The day after they found the second spot emitting a warning color for spirits.
Colette, who went to confirm it right away, returned around the time Kousuke and the others finished preparing breakfast.
And upon opening her mouth, she declared, “It was as expected.”
“Hmm. So it turned out that way. Does that mean the rest of the plan goes as scheduled?”
“Yes. That would be good.”
They had already discussed what to do if the spirit’s reaction was the same on the first spot the previous night.
As they confirmed at the first spot, it didn’t have any strange influence on the surrounding monsters, so it was sufficient for Colette and Kouhi to remain at this location. The rest of the members were to continue their journey as planned.
“So, then, I guess it’s up to you two from here on out?”
“Leave it to us!”
To Kousuke, who said it in a lighthearted manner, Colette responded with an exaggerated pat on her chest.
All Colette and Kouhi had to do at this location was to confirm whether or not the same phenomenon as at the first spot would occur. It wasn’t that much of a hassle. Conversely, if the spirits showed a completely different behavior than at the first spot, it would become troublesome. However, Colette claimed that there was a ninety percent chance that nothing of the sort would happen. In any case, Colette and Kouhi would camp at this location for at least one night to observe the state of the spirits. It was still unclear what the result would be, but at least Colette seemed confident that it would be the same.
After finishing breakfast and preparing to depart, a slight mishap occurred. Seiya and Shia, who heard they would be traveling separately from Colette again, started to fuss. It was childish selfishness, but it didn’t last long. After all, in addition to the two of them who were raising children, there were already two who had finished their (first?) child-rearing. As if saying this was child’s play, they easily pacified them. At one point, they even brought up a promise that if they were selfish, they wouldn’t be taken on the journey, which pacified them. Of course, Colette, who said it, didn’t say it in earnest. If the children decided to turn back from the journey, Colette would have to return as well. This would prevent her from investigating the spirits. In the end, the children were honestly pacified, so it didn’t come to that. Nevertheless, despite the rare situation that occurred, Kousuke and the others’ journey proceeded as planned.
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That night.
Kousuke, who entered the next village as scheduled, received a report from Colette.
“…It was as you expected, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. Well, considering how far we’ve come, it would be more troublesome if they showed a different reaction than before.”
If the spirits had shown a different reaction, further investigation would have been necessary. Colette, too, wanted to reunite as soon as possible due to her children. Of course, she had considered a long-term investigation if the spirits were acting strangely, but it turned out to be unnecessary worry.
Kousuke, who was relieved by the same thing Colette was, decided to express it honestly.
“I see. That’s good.”
“Oh? Were they fussing after all?”
“Hmm. Well, I tried not to show it, but they did seem a bit sad?”
Because they had been told that if they were selfish, they would be sent back to the village, Seiya and Shia hadn’t said anything out loud, but their demeanor was indeed sad. Everyone had noticed it, but they deliberately pretended not to. They thought it was a good opportunity to teach the children that some things couldn’t be helped, especially since Colette couldn’t return.
As if visualizing the children’s state, Colette replied with a wry smile.
“Well, I miss them just as much. But it can’t be helped.”
“Oh? That’s unusual.”
When Kousuke said that she was showing a rare moment of weakness (?), Colette immediately responded.
“Oh? I want to spend time with Kousuke too.”
“Shouldn’t that be ‘with the children’?”
“Of course, but that too. However, the children will eventually grow up and leave my hands. The ones who will be with me forever are you, Kousuke.”
Kousuke felt somehow awkward and embarrassed by Colette’s surprisingly sweet words.
“Well, that’s true, but… I hope we can be together forever?”
“Why are you asking that as a question?”
Colette replied with a suppressed laugh, and Kousuke also chuckled softly. Of course, a good portion of it was to hide his embarrassment.
While exchanging these personal remarks, the conversation returned to the state of the spirits.
“Anyway, I think I can join you there by noon tomorrow.”
“Huh? Tomorrow noon instead of morning?”
Kousuke said that because he thought confirming it once in the morning would be enough.
“I intended to do so as well. But I thought it would be better to observe the situation a bit longer.”
“Did you find any difference?”
“Not really. It’s truly just a precaution.”
“I see. Well, I’ll leave the judgment of such things to you.”
Colette’s tone was light, so Kousuke, judging that it was indeed the case, replied as such.
Kousuke, who couldn’t see the spirits, didn’t know where to look to make a judgment. He had learned from past experience that it was better to leave it to Colette. If Colette decided it was better to wait until noon, then it was best to follow her lead. Furthermore, he knew that Colette’s decision to stay until noon was related not only to the spirits but also to the children. She intended to accustom them to such things by deliberately being apart for a longer time. While it could be called a harsh method, Kousuke knew it was necessary and did not say anything.
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In the end, Colette returned at noon the next day, just as she had told Kousuke. As a result, at the second spot, just like the first, the spirits had stabilized with increased power of existence. Furthermore, this time it seemed they were able to investigate a bit more thoroughly than last time, and it was found that the number of spirits themselves had not increased significantly. The feeling that the spirits’ power had increased was solely due to the increased power of their existence. Colette didn’t know what effect the activation of spirits would have on the forest, but she knew it wouldn’t be a negative change. After all, elves strive to maintain forests by activating the spirits that live within them to invigorate the forest. From that perspective, Colette’s judgment that the current matter was not a problem was not a mistake.
After Colette returned, Seiya and Shia also perked up, and their journey proceeded smoothly. During that journey, they found another place where spirits were activated in the same way, but the change itself was no different from before, so it ended with mere observation, just like the second spot. At that time, Seiya and Shia seemed to have gotten used to Colette being away for extended periods, and they did not fuss. During the journey, Colette had to leave several times to see the three activated spirit locations she had found, but these separations were very short. Since no major changes occurred, it took very little time to confirm them. This continued until Kousuke and the others reached their journey’s destination. And finally, Kousuke and the others entered the northern town, the end of their journey.
I debated whether to write about the children’s selfishness, but decided to include it since it seemed fitting. It’s not often that such an opportunity arises to write about it.
