I retrieved Isibara and headed back to Heizen.
I was quite surprised to find Haiyarn and Munieka there.
So I gathered everyone again and explained about the ship.
However, Megadia and Narcissus weren't present.
The timing was off.
They were off in the Great Heizen Forest.
They'd become delvers on a lark and gone off to take on extermination requests.
It was freedom personified, really.
With the noisy ones absent, I figured I'd enjoy the peace while it lasted.
I said "everyone," but I deliberately excluded Seiran and Kani.
They were on the side of authority. Since the dungeon belonged to Heizen, I'd reported everything about it.
But the ship was different. Even with unprecedented capabilities, it was still a personal possession.
They'd definitely try to make use of it.
They weren't bad people, but they weren't exactly good people either.
I ultimately left the final decision to the witch.
The ones who took the strongest interest in the ship were, as expected, the witch and Ambrosius.
Once I finished explaining, the two of them took Riv and boarded the ship along with Haiyarn.
And just as planned, the ship teleported to the lab's hangar.
After that, they didn't come back for four days.
Four days later.
When we got back, the witch said she'd incorporated the "Skia Coffin Ele" into the ship as its living quarters.
For reference, apparently Haiyarn and Ambrosius had been left behind as they were.
Haiyarn had been taken away by Akindula and Anstanshiru on an apology tour.
Apparently Ambrosius saw Shiro singing and dancing on stage and froze solid.
Come to think of it, they knew each other, right?
The ship was hovering in the air above the warehouse where the "Skia Coffin Ele" was.
The warehouse roof had been removed, and the black, enormous carriage — the "Skia Coffin Ele" — floated there.
The sight was just like the cattle mutilations from my memories of my past life.
It was like cows being abducted by a UFO with some mysterious semi-gravity field.
Incidentally, all of this was carried out within a perception-obscuring space so as not to cause a scene.
"Mm... safely... as living quarters... integration complete."
After Riv said that, the scenery changed.
This was the living room on the first floor of the "Skia Coffin Ele."
"...It's all here."
"Mm-hmm. Seems like everything's just as it was."
I walked through the living quarters alongside the witch.
Kitchen. Storage room. There were rooms and a bath, too. On the second floor was the witch's workshop.
Nekia's bedroom. And at the very back, the observation deck.
"Mm... here's the bridge."
That was where the two-floor "Skia Coffin Ele" had its driver's seat — or rather, its cockpit.
That area had been converted into the bridge. I see.
"I see, I see. So that's what you used."
"By the way... the user has... become a boy..."
"Me?"
"Mm... since it's a boy's ship... naturally..."
"Well, I did receive it, that's true."
I got it as a reward for completing a request, so that makes sense.
So this is going to be my ship.
"Mm... so... pick a name for the ship."
"Um, how about 'Ruziitsua' for the ship's name?"
"...That's... a model designation... not a ship's name..."
So it was just a model designation. Come to think of it, she did mention Unit 4 and the like.
The witch was smiling, clearly amused.
"My my. So you're going to name it, Wof, young man."
"Don't just spring that on me all of a sudden."
But it is my ship, I guess. I should think about it.
It's a teleportation ship, but it has wings. Wings of freedom. Hmm. Wings, huh.
...Cross. Transfer. Instant. Ship. Ship names are always female, aren't they.
Speaking of ship names, there was the Espoir and such.
The Titanic. The Yamato. Nah, not those.
The Potemkin. The Black Pearl. The White Orchid.
Hmm. Still, though... this ship really is something else.
It looks the part, sure, but it's a mass of technology that has absolutely no place in the current world.
Why would a lump of sci-fi like this turn up in a world of swords and magic?
Okay, well, there was Riv and all that... but this is a spaceship, isn't it?
They call it a dimensional transfer ship, but it's a spaceship, plain and simple.
An alien element in this world. A total outsider. A stranger — that's the vibe it gives off.
A stranger.
"Étranger."
I muttered it without thinking.
"Oh my. That has a nice ring to it."
"Mm... indeed... good taste... 'Étranger'... registration complete..."
Riv typed it into the console.
*Étranger.*
That was the ship's name.
A stranger. A person from another country. An outsider. That's what it meant.
Suddenly, I thought — maybe that word applied to me too.
With memories of my past life, I was a stranger to this world, too.
"Oh my, what's the matter, young Wof?"
"Huh."
"No, no — you looked like you were about to cry just now."
"...Is that so..."
It showed on my face, huh. As I panicked, the witch placed her hand on top of my head.
She gently stroked my hair, then quietly pulled me into a hug.
"There, there. I don't know what happened, but young Wof, you're not alone. Com is right here."
"Mm... Riv is too... here."
Riv pressed up close behind me.
"Fufu, fufu. Everyone's here."
"Mm... yeah, everyone's here..."
"Ah, thank you."
Both of them were soft and warm.
After savoring the embrace for a little while, I left the witch working in the residential quarters and headed back to the surface.
I should call Nekia over later too. She's still in the hideout.
Just then, two shadows appeared — Bid and Lupinus came rushing over.
"What happened?"
"I finally finished my shift, so I came to check out that ship!"
"A dimensional transfer ship... I'm quite interested in it."
"Perfect timing. The ship's name has been decided."
"Oh, how wonderful!"
"What's it called?"
"Etrange."
When they said that, the two looked at each other before speaking.
"How strange... it has a somewhat elegant ring to it, doesn't it?"
"Not bad!"
I was glad they liked it.
But since this was my first time naming something, I felt a little embarrassed.
"Hmm... Etrange... interior tour... right this way..."
I declined and told them to go ahead and do as they pleased.
Riv took Bid and Lupinus and teleported to the Etrange.
After they swapped out, apparently Pakira and Mineha wanted to go in next.
Hoss and Rima said they'd like to take a proper look after the shop closed.
Nekia was fidgety too.
I'd probably run into Haiyan sooner or later.
Chaldina and Anna Kreuz were full of interest as well.
Megadia and Narcissus still hadn't returned.
Did they go off to the forbidden land or something?
"Hnn... I'm kinda tired."
When I stretched, my neck and shoulders popped, and I laughed.
I didn't have the energy to do anything dungeon-related.
I headed back to the hideout to sleep.
"Lately, the goddess of knives hasn't shown up..."
She probably already knew I'd left the time knife behind.
Was she mad about that?
She had that heavy air about her, so it was plausible.
The next day.
Around noon, Riv and Lupinus came by to visit.
Over tea in the living room, Lupinus spoke up.
"I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"I've obtained the blue-green crystal. So I'd like to return to Hydrangea to have my shield forged as we agreed."
Ah, right. I'd forgotten about that.
Also, Isibara, who happened to be in the living room, chimed in after a sip of tea.
"Get a body made for my person too."
That too, I'd forgotten about.