The Blind Love Life of the Returning Hero: The Companions I Lost in Another World Resurrect in the Modern Era and Indulge Me - Episode 2

Hayato opened his eyes. His consciousness was foggy. As he stared up at the ceiling, an unfamiliar sight greeted him. No, wait—it felt vaguely familiar. A sense of recognition tugged at his memory. The instant he tried to grasp it, a strange discomfort shot through his body.

“Oww, ow ow ow!?”

Just shifting slightly sent bolts of searing pain like electric shocks coursing through his entire body. He instinctively tried to protect himself, but even that movement intensified the agony. Strangely, though, he didn’t feel any wounds splitting open or bl00d flowing.

From his countless battle experiences, Hayato had learned to assess his injuries by sensation alone. He should have sustained wounds in his fight against the Demon King severe enough to kill him. Yet he’d pushed on recklessly, refusing to give up. Now, those gaping wounds that had covered his battered body were sealed shut.

Had someone healed him with magic after the battle? Had they carried him to this room? Or… was this all just a dream?

“Huff… huff…”

As he focused on his breathing, the pain gradually became more bearable. He scanned the room. A small TV, a computer, and other modern appliances—things unseen in the other world—were arranged around him.

On the wall hung a photo of him with friends taken during his university days. On the desk lay scattered stationery he’d used long ago.

This was unmistakably his old room.

“This is…”

He looked down at himself. He was wearing the familiar loungewear pants and shirt he remembered. The armor he’d grown so accustomed to, the Sacred Sword that had saved his life countless times, the precious bag holding his essential travel gear—none of it was anywhere to be seen.

No. Wait. That’s it, isn’t it?

“Could it be… my original world? Did I… come back…? Guh!?”

Shocked, he tried to sit up suddenly, forcing his body to move. Excruciating pain, sharp enough to bring tears to his eyes, lanced through him. It felt like muscle soreness amplified hundreds of times over, seeping into every corner of his being. This hurt too much. It was as if every single cell in his body was screaming. Even moving a single finger was agonizingly difficult. Like this, standing up seemed impossible.

If only I could use healing magic now…

Unconsciously, he almost began the incantation for a healing spell. But he couldn’t feel any magical energy within his body. Of course not. This was modern-day Japan. There was no way magic worked here. Even so, the reflexes ingrained into his very being weren’t going to fade so easily.

“Haa… haa… Phhew.”

Once again, he slowly regulated his breathing and eased his body back down. He realized that if he stayed still, the pain would gradually subside.

It seemed his only option was to rest quietly until he recovered completely.

If this was truly the modern world, there should be no danger to his life. No chance of monsters attacking, no worry about assassins from hostile organizations targeting him. It had to be infinitely safer than sleeping rough.

Even so, the vigilance honed during his harsh journey in the other world wouldn’t fade easily. The habit of pricking his ears at every sound and scanning every corner was deeply ingrained in him.

What had happened to that world afterward? Had they truly defeated the Demon King? Had he managed to deliver the final blow? Had it become a world where people could live in peace, free from the terror of monsters? Had Lilia and the others’ sacrifices been worth it? Questions flooded his mind, each one tightening his chest.

He wanted to know what happened. But he had no way to find out. No matter how much he agonized over it, he wouldn’t get any answers.

“……”

Wanting to know how long he’d been gone from this world, he summoned his strength and reached for the cell phone by his pillow. Tapping the screen yielded no response. It seemed to be dead. Useless. He didn’t even have the energy to look for the charger.

He spotted an alarm clock. It read 3:00 PM. Judging by the light streaming through the window, it was indeed afternoon. But he had no idea what month or day it was.

He couldn’t do any more. Hayato decided to push all his thoughts aside. For now, he would focus solely on resting his wounded body. He’d think about everything else after he recovered.

Closing his eyes quietly, his consciousness gradually sank into a deep sleep.