally become background character now…’ and smiled wryly.

“By the way, sorry it’s a late introduction. My name is Cecil, Cecil Alunata.”

“Ah right, the name is Takeharu, Daichika Takeharu. An adventurer with a classification, I consider myself as a ‘Knight’.”

“Shou, Yoshitaka Shou. Also the same, Adventurer, classification with ‘Support Wizard’s spells.”

The three of them introduced themselves.

“You people come from east? That explains the ‘Katana’ you use.”

In the game, there were map expansion patch. If you journey towards the east, there will be a city that looks like Edo-era Japan. And the NPC name was Japanese. Shou and Takeharu who was originally Japanese could only smile wryly and said yes.

“By the way, what will you guys do? It’s almost dark out. If you guys alright, I could provide some shelter.”

It was surprising that the one who offers it was Gram. Even though he seems to be ready to clash with Takeharu, it seems he was properly concerned about their safety. They also don’t want to camp out after a tiring test like that, so they accepted the offer. Gram offered a guest room for them. Even though he is a retired adventurer, his life is prospering and he seems to have a good house. No, it was precisely because he was an adventurer. Adventurers sometimes get paid with immeasurable amount of money after all.

* * * *

While it was late at night, Shou and Takeharu was about to rest their worn out body, but there seems to be a surprising visitor. It was Gram. He seems to want to talk with the both of them.

“Sorry to disturb your rest. Do you mind if I talk to the two of you for a bit?”

“Sure we don’t mind. You’re the one who provides us with a place to rest for tonight, it’s the least we can do.” Takeharu answered politely. It seems the two of them had reached an understanding for a certain level.

“Sorry.” Gram gets inside and then he sits on a chair. “I’ve wanted to ask, why are you guys taking the test to become official guild members?” Gram asked with an inquiring tone, but his eyes seem to be pretty serious.

The both of them could only silently stare at each other. It seems that they are looking if either one of them is going to talk. They both knew that they should probably just tell the truth, but Gram as a veteran would be worried if the both of them, who don’t seem to be experienced fighters wants to join the guild to accept a raid request. Moreover, Gram seems to be expecting them to answer him honestly.

The two of them can only stay in awkward silence as Gram looked at them with high expectation.

“Sigh, can’t be help, let’s just spill it Shou.” Takeharu was the first one to resign.

“… Seems like that’s the best route, huh?” Shou also sighed and then he looked at Gram seriously. “We are joining the guild to register for the raid quest. The requirement was at least one official guild member on the party.”

Hearing the answer from Shou, Gram looks very surprised. As a veteran member, Gram had participated in raid quest before. Even for him, raid quest and raid class monster was a high hurdle to pass. This world is not a game. The people who died can’t simply respawned at save point. Yet the monster will keep respawning.

“Are you guys serious?” Gram opened his mouth with his expression still showing surprise. “Raid quest… don’t you know the risk? A Raid Class Monster could even wipe half of the raid party consisting of more than 100 people you know? Furthermore, that was the least casaulties recorded ever. The risk is high.”

This world is not the game they once knew and played. It’s reality, another world which coincidentally have the same setting, they both know about this fact.

“We know about it, but no matter what the risk is, this might be something we must do.”

“What’s your aim? Money? Fame? Or just a thrill for amusement? Whichever it is, you better stop. This kind of--”

“We couldn’t just back away!” Shou suddenly cut off Gram. After a brief silence, Shou continues to talk. “Sorry, we can’t tell you anything convincing. Rather, if we tried to explain, you probably won’t be convinced even more.”

Gram started to listen in silence. Shou once again continues.

“We have something we need to do. And this unknown raid monster probably has something to do with our own business, that’s why…” Shou took a deep breath. “This is something we must not back down for whatever the risk!”

“… I see. Is that so?” Gram, who listened, took a deep breath and sighed. Shou thought that Gram had already given up in warning them. He felt a bit regretful shouting at Gram frantically while Gram was only concerned about their safety like that.

“Somehow, we’re sorry, Mr. Gram. But this is certainly something we mustn’t back away.”

“Nah, it’s alright. You got a great pair of eyes when you’re talking. I guess you are already prepared for the worst huh?” Gram showed a wry smile on his face.

“You know, when I was young, I was truly an adventurer. Though, what I mean by true adventurer was because I don’t have any goal in my minds. I only became an adventurer just because I wished to find something to reach, something to take pride in, something to protect, a goal.” While Gram narrating his story, his face becomes a bit solemn. “And I became an adventurer without any goal. I first thought that ‘if there’s no goal I have, and then what is the meaning of my life?’ just like that I became a reckless guy. I raided a dungeon alone without any fear of dying, because dying is not a problem for me. It’s not like I would lose something just by dying.”

Somewhere while Gram was talking, it began to rain outside, as if to accompanies Gram’s solemness it also starts to torrent down more and more.

“I’m not sure when, but when I realize it, I already became one of the top and famous adventurer, but it still didn’t make me proud or anything. If other people got rare drop, I didn’t envy them. When I was compared to the adventurer above me, I didn’t feel any shame. When I was mocked I didn’t feel angry towards them. ‘Am I truly alive?’ is all that I could think of.”

*Gulp*.

As the story continues, both Takeharu and Shou could only swallow their own saliva and continue to listen in silence. The rain had probably reached it peaks. It was raining really hard outside.

“Well, a few years after that I met my wife though.” Gram smiled wryly seeing the pair who had a serious face while hearing his story. “You could say meeting someone I loved was really the salvation I had. I somehow felt like I have finally seen my own goal. To protect the one I love. I, who was hollow, and had nothing suddenly felt like I have found the greatest treasure ever, better than any rare drop, better than any legendary items. Few months later, I had to scout for a raid class monster. When the party was about to be in danger, we all ran away. Usually even after the party had dispersed, I still move forward even if I’m alone. But that was the first time I had to run away from danger just to come back to see my beloved. When I came back alive even if I was pathetic, I felt so glad that I could see my wife and daughter again.”

Gram smiled with another wry yet comfortable smile. His face loosens up and smiled gladly.

“Well, I used to be an adventurer like you--”

““We’ve had enough of that joke already.”” Shou and Takeharu cut in with an annoyed face.

“T-that was cruel…” Gram, who was shrunken by the pressure, then coughed and continues seriously.

“What I want to say is, you guys are still young yet you have clear goal in your minds. That’s great! I won’t stop you guys, but remember this. You guys must stay alive as hard as you can. Be as pathetic as you can to save your own live. Remember the one who you love and the one who loved you. You can’t just throw away your live. Even if you reached your goal, it’s meaningless if you died anyway.”

“… Thanks for the warning, Mr. Gram.”

“You’re welcome.” Once again he smiled with joy and pride. “Especially you, young ‘Knight’.” He shifted his words towards Takeharu this time. “I won’t let you left my daughter alone by dying. If you die in the raid, I will raid your grave and bring you back no matter what. Either your soul is in God’s hand or the Devil’s hands I will bring you back to my daughter.”

Seeing Gram who smiled smugly while saying this, Takeharu also tries to respond with dignity to reply him.

“I understand, father-in-law number ***!” or not…

“… This idiot…”

“What did you say..?”

“Father-in-law number 2**?”

“It already hit three digits?! Moreover it starts with ‘2’!! As I thought you’re a scumbag! I won’t hand over my daughter to you ever!!”

And thus, the night at Gram’s residence was very lively tonight.

* * * *

-Shou’s Perspective-

Hey there, once again, this is Yoshitaka Shou narrating.

Last night was very rowdy because of Take and Gram. When I woke up the sun is already up, probably it’s around 8 A.M. now. And it’s already the 10th day of the month. That means, today is the day of the raid quest.

It was a bit surprising that we manage to complete the quest in 3 days, but this is not good. We need to go back to the guild before 10 A.M. to register and the mission will start at 11 A.M. according to the guild clerk. And we need to hand offer this permit to join the guild. Although, it seems that turning this in would be quick, but we still need to wait for the official guild card.

“Yawn~~~, ehehe, Cecil, Arcia, Lucile, Miyuki, Asa, Rebecca, Cerea, Cla--”

“You harem bastard! Wake up from your dream now!!”

I slam the pillow I had towards Takeharu with everything I got. Damn it this harem idiot, dreaming about girls at such a crucial time. And did he say ‘Cecil’? Is it Gram’s daughter or another woman with the name ‘Cecil’ too? Anyway, I need to wake him up now.

“Get up Take! If we don’t go to the guild now, we might not be able to register for the request!”

“Shit! And I was happily dreaming about Selia and my happy time with just both of us!”

You liar, if that was the case, why are you reciting girls name before? This snake...

... If I think about it, Selia seems to hate Hal when she thinks that he is a playboy and seductive snake. But she herself is getting tangled up by this venomous snake here? Just how poisonous your venom is that you manage to tame her? Somehow I unconsciously felt another respect towards this guy.

“Anyway, it’s already morning. We need to quickly go to the guild! Get your equipment and say goodbye to Gram and Cecil quickly!”

“E~eh? We slept in that long? Shit we must quick!”

And just like that, the both of us hastily took our equipment and wore it properly. Gram and his wife also came out with Cecil in the living room. We say a quick thanks and goodbye to the three of them and walk to the door.

Right before we opened the door, someone slammed the door open. It looks like she is in a hurry just like us.

Oh wait, isn’t it Selia? She seems to be trying to catch her breath. It’s rare to see her to be this worked up. Maybe she’s worried about this guy doing something with some other girls. And to think that she found this place. Takeharu, it seems that you will get into trouble. I grin and laughed a bit in my own heart.

“Takeharu-sama! Yoshitaka! This is bad! Ms. Rubina… Mao got abducted!!!”

“!!” This time, I felt like everything turned into black and white... no, maybe it’s like film’s negatives.

I quickly rushed out from the door, leaving Takeharu and Selia behind. I was more in haste than before. I had pushed Selia who was blocking the door but I hope that I didn’t push to strong. If I hurt her, I’ll need to apologize later.

While running, or rather sprinting, I passed Hal who is trying to say something to me. But I kept running to the inn without thinking, I lost my temper once again. If you think properly, I should be listening to them about the whereabouts of Mao but I just kept running frantically. I should say that even I was surprised by how hard I ran.

In just 15 minutes, I already saw the inn ‘Sleeping Cats’. Normally even with horse, it can only be reached within 20 minutes, which means I was running even faster than horse. Seriously? Was I that fast? I can only think that it was thanks to my assimilation with Blaze that I had this stamina, and probably I broke my own limit that time.

In front of the inn, I saw a young man, probably around the same age as me. He was wearing casual clothes that seems to be from our original world but that didn’t bother me a bit. I need to search for Mao quickly!

When I was about to run pass him, he stretch his hand sideways to block me. I was surprised and can’t stop properly. My running momentum was too big to brake in just a split second. In conclusions, his arm struck my neck and I was propelled and flipped backwards and then I fell on my back. It's just like he's doing a lariat without moving his body. He used my momentum to do the job.

“Ouch!” It was him who screams out in pain first. If it’s going to hurt yourself, can’t you do something else to stop me?!

“That hurts quite a bit… in the movies I’ve seen it doesn’t seem to be this hurt.”

“Who the hell are you, bastard!”

“Whoa dude, cool your head a bit. You’re too hasty.”

“Who could be calm now! My girl is--”

“Yeah, yeah I know. Your girl got abducted by someone right? Then why are you rushing towards this place?”

“...” that sentence caught me. It was true that I didn’t think much when I heard Mao got captured. What kind of idiot who rushed towards the inn? Shit, I should have heard what Selia or Hal had to say. "I didn't think properly..."

“Sigh, this is why... Well it was kind of my fault too though.”

“Huh? Oh right, who are you?! How could you know about Mao? Does that means you know where Mao is right now?! Tell me!”

“Slow it dude. I somehow regret doing this... anyway, who am I is not really important, but if you insistent about it, I'll just say that I’m the one who... plan? Ah no, oversee? Yeah right, I'm the one who oversee you people! That’s also the reason I know about Mao and you guys.”

“Oversee? Are you some kind of God?”

"Hmm, I dunno. Probably? I would like to say I'm an author but... Meh, oh well let's leave it at that. More importantly, about where Mao is. I'm sorry, but I don't know exactly where she is for now. You better ask Selia or Hal about some clue, I’m not sure where it is as well."

"Is that so? Thanks for stopping me! I’ll go ask them quickly!"

And I began to run as hard as I can once again. There's so many questionable things about him, but whatever, he managed to cool my head. Thank you whoever you are!

* * * *

Hey guys, it’s the author of this fiction. Or... at least that's what I thought. I'm the author, right?

And this narration is not an author note. Seriously, I’m the author (probably) but this is not an author note section. I once wrote (and I'm still writing!!) a fiction with the story, well yeah just like how it is in this world I'm thrown into right now.

Well, Yoshitaka Shou is now running back. Probably he is going back towards Hal and the others. Well, let's just believe that he must be running towards them.

Good thing I stopped him (Although I didn't plan to make him flip like that though). Geez, what a mess.

I’m sure most of you guys are confused right? Well, let me narrate this slowly.

It all happened just some hours ago. I had done writing something about Shou ran frantically without knowing where Mao got abducted to. Then I took a break on writing the story and plan on the rest to decide what I will write later. I decided to take a nap, but when I wake up, it seems like I was dragged into this world.

A world with a similar setting with the story I’m writing right now. Just how messed up this will be?

I’m just your average young college student you know? Now I’m dragged to this kind of world? What should I do?

I wonder if my family worried about me. And there’s also college, if I don’t come back soon, how many class and credits will I miss? Aah, what if I got held back because of this? Oh damn, that’s not good. And what about my fiction? Guess I can’t update it in a while, though it only applies if I can go back home that is.

Well, in the midst of thinking I remembered about what I had written so I tried to come to the inn, hoping that it will be the same as what I’ve written. It was a jackpot. Seriously, what I was thinking as an author? Making him run frantically without knowing anything? Well at least he’s going to Takeharu and the others now. Now what should I do..?

I suddenly remembered about a theory my friend told me.

“Well, my own self in another dimension probably in the original world.”

No wait, maybe the other me in other dimension is writing about me in this world right now..? Is that possible?

... This is just confusing, whatever.

Hmm, if I’m called into this world, I should have some cheats right? I wonder what kind of cheat I got.

Though it’s also possible that I don’t have a cheat and in the other dimension. And there's a possibility that in another dimension or maybe in this dimension I got called with a super crazy cheat...

...... This talk about other dimension is a bit confusing, let’s stop it.

I just realized that I have a small memo pad and a pen in my pocket. Let’s just kill time with this memo pad.

“I suddenly got summoned into another world with a similar setting with my own fiction.” Is what I write. And then I also write “I hope that I can find some portal or the like to go back home” bellow. Hmm, this could be a good idea for another story. Only if I could go back that is...

And at the moment I closed my memo pad, a door with the sign 'Home' appeared in front of my face. It sure is suspicious... This isn't a trap right?

“... Is this my cheat or it’s just a coincidence? Let me try for a bit.”

Then I wrote down another thing into my memo pad. “I found a legendary sword named 'Ex****bur' stabbed into a stone just right beside the door to go home.” And when I closed the memo pad, the same thing happened. A sword stabbed right into a stone suddenly conjured beside the door.

... This is ridiculous. Anyway let’s just go home, I don’t want to create any more trouble than necessary. I really hope that this one will lead me to my own world. If my power is real, let's just use this as insurance "This door will certainly lead me to go home! Absolutely!" I don't have any guarantee though. So let's just hope that this is real.

Oh right, about Shou and the others, I could help them go home to each their own world with this power huh? Though... I’ll pass. If I send them home just like that, I wouldn’t get anything to write about them anymore.

Woops, if I spectate them, wouldn’t I get something to write?

...... It seems dangerous and troublesome, I’ll just create the story by myself later.

And then I left the sword behind and get into the portal, hoping that it will send me home.

I somehow wish that I could meet them again. Although, probably I wouldn’t see them again... Or will I..?

* * * *