We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
An Adult Child
It was a mysterious sight.
Istericia, who had been avoiding us until just a moment ago, was now weeping in Luiseine’s arms like a small child.
“You suffered, didn’t you? You were lonely, weren’t you? You were sad, weren’t you? But please, rest assured now. The Goddess will not abandon you.”
Luiseine gently stroked the sobbing Istericia, who was shedding large tears, as she held her.
Ah, I see. It finally dawned on me.
Istericia was a lonely child who didn’t know how to interact with people.
Because she was of the Mimicho Race, her age was impossible to tell from her appearance. However, even though she looked like an adult woman, her heart was still at the age of childhood.
She had been treated as a sacrifice by her tribe and used as a tool for pleasure by the Demon Race’s ruler. With no one around to connect with, Istericia didn’t know how to interact with others.
That’s why she didn’t know how to reconcile with us, her enemies, nor did she have a way to apologize.
And yet, we unhesitatingly involved Istericia and tried to extract information in a way that suited us.
Of course, she wouldn’t open her mouth, let alone her heart.
If you corner a small child, they’ll get scared and reject you.
But perhaps Istericia truly wanted to apologize and reflect, didn’t she?
After all, she’s Mimicho Race.
Despite being Mimicho Race, she had been forced to sacrifice spirits.
Perhaps, in a corner of Istericia’s heart, her pride and dignity as Mimicho Race remained.
Luiseine, as a miko, might have been sensitive to Istericia’s feelings. And she knew how to understand Istericia’s childlike heart.
I see, I thought, reflecting anew on Luiseine’s actions over the past few days.
First, on the first day.
We came to see Istericia in prison.
Seeing us visit, Istericia must have thought that an interrogation would begin, or that she would be forced to do something.
After all, we had been enemies until just a little while ago.
Even if not, at least Istericia must have been on guard, expecting us to interfere with her in some way.
Yet, Luiseine’s attitude was indifferent.
She asked a question, and if she didn’t get a good answer, that was it. “Goodbye,” she said, and simply left. She would have been completely caught off guard.
But this was Luiseine’s strategy.
To make the other party have some expectation, whether good or bad. But then, to easily betray it.
Then, what would happen?
Wouldn’t the other party’s heart be unsettled by the unexpected reaction?
What in the world was that?
What was the intention? What was she scheming?
Istericia must have been left alone deep in the jungle, consumed by suspicion all night.
And yet. We visited again the next day.
After leaving yesterday saying “Goodbye,” as if we would never come again.
Istericia must have been even more confused.
Moreover, in stark contrast to the questioning the day before, we entered the prison made of tree branches and started making a lively commotion.
This, too, was Luiseine’s strategy.
Make a strong impression on Istericia on the first and second days. Then, Istericia’s thoughts would inevitably be filled with us.
We visited the prison every day for several days and had a good time.
How did we appear to Istericia?
The Young Girl Group running around happily. The wives chatting busily from morning till evening. And delicious meals and snacks. Also, a wide variety of drinks, from pressed fruits to alcohol.
For Istericia, who hadn’t eaten properly since being imprisoned, it might have been too stimulating.
Moreover, for someone with a young spirit, our liveliness might have been envied.
How stimulating were the words Luiseine occasionally spoke to her?
After all, it wasn’t an interrogation like on the first day, but a gentle gesture of providing food and drinks.
However, Istericia, who didn’t know how to interact with people, couldn’t react honestly and only responded in a froward manner.
Hmm, at this point, Istericia had already fallen into Luiseine’s trap.
We made a commotion for several days, as if to show off to Istericia.
But then, we suddenly stopped visiting.
Istericia must have been even more unsettled.
What was our purpose?
Why didn’t we blame her?
Perhaps she had come to hate herself for rejecting our kindness, and that’s why we stopped coming.
During those few days when we didn’t visit the prison, Istericia must have been confronting her own heart.
And then, a few days later.
We came to visit again.
And, as usual, as if nothing had happened.
Now is the time to see the change in Istericia’s heart.
What happened to Istericia in those few days when we didn’t come?
And then, what happened?
At first glance, she seemed the same as before.
But there were signs of her peeking at us and secretly eavesdropping.
Slightly, we could also see gestures of her reacting honestly to our words and actions. But it was still insufficient.
As expected, Istericia, who had never been taught the correct way to interact with people, didn’t even know how to express her heart honestly.
This is where the miko’s true ability came into play.
Luiseine began to tell fairy tales, as if speaking to a small child.
Luiseine’s fairy tales are also loved by Priscilla-chan.
Luiseine’s gentle tone provided comfort to the children. Moreover, she was skilled at storytelling.
Then, Istericia, who looked like an adult but had the heart of a child, became engrossed in the interesting fairy tales and listened attentively.
In addition, she was moved by the adult stories told by Madrine.
Seeing Istericia’s tears well up as she listened to the tragic love story of the Saintess and the Divine Child, Luiseine was convinced.
Although it couldn’t be seen from the surface, Istericia was interested in us. Her hostility was fading, and she was opening her heart.
“You can cry when you want to cry. No one will force unpleasant things upon you anymore, Istericia.”
Luiseine gently stroked Istericia’s head and back. Istericia, sobbing uncontrollably, looked truly like a child.
Naruto, perhaps because she was affected by Istericia, Priscilla-chan also cried.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”
Istericia apologized to the spirits while crying.
However, the spirits, who had lost many companions, continued to reject Istericia.
Of course, that’s natural.
The deep chasm that had formed between Istericia and the spirits was not something that could be easily bridged with just an apology.
But, I thought.
Just like Yunyun and Rinrin, if given the opportunity for atonement, a time for reconciliation might eventually come.
After all, the Mimicho Race are long-lived.
Therefore, I want Istericia to face the sins she has committed from now on and make amends with all her heart.
And this also applies to the Mimicho Race submerged in the poisoned lake.
“Jab, would you mind taking care of Istericia?”
“Yes, leave her to me.”
We led Istericia, who had cried her heart out, out of the prison made of tree branches.
And then, we handed her over to Jab, who was relaxing with Grandma Yuuri in the Dragon King’s Forest.
“But I never thought you’d be interested in a miko?”
“Elnea-kun, Mimicho Race can become miko, so there’s no problem. However, if you dedicate yourself to it and receive a baptism in the future, using spirit arts will be forbidden. Is that acceptable?”
Istericia nodded deeply at Luiseine’s question.
“I know. Elnea was manipulating spirits without using spirit arts.”
“No, no, I wasn’t manipulating them? We just cooperated.”
Rather, I feel like I’m the one being manipulated!
“However, I believe therein lies the essence. Even if you can no longer use spirit arts, if you can reach a relationship where you can ask favors of spirits, it doesn’t matter. Since it’s a request, I believe it doesn’t count as having used spirit arts.”
I see, everyone nodded at Istericia’s reasoning.
“Well then, let’s train diligently. Not only your duties as a miko trainee, but also apologizing to the spirits is part of your training.”
“Yes.”
Sandwiched between the two kind grandmothers, Istericia had a clearer gaze than ever before.
Children love comforting grandmothers.
Well, Istericia’s appearance is already that of an adult, though.
In any case, from now on, Istericia will likely become more honest under Grandma Yuuri and Jab.
And Istericia, who had become slightly more honest, provided us with the information we desired before we even had to ask.
Yes, it was about Baltnowar’s base.
“…Ruins of a detached palace, huh.”
“But that’s a place where everyone gathers occasionally. So they won’t always be there…”
“Yeah, that’s fine too. Thank you for the clue, Istericia.”
“Fwah. I can’t smile back when you give me such a smile.”
Oh, yes, I had one misunderstanding about Istericia.
Istericia, who always yawns, doesn’t do it on purpose!
Istericia, who loves sleeping in. But the miko’s mornings are early, aren’t they?
And, once Istericia’s treatment and our next destination were decided, the Mimicho Race who had been submerged in the poisoned lake were also released from their seal and returned to land.
“Listen carefully. Those who wish to stay here can stay. However, there are conditions you must agree to.”
Carly said this to the gaunt and exhausted Mimicho Race.
“From now on, you are forbidden from forcibly manipulating spirits with spirit power. If you wish to use spirit arts, you must do so in a friendly manner. Also, until we approve, you cannot enter the Dragon King’s Forest. It may be an important place for your ancestors, but it is now an important place for the spirits living today.”
The Mimicho Race listened silently to Carly’s commanding words.
“If you cannot keep the promises made with us, or if you cause disturbances, or if you have ideologies incompatible with ours, you will be ruthlessly expelled from this land. If you cannot obey, you will be gone immediately.”
Despite Carly’s unilateral demands, no complaints or grumbles arose from the Mimicho Race.
Perhaps they had reflected deeply at the bottom of the poisoned lake?
Or perhaps they knew how difficult it was to survive on their own in the land ruled by demons.
Living with their companions in the Forbidden Territory would be much better than being treated like rags as slaves of demons and dying miserably.
The Forbidden Territory has its own dangers, but at least there is no unreasonable violence, and as long as they can be self-sufficient, they will not face a life of hardship.
The Mimicho Race seemed to understand this and accepted Carly’s proposal.
“Alright, now that we have more residents in the Forbidden Territory, we need to quickly crush Baltnowar’s schemes and return to our normal lives!”
“Well then, are we departing immediately?”
“Mist, please wait. Before we go on the offensive, I have a request.”
Hmm, I wonder what Lyra’s request is, we all paid attention.
Then Lyra said, her eyes sparkling.
“I want to invite Lady Revalia!”
“I see!”
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