Encounter
When the blinding light faded and I opened my eyes, I found myself in an ashen wasteland.
Everything had burned to white ash, drifting through the air like snow.
So this is... a world where the [possibility of catastrophe] has come true...
Well, it certainly does look like a catastrophe...
Pffft! Bleh! Omega got dust in her mouth! It keeps blowing right into her mouth!
The air is so hot it makes my throat ache.
It feels like I'm breathing in smoke.
How about you, Captain? Are you alright?
A nationwide wildfire? A volcanic eruption? Or a world where a Void Star prevailed?
All kinds of possibilities crossed my mind, but one thing was certain.
There was no way we could let a [possibility] like this to affect Lavistar.
Here, take this handkerchief. You two can use it.
Mm-hm, thank you!
Ahaha, it's nothing.
Alright, then let's go deal with that [Corruption Core] or whatever it is.
Hold on.
Huh? Something wrong, Captain?
Ah... Now that you mention it, you're right.
Then what should we do?
Ah-ha...!
Right, they might know who's behind all of this.
Okay! Then let's get moving!
No matter how far we go, this place just goes on forever...
Ugh, Omega can't see anything ahead...
Hey Mister, do you really think people can actually live in a place like this?
Ugh...
Look! There's a cloud of dust over there!
Huh? You're right!
It could be people! I'll go check!
Asherah, wait!
Before I could even voice my concern, Asherah was already far ahead.
Whoa...! Asherah's really fast!
If Omega trains really hard, can she get as fast as her too?
Eeh? Then Omega would rather stay slow!
Look, Mister! She's coming back!
Voidborns!
Why would Voidborns be here?!
They're chasing her! And there's a ton of them!
Oh! Then Omega's taking first place!
*Huff* *Huff* *Huff...!*
I only meant to take a quick look, but they noticed me! Sorry, Captain!
We can't keep running forever in this wasteland!
It'd be hard on my own, but we can beat them if the three of us get together!
At Asherah's words, I glanced back.
But...!
...W-what was that sound just now?
It went pew! But it wasn't a beam or anything like that!
It came from over there!
You three! Hurry, this way!
Huh?!
That's some serious firepower... I've never seen a gun that big besides Smile's...!
Ngh...! Got it, Captain!
As we got closer to the girl, we saw what looked like a cave entrance leading underground beneath the ashes.
As soon as we rushed inside, she pulled a lever mounted on the wall, and...
A heavy steel barrier slammed down, cutting off the horde of Voidborns.
That should do it. They'll quiet down soon.
They can't break through the barrier...?
No. Unless they've got one of the larger ones with them.
W-we made it...
Aw, we made it in together... Omega really thought she was gonna win this time...
Just you wait! Next time Omega will win for sure!
I never want to be in a race like that again...
Oh. Thank you. You saved us.
No need to be that grateful.
I only helped because I wanted to ask you something.
H-huh?
Ahaha, well, it's fine. You still helped us anyway.
I'm Asherah. What's your name?
...Yoo Mina.
Oh, Mina. That's a pretty name.
Not really. That's the first time anyone ever told me that.
Yeah? Then tell me how you got here.
That's easy enough to explain.
We came through a portal Lady Alicia made for us.
Alicia?
...Who is she? A scientist? Someone from the Administration?
You don't know Lady Alicia?
You're just like the Captain.
Lady Alicia is the Grand Witch who fought alongside the [Star Savior].
So... probably the most famous person in Lavistar?
Star Savior? Grand Witch...? And what's Lavistar supposed to be?
I gave Mina a brief explanation about Lavistar.
So... you came from another world?
Yes. To defeat something called the [Corruption Core].
Anyway, Mina... Have you been living here all this time?
No. No one lives in the [Counterside].
The Counterside...?
Yeah. A different world from the one we live in, full of monsters.
Then again, what's outside isn't even the [Counterside] anymore.
The Counterside... I've never heard that name.
We were told this is a timeline where the [possibility of catastrophe] became reality.
What do you mean it isn't even the Counterside anymore?
Exactly what it I said. This place was already barren, but it wasn't all blowing ash like this.
In that sense... maybe it really is a place where that [possibility of catastrophe] you mentioned came true.
Anyway, if you came here, that means you know how to get back, right?
Huh? Get back?
We were chasing some guys from the Normalside...
Something went wrong during the fight, and we lost our way back.
So if what you're saying is true, send us back to our world.
You must have a way to return to where you came from too.
Now that you mention it...
Omega, do you happen to know a way back?
Um, Omega dug through the database, but...
The [Surviving in Another Dimension] book won't open. The letters are all broken, so Omega can't read it.
...What about you, Captain?
Uh-oh...
Th-this is bad! What do we do now?!
...I thought so. Something's off about all of you.
You came here without knowing how to get back? That makes no sense.
Stay right there. If you make even the slightest move, I will shoot.
W-wait! You can't just point a gun at us out of nowhere!
Even if you saved us, I won't let it slide if you threaten us like that!
Only broken people bully their friends!
I'm not here to make friends.
...Come to think of it, there was something off about you from the beginning.
In the Counterside... There shouldn't be any living people besides us.
Tell me the truth. You're with the [Demon Lord], aren't you?
D-Demon Lord...?
No! Omega, Mister, and Asherah don't know anyone like a [Demon Lord].
It's true.
Playing dumb, are you?
Fine. Do whatever you want. Then I'll do things my way too—
That's enough, rookie.
There's no need to doubt them that much.
If they were her Apostles or underlings, I would know.
But Commander, they're just making ridiculous excuses.
Going on about how they came from another world and all that...
Another world, you say?
Wait, we explained everything as clearly as we could! We're not making excuses!
Asherah's right! You're being mean!
The girl addressed as Commander suddenly fixed her gaze on Omega.
Why are you staring at Omega like that?
...I see. So you call her Omega.
Looks like that idiot laid the groundwork well in advance.
Commander, what's with you all of a sudden?
Never mind. It's nothing.
And such cases do exist, rookie.
People crossing over from worlds different from our reality, that is.
What? Really?
Yes. But these ones...
They seem a little different from the cases I know.
...Alright. If you say so, Commander.
I'll go check the area.
Those strange monsters might still be lurking around here.
She left...
Yeah...
Still... do you think she was really going to shoot us...?
My apologies. She must have startled you.
I'm Hilde, Commander of Coffin Company's [Fenrir Squad].
...Don't mind Mina.
She just lacks the experience to keep herself steady in a situation like this.
More importantly, I heard your conversation earlier.
You came to stop the [possibility of catastrophe]?
Yup! Omega doesn't toally get it, but there's a broken friend here. Omega has to bonk it really hard to fix it!
So Omega and the gang are here to fix it at maximum output!
An unusual incantation.
Even so...
...If anyone comes to mind, it would be that one, yes.
But if you plan on challenging her, forget it.
It's impossible with just the three of you.
Impossible...?
Are the [Demon Lords] really that strong?
Even among them, she's particularly troublesome.
You've seen what became of this place, haven't you?
Yes. Burning an entire world is no difficult feat...
For her.
The one known as Asmodeus.