In a certain room, two people wearing lab coats sat facing each other, a table separating them.
Around them were many strange and complicated tools.
"So, what did Master #*$## say?"
While stirring her tea, Haru asked the young man sitting across from her. The young man had blond hair and golden eyes.
"He said that if this succeeds, human evolution will soar."
"....."
After a moment of silence, with a serious tone, Haru asked him again.
"Flitz, are you really going to go through with this project? You know this is extremely dangerous! You could die from it!"
Flitz fell silent for a moment, then met Haru's eyes with determination and answered her question.
"Yes, I will do it, no matter what happens!"
Hearing that, Haru leaned back in her chair. When she looked into Flitz's eyes, she knew he was completely serious about this project.
"Aaagh, this is so frustrating."
Haru shouted in frustration and laid her body down on the table while gazing at her reflection in the window glass.
Her annoyed face was reflected in the glass. She studied the image staring back at her — a woman with long golden hair and blue eyes.
"Huh?"
When she saw her reflection, she let out a confused sound. The person reflected there was completely different from herself. Yet when the confused-looking reflection moved as she did, she was certain it was her. What on earth was going on?
"######"
In her confusion, Haru heard Flitz calling her. The name that came out of Flitz's mouth was not her name, yet she was also sure it was her name. It was truly bewildering.
"What is it, Flitz....."
"Flitz? What's wrong with you? Wake up, Haru!"
At that moment, Haru opened her eyes. She saw a woman with blue hair shaking her body, trying to wake her up.
Raising herself, Haru turned her head back and forth to look around. A large room painted white and filled with luxurious furniture — this was her bedroom.
Haru rubbed her eyes and looked closely at the woman who had disturbed her. With blue eyes, the woman had a bob of light-blue hair that matched their color. She wore light armor on her well-proportioned body, and a sword was strapped at her waist.
"Why? Why are you staring at me like that?"
The blue-haired woman asked Haru when she noticed the displeased look Haru was giving her.
Without responding to her question, Haru just kept staring at her in irritation. Though only faintly, in her memory, she was certain she had just dreamed about Flitz. Haru couldn't remember exactly what the dream had been like, but if Flitz was in it, then it must have been a beautiful dream. And this woman in front of her had ruined that dream! Haru was truly annoyed.
"Tch!"
"Hey! You clicked your tongue, didn't you? You just clicked your tongue at me, didn't you!"
"Why did you wake me up?"
"Didn't we agree yesterday to train together today? You were late to our meeting spot, so I came to check on you! Who would've thought you were still asleep, so of course I woke you up!"
Haru touched her chin, trying to remember yesterday.
"Ah! You're right! Sorry, sorry!"
Seeing Haru's regretful face as she apologized, the blue-haired woman forgave her, then walked to the door intending to leave. Before going out, she said something to Haru with a hesitant expression.
"Haru... um... hurry up and get dressed! I'll be waiting at the place we agreed on."
She was puzzled by the woman's hesitation, but still answered.
"Alright, I'll get ready right away."
"Mm."
The blue-haired woman left Haru's room, closing the door softly. Afterward, she leaned against it and recalled what she had seen earlier.
The reason she woke Haru wasn't because of their promise, but because she had felt pity seeing Haru's sad face and hearing her mutter sorrowfully in her sleep. Whatever she had been dreaming, it must have been something painful. The woman's protective spirit began to flare.
"I must become strong. This time, in this new world, I will definitely protect everyone."
With firm resolve, she — Usagi Aoi, a hero from another world — vowed to protect all that she loved.
**********
"So, what's our plan for today?"
Renaldi, chewing on meat across from me, asked me.
"I don't know, how about you, Prilm?"
"Mummum, gluk... How about we just go around and take a look first?"
"Hmmm. Alright then, let's do that."
A day had passed since we arrived in Marbor. We were now staying at a modest inn in the western area, the manufacturing and industrial district.
We would be in Marbor for a week before continuing our journey to the land of the dwarves.
By the way, upon landing, we had parted ways with Mr. Kurogane. I had wanted to invite him to come along with us, but it seemed he had other arrangements.
After breakfast, we washed up and then gathered in front of the inn. After that, we set out.
This city was several times larger than the capital, Jatumheim. Thankfully, there was public transportation here. It was a single-car train running on rails. Though small, it could carry a dozen or so people. After half an hour, we got off at one of the stops in the Entertainment and Creative District.
On Prilm's suggestion, we decided to start from the northern part of Marbor, the Entertainment and Creative District. Unlike the district where our inn was located, this place was bursting with color.
We could see all kinds of performances on street corners. Singing, musical instruments, magic tricks, calligraphy, and so much more were everywhere.
As we strolled through the district, Prilm guided us to various places, saying that the layout of Marbor hadn't changed much since she last visited a few years ago. She had realized this when looking down from the airship earlier.
"This is the Marshel family's museum. It's said that this museum has stood for decades and is the pride of the Marshel family."
What Prilm showed us was a large white-painted building with a big dome on top. I saw several people lined up to go inside.
"The last time I was here, from the outside it looked exactly the same. Well then, let's go in!"
Following Prilm's suggestion, we joined the line to enter the museum. After a few minutes, we finally got inside after paying the entrance fee.
Inside, we were greeted by many works of art and strange objects.
We began wandering around, taking in the museum's collection. I noticed that at each display, at least one guard was standing watch over it.
As we moved around, I could sense energy radiating from several strange objects. They were probably artifacts or things taken from monsters.
At that moment, I noticed a skull inside one of the glass cases. Leaving Prilm and Renaldi, who were busy discussing something in front of an artifact, I approached it.
It looked like the skull of a massive horned reptile. As I drew closer, an unpleasant aura emanated from it.
I focused my gaze on the skull, and after a while, I could see a flow of energy within it.
[Energy Vision] — that was the name I had given this technique I stumbled upon a few months ago. By focusing my vision and channeling mana into my eyes, I could see the flow of any energy.
I read the description of this exhibit on a note attached to the glass case.
This was the skull of a young Abyss Serpent. The Abyss Serpent itself was a giant sea monster inhabiting the deep ocean, with a long, snake-like body — only on a massive scale. In ancient times, it had been worshipped as a god by coastal communities in the seas now belonging to the Trade Union nation.
"Oh, so this is an Abyss Serpent skull..."
While I was absorbed in reading the description, Prilm and Renaldi came over to me.
I asked Prilm about the skull.
"Do you know the origin of this skull?"
"I'm not completely sure, but when it first arrived at this museum, I was actually there. I heard they got it from villagers living on the coast near Marbor. They found it already in this state — just the remains of the skull, exactly as it's displayed here."
I continued staring at the skull while listening to Prilm's explanation. Afterward, Prilm asked me.
"What's the matter, Flitz? Are you interested in the Abyss Serpent?"
"Hmmm... Yes, I am rather interested. More specifically, in this skull."