458 Reunion, and a Headb.u.t.t.
We returned from the zoo for the midnight mission that was going to happen later, and took a short nap. Although my father is a manga artist and my mother is a picture book writer, both of them rarely stay up all night. According to my father, "all-nighters are inefficient." The act of not sleeping slows down your thinking and distracts you. My mother also said that her skin would become rough after all-nighters.
There is no reason for damaging your body’s working by staying up for too long . You can work if you are healthy. I also think so.
That said, there are situations where you can"t finish something in time unless you stay up all night. There, it may be necessary.
Certainly, the deadline for the works serialized by my father should not come yet. Unless it has changed from the past. If it was the old way, he should be sleeping normally today.
My parents" house is next to the town where my grandpa"s house is, and it"s about 15 minutes by train. It takes 15 minutes by train from station to station, but 30 minutes from Grandpa"s house to the station, 15 minutes by train, and 15 minutes from the station in the town where I lived. It takes an hour. (
Of course, the train is moving slowly because time is time. Well, I didn"t feel like going by train from the beginning. If you walk in the middle of the night with such a number of people, you will definitely be noticeable and there are chances that you may be questioned. I have no intention of taking such a risk.
"[Gate]."
Using Divinity through my smartphone, I open a portal directly from Grandpa"s house to my parents" house. It is my home that I lived in for many years. I can go in without any permission. I can also open a [Gate] to it from anywhere because I’ve been there many times already.
I go to the front of everyone and pa.s.s through the [Gate] first. It was dark because there was no light, but beyond that, there was a familiar living room. It"s not much different from what I saw a long time ago. Oh, the TV is new, I guess.
Nostalgic…… Oops, I shouldn’t get soaked up in too much sentiment.
"[Invite the darkness, sleep peacefully, sleep cloud]."
A magic circle spreads at my feet, and the light purple clouds that emerge from it drift throughout the house. It"s a cloud that invites everyone in this house to the world of sleep. It"s possible that my parents are awake. It"s a ha.s.sle if they think that we are thieves and they’re notified. Now we don"t have to worry about making noise.
Yumina and the others appear one after another in the living room through the [Gate].
"So, this is the house of Touya-san …"
Linze looks around in the dimly lit room which is the size of about 15 tatami mats. Do you think it"s small? Or this is the size of a normal house, right? But I guess it’s no good compared to the castle, huh?
"So what do we do, Darling? You talked about making your parents think they’re dreaming, but do you use spells such as [Mirage] or [Hypnosis]?"
"No. I’m going to connect us to my parents’ consciousness using Divinity. It is more realistic and easier to think that it is a dream, that way."
At first, I was thinking about the method that Leen said, but I just received an email from Karen-nee saying that this is safer.
It"s amazing that I can receive emails even if I’m across the world … Does she ever browse the internet or call Kami-sama? I never knew this about Karen-nee.
Of course, it can be done only with my smartphone, which is a sacred treasure, but not with the girls’ smartphones.
In other words, instead of making my parents think of it as a dream, let"s meet the in a dream. With this method, I can appear in front of the two people in my regular form and not as a child.
Yumina asks while tilting her head slightly.
"Sharing consciousness with a summoned beast … is it something like that?”
"Well, it"s close to that. To be precise, it feels like bringing everyone"s consciousness to another s.p.a.ce? It"s okay because I can"t look inside your heart." (TLN: Different dimension, basically.)
Connecting everyone"s consciousness to a s.p.a.ce created by my G.o.dly powers … It"s like logging in to the world of internet games. I won"t explain it because it won"t be easy to understand even if it"s called an internet game.
My mom and dad’s bedroom is upstairs. For the time being, let"s set the entire house to the designated range. I have learned how to control my Divinity a little bit.
I have everyone sit on the sofa in the living room and relax. I stand in the center of the living room and concentrate my consciousness.
Let’s take a slow, deep breath. …… Okay.
"Well, let"s go. [Connect]."
Suddenly, everyone"s consciousness fell asleep. Everyone"s consciousness is guided to a server-like pseudo-world created by divine power so that the line is connected.
Finally, I let go of my consciousness and fell sideways on the carpet, as if lying down, slowly.
"Where are we …?"
"A tiny different world created by Divinity … I don"t know it completely. Well, you can think of it as being in [Storage]."
While answering Yae"s question, who was looking around Kyoro Kyoro, I was delighted to see myself returning to normal after a long time (although it was only two days). I wish the visibility was better, though!
Since it was a pseudo-world, my clothes weren"t torn by my sudden growth, and I was wearing my usual coat. Well, this is because I unconsciously imagine it the most …
"That"s fine, but … why is there fog under our feet and dim above?”
"Oh, no, I"m dead for the time being. I thought I had to be ghostly."
As Linze pointed out, this s.p.a.ce created by divine power was a s.p.a.ce where fog or smoke could enter under your feet in a dimly lit s.p.a.ce. You see, it feels like a "spirit world", right? Well, I haven"t actually seen it, so I referred to old movies and TV dramas. The Divine Realm looks kind of like this, though.
"But this seems like you"re back because of some regrets, right? You came to tell them that you"re happy."
"Ah."
……I just realized. What Elze says is correct. This makes me look like I"ve come to say a grudge that I held before dying. Was this type of surroundings too ghostly? Reflection time.
When it comes to that, what kind of stage would I like to put instead?
"A bright sun, white clouds, and flower fields … Isn"t it better to have such a beautiful and natural landscape? It would make you look like you"re living happily."
"That"s right. If you take the appearance of living happily in Heaven, it would look good."
Leen nods a little to Hilda"s suggestion. I see. Will that scenery look good?
I solidify the image in my head and snap my fingers. After a moment, the fog blows away, and the soft, bright sunlight s.h.i.+nes into the dimly lit s.p.a.ce. A clear blue sky spread over my head, and instead of the fog that blew off, beautiful flowers spread out looking like there were hundreds of them.
This world is a pseudo s.p.a.ce that I created. Creating a virtual s.p.a.ce with holograms, which is common in overseas science fiction dramas. I can remake it as I like. Let"s blow a little refres.h.i.+ng breeze. The scent of fragrant flowers drifts around.
"Wow … it looks like the real thing."
Yumina picks up a flower from under her feet. Since you can recognize the feeling of touching things, it may not be so different from reality. Unfortunately I don"t have the power to hold this place for a long time. I think my limit’s an hour … Will that be enough time?
"Nyhaa~~ So where are your father and mother, Touya-kun? Have you already called them to this world?"
"Yeah. They’re supposed to be somewhere in this world because it connects the consciousness of everyone in that house … but …"
I returned to Su, but I found a figure who was rus.h.i.+ng through the flower garden over Su’s head and stopped speaking. From behind, another person chases after the figure of the person in a hurry.
The former looks like a woman in her late twenties with her hair reaching her shoulders, but is actually a woman in her early thirties. And from behind, chasing after her with a troubled face is a gentle-looking, tall man wearing round gla.s.ses and looks to be approaching 40.
Needless to say, those are my parents. My father"s name is Mochizuki Touichirou, whose occupation is a manga artist. My mother"s name is Mochizuki Tsuzuri, whose occupation is a picture book author.
That picture book author rushed here with a weird expression.
I understand something since I had lived with her for many years. When my mother makes that expression, it"s a very moody time. Maybe, but even without that expression I can tell, you"re angry …?
Huh? Isn"t this a moving face-to-face scene with your deceased son?
Mom stops in front of me. Due to the silent pressure released by my mother, my wives, who were around her, gradually stepped back a bit.
"Hey, mom … how were you?"
My mother reached out to my face, who said those words with a smile that was a bit cramped. A thin hand touches my face. Cold. That hand feels cold.
The other hand also touched my face. My mother in front of me smiles a little. It was a nostalgic smile I saw when I was a kid.
When I was immersed in such nostalgia, my mother"s grip gradually became stronger. …… What?
My mother"s height is not so different from mine. Originally she was also a model, so she is tall for a woman. My mother"s hands hold my head firmly enough to be able to question where such power lies in her slender body.
Where did the smile she had just go? My mother’s face in front of me instantly turned into a rugged face and hit me with a big headb.u.t.t.
"This idiot son!!!"
"Pain! Gohe! !! !! ?? "
Countless stars are scattered in front of me! As I fell backwards, I was in agony feeling as if my head cracked open and was rolling around in the flower field. Wait a minute! I can feel pain! ?? No, my brain might have the illusion that there was such a shock! Oh yeah. Then if I think it doesn"t hurt …!
It doesn"t hurt, it doesn"t hurt, it doesn"t hurt … Oh, the pain has subsided. As expected, this is my world. But it still hurts …
"You are finally showing your face now! Isn"t it at least a responsibility to be in a dream on the day of your death !? Moreover, when I think you’ve finally come, there are nine wives !? What is that, hey! "
"Wait a minute !? How do you know !?"
With my arms crossed and looking up at my mother who stood up, I was surprised and raised my voice. Neither the girls or I have said a word about them being my wives, yet. Is this telepathy! ?? Originally Mom was a sharp person, but … that"s just stupid, telepathy.
"Wait a minute, Tsuzuri! Is it not overkill! ?? Are you okay, Touya? "
"This much doesn"t matter because it"s a dream anyway!"
Anxiously, my father called out from behind my mother. Apparently they both think this is a dream. It"s exactly what I was aiming for, but that doesn"t mean I"m going to get this kind of attack … Isn"t it usually a hug in this case? As usual, reality and dreams are unforgiving!
"No, why does mother know everyone !?"
"The night before, a strange oji-san who called himself Kami-sama came in a dream. He said “I"m sorry I robbed you of your son”."
"I saw that dream, too. An old man with gray hair and gla.s.ses."
No way, the World G.o.d …? Did he appear in my parents’ dreams, first? To apologize for letting me die … …… That, I have a bad feeling about something…
"… So what happened?"
"Because I was angry, I slapped him."
"Wait, what!?"
"… I thought I"d do it, but I was stopped by Touichirou in my dream, so I gave up."
The mother turns away with a sullen look.
"No matter how much it"s a dream, I"m reflexively saying that you shouldn’t try to slap someone who claims to be Kami-sama. That oji-san had a cramped laugh."
Dad answers with a bitter smile. …… I"ll apologize to the World G.o.d when we get home.
"It"s natural to get so angry because my son was killed. It"s usually bad for you! You should be angry about dying from lightning! That"s about it. Trying to apologize! Pathetic!”
Don"t be crazy. I don’t really care.
"That Kami-sama said ,"Your dead son will appear in your dreams with nine brides?" ! I woke up from my dreams and unintentionally shouted,"Hey!"!"
"It"s strange, but I had the same dream. But Tsuzuri-san and Touya look like the real thing. Is this really a dream?"
Well, do you think that we are all dreams? Dad tries to pinch his cheeks. Oops. I secretly block the pain sensation.
"… It doesn"t hurt. It"s a dream, isn"t it? But I"m glad to see you again Touya. You look fine … Isn"t it strange that you are dead?”
"Dad …"
Dad laughs hahaha. He’s still at his own pace … Easygoing or insensitive. My mother also pinches herself, just like father. Of course, I also didn’t allow the pain sensation.
"… That? It hurt a little while ago."
"It didn’t, though?"
"Really…"
She had headb.u.t.ted me a little while ago and was rubbing her head, but she seems to have stopped thinking about it deeply. Mother’s as simple as ever … No, it"s helpful for me that she has a personality that doesn"t care about the details.
"You"re not growing tall at all. Oh, it"s a dream, so you look the same as when you died … I"m sorry I can"t see you as an adult."
Mother laughs looking a little lonely. My body is the body of a G.o.d, so it ages slower than humans. Still, I think I will have an adult body someday. I wonder if I"ll come see you again at that time … With the permission of the World G.o.d.
"However……"
Suddenly my mother"s eyes turned to the girls. Everyone drew back from us due to our pretty shocking reunion. No wonder. At the beginning of the encounter, mother even pulled a head b.u.t.t.
Still, they need to greet their parents-in-law, so Yumina takes the courage to take a step forward.
"Oh, so, um, I, no, Ha … "
"You are Yumina, right?"
"Eh?"
Yumina, whose name was said by my mother, stops moving with a surprised expression. Do you even know their name? Did the World G.o.d talk so much?
"That silver-haired girl with the long hair is Elze, the short-haired one is Linze, and the ponytail one is surely Yae … I wonder if I’m right?"
"Yeah, that"s true. I remember that blonde little girl and the twin-tailed girl. I wonder if Su-san and Leen-san also became Touya-kun’s wives."
Dad nods a little. Hmm? Isn"t it strange? They knew Yumina, Elze, Linze, and Yae, but didn"t know that Su and Leen were my wives …
"I don"t know the other three, but … Oh, I"m sorry! I haven"t read that far yet!"
Lou, Hilda, and Sakura cried out a little as if they were shocked by my mother"s words, and my panicked mother rushed towards them.
"… What do you mean by ‘not having read far enough’?”
"Himura-kun. You know, your cla.s.smate."
Eh? I know him. He was one of my cla.s.smates in middle school who I often played with. …… Why does his name come out in this conversation?
"He"s an a.s.sistant for me right now … He said he had many dreams of a Kami-sama."
What? Did you go to the dreams of Himura, World G.o.d??? As usual, your planning is amazing!
"In that dream, that Kami-sama oji-san showed him the success of Touya. He told Himura that you went to another world and made a big success … so Himura made a draft of the story and showed us. "
"Huh !?"
What is that! ??
A draft is a so-called blueprint of a manga that simply expresses the composition, frame division, character movements, lines, etc. when drawing a manga. It is no exaggeration to say that the draft of the work determines the quality of the work at this point.
If you look at the draft, you can see what the story is like … That means that my actions over there were predicted! ??
Of course, it would be based on the recognition that it was a strange dream that Himura had. I haven"t heard of you talking to others about me, World G.o.d! ??
"Well, how far is that …"
"Well, I"m sure … the one he brought last week had a turtle and a snake monster as summons."
It"s Sango and Kokuyou … Is that just before we find Babylon? Then Lu and the others shouldn"t have been introduced, yet.
"I was surprised to hear from the Kami-sama that there were nine brides. What happened … Well, Himura can"t help but ask for an explanation about his dreams. I"ve also had strange dreams lately."
"Yes."
As was the case with Professor Babylon and the G.o.ds, aren"t there many people peeking at my actions …? What kind of shame play is it, such as being seen by a friend and being informed by his parents in a manga! Himura-kun, stop it right now and draw another work.
I mean, how can I be sure that this situation isn"t being seen or read by anyone …?