Never-Ending Isekai

Yeah, but something's got me anxious.

There's no one around at all...

It scares me... Reminds me of what happened last time... Yeeegh.

Mhmm... Not much consolation, but thanks.

This world? In shambles?

Ahaha! I knew shadowing the Master was a good idea.

You made this virtual world yourself! Now you're acting like the weight of the world's on your shoulders! Oh, my sides!

Sorry, Master...

Shaydi said she was bored waiting. I couldn't hold her back.

Master! We've got an emergency!

Take the others and find somewhere safe! Now!

Multiple unidentified lifeforms are headed straight for you!

I think they've been lying in wait, watching our movements!

Get out of there before you're completely surrounded!

Huh? What are these things?

A bunch of, like, fearsomely... cute things...

H-Huh?

Master, don't those pets running around over there seem familiar?

Wha... what? Uh... yes... that seems to be them...

Oh! Master I'm picking up a signal on the radar! Stronger than before!

I've got three objects detected... All powerful enemies.

Yes, I'm positive. Powerful enemies! Be careful--

*Grrr... Ruff! Ruff!*

*Purrrr*

.........

*Huff, huff! Woof! Woof!*

What is this thing? And why's it coming towards me?

Get away from me!

*Ruff! Ruff! Ruffruff!*

Ugh, go bother that stupid-looking phantom over there with the scythe!

Shaydi, you think the puppy's cute, don't you?

Something about Shaydi thinking a puppy's cute is so cute! Hehehe!

What are you talking about? Don't make me mad! Stop making that face!

Oh paw-lease. You don't have to be so ruff...

Uagh! Shut up already!

What? That can't be right...

Something's definitely not right.

I'll have to check again. I'll be right back!

Cute things as far as the eye can see...

Now this is what I call an Isekai!

Hey, Master, do we really have to peel off a piece of this world?

I doubt those pets will be safe if we take samples...

Nngh... the guilt's already setting in.

Master! Are you okay?!

Oh, my hero!

You're finally awake.

Greetings. I am your guide, Lily. This area is perfectly safe.

The final phase had me at the edge of my seat... You took a hit from the charging great demon Weekend Farmulus and were sent flying. I was so worried...

How relieved I was to see you wake!

Where did you even come from? What are you talking about?! Master, don't listen to her!

My hero?

This is no time to gaze off into space!

The great demon Weekend Farmulus is driving the world to destruction... You have to defeat it, don't you?

You and I will save the world... Together.

Master? But wasn't your name Master?

Ah, normally you're supposed to pay gold to change it...

I'll make an exception this time. Now, Master Hero?

Master Hero! What are you waiting for? You need to get yourself ready!

I knew you'd remember!

Weekend Farmulus already recovered and is waiting for you. Full of vigor!

No time to dawdle now, is there?

Huh? Hey! Master! Snap out of it!

Right away, Hero! Just follow me!

Ehh?! Master! What's gotten into you? It's like you've been brainwashed!

Huh? Can't you hear me?

Hey!!! Masterrr!!!

Master! Masterrrr!!!

I found nothing wrong with my radar, it wasn't broken!

What? Save this world?! What are you--

Whoa! Master! That pet you're with is--

Weekend... Farmulus?

Master... did Li1ly brainwash you while I was gone?!

Get away from her right now, Master!

You gotta wake up!

We're not here to save this world!

Try and think. What are your real memories? What are your false ones?

Are you alright, my Hero?

Master! What's the matter with you?

Your little secret guide isn't her! It's me! Youngchun!

We're what?

What do you mean? Where is this coming from?

Oh, Master, you're yourself again!

Nnnngh, I was seriously almost hurt by what you said!

Yes, Master!

My analysis tells me this world is under the control of three giant monsters. One of them is Li1ly.

They came pouring out of a dimensional portal created by this world's Shaydi.

Put simply, this is a timeline where the world fell from failing to fight back against these three monsters.

We need to join up with the Apostles before all three come together!

Tsk, figured it out, huh?

So be it.

Time to hand over my guide fee, Hero!

She's showing her true colors right away!

Huh?

You're really gonna turn this around on me?

Master! The Apostles aren't with us yet! Why did you provoke the monster?!

Don't make me laugh! You refuse to pay my guide fee, either way!

As an isekai guide, I've always provided the best possible guidance to my heroes!

I have done my work. It is only fair I get my pay. In gold.

But whenever I mention my guide fee, every single hero reacts the same way!

With a “why should I?” face! Just like yours!

I'm sick and tired of this Isekai with no pay and no going home!

I'm not putting up with it anymore!

She just got HUGE!

Give me my gold! Pay me for my day's work!

Before I crush you and feed you to Cerberus!

Just give her whatever gold you've got on you!

Getting out of here is our top priority!

Finally, you see reason.

Hehe, well, my daily rate is about...

Ten gajillion five gorillion one jabiggion and a fartillion gold pieces!

I know what I'm worth.

Don't you dare shortchange me either. Pay up, Hero!

Did someone say “hero?”

Ugh... This can't be happening...

The last of the three giant monsters! Super Crayon!

Master, we need to move! Pronto!

Oho... Li1ly, the guide of the world! The hero you seek is here!

That one is a fraud! A hero impersonator!

Woof, woof! Ruff!!!

Oh, Cerberus! Where have you been?

Master! Pick your jaw up off the ground!

The confusion's our chance to escape! Hurry!

Raaaaaah! Give me my Gold fiiiiirst!!!

Crayon! You ruined everything!

Take responsibility! Now!

What?!

That false hero not only impersonated me but didn't pay my precious companion?

Shameless! Despicable!

Li1ly! Cerberus!

We must vanquish this false hero who has disrupted the laws of this world!

We charge on three!

Let the count begin!

One--

Give me my money!

Woof, woof! Grrr! Ruff, ruff!!!

No, I said on three!

Master! All the monsters retreated!

That was brilliant!

Hey, Master.

Tell me the truth.

We're not standing in some kind of illusion, are we?

The whole training session thing was just an excuse, wasn't it?

Master! Shaydi and Rim look really serious.

I think they've figured it out.

Don't even think about lying to me.

I already felt something was fishy with that three-headed dog following me around.

But I remember everything now that I saw those giants.

They're the same monsters that came crawling out when I opened a random dimensional portal before!

She's not the only one who felt something was strange about this place.

I could sense it as well...

The faint scent of Shaydi's subspace... I could smell it on the giant monsters!

My subspace scent? How d'you know what that smells like?!

How would I not?

You said your subspace smells musty. You filled it with diffusers and didn't air it out properly.

That was forever ago!

I burned the whole thing down after a gazillion diffusers made zero difference!

Ugh, whatever!

Master, don't try and brush this off.

If you don't own up to it right now, I'm gonna tell everyone waiting over there!

I think we're the only two who noticed, though.

If there's something that's too hard to explain right now, you can tell us later.

Rim! Stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!

I'm already in a bad enough mood! Don't push me!

I wonder if I push you any further... could I send your mood to the moon instead of the stars?

AAAAAAGH!!! Shut up!

.........

What are you going to do, Master?

I don't think Shaydi's gonna drop it until you give her an answer...

I am. Just finished extracting the Parallel Yggdrasil section.

I also heard everything Shaydi and Rim said.

I think we're going to have to tell those phantoms the truth about our Frontier activities.

Shaydi is the one who brought those giant monsters into this Elias.

And Rim's connection to Shaydi makes it hard to consider her separately.

Why don't we go back to the theater to talk?

Who knows when those monsters will come back?

Wait a second... Do you think we can trust those phantoms?

The Frontier activities are really important to us.

Rim seems trustworthy enough, I'll give you that, but Shaydi...

Whaaaat?!

Ugh...

Fine. I'll trust your judgment.

Oh? That's one serious look on your face, Master.

You're actually gonna tell us the truth? Not dodge?

How admirable! Should I give you a pat on the head?

As you wish, Master.

Let's go then. Back to our world.