“It seems I never expected to be grabbed like this.”
Kesaran Pasaran trembled, feeling overwhelmed.
“I’m sorry. But, you see, there was no other timing to summon you across worlds. So, I feel bad for you, but this is a necessary sacrifice to save this world… um, well, I’m sorry…?”
“I think it’s nice that you can apologize properly.”
Noticing my cold, condescending gaze, Kesaran Pasaran shrank down, quivering.
It seems there is some remorse after all.
“Anyway, if you’ve summoned them as important saviors, then they must be treated well in this world, right?”
“Of course! I promise to treat the hero, saint, and sage like royalty within the temple! …Well, I did promise that, but…”
“What is it? Aren’t you supposed to treat them well? You kidnapped three minors without permission, and now you plan to treat them roughly, you little furball?”
As I gripped tightly, the furball quivered in my grasp.
It was somewhat infuriating that it felt so nice to touch.
“I’m not going to treat them roughly! I promise to treat them well! Of course, if they save the world, I plan to send them back to their original time and place, and I’ll prepare plenty of rewards for them! But…”
“But what?”
“They found out you died and became furious…”
“Ah…”
I can imagine it.
For some reason, those cousins have always looked up to me, and if they found out I died because they summoned me, they’d rage like fire.
The Date family is an elite clan specialized in sports and martial arts. Unfortunately, I was not a genius by birth.
I wasn’t a complete failure. I was more of a jack-of-all-trades, a capable but mediocre type.
After seeing something just once, I could usually perform most sports. I handled both ball games and martial arts with ease.
But that was it. I could never reach the top. I could win at the prefectural level, but I couldn’t compete at the national level.
My ability to be competent at everything may have been my misfortune.
I did my best. I worked hard to the point of coughing up blood, and I barely managed to reach the upper-middle level.
That might have been considered quite good by general standards, but in the Date clan, I was a rather ambiguous presence.
Fortunately, the elites of the Date family were straightforward and left me alone without persecution, despite my shortcomings.
Thanks to that, I’ve completely come to terms with my life now. Even if I couldn’t be at the top in one thing, I could do anything.
I could find joy in many things, even if they were shallow.
From then on, I reached out to any field I found interesting.
As the oldest among my cousins, I naturally became their role model and taught them.
I’m a bit rough around the edges, but I’m a kind and caring older cousin.
Though they each had their quirks, they blindly adored their “big brother” who could do anything.
I had an inferiority complex because I could never be number one, but it seemed I was better at “teaching” than other coaches and teachers.
(I suppose it was just the result of my qualities and efforts, but they expressed gratitude, saying it was thanks to my advice…)
I was particularly close to the three who were summoned.
Since all of our names included a season, relatives teased us as the “Season Quartet.”
They looked up to me like a real brother, and while they complained about how annoying I was, I didn’t mind at all.
I was genuinely looking forward to this camping trip.
“I guess they’re even angrier because they feel it’s their fault. It can’t be helped. I should just give up and return them to their original world.”
“That’s why it won’t work! They’re the only saviors I’ve managed to summon after searching for a single grain of sand in this vast desert. No one else can defeat that evil dragon. The world I’ve painstakingly created would be destroyed…”
The Kesaran Pasaran in my hands felt damp. Is it trying to make me feel sorry for it?
“I want to revive you to calm their anger. Since your original body can no longer be used, well, we’ll have to recreate you in this world, okay?”
“Is that what they call reincarnation?”
“Yes, it’s otherworldly reincarnation! Isn’t it exciting to start a new life?”
“No, I can only feel anxiety.”
“Huh…?”
Why is it shocked?
I don’t know much about the concept of otherworldly reincarnation, but from what I heard from my cousin, it’s mostly a restrictive world reminiscent of medieval Europe.
I remember it being a rather inconvenient culture for modern Japanese people.
“It’s a world of swords and magic, right? Are there monsters as well?”
“Yes, there are! Beast-turned monsters and humans are in conflict. Also, the four central nations are engaged in minor skirmishes. Right now, they’re cooperating because they have a common enemy.”
“That sounds terrible. By the way, what’s the living environment like? Japanese people are quite particular about hygiene and food.”
“Huh…?”
Why are you freezing, little furball?
Your reaction seems very suspicious. I stared at it intently and questioned it further.
“Is there a bath?”
“No, there isn’t. Basically, you wipe with a wet cloth or take a quick wash…?”
“What about the toilet? What does it look like?”
“Uh, it’s just a hole in the floor that gets cleaned by slimes…”
“I assume there’s toilet paper?”
“There’s none… Those of higher status use scraps of cloth, but the common folk wash with water or use leaves…”
The furball’s voice grew increasingly strained.
Even for someone who isn’t particularly fastidious, I thought this would be impossible. For someone used to a comfortable life in modern Japan, this world would be too harsh.
“From what I just heard, I can’t expect much, but I assume the food isn’t great either.”
“That’s not true! Ingredients rich in magical essence are all incredibly delicious! The meat of magical beasts, of course, as well as fruits and vegetables are exquisite. They are comparable to what you had in Japan!”
That was an unexpected reply. However, what caught my attention was the emphasis on “ingredients” and “food.”
“…Could it be that the seasoning and cooking methods are on a low level?”
“Uuuh…”
The furball became damp again. This isn’t tears; it’s probably sweat. Of course, I pressed it for more information.
The seasoning is limited to salt and pepper. It seems the basic cooking methods are just grilling or boiling. No matter how good the ingredients are, I might get bored quickly.
“I hate to say it, but those guys are sheltered kids, you know? In that environment, they’d probably start a hunger strike even if I weren’t around.”
Especially neurotic and fastidious Akimi would likely become neurotic. Even the only girl, Natsuki, would struggle. As for laid-back Haruto, he might be able to laugh it off, but he loves eating, so he would probably feel down if he knew about the food situation.
“Uuuuh… I get it! I understand! I’ll take care of it properly!”
After I continued to criticize various aspects, the little furball—or rather, the Creator God—finally shouted in despair.
