Okawa Kyoutarou POV
<<Good morning, New World>>
“…huh?”
I was on my way home from my empty junior high school located in what was more of a rural area than an urban one. The setting sun was turning the sky red when I suddenly felt dizzy. As soon as that happened, I heard a voice. But I heard it not through my ears but directly inside my head.
Moreover, my field of vision narrowed for some reason. I uttered sounds of confusion as I placed my hands over my eyes. But then, I heard the clang of metal against metal. Before I knew it, my fingertips, or rather, half of my forearm up until my fingertips was covered by a gauntlet similar to what a knight from the middle-ages might wear.
“Wha…eh? Huh?”
<<Ladies and gentlemen, you must all be confused. I wonder how many of your questions I could answer…not that any of you could pose any questions as I am the only one who would be talking. Nonetheless, please look toward the sky, if you would.>>
Perhaps because the voice said so, I looked skyward almost by reflex.
In what should have been the same red sky as a few moments ago, I found a mysterious, floating cube. It should have been pretty high up in the sky, yet I could still see it quite clearly. I could tell it was considerably large. The cube slowly rotated sideways and would even tilt forward occasionally. It was like it was making sure I was aware of its existence.
However, more concerning than any of those details was the image of an old man being displayed on each of the cube’s LCD-like surfaces. That face, despite being riddled with wrinkles, had good features. I couldn’t help but think he must have been quite the handsome fellow in his youth.
The old man had blond hair and white skin, leading me to think he was from northern Europe. Furthermore, he had a black scarf, a hat a British gentleman might wear, and a rather boorish eyepatch over his left eye.
However, in contrast to the western style he had from the neck up, he wore a button-up shirt in combination with a kimono, which made him look completely like what a Japanese literary master would in the old day. It was mishmash of different—conflicting even—styles, yet it oddly suited him.
The old gentleman then grinned like a mischievous boy and glared at the ground with his red right eye. Before long, his thin lips parted and he began to speak quickly. Much like before, I heard his hoarse voice not with my ears but directly in my mind. I also got the impression that his strange way of talking was intentional rather than because he was a foreigner.
<<It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. But please, don’t mind me; I’m nothing but the fool in this act. Not that I think you’re concerned about an old timer when a more pressing matter is upon you. That is to say, yes, the changes happening to each one of you.>>
“…”
I still didn’t understand what was happening. Or perhaps I should say I was confused.
It was shocking to see the old man, but I was still wondering what was the deal with my getup.
Thinking that, I looked down and patted my body with both of my hands. Without me realizing it, my clothes had changed into what I could only think of as cosplay.
I found myself wearing a black surcoat that extended halfway through my thighs. When I tried touching it, I felt something hard underneath and made a clinking sound. I still had gauntlets on my hands, and for my lower body, I had dark green trousers and brown boots.
I had a burly belt diagonally strapped over my chest. I even had a dagger hanging on the right side of my waist.
I felt like I was carrying something on my back, so I decided to check. When reached toward my back, I touched something hard again. For a moment, I had no idea what it could have been but then it dawned on me…can it be a sword?
“What’s going on…”
I uttered so, confused. After all, I was wearing my junior high uniform and had only my school-specified bag on my back just a while ago.
Can this be just a dream? Ahh, of course.
Concluding it must be that, I calmed back down.
Is this one of those lucid dream things? I remember watching something about it a few times before, but this is the first time I’m having one. But if this is all a dream, I’d rather it have been…I don’t know, one where beautiful women are absolutely all over me.
<<Ahh, if you’re thinking this must be a dream, let me impart to you something at once. This is absolutely not a dream. If you think that a lie, then by all means, stab yourselves in the heart.>>
The old man stated so with a wicked smile. I found that smile oddly scary and unconsciously gulped down.
Huh? No…this is just a dream, right? No matter how I look at it, this just can’t be real.
<<Well, it should be clear whether this is a dream or reality soon enough. For the meantime, let us proceed under the assumption that this is all real. To put it bluntly, this world has reached a certain period.>>
The old man theatrically continued.
<<Everything around you undergoes cycles, do they not? That applies not only to the things which can be seen by the eyes. Such as magic power, or perhaps better called spiritual power and supernatural powers.>>
Magic power? Spiritual power? Those all sound so…fantasy-like.
<<Is it due to the flow within the ley lines or due to the concentration of magic power in the atmosphere? This current period greatly resembles what mankind refers to as the age of the gods. Dragons dancing in the skies and terrifying monsters lurking underground now await everyone. An ordinary person would likely find living in such a world quite onerous.>>
Age of the gods? What, like Amaterasu and Susanoo?
Normally, I’d think what he said was suspicious at best, but then again, the gigantic cube in sky was unbelievable in itself yet there it was.
…despite thinking this really was a dream, I kept my eyes at the old man. I had a strange feeling in my chest.
<<You, who have changed in appearance, are a person compatible with this period. Perhaps I should call you all awakened? Superhumans who have brought the power of their souls up to the surface. Beings akin to heroes of all sorts of legends. To you, I say congratulations. There is no drawback to having such a power. After all, this world will throw ordeal after ordeal at you regardless of whether you have it or not.>>
The old man exaggeratedly opened his arms and laughed. And then, he took off his hat and placed it on his chest as though it was some kind of silent prayer.
<<To those of you who did not awaken, you have my sympathies. However, do not lose hope just yet. It is not at all uncommon for individuals to awaken at a later point.>>
With the same untrustworthy smile as before, the old man, hat still in his hand, acted playfully.
<<I think it’s time to end this old man’s long-winded talk. Heroes delving into labyrinths, monsters attacking people, and the people just living their lives as normally as they could despite it all. The era of myths have returned.>>
He extended the hand holding the hat to the side, placed the other hand over his chest, and bowed like a theater actor would.
<<I bid you farewell. Should you meet me again somewhere, I hope you can spare me a smile.>>
Like that, the cube vanished all at once. It left no trace. It was as though it was never there to begin with.
After a while of looking blankly at the sky, I tried touching my face again. Hearing the sound of metal hitting metal, I moved my fingers around. I wasn’t touching my face but rather something hard that was covering it.
Wondering what it could be, I grabbed it with both hands. It felt like a helmet of sorts.
I just can’t wrap my head around any of this.
Still unable to find an explanation, I pulled out the dagger with my left hand. Obviously, I wasn’t going to stab myself like the old man suggested. Rather, I wanted to use the dagger to confirm what was on my back. The dagger’s blade reflected the setting sun and I was able to see myself in it. I was indeed wearing a helmet, but it looked like a bucket.
“Seriously, what’s this about…?”
Moreover, no matter how I looked at the thing that had been on my back, it looked real. Even to my untrained eye, the sword-looking thing looked too sharp to be a fake sword.
If anyone saw me holding it, they would surely report me to the police. So, for the meantime, I thought to return it to its sheathe.
Actually, rather than worry about just this sword, what should I do about my whole getup? Where did my original clothes go?
Maybe because I was preoccupied with such thoughts, I clumsily pressed the tip of the dagger into the base of my thumb. Unfortunately, the gauntlet in my hand had a gap at that precise place.
“Ouch…”
I shouted and then immediately looked at my right hand. No blood was flowing out, but the pain was very real.
Yeah, this is all real.
“Ha, haha……”
I had no idea why I was laughing.
Was it because I was delighted to find myself in a fantasy-like setting? Or was it because I was so lost I could do nothing but laugh?
No matter the reason though, the fact was I was laughing while holding a dagger. Anyone who saw me would think I was suspicious, if my attire for some reason hasn’t already made them think so.
For that reason, when I felt someone tap me by the shoulder from behind, my heart nearly leapt out of my chest.
“Huh!?”
With all haste, I turned around.
“N-no, I can…!”
I tried to explain myself as soon as I could, but after seeing something, I stopped completely in my tracks.
That something was…an exceedingly beautiful girl.
She had silver hair that reached to her lower back. It was tied into a loose braid.
With her left and right pupils having different colors—blue and gold—she radiated a bewitching charm.
All that was complemented and elevated by her inhumanly beautiful face.
She was wearing a white-and-gold colored sleeveless military uniform like those seen in anime, as well as a mini-skirt. Also, while her clothes somewhat hid it, it was still clear that she had slender yet voluptuous figure.
This girl, whose beauty was unrealistic in so many ways, was smiling my way.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, master. Are you hurt?”
“…huh?”
The girl, who even had a clear and beautiful voice, called me [master].
…was this a dream after all?
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