Chapter 85 Path of Return, Part ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Well then, is everyone here?”
Kanata scanned the group gathered before him. Across from him stood Tsubasa, with Sayaka Kitahara, the Princess Knight, at their right.
Beside Sayaka were Maya Asagiri, Miyako Otonashi, and a lineup of others: Shizuka Amatsuka, the Sniper; Kotono Yukishiro, the Mage of the Setsugekka trio; Maria Tsukishiro, the Saint; and Haruka Hanasaki, the Harvester.
To Tsubasa’s left stood Kazuo Morita, the Commander, with Sumire Nozaki, the Healer, hovering close by. Next to them were Joujiro Tsukamoto, the Shield Guardian; Koichi Kudo, the Swordsman; and Gou Kimura, the Hunter.
Lingering awkwardly at the back were Taichi Nomura, Ichiro Miyabe, and Hajime Taichi—the so-called Otaku Trio.
”Been a while… hasn’t it?” Kanata said, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.
Though they’d met individually before, this was the first time since their summoning that they’d all gathered like this.
”Yeah, it really has been a while,” Maya murmured, her tone soft.
Even for us Heroes, when was the last time we were all together like this? she wondered, her thoughts drifting.
”So, what’s this about?” Maria asked, her eyes flickering with a mix of hope and unease. “You called us all here, so it’s gotta be something big—something that concerns just us, right?”
She’d clearly noticed the absence of summoners, likely guessing it had to do with their summoning.
Kanata nodded. “Alright, I’ll cut to the chase. Do you all want to go back to Japan?”
The question caught them off guard, a ripple of confusion passing through the group. Morita was the first to respond.
”Hell yeah, if we can go back, I’d leave right now!”
”Um, I… I want to go back too,” Sumire added quickly, her voice small but earnest.
The Setsugekka trio—Kotono, Maria, and Haruka—hesitated briefly before agreeing, “We’d like to return, at least once.” Tsubasa and Sayaka nodded in agreement.
”If Kanata-kun’s going back…” Maya said tentatively, echoed by Miyako and Shizuka, their voices tinged with reluctance.
Kudo, Tsukamoto, and Kimura, however, were more reserved. “We need some time to think,” they said.
The Otaku Trio, predictably, were adamant. “Go back? That’d be such a waste!” they declared, content to stay.
Maria’s voice trembled as she ventured, “Wait, so… does that mean we can go back?”
Sumire’s eyes sparkled with hope.
”If you’ve got the resolve,” Kanata replied cryptically.
”Resolve?” Maria echoed, frowning.
”Yeah. The resolve to become my slaves—and for the girls, to be violated by me or some monsters.”
Morita’s face flushed with anger. “Don’t screw around!”
”I’m not joking,” Kanata said coolly. “After Maria came to me, I’ve been researching a magic formula for our return. Thanks to Faris, I’ve made some progress. Right now, I could probably return alone—but it’d require preparations. And for you all to come with me, well… that’s the catch.”
”Is that true?” Maria asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
”Just you, Kanata-kun?” Maya added, concern creeping in.
”What about us?” Sumire pressed, her hope wavering.
Morita gritted his teeth. “So you’re saying we’ve gotta bow down to you, become your slaves, just to go home?”
”Calm down,” Kanata said, raising a hand. “That was a joke—mostly. The point is, as things stand, the only way to bring you all back is if you’re my ‘possessions.’ That’s the current limitation.”
”A joke?” Kudo muttered, confused.
The men exchanged puzzled looks, but Maya and the other women nodded to each other, as if piecing it together.
”What’s that supposed to mean?” Kimura demanded.
”Slaves are the Master’s possessions,” Shizuka mumbled, almost to herself.
The men still looked lost.
”Care to explain?” Kudo pressed again.
Kanata sighed, speaking slowly, as if to a child. “Right now, I’m the only one who might be able to cross worlds. Got that? Now, think back to when you were summoned. Were you wearing clothes? What was in your pockets? Got your phone?”
They nodded, and Tsukamoto pulled out his smartphone, frowning. “What’s this got to do with anything?”
”When you were summoned, everything you had on you—your ‘possessions’—came along,” Kanata explained. “Get it now?”
Morita’s eyes widened. “So, if we become your ‘possessions’—your slaves—we could cross worlds with you?”
”Exactly,” Kanata said.
”But what’s this about violating the girls?” Kudo asked, his voice sharp.
”Simple,” Kanata replied, his tone unnervingly casual. “It’s about DP—Dungeon Points. Activating the repatriation magic circle requires massive amounts of Mana and DP. Doesn’t have to be the girls here. I could kidnap some from a nearby town, or we could slaughter a bunch in a Dungeon. That’d work too.”
The group froze, their faces paling at the implications.
”But that’s a joke,” Kanata added with a smirk. “Well, half a joke.”
Relieved sighs echoed around the group, though his “half” went unnoticed in their relief.
”Anyway,” Kanata continued, “the good news is, I’ve found a way for everyone to return, not just me.”
He unfurled a large map across the table.
”Is that for real?” Maria asked, her voice cautious but hopeful.
”Yeah, it’s real,” Kanata said. “But there are strict conditions, and I’ll need everyone’s help.”
Cheers erupted, Morita’s enthusiasm drowning out the earlier tension. “What do we need to do?” he asked eagerly.
”Settle down,” Kanata said, his tone firm. “It’s not happening tomorrow. We’ve got work to do.”
He pointed to the map. “I’ve mentioned the two Dungeons in Flora and two in Mercuria, left by an ancient civilization, right?”
He marked the map with Xs.
”Here’s the first Dungeon in Flora Kingdom, the one Kuu-chan controlled.” X.
”And this is Mercuria’s first Dungeon, managed by the city core.” X.
”Then, Flora recently reported another Dungeon here.” X.
”And the city core tipped me off about this one.” X.
”Plus, Faris left one abandoned here, in Aaren Plain.” X.
Haruka let out a small gasp, as if realizing something.
”What’s wrong, Haruka?” Maria asked.
”It’s probably nothing, but…” Haruka hesitated.
”Pentagram,” Shizuka whispered.
”Exactly,” Kanata said, connecting the Xs with a single stroke to form a perfect star.
”What’s that mean?” Kimura asked, still lost.
”In simple terms,” Kanata said, “these Dungeons form a massive magic device. If we activate all of them, we can trigger a repatriation array to send us back to Japan.”
As the weight of his words sank in, smiles spread across their faces, hope igniting in their eyes.
”Is that for real? We can actually go back?”
Morita’s voice trembled with emotion, his eyes wide with hope.
”Yeah… we can go home,” Tsukamoto muttered, though his expression was conflicted, mirrored by Kudo’s furrowed brow. Probably thinking about Mercuria’s princess, Kanata noted silently.
”I said calm down,” Kanata snapped, his tone sharp but measured. “It’s still just a possibility. We’ve got to clear the remaining Dungeons first.”
”Got it, got it—degozaru!”
Taichi, who’d been silent until now, raised his hand with a dramatic flourish.
”What’s that about?” Kanata asked, eyeing him skeptically.
”Leave the Dungeon exploration to us, degozaru!” Taichi declared, puffing out his chest.
”What’s gotten into you?” Kanata pressed, his suspicion clear.
Taichi grinned, unashamed. “If there’s a way to return, degozaru, then let’s get everyone home quick. That way, we—the true Heroes—can stay behind and live the ultimate harem life, degozaru!”
His shameless reasoning hung in the air, equal parts absurd and believable. The Otaku Trio’s reputation for questionable motives only made it seem more plausible.
”Let’s put that aside for now,” Kanata said, his voice cutting through the awkward silence. “I need to ask again: do you really want to go back to Japan?”
”What do you mean by that?” Maria asked, her tone cautious, eyes searching his face.
Kanata marked an X at the center of the pentagram on the map.
”To activate this magic device, we need to seize control of its main system. And during repatriation, we all have to be here,” he said, pointing to the map.
The spot he indicated was the heart of Luminarium, the central palace of Rubia Dukedom.
”I’ll ask one more time,” Kanata said, his voice heavy with finality. “Do you want to return to Japan?”
A heavy silence fell over the group. No one could muster a word.
Notes:
• Kitahara – Sayaka’s Family Name.
• Saya – Orphanage sister of Maya and Miyako, later adopted into the wealthy Kitahara family for a political marriage. Holds rare Gift Princess Knight (Valkyrie): versatile fighter-leader with light magic, stronger than Morita’s Commander. Quiet in Class A but bound by childhood oath to protect Maya and Miyako. Torn between duty as Kitahara heir and hidden first love for Kanata.
• Sayaka – Athletic blonde with sharp presence, expert in multiple martial arts, Kanata’s lunch-time sparring partner and admired distant figure.
• Tsubasa – A classmate, and a gift holder of Creator. He has an androgynous charm, popular yet approachable, bonds with Taichi’s group. The only son of the Ninari Conglomerate family.
• Amatsuka – Shizuka’s Family Name. The Sniper Hero.
• Asagiri – Maya’s Family Name.
• Hanasaki – Haruka’s Family Name. The Harvester.
• Haruka – A classmate who have Harvester gift. She keeps her distance from Ichiro, focused on her role in training. One of Setsugekka.
• Kotono – A classmate, and a wielder of Mage.
• Maria – A healer aiding Sumire, ensuring classmates recover during intense training sessions. One of Setsugekka.
• May – Blonde, soft-eyed shrine girl. ch14–15. Gentle and pleading (“Please… just let us go…”), timid but loyal, relies on Mina’s strength. Came with Mina to save Sara, but was disarmed and bound by Kanata as his captive maid.
• Maya – Cheerful brown-haired girl, naturally charming and social, Kanata’s classmate and morning conversation neighbor.
• Miyako – Quiet library girl with golden hair, intelligent and book-savvy, occasional silent companion to Kanata.
• Otonashi – Miyako’s Family Name.
• Setsugekka – Trio of Yukishiro Kotono, Tsukikage Maria, and Hanasaki Haruka.
• Shizuka – Classmate, wielder of Sniper, nicknamed “Shizu-tan.” Neglected, raised herself after father’s death and mother’s abandonment. Nearly assaulted in another world, broke her stoicism with first real plea for help. Saved by Kanata, now torn between distrust and fragile hope. Reminder: hardened loner, only cracks under extreme pressure.
• Yukishiro – Kotono’s Family Name. The wielder of mage.
• Gou – A Ranger who coordinates attacks, balancing aggression and caution in training.
• Kazuo – Silver-haired, confident class rep, natural leader and strategist, takes charge of classmates in the summoned hero scenario.
• Kimura – Gou’s Family Name. The Ranger.
• Kudo – A classmate and a Swordsman gift holder, slices through enemies with precision in training battles.
• Morita – Kazuo’s Family Name.
• Nozaki – Sumire’s Family Name. A Healer.
• Sumire – A healer preparing to mend classmates, supporting the team during training.
• Tsukamoto – Joujirou’s Family Name. The Defense of class who wield Guardian’s Shield.
• Hajime – Taichi’s Family Name. Another Otaku Hero’s friend with Brawler ability.
• Ichiro – Miyabe’s Family Name. Another Otaku Hero, Have porter as ability.
• Miyabe – Taichi’s loyal friend with the Porter gift, carries goods safely, bound by the Oath of One. Appears: During morning exercises, discussing plans with Taichi. Reason: Summoned as a hero, supports Taichi’s ambitions. Event: Joins Taichi’s scheme to accompany Hajime to town for trade.
• Nomura – The cunning otaku hero, wields Analyzer to master information, plotting a lavish harem empire in a foreign realm. Appears: A scheming figure amidst maids and training fields. Reason: To exploit his summoning for wealth and pleasure. Event: Enjoys maids’ service and schemes with friends for a harem.
• Taichi – A fierce friend of Otaku Hero with the Brawler gift, protects Taichi’s group, united by their sacred oath. Appears: Mentioned in Taichi and Ichiro’s plans, training with others. Reason: Summoned as a hero, serves as group protector. Event: Set to go to town with Kimura, accompanied by Taichi and Ichiro.
• Flora Kingdom – A small demi-human majority realm, politically fragile and reliant on trade, undone when Leticia’s capture and contract ceded it to Kanata. Reminder: the kingdom that fell with its regent’s collar.
• Kuu-chan – Arachne Queen who ruled her own dungeon until Kanata named her, forming a binding contract that shifted her loyalty and dungeon rights to him. Reminder: the dungeon master who became his by name.
• Aaren Plain – Grassland east of Florence, flanked by Mercuria (south), Alefgard (north), and Alfheim (west). Trade artery for food, steel, and elven goods; lifeline in peace, choke point in blockade. Reminder: Florence’s survival hinges on this crossroads.
• Rubia Dukedom – A small nation between Mercuria and Flora, first cited in Chapter 38 during Kanata, Elriese, and Alusia’s dungeon-strategy talk. It hosts one ruin-linked Dungeon targeted because Kanata—following Elriese’s advice and Kuu-chan’s records—seeks control of Dungeons (direct cause) to gain their power (underlying cause); Kanata plans to pressure swift surrender; connection: future conquest; no known direct relationships; defining trait: strategically sandwiched.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply