Eternally Regressing in Another World

Chapter 8: Square 7: The Red Dress (1)

”...No. Wallowing in self-pity comes later.

I don’t have time to sit here wasting.”

I couldn’t endure just thinking about it, so I headed into the aimless streets.

I walked while biting down on my complete powerlessness as hard as I could.

How long had I been walking?

Suddenly I heard loud laughter from far away, and I looked up.

”...What the heck?”

In front of a rundown shoe store on the main street, the sight that greeted me was bizarre: a golden carriage gleaming in the sunlight, and a group of about twenty servants and maids hurriedly loading it up.

And most of all, I was struck by one woman laughing like an idiot.

She looked young, probably in her late teens.

But the real problem was her outfit.

Gold! Gold! GOLD!!!

Everything was gold, gold accessories, gold dress decorated with jewels.

A luxurious parasol with white lace and gold flower patterns.

A ridiculously flashy fan like something from a Bubble Era disco.

Her long blonde ponytail was tied with a jeweled hair accessory that sparkled.

A person who embodied wealth itself stood there.

”Well then, hurry and load it up! Ohohohohoho!”

It seemed her personality matched her appearance too.

...Ohohohoho, I never thought I’d actually hear that someday.

”Uwa, you saved me there, Elizabeth-chan.”

The shop owner-like man was bowing his head.

The rich woman receiving it waved her parasol haughtily.

”There’s no need for thanks. I bought this because I thought it was good quality.

Proud of the skill that made me judge it worthy?”

Upon closer look, the sign read ”Handmade Shoes.”

The store itself was old and looked like it would close any day.

She was probably the only reason it hadn’t shut down.

”I thought she’d be hard to talk to.”

I found myself watching the high-and-mighty woman with interest.

At that moment, a spark of insight flashed in my mind.

”...Does she have strong bodyguards or something?”

Just by watching, many humans were moving according to her orders.

If the rich woman had not only money but also great power, it was possible.

If she had ten or twenty private soldiers, maybe they could overwhelm that monster woman in numbers.

Of course the odds were near zero, but right now I had to try anything I could.

”Hey, excuse me!”

I called out to the golden woman who was hiding her mouth behind her parasol.

”Oh? Do you have business with me?”

It wasn’t a simple request. Lives were on the line.

So I lowered my head deeply and earnestly.

”An unexpected approach, I apologize!

But there’s no time left, please help me!”

I looked up a little from my lowered head, trying to read her expression.

From it, I could tell it wasn’t good at all.

”...What do you want me to do?”

Of course she’d be on guard.

But oddly, she seemed willing to listen.

”I’m being rude, but can I borrow your private soldiers?”

No one would say ”Sure” to this kind of thing.

I knew that myself.

But to obtain strength in limited time, I had to break through the refusal and reach the negotiation stage.

I was already building that plan in my head... but.

”I’ll hear your reason.”

That was an unexpected reply.

I had expected her to get more cautious and maybe punch me for a guard.

I looked up and asked back.

”...You’re not going to refuse?”

The rich woman closed her parasol and pointed the tip at me.

”I’m not the patient type.

I’ll say it again, give your reason.”

I suppressed the feeling that I still couldn’t believe it and poured my desperate words into my voice.

I made sure not to look away from her eyes for even a second, stating the only thing I could clearly and concisely.

”...There’s someone I want to save.”

No rambling explanation.

I gambled on one single sentence.

”...I see. Then it’s a trade.”

The woman closed her parasol and poked my bag with it.

”I’ve never seen this container before.

I’d love to have it.”

I thought she was asking for whatever was in the bag, but it was just an ordinary commuter bag for work.

Of course, it didn’t contain anything special.

So I deliberately drew the bag closer and said firmly.

”Yeah... Yeah, it’s fine.

If this is okay, then take it all!

Everything inside!!”

Smartphone, digital camera, all kinds of Earth-made items.

To this world, it was a mountain of incomprehensible artifacts.

That’s why I deliberately waved them around, it would make a good impression on the rich woman.

It worked. She opened her parasol again with a satisfied smile.

”Such a strong will! The deal is on.

Tender, bring the carriage!”

”Understood!”

The one who replied ”Understood!” was the young-looking servant, younger than the others.

With purple hair and a silver pocket watch dangling, it was impossible to hide his unease.

That young servant brought not a golden one, but a plain carriage for attendants.

This carriage would let us wait in hiding.

With a carriage, we could reach the girl’s house in about ten minutes.

I bowed deeply again, got into the carriage, and told him the destination.

Then, for some reason, the young lady herself got in.

”I am Elizabeth Beyonetta.

It is an honor for me to sit in front of you.”

”Huh? Er... thank you.

But... the private soldiers?”

”That’s enough for me alone! Ohohohoho!”

Maybe this was already doomed.

I thought it with teary eyes.

While riding in the carriage, I was turning over unfamiliar fighting methods in my head.

Considering there were three enemies, I wanted to at least disperse them.

But the young servant holding the reins didn’t look capable of fighting.

The young lady herself didn’t seem like she could fight either.

I even considered having the carriage run over them, but Nest would probably cut the whole carriage down.

”We’re here.

Tender, stop.”

While I was still thinking, we had arrived at the position where the girl’s house came into view.

I peeked through the carriage curtain and checked outside, they still hadn’t come.

”Haa... We made it just in time.”

When I let out a sigh of relief, Elizabeth was staring at me intently.

Looking at her up close like this, she had a model-like beautiful face.

...What was I thinking in this situation?

”Um... what is it?”

”No, I just thought your poker face was surprisingly good.”

Poker face?

Before I could ask what that meant, Elizabeth smiled.

”You can stop the acting now?”

”Eh?”

Elizabeth stood up inside the narrow carriage.

Without saying a word, she kept her smile and pointed the tip of her parasol at me.

The tip was sharp.

If she stabbed me, even my thick suit wouldn’t stop it.

”Eh, um, what do you mean?”

”Stand still.”

The tip of the parasol touched my neck.

I couldn’t swallow what was happening at all.

”Well then, where are your comrades?

If you don’t talk soon, you’ll never be able to talk again.”

Elizabeth’s smile gradually faded.