When Izumi noticed Kanon Kanase approaching, he didn't hesitate in the slightest.
Without another word, he reached into his inventory and took out the World-Traversal Gate.
Turning toward her, he spoke decisively.
"Come on. Let's go—we're leaving now."
Kanase froze.
"…That fast?"
"Is it really okay? Shouldn't we at least inform the others?"
Izumi nodded casually.
"It's fine."
"They probably won't be waking up anytime soon anyway."
"We'll just go and come back quickly."
With that, he activated the gate.
A shimmering portal unfolded before them, space folding inward like a mirror of liquid light.
Izumi grabbed Kanase's hand and stepped forward without hesitation.
Pulled along, Kanase didn't even have time to protest before they vanished into the portal.
An unfamiliar world awaited them—and Izumi was honestly excited.
The function of this Gate intrigued him deeply.
The thought of what lay beyond made his heart beat just a little faster.
Kanase's face flushed as she felt his grip tighten. She instinctively tried to pull her hand back—
—but before she could, the scenery around them changed completely.
The air felt different.
She looked around in astonishment, curiosity quickly replacing her embarrassment.
Meanwhile, back in Izumi's room—
Katō Megumi slowly sat up on the bed.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
"…Huh?"
She glanced around.
Empty.
No Izumi.
No sign he'd ever been there at all.
For a moment, her mind went blank.
Then realization struck.
"…He left?"
Her lips trembled.
"Wait—seriously?"
A surge of frustration welled up in her chest.
"So he just… took everything and ran off without saying a word?"
Her cheeks puffed slightly as she clenched her fists.
"…That jerk."
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
"So this is what 'giving yourself away' feels like, huh…?"
Grinding her teeth, Megumi slammed a fist into the mattress.
"Just you wait until you get back."
"I swear I'm not letting this go."
With an irritated snort, she flopped back down onto the bed and turned away.
"…Idiot."
On the other side of the gate—
Izumi and Kanase emerged into a quiet, unfamiliar street.
The buildings surrounding them were old, built in a style clearly not found in Japan.
Stone walls, arched windows, an unmistakable sense of history.
Kanase looked around, eyes sparkling.
"Izumi-senpai… is this the other world?"
"Or did we just end up overseas?"
Izumi rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Hard to say."
"Let's take a look around first."
With that, he led her forward.
Judging by the architecture alone, this place resembled a city from the previous century—
and very clearly, not Japan.
Which country it was, however, remained unclear.
Neither of them understood the language spoken by the passersby.
Their words flowed rapidly, completely unintelligible.
Izumi felt a sharp sense of irony.
An SS+ rank existence… reduced to being unable to understand a foreign language.
"…This is awkward."
He silently complained to himself.
If only the system had some kind of universal language skill…
Unfortunately, it did not.
Even the billboards and signs weren't in English.
Still, it didn't take long for them to realize where they were.
Milan, Italy.
A city steeped in history—
and one of the central strongholds of the Catholic Church.
Before long, the massive structure came into view.
The Milan Cathedral.
A monument renowned across worlds alike—
one of the five greatest cathedrals in existence.
Kanase's eyes lit up the moment she saw it.
"Izumi-senpai… can we go inside?"
"I'm really curious what a cathedral in another world looks like."
As a member of the Church herself, Kanase couldn't hide her excitement.
She wanted to know whether the faith here aligned with the god she believed in.
Izumi didn't refuse.
"Sure."
"We don't have this world's currency, though."
He grinned.
"But we do have magic."
Muttering that, he pulled her along.
Kanase's face reddened slightly as he took her hand again—
but by now, she'd grown accustomed to it.
All the way here, Izumi had been holding her hand.
Whether intentional or not… she couldn't tell anymore.
At the cathedral entrance, Izumi casually cast a suggestion spell on the ticket clerk.
Moments later, tickets were in hand.
They walked inside without paying a single euro.
Kanase sighed helplessly.
"…You really just did that."
But she didn't stop him.
After all, they had no usable money here.
Unbeknownst to them, however—
A young Italian woman had been watching closely.
She noticed the spell the instant Izumi used it.
Seeing him walk in without paying, her brow furrowed sharply.
"…How brazen."
"Does he really think knowing a little suggestion magic makes him untouchable?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Which magic association does that man belong to…?"
Clenching her fists, she followed after them.
This was unacceptable.
Coming onto someone else's turf and not even bothering to pay fifteen euros?
How shameless.
Japanese? Or Korean?
Only people from those places pull stunts like this.
Inside the cathedral, Izumi and Kanase remained completely unaware.
They wandered around, admiring the interior.
Kanase looked around in awe.
"It's really similar to ours."
"There are differences, but the core structure feels the same."
Izumi chuckled.
"Well, they worship the same god."
"So it's not surprising."
"Once we're done here, we'll investigate this world properly."
"See if there's anything… supernatural."
Kanase nodded.
That was the reason they'd come here, after all—to gain experience.
If this turned out to be an ordinary world, they'd simply return after sightseeing.
But if there was something more…
Then it would be worth exploring.
Just as they continued their tour—
A sharp voice rang out behind them.
"Stop!"
They turned.
"Da dove venite?"
"Where are you from?"
Izumi raised an eyebrow as he looked at the woman before him.
Blonde hair.
Proud posture.
An unmistakable presence.
"…Erica?"
So this was—
The world of Campione.
Tilting his head, Izumi replied blankly,
"…Huh?"
"Sorry, could you say that in Japanese?"
The awkward response made Erica Blandelli freeze.
"…Chinese?"
"You're from China?"
Her Mandarin was stiff, but understandable.
Izumi nodded.
"That's right, miss."
"Is there something you need?"
"You stopped us so suddenly."
Erica's gaze sharpened.
"…Then let's talk."
Something about this man was dangerous.
And she intended to find out exactly what he was.