#1074 Aftercare Dispute

What did he just say?

I was baffled by the god’s sudden proclamation.

As for Momoko, who, like me, was also summoned from another world...

“Hey, Miss Platy, can I get some more mochi?”

She is completely unfazed and just lazing around.

She’s lounging in my farmhouse as if it were her own family home during New Year’s.

“If you want seconds, get them yourself.”

“Ngyaaaaah!”

Platy isn’t lenient enough to show mercy to a lazy girl.

If I keep focusing on these two, the conversation will never progress, so I decide to return to Hades.

“What kind of ‘care’ are you planning to provide?”

I ask with a serious expression.

After all, this concerns me, too.

I was also summoned from another world. One day, I was suddenly called here and was about to be forced to fight as a hero. But I cleverly pretended to be “skill-less,” giving those who summoned me the impression of being useless, and managed to get myself banished.

Even now, when I recall it, I’m impressed at how well that worked.

Looking back, handling things well at that time was my turning point.

From there, my happy and leisurely farm life began.

I feel as if I’ve been a resident of this world since birth, but to think I’d be reminded of my origins now...

In response to my question, Hades strokes his chin thoughtfully...

“Hmm, perhaps I could return thee to thy original world?”

He said something outrageous!!!

No, at least for me, that’s a huge nuisance!

I’m currently living much happier in this world than I ever did in the previous one!

Being sent back now would be nothing short of punishment!!!

I have a wife and kids here in this world!

Are you telling me to reset all of that?!

“...Huh? Saint, art thou also someone who was summoned from another world?”

Yes, I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You didn’t know?!

I thought I told you before; did you forget?!

Well, I had almost forgotten that backstory myself!

“Hmm, indeed, those who were summoned have carved out a place for themselves in this world through their own will and talents. To take that from them on a whim would be the arrogance of a god. Merely returning them to where they came from might be but an imposition of kindness.”

Hades is seriously pondering, talking to himself.

Instead of forcing his own ideas on others, he carefully considers what’s good for them.

I’m glad someone like him is a god.

“Hmm, I knowest not!”

Aaand he was quick to abandon his thoughts as well.

“Moreover, being not even a concerned party, how could I possibly devise a perfect solution that addresses everything?!”

Even if you say that so accusingly...

You’re the one who suddenly thought of it, right?

“In that case, there is but one thing to do: call the person in charge!!! If we summon the one responsible, they should be well-versed in the circumstances at the time and might present a good plan!”

He started saying things that sounded like a company meeting.

But who is the person in charge?

“Why, it would be the celestial god who created this ridiculous system of otherworld summoning.”

***

And so, the one who was summoned was a god from the celestial realm, the deity who presides over war.

It was the war god, Velesares.

I’ve been seeing him a lot lately.

“We art truly sorry for the trouble our people hath caused thee.”

As soon as he appeared, Velesares bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle to express his apology.

This god is also having a hard time because his kin are like that.

“What, hath Velesares come? I was certain that this time the well-informed Hermes wouldst arrive.”

“Of late, I have deepened mine ties with the farm... so he said, ‘Then ‘tis better that thou shouldst go, brother.’ Since the others art even more troublesome, I usually remain hidden, but Hermes is verily a true celestial deity.”

It’s strange how that alone explains everything.

Hermes usually seems gentle and appears to have high communication skills, leaving a good impression. But fundamentally, he’s still a celestial god, and when responsibility might be pushed onto him, he unhesitatingly shoves it onto others.

He’s like a sly junior colleague.

“Now then, regarding thy inquiry, it’s about those summoned from other worlds, correct?”

“Indeed.”

Velesares has completely become like a salesperson coming to apologize to a client.

“Verily, concerning that matter, we celestial gods hast also felt troubled. When we ponder those who, without their own will, were summoned to an entirely different world and forced to live there...!”

“Isn’t it mainly thee alone among the celestial gods who hast felt such remorse?”

“Guh-!”

Velesares freezes, having been hit on the mark.

But you don’t need to freeze up.

“Aside from a few exceptions, celestial gods art mostly a bunch of scoundrels and knaves. They summon folks from other worlds and then forget about them, not giving a thought to any aftercare, dost they?”

“Guh-!”

The exceptional one groans as if his weak point has been hit.

“I, too, hast personally investigated whether we could return people to their original worlds, but in reality, it’s quite difficult... Since the otherworld summoning system randomly selects and pulls in targets, trying to send them back maketh their coordinates all muddled...!”

No, like I said, I don’t want to go back.

Every time the gods discuss this, I get more uneasy!!!

As I grew increasingly anxious about this unsettling meeting, a new participant arrived.

“Well now, things art getting as tangled as I expected.”

Isn’t that the celestial god Hermes descending from the sky?!

“Hermes?! Thou didst pretend to bail but camest after all!?”

“I never said I wouldn’t come. I just thought that in these times, when celestial gods and other deities art trying to get along peacefully, pushing Velesares to the forefront wouldst be most fitting.”

Hermes said something that sounded plausible.

“So, dear customer, allow me, Hermes, the god of wisdom and knowledge among the celestial gods, to explain in his stead.”

“Who art thou calling ‘customer’?”

Hades is somewhat perplexed by Hermes’s sudden and unique style.

“Regarding the return of the summoned ones, as Velesares hath mentioned, we have attempted various methods on the celestial side, but it is difficult in reality. The completely random search worketh against us. In such matters, the celestial gods’ half-heartedness truly showeth.”

“Thou shouldst not say that about thyself.”

Indeed.

“But... is there truly a need to send them back?”

“Huh?”

At Hermes’ words, Hades and Velesares widen their eyes.

“What art thou saying? Surely, if they can return, they wouldst want to!”

“Each of the summoned ones hath a life in their original world...! Should we not return them for that reason?!”

They both spout common-sense arguments, but Hermes, with a composed expression...

“That is not necessarily so. While I did say it is a random search, in truth, those chosen for summoning from other worlds share a certain commonality,” he explains.

Something in common?

This is the first I’ve heard of it. What is it?

“It is that their connections to their original world art weak. For example, they might have important people, be it kin or beloved companions. There may be great purposes they must fulfill in that place. Or perchance love of homeland, local pride, or patriotism. Such bonds and attachments become the threads that tie them to that world.”

The more of those things someone has, the stronger their connection to the world, and the harder it is to leave.

Even if they’re pulled from another world, they can’t sever those connections and can’t be summoned.

“Therefore, those who respond to the summons from another world naturally have weaker ties to their own world. ‘Tis because their connections art thin that their resistance is small, making them easy to call forth. Most who have been summoned thus far fit this pattern.”

“Oh, I kind of get it.”

Momoko suddenly jumps into the conversation.

She always surprises me because there’s no buildup to her actions.

“The other heroes besides me were mostly criminals or mercenaries in their previous world, and there weren’t any people with proper jobs. Was that also because they had weak connections to their world?”

“Verily, that is so. Those who commit sins and become outcasts. Wanderers who belong to no particular place. The less attachment such individuals have to any land, the more likely they art to become targets for otherworld summoning.”

Moreover, criminals and mercenaries are suited for battle.

The less attachment they have to their original world, the less they might be dissatisfied with being suddenly summoned, and might even have greater expectations for the new world.

Thinking about it, I realize that the summoning system created by the celestial gods is surprisingly well-designed.