If we reach 100 power stones, there will be extra chapters.
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Yuu and Saya arrived somewhere relatively close to the massive structure.
Only then did she realize just how imposing the skyscraper really was.
"…Wow!"
Her mouth hung slightly open as she looked up, her glasses sliding down her nose.
The tower's shadow stretched from the center of the city and reached even beyond the walls.
Yuu reached out and adjusted her glasses, earning himself a death glare from Saya. Knowing she was about to go full tsundere mode, he gently tugged her hand and made her sit on a nearby bench.
Saya glanced around. The place was covered in short grass, and among the flowers that gave off a gentle fragrance, fountains were scattered here and there. Several people were sitting on benches, enjoying the atmosphere.
And soon, she realized something.
"…This is a spot for couples, isn't it?"
There were people flirting with each other. She looked at him suspiciously.
"Oh? Is it?"
Yuu feigned ignorance and calmly handed her the jagamarukun and pork skewers.
Saya glared at him as if trying to intimidate him, but he found her more adorable than threatening.
"Wanna me feed you? I don't mind if it makes my girlfriend happy."
"W-what are you saying, baka-izumi?!"
Her face flushed red instantly.
In the end, she huffed and started biting into the jagamarukun rather aggressively.
"…It's not bad."
'The bento Izumi-kun gave me yesterday was much better though…'
While they ate, Saya leaned toward him a little. Her eyes studied his face curiously.
"Have you been to this world before? You knew the names of these foods, and you seem way too familiar with everything."
Yuu leaned closer to her, flashing a wide, bright smile.
"I'm a god. If I want, I can know everything. Though honestly, that's kinda boring. I prefer to discover things myself when I need to."
"Hmph…"
Saya got irritated hearing him boast, and with a puff, she shoved his face away with her hand. Then she pointed up at the tower.
"Then, Mr. Know-it-all, what about that? Do you know what it is?"
"Munch~" Yuu hummed as he chewed on a jagamarukun before replying. "Of course. That tower is the Babel Tower."
Saya's orange eyes immediately lit up with interest.
"Babel? Is that where all the knowledge of languages is stored?"
"Not exactly. Babel was built to keep the monsters in the Dungeon from escaping."
Saya froze. The jagamarukun slipped from her hand and landed on her lap.
"M-m… monsters?"
Yuu raised a finger and pointed at the ground beneath their feet.
"Yeah. Right below this city. Orario."
"Hey! Did you seriously bring me to a world like this?!"
While Saya was fuming, Yuu shrugged.
"What's so shocking? Your world's literally an apocalypse."
He gave her a look that said, you've got no right to complain.
"…"
Saya went silent for a few seconds. Seen that way, he had a point.
She was about to ask what kind of monsters lived here when a loud voice interrupted them.
"Hey, you two!"
Both turned their heads at the same time.
Standing before them was a girl with bright green eyes and red hair tied up in a ponytail. Her appearance was striking, and a rapier hung from her slender waist.
Yuu raised his hand and waved casually.
"Yahallo!"
"…What a weird way to greet people." The girl gave him a puzzled look before saying, "I'm Alise. Your clothes caught my attention, they're strange. So I came to see what kind of weirdos you were."
Saya pressed her lips together.
"Maybe this idiot here's the weirdo. You saw how he greeted you, right? Anyway, I'm Saya, and I'm not a weirdo. We're from a faraway place. Where we come from, this clothing's normal."
Alise openly looked them over from head to toe, then smiled broadly.
"Is that so? Sounds interesting. Well then, welcome to Orario. I belong to the Astraea Familia."
Saya's eyes widened a little.
"Familia…?"
"Hm? You don't seem familiar with the term. How odd." Alise placed a hand on her hip. "Gods, adventurers, monsters… you'll see plenty of that if you stay in the Labyrinth City. And if there's anything you don't understand, you can count on me. I don't mind explaining the basics to a pair of lost outsiders."
Yuu grinned from ear to ear. "That sounds really helpful."
"Of course it is. I'm someone you can trust, you know?"
Then, Saya couldn't hold back anymore and spoke up.
"Hey… what exactly is a Familia?"
Alise, who was standing beside them, plopped down onto the seat. She crossed her legs, put both hands behind her head, and smiled.
"Familias are groups formed by adventurers and followers under the command of a god or goddess. They take that god's name. For example, I belong to the Astraea Familia, with the goddess Astraea as our leader."
Saya blinked and turned toward Yuu.
"So that means… yours would be the Izumi Familia?"
Yuu shrugged.
"Not too different. In the end, I consider all my followers part of my family."
Alise turned her head to get a better look at him. Her eyes widened slightly.
"…You're a god?"
She looked him up and down shamelessly. After a moment, she shook her head and finally burst out laughing.
"Mmm… though I gotta admit, your looks are even better than the gods', but I don't feel the same thing I do when I look at one."
"...?" Saya tilted her head. "What do you mean by that?"
Alise raised a finger as she began explaining.
"When a mortal like us crosses paths with a god, we know instantly. Doesn't matter if they're handsome, ugly, tall, or short… it's impossible to mistake it. But with Yuu, it's different. I don't feel anything."
I don't feel like he's a god.
Silence stretched for a moment.
Saya looked at him suspiciously, crossing her arms beneath her boobs.
"So… could it be you're a fraud?"
"N-no! Of course not!"
Yuu coughed as a drop of sweat ran down his cheek.
How could she even think that of me?!
But his expression was so serious that Saya was left speechless. Yuu reached into the paper bag and pulled out another jagamarukun.
"Hah… this is really good. Hm?"
Alise watched him curiously, and noticing it, Yuu offered her one.
"Wanna try?"
"Eh? Well, if you insist."
Alise took it without hesitation.
"My jagamarukun…"
Yuu watched pitifully as his jagamarukun vanished between the adventurer's fingers.
"…If you didn't wanna share, why'd you offer it in the first place?" Saya blinked, then shook her head. "This guy… definitely acts like a fool."
Yuu pretended not to hear her.
"Anyway…" She turned back to Alise. "Tell me, can gods travel between worlds?"
Alise swallowed her bite and looked at her with interest.
"Travel between worlds? Hm… technically, gods descended from Tenkai, so I guess they could. But I've never heard of any going to other worlds. Besides, using their divine powers here is forbidden."
"I see."
Saya's voice sounded thoughtful.
Yuu had come from a modern Earth. A completely different world. And it hadn't taken him even a second. It was like space itself had folded over.
'A leap like that…'
Wasn't that something only a god could do?
And yet…
"I don't feel like he's a god."
That's what Alise had said.
But Saya had seen it herself. That's why she'd decided to travel with Yuu. To find out if he really was a god.
'After all, in this world, gods walk among people.'
So he could be one. Or not. Saya couldn't tell. She couldn't compare.
'Do gods have hierarchies? Are there stronger ones?'
'If Izumi-kun doesn't give off a divine aura, what does that mean?'
Was Yuu weaker? Or was it something else?
Questions that once would've sounded ridiculous… but now—
Saya had always had answers for everything. Not being able to answer these made her uneasy.
"Ah, looks like my friend's here."
Alise waved toward the distance. An elf with yellow hair that fell over her shoulders, spilling smoothly to her back waited by the fountain.
"It was nice talking to you two. But if I make her wait any longer, she'll probably scold me."
She stood up with a smile.
Just as she took her first step, Yuu reached out his hand.
"Wait a moment."
As Alise's attention shifted to him, he pulled a black card from his pocket. At its center, a serpent devoured its own tail.
"A sad fate… If you ever need help, just speak my name. I'll come."
Alise blinked.
"Sounds mysterious… Alright, I'll remember it."
She didn't seem to take his words too seriously, but smiled, took the card, and walked away. She disappeared with the elf among the stone buildings.
Saya watched her until she was completely gone.
Then she slowly turned toward Yuu. He was smiling as he brought another jagamarukun to his mouth.
"So… shall we continue our date?"
"I-it's not a date!"
"Sure, sure. Where does my girlfriend wanna go next?"
Saya kicked his shin. Not too hard, of course. She'd already learned that his leg was pretty sturdy.
After giving him a sharp glare, she looked toward a group of adventurers walking by with weapons on their shoulders and sighed.
"To a world that's not this weird or full of monsters, if possible."