A short while later, the Anse-Baal army's invasion was abruptly cut short.
　The world had been saved thanks to the efforts of the Three Heavenly Stars' heroes.

''Then why haven't I fulfilled my pledge!

　I wandered through the corridors of the castle aimlessly, my head in my hands.
　I ran the console and searched the world, but there wasn't a shadow of the Anse-Baal Army's ID.
　And yet I can't be summoned to the next other world.
　That meant that my pledge at the moment wasn't just to 'save the world'.

'Don't tell me it won't be the same as it was with Princess-san.......'

　When Princess-san summoned me, the pledge was supposedly a joke like "If I defeat the Demon King, you'll die...".
　Otherwise, the proxy oath wouldn't be valid for the royal family's life alone.
　If it was the opposite of "I will defeat the Demon King and save the world", it would have to be "I will join forces with the Demon King to destroy or rule the world".
　It's a wickedly nifty scheme that only a f*cking god could have made to have his giant hopes bounce back to the world when I'm in a bad mood.
　For this alone, I'm grateful for the proxy pledge system. I guess you could say that Princess is a hero for saving the world from my hands.

　Maybe the same thing will happen to you.
　If I'm only interested in my own life, then I'll die and come back to life.
　But if all the lives of all the heroes on the three stars are included in the pledge, I can't ignore them, even if I can revive them with my console.
　Besides, if I make the castle disappear by proxy pledge, I feel like I'm going to be at odds with Chi-Bo and the others, even if Ituna isn't.
　I'm not going to lose, but I don't like the idea of fighting Chi-boy and his friends.

''I mean, yeah. I should have just checked the console!''

　That's why...
　I secretly scrutinized the magic circle for return.
　I'm sure it's a dimensional magic that connects the different worlds.

　I'm sure the location isn't specified in order to properly connect to the homeland in accordance with the magic wave motion.
　It's not necessary to kill a useless hero because it's possible to return him to his hometown.
　Was I mistaken?

　In that case, the pledge would be something like, "I'll return to my home world after saving it"?
　No, as far as the pledge is concerned, my curse takes precedence, so if it's on the condition that I return to the original world, I shouldn't be summoned in the first place.
　Then why on earth.....



　When I was wondering what to do, it was the day of the return ceremony.
　JK-chan, who was most eager to return home, took a step toward the magic circle in order to make the first team.

　No, she spun around in a circle as she was about to step out and jumped into Itsuna's chest.

''Tsumuji-chan?''
Um... when...

　Oh, JK-chan was such a character in front of Itsuna?
　She's hanging on to Ituna like an abandoned cat, making a sound that makes you want to protect her.

I wonder if she's going to be okay. Will I be able to get home properly?
You'll be okay. You'll get home.

　Ituna gently patted JK's tearful back.

'We're still friends even though we're apart, aren't we?
Of course.
"Text me when you get a cell phone!　I'll wait for you!
Uh-huh.

　Ituna doesn't have her own cell phone, so she couldn't exchange email addresses... or something like that.
　But unfortunately, even if Ituna came back, she couldn't keep in touch with JK.
　This is because JK is the only one of the three stars that comes from a different Earth.

　The Earth exists in more than one universe.
　It is divided into countless parallel universes.
　In fact, Earth has the highest rate of divergence in parallel universes.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make a good impression.
　You won't be able to see Ituna again.　

See you later!

　Without realizing it, JK-chan disappeared into the light of the magic circle.
　Please let this other world be a good memory for you...

Okay, next.

　A soldier urges them to go ahead, but no one wants to step forward.

'I'm........'

　Chi-boy looks like he's not sure whether to go or not.

'Are you still going to stay?'

　I called out to him.
　That made up my mind, and I shook my head buzzingly.

I'm going home, too. I miss Japanese food. It's not a bad idea to become an adventurer and be pampered, but when you think about it, you've left your family behind. I have a younger sister who adores me, and I live next door to my childhood friend who wakes me up every morning. I'm going to try to be a real, modern-day hero.

　Huh!
　Chi-boy, you're a total winner.
　This is not the time to get summoned to another world or something!

''I'll hold off on the adventurer life and slow life in the novel. Besides, there's still a chance for me to reincarnate in a car accident and a cheat to take over the parameters this time!

　No.
　You haven't learned your lesson at all, Chi-boy.
　But that's what you are.

"...my brother. It was your cooking that woke me up. Thank you.
I didn't do much.

　When I smiled back, Chi-Bo smiled at me too.
　I've been certified as a senior citizen before I knew it.

　Eventually, Chi-bo is slowly advancing into the magic circle.
　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about.
　It's only for a short time. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

　That's fine.
　Men don't show tears like that.

I'm not going to be the only one.

　I think I've said this before, but I can't travel between different worlds, let alone back to Earth.
　The only time I can travel between different worlds is when I'm summoned. Even when Ans-Baal's army retreats to the other side of the dimensional gate, I can only harass them by throwing in the planetary vaporization bombs that they took from them.
　I've got Ans-Baal's dimensional navigation technology, but I can't use it against myself. Well, it was a masterpiece when the amphibian I boarded crumbled to pieces trying to navigate through the dimensions.

　Well, if you have a chance to try it, you should always try it.
　I know it's useless because it's similar to the compositional formula I've seen before, but if you just want to ride the magic circle, it's free.

'Hold on, Chef!
What?

　It was Bissette who stopped me as I approached the magic circle.
　Jaborn III was standing comfortably next to me, giving me a watchful glance.

''I'm begging you to take it easy!　Please teach us more of your cooking!

　I was on my knees as soon as Bissette came running up to me.
　A former head chef, right in front of the king.

The king is very pleased with you, sir. The king is very happy," he said. Please wait a little longer for his return!

　...Oh, I see.
　I understand.
　No wonder you can't complete the pledge.

'I'm sorry, sir, but I can't do that.

　I shook my head in apology.
　Bissett looked up weakly.

'Is it because you want to go home?'
No.
Is it because you have a family waiting for you?
No, not really.
Then why!

　That's obvious.
　I'm not going to stop to kill a f*cking god.

'Someone is waiting for my power.

　And yet what came out of my mouth was a completely different word.
　I thought I thought of Tanaka-san's face from the Fairy Mart, and he was spouting these lines.

　Summoners are usually shitty, helpless people who deserve to die.　
　But sometimes they're not.
　Some are desperate, helpless, or just want to help the cat.
　Sometimes I'm summoned by people who really need help, like in the case of Aesem and the playwrights.

　Of course, it's just a lighthearted way of helping me along my journey of revenge.
　My pledge is my top priority, and that's not going to change.

　My journey is long. So sometimes I want to take a road trip.
　I'm the cook here because I was swept along and it sounded fun.
　And it's true that every time I see everyone's smiling face, my weak self tempts me to stop this kind of journey.

　But the reason I take a break is to save my strength to move forward.
　I don't want my heart to be broken by over-rooting myself.
　It's a way to blow off steam when I feel like I'm running on empty.

　It's not about stopping.



"Pledge. Ryouji Gyakushige will not settle in one world, but will continue to strive for the next.



　That's why I can't just listen to the wish to stay.
　Because I'm just an otherworldly tripper passing by.

''This!

　Bissette's twin eyes widen at the summoning team floating at my feet.

　--the proxy pledge has been fulfilled.
　The best proof that my cooking has rewritten my wish to save the world into a wish to be here.

　Once this happens, my summons will no longer stop.
　Bissette, who doesn't know it's so, shouts.

'Please, just think about it!
That's enough, Bissette.
"Your Majesty!

　When Bissett still tried to fight him off, Javorn III stopped him with a single word.

"Do not let our selfishness hold him back. I can see it in the eyes of Lord Sacagawea.

　Jaborn III, who was staring at me, looked to me like the greatest king of all.

"I'm sorry, my lord. I'm sorry, but it's been an honor to serve you.
Hohohoho, is that so? I'll just take that as a compliment.

　Jaborn III laughs, shaking his belly comically until the end.

'Good for you!'　

　Ituna walks over to me with a smile and leverage.
　Oh, that's right........

Ituna.
"Huh?

　He points to the magic circle for return to Ituna, who looks unsure of what he's talking about.

''What about you?''
What to do... huh?　I'll follow Mr. Sacagawea, okay?

　Ituna doesn't leave my side as if to say, "What's the matter with you?

'If you jump in there, you can go back to your world. You don't want to go back?

　Yes, I'm sure Ituna would really like to leave.
　Every time she ate my food, she would reminisce.
　Not to mention JK-chan and even Chi-bo eventually chose to go home.

　I was the exception, as my only motive for going home was to eat chicken.
　That's not the case with me.

　Yet, Ituna is troubled by this, as if she is in a quandary.

''Hmmm.......even if I go there, it's not like everyone else is there. There are people who have taken care of me, so I'd like to at least say hello, but I won't be able to see Sakahagi-san anymore, right?　Well, I guess I'll be fine then.

　Ehehe laughs.
　He grabbed my hand forcefully.

"And that's where I belong, right?

　And even more boldly for Ituna, she puts her hand around my arm and squeezes it.

'........I see.

　Yeah, I must have been thinking about something stupid again.
　This is why my wives say I'm insensitive or tohenbok or don't understand women's minds.

　Itsuna is my wife.
　And that's all right, isn't it?

WOOHOOO!

　Suddenly Jaborn III coughed, and Ituna's face turned red.
　Surely it's time to go to the next world, and if you can see me off, I'll see you off.

'My king, Bissette,' he said. Thank you for telling me how good my food was.
Well, to be honest, I don't know what you're talking about. I wish you good luck on your journey.

　It's rare to find a king who takes good care of his brave men until they return.
　In this other world, please be blessed.

Chef....

　Oops, I should follow up with Bissette too.
　I took out the university notebook from the item box and handed it to Bissette, who was drooping in the corner.
　I didn't forget to use the console command 《Automatic Translation》 to rewrite the text in the note into an otherworldly language.

''This is........''
It's a treasured recipe!

　Bissette, who received the note unintentionally, looks up with a huff.

''Eh, no way.......Chef!
No, you're the head chef!

　Yes, you were the real head chef from the beginning to the end.
　Keep feeding everyone good food.

"...thank you very much!

　The moment Head Chef Bissette bowed her head towards us, me and Ituna were engulfed in light.

''I hope the world is like this again next time, Sacagawea!
Yeah.

　Just before I disappeared, I had a thought and opened my mouth.
　That was the last thing I muttered to myself in this other world.




'Oh, shit. I forgot to return to the soldiers' level and immortality settings.