I Was Caught up in a Hero Summoning, but That World Is at Peace

<Author's Notes>

I accidentally set the reservation update date to the 16th and didn’t notice…… Let’s just say yesterday was a break from updates……

When I returned to the venue after the break, Alice at the commentary desk made an announcement.

"Now then, there’s a bit of time before the next side event, so please feel free to enjoy some casual conversation until then."

That line…… I had heard about it in advance from Shiro-san. Apparently, starting from this line that Alice says after the break, I’ll begin using the parallel world mechanic to receive my birthday presents.

Specifically, I’ll spin the garapon, and after receiving a present from the person it lands on, I’ll transition into a parallel world. From my perspective, it’ll feel like I’m looping back to this exact scene where Alice speaks.

Then, I’ll spin the garapon again, and the person I received a gift from in the previous world will already be considered as "picked", and I’ll repeat the process of receiving another present. So, Alice’s line now marks the starting point of this whole thing.

Well, for this very first time, it doesn’t really matter, so I might as well get on with the first draw without overthinking it.

<EPSILON>

[Miyama Kaito-sama, happy birthday. It’s modest, but I’ve prepared a gift for you.]

[Thank you very much.]

I accepted the wrapped gift from Epsilon-san. The wrapping was neat, so I couldn’t tell what was inside, but judging by the size and weight, it felt like it might be a tea bowl or something similar.

At that moment, Epsilon-san offered another package…… this one wrapped in a traditional arabesque pattern.

[This is from someone who wasn’t able to attend the party today. I was asked to deliver it on their behalf.]

[Eh Thank you for going to the trouble…… but who is it from?]

Pretty much all of my acquaintances had been invited to this party. Even those I’d only briefly introduced myself to. Basically, if I’ve seen their face or know their name, they’re here.

So if someone wasn’t able to come, it means I likely have no connection to them…… but they still went out of their way to prepare a gift?

[She’s my housemate…… hmm, if I had to describe our relationship, I’d say she’s like a wife to me. We’re not legally married, but that’s what she means to me.]

That really caught me off guard, Epsilon-san has a wife? Well, a same-sex relationship is a personal matter, and I don’t see any issue with it.

Though, since they’re not officially married…… I suppose it’s more like de facto marriage? Either way, the way Epsilon-san spoke about her made it very clear how much she cares for her.

[My housemate’s name is Tendouin Miyabi…… actually, she used to be a Hero Actor, a former Otherworlder.]

[Eh!? R- Really……? Wait, former?]

A former Hero Actor, an Otherworlder who migrated here? That’s unexpected…… But hold on. When I asked Alice about past Hero Actors, I don’t remember her mentioning this Miyabi-san……

[Yes, Miyabi was a Hero Actor from quite a long time ago. Ordinarily, she would’ve already reached the end of her lifespan as a human, but I reincarnated her as a Demon, so she now lives on as a Demon.]

[I- I see…… I never imagined someone like that existed. That’s surprising.]

[Perhaps I should have introduced her sooner, but there were…… certain circumstances. You see, because I was inexperienced at the time I performed the Racial Reincarnation, Miyabi lost all memory of her life before the Hero Summoning. As a result, she had virtually no awareness of having once been an otherworlder.]

After hearing Epsilon-san's explanation, I understood why Alice hadn’t mentioned Miyabi-san back when we talked about the immigrants. I see, If she lost her memories of her life on Earth and had even become a Demon, things would naturally be more complicated. And since she herself didn’t feel like an Otherworlder, it made sense that Alice left her out back then.

[However, very recently, she was granted a bit of mercy by Earth God-sama, and Miyabi has regained her memories of her life in the other world. It seems that led her to take an interest in other Otherworlders, including yourself, Miyama Kaito-sama. And so, she decided to take this opportunity to send something…… It’s pickled vegetables she made herself. I may be biased, but personally, I think they taste wonderful.]

[Thank you very much. Please pass my thanks along to Miyabi-san as well.]

[Certainly. If the opportunity arises, I would love to introduce her to you.]

[Yes, I’d look forward to that.]

Epsilon-san smiled gently, and once again I could clearly feel her deep affection for Miyabi-san. Honestly, it even felt stronger than what she shows toward Ozma-san…… though that’s probably not my place to judge. Still, while unexpected, I was genuinely happy to learn about another person from my homeworld.

If I ever get the chance to meet her in the future, I’ll be sure to properly thank her then.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [Miyabi and Epsilon are always flirting…… Honestly, I’m not too fond of dealing with them.]