I was just about to walk out the front door when a sandstorm hit my vision again and I found myself moving to another location.

　To be honest, I was already so used to it that I didn't even feel surprised.

　Apparently, this was that store run by Fraxinus.

　Perhaps I arrived too early, but the other Wild Hunt members were nowhere to be seen.

　I don't know what today's business is, but I decided to kill some time for now and sat down on a suitable chair.

'Welcome!'

　A girl, an employee, comes in to pour free water.

　It's a voice I feel like I've heard somewhere.

　I wonder if this is also a fragment of Loki's memory - as I moisten my throat with the cold water that was poured for me, I casually turn my gaze towards the girl.

''...... Buhaha!''

　I gush out and spill the water in a heap.

''Duh, are you okay!
'Kehoho ......!　It's not that I'm not okay, it's just that you're not okay!

　She had long wavy brown hair and a simple but charming face.

　The girl who was working in a waiter's uniform was unmistakably Erika, an employee of our store.

　I'm surprised before such a clever idea that it's a fanciful imitation of someone else from a long time ago, or that she might have been borrowed for her appearance based on my random memories.

　The girl who looks like Erika blinks for a moment, then smiles in surprise and looks into my face, which is still in boy form.

'Whoa, Manager Luke?　I can't help but wonder if I've got some kind of weird hobby, having this dream.

　Erica smiles as if in trouble.

　Without a doubt, this girl is not something that borrowed Erica's appearance, but Erica herself, who thinks this world is a dream.

　Looking back, when I was first dragged into this world, it wasn't just myself and Hild, who tried to analyze it, but also Garnett, who was just nearby, who was involved.

　If the same thing happened, it's no surprise to me.

Hey, come here for a second. ......!
'What?　What, what?!

　He grabbed Erica's sleeve and forced her to the corner of the store.

　Then she crouched in the shadows, forehead to forehead, and let them talk briefly about the situation they were in.

'Listen, Erica. This guy is not a dream. It's hard to explain, but just think of it as a spirit being dragged into an imaginary world.
...... Huh?　Um, ...... huh?

　Erica hardly seems to be following the conversation and is pouting with an expression that shows a number of question marks floating above her head.

　It's not surprising. I wouldn't have even bothered to understand it if I hadn't experienced it first hand.

'Maybe we're being forced into the position of inhabitants of this world. The people around you didn't seem uncomfortable, did they?
Wait, wait! Then what is this place!　How could this be happening!
...... It's my 'right eye' that's causing it. It's happened before. Trying to magically analyze my 'right eye' triggered ...... and this world is a recreation of an ancient magical civilization.
Kodai, Maho: ......

　Erica repeated the words deliriously and flopped down on the spot.

'Ta, sure, I thought it was weird... weird!　And there were tools lying all over the place that I'd never imagined!　So, but ...... are we going to be able to get back to normal?!
'We'll be fine. The last time they dragged me and Garnett in, both of us were able to get back on track properly, and there shouldn't be anyone to interfere this time. It might take a little longer, though: ......

　I'll keep it under wraps that Alfazul has undertaken to be safe.

　As expected, if I told her that much without hiding it, it would only confuse Erica even more.

　I'm going to ask Erika, who breathes out a long breath of relief from the bottom of her heart, what I've been wondering about this time.

'Answer me a few things. Where were you before you were dragged into this world?
'Before you were dragged in is ...... um, the last place I remember, right? Then ...... yeah, I was still in the store. The cleanup took a little too long.

　I hold my head in one hand and shake my head.

　If even the people around them were involved like the first one, it's hard to believe that Erika was the only victim.

　Alexia and Noir, who were in the same room, could almost certainly be considered to be in this world.

　These two are still good. It was their intention to come here from the beginning, and they might be happily gaining more insight somewhere right now.

...... So, you mean, Garnett was with you, too?
'Yes, sir!　I've had a lot of help from them. ......

　When I was about to start analyzing The Right Eye at the request of Alexia and Noir, Garnett was not in the same room.

　If this was somewhere else, Garnett would be working with me at all hours for protection, but as expected, the store, which is also my home, is an exception.

　It's not possible to wait for Hild, who was invited by the knight's group, so we finished cleaning up the shop as soon as she arrived and left the rest to Garnett and others.

　That's why I hadn't paid attention to Garnett's safety until now.

　I couldn't think of any reason to care about it in the first place.

　But the encounter with Erika has completely changed this assumption.

'' (Garnett is also involved in this phenomenon ...... It's possible, it's possible enough ...... d*mn it, I should have imagined it earlier... ...?

　As I was racking my brain, I heard the doorbell ringing at the front door.

　Apparently there was another visitor.

　I gathered my thoughts for the moment and told Erica about my future course of action.

I want you to just go with the flow for the time being. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. When it's done, I'll make sure everything is back to normal. You can rest assured that you'll be waiting for me.