Prologue

I wasn't big on the culture festivals in school, so I never dreamed I'd find myself helping with a celebration in an alternate world.

Even the Axis disciples, normally people to be feared, were as sweet as pet kittens. They had a lot riding on this festival.

I couldn't help a breath of admiration for what I saw before me. In the light of the scattered bonfires, this other-world celebration looked truly fantastical.

Right in the middle of it all was something that would have looked perfectly normal in Japan but seemed out of place in this world: classic Japanese vendors' stalls.

The people of this world had dreamed up every kind of shop, and it was obvious they were all genuinely enjoying themselves. It didn't matter that the festival lasted only a few days out of the whole year.

There were demi-humans and elves and dwarves.

Undead and demons and goddesses, too.

"Kazuma, Kazuma! I'm so glad we were able to have this festival."

Aqua, happily watching the goings-on, took a second to glance back at me.

"Thank you for helping the Axis Church."

Her innocent smile shone against the incredible backdrop of the festival, and her words, for once, came straight from the heart.