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“…and that’s how I became an SSS-Ranker when I was 31, you see! Gah-ha-ha-ha! That was 20 years ago!”
“R-Really…? I see.”
“Woof… that’s amazing… right?”

The cheerful middle-aged man… or rather, Thor, was giving Rir and me a ride on his carriage. Thor’s carriage… or to be more precise, goat carriage, was drawn by two rare two-headed goat magic beasts called Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr¹. He told us they were his pride and joy.

From what he said, on top of being able to run several times faster than normal carriage horses, they would also come back to life, even if you ate their flesh and only left their skin and bones.

He also boasted about his weapon, Mjölnir, which he had obtained a long time ago. I was sure I heard that name before, somewhere.

“Well~… at any rate… uhm… your name was Shushuu, right?”
“…It’s Shuu, Sir.”
“Right, Shushuu. That black hair and eyes of you sure is rare, isn’t it?”
“…Shuu.”

My name ain’t Shushuu, it’s Shuu!
But no matter how often I corrected him, it was no use.

“Anyway… about your hair and eyes… Those kids back then were the same. I wonder, is it my fate to keep meeting people with that appearance? Gah-ha-ha-ha~!”
“Huh…!?”

…Those kids? People with black hair and eyes other than me… that might’ve been Kanata and Sakura! T-That’s great, I should ask him, he might know somethin’… seeing he’s an SSS-Ranker!

I found a clue in the place I’d least expect it…!

“Erm… Mr. Thor.”
“What is it, Shushuu?”
“Those… people with black hair and eyes… were they perhaps a boy and girl around 14 years old?”

For an instant, Thor gazed at me in surprise. Next to me, Rir also gave a start, though it was for a different reason.

“Ah, you’re right. Did you get to know them in the city?”
“No, I never met them there. But I know who they are, and they should know me, too…”
“I… I see, give me a moment!” Thor said and then closed his eyes.

People often did that, when they focused on using telepathy. Meanwhile, Rir posed a question to me.

“Hey… Master. Are those the two people… you are looking for?”
“Yep, there’s a high chance they’re the ones I’m thinkin’ of.”
“Woof, woof… I see, that’s great, Master. That means you can go home, can’t you?”

Even though she called it “great”, Rir displayed an incredibly lonely expression.
That’s right… once I find those two, there’s a high chance I’ll be able to go back to Earth.

I wonder, are they safe? From how Mr. Thor acts, doesn’t seem like he has bad memories ’bout ’em.

In any case… my relationship with Rir might come to an end and I’ll have to say goodbye.

“…Hey, Rir.”
“What is it, Master…?”
“Tomorrow… or the day after tomorrow, should we go somewhere, just by the two of us? We could go to sightseein’ spots in the city… or somethin’ like that.”
“Woof~… that sounds nice. Like a couple… Eh-heh-heh.”

Rir replied as she hugged my arm with a somewhat forlorn expression, as if she had guessed my reason for telling her that. Two large, soft lumps pressed against me.

Still, her ears are flopped down… makes her look depressed, don’t it…?
Would that be a good time to pat her head?

It should be… probably.

When I started patting her head, her ears stood up and she smiled at me.
So cute.

Takin’ her back to Earth with me… will cause various issues², and it’s probably impossible in the first place. Damn it.

“I’m sorry… I couldn’t reach them. They might be asleep… or they’re focused on something else,” Thor told us after opening his eyes.

Opposite him, we were in the middle of being all lovey-dovey…
That’s kinda embarrassing, ain’t it?

“Right… those two kids had a close relationship, just like you. Although… the girl, Sakura, was blind, so that was probably why she kept close to him… Gah-ha-ha-ha! Either way, it’s good to be young! Gah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”

He just mentioned the name “Sakura”… and that she’s blind. Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure she dropped her glasses when we were summoned.
I see… that makes sense.

Moreover, they’re currently somewhere in the city. I gotta meet up with ’em quickly…

“You said her name is… Sakura, Sir? I know them, after all.”
“I see, I see… I think those two kids are renting a place somewhere… It should be at the best apartment housing in the high-class residential area.”
“I… I see. Thank you very much, Sir.”

Might be a bit vague, but that’s important information. The most expensive apartment complex in the high-class residential area… right?

“Alright, we’ll arrive in the city in about an hour. You should go there and try meeting up! Gah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! I need to go and give my report to the client. Well, it was the country itself this time who posted the request! Gah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”

And truly, exactly one hour later, we reached the city. Since he had various things to report, we parted with Thor at the carriage stop. From the beginning to the end, he had been a wonderful person.

“Woof… Should we go meet up with those two first?”
“I am worried ’bout ’em. Still, sounded like they were in the middle of somethin’ earlier, right? It’s currently noon… let’s have our meetin’ in the evenin’. There’s some stuff we gotta take care of, first.”
“Understood, Master!”

With that being said, we went to the inn where we had stayed previously.

TL notes:
Finally back in civilization, and even with a lead on Kanata and Sakura. Though it makes me wonder why Shuu assumes that he’ll be able to go back to Japan after reuniting with the kids. Sure, they know that they can (theoretically) be sent back by the one who summoned them, but Shuu should have no information about this.

1. The originals are タングリスニ(tangurisuni) and タングニョースト (tangunyoosuto). Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr are the two goats pulling Thor’s carriage in Norse mythology.
2. I’m sure Japan wouldn’t have too many issues accepting the existence of a girl with animal ears/tail. Though getting her citizenship, on the other hand…