One day, suddenly, over a thousand people appeared on the grounds of a certain school.
This event, which would be etched into history as a new page in the history of the disappearing people phenomenon (Kamikakushi), occurred forty years after the continuous disappearances began.
The people appeared on the grounds of the school where a disappearance had occurred thirty years earlier.
Those who appeared were the people who had gone missing—and their children.
They all unanimously testified that they had been suddenly summoned to a fantasy world and forced to clear a dungeon there.
A phenomenon that was realistically impossible. However, the very occurrence of the disappearances and their reappearance enhanced the credibility of their testimony.
Above all, the existence of the "purple-haired Succubus" who brought them back was absolutely outside the realm of the ordinary.
Their appearance was immediately reported throughout Japan, and appropriate measures were taken amid the uproar.
Extensive interviews were conducted to ascertain the facts.
Incredibly, the people who were taken had been living in another world all along. Many lives were lost in the battle to return home, and at the same time, new lives were born.
As for how they returned:
"I used magic. I used an enchantment spell to turn a spatiotemporal transfer magic, which was created by repeatedly improving on teleportation, into a device, and then opened a gate with the magic power I supplied—I guess that doesn't make sense, sorry, I just said it without thinking."
Surprisingly, the Succubus girl—one of those who worked hard for the return—was also one of the victims of the disappearances, and was originally an ordinary high school boy.
It was all too confusing.
Confusing or not, the families reunited with her (him) talked at length and confirmed that she was undoubtedly their family member.
In other words, many extraordinary events, impossible by Earth's standards, had occurred in the other world.
Nevertheless, they had all returned safely—or at least, mostly safely.
One would think the incident was over, that no more disappearances would happen, and that they could remain in Japan, but:
"No. The disappearances—the summoning—have not stopped yet. The dungeon hasn't been cleared yet."
She said that not everyone had returned.
Some refused to come back, and some of those who did return intended to go back again.
Why?
"Because, you see, that place is already our world."
Ren, the Succubus girl, stated that they could not return frequently. Extensive preparation was necessary. The sudden departure of so many people had caused logistics in the other world to stall, and that had to be resolved, too.
"We also have a daughter looking after things back there."
Many of those whose species had changed while in the other world had children who were not human.
It was difficult for non-human children to live in Japan. Some might adapt, but others would inevitably find life difficult. It seemed they intended to maintain the other world for the sake of those children.
Many of the victims of the disappearances—the transferrees—had been gone for a long time. Their families and friends rejoiced at the unexpected reunion, but practically speaking, they were at a loss on how to deal with the "suddenly returned people."
The problem of "money," one of the immediate concerns, was solved by the gold, silver, and gems they brought back from the other world. However, Ren stated:
"We don't intend to engage in large-scale trade between worlds, nor do we intend to use magic conveniently in this world. Doing so would disrupt the balance of the world."
They planned to purchase and take back Japanese food ingredients, seasonings, plant seeds, and various books, but only to that extent.
Cooperating in wars was out of the question, and they had no intention of becoming research subjects or guinea pigs. Ren declared that if they were forced, they would use their power to resist.
Then, after a one-month interval, she returned with those who wished to go back.
"Have no fear. Ren will manage."
A supposed eight-year-old boy (accompanied by an equally mischievous boy of the same age) who claimed to be one of the first transferrees and to have returned to childhood due to a mysterious power, testified to this.
"She will surely come back here eventually. Perhaps when we meet again, the dungeon will have been cleared."
For a while after the transferrees' return, various mass media frequently covered the topic, and an isekai (other world transfer) boom erupted in the publishing industry. However, after about a year, the commotion subsided.
The continuous disappearances, just as Ren had said, were met with a recognition along the lines of, "Well, we know where they're going, so it'll probably work out."
In fact, those who wished to return were sent back in less than a year, which even led to a surge of people hoping to "go to the other world" themselves.
However, Ren generally did not take hopeful applicants to the other world.
"If you're not prepared to fight in a place you know nothing about, I don't think you should just casually go."
There was a big difference between those who were forcibly taken and fought, and those who intended to go lightly on their own accord.
Despite her youth, her heartfelt words had a great impact on people's minds. The number of isekai light novels significantly decreased.
There was no way to confirm what kind of battles those who returned to the other world and those who remained were fighting.
Nevertheless, one couldn't help but pray for their safety.
I secretly wish that their battle will end someday and peace will come to the other world.
(Excerpt from a personal blog post)
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"....Even so, I didn't think the 70th floor would be the Demon King and the 75th floor would be the Evil God."
"Right? And it wasn't even over after defeating the Evil God."
Even though the dungeon progression continued to advance, the hustle and bustle of the town had greatly diminished.
The world had become overwhelmingly wider than when they first arrived. The 'Darkness' had vanished from around the residential area they had created as a women-only district, and a sea had been created as well.
It seemed it would take more time for this now-rich world to be sufficiently populated.
"Do you really think it will end on the 100th floor?"
"It will probably end, right? There can't be an enemy beyond this, surely."
The enemy that appeared from the 76th floor onward was the 'Darkness.'
The battle against the very "Void" that threatened to engulf the world could not be resolved by combat ability alone. Imagination, the power to enable creation, was the means to deliver damage to the enemy. They finally understood that collecting the world fragments to regenerate the world might have been preparation for this.
"Then, one more push."
When all the 'Darkness' that continued to narrow the world was exorcised, the potential for battle would surely end.
Or, perhaps.
The 'Darkness' outside of Ren's town—the lingering shadow—was the same thing, being held back by some force.
Perhaps what awaited them after clearing the dungeon was a "battle to protect the world."
If that were the case.
Is there a possibility that the "darkness" will also eat away at Ren's hometown?
If so, was this a destined battle?
"I'll do it. Now that we've come this far, to the very end."
Ren had dependable companions around her.
With them, she was sure, no, absolutely certain, that they would be fine.
Smiling with conviction, Ren unleashed her Light Arrows.
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