Chapter 5: The Power of Courage and Orihime’s Mystery

Amid a multitude of questions and things they want to say, the group decided to put everything aside and chose to move forward first.

It’s rather ironic that they prioritized speed for the battle they had just encountered, and yet risked wasting additional time here. Fortunately, the crater was situated away from the main road, so there was no damage to the road itself. However, leaving the goblin corpses behind might attract other monsters. Almost as an afterthought, they threw the goblin corpses into the crater, covered them with soil and rocks, and continued their journey.

Inside the carriage, a debriefing of the recent battle was taking place, primarily in the form of questions directed at Isamu, with Felix also participating.

“So, Matsumoto-dono, you can determine what kind of magic is being used, right?”

“More precisely, I think I can identify the magic’s elemental type. I knew it was fire magic earlier, but I wasn’t sure if it was a fireball or something else.”

“I see… Can I try it? I’ll concentrate now and infuse my magic with an attribute. Please guess the attribute.”

“Well, don’t you sometimes instinctively sense the attribute based on the similarity of the sounds when you chant a spell?”

“It’s fine. Just because spells are in the same category doesn’t mean their sounds are similar. This time, I won’t cast a spell; I’ll just infuse my magic with the attribute using my imagination. It won’t actually activate the magic, but based on what I’ve seen in the explanation of your skill, Matsumoto-sama seems to sense the magic power before it’s cast.”

It appears that you don’t need a spell to infuse magic with an attribute.

“Alright, here goes.”

With that, Annemarie closed her eyes as usual and held her hands as if grasping an invisible ball in the air. Before long, a faint light began to emanate from both of her hands. The color was light blue.

“Water huh. It’s light blue.”

Upon hearing this, Annemarie relaxed her focus, and the light that had been floating dispersed like mist.

“That’s correct. Let me try one more time. Ready?”

Annemarie entered her focus again, and this time, the color was a deeper shade of blue than before.

“Hmm, it’s a color I’ve never seen before. It’s bluish, but different from the color of water…”

“It’s the attribute of ice. That’s impressive. Even if it’s an attribute you’ve never seen before, you can still distinguish it.”

“I see. When creatures that use unknown magic appear, knowing whether the attributes are also unknown or if they are of known ones makes a significant difference.”

“Is that so?”

Isamu, who didn’t quite understand the significance of this ability, asked.

“Yes. Being able to determine the attribute allows us to enhance our defenses against it. Knowing the attribute of unknown magic can make a big difference and saves you from being eaten.”

“That makes sense. It’s certainly a significant advantage in terms of defense. By the way, that person with the red hair… Ah, Felker-san. He mentioned that if he were a higher-level mage, he could sense magic power and that if you had the magic power manipulation skill, you could see magic power. Is this different?”

Felker told me that I could do something similar, so I am here now. It would be weird if I didn’t care.

“Skilled mages are sensitive to the flow of magic power and can sense the presence of magic being cast nearby and the intensity of magic power. Magic power manipulation allows you to not only control your own magic power but also see the flow of nearby magic power. It’s similar to what Felker mentioned, so it’s likely that they share common aspects. However, there’s a fundamental difference between those abilities and Matsumoto-sama’s skill.”

“And what’s that?”

“The crucial difference is that Matsumoto-sama can discern the ‘attribute’ of the magic.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I’ve just learned about it, so I’m not entirely sure about the specific situations where it would make a difference. For example, as Felix mentioned earlier, if we know the attributes of unknown magic, it would enhance our defensive efficiency. Additionally, in most cases, you can only determine the attribute after it’s been activated, but knowing the attribute beforehand allows for quicker and more effective responses. Even though I’ve just learned about it, I’ve already realized its advantages, so I’m sure more benefits will be discovered.”

“I see…do you think that means there is an increased possibility of being of use to you?”

“Yeah, that’s it already. Or rather, you’ve already helped me a while ago, haven’t you?”

She gave me a kind smile.

It’s a bit ticklish, but the skill I was told was somewhat unnecessary when I arrived might actually be useful. I can’t help but be happy.

However, in the presence of a little heroine who performed so admirably, my achievements seem to fade away.

“Well, that’s good to hear. But I do believe that this time, more than half of the credit goes to Orihime…”

With a slightly self-deprecating and wry smile, he responded.

“Hmmm?”

The little heroine who had been sitting on his lap all this time rubbed her head against him. For some reason, it felt like she was saying, “That’s not true.” Gently, he stroked her head.

“No, it’s not a matter of who did better or worse, who’s on top or who’s on the bottom. It’s just that Orihime did a great job as well… I asked you this before, but Orihime isn’t a monster, and she’s not a familiar, right?”

“No, she’s not. Although there were quite a variety of species in terms of appearance and fur color, they’re essentially animals. Originally, they were carnivorous, so they’re skilled at hunting small animals, but only small animals like mice and small birds. They certainly weren’t capable of running that fast either.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but remember Orihime’s actions from earlier.

Come to think of it, it was a bit odd that she leaped out of the carriage and onto his shoulder. He hadn’t locked the carriage, but how did she open it? Why did she jump out at just the right moment? Why did she jump onto his shoulder?

Just those questions about her actions before she charged at the goblins were already quite mysterious. What she did afterward was even more so.

But he could say one thing for certain.

“That was undoubtedly an action Orihime took to help us. She understood that things would get tough if we left things as they were, and she risked danger to help us, I think.”

“Nyaaa…”

Orihime responded again, as if answering his statement. AnneMarie couldn’t help but interject.

“…I wonder, can Orihime-chan understand Matsumoto-sama’s words?”

“No way…?”

Even as he said it, there were too many things that suggested the opposite, and it felt like denying it would be wrong.

Why could they understand each other? Why did she become stronger than before, even though he was unable to grasp any of the underlying principles?

Gradually, he arrived at one hypothesis.

“Until now, have there been other non-human companions like Orihime who came here?”

“I’ve never heard of such a story. There have been people called beastmen who have come here, but…”

“I see… It’s just a hypothesis, but isn’t it possible that Orihime is also a wanderer, just like the others who have become stronger and can understand the language here? I can now understand the language here, too, and I feel like I’ve become stronger than when I was on the other side. I’ve even acquired abilities and skills… I don’t understand the underlying principles at all, but what if something strengthens you in some way when you come here? Could Orihime, who got caught up in it, also have been enhanced in the same way?” 

In this perspective, things began to make sense.

“Certainly… That hypothesis fits well,” 

AnneMarie acknowledged, her thoughts confirmed.

“Indeed. When we return to the capital, I suggest having Orihime appraised at the church.”

Rudolf who had been listening chimes in.

“They can appraise abilities at the church?”

“Yes, unlike what Matsumoto-sama did, we may not know the exact physical ability values, but there’s a magic tool for appraisal that can reveal one’s ability skills. In order to check if there are any individuals with exceptional skills within their territories, these magic tools are available in the churches of every regional capital.”

“I see. If we can use the appraisal to understand whether Orihime’s changes are due to an ability, it would be very helpful.”

“Yes, probably. However…”

“However?”

“Yes. I don’t think anyone has ever been appraised there other than humans. So, even if she’s judged to have no special abilities, we won’t be able to say for certain whether it’s because she’s not human or because she doesn’t have any skills.”

“I see. Well, it’s probably impossible to prove the absence of something in the first place. It can’t be helped. But the appraisal might still provide us with some valuable information when we get back to the capital. so is it okay if I ask you to do so once you arrive at the capital?”

“Yes of course. We don’t see any issues with it. If they hesitate, we’ll use the lord’s influence to insist on it. After all, Orihime has already been a great help.”

Annemarie made a small fist gesture with both hands and puffed out her chest.

“Nyaa.”

Upon seeing this, Orihime let out another soft meow.

The group had experienced a battle, and by the time the sun began to set, they arrived at a small town called Salz. They planned to stay here for the night and continue their journey the next morning. Traveling at night was dangerous, and the horses also needed rest, so it was common sense to halt the march before the sun went down.

The inn they chose for their stay was not very large, but it was a clean stone-built establishment. It had just the right number of rooms to rent out, making it their usual stopover on their journeys to and from the capital. They had pre-booked their return journey since they knew their approximate travel schedule.

Isamu, too, was assigned a reasonably sized private room. Although it wasn’t a guest room, it was a small corner room on the third floor with a small living area and a private toilet. Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be a bath or shower.

Rather surprisingly, it appeared that there were no baths in this country, which was a significant shock for Isamu, a Japanese person who loved baths. This might be the most shocking thing he had experienced since arriving here.

To cleanse themselves, they were each given a tub of hot water and a washcloth when they returned to their rooms. Isamu thought about how he’d like to soak in a bath but realized he didn’t have a change of clothes. He reluctantly put his dirty clothes back on, feeling grateful that his company’s dress code was quite casual, and today he was in jeans and a light hoodie. After changing into these clothes, he sat on the bed and petted Orihime.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

“Matsumoto-sama, your meal is ready. When you’re ready, please come down to the dining hall on the first floor.”

After giving his response, Isamu took a moment to think and then picked up Orihime and headed downstairs.

When he entered the dining hall, Annemarie had just taken her seat.

“Sorry for being late.”

“Oh, no need to apologize. You were the last one to be called, after all.”

With a smile, Rudolf replied and pulled out a chair as if he had planned all along that Isamu would sit beside Annemarie. Isamu was uncertain about the seating arrangements, but it appeared that it was a matter of course for him to sit next to Annemarie.

Seeing Isamu cradling Orihime, Annemarie’s eyes briefly sparkled.

“Matsumoto-sama, what kind of drink would you like? We have alcoholic beverages, but there’s also fruit juice and water.”

As they settled into their seats, Karina asked.

“What kind of alcoholic drinks do you have?”

Isamu, who liked to enjoy a drink after work, inquired about the available options.

“At this establishment, we have ale and wine. We offer white and black ale, then white wine and red wine.”

“In that case, I’ll have a white ale.”

After work, Isamu would usually enjoy a cold lager, especially a pilsner. Still, he couldn’t afford to be too picky here. Ale wasn’t his favorite, but it was by no means unpalatable.

In addition, I don’t dislike ale, so, it’s Toria Ezu-Nama, or rather Toria Ezu-Ale.

Shortly, their drinks were brought to them. At a glance, it seemed like 70% of the group preferred ale while 30% went for wine. Even in this changed world, it appeared that beer was still the dominant choice for an after-work drink. Surprisingly, Annemarie also seemed to be an ale enthusiast.

By the way, Rudolf and Karina were either helping with serving or, perhaps, never intended to sit in the first place.

Isamu wondered if they had a culture of toasting here. As he pondered this, Annemarie started leading the toast.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your hard work today. We had to face battles with monsters, but we managed to get through it safely, thanks to Matsumoto-sama and Orihime-chan. It’s truly an honor to have met both of you on the day you came to our world from afar. I apologize for any inconvenience we’ve caused. We ask for your patience until we return to our territory.”

“So, let’s give thanks to the meeting and today’s nourishment and raise our glasses!”

“””Cheers!”””

Responding to Annemarie’s call, everyone clinked their glasses. Around here, the atmosphere seemed much the same as Earth, or perhaps even more robust.

The ale mugs were porcelain, and the wine glasses were wooden, so they didn’t appear to be too concerned about breakage. Isamu clinked glasses with Annemarie, the guard Felix, and then took a sip of ale. It wasn’t cold, but it had a fruity flavor unique to ale and was quite delicious.

The dishes were then served in succession. They were arranged on large platters, and Isamu hesitated on whether it was okay to serve himself, so he observed the others. Annemarie had Karina serve her, while the rest of the group served themselves. Isamu decided to follow their lead and served himself.

“Matsumoto-sama, if you wish, I can serve you,” 

Karina offered.

“No, I’m fine serving myself. In my country, we typically serve ourselves,” 

Karina told me this to be considerate, but he was tired of having people pay attention to him, so he decide to take it himself.

“Matsumoto-sama, I have to say this: you’re quite skilled at serving. And the way you hold the server is something I’ve never seen before,” 

Karina said with an amazed expression as Isamu served salad using a server placed next to the large platter.

Back in university, Isamu had worked part-time in a hotel’s serving department for about three years. During that time, he learned a serving technique called “Japanese style,” which was based on chopstick handling and involved using a server. It seemed this skill was coming in handy even in Ethersia.

“Thank you. I received a little guidance at my previous workplace. If you’d like, I can teach you sometime when you have the time?”

Upon hearing Isamu’s words, Rudolf whispered something to Annemarie, and she nodded slightly.

“Matsumoto-sama, if it’s not too much trouble, would you consider teaching the servants at our estate when we arrive in the capital?”

“Yes, of course. If amateurish instruction is acceptable, then I don’t mind.”

“Thank you. You mentioned that you were an amateur, Matsumoto-sama, but that’s not the case at all. Your serving is quite refined, and even we can see that it’s beautiful.”

“I’d like to request the same. When we invite other nobles to our estate, they will surely be pleased if we serve with this technique.”

“Understood. Please feel free to let me know when we arrive in the capital.”

“Thank you.”

Annemarie expressed her gratitude with a somewhat relieved expression.

“No need to thank me. I’m here to help in any way I can, after all.”

“Indeed, it seems that Matsumoto-sama has taken on one more responsibility,” 

Annemarie said, as Isamu added another task to his list. It made him happy to know there was something he could contribute.

Amid the pleasant dinner, Isamu prepared a meal for Orihime. Since they couldn’t arrange a dedicated meal for her right now, he served a simple, hard-baked bread soaked in water and a small dish of the meat that wasn’t covered in the sauce resembling roast beef.

“Hime, you’ll have to make do with this tonight. We’ll ask the kitchen to prepare something for you tomorrow!”

“Nyaa.”

As Isamu spoke to her, Orihime gave a soft meow and started to eat her meal.

Afterward, the dinner continued pleasantly, but it was wrapped up earlier than usual, considering they were still on the way back and had also been through a battle. Having had some alcohol, Isamu returned to his room, cradling Orihime, and soon fell asleep.

Thus, Isamu’s eventful first day in this new world came to a close.

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