We passed through the gate without issue.

As I looked around, it seemed that Albert’s town was as good as the bloody capital, if not better.

His town was filled with guards that were stationed throughout the streets. 

Well, I guess the guards were somewhat helpful. I asked one of them for directions to the library and where this Thorin was.

“The library is in the northwest, next to the school, and the man named Thorin is straight ahead, right before the castle steps.” 

“Thanks.”

It made the most sense to meet with this Thorin person so I could place an order as soon as possible.

Walking through this town was rather surreal. 

This must be the difference between that of the poor and that of the rich.

Even though I was walking through a storybook town…

 I could smell the rot underneath the floorboards. 

I can hear the dead man's heart beating with the city's glasses' blue-eyed stare right at my soul. 

It took us ten minutes to get to this damn shop because we walked past it about a dozen times.

The name of this place was carved into stone next to the door, but being dead tired from all the killing and walking. I had a bit of a hard time the first few go arounds.

I knocked on the door. 

No answer. 

Opening the door, the place looked abandoned.

There was no equipment or smithing chamber or whatever blacksmiths call the room the smith in. 

Was Albert screwing with me just what in the hell is happening here?

A voice from the back echoes through the empty room.

“What type of person walks into another’s residence without being let in?”

A small, hairy man walks into the room that reeked of booze and smoke.

“Thought the guy who worked here skipped town and took everything with him.”

“Well, the owner is right here now; get the hell out.” 

“Do you know a man named Sir Albert?“

“Yeah, what is it to you?” 

“He told me I could find a dwarf named Thorin in this city. I believe you are that man.”

“I am, but how do you know, Sir Albert?”

“After saving a good number of people from these goblins in this cave, Albert wanted to talk to us, and you were brought up.”

“If Albert brought me up, then I could trust you a bit. What do you want, kid?” 

“I need as many of these as you can make.” 

I passed him a bullet, and I checked through my pocket, finding a motorcycle manual for the cruisers I own.

“And if possible, could you take a look at creating something like this?”

“Well, kid, these are some of the oddest things I've seen but I try.”

“Oh, can you also make some of these?” 

I throw him a magazine; may as well get something to whole all the bullets

“Yeah, sure, but all these will be expensive and take a bit.” 

“Take your time; we have a few things here we need to do anyways.”

Thorin and I haggle over the price of all this, and after a bit, the Devils left.

It was only midday when we left, and the three of us looked at each other.  

“Well, I’m heading off to the library.”

“I’m going to look at the locator jobs at the adventure guild; getting some money seems like a good idea.” Celeste said.

“I want a drink,” Miyamoto replied.

“Well, let’s meet up in a few hours around here and get dinner.” 

“Sounds good,” Miyamoto responded.

“Sure,” Celeste remarked.

The three of us went our separate ways.

The kid, her dog, and I walked to the library.

We entered this old stone building that was about three floors full of shelves of books. I walked up to the librarian's desk. She was a young lady, most likely from the school next door, or maybe she just likes books due to the fact she was reading while we walked up to the desk she sat behind. 

“I am looking for a book that explains travel through different dimensions.”

“There must be a rather popular topic today; three different people have asked me for that same thing.”

“Oh, do you have any history books about this country or the world?”

“Same thing as the first time.” 

I swear, if she says “Harry the Eighth.” I’m going to blow my brains out.

While I was thinking to myself, the sound of a door opening and a young man's voice came from behind me.

“Hey, librarian, I'm here to return the books I borrowed about history and dimensional theory/travel.”

“Well, it's your lucky day, sir.” 

“Yeah, guess it is.”

I moved out of the way of the desk so the kid behind me could return his books. 

“ねえ、君、今まで自分の服装が結構変だって言われたことある？” 

(Hey, have you ever been told that your clothes look a bit funny?)

I looked the kid up and down.

Now Japanese is one of this county's main languages; the other one is English. So I wasn’t sure if this guy was just speaking the tongue or from Japan.

“クラッカーのように白いかもしれないけど、俺は日の出の国で生まれたんだ、坊や.”

"I may be as white as a cracker, but I was born in the Land of the Rising Sun, boy."

I wasn’t sure how the kid would react, but I had a feeling.

The boy turned around and replied, “心からお詫びしなければなりません。悪意は全くありませんでした、先生。こちらであんな服装をしている方を見たことがなくて… 

ちょっと待ってください、旭日の国だと言いましたか？

日本から来たのですか？”

(“I must apologize from the bottom of my heart. 

There was absolutely no ill intent, sir. I've never seen anyone dressed like that here... 

Wait a moment, did you say the Land of the Rising Sun? Are you from Japan?”)

“「私のことであまりイライラしないでください。

私は日本人です。

見た目はそう見えないかもしれませんが、母は日本で生まれ育ちました。

でも私は5歳から18歳まで州に住んでいて、いくつかの理由で日本に戻ってきました。

失礼に聞こえたらすみませんが、英語に切り替えてもよろしいですか？」?” I replied

(It’s okay kid. 

I am Japanese, may not look it, but my mother was born and raised in Japan. 

However, I lived in the States from age 5 to 18 and came back to Japan for a few reasons. 

I apologize if this sounds rude, but may I switch to English?)

"「もちろんです、先生。先ほどの発言について改めて深くお詫び申し上げます。」"

("Of course, Sir. And once again, I sincerely apologize for my earlier statement."

“Like I said, kid, don’t worry about it. When I was in Japan, locals would confuse me for a foreigner all the time. Miss Librarian, is there a private room here?” 

“Yeah, there's one upstairs.” 

The two of us walked upstairs. 

I told the other kid riding the dog to stay safe. 

“Where in Japan were you born, sir?”

“Stop with all the sirs just call me V.”

“Ok, V.”

“I was born up in Misawa. 

That’s why I’m so white.

Then down in Tokyo for work when I came back.

What about you, kid?”

“Oh, I was born in Utashinai and came to Tokyo because of my father.”

“To get down to the important part of this conversion, were you brought here by a mysterious light?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I asked my comrade to do some research on this kingdom when I first came here. He brought up how three people were summoned here to do something. You must be one of them, right?”

“Yes, we were summoned here to defend the demon lord.” 

“Have you found a way to get out of this world and back to Earth?”

My mind raced when asking this question. 

Whether getting home was in the cards for me or not, everything would be revealed from this kid's mouth right here, right now.

“The only way I hear of getting back is killing the demon lord.”

“Oh.” 

That response felt like a sucker punch to the gut.

I felt the bitter realization of knowing that the likelihood of making it back home may very well be slim to none.

This demon lord guy sounds a bit too much for a normal guy like me to take on. 

Shit.

“How old are you, kid?”

“16, about to turn 17,”

“First slavery, now child soldiers. 

This country has broken two different human rights. 

So have you ever killed a man, kid?”

“No, I only killed monsters.”

I took a swig from my flask.

“Well, kid, remember if you want to go back home, try not to kill anyone.

It changes you, and if you have to kill, remember that on the battlefield, there is no honor.

Don’t be a desperado under the eaves, my friend.”

I told the kid thanks and asked him to leave the room.

I was thankful, but I need to be alone, so I took a seat

Fiddle around with my Jericho. 

The smell of old books and the cool stone made me reminisce about my past and spending all my time in old libraries when I was a young lad. 

Those old carpet floorings with a few brick computers. 

Oh, how the times have changed since the late 80s. 

I was drinking when the kid with the dog opened the door.

The kid with her dog wandered over to me. 

The dog slumped down. 

We sat down next to each other and listened to the sound of silence.

I told the librarian I no longer needed the books.

The kid and I left the library.

Leaving behind bitter memories.

We wandered around aimlessly, waiting for the other to return.

Smelling the warm air and watching the beautiful sunset. 

The sky bled purple, orange, and red.

“The past seems realer than the present to me now.

I've got memories to last me.

When the sky is gray.

The way it is today I remember the times that I was happy.” —(The Indifference of Heaven live at by Warren Zevon at Biskuithalle, Bonn, Germany.)

Miyamoto was the first one back; he told us that he didn’t get food and only walked around.

The mage said she found us some jobs to do. 

But before we did anything, we all went to get dinner. 

Funnily enough, there was a place that felt a bit like a Korean BBQ place, and we decided to eat there.

I wonder if something bad is going to happen every time I go to a Korean BBQ place. 

Was that a one-time thing? 

Well, we had ourselves one nice night with all the voice and death I've witnessed in the last few weeks or months. 

Miyamoto and I got to drink some great sake as well.

A few weeks have passed since then.

We picked up jobs at the guild to pay for stuff. 

Thorin made more bullets and built two bikes, one with and one without a sidecar, and the sidecar was able to detach. I’m still surprised that he was able to make two whole motorcycles but I’ll always take a win. 

We decided to leave in 3 days so I could teach Miyamoto the basics of how to cycle.

I was able to find and bought two pairs of gloves, 3 sunglasses, and four helmets.

Safety first, so they say.

I now have 170 rounds and 10 magazines. 

It feels good not needing to constantly worry about my bullet count, at least not this second.

With the wind at our backs and the ability to move much faster than walking, we leave the royal capital.

God, I hope I can find a way home.