The Old Man Who Saved Another World 15 Years Ago is Now Getting Caught Up In A Modern Fantasy - Episode 1

Society is incredibly harsh.

Yukimura Sano, 38 years old.

It is the realization of the world that I have deeply felt through living a long life.

In life, there is something called a track.

Born into a happy family, growing up smoothly without injuries or serious illnesses, graduating from high school, graduating from university, and working for a respectable company.

It is a word that describes a life, akin to the “common sense” of society, as a straight track leading directly to the goal.

However, once this rail is off track, the train moving along the tracks will leave you behind, and you’ll have to walk the difficult path alone.

Failed entrance exams, failed job applications, illness, changes in the environment.

Or perhaps, there are those who are off the rails from the moment they are born.

Various setbacks, the dents in the tracks.

When you face such misfortune and find yourself off the track of a happy life.

Even so, people must continue to live.

I somehow push forward alone on a path where the rails are invisible.

If you can find the track you lost again, it would be fortunate. But most people will probably just keep pushing forward on the pathless path.

Whether what lies ahead is happiness or misfortune.

That’s something you won’t know until you try. The only certain thing is that for those who have fallen off the rails, society is incredibly harsh and unforgiving.

“Ah, corn soup is delicious.”

After finishing my part-time job, on my way home.

Buying a can of corn soup from a vending machine that is hot enough to burn you is one of the small joys of this limited season, now that the trees have completely withered and the cold has set in.

Even though I’m 38 and don’t have a stable job, barely getting by with part-time work, this is an extravagant happiness for me.

“Sigh… How did it come to this?”

Holding a corn soup in one hand, I set off on my way home, sighing as I walk down the pitch-black night road.

Today is my birthday.

This makes me 38 years old. Recently, I haven’t been paying much attention to my age, but I’m already at the age where I could be called a respectable old man.

People my age are probably all working hard and holding respectable positions like department heads or section chiefs.

Well, I don’t know.

I have no real-world experience, so I don’t know anything about the actual circumstances of salarymen, and this is just a fantasy.

On the other hand, I’m a freeter who doesn’t have a regular job.

It’s not “can’t get a job,” it’s “can’t get hired,” that’s the correct expression.

“Well, it’s an obvious reason. I don’t regret it, but I wish things could have turned out a bit differently.”

A human life is such that it can be summarized on just a single piece of paper these days.

I graduated from a certain high school on such-and-such date, entered and graduated from a certain university, and joined that company in such-and-such year and month.

A scrap of paper listing the superficialities of such a life.

Well, it’s about the resume.

But if there was a gap in that period, it would be perceived as if that person did nothing during that time.

That is the fundamental way of thinking in this society.

“There’s no way I haven’t done anything.”

During the blank period, there isn’t anyone who hasn’t done anything.

Some people are fighting against illness. Some people are chasing their dreams. Some people are on a journey to broaden their horizons.

Even if there were truly people who did nothing… if you were to look back on it, it would be impossible that they gained nothing from that emptiness.

Humans are creatures that grow just by being alive.

Me too.

The piece of paper detailing my life has a few years of blank space, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t doing anything during that time.

“I can’t tell others that I was saving the world.”

That was the summer of my second year in high school.

I was suddenly summoned to a different world, one that is different from this Japan, and indeed, from this world altogether.

Commonly known as what is called an isekai summoning.

Nowadays, it’s often used as a subject in novels and manga, but back then, that culture wasn’t firmly established yet, so I was very confused.

The humans in that world were engaged in a harsh struggle for survival against monsters called “maboroshi,” living on the brink of extinction, with the possibility of perishing by tomorrow.

Also, in that world, there was magic.

The supernatural powers that humanity acquired to counter monsters. It was that magic that summoned me here.

Those who traverse different worlds are reinforced with resilient souls so that theirs do not shatter in the process.

As a result, beings summoned by magic are said to be called into that world with powerful abilities.

I also ended up acquiring a special ability that I didn’t have before being summoned.

To be honest, that’s not a powerful ability or anything; I just worked my ass off and got stronger.

Even though I was bewildered by the sudden summoning, in a world on the brink of human extinction where I might not even see tomorrow’s sunrise, I have the power to help people.

Moreover, if someone sincerely asks for help, I, who possess a fair amount of goodwill and kindness, couldn’t just stand by and ignore it.

And so, I found myself thrown into a battle against monsters in another world――

“It’s been six years, huh? I did pretty well, if I do say so myself.”

As a result, I successfully saved the other world.

We succeeded in defeating the strongest monster that rules over other monsters—the Demon King, the worst enemy for humanity, together with our companions.

After that, with the help of the people from the other world, I returned to this world… but it was Japan where six years had passed, just like the time spent in the other world.

“I was expelled from high school, and my highest level of education is middle school. I missed the chance to go to college and the job-hunting season, and my parents passed away in an accident. Even if I had the impressive background of saving another world, I couldn’t tell anyone. In this world, that’s just a blank period, a six-year blank.”

In such a state, it’s impossible to properly reintegrate into society. Rather, I think it’s commendable that you’ve managed to find a job as a part-timer like this.

I really struggled a lot.

Just so you know, my power is exactly the same now as it was when I defeated the Demon King in another world.

I think my instincts might have dulled or weakened from being away from actual combat, but by world standards, I’m unbelievably strong.

If I used the powers I acquired in another world, I could dominate in sports, track and field, martial arts, and more.

But I didn’t make that choice.

As an objective fact, I do not consider myself an ordinary person.

For example, if an ordinary human were a dog, I would be the divine wolf Fenrir. If a crocodile, a dragon. If a bird, a griffon.

That kind of thing, the one that looks similar but is actually different.

Not out of self-delusion, but as an objective fact, I am indeed that kind of person.

This is just cheating.

Even an ordinary person would dominate in the Olympics of the ant world. But that’s just empty.

The reason I didn’t make that choice is because of that.

It’s unfair, it’s empty, it’s sneaky, and I’m sorry.

“Well, just being alive is a gain. So happy, so happy.”

I drank the corn soup to pull myself together.

Drink every last drop thoroughly and enjoy the small happiness of a cold winter.

In the end, being alive is the most important thing.

I have fought life-and-death battles in another world. The person I talked to yesterday died today, a long-time friend suddenly died, and even that so-called strongest knight died easily.

At that moment, the young man in front of me, happily talking about his dreams, might die tomorrow, and I will eventually die too.

I have lived in a world where death is always at my side.

In short, this is enlightenment.

As someone who has fought in a world where death is close at hand, the happiness of being alive is something that cannot be exchanged for anything else.

The unhappiness of living is nothing compared to the unhappiness of dying.

Even if the general public deems my life to be unfortunate, I am happy because I am living it like this.

Well, I want a bit more money, and I want to get married and have a stable job.

I do think about such things, you know. But please forgive me for this. After all, I’m human too, and I have desires.

“I was called an old man at my part-time job by some young kid, but what a rude thing to say. I can still keep up!”

Mr. Sano, happy birthday! Huh, you’re 38 today? That’s hilarious! You’re practically an old man!

The words of the younger gal from my part-time job, who just said something to me a moment ago, keep replaying in my mind.

Honestly, it’s because you don’t know what true limits are that you call me “Limit Man.”

“The true limit is…”

Suddenly, the atmosphere around me changes.

Feeling a presence, I suddenly looked in that direction, and there was an astonishing sight spread out before me.

A monster as huge as to be looked up at, resembling an octopus.

The girl with dog ears, her legs caught by the tentacle, being swung around in mid-air.

The clothes had ridden up, and the underwear with the dog logo was fully exposed. No, I didn’t really want to look closely, though.

By force majeure.

Not that, what is this?

This is Japan, right…? It’s Japan, right? Not another world, right?

“Ahhhhhhh!! Stop it, stop it! Stop it already!!! I can’t take it anymore! I’m at my limit, my limit! I feel so sick… ugh.”

The girl with dog ears, swaying back and forth, covers her mouth with her hand.

My eyes rolled back, my face turned pale, and the next moment— I threw up spectacularly.

“Orororororororororororororororor”

Like a shower pouring down from above, the vomit of the dog-eared girl. It was a situation that seemed like it could create a rainbow, but unfortunately.

The rainbow mosaic over vomit is limited to when it is filmed. And this is reality.

It was a damn filthy sight, far from anything like a rainbow.

“Limits are what people like that are.”

A giant octopus’ monster, a dog-eared girl, a shower of vomit.

The suddenly appearing, utterly surreal reality. Faced with it, I muttered in a daze.