The trip started from the city where the labyrinth is located and it’s already the fourth day now.
I woke up in bed in my room, and the first thing I did was look at my phone to check the time.
It’s 8 o’clock.
It wasn’t time to go back to sleep, so I got out of bed, took a shower to wake up, and sat down on my chair.
Yesterday, I returned to Japan after staying in my third town.
My objective is shopping.
I plan on getting food that those girls will enjoy.
I returned immediately after securing the lodging and this was because I did what Euphy asked me.
I asked her why, and she said that it’ll decrease the time I spend without her.
What a way to shorten the lonely time by going to bed early and getting up late.
And so, I was back here about late evening yesterday.
I checked my PC and once again checked the places I plan to go to today.
「 Hmm, sure, I can go home and relax, but there’s no need to come back, right? Then, maybe we’ll just stay and kill some time and get back there? 」
As I was monologuing while checking the store’s merch, the doorbell rang and the intercom announced that there was a visitor.
Someone so early, maybe it’s a door-to-door salesman?
Is it a religious recruiter?
Either way, I have no business with them so I’ll just ignore them.
I looked back at my screen again, but the intercom rings once more.
「 Shut it. What do you need?! 」
It’s a little irritating as the intercom rings repeatedly, although not continuously.
After a short wait, they started calling again.
Unable to hold it, I looked at the feed to see.
「 What? 」
「 Ah, you’re home. Sorry for bothering you this early. I’m from the police, and I’d like to ask a few questions, Kotori-san, do you mind? 」
Huh? Police?
What?
Is this about the gold coins from the other world that I sold here?
No, that’s not possible.
W-Wait, the child po- of Euphy and Nia?
Wait, I don’t even have those.
Is this a disappearance report?
I don’t know what, but let’s answer them.
I can’t help but wonder what was wrong, so I went to the front door and opened it to find two men in business shirts.
「 Ah, sorry for bothering you so early in the morning 」
A man of mature age said this with a smile, showing me his police badge, and the man next to him, who must’ve been my age, also showed his.
Okay, their photos and bade seem alright.
A police inspector and assistant.
Wait, what’s the point of showing this if you can’t tell if it’s real or not?
With that in mind, I bow lightly and wait for their business.
「 Kotori-san, have you been in your house these past few days? 」
「 Eh, oh, yeah 」
「 We visited your home several times but you weren’t there, so we were worried that you had disappeared again. Haha 」
I was a little panicking from the sudden question that I answered strangely
He’s smiling, but I can see the doubt in his eyes.
「 I’m sorry to be abrupt, but I want to ask you Kotori-san, what were you doing when you were reported to be missing? The notification was submitted two months ago and it was revoked suddenly. What were you doing during that period? 」
I see. So they’re here to inquire about my disappearance?
Still, the police came here to ask?
「 Oh, about that. Well you see, I’ve been stressed up lately and sick of working at the office every day. I had the sudden urge to go far away. Then, I’ve become so fed up with the company trying to make contact with me that I cut all communication, traveling from one place to another, like traveling. Fortunately, I had some savings. I’m sorry for the trouble 」
This was the lie I told my uncle when I got in touch with him again when he asked me about the reason for my disappearance.
I think that it’s an emotionally difficult reason that anyone can understand.
「 Ah, no, please don’t bow your head. There are times like that. It’s great that Kotori-san’s safe and sound 」
The mature police reaches out and tried to soothe me who had my head lowered.
A little troubled, but then his face suddenly turned serious as he speaks.
「 By the way, does the name Ose Mirai ring a bell? 」
「 Ose Mirai? Err, who’s that? 」
「 You don’t? There was this case of three high-school students who disappeared in the neighborhood. Hino Seijin, and Shiokura Takumi, do these names ring a bell? Kotori-san wasn’t in the town so you probably didn’t know, but there was quite a commotion in the neighborhood. Are you sure the names don’t ring a bell? 」
Oh yeah, there were other people summoned with me!
It’s definitely those guys, right?
They had good skills, and so the Nyhied kingdom was treating them politely, I was spending my time with too much violence and lust that I forgot about them
「 Oh, that! I think I saw their names on the news 」
「 Kotori-san’s disappearance report appeared a little later, but upon confirmation, it was around the same time you four disappeared. We’re just asking, but are you sure you don’t know them? 」
The mature police inspector is showing some doubt in his eyes.
The assistant inspector seems to have a sharp look too.
「 Yes, unfortunately, I don’t. I’m sorry I can’t be of help 」
Honestly, if it had been me before I was summoned to the other world, I would’ve slipped up if put in this situation.
But from my current point of view, I can only get a sense of suspicion from their eyes.
It’s definitely Euphy-sensei’s murderous glare that’s trained my balls.
「 If you remember anything, then could you contact this number? 」
The inspector then brings out his business card.
Takahashi-san, I see.
「 If any circumstances prevent you from speaking, please tell us. Japan’s police force will be sure to help you 」
「 I see 」
Help what?
Why are those words so powerful?
「 Also, someone from another department may ask you at a later date, so we’d appreciate it if you’d be so kind to them too 」
Saying that the inspector and assistant bowed their heads and left.
I closed the door and I feel the closing sound was heavier than usual.
Hey, hey, hey, I don’t want to get in trouble.
What the hell? Another department?
This is bad, they’re putting suspicion on me because of those high schoolers?
If you think about it for a minute, you should be suspicious of someone who returned alone after disappearing in the same neighborhood.
That means that the police reacted because they dropped the missing person case on me.
Man, what do I do?
How do I deal with it?
But, what could I even do?
All I know is that those kids were summoned to the other world and I have no idea what happened after that.
Are they still alive?
Even if I explain it, they would still doubt me, and I would just be falsely accused.
Hmm.
I’m starting to get concerned with the high-school students, but I’m in no condition to check on them that easily.
I couldn’t do anything about them nowadays, so I’ll just wait and see.
Hmm, apart from that…
I sat up in bed with these thoughts in mind and then the time went past 9:30
Although my head was still fuzzy, I got ready to leave and headed for shopping.