Miss Haru and Miss Lupe can take that sort of general topic and flesh it out into a whole conversation. It’s things like that that really make me admire night workers. When I have nothing wrong, I just say, “Nothing,” and that’s it.
But I’m used to her style of conversation now, so she can’t fool me so easily.
According to Miss Haru, there is something “annoying” about me. And I also know that she feels annoyed when someone tries to press her on something she doesn’t want to talk about.
And in that case, even I agree, I must be quite an annoying woman. But I want to know. Although, I’m also scared to find out.
“Are you by any chance thinking of going away somewhere?”
I feel like I heard something before about number three being her goal.
At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but what does number three mean to her? Not number one, but right under Lupe. Doesn’t it seem like a reasonable goal?
Like a good stopping point.
“...Whaaat? Like where? This is the only place I have.”
After raising her eyebrows a bit, she smiled. Lupe looked outside, and I could tell she was disengaging.
I think she meant, If you’re going to dig into it, you’re on your own. This was my responsibility.
I clenched my fists on the table.
“You can go anywhere you want, can’t you Miss Haru? There’s nothing tying you down. You’re free, strong, cheerful. You’re the kind of person who can survive anywhere. You’re probably sick of it here. You want to go somewhere new, right? Please tell me truthfully.”
Miss Haru sighed. Then she said, “You really say what you mean now, Kiyori, huh?” sounding half-exasperated, half-amused.
It’s thanks to you, Miss Haru.
“You know Widgecraft, right? That lewd old guy I introduced you to before. I tried going with him and his friends into the woods.”
Both my and Lupe’s eyes widened at the unexpected response.
She had also noticed that Miss Haru had been preoccupied, but she never would have imagined that it was occupied by the demon lair. Me neither.
Actually, why didn’t she take me along? I’ve been telling her over and over how much I want to go.
“It’s not like I want to go far away or anything. There’s just something that’s bugging me. So I want to take a little trip to confirm.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No, I get that you want to go. But I’m not using the usual army-sanctioned route. ’Cause I’m not a Sister, right? So I can’t take you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, though.”
“If that sort of route exists, I’m fine taking it. Please take me. I want to go with you.”
“No. It’s super dangerous. I can’t take you.”
“Why not? I may not look very reliable, but even I’m a Sister with an angel name from the church. I may not be able to fight, but I can at least save everyone with my healing magic. And I can even put up holy barriers—”
“I don’t mean like that. It’s impossible on a way more basic level. There’s no time to use healing magic. Where I’m going, you die instantly if you get hit. It’s survival of the fittest out there, so I really can’t recommend it.”
“If I were scared to die, I wouldn’t want to be an adventurer in the first place. I want to go deeper into the woods than any other team and give the women of this world some courage. If possible, I want to be the number-one team with you, Miss Haru. I want to show everyone that girls can do it too!”
“Have you always been so ambitious, Kiyori...?”
It’s thanks to you, Miss Haru.
Watching you, I discovered what it means to want something.
And I’m pretty sure I’m brave, too.
“But you have to understand. There’s no glory for girls in the woods. It’s a slimier, muddier, creepier place than you think. How can I explain it...? It’s not like there’s anything to achieve in there. I think you’d have a much better life if you found a dream, or goal, or whatever on this side.”
“But you’re going, aren’t you? I can’t be so stupid as to give up before even seeing it.”
“I’m telling you, it’s different from what you think. It’s a place where demons are on the rampage, but first and foremost, it’s a place where the rules of this world don’t apply. Do you understand? There aren’t any soldiers or officials or townspeople. In other words, it’s a lawless land of men.” Miss Haru frowned.
So? I pursed my lips and we glared at each other.
“U-Umm, can I ask you something, Haru? Why do you need to go to such a dangerous place so badly...?”
Without realizing it, I had gotten pretty absorbed in the conversation, to the point that I nearly gave away Miss Haru’s true nature in front of Miss Lupe.
Miss Haru said, “Ahh,” with a smile and put her hands together. “Lupe, sorry. I’m going on sort of a secret adventure. If it seems like it will take a while, I’ll take a proper vacation, so please don’t tell Madam.”
“Miss Haru, let’s—”
“Okay, this conversation is overrrr. I answered your questions, so please don’t bring up any more stuff that will cause me trouble.”
Miss Lupe seemed like she had more to say, but Miss Haru ignored both of our looks and gazed down the street.
Her face was a wall in profile.
When this girl from another world looks far into the distance, our eyes can’t follow.
It’s so lonely because she doesn’t understand how we feel.
“...Speaking of the forest, I heard from a customer that there are penis-shaped monsters in there.”
“What the hell? I never heard that! Are you serious?”
“They rub up against dakimaku trees and squirt white stuff from their heads. They’re virgin monsters.”
“Ee-hee-hee-hee-hee. What? That’s hilarious. If I find one, I’ll jerk it off!”
She really does like to talk nonsense. I’m not like Miss Lupe, so I don’t have the wherewithal to react to Miss Haru’s moods. I just get confused.
When I ask Miss Haru about the other world, she won’t tell me, and she won’t tell me what sort of person God is, either. On top of that, she won’t tell me what she wants to do, so I get the feeling our friendship is pointless.
Maybe one day she just won’t come back. I end up imagining lonely things like that.
She must not understand that feeling. Or maybe I just don’t mean anything to Miss Haru.
“I’m going.”