Chapter 25 The Quester Decides on a Trip to Japan
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
When Ami-chan mentioned the word Japan, my heart gave a heavy thump in my chest.
”Remember? You wanted to try bringing things from Japan back here to convert into Resource Points,” Ami-chan prompted, her voice sounding bubbly.
”Ah, yes… I did say that. And you also wanted to cloak this base by subtly broadcasting your presence, right?” I recalled.
”Exactly! This is my first time developing a Dominion while being able to cross multiple worlds, so I want to explore all the possibilities,” Ami-chan chimed in, a hint of excitement in her tone.
As for me, I didn’t have much to do back in Japan. With the base established here, it would certainly be safer to find a new Magic Girl candidate in this world.
However, the points Ami-chan raised really piqued my interest. If things went well, we might be able to accumulate Resource Points incredibly efficiently.
”So, moving between worlds consumes a good chunk of Ego Points, doesn’t it? And once we teleport, there’s an interval before we can move again… how long is that interval, anyway?” I asked, looking for clarification.
”Beats me. That’s tied to the status of my seal, so we won’t know until we actually go. Still, I doubt it’ll take something ridiculous like a whole month,” Ami-chan mused casually.
If I was going to Japan, the biggest thing weighing on my mind was Cleonora. I’d be leaving her behind in this world.
…Wait a second.
”Come to think of it… can’t I take Cleonora with me?” I wondered aloud.
Ami-chan had never explicitly said that only I could teleport. Perhaps she could accompany me?
I also recalled that Ami-chan had been somewhat hesitant about finding a new Magic Girl in Japan, though she wasn’t entirely opposed. If a Magic Girl were to be born in Japan, I’d have to bring her back to this world. A Magic Girl’s role is to help defend against pursuers and contribute to the Dominion’s development.
Considering these factors, it seemed highly likely that a Magic Girl could travel between worlds. This suggested that Cleonora could probably come to Japan.
”Yes, but no—if that makes sense!” Ami-chan replied, her tone cryptic.
”…What do you mean by that?” I pressed, confused.
”I mean, I can’t do it right now. If my seal were broken a little further, I could take one person along with you,” she explained, sounding slightly annoyed at her limitations.
Ami-chan clarified that inter-world travel was usually a package deal: me and her. However, a Magic Girl who had sealed a contract with a Quester could be taken along. Apparently, even someone not a Magic Girl could join if her seal was sufficiently broken.
But taking a companion consumes a substantial amount of Ego Points. She noted that this consumption would decrease as her seal was unlocked further.
”So, increasing the number of 〈Slave of Love〉 contracts makes it easier to take a Magic Girl along when I teleport…” I summarized, connecting the dots.
”That’s the gist of it! Plus, since you’ll be leaving the base, having a guardian to directly protect the Great Phantasmal Soulstone is essential. Cleonora has to take on that role here until we get back from Japan,” Ami-chan emphasized.
That made perfect sense. The Great Phantasmal Soulstone was the lynchpin of everything. If it were destroyed while I was away, everything I’d built would be lost. Though there were no bandits here, and the only threats were the occasional demon monsters—which were mostly large-scale ones that couldn’t easily fit down the stairs to the dungeon—having Cleonora stay and guard the base made me feel incredibly secure.
”…I understand. I was planning to go back to Japan anyway. After being missing for a month, it wouldn’t be strange if a missing person report had been filed,” I conceded.
I then worked with Ami-chan to coordinate our goals for the trip. First, we had to deal with the consequences of being gone for a month. Then, we’d select the items that could be brought back from Japan to the other world. In addition, we needed to stay vigilant for any pursuers who might have tracked Ami-chan, and try to gather information about them if possible.
Once our plan was sorted out, I further strengthened the Dominion’s defensive posture. Since I’d be gone for a while, I constructed extra fences and defensive stakes to fortify the place thoroughly. Thanks to the demon monsters that Eme-chan hunts, I currently had a little breathing room with Resource Points.
However, it was clear that the current balance wouldn’t be enough to sustain the Dominion once it expanded further. There might even be times when I’d need to hold off on raising my Quester Level, even if I could.
I went outside after the noon hour. I found Cleonora awake outside the hut and discussed the plan over lunch.
”So… you’re going back to your original world for a time, and you need me to guard this place,” Cleonora said, confirming her understanding.
”That’s right. Can I count on you?” I asked, looking for reassurance.
”Of course!” Cleonora affirmed, giving me a brilliant, heartfelt smile. She was stunning.
”But since Shou won’t be around, you won’t be able to rapidly replenish your Magic Power,” Ami-chan cut in. “So, try not to keep hunting while staying transformed all the time!”
That was a good point. When a Magic Girl reverts from her transformed state, she can’t re-transform until her Magic Power has fully recovered. Normally, I’d restore that power by spending the night with her, but with me gone, that rapid recovery method was off the table.
”Well, I don’t have too much to do over there, so I’ll try to come back as quickly as possible,” I promised her.
”I’ll be waiting. I’ll guard this place no matter what happens!” Cleonora vowed. The mention of the Great Phantasmal Soulstone’s importance had filled her eyes with strong resolve and clear motivation.
”But if you can’t hunt demon monsters, I worry you might get bored,” I noted, concerned for her.
”That won’t be a problem, either. I’ll use the time to practice my swordsmanship,” she assured me.
I suddenly remembered that she had carried a magnificent sword when we first met. Her stance was practiced; she’d clearly been using it for a long time.
”You’re skilled with a sword, Cleonora?” I asked.
”Yes. I was forced to practice the sword from childhood,” she explained.
”?… A princess being forced to practice the sword…?” I questioned, finding that odd.
She had mentioned before that she and her sister were the daughters of the First Queen, meaning she came from a highly privileged background. The fact that she was forced to learn the sword from a young age felt out of place. Perhaps it was normal in the Emmeld Kingdom.
”It was because I lacked the talent for sorcery. In the Emmeld Kingdom, sorcery talent is directly viewed as noble talent,” Cleonora elaborated.
This probably stemmed from the kingdom’s past as one of the continent’s leading magic-culture nations. I could imagine the reason.
”But I still possessed Magic Power. And I was able to activate the Hihōju (Treasured Gem) of my mother’s family heirloom, the Treasured Sword Miseric,” she continued.
She showed me the sheathed sword. A particularly magnificent jewel was set into the hilt.
”…What is a Hihōju?” I asked, looking at the jewel.
”It’s a powerful jewel like this—a Hihōju—that is embedded in certain armaments. It seals a unique ability that can be drawn out by consuming Magic Power,” she explained.
I learned that the Treasured Gem’s ability in her sword, Miseric, was super-speed movement. As long as she continuously consumed Magic Power, she could run at impossible speeds.
When she encountered the lion-headed demon monster in the Demon Forest, she used that ability to slash its leg and flee the area. However, she couldn’t return to her comrades immediately due to the risk of the demon monster following her. Her plan had been to flee deeper into the forest, rest by the lake, and then try to return home.
That was exactly the time and place where I met her. I finally understood how she had managed to reach such a remote location by herself.
(She did mention having a trump card back then…) I thought.
That power must have been the Hihōju. She added that not everyone could draw out the ability of a Treasured Gem, but she had the necessary aptitude for the heirloom sword.
”My mother was probably considering the possibility of my older sister and I clashing over the throne someday. By having me wield the Treasured Sword, she ensured I had a standing, even without sorcery talent,” Cleonora deduced.
Her older sister, by the way, was apparently amazing with sorcery. Well, she did manage to summon a Hero…
It was good to hear all about Cleonora’s circumstances. I felt like I’d deepened my understanding of this world just a little bit more.
After finishing lunch, I entrusted the entire place to Cleonora. With Ami-chan, I then teleported from the Great Phantasmal Soulstone chamber to Japan.
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Summary:
Shou finalizes his plans for a temporary world jump to Japan with Ami-chan to gather resources and check on his own status. He learns that Cleonora cannot accompany them due to Ami-chan’s seal limitations and the high Ego Point cost. Cleonora is entrusted with guarding the crucial Great Phantasmal Soulstone. Over lunch, Cleonora reveals her background as a princess with no sorcery talent, which led to her being trained in swordsmanship and the use of her family’s Treasured Sword, which contains a powerful Hihōju (Treasured Gem) that grants her super-speed, explaining how she survived the Demon Forest. The pair part ways with firm resolve.
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Character Insight:
Shou shows great responsibility by prioritizing the safety of his Dominion and his partners’ well-being over simple resource collection. Cleonora’s dedication is highlighted as she immediately accepts the vital, dangerous role of guardian, revealing her personal history and the source of her combat prowess (the Treasured Gem), which is deeply tied to her political standing as a princess without sorcery talent.
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Behind the Scene:
This chapter is crucial for world-building, establishing the mechanics of inter-world travel (Ego Point cost, system limitations) and the political structures of the Isekai world (sorcery equals nobility, the nature of Hihōju). The Treasured Gem is introduced as an example of a ‘vested interest’ power source that is separate from standard sorcery, creating a future plot point. The final action is the start of a new arc in Japan.
Notes:
• Ami – A palm-sized fairy-like being from a world separate from both Earth and the isekai realm. She has light blue hair tied in a ponytail, mischievous blue eyes, and tiny wings that flutter behind her. Her outfit consists of a provocative high-cut leotard and a short jacket that looks like a miniskirt from the back, leaving her legs bare. Despite her playful appearance, she is actively searching for a contractor who can protect her from dangerous pursuers in exchange for the powers she offers.
• Cleonora – The second princess. Have a yellow blonde hair. Usually styled as hairbun.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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