Orsted's encounter

(Orsted POV)

Year 417 of the Armored Dragon calendar. That's when the Metastasis Event on the Fittoa region befell.

It goes without saying that this event had caused a lot of damage, taking away lives and ruining the future for those who survived it.

It even interfered with my plans for some of those who haven't fulfilled their purpose yet, but there was nothing I could have done to prevent it. Or rather, did not know what chain of actions caused it in the first place.

This phenomenon has never happened in any of the loops I went through. Absolutely nothing I could recall from the hundreds of different courses of history could possibly explain these sudden events.

Nanahoshi's appearance in this world was only the beginning. Other events started happening in different places.

The masked man. He was another person I had never met in my loops, but he proved to be an enigma in more ways than one.

The masked man—an unknown element beyond my foresight. I had never encountered him in any prior loop, yet his actions reverberated through this loop. He saved Phillip Boreas Greyrat and his wife, executed several nobles in Ars, and unraveled Darius Silva Ganius's control over the kingdom. While these outcomes aligned with my goals, the abrupt shift bred chaos—unplanned, volatile, and dangerous.

And then came his assault on Perugius.

A black-armored figure had breached [Chaos Breaker], Perugius's floating fortress. Six spirits were slain, three others sealed, and Sylvaril left maimed. Only two spirits remained, barely enough to shield Perugius from death.

In addition, 20% of the castle's interior was destroyed, including Abyssal Dragon King Maxwell's contraption that identified those with a Laplace factor.

The attacker's target was the Teleportation Circles in the basement, which he copied and left without any signs.

I intended to find any information I could about this individual and if he was perhaps the one known as the masked man, but even with weakened Perugius's assistance, he remained hidden in the shadows where I couldn't find him.

Not knowing where he could show himself next or if the killing of those nobles was his doing, I continued with my plans as normal.

But throughout a yearlong journey, Nanahoshi Shizuka, immune to my curse, chose to follow me in hopes of finding others like herself. Her reason was that she was in the same accident with two other friends, and she suspects that those two may have been sent into this world as well.

To help her defend herself as she does not possess a manapool, I equipped her with Magic Items. It was then that I found out that the Dragon God Pit had been entered by someone else, concluding that it must have been the same masked entity. The only valuable item stolen was the Magic Ring that would have let me locate her should she get into trouble.

These were just speculations, which wouldn't fit anyone besides this mysterious figure.

On one of my journeys across the Begaritt Continent, I targeted a bandit group whose elimination was necessary. Their continued existence would have interfered with the birth and development of someone essential to my future plans.

On that trip, Nanahoshi became more of a burden.

Teaching her how to use a Touki efficiently was impossible without any mana. And the mantle I handed her only eased the effects of the heat on her.

Once we've taken a break at a rock formation, another irregularity was about to come across.

As I approached, I spotted a young child stumbling toward us, a Griffon in pursuit—until it abruptly turned and fled, repelled by the weight of my curse.

The child, on the other hand, showed no sign of fear, trembling, or panic. He was unaware of my presence until he rolled onto his back and locked eyes with me. Even then, there was no terror, only quiet confusion.

He appeared human—a young boy—but his heterochromatic eyes, each slit with silver like similar to my own pupils, said otherwise.

Another irregularity. Another existence that did not belong to any of my past loops.

Once Nanahoshi came closer, the child moved to sit up and looked up at the two of us.

"What is it, Orsted?" Nanahoshi asked, but I kept my eyes where they were.

"Boy. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

He blinked and gave no response to my question.

Even when Nanahoshi spoke to him in her native tongue, he did not respond, but he appeared capable of understanding our words.

As he looked back at me, the boy's expression turned to a frightened one.

"Orsted, you're glaring at him."

Nanahoshi's remark didn't affect me in the slightest. I do not remember this type of person existing in any of the loops I went through; it was an anomaly in my plans, just like she was.

I grabbed the boy's arm, easily pulling him up. His body was light, but when I caught him, I noticed something unexpected—his skin was firm, as if reinforced.

A subtle force pushed back against my grip—Touki.

But not ordinary Touki. This was an instinctive, high-level reinforcement, typically reserved for the Dragonfolk. The boy appeared human, yet his resistance was automatic, untrained. His technique was unrefined, his breathing erratic, and he showed no awareness of what he was doing. It was pure instinct, embedded deep within his body.

I tightened my grip, testing him. His arm tensed, but didn't break. He was subconsciously reinforcing his body at a level only an experienced warrior should be capable of.

I narrowed my eyes and let go of his arm, asking my question again. "Who are you?"

The boy winced under my glare, but his expression quickly shifted—not to fear, but to confusion. He opened his mouth, hesitated, then finally muttered,

"I… I don't know." His breathing was still heavy from exhaustion. "I just remember… getting into a car accident, then suddenly falling into this desert. Then, a big bird monster started chasing me. That's it. I swear!"

Car accident? That was not a term I was familiar with, but I had heard it once.

I glanced at Nanahoshi, and for the first time since encountering this child, I heard a change in her tone—her usually cautiousness turned to one of realization.

"Are you… from another world?" I asked, watching his reaction carefully.

The boy blinked, clearly caught off guard. His eyes darted between Nanahoshi and me, struggling to process my words. He opened his mouth, closed it, then frowned. "I… don't know what you're talking about."

He wasn't lying. But something about this situation felt off.

Nanahoshi took a step closer. "Do you speak Japanese?"

I saw true recognition flash across the boy's face at that moment. His eyes widened in shock, and his gaze snapped to her.

"You—!" His voice caught in his throat as Nanahoshi slowly removed the white mask covering her face.

The boy stared. His body tensed as if the final puzzle piece had just clicked into place.

"…wait," His voice was barely a whisper, filled with disbelief. "I'm not speaking Japanese. How do I know what you're saying AND how to speak this language?"

Nanahoshi crossed her arms. "I could ask you the same thing."

I remained silent, studying the boy's expression.

This was unexpected.

Another irregularity. Another disruption in the loops.

The desert winds shifted slightly, kicking up sand as the boy stared at Nanahoshi in stunned silence. His eyes, those strange mismatched ones with silver slits, reflected more than just confusion—they held recognition. He had seen something, or someone, like her before.

Nanahoshi took a slow breath. "You're from Earth, aren't you? Europe, maybe?"

The boy looked at the ground and then at his hands. His fingers trembled slightly, as if something deep inside was stirring and surfacing.

"I… I, no," he muttered. "Yeah. I'm Japanese. I remember walking through the streets when suddenly... lights. Screeching tires. I was thrown against a concrete wall. Then nothing. I woke up falling into this, and getting chased by something resembling a Griffon."

"That was likely indeed a Griffon," Nanahoshi corrected him. "This is a fantasy world, filled with swords, Magic, and monsters you would only see in fantasy stories."

I remained silent as the two exchanged words. Nanahoshi's tone had shifted to one of familiarity, while the boy seemed more overwhelmed with each passing second.

Another summoned one, and someone from the same country as Nanahoshi.

This was no coincidence.

I narrowed my eyes once more and took a step forward. The boy's mismatched gaze snapped back to me, still dazed.

"What is your name?" I asked, my voice sharp, cutting through the wind like a blade.

The boy blinked. His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.

"I… I don't know," he muttered, almost to himself. "Why… why don't I know? It's… it's right there, on the tip of my tongue…"

He grabbed his head with both hands, groaning. "Damn it…! Was it the accident? Did I… lose my memories?"

Nanahoshi stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. He flinched, but didn't pull away.

"It's okay," she said softly. "Take your time. Memory loss after trauma isn't unheard of anyway."

I gave a quiet snort. "You two figure out whatever you need to."

Nanahoshi looked up. "Orsted—"

"I have no time to waste right now," I said, my tone final. "There is a bandit group nearby. I came here to eliminate them. That takes priority."

I turned my gaze on the boy again. He stiffened but held his ground.

"If you turn out to be an enemy… I will kill you."

His breath caught in his throat, but he said nothing.

Without another word, I turned and walked toward the rock's edge. The wind howled across the desert, kicking up fine grains of sand that danced through the air like whispers of another time.

Behind me, I heard Nanahoshi quietly guiding the boy to sit down, her voice low and calm.

Whatever this child was, however he came here, I would find out. If he were another summoned individual from that other world, this world would become dangerously unstable.

And if Hitogami was behind it…

Then he would pay with his life.

***

After searching for more than an hour, it became clear that the bandit group had already been wiped out. Their remains were left to rot in their hideout and be eaten by various monsters, and their valuables and other loot were nowhere to be found.

I chose this specific time to ensure that none of those who would have become members of that particular group end up with another, but my efforts have become unnecessary, putting what I had planned in disarray.

As I returned to the area where I had left Nanahoshi and the boy, I wondered if the masked man had been responsible.

But as I approached the rock formation, they were already waiting for my return.

"Why are you two standing here?"

"It appears I have acquired some skills after reincarnating into this body."

The one to answer me was the boy, who looked nervously at me. It continues to surprise me how effortlessly he meets my gaze—an act most avoid out of the effects of my curse.

"How do you mean?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Well..." he began, scratching the back of his head. "I can pinpoint your location and identify you from far away."

"... is it something instinctual?"

"Y-Yes, I believe so."

That is actually impressive. Such a natural skill is something preserved for beastfolk or Superds. Paired with his Touki, he might just turn out to be a swordsman.

"That's not all," Nanahoshi said, pouting as she looked to the side with a frown.

As if that was a signal, the boy held his hands with his palms facing up. The next moment, a ball of water formed in his left palm and a sphere of fire in his right. It was the rare skill of chantless Magic, and it surprised me to say the least.

"Boy," I said in a demanding tone. "Who taught you this?"

Scared of my harsh tone, the boy dispelled both spells and held up his hands.

"Nanahoshi told me about the incantations after I'd asked her about the magic in this world," he said in a frantic hurry. "After saying them once, I could replicate the spell silently."

Is that all? It shouldn't be that easy unless he has a strong Laplace factor that boosts his Magic capabilities. But there is no method for me to check that anymore.

"It's not fair," Nanahoshi mumbled as she grew angrier.

"Oh, come on," the boy retaliated. "I didn't have any choice in this. I just got reincarnated into this body without my having a choice in anything."

"It still sucks."

Their little banter was of no importance to me at the time. What was important to me was the boy and his abilities.

He is immune to my curse and possesses a strong Touki and the ability to cast spells without the incantation. Such a combination has never occurred in any loop, and I need to exploit that for my plans if possible.

"Do you have any idea what you intend to do now?"

The question drew his attention, but his gaze wavered—uncertainty clouded his expression.

"If you're aimless, then you may accompany us."

The boy's mouth parted slightly, as though my offer surprised him. He looked at Nanahoshi, then back at me. I watched his reaction, not out of sympathy, but to measure his utility.

"I… guess I don't have anywhere else to go since this world is more than unfamiliar territory," he said, rubbing his arm.

A vague answer. Weak-willed. But not dishonest.

Nanahoshi gave him a side glance, folding her arms. "He's not exactly combat-ready, don't you think?"

"Neither were you, and yet you are still alive," I said simply, turning toward the horizon. "He will either adapt, or he won't."

I had no intention of babysitting a stray from another world. But if his body truly possessed Dragonfolk traits and immunity to my curse was natural, then there might be more to him than even he realized.

And if he was an unwitting pawn of Hitogami… keeping him close was the best way to find out.

"What is your name?" I asked him one last time.

The boy hesitated, lips parting, but no words emerged. He furrowed his brow, frustration flickering in his mismatched eyes.

"I… I still don't know," he finally said. "There are gaps in my memories. It's like… I can feel them, like empty spaces, but every time I try to reach into one, it just slips away."

He looked down at his hands. "I don't even know what to call myself anymore."

Nanahoshi tilted her head, studying him with faint curiosity. "If you need a name, how about Ryuta?"

The boy blinked. "Ryuta?"

She shrugged, arms crossed under her cloak. "It has 'dragon' in it. 'Ryū' means dragon in Japanese. Kind of fits, don't you think?"

The boy squinted at her. "Why… dragon, though?"

Nanahoshi's expression softened, but she still looked mildly amused as she pointed toward his face. "It's your eyes."

The boy's posture stiffened. "My what?"

"Your pupils are slit," she said plainly. "Like a lizard's. Or a dragon's. One's green, the other blue, but both have those silver slits in the middle."

He reached up instinctively, fingers trembling slightly as they hovered near his eyes. "You're kidding."

She shook her head. "Nope. You're kind of freaky-looking, to be honest."

He paled. "That's… that's not normal, right? I'm not supposed to have—"

"No," I cut in, silencing his panic. "But they are bound to bring attention to you."

He turned to me, still unsettled. I could see the rising anxiety in his shoulders, the realization that his body was not entirely his own. A rational reaction—but now was not the time for self-pity.

"That name should suffice," I said flatly. "Until your memories return—if they do—it will serve as your identity."

The boy, Ryuta, now swallowed hard, nodding hesitantly. "Okay. Ryuta… works."

Nanahoshi seemed satisfied with that, though she kept glancing at his eyes with a mixture of intrigue and suspicion. She quickly accepted him, but I knew better than to trust irregularities too soon.

"Good," I said, stepping away from the rock formation. "We're leaving. Now."

Ryuta blinked. "Huh? Leaving where?"

"The next location," I answered curtly. "Our path continues north. There is someone I must meet in the Northern Wastes."

"Wait, just like that?" he asked, a little breathless, hurrying after me. "No supplies? No explanation?"

"You'll adjust," I said without turning.

He hesitated for only a moment, then followed. Nanahoshi walked beside him, her expression hidden beneath her mask. Whether she saw him as a fellow traveler or a replacement for something she'd lost, I didn't know.

But I did know this:

If he truly was from another world, and if his powers continued to grow, he would either become an ally or someone I would have to kill.

And until I knew which, I would keep him close.

Little did I know that he would turn out to be the most useful ally I could have ever gotten. I did not yet realize—he would be far more than either. He would be my greatest weapon.

///