Not of This World
"Yawn..."
When Seoya stirred awake, the sky had already been swallowed by darkness. She had no idea how long she'd been lying there, but her body had clearly recovered enough to rouse her from sleep.
See? I told you I wouldn't die from something like excessive bleeding.
She checked her abdomen. Aside from the still-tender scar, her wounds had mostly healed. Seoya flopped back down onto the warm ground, slick with her own blood. The snow had melted from the heat of it, mixing with the crimson to form a vivid red puddle. It was a grotesque sight, but Seoya couldn't care less.
The trees loomed densely around her, the ground sloped sharply—it felt like she'd crashed deep into some mountain. Stars glittered across the night sky. But Toda, the planet where she'd lived, wouldn't be among them. That world was in a whole other dimension now.
I can never go back home.
What did it take to travel between worlds? First, complex mathematical calculations: her coordinates in the current world, the target world's coordinates, the distance between them, and the formulas describing their relationship. For Seoya, who'd spent her life charging headfirst without a thought in her skull, that first step was already an insurmountable wall.
Second, a magic amplifier. Once you had the equations, you'd amplify your mana with the device and punch through to the other side. The problem? Building one required an obscene amount of magic stones.
And those didn't exist in this world.
...Looks like I'm stuck here forever.
Did humans even live here? She probably wouldn't freeze to death sleeping on the ground, but damn, it was cold. A bone-deep chill made her shiver uncontrollably.
If Ibin, who'd raised her for four years despite exiling her to another world, knew about Seoya's "plan," she'd freak out. Camping rough? You thought that through first? And then she'd repeat that line she'd said over four hundred times while raising her:
"Did you think before you spoke?"
Unfortunately, there was no one here to rein Seoya in. And truth be told, she had a bad habit—okay, a very bad habit—of acting without thinking.
"Ah, you damn monster! Show yourself, and you're dead meat!"
A strange voice cut through the air, belonging to some unfamiliar lifeform. Seoya jolted upright.
That sounds like... a human speaking?
Of course, it was a language Seoya didn't understand. But...
Innate Trait Magic: Language
Seoya could fully comprehend and speak any unfamiliar language after hearing just a single word. Back on Toda, she'd dismissed it as useless. Who knew it'd come in handy like this?
"Ah, this sucks!"
Translating it revealed nothing but rage and curses.
Young woman, judging by the voice.
From Seoya's position, the trees blocked her view of the woman's appearance.
"So people live in this world too."
A strange sense of relief washed over her as she slowly pushed herself up, murmuring to herself. This was a world where humans could survive, stocked with all the resources they'd need!
Of course, blending in among them was another matter entirely. Take the woman climbing the mountain right now—she might see Seoya, a stranger from another world, as a threat and attack.
Not that anyone could actually hurt me.
Seoya had always been at the top of the food chain.
"What should I say when she gets here? How do I introduce myself..."
Her sharp senses picked up another unfamiliar presence. Seoya tensed.
"What the hell is this?"
It was definitely different from the woman ascending the mountain. Something huge lurked nearby.
"Ah, there are footprints right here! Where are you?!"
The woman's voice drew closer.
Ah. Got it.
The woman was chasing that massive creature deep into the mountains. Seoya reined in her aura so it wouldn't sense her and flee in terror.
Let's see what it looks like.
The moment Seoya erased her presence, the ground rumbled with heavy thuds. Something barreled toward her at terrifying speed.
Grrr...
"Hm..."
Seoya looked up at the enormous beast that had appeared before her in an instant. It was... well... uh...
Do all animals in this world look this ridiculous?
It vaguely resembled a bear. But not just huge—unnaturally so—its raised forepaw ended not in claws, but what looked like blades. Jagged yellow fangs peeked from its gaping maw; no, those were more like spikes. Saliva dripped from its jaws, hissing and melting the pristine snow on contact.
Fine. For now, let's call it a "bear," Seoya decided.
But that can't be a normal animal here.
A single human chasing one down was proof enough. And that mountain-spewing tail? Absurd.
The bear, glaring down at Seoya, reared up its forepaw high—as if it could pulverize a human head with ease.
"Hey."
A low, growling voice. Seoya's indigo eyes gleamed yellow in the darkness.
"Who do you think you're messing with?"
The bear met her piercing yellow gaze head-on, then instinctively lowered its paw and backed away slowly. This predator recognized a superior one; it was visibly shaken.
Seoya never broke eye contact. Tension hung thick in the air.
Don't animals in this world have any survival instincts?
Back on Toda, most fled at the mere whiff of her presence.
The bear, crouched low, finally dropped its mountain-dripping tail and retreated without fully turning its back.
Kill it? Or let it go?
Regular humans probably wouldn't survive an encounter like this. As Seoya debated gathering mana in her hand, ragged breathing erupted behind her—the woman had finally arrived.
"Hah, hah... Crazy, what the hell?! You okay?!"
Her voice cracked with alarm at the sight of Seoya facing down the bear.
Seoya turned.
"...A real human."
No tail, no extra eyes—just like her. She could slip right into a crowd of them without standing out. Seoya's lips quirked into a small smile.
"Hey, you look hurt. Hang on just a sec."
The woman rushed toward her in a panic. Jet-black bobbed hair fell straight to her shoulders. Sharp features, upturned eyes, black leather jacket, weight shifted casually to one leg. A striking, haughty ice queen who'd turn heads anywhere.
Not taking her eyes off the bear, the woman muttered,
"Skill, 'Shattered Dream'."
Shattered Dream
The ground where the bear stood shattered like glass, space warping chaotically. The beast splintered apart and collapsed.
So there are people here who wield unusual powers too?
Did everyone in this world have abilities like that? Seoya blinked.
The bear hit the earth with a thunderous boom, shaking the ground.
Bear or human, they're all so weak.
Why was she panting like that after climbing one little mountain? Seoya could've ended that bear with a single punch.
Fists speak louder than words.
Seoya's creed.
The woman who'd slain the bear rushed to Seoya, half-sprawled in a pool of blood.
"Hey, you okay?! Did that monster get you?"
She seemed to think Seoya was gravely wounded from the blood.
"Monster?"
"Yeah, that bear-thing in front of you..."
Locking eyes with Seoya, the woman's volume dropped. She reached out, brushing aside Seoya's messy hair.
Her movements grew increasingly awkward and unnatural.
"Kid, you alright?"
After a brief silence, a forced gentleness seeped into her voice.
"I'm fine. It's mostly healed."
Seoya lifted her shirt slightly, revealing her unmarked abdomen—only faint blood trails remained. The woman looked puzzled but nodded, finding no other injuries. She seemed half-dazed for some reason.
"Who are you?"
Seoya waited as the woman stared at her intently, lost in thought, then pondered briefly. Honesty might get her some help. Or not? Would she attack?
Doesn't matter. I'd win anyway.
Hmm. Better just be straight: I'm from another world. She wasn't good at lying anyway. And she might even help.
In the end, Seoya opted for the truth.
"Uh, I'm Seoya."
"I see. Seoya, huh. So... how'd you end up on this mountain? What were you doing?"
"I fell here from another world?"
"Knew it! You totally looked the part!"
"Huh?"
Every reaction Seoya had anticipated flew out the window. The woman beamed, nodding vigorously as if a huge weight had lifted.
"Yeah... someone looking like that from the same world would've been weirder."
"What?"
Utterly baffled by the response, Seoya stared at her in confusion.
"Baby, wanna come live with me?"
"Huh?"
She's... helping way too extremely?