A bustling city, at least, that's what lay before him.
Altair stood at the roadside, clad in silver-white armor and a blue tunic that clashed with the surroundings, watching the buildings and passersby. He tilted his head slightly, intrigued.
Tokyo again, huh?
The Japanese signs on shops and the word "Tokyo" everywhere confirmed it. He'd landed in yet another version of Tokyo.
Back in Orario, after a month of grinding in the Dungeon, Altair had reached Level 5, with Tanya hitting Level 4 and both Tiona and Tione reaching Level 2. This success unlocked a new world-level challenge, bringing him to a new realm. But what crisis awaited here? What did this Tokyo's humanity need saving from?
From his past three world-hopping experiences, Altair knew "saving the world" really meant saving humanity, ensuring their survival. The world itself was resilient; few threats could truly destroy it. While humanity wasn't the world, the mission's success hinged on their fate.
"Altair, where are we? This feels completely different from before." Est, his contracted spirit, asked, tugging at his sleeve. Unlike the rest of Hestia's Familia, Est could follow Altair across worlds, so from now on, he wouldn't travel alone.
"This is another world, totally different from Orario." Altair replied, ruffling Est's hair.
"Another world?"
"Yep, just like the Elemental Realm or Orario, a completely different place."
He gave Est a brief explanation about traveling to other worlds, knowing she'd be his companion in future journeys.
"So, Altair's a hero who saves worlds?" Est asked.
"Nope, I'm no hero." Altair said firmly. He only did what interested him. If it didn't spark his curiosity, he wouldn't give it a second glance.
"Is Est disappointed?"
"Est is Altair's sword. Whatever Altair does, Est will stay by his side."
Her logic wasn't human, but it was steadfast. If Altair said he wasn't a hero, then he wasn't. As his sword, she'd follow him regardless.
"That's my Est." Altair said, scooping her up like a child. "Let's find you something tasty. This world's got plenty of good food."
"Tasty?" Est's eyes widened. His sword spirit wife was a little foodie.
"Yep, stuff you've never tried in the Elemental Realm or Orario."
Cradling Est, Altair stepped into the bustling streets, blending into the crowd. As he explained the modern world of Tokyo to her, their distinctive outfits, his armor and her unique attire, drew stares. A handsome guy with a cute girl in his arms, both dressed so strikingly, turned heads wherever they went.
Passersby whispered among themselves.
"A foreigner? So handsome!"
"Blond hair, maybe British?"
"That little girl he's holding is adorable."
"Silver hair? That's rare. From Scandinavia, maybe?"
Eyes followed Altair, but he ignored them, focusing on Est while scanning the surroundings. From what he could tell, this world seemed normal, no overt signs of supernatural activity. News playing in a nearby convenience store mentioned international events, suggesting humanity wasn't on the brink of extinction. The world appeared fine on the surface.
So, what was the crisis threatening humanity here?
Altair's curiosity stirred, but first, he needed to sort out practical matters: identity and money. In apocalyptic worlds like those of Highschool of the Dead, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, or Black Bullet, strength let you roam freely without anyone questioning your origins. But this world seemed peaceful, and lacking an identity or funds could complicate things.
Spotting a female student on the sidewalk, engrossed in her phone, Altair approached. She wore a school uniform, likely a high schooler.
"Hey there!" He called, raising a hand.
"Eek!" Startled, the girl looked up, meeting Altair's warm smile. "Blond hair, so handsome! Oh, uh, hi! Hello! I am…"
Assuming he was a foreigner, she fumbled for English.
"No worries, I speak Japanese." Altair said, gesturing for her to stick to her native tongue.
"Oh, okay. Hi! Can I help you with something?" She asked politely, her eyes drifting to Est. A blond heartthrob, a silver-haired cutie, and their fantasy-like outfits, were they cosplayers obsessed with anime culture?
"We're tourists in Japan, but we lost our wallets and IDs. Do you know how to get to the American embassy?"
"Oh, you're American?" She said.
"Yep, that's right." Altair nodded earnestly. Sure, I'm American.
"My name's Arthur. Could you point me to the embassy?"
"I know where it is!" She replied eagerly, giving him directions.
Before parting, she slipped him some cash to cover transportation, since he'd "lost his wallet." In return, Altair got her name and contact info: Yoriko Kosaka, a second-year student at Seimi High School's general course.
***
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