"Excuse me—I heard you're heading to subdue the Giant Toad. I was wondering if I could join you, since I'm after the same target… though I'm not sure where to go."
Kojou smiled lightly as he spoke to the man in the tracksuit—Kazuma.
"Huh?!"
Kazuma startled at Kojou's sudden appearance, jumping in place as he gaped at him. "You… are you Japanese?"
Despite his surprise, Kazuma quickly noticed Kojou's school uniform, emblazoned with Saikai Academy in Japanese.
"That's right. I'm Akatsuki Kojou. And you?" Kojou nodded, studying Kazuma with curiosity. The other man's modern clothes and knowledge of Japan made his origins obvious.
"Satou Kazuma. I'm Japanese too." Kazuma grinned, shaking Kojou's hand before glancing at Aqua cowering behind him. "What's with you, useless goddess?"
He was puzzled. Aqua wasn't the shy type—she'd usually interrupt to introduce herself and boast.
"Kazuma, this guy's scary…!" Aqua whispered, staring at Kojou with primal fear. Her instincts screamed at her not to approach him.
"Am I causing trouble?" Kojou offered an apologetic smile. Aqua's fear likely stemmed from his title: The Fourth Primogenitor. Since ancient times, it was known that the Fourth Primogenitor was a vampire created to kill gods. "In that case, just point me toward the Giant Toad. I'll go alone."
"Ah, don't worry! This girl's just… a little messed up in the head." Kazuma waved off Aqua's terror, seizing the chance to meet someone from his world who seemed friendly. "How about we talk on the way? The plains where the Giant Toad spawns aren't far."
"Then I'll rely on you, Satou-san." Kojou agreed—refusing help would be foolish when it meant finishing the quest faster and returning home before Nagisa noticed. "Call me Kojou, by the way."
"Pleasure to meet you, Kojou-san." Kazuma couldn't help but speak politely; his gut recognized Kojou as a being far above a mere NEET like himself. "You can just call me Kazuma too."
"Then I'll count on you, Kazuma." Kojou nodded, ignoring Aqua, who refused to meet his gaze.
Truthfully, if Kojou hadn't needed directions, he wouldn't have bothered approaching Kazuma and Aqua. Though curious about Kazuma's tracksuit, his curiosity wasn't uncontrollable—but without their help, finding the Giant Toad could take ages.
Thus, teaming up with fellow travelers was logical. And Kazuma's group? Perfect. Same destination, plus a chance to satisfy Kojou's curiosity.
——
"So… you got hit by a truck saving a girl and were isekai'd to this world?" Kojou stared at Kazuma with slight admiration. Though a cliché isekai trope, sacrificing oneself for a stranger was impressive.
"W-Well, it's not that noble…" Kazuma puffed up at the praise, relieved Aqua was too scared to expose his pathetic death. She'd have laughed herself to the ground.
"By the way, where in Japan are you from, Kojou-san?" Kazuma asked nervously. He'd lied earlier and now worried Kojou might've lived nearby—and known the real story.
"Originally from Kantō, but I've lived on Itogami Island for four years." Kojou's gaze swept their surroundings, sensing multiple magical energy sources nearby.
"Itogami Island? Never heard of it." Kazuma frowned. He wasn't studious, but he knew Japan's cities and islands—this name was unfamiliar.
"I suspected as much from our conversation, but it seems we're from different worlds." Kojou mused. Kazuma hadn't mentioned demons once—strange, if he were from his Japan. "In my world, demons exist: vampires, spirits, homunculi… but yours sounds human-only."
"Yeah, just humans in my old world." Kazuma shuddered at the thought of demons. "Ah—we're here. The Giant Toad spawns up ahead."
"I see. Thanks." Kojou shook Kazuma's hand. "It was nice meeting you. Hope we cross paths again."
"Likewise, Kojou-san." Kazuma bowed slightly, admitting (grudgingly) that Kojou's trained physique and societal status made him feel like a lowly NEET by comparison.
"They seem like good friends." Kojou smiled, hearing Kazuma and Aqua's squabble fade into the distance.
"Now then… time to play with frogs." He cracked his knuckles. A toad lurked nearby. His hand turned black with crimson veins, smoke-like blood mist coiling from it.
"I, Akatsuki Kojou, successor to the blood of 'Kaleid Blood,' now release your constraints. Come—First Familiar: Mesarthim-Adamas!"
Mesarthim-Adamas, the familiar Kojou gained after drinking Asagi's blood, was a gargantuan diamond ram with terrifying horns.
The moment it materialized, Kojou mentally commanded it: Fire diamonds at the Giant Toad.
After consuming a spirit medium's blood, he'd instinctively known this familiar's name—and its powers.
...
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