Kousuke and Shurein were deep in conversation when Ines returned to the hermitage.
“Um. The elder wants to see you both. Would you mind coming?”
Shurein nodded at Ines, who looked at her with a questioning gaze.
“Of course. …Ah. Don’t forget your writing supplies.”
“Right. And while we’re at it, let’s prepare some more paper we can use now.”
From the earlier discussion with Gerta, they had used up a lot of the single sheet of paper they had prepared. They knew that speaking with the village elder would likely involve a lengthy conversation. Kousuke was right; it was definitely better to prepare in advance.
After preparing the paper, just as they had done before, Kousuke and the others were led by Ines to the hermitage where the elder awaited. Along the way, Shurein spoke to Ines.
“Hmm. Ines.”
“Y-yes!?”
“I heard you were told various things by the elder, but I don’t think you should take it too much to heart.”
“Ehh!?”
Ines, still contemplating how she should interact with Kousuke and the others from now on, let out an involuntary yelp when Shurein said that.
Shurein offered a wry smile to Ines, who displayed such an honest reaction. “At the elder’s, they probably asked you what you would do if we had ulterior motives, and if you were fine as you are, didn’t they?”
“Y-yes!? N-no! …But, why?”
Ines tried to hide it, but her reaction was so transparent that Kousuke, walking beside Shurein, also let out a wry smile. Anyone could see that it was the exact same as what had happened. For Kousuke, knowing the grown (or perhaps not) Ines, it was almost enough to make him doubt if the Ines before him was truly the same person.
Shurein deliberately nodded at Ines, who was watching her with a curious gaze. Knowing that her face wasn’t clearly visible, Shurein made sure to exaggerate her gestures. “It’s simple. If I were the elder, I would say the same thing.”
“Really?”
“Mmm. Right now, in the elder’s hermitage, they’re probably discussing how to probe us.”
Hearing that, Ines’s shoulders slumped slightly with a hint of dejection. Shurein hastily added, “Don’t misunderstand. It’s just that you have your role. The elders probably thought that only you could do it, which is why they sent you to us.”
“Is that so?”
Shurein nodded again with a large gesture at Ines, who was looking at her with uncertainty. “Mmm. If that weren’t the case, they would have sent someone else, wouldn’t they?”
“Yes!”
With Shurein’s comfort (?), Ines smiled and nodded.
By the way, although Shurein didn’t say it, and Ines didn’t notice, one of the reasons the elder sent Ines to call Kousuke and Shurein was also because Ines was the only one who could currently see them. Shurein had no intention of saying that and making Ines feel dejected. Furthermore, she also sensed that the elders had sent Ines as a test, to see how Kousuke and Shurein would treat her. However, that didn’t mean Shurein looked down on the elders. She fully understood that it was their role as rulers of the village.
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When Kousuke and Shurein arrived at the elder’s hermitage, they were immediately greeted and led inside. Although it was a small building, beyond the entrance and another door, the elder and Gerta were waiting. Incidentally, the person who guided them to the elder’s location didn’t seem to see Kousuke and Shurein, but they had heard about them and walked while looking at Ines. As Kousuke and Shurein entered the room, a man who appeared to be in his prime, sitting to Gerta’s right, widened his eyes.
“Oh. I see. This is my first time seeing an ‘amu’, but this is how it looks? …No, judging from Ines’s story, does it differ depending on who sees it?”
“I understand. This will be a quick conversation. Elder, it seems you can see us.” Shurein responded immediately, having understood the situation from the elder’s words.
The elder, who had clearly heard Shurein’s voice, looked startled and lowered his head. “I apologize. Inviting guests and then this. Shall we sit and talk?”
“Hmm. Let’s do that.” Shurein nodded once, then gestured to Kousuke, who had been standing slightly behind and to the side, before sitting down. Kousuke had completely left the handling of the situation to Shurein at the moment. Incidentally, Shurein’s use of language was as usual in front of the elder because she knew that her character had been conveyed through Ines and Gerta.
Shurein sat on a prepared chair (which was more like a small box than furniture with a backrest) and immediately said to the elder, “First, I would like to ask, Elder, it seems you can see us, correct?”
“Mmm. Shall I discuss that first? …For me, even though I can see, it’s like a faint light. It’s not as clear as Ines’s form.”
“I see. That’s interesting in its own way.” Shurein’s response, accompanied by a nod, made the elder look puzzled. “You mean it looks different to you?”
“We can’t say for sure, as this is our first experience, but at least we can see each other’s figures clearly right now.”
“Hmm. Is that so?” The elder nodded in understanding at Shurein’s answer.
After nodding several times, the elder looked at Shurein with a serious expression. “So, to get to the main point, what is your purpose in coming to this village?”
“That’s a very direct question. Well, it’s fine, though.” Shurein returned a wry smile to the elder’s blunt inquiry. “Simply put, we were conducting a small experiment, and when we realized it, we were near Ines when she was being attacked. After that, you heard from Ines, I presume?”
“Hmm. An experiment, you say?” The elder, tilting his head with an intrigued expression, was shown the staff by Shurein. “While exploring how to use this staff, a small accident occurred. We don’t know why it happened, even if you ask us. After all, it was during an experiment.”
“I see.” The elder said so, as if accepting it, but his expression also suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced.
Anticipating the elder’s thoughts, Shurein added, “Whether you believe it or not is up to you, but I swear it is the truth.”
“Well… frankly, I think it’s understandable if you say it’s an outrageous story, isn’t it?” Shurein nodded with understanding as the elder looked at her with a probing gaze. “Well, it’s understandable to think so. Even we ourselves still can’t quite believe this situation. We feel like we’re dreaming and will wake up eventually.”
“…Hmm.” The elder continued to stare at Shurein, who spoke without any pretense. His gaze was undoubtedly accompanied by the responsibility of one who bore the weight of the village, but Shurein met it without flinching. In reality, the elder could not see Shurein clearly, but it was a matter of feeling.
Both of them were aware of a silent gaze watching their exchange. It was Ines, who had brought Kousuke and Shurein to this place, and everyone, noticing it, deliberately left it unaddressed.
From a narrative standpoint, Shurein’s expressions and gestures are described, but the elder and Ines cannot see them clearly. However, they can vaguely sense the general mood. Perhaps these aspects will be written about someday. (Undecided)
