Chapter 24: Going in circles?

  In the end, it was getting close to sunset, so I decided to postpone helping with the vilge repairs to tomorrow.

  I just went around the vilge sprinkling holy water. Of course, there is a priest in this vilge, but he lost confidence after the vilge was attacked by monsters in the during the Creator God's time, so he asked me to do it. ... I hope this person doesn't end up having to take responsibility for today's incident ter. From what I could tell, his skill level wasn't low, so I can only say that it was bad luck.

  I understand that the victim's family won't be satisfied with these words... As I was going around the vilge, I bumped into, Kiriku, who gred at me, and that made me clutch my stomach. But Uru noticed what he was doing and gred at him back, and the boy retreated in shame. I wasn't sure whether to feel sorry for him or think that what goes around comes around.

  ?

  Usually I would stay the night in the vilge, but Fricka said earnestly, "Let's go home today," so I decided to go back to my base.

  But I don't want them to see me using the Return Stone, what should I do... Oh, there's a church right behind the statue of the creator god. Maybe I can get away with it if I use it... As long as we are not seen at the exact moment we return. We always teleport in front of the statue of the creator god, after all.

  Is there any way to adjust its position?

  They invited me to dinner, but I politely declined, saying, "I'm sure everyone is tired," and quickly retreated to the church. The vilge chief wouldn't be able to move if I stayed there too long after all.

  I don't think they'd do anything bad to me, a miko, but just to be safe, I left a stone block behind to prevent anyone from peeking into the church or breaking in and finding out I'm not there, and then went home.

  ?

  "Rion-sama, let's start by freshening up in the bath."

  ?

  "After that, we'll have a nice, leisurely meal."

  ?

  "Uh, yeah."

  ?

  As soon as we got back, Fricka and Uru made the following suggestions one after the other, I didn't have any particur objections so I nodded. We'd been traveling through the desert, my whole body was covered in sand, which must have gotten into my clothes, and since I was also dirty from the battle, a bath was definitely in order.

  Even Uru, who doesn't like baths as much as Fricka and I do, didn't seem to settle for just a quick shower, and took a proper bath. I should add that this doesn't mean that Uru have bad hygiene, she just doesn't have the habit of bathing. In modern Japan, you can get hot water by turning the tap, but in Asteria, it's a lot of work to boil water.

  Come to think of it, we hadn't eaten anything since we had tea after the battle. I didn't notice because I didn't feel hungry. Uru was the one who was doing the most, so I'm sure she was hungry. Sorry for being so inconsiderate.

  Maybe I was a little rexed when I got back to the base, but when I apologized to them still a bit dazed, and they both frowned. I-I'm so sorry?

  ?

  "… It looks like it’s serious.”

  ?

  "Umu... Let's go quickly."

  ?

  "Huh? Huh?"

  ?

  Fricka jogged ahead, likely to prepare the bath. It was a lot easier now that we only had to flip the switch with a magic stone, but there was nothing we could do about the time it took to fill the bathtub with hot water.

  Meanwhile, Uru was pulling me by the arm, or rather, almost dragging me, to the bath. I pleaded, "No, I'll get there without you having to do this," but she ignored me. I don't understand.

  While on the way, perhaps because she may have noticed our return from all the noise, or she was simply in the house because it was te, we bumped into Fin.

  ?

  "W-Welcome back...?"

  ?

  Fin was stunned I almost could hear 'What the heck is this?' when she looked at me. Well, I guess that's what happens when she suddenly witnessed me being dragged away.

  If I had returned home, naturally Fricka would have returned too, so I expected her to follow and come with me, but when she made eye contact with me, she sent me off... I wonder if she thought I was going to be taken to be scolded or something... The song Dona Dona started pying in my head...

  ?

  I was thrown into the changing room and took off my clothes with my clumsy hands. Oh no, now there's sand everywhere, I need to clean it up... Do it ter? That's right, I'm tired and so I'll postpone it.

  When I entered the bathroom, Fricka was waiting for me, leading me to a bath stool and pouring hot water over my head.

  ?

  "H-Hot!"

  ?

  "... Sorry, I was in a hurry, so I think I was a little off."

  ?

  Although there were some minor issues like this, after that I was let her wash my head and back. I just too tired bother...

  For my front, out of habit ran away from her and washed it myself, once the feeling of sand had gone and I felt refreshed, I took a dip in the hot water.

  Ahh...

  ?

  "Hmm. Has her paleness became better?"

  ?

  "I don't know, it might just be the heat of the bath that makes it look that way."

  ?

  As I was staring bnkly at the ceiling, such a muttering reached my one of my ears and immediately fell out the other.

  ?

  After bath time it was time for dinner.

  Fricka wanted to make something, but I thought the time it would take would be bad for Uru's stomach, so I prepared it myself. It's not that much work, so there's no need to look so apologetic.

  Perhaps Fin had told her, we also met up with the Earth God in the dining room.

  ?

  "Welcome back. How was it today? No, tomorrow will be fine. Have a good meal and get some rest."

  ?

  "Is that so"?"

  ?

  Since the Earth God can't move from base, she seems to be hungry for information about the outside world, and whenever I return she asks me about what happened, but she postponed the meeting today.

  Do I really look that tired? I've certainly been feeling sluggish and my mind is not working properly for a while now, but I can at least answer the questions you ask me, okay? Huh? 'I'm not in a hurry, so you don't have to'? Ah, okay.

  ?

  "... Is Rion done?"

  ?

  "Haha, I don't eat as much as Uru."

  ?

  "... I suppose so."

  ?

  Even though Uru is smaller than me, she eats several times more than I do. I wonder where all that goes.

  There had been no reports today, Regulus and Liese were still training, so dinner passed by in a quieter manner than usual.

  ?

  I was absent-minded and didn't notice that everyone was gncing at me.

  ?

  Fin said she would clean up, so I left it to her and let Uru drag me to my room again.

  I was made to sit on the bed and, for some reason, Uru stood in front of me in a took a pose standing with her arms crossed.

  W-what's this... Why I feel a sense of pressure...? Did I do something to get me in trouble this time...? Not realizing it's even worse... Woah, that seems possible.

  As I was trembling, Uru let out a big sigh and looked at Fricka, who was standing next to me.

  ?

  "... I'm sorry, I don't know what to do in a situation like this."

  ?

  "I don't know the right answer either, but... I'll try to talk with her."

  ?

  "Please. I'm going out to get some fresh air. Call me if anything happens."

  ?

  "...???"

  ?

  The two of them were having a conversation that I didn't really understand, then Uru turned away and headed towards the door.

  Huh, aren't you going to rest? Uru is especially bad at night...

  I raised my hand to stop her, but my hips were too heavy and I wouldn't move. Meanwhile Uru had left.

  With nowhere to go with my raised hand, I slowly brought it in front of my eyes and stared at it.

  ?

  ... What is it? Something is strange.

  ?

  It's only now that I've realized I'm not feeling well. Am I really that tired? This time was a much easier victory than the fight against Zephyros, though.

  ?

  "Rion-sama."

  ?

  Fricka, who was still there, knelt on the floor in front of me and looked up to meet my gaze.

  Fricka looked troubled and like she was about to cry, so I was suddenly confused. Had I done something so wrong...? Yes, I did, it was dangerous there after all...!

  When I waved my hands around in confusion, she grabbed them and held them tightly. There was no way to escape.

  I swallowed, preparing myself for an angry reply, but... The question she asked shook my heart even more.

  ?

  "Are you that saddened by the death of someone?"

  ?

  "That's..."

  ?

  People have died.

  Yes, they're dead. They're dead.

  ?

  It may sound harsh, but it felt so fresh that it seemed as if it had been alive just a moment ago, or even a few minutes or seconds ago.

  Tons of overflowing blood and organs. Protruding bones and their shards. Gssy eyes that no longer reflected anything. A lifeless mass of flesh.

  A human corpse.

  Remembering this, the dinner I had just eaten almost came back up. I hastily covered my mouth with my free hand to stop myself.

  I should have been used to gore and other things from dismantling monsters, but just the thought that 'that' was a person made me feel disgusted.

  ?

  At this point I was already at a loss for words, but Fricka asked me another question.

  ?

  "Are you really that worried that you didn't make it in time?"