Chapter 14 - Chapter 13: Ninetiana 1
"Good morning!"
Mika arrived at the South Gate and greeted them cheerfully.
"Oh, Mika-kun. Good morning."
"What is it, Mika? You're here again?"
"Yeah, you're early today too. Don't go wandering around too much and get hurt."
"Yes," he replied, then looked around from a slight distance.
It was still early morning, and the Vigilance Committee members had not gathered much yet.
Three days had passed since the beast attack.
Repairs to the destroyed South Gate and the houses damaged in the battle with the beast were progressing, but there was an overwhelming shortage of timber.
Immediately after the attack, the South Gate had been completely blocked, but it was opened again the next day to procure wood from the forest.
And now, a simpler barricade has been built so that people can enter and exit easily.
Compared to the previous gate, the strength is significantly lacking, but there is nothing to be done without materials.
It seems they decided to use this opportunity to cut down a large amount of wood from the forest and manage it within the village.
Since Rish Village has more than enough land, they decided to secure more timber than needed for this repair so they can respond immediately when necessary.
However, even if they go into the forest to cut down trees, they cannot be used immediately.
If they are not dried first, they will warp or crack.
So, they chose usable materials from the broken timber of the previous South Gate and diverted them to house repairs.
The South Gate was made into a temporary barricade using green wood, and later, a sturdy South Gate will be rebuilt using dried timber.
It seems that was the decision.
And what was Mika doing? He was helping with such work.
Of course, he could only do simple things, carrying small loads, running errands, and doing various odd jobs.
The reason he was doing this was that the men working on the village restoration were basically the Vigilance Committee members.
During breaks in the work, he heard various stories about the beast attack from everyone.
First of all, why was the South Gate destroyed?
That was something Mika found strange.
Even from the perspective of an amateur like Mika, the gate was built very sturdily.
In contrast, the fence surrounding the village was made very simply.
Piles were driven into the ground, and horizontal boards were used to block the gaps between the piles. That was all.
No matter how you think about it, it would be easier to break through the fence and enter.
Normally, the part surrounding the village is made sturdy, and the gate is the most fragile, but Rish Village's construction is the opposite.
Perhaps because the village grounds were made too vast, the gate could be built sturdily, but the budget didn't reach the fence.
Isn't that the case?
This village's inconsistency is not limited to that, even though it's a bit late to mention it now.
So, when Mika asked the Vigilance Committee members why the sturdy South Gate was destroyed instead of the low-strength fence――――.
"Beasts tend to come where many people gather. That's their habit."
"There seem to be smart beasts too, but the scary thing about the Agu Bear is much simpler than that. That huge body just keeps chasing and charging at you, you know?"
"I saw it for the first time too, that thing was scary. It didn't even glance aside and charged straight at us. Every time it rammed into us, the gateposts cracked more and more. I never want to see that again."
It seems that was the story.
Perhaps they were simply lured by the "bait" right in front of them, but anyway, it seems they tend to come where many people gather.
Knowing this, when the beast appeared from the forest, they had hardly stationed any Vigilance Committee members on the fence, but had gathered at the gate.
Then, the beast came straight for the gate, and there was no movement to break the fence and go around it.
They thrust with spears and swords across the gate doors, but it didn't care, ramming into the gate or punching the gate doors.
(...Ignoring everything else and just charging straight at it. That is terrifying in its own way.)
Thanks to that, the gate that was thought to be absolutely unbreakable was destroyed, resulting in a very painful outcome for the village.
Of course, it could also be argued that they were able to defeat it precisely because they had inflicted damage there.
Otherwise, they might have been invaded into the Meeting Hall, and casualties among the villagers who had taken refuge might have occurred.
(I was just watching back then, but the Vigilance Committee members are truly amazing that they could face the Agu Bear.)
Mika knew that the Vigilance Committee members trained regularly, but they were villagers at heart.
They worked in cotton fields and textile factories; fighting was not their profession.
Mika was deeply moved that villagers like them had united and managed to defeat such a beast.
"Oh, monk, you're here again?"
Diego came out from among the Vigilance Committee members who were gradually gathering.
Looking at Mika with a troublesome expression, he let out a sigh.
"Ah... anyway, don't get in the way. And try not to cause trouble. Everyone has work to do."
"Yes!"
Mika replied cheerfully to Diego's exasperated advice.
Hearing that reply, Diego made a slightly grim face and returned to the Vigilance Committee members.
Of course, there was a reason for Diego's attitude.
Mika was hearing stories about the beast extermination from the Vigilance Committee members, but his main purpose was to hear from Diego.
Everyone said Diego was the most active, and above all, as a former adventurer, Mika had countless things he wanted to ask.
However, as the Knight Commander of the Vigilance Committee, Diego had to instruct the members on restoration work.
He did not have the time to talk to a child.
So, for the past few days, a battle had been waged between Mika, who was trying to get information somehow, and Diego, who was sending Mika away with vague excuses.
And the Vigilance Committee members were watching this battle between the two with smirks.
It seems Diego being bothered by a child was amusing to them.
And today, there was no chance to hear Diego's story either.
Diego had gone to the forest since morning, and Mika was forbidden from entering the forest because logging work was dangerous.
Helplessly, he watched the wood processing work in the village.
Time had already passed noon.
Diego did not return, perhaps having his lunch in the forest as well.
(He is clearly avoiding me. What should I do?)
Mika was aware that he was causing trouble for Diego, but this was important for his future.
He wanted to find out various things no matter what.
While he was worrying his head over how to get a conversation going, a voice suddenly spoke from beside him.
"Hello, Mika-kun."
"Huh?"
When Mika turned around, a woman holding an infant stood right next to him.
She looked to be around thirty years old.
She seemed to be the same age as Amalia and Radi.
She was slender and tall, with red hair and skin well-tanned by the sun. The woman with short hair smiled pleasantly right next to Mika.
The infant, held by its mother, seemed completely at ease and was sleeping soundly.
(...When did she come next to me?)
He instinctively looked down at his feet.
The ground was bare dry earth.
If he walked, he could hear the sound of sand rubbing.
But until she came right next to him, or rather, until she spoke to him, he had not noticed at all.
Mika looked up to see the other person's face, but he did not recognize her.
"Um... who are you?"
He asked timidly.
Although there were about 200 residents in Rish Village, he did not know the face and name of everyone.
He thought it might be rude, but he had to confirm who she was before he could talk easily.
(Being a child is really convenient in situations like this.)
If he were a working adult from his previous society, he could not ask "Who are you?" if the other person knew his name.
It would be too rude.
He would desperately search his memory and try to pass the time by making small talk to get by.
By drawing out information that way, he could often remember things.
...Though sometimes, he couldn't remember until the very end.
The woman chuckled and looked at Mika.
Her chestnut eyes fixed directly on Mika, and the sharpness of her gaze reminded one of a feline predator.
At that fierce presence, did the infant notice? It began to fuss a little.
(...Is this seriously dangerous? Her aura, or atmosphere, is unbelievable...)
Mika tensed his legs, hesitating on whether to run or not――――.
"...You are a truly interesting child."
She muttered softly.
Instantly, the tension until then dissolved, changing to a gentle atmosphere.
Her expression did not change at all; only the atmosphere changed.
The fussy infant also seemed reassured by the change in atmosphere and quickly began to breathe softly.
"I'm sorry I scared you. My name is Ninetiana. I am Diego's wife. Nice to meet you, Mika-kun."
"Huh?"
Mika was stunned.
The atmosphere changed so abruptly, and a woman claiming to be Diego's wife appeared; his head could not keep up.
(Diego's wife? It wouldn't be strange if they were married, but now that I think about it, I don't remember Diego's family. It's very suspicious, but I can't tell if it's true or false?)
While Mika was pondering how to respond, Ninetiana spoke to him again.
"I hear you've been coming to Diego's place often lately. Could you tell me a little?"
Saying that, Ninetiana pointed to a tree.
It seemed she wanted to talk in the shade of the tree.
Because of that indescribable atmosphere just now, he hesitated for a moment on whether it was okay to go with her, but he decided to follow.
She was holding an infant, and if she was Diego's wife, it shouldn't lead to a troubling situation.
Of course, assuming that was true.
Mika could hear the footsteps of Ninetiana walking in front of him toward the shade of the tree.
Was it because he was lost in thought that he didn't notice her footsteps just now?
As he thought that, Ninetiana, who had arrived in the shade, turned around and smiled at Mika.
"Do my footsteps bother you?"
His thoughts were read through, and he was startled.
Mika stopped his feet and could not move forward.
"If you look for a presence, you get a presence like that. Ah, you're looking for one, aren't you?"
Saying that, Ninetiana beckoned with her hand.
He hesitated for a moment, but Mika gathered his courage and stepped forward.
(I understand looking for a presence, but what does it mean to have a presence of being looked for? I was just worried about the footsteps. ...Could it be that I've been targeted by a dangerous person?)
For Mika, magic was an unknown power.
Diego, who had defeated the beast, could also be said to be a holder of an unknown power to Mika.
But the woman in front of him, smiling pleasantly and holding an infant, felt even more unknowable than that.
Probably, even if Mika tried to escape using magic now, he could not get away.
He felt that kind of intimidation.
Sitting opposite each other in the shade, Ninetiana repeated her question from before.
"So, you've been trying to get Diego to talk to you lately. Why?"
Ninetiana had a gentle atmosphere, but Mika already understood that it was not to be taken at face value.
(...I can't fool her, no matter how hard I try. This is it.)
Mika made up his mind and decided to answer carefully.
He would tell the truth where there was no problem, but remain completely silent on any part he did not want to touch.
Specifically, Mika's true identity and magic.
He decided to pretend to think and answer nothing regarding those two points.
"I want to hear about beasts and adventurers. Things like that."
Mika fixed his gaze on a pebble on the ground and absolutely avoided making eye contact with Ninetiana.
He did not know what could be read from his gaze, so he consciously fixed his eyes without looking up at all.
Normally, this would be unnatural behavior, but for a child, looking down thinking they might be scolded is not that unnatural.
He was determined to push through with "I'm a child."
"Beasts? I see..."
Ninetiana seemed to be weighing Mika's response.
Beasts and adventurers.
Even though it was such a simple response, Ninetiana examined even that carefully.
(The silence is killing me! What is this!? What is this person!)
Even though they were in the shade and should be cool, bad sweat trickled down Mika's cheeks.
Mika could not even wipe it off, just staring at the stone on the ground.
Without moving a muscle, he told himself with steel will, "Absolutely do not look up!"
The one who broke that suffocating silence that felt like it was draining Mika's spirit was Ninetiana, who was watching Mika with amusement.
"...A collective term for beasts that harbor a magic stone inside them and have red eyes."
"Huh?"
Mika could not understand what she was saying immediately.
It took a little time to realize this was a story about beasts.
"That is the definition of a beast? By the way, if it is not a beast, it is a monster. There are other things classified as 'magic,' but the commonality is that they harbor a magic stone and have red eyes."
Mika was so surprised that he couldn't help but look up.
Seeing Mika frozen in surprise, Ninetiana smiled brightly.
"You wanted to know, didn't you? About the beasts."
Mika silently nodded vigorously.
Everything he had been thinking about until just now, like "don't look at the eyes," flew away at once.
"In this village, beasts rarely appear, so it seems they don't teach children to be interested. But in other villages, they teach even the children? It's dangerous not to know. It's not that surprising."
Ninetiana said it as if it were nothing.
"Are you not a resident of this village, Ninetiana-san?"
"I am a resident of this village now."
The way she said "now" indicated that she had lived elsewhere before.
Did she become a resident of Rish Village by marrying Diego?
"Anyway, beasts and adventurers, huh? ...So that's why?"
Saying that, Ninetiana looked at Mika with interest.
Her gaze became sharp again.
"So, that's why you were glaring at the Agu Bear like that?"
"Huh?"
Not understanding what she was talking about, Mika was stunned again.
Talking with Ninetiana, she completely held the initiative, and his thoughts could not keep up at all.
"When you were taking refuge in the Meeting Hall. When all the other children, ...no, even the adults were crying and wailing, only you were gritting your teeth and glaring at that thing. I was quite worried you might jump at it."
Mika finally realized what Ninetiana was talking about.
It was when the Agu Bear broke the window of the Meeting Hall and tried to enter.
It seems Ninetiana was also taking refuge in the Meeting Hall back then.
Thinking about it, it was only natural.
Everyone except the Vigilance Committee members had taken refuge in the Meeting Hall.
There was no way Ninetiana, holding an infant, would not have taken refuge.
And she must have been watching Mika, who was trying to manifest magic at the Agu Bear at that time.
"Actually, I wanted to fight too, but Diego said no. He said to protect this child. So I took refuge in the Meeting Hall. ...Because of that, I became a little interested in you, Mika-kun."
"Wanted to fight..."
Mika had only tried to repay that beast for his family.
He never thought for a moment to fight such a thing on his own.
But it seems Ninetiana intended to fight if she couldn't stop it.
Moreover, in that panicked Meeting Hall, she even had the leisure to observe Mika while protecting the infant.
"As you can see, I am also a former adventurer. I can handle myself better than the Vigilance Committee members, even after retiring."
"...Eeeeeeh!?"
In contrast to Ninetiana giving a light wink, Mika's head was in complete confusion.
(Former adventurer? This person too!? Wasn't it just Diego?)
Unexpected stories kept flying out, and Mika was completely at a loss.
Mika asked for a little time to calm down, saying "Wait a moment."
He had completely forgotten about concealing information or worrying about his gaze.
This was a chance to get the information he wanted even if he had to bother Diego.
(I was wary at first because I didn't know what she was, but does that mean the experience and skills she gained as an adventurer made her seem that way? She doesn't have ill intent toward me, but she tested me because she had some thoughts...? No, from her perspective, she was just confirming.)
Mika did not know what Ninetiana was thinking or what she confirmed, but at least he could judge that she had no ill intent.
If she said, "Actually, it was an act to trap you with ill intent," then Mika would not be able to match her in any way.
He had to give up and accept that.
Mika had been tossed around by Ninetiana from the beginning, so he was starting to think he should stop useless resistance and honestly ask for her guidance.
After all, there was no reason for her to trap Mika.
She came to meet him because she saw his behavior during the refuge and was a little interested because of the recent Diego situation.
It seemed safe to think that was all.
Thinking that far, Mika closed his eyes and told himself to calm down... calm down...
(Isn't this an incredible big chance? She came saying she wanted to talk, so if I do well, I might get a lot of information.)
Mika did not know how much Ninetiana would tell him, but it seemed she was not bound by the village's rules.
Even about beasts, which the village decided not to tell children, she told him that in other villages, even children know because it is dangerous not to know.
Perhaps he could get more information than asking Diego.
He wanted to draw out as much information as possible.
Deciding that, he looked directly at Ninetiana.
It seemed Ninetiana, who had been watching silently, could understand Mika's thoughts perfectly, and she looked truly happy.
"Have you decided what you want to ask?"
"...No, there are too many to decide. So, I want to hear everything."
Ninetiana widened her eyes in surprise.
It seems Mika's response was unexpected.
Ninetiana, who thought the child was just a little interested, was surprised, "You have so many things you want to ask?"
From then on, Ninetiana really taught him various things.
Since Mika's questions were mostly basic ones, it seems there was nothing Ninetiana judged she could not answer, and she answered all of them.
First, when he said he wanted to know more about beasts, she explained clearly, including the difference from normal beasts in addition to the definition of beasts just now.
There are various living things in this world, but living things that harm people are not limited to beasts and monsters.
Wild dogs and wolves also attack people, and bears sometimes attack people.
But if you ask what the difference is between that bear attacking people and the Agu Bear, which is a beast, it is the magic stone and red eyes.
Also, it seems having high magic power inside the body is another characteristic, but this seems to be knowledge that means little unless you are an adventurer.
And, generally, beasts are aggressive, and if they meet a person, they will surely attack without fail.
It seems many such beasts live in the forest surrounding Rish Village, but then a question arises.
"It seems the beast attack was ten years ago, but if there are so many in the forest, won't they attack more often?"
Although it was a village adjacent to the forest, animal attacks happen every year, but beast attacks were ten years ago.
Normally, this would be a strange phenomenon, wouldn't it?
Thinking that, he asked directly.
"There is a place in the depths of the forest where magic power gathers. Beasts prefer to live in such places. Conversely, such places are unpleasant for normal beasts."
The forest of Rish Village seems to be quite deep and rugged.
And beyond that forest, there is another rugged mountain.
There is a place where magic power gathers near that rugged mountain, and the beasts are there.
But this time, the Agu Bear came out of there for some reason.
Probably, it left its territory chasing an animal and, while wandering through the forest, noticed the presence of the villagers and came over.
That was Ninetiana's guess.
"No matter how interested you are, do not go into the depths of the forest? The Vigilance Committee cannot help even if they go. ...If anyone says they will go to help, I will stop them. Diego too. Because we are former adventurers, we know well how dangerous that place is. If you go even if I stop you, it is at your own risk. Even if it is a child."
Ninetiana declared that.
There was no special emotion in her expression.
She spoke calmly as if it were a matter of course.
For adventurers whose daily life was to challenge dangerous places, that might be a natural mindset.
Even though she had retired, those thoughts must have stuck.
That dryness seemed to show confidence in having survived a harsh world, and he thought it was a little cool.
Even though she boldly declared, "If you don't listen, I'll abandon you."
"No one would think of going there on purpose after experiencing that. Rather, I am more interested in how the beast attacks that charge at people upon sight were predicted beforehand. That is more interesting."
The beast probably appeared in the village after sunset.
But they must have started preparing for the attack a little before dusk.
If they prepared for the attack because they saw the beast, there doesn't seem to be that much time margin.
"It was partly luck, but it seems many trees in the forest were knocked down. I heard they saw it from the watchtower."
It seems they saw the trees in the forest being knocked down while the beast was still far from the village from the watchtower.
Were they fighting the beast, or was it just rampaging?
Seeing tree after tree being felled, they judged that this was not the work of a normal beast.
It seems they did not know the beast was the Agu Bear until they actually saw it, but it was one of several candidates.
Haaah... Mika exhaled deeply.
It was not the backstage of the beast attack, but he had no idea such a history existed.
Mika's eyes shone as he wanted to hear more, but the infant in Ninetiana's arms woke up.
Seeing her child fussing a little, Ninetiana ended the conversation for today.
"I'll talk to you again, so don't bother the Vigilance Committee members anymore, okay?"
Saying that, Ninetiana went home while soothing the infant.
Suddenly curious, he listened to the footsteps, and Ninetiana stopped immediately and turned back toward Mika.
Then, without saying anything, she smiled brightly and walked away again.