To Earth...

"Ugh… it smells…"

The first thing the two felt upon descending to Earth was the stench of the atmosphere.

"Ehhh, was Earth always like this?"

Serge pinched his nose and writhed dramatically.

"Well, it's true that Tokyo's air smelled worse than the countryside—more like chemicals, I thought—but there was almost no air pollution in that world."

There had been a distinctive smell of burning charcoal smoke in the dwarven village, but even that wasn't this bad.

"I'm fine, but… are you alright?"

Ria, possessing Dragon's Bloodline, also had stench resistance. Normally it was meant for being active around active volcanoes, though.

"Yeah, well, I'll get used to it."

Putting on the mask he had originally brought to hide his face, Serge responded.

"Even so… did we manage to teleport properly into the city?"

The two were currently in a back alley squeezed between small buildings. They didn't know what time it was, but it was definitely night.

"I think that should be fine, but… it's a bit cold. What month is it, I wonder?"

He felt the winter cold through his thin cloak. Serge quickly warmed his hands with fire magic. He had been a little worried, but it seemed magic could be used on Earth without any problems.

Ria had no problem since she had resistance to both heat and cold. With a light leap, she jumped onto the roof of the building. Serge followed with teleportation.

"There's Tokyo Tower and the Sky Tree, so… Setagaya Ward is that way."

"Your parents' house first?"

"No, my parents are in Yokohama. I'm going to visit someone who took care of me in my previous life. That person has connections in both political and financial circles."

"… Nee-chan, what kind of previous life did you lead?"

"I happened to have the opportunity to make their acquaintance. By the way, they're also the one who gave me Kotetsu. Japan's fixer."

I see, Serge understood Ria a little better. It wasn't strange for an eccentric who had devoted their life to swordsmanship and martial arts in Japan to have connections with scary people.

"Then shall we fly?"

Ria soared through the air, and Serge used flight magic as they danced through Tokyo's night sky.

"This is the place."

What Ria led them to was a Japanese-style house that gave off the feeling of a reasonably splendid estate. While it had a proper gate, to be honest, it was different from the castle-like mansion Serge had imagined.

"Here? I was honestly imagining a bigger house…"

"By just before my death, they had already half-retired. They would travel back and forth between this house and Kamakura. Now then, I wonder if they're here…"

By the way, the current time was 9 PM. They had confirmed the date and time at a convenience store along the way.

When she rang the intercom like normal, there was a response after a short while.

"Yes, who is it?"

"I apologize for the late hour. If Gozen is available, could you please tell them that someone who once received Kotetsu has returned from the afterlife?"

"… Is this a prank?"

"No. Is that Maeda-san speaking? If it's inconvenient, I could come back tomorrow, but I would appreciate it if you could convey that I came regarding the matter of the world visible in the sky."

"… Please wait a moment."

Before long the gate opened, and an elderly woman Ria hadn't seen in a long time appeared.

"… You are?"

Even that suspicious gaze felt nostalgic.

Ria lowered her hood and exposed her true face.

"It's been a long time. I look like this now, but I am Yuzo Tamura."

"Nee-chan, so that was your name…"

Despite Ria's name finally being revealed, Serge could only muster an indifferent reaction.

"Tamura-sama should have passed away in the earthquake four months ago…"

"Yes. But in that world over there—"

Ria pointed at the other world floating in the sky.

"—around twenty years have passed. It may be hard to believe, but I was reborn in that world. Knowing it was sudden, I came hoping to borrow Gozen's power regarding this contact between our worlds."

Saying that, Ria drew Kotetsu from its sheath at her waist.

"I made this by imitating Kotetsu in that world. I believe Gozen would understand upon seeing it."

"… Please come inside for now."

Her expression becoming completely blank, the housekeeper guided the two to the entrance.

"Please wait here."

For the time being, the two were made to wait in the room they were guided to.

"Nee-chan, my legs hurt."

Since he hadn't sat in seiza at all in that world, this position was difficult for him.

"Don't push yourself. He's an easygoing person."

While saying that, Ria sat calmly in seiza without breaking form. She was reasonably accustomed to it since there were techniques for drawing one's sword from this position.

After not too long, the sliding door opened and a man appeared. He looked to be around forty years old.

"Which one of you is claiming to be Tamura?"

"That would be me. Kikuchi-san, it's been a long time."

This man was also someone Ria knew. Right now, his gaze even held killing intent as he looked at Ria.

"If you're Tamura… try drawing this."

He handed back Ria's Kotetsu. From her seated position, Ria drew the blade so fast the motion couldn't be seen.

"Aren't you more skilled than Tamura was?"

"I continued training over there as well."

Hmm, Kikuchi nodded, told them to wait a moment, and left the room again.

"Is that person a bodyguard?"

"You could tell?"

"Leaving aside his level, his skills were pretty impressive."

Indeed, in her previous life he had often been her sparring partner. Their abilities had been roughly equal.

Though his swordsmanship level was probably low. In exchange, his bojutsu level was likely high.

After not too long, an elderly man appeared at a leisurely pace. He wore a kimono and sunglasses. Though considerably aged, his back was straight.

In that instant, Ria moved back from her cushion and pressed her head flat against the tatami.

"It's been a long time, Gozen."

"… Tamura, you've become a woman, have you? And quite a beauty at that."

The old man laughed. It was a heartfelt laugh, one that could even be called innocent.

"Actually, I'm not completely female. Let me introduce you. This is a friend who also reincarnated from Japan to that world."

Serge stood up straight and greeted him following court etiquette.

"My name is Sagittarius Crystal Crowley. Please call me Serge."

Gozen waved his hand to have Serge sit down, then sat down himself and had Ria raise her head. Kikuchi stood at his side.

"For being reborn, you've gotten quite big, haven't you? How does that work?"

"It seems the flow of time between here and there was different. I even know an acquaintance who reincarnated from the 21st century to two thousand years ago."

"And your name? That's changed too, right?"

"Ryuke Riana Crystal Casalia Ogress—it's a long name, but please call me Ria."

"Hoh, that sounds like quite an important name. Are there nobles over there?"

"Yes. There are hardly any democratic countries. I'm currently serving as king of the third largest nation in that world."

"Tamura is a king! Now that's a surprise!"

The conversation between the two continued. It was about the old days on Earth, like they were comparing memories.

Following that, the topic turned to the details after Ria had died in her previous life. Ria had been single, but that didn't mean she had no family. Being able to hear about them, Ria felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"So what did you come here for? Surely you didn't come just to reminisce?"

The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy compared to before. It was the dignity of a great figure, a kind of pressure Serge had often felt in that world as well.

Ria pointed at the sky and continued speaking, unfazed by the pressure.

"I believe Gozen also heard the Demon King's words."

"Yeah, that ridiculous story. Destroy the Earth… can it really be done?"

"It can. Over there, there are beings—Divine Dragons—with that kind of power. If it were just annihilating humanity, even I alone would be sufficient."

"Dragons… no, before that—you alone could destroy the world?"

"I might let some slip by, but given a month, I think I could reduce every major city on Earth to ruins."

"How? No matter how skilled you are, you can't cut down hundreds of millions with a sword."

"I would use magic. Just as we broadcast images worldwide and translated words, magic exists in that world, and there are more than a handful of individuals who can use magic with destructive power equivalent to a nuclear strike. If a group worked together, there would be even more."

"Magic, huh. Another dubious-sounding thing has come up."

"That's why I brought him. Serge, try teleporting a short distance."

"Roger."

Responding in the other world's language, Serge performed a short-distance teleportation.

Even the man who had once controlled Japan from the shadows couldn't hide his surprise at this.

"I'm amazed. Truly amazed. It's not some kind of illusion, is it?"

"If you need proof, shall I destroy one small country? How about that certain country that's so annoying to Japan?"

"No, wait. Even as a joke, wait."

Ria waited. It didn't take long for Gozen to organize his thoughts.

"So let me ask again—what did you come here for?"

"Regarding immigration to that world, Demon King Ars considers Japanese people the highest priority. Because he too is Japanese. Moreover, unlike me who was reborn, he was summoned to that world as a Japanese person."

"So he's going to destroy his own homeland?"

"Fifteen years in Japan versus one thousand years in that world. To him, that world is more important. Besides, there are no other options anymore."

Ria put power into her Dragon Eyes.

"I feel sorry for people from countries other than Japan, but this is what the Demon King decided, and I agreed. Over ninety percent of that world has already accepted it."

"I see… He said sick people and the elderly won't be allowed to immigrate—what about that?"

"It's as he said. Basically, everyone over sixty will be rejected. Setting aside people with influence like Gozen, we have no need for so-called deadweight over there."

Gozen was struck speechless by that explanation.

"… Setting aside old folks like me… there are plenty of people past sixty who can still work…"

"That's why I said 'basically.' People with special skills or who are conducting research will be screened on our end."

"… Tamura… you've become quite an important person, haven't you…"

Gozen murmured in a low voice.

"You unilaterally say you'll kill, you unilaterally say you'll choose—do you think we'll accept that?"

"We have no need for humans who sit in their chairs acting important. Workers on the ground and some leaders are sufficient."

"You…"

"There is no such phrase as 'basic human rights' in that world. The Demon King aside, even the kings of various nations wouldn't understand it. Setting aside the demon territories, even in the few democratic nations, explaining human rights would only get you laughed at."

"Damned if we go, damned if we stay, huh…"

"Getting back to the topic, I would like Gozen to lend your power in screening the immigrants."

"What an outrageous request… First of all, what will America say…?"

"American engineers and scientists are planned to be prioritized after Japan. However, people who believe in Christianity will likely be difficult to handle."

"Far from difficult, it might be impossible. Even among Japanese people, who knows if anyone would willingly go… this is going to turn into a war, you know."

"Probably so."

"Don't say it so lightly… Are there many wars in that world too?"

"Until recently there was a war between humans and demons, but it's peaceful now. Small conflicts occur, but that's the same on Earth."

Gozen folded his arms and fell into deep thought. Ria quietly watched him, but Serge was bored. He looked around here and there using magic, but gradually became sleepy.

"In any case, this isn't something I can decide alone. For tonight, stay here. Is there anything else you need?"

"No. Then I'll gratefully accept your offer."

And so, Ria and Serge spent the night in futons for the first time in a long while.

Borrowing sleepwear, they gazed at the wooden ceiling. With his eyes closed, Serge spoke.

"Nee-chan, this seems really difficult, huh."

"Well, of course. We're suddenly telling them we're going to destroy the world. I didn't expect things to go smoothly."

Looking at the nostalgic ceiling, Ria quickly fell asleep.