I can see the coast of our destination coming up very shortly. We have been around the coast of Japan for a while, as we circle around into the bay where we will be making our stay.

For some reason, I’m excited. I don’t know if this will bring combat or glory or advancement of any sort, but it genuinely feels like we are building to something here, like that this upcoming excursion will mark a major turning point in the entire story of the Systemless Squad. Perhaps it already has.

What I am less excited about is the speech over the radio, given by President Joe Biden himself.

Talking about me.

“The American people must be aware of the tragedy that occurred yesterday in Santa Barbara. The pain and sorrow of that place may never be erased, but it is finally returned to American hands for the first time in what feels like a lifetime. We will be caretakers to lift this place up.

“But we also must hold responsible the antidemocratic tyrant who let Santa Barbara fall into such an anti-free state: Eryk Solbourne, the so-called king.

“You may know of this man across California news for his brazen acts of vigilante in San Fransisco, or the hostage crisis in Simi Valley he allegedly perpetrated all on his own. He even used his considerable power to force his way into the film industry, and was nominated for two Academy Awards last year.

“We cannot let his reign of terror continue. Eryk Solbourne is a menace to society, and may have fled Santa Barbara during our liberation campaign. He must be found and captured, at any cost.

“His known close accomplices, whose American citizenship are now revoked, include Delta Rafati, a former employee of the Bustable Lemons Corporation, and Francis Bacall, a video game streamer, whatever malarkey that is. They are to be treated with exactly the same harsh reality that Eryk Solbourne himself will receive. They are no better than Agents of Mystix.

“Any government or organization found to be aiding or abetting these fugitives is to be treated as the enemy. We have a zero tolerance policy towards anything that does not enhance and continue freedom.

“There is a six billion dollar bounty to anyone who brings us Eryk Solbourne. Alive, so he can face justice in our highest court of the land, the Supreme Court. Make of that what you will.

“God Bless America, and have a nice afternoon.”

...

...

So they know I escaped now. I guess that was going to be a matter of course, but the fact that it has already become such a significant issue for Joe Biden and his cronies comes as a major shock to me.

Am I truly that important to the war effort that they will hunt me down? Or are they worried more for the symbolic nature of my escape than fear of what I myself can actually do?

After my crushing defeat at Santa Barbara, it is difficult to see myself as the overpowered hero I once was here on Earth. Imagining a legion of crack commandos descending upon this boat in order to assassinate me... Well, it does not seem like I have any chance of survival, there.

Will Japan accept us? If they discover my presence in their country, will they attempt to destroy me with all their power, or simply pretend I do not exist so as not to allow the wrath of the U.S. military? I hope for my sake that it is the latter.

Finally, though, the boat reaches its final destination.

The port is just up ahead.

We pass many simple fishing boats, just blips in the sea next to the might of the MS Zaandam, but as we continue on, I also notice something a bit strange... And disconcerting. Full battleships, manned and armed with cannons.

“Is this something to be concerned about?” I ask Master Keitou.

She shakes her head. “Don’t you worry. The Japanese Self Defense Force has a naval base here, but it’s all just for show. They’re on our side. Even if they may not say it out loud.”

Sure enough, the ships pass us by without any sort of hostility.

Finally, we reach the port, right at the edge of a small seaside town, with a large mountain overlooking it like a stoic green guardian. This place looks unreal, like it was crafted by video game designers for an interesting open-world location (and trust me when I make statements about video games that are open world... Trust me...).

And yet, here it is, in my eyes to see.

Master Keitou sheds a single tear. “My home. After so long, I’m finally back in Mutsu City.”

“Mutsu, like the apples?” Francis asks.

“They don’t grow apples here,” she says. “It’s mostly fishing for scallops.”

“So they should call the place Scallopville,” I suggest.

I am roundly ignored.

Master Keitou points to the city, or what we can see of it. There is a large dome-like structure, but all the other buildings look positively tiny in comparison to anywhere else I have been in my time on Earth. “We’ll be headed there, to the main town. I have it on good authority that there’s an excellent Nepalese curry restaurant that way. We can stop for lunch before we head over to Mount Osore.”

My stomach rumbles. “I could do for curry, especially if it includes that delicious naan.”

“Shouldn’t we not be super dilly-dallying and all?” Francis taps his smart watch. “You know, the invasion of the multiverse and all that?”

“You’ll learn when you’re older that rushing things is precisely what ruins the world,” Master Keitou says. “Trust me when I say that curry is the best thing we can do for right now.”

Little Esther comes up to the rails of the ship and hops up to get a better view. She points at the large mountain. “Is that Mount Osore?” she asks. “I can feel a strong magic aura emenating from that direction.”

Odd. I can’t feel it.

“No, dear Esther,” Master Keitou says. “That is a normal mountain placed in a scenic spot. Mount Osore is just beyond it, but it takes a winding journey by car to reach it. In winter, the whole place is closed because the snow gets too high.”

“I’m glad it’s summer, then. I’ve only ever lived in California, so I don’t know the first thing about snow.”

“You will, if we don’t defeat the U.S. military on schedule.”

“Then we should do our best,” Esther says.

We finally dock in Mutsu City, at the port known as Ominato (Ominato means “big port”). It is a very small place, and yet I feel at home here like I never have anywhere else on Earth.

Probably because there are so many obvious ex-Elves who came here willingly or via reincarnation. Even the Mayor, who comes to greet us, is clearly a former system user that The Goddess accidentally sent to this world.

I’m even more excited than I once was.