Chapter 9: Off to America!
Ivy had finally quieted down. Now that she was calm, Honoka turned back to Kazuma, thinking they could finally talk.
“I have a lot I want to say, but thank you, Kazuma. Thanks to you, I was saved.”
“Don’t worry about it. Actually, I’m sorry. If I had thought things through more…”
Kazuma looked down, apologetic. He regretted causing trouble for his family because he had been worrying about something trivial.
Honoka approached Kazuma, cupped his cheeks with her hands, and forced him to look up. Looking him straight in the eyes, Honoka spoke gently to Kazuma.
“I know you’re an idiot. You’re probably regretting to death that you troubled us by worrying over something trivial… but that itself is trivial. Don’t think you can do anything just because you have power. You’re human, so of course, you’ll make mistakes.”
“…But, because of that, Mom…”
“That’s true. I was indeed injured, but I’m safe like this now. Because you came for me.”
“That’s just looking at the outcome… In truth, I should have…”
“That’s arrogant. You certainly possess power that could be called omnipotent. I understood that well from this incident, but in the end, you’re still human. You’re not omniscient and omnipotent.”
“……Then, if something irreparable happens, what should I do?”
“There’s nothing you can do. No matter how desperately you struggle to prevent that time from coming, a moment when you’re helpless will inevitably arrive. That’s why we live our lives to the fullest.”
“Even if it leads to regret?”
“That’s right. There’s absolutely no such thing as a choice without regret. So, you accept even that and live so you can die smiling in the end. If you can think from the bottom of your heart that it was a good life, that’s surely a wonderful thing.”
“A good life…”
Humans will all die someday. Of course, there will be times when they die an absurd death. People who can die peacefully in a hospital bed as if falling asleep are extremely rare.
Still, people go on living. Even if you try to live so as not to have regrets, regrets will inevitably arise somewhere.
That’s why Honoka said to live in such a way that at the very, very end, you can smile and say it was a good life.
“You might die from illness or an accident, so it’s very difficult, though. Even so, look straight ahead and walk forward firmly.”
“……I understand, Mom.”
“Alright! If you understand, then that’s good! By the way, Kazuma. It’s fine that you teleported back here, but aren’t the people over there worried about you?”
“That’s right…! Sorry, Mom! I’ll head back there for a bit!”
“Yes, yes. You’re so impatient…”
As Honoka sighed in exasperation, Kazuma used Teleportation Magic to return to the First Area from in front of her.
◇◇◇◇
Kazuma, having returned to the venue where the Academy Battle Tournament was being held, checked his surroundings. Confirming no one was around, Kazuma let out a sigh of relief.
However, he didn’t know what had happened while he was gone. It was possible that they had noticed his absence and it had turned into a huge commotion.
“Oh crap~~~…”
Kazuma moved stealthily down the venue’s corridor, furtively scanning his surroundings. Just as he confirmed no one else was there and was about to head to the main hall, someone came walking from the other side.
He reflexively tried to hide, but finding no cover, Kazuma steeled himself. It was a truly useless and meaningless resolve, but he was an idiot, so it couldn’t be helped.
He gulped, and Kazuma came face-to-face with the person rounding the corner.
The one who came around was Souji. Upon spotting Kazuma, his eyes widened in shock, and he rushed over.
“Hey, Kazuma! Where the hell have you been all this time?”
Souji, who had been genuinely worried about the missing Kazuma, grabbed his shoulders and pressed him for answers.
“Ah~, um, my stomach hurt, so I was holed up in the toilet.”
“Is that so? But we searched the toilets too, and you weren’t there, you know?”
“W-Well, I was on patrol outside, so I was in one of the portable toilets outside!”
“Ah, so that’s why we couldn’t find you. Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe. Everyone was in an uproar when you disappeared.”
“Is that what happened? I’m, uh, sorry about that.”
“It’s fine as long as you’re safe. More importantly, the Crimson Knight took care of the Ibinom outside, so it’s safe around here.”
“Are there still spectators around?”
“Nope, most of them have gone home. We were just doing a final check to see if anyone was left behind.”
“I see…”
“More importantly, the guys from Seventh were worried, so you should go back.”
“Yeah. I’ll do that.”
And so, Kazuma returned to the main hall with Souji. The representative players from the Academy Battle Tournament had gathered there and were exchanging information.
Among them, the members of the Seventh Esper Academy saw Kazuma with Souji and their eyes widened.
Realizing that Kazuma, who had disappeared at some point, was safe, the members of the Seventh Esper Academy approached the two.
“Kazuma-kun! Where on earth have you been!?”
“Are you okay!? You’re not injured anywhere, are you?”
“You’re safe! Thank goodness…”
“Don’t make us worry like that, honestly!”
Kazuma was overwhelmed by their furious barrage of questions.
“I’m sorry for causing you all trouble.”
“See, Kazuma, you’re no good without me.”
“That’s not…”
“But you disappeared.”
“…Yeah.”
Kazuma tried to retort to Kaede’s point, but faced with the truth, he was left speechless.
Now that Kazuma had been found, the representative players of the Academy Battle Tournament discussed what to do next.
After all, the Crimson Knight had already annihilated the Ibinom in the city, and the injured had recovered, so there was nothing for them to do.
They were at a loose end. If there was anything they could do, it would probably be to help with the restoration work in the city destroyed by the Ibinom.
They also wanted to check on the safety of their families, friends, and acquaintances, but thanks to the Crimson Knight’s dazzling efforts, they figured they were probably alright.
Of course, there was no certainty. They might be dead, but with no way to confirm, they could only believe in their safety.
“Should we leave the venue and head into the city too? The police and the National Defense Force are probably busy, so it’d be faster if we went to them.”
And so, the representative players headed outside. Kazuma, carrying Akatsuki on his back, followed the others.
Outside the venue, the National Defense Force, police, and volunteer groups were working frantically. The city had been half-destroyed by the Ibinom, so the infrastructure wasn’t functioning, and most things had to be done by hand, meaning they seemed to be looking for manpower.
The representative players also joined in, starting to help with clearing rubble and distributing and collecting drinking water, food, and other supplies.
Kazuma went to the National Defense Force and explained Akatsuki’s situation. Given the nature of the story, the National Defense Force personnel frowned, but they accepted him as a rescued person for the time being.
This didn’t mean he could rest easy, but Kazuma acted, thinking he should take whatever measures he could.
Since the phones still weren’t working, he had to go in person. Having just caused them worry, Kazuma was about to leave a word and then start moving alone using Teleportation Magic.
Just then, his phone rang.
He found it strange that his phone rang when the signal shouldn’t have been restored yet, but if it was ringing, he had to answer.
Kazuma took the phone out of his pocket and frowned at the call from an unknown number, but he pressed the call button and answered.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Satsuki!”
“Huh? Is that Stephen’s voice? It’s been a while.”
“I have a favor to ask, though it shames me!”
Stephen squeezed out the words, sounding desperate.
“Alicia… Please save Alicia…!”
“What happened?”
Hearing Stephen’s sobbing voice over the phone, Kazuma sensed that the situation was urgent.
“She was attacked by a villain and is in critical condition…! Her condition is so bad that even calling for the Holy Maiden wouldn’t be in time.”
Just hearing that that Alicia had been attacked by an enemy was shocking enough, but hearing she was in critical condition left Kazuma stunned.
However, he quickly regained his composure and told Stephen.
“Stephen. Tell your higher-ups right now. Tell them not to attack even if a mysterious flying object appears. Well, they can attack if they want, but they’ll just get themselves beaten.”
Hearing those words, Stephen found hope.
“You’ll help her?”
“It’s my turn now. More importantly, tell me where Alicia is. I don’t understand English, so make it clear on a map app… Sorry. Why is this phone call even connecting?”
“Ah, ah. That’s because I’m using a military line. Um, so I just need to send the location via a map app, right?”
“That’s right. Please do it quickly.”
Soon after, Stephen sent an address to Kazuma’s phone. Checking it on his map app, he saw it was a hospital.
Having confirmed it, Kazuma spoke to Stephen one last time.
“Stephen. I’m counting on you for what I just said. I’m heading to America right now.”
“OK. I’ll persuade them, even if I have to punch out my superior officer.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Hanging up the phone, Kazuma broke into a run. For his friend, Alicia.