The village of vanishing spirits.
Given the nuance of its name, is this a village connected to the legends of spirits vanishing?
The central street of the village, where Evia and I walked in our suits, was wider than I expected and quite crowded.
It was also surprisingly civilized.
There were no signs of modern science like cars; everyone walked, but the well-maintained roads created an orderly scene.
The attire of the villagers wasn’t reminiscent of historical clothing. Instead, many wore outfits that looked like modern clothing adapted with an onmyoji-like flair.
Since most people wore similar clothing, it seemed to be a uniform of sorts, or perhaps a replacement for suits.
Looking at it this way, the village felt less like a rural settlement and more like a public facility, such as a municipal office.
“Not everyone here is a regular civilian, are they?”
“Probably not. While there may be non-combatants, the entire population here seems to be involved with this village in some capacity.”
Without moving my gaze, I tried to get a grasp of the whole scene by looking down from above. Necessary information naturally came my way.
My attention was first drawn to the flow of people and their apparent roles.
Here, “roles” referred not to races like Japanese, but to the type of work they performed.
In forming a village community, producers who generate food and such, unlike public servants like police officers who maintain public order, would normally be considered ordinary citizens. However, I didn’t sense that kind of presence from the people walking by.
I felt that everyone had undergone some form of combat training or an equivalent.
Led by Kirie-san, with two shrine maidens behind me, Evia and I exchanged mundane information.
“Yes, everyone in this village is involved with the Association.”
While I inwardly questioned whether I should accept that information, I saw many people bowing their heads andGreeting Kirie-san as she passed by.
After that, with a few people giving us glances that seemed to say, “Who are you guys?”, we ignored it.
“While we have many spell users, most of them are engineers, involved in the management of supplies, or in maintaining this village.”
In other words, mechanics and office workers.
Well, if I thought about it calmly, it wouldn’t be possible to maintain this village with only combat personnel.
The townscape resembled the Heian period, but glimpses of modern architecture were visible here and there.
There were streetlights akin to mercury lamps, and the outer walls of some buildings weren’t made of wood.
Although the scenery resembled a Heian-era town, the roads were well-paved and there was a clear sense of cleanliness.
“That building over there is your accommodation starting today.”
And so, the village tour seemed to conclude here for the time being.
Kirie-san indicated a building that looked like an inn, guarded by two men in the guise of gatekeepers, each carrying a ceremonial staff.
It was a wooden building that exuded a sense of history, with an ancient appearance, as if the building itself embodied the word “magnificent.” It was perfectly suited for welcoming guests.
“Welcome! We’ve been expecting you!”
“Thank you for your hard work. These two are our esteemed guests. Please ensure nothing goes awry.”
“Yes!”
The personality of the individuals guarding the inn also seemed perfectly fine.
From what I could see, it didn’t have the condescending reception often found in fantasy worlds.
To put it bluntly, I’ve always thought that individuals with special powers tend to develop a sense of superiority over others.
In fact, Himusumi and some other Testers were like that, but I reminded myself that this time was likely different.
I decided to accept it, believing it was adapted to the Japanese spirit of hospitality.
“Then, shall we go inside?”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Following Kirie-san, we stepped inside to find an interior with an archaic structure, similar to the exterior, but a bright and clean wooden entrance welcomed us.
In the center of the entrance stood an elderly woman, presumably the proprietress, with attendants lined up on either side behind her.
“Welcome, visitors from another world. Our inn welcomes you both.”
With a calm yet perfectly synchronized bow, we involuntarily bowed our heads in return.
However, Evia, accustomed to being greeted, remained unperturbed.
“May I take your luggage?”
“No, thank you. We’re alright.”
I gently declined the offer of one of the attendants at the entrance who tried to take our luggage.
While she didn’t react outwardly, I felt the pressure of the gazes from the two shrine maidens behind us intensify.
I considered it not outright hostility, but wariness.
“Then, I shall guide you to your rooms.”
The task now shifted from Kirie-san to the proprietress, and we proceeded further into the inn.
It was quite a spacious area, and we proceeded through a covered walkway above the inner garden, heading towards a separate building from the main structure.
“The detached building you see there is where you will be staying.”
Along the way, the proprietress, turning back slowly, indicated the direction of the building with her palm. We saw a low-rise building across the inner garden, connected by the covered walkway.
Several lanterns were placed to illuminate the surroundings of the building, which was enveloped by a meticulously crafted garden.
If I could stay here on a personal trip, I wondered how much it would cost, indulging in such a frivolous thought. I caught a glimpse of birds and squirrels, noticing something strange about them.
Were they watching us? I rationalized that they were probably doubling as security.
Being reminded that this was a business trip, not a leisurely vacation, I felt a slight weariness.
Keeping my expression neutral, I walked and entered the building. The proprietress took out a key and opened the door.
“Regarding an explanation of the room…”
“It’s fine. I’ll explain it myself.”
At the entrance, the proprietress turned back to Kirie-san for confirmation, but Kirie-san curtly replied, “There’s no problem.”
“Understood. Then, would six o’clock be alright for dinner?”
“Ah, that would be fine.”
The proprietress didn’t seem offended by that response and readily agreed. She then turned to Evia and asked about dinner, to which Evia nodded in agreement.
“Then, it shall be so. Please enjoy yourselves and relax.”
As if nothing had happened, the proprietress exited the inn.
Thinking how refined and professional her actions were, we were left in the building – not just Evia and I, but also Kirie-san and the two unnamed shrine maidens.
I had expected them to part ways upon arrival at the accommodation, but that wasn’t the case.
“Tomoe, please go and make some tea in the kitchen.”
“Understood, Kirie-sama.”
Preparing tea implied a longer stay. Tomoe, the shrine maiden with long black hair tied in a braid, moved towards the kitchen, which was located in a corner of the building, with practiced ease.
It appeared to be a simple setup but equipped for cooking. Seeing a refrigerator and a stove suggested a functional utility system.
If there were utilities, was there also a signal? I discreetly checked my smartphone, which displayed “No Service.”
“You cannot contact the outside world.”
“I see.”
My action was observed, and the shrine maiden remaining behind me, with her black hair cut to shoulder length, spoke up. I slightly shifted my shoulders.
“Well, until Tomoe makes the tea, it would be odd to just stand here. Shall we sit down?”
“Ah, let’s do that.”
“Do you need chairs?”
“No. We’re alright.”
The room had a long table and floor cushions, typical of a Japanese inn. In the back, there was a veranda, and judging by the several doors, it also had a bathroom and toilet.
If I hadn’t seen the initial scene, I could have mistaken this for a high-class inn.
We sat facing each other, Evia and I side-by-side, with Kirie-san seated opposite us. Behind her, a single shrine maiden sat in seiza.
“Now, since you decided to stay, there must be a reason, right?”
There was no need to wait for the tea. Evia immediately cut to the chase. Our objective today was simply to arrive at the location, and we shouldn’t have had any specific schedule. Yet, Kirie-san remained in this room. Therefore, she must have some business with us.
“If you ask if there is, I can only say there is.”
“You’re being evasive. Is there some circumstance?”
However, Kirie-san’s expression seemed troubled, as she placed a hand on her cheek, pondering what words to use.
“Earlier, I mentioned that there was someone I wanted you to meet, didn’t I?”
“I believe we declined that?”
“Yes, but they are not someone who will accept being refused. So, I intended to bring them here directly.”
The words she spoke were unacceptable from our perspective. The person who wanted to meet us without an appointment can frankly be considered a nuisance. Therefore, there was no problem with turning them away.
It wasn’t just Evia who looked puzzled; I likely did too. Seeing our expressions, the shrine maiden, who had also been looking stern, let out a sigh as if truly troubled.
“What kind of person is it?”
From what he’s heard, he sounds like someone ignorant and unaware of the world. However, Kirie-san shook her head as if to deny Evia’s impression.
“No, not a person…”
“It’s a God!”
Just as she was about to reveal who was coming, a voice that shouldn’t have been there echoed. Simultaneously, Evia and I moved.
We sharpened not only our five senses but also another sense, magic power, preparing to react instantly, grasping each other’s positions.
“Kyahahaha! So scary, so scary! Why do the visitors from another world have such scary faces?”
“?!”
Despite our readiness, we couldn’t react. They shouldn’t have been there a moment ago. We had to assume so.
A child’s cheerful voice echoed in the room. A girl in a crimson robe sat on Kirie-san’s lap, resting her elbows on the table, her cheek propped on her hand, shaking her bobbed hair with a smile. A wind chime-like hairpin tinkled incongruously.
“…”
We couldn’t react.
It wasn’t just me; even Evia couldn’t react to the appearance.
“…Mimamori-sama, please stop playing around. It’s troublesome.”
“But, but, it’s been hundreds of years since we’ve had visitors from another world! It’s a waste not to meet them! Besides, it’s Kirie’s fault for not bringing me to them!”
Kirie-san, sighing as if troubled, admonished the girl she called Mimamori, but it didn’t seem to affect her.
“Who was it that suddenly threw a tantrum this morning, saying they wanted to meet them? Didn’t you say it was troublesome when you were clearly told beforehand that visitors from another world would be coming?”
“I don’t know about that~. I just wasn’t in the mood then, but I am now. Besides, they entered my territory, so it’s my freedom to go and meet them!”
To an outsider, it might look like a childcare provider lecturing a spoiled young lady. However, Evia and I couldn’t interject into a conversation with such an unfathomable being.
“So? How long do you plan to stand? Tomoe’s tea will get cold.”
Her gaze, seemingly able to see through anything, bore deeply, making my body tense unnaturally.
The girl’s black eyes captured the figure of the shrine maiden called Tomoe. At that slight moment of distraction, Evia smoothly adjusted her seating position.
“…”
Without a word, she indicated with her gaze that I should sit down too.
Judging it unwise to defy her, I silently sat down. The girl on the opposite side nodded with satisfaction, indicating that was fine.
Then, with a single clap of her hands, she said,
“Alright then! Tell me interesting stories from your world!”
She made an outrageous demand, as if she were the sole sovereign, indulging her every whim.
What on earth were we supposed to do? Evia’s and my gazes naturally turned towards Kirie-san.
“Before that, please introduce yourselves. Otherwise…”
“Otherwise?”
“I will suggest reducing the ceremonial sweets and increasing the vegetables. Specifically, celery…”
“I am Mimamori! I am the administrator of this village and a Land God! Nice to meet you!”
The trigger for this conversation, originating from what seemed like a parent-child educational exchange, left us utterly dejected.
With a bright smile as if accompanied by a sparkling sound, and an almost calculated movement that suggested she was absolutely convinced of her own cuteness, Mimamori introduced herself. Evia and I exchanged glances.
“Evia Nordis, a Demon.”
“Jiro Tanaka, still a human, technically.”
With a sense of foreboding about what lay ahead, we braced ourselves for the ensuing conversation, surely with Evia sighing inwardly.
Today’s word: Opportunities are not missed, but they do come at a cost.
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*The first volume of this series has been published by Hayakawa Bunko JA.
It was released on October 18, 2018.
An e-book version was also released on October 31 of the same year.
The second volume was released on December 19.
The third volume was released on February 20, 2019.
The content includes revisions and additions to the material posted on Shousetsuka ni Narou, along with previously unpublished interlude chapters.
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We ask for your continued favor for this work.
