"Well, the storehouse... the storehouse... ah, here it is."
Passing through the corridor where snow blew in from outside, the werewolf arrived there.
"Oh, the selection here is quite impressive."
Iruka stepped into the station's storehouse and began to look around with an air of admiration.
It was probably stocked recently, either for the sake of visitors or maybe supplies had arrived a little while ago. The storage was surprisingly abundant for a rural station.
Carrying a found bucket, the Ezo woman mindlessly grabbed various food items, bottles of sake, and cigarettes, tossing them into it.
Suddenly, her hand stopped without warning. The ensuing silence was brief, and Iruka immediately opened her mouth with a tone tinted with hostility and caution.
"Hey, how long do you plan on peeping like that?"
As she spoke, Iruka swiftly turned around as if leaping, and in the next moment, she had captured the shikigami that had been tailing her while obstructing its perception, ten steps behind her. She tightly clenched the hummingbird shikigami.
'...You're quite rough, aren't you? What exactly are you intending to do?'
In response to the calm words spoken by the hummingbird, which she had drawn near, Iruka snorted in displeasure.
"Stop with the unconvincing act. You... You're not the usual person who uses that, right?"
'Hmm... This is troublesome. I thought I did a good job altering my vocal cords. How did you figure it out?'
Along with Iruka's remark, the words spun by the hummingbird transformed from a girl's voice to that of a hoarse old man. Matsushige Botan's grandfather tilted the head of his hummingbird slightly and asked. The shikigami's eyes appeared empty and devoid of life, suggesting the nature of the person controlling it on the other side.
"Well, it's just a sixth sense. ...But that's not important. You've been scrutinizing me since earlier. It's quite unpleasant."
'That's terrible. It's not just me who's been keeping an eye on you, is it? Or are you oblivious to the gazes of others?'
The old man pointed out to Iruka, who clicked her tongue. Indeed, the hummingbird shikigami lurking by that servant's side wasn't the only one. It wasn't just one...
"I know that already. I've been sensing some unpleasant gazes here and there."
Specifically who is watching them is something Iruka doesn't know for sure. What she knows is that there are multiple individuals, and at least one of them is likely that blue demononi. Iruka remembers being laughed at when she told that servant about it before. The servant seemed to understand that fact as well. He declared, half-resigned, "Being treated like a toy is nothing new. I've grown used to it." However...
"If you're just watching like the others, then it's fine. You're different, right?"
Iruka has heard stories from that servant, and he has had some involvement with this shiki's user granddaughter, even during the escape from the city's prison. She already knows about the grudge from their encounter in the capital...
"It seems you haven't shown your face here for a while. And when you finally do, it's not that person but someone following behind me. It's strange, isn't it? And... just now, you revealed your stance and presence, didn't you?"
It's because of the keen senses of a youkai wolf that she can tell. Clearly, the presence within this hummingbird deliberately allowed itself to be detected. It's to have a conversation in this empty surrounding...
"What is your purpose?"
'Sigh, I wish you wouldn't be so rough. After all, this is a simple-type shikigami. If you grip it too tightly, it'll break, you know?'
The old man casually declared to Iruka, who remained silent. He lets out a small sigh at her attitude.
'Young people are so impatient, it's troublesome. Well, it's not like you have to be so wary. I thought of giving you a prior warning.'
"A prior warning?"
Iruka pondered the hummingbird's words with a puzzled expression.
'That's right,' the hummingbird replied, its voice fluttering with a hint of intrigue. 'And I wanted to ask for your cooperation on that matter,' it continued, its tone earnest yet tinged with a touch of urgency.
"That's a strange request," Iruka mused, her voice carrying a note of skepticism. "Couldn't you just talk to that person instead of me?" she questioned, her words laced with a mix of curiosity and mild annoyance.
'Ideally, it should be done in the proper order. However, it can't be done that way. That person would likely oppose my words,' the hummingbird explained, its voice carrying a sense of reason and thoughtful consideration
"So, it's some kind of dubious scheme?" Iruka concluded, her voice thick with suspicion and a touch of disdain
Iruka knows that the woman and the old man who commands the hummingbird are secret allies of the servant, but she hasn't been able to uncover the details beyond that. Considering the convoluted and secretive cooperation they have engaged in so far, it was clear that they weren't exactly trustworthy allies.
Besides, having knowledge and expertise in spirit arts and curse through the use of shikigami could mean they are frauds or perhaps moguri, an exorcist who have been expelled... Whatever the case, the schemes of such individuals don't seem genuine.
'Don't criticize without hearing the whole story. ...That servant is rather clumsy, you see. Thanks to that, he takes unnecessary risks. We genuinely want to resolve this case smoothly, from our perspective.'
"...At least on the surface, it doesn't seem like you're lying?"
Reluctantly, Iruka made her judgment based on her instincts, which could be considered a wild instinct. On the other side of the hummingbird, the old man wore an intriguing smile in response.
'Oh, unexpected. You're surprisingly straightforward. I thought you would remain skeptical a little longer.'
"I don't trust you... Don't think you can fool me. I may indeed be an ignorant fool, but I'm not a complete idiot. I can sniff out foul schemes, you know?"
'Just like a dog, huh?'
"I'm a wolf!"
Whether it was due to being treated like a dog or the old man's attitude of trying to diffuse the situation with a joke, Iruka became increasingly displeased, and her grip on the hummingbird tightened. Flapping its wings in protest, the hummingbird demanded that Iruka loosen her grip.
'Sigh, I've been saying that this is a simple-type shikigami and it's fragile...'
The hummingbird made a gesture as if sighing while glancing at the wrinkled appearance. In response, Iruka clicked her tongue.
"Tch, enough with your talk. Get to the point already. I'm not here to waste time."
'Fine, fine. No need to rush me. ...Now, then.'
In response to Iruka's request, the hummingbird adjusted its attitude and shifted the conversation to the main topic. The hummingbird began to speak.
...Upon hearing the contents, Iruka involuntarily gasped. Her eyes widened. She was astonished.
"Hey, that's... that's just a joke, right?"
'Do you think I would joke about something like this?'
The wicked tone of the old man's words denied the suspicion that escaped Iruka's mouth. Sensing that there was no lie in his words, Iruka gritted her teeth. Simultaneously, she felt a sense of urgency. The situation seemed to be turning worse than she had initially thought.
"Haha, this is no laughing matter, huh?"
'So, can I ask for your cooperation?'
"..."
In response to the hummingbird's request, Iruka couldn't provide an immediate answer...
* * *
"..."
After the conversation with the hummingbird, Iruka returned from the storage in silence and caught sight of the servant staring at the campfire.
Based on the previous conversation, Iruka stood still for a moment. However, it didn't last long. In an instant, she sensed the servant's gaze through her peripheral vision. It was immediately followed by the movement of the servant's head.
"Oh, you're back? You're quite late... Whoa!"
Just as he was about to ask her, Iruka threw something at him. The servant was momentarily surprised but managed to catch it.
He caught the winter coat.
"This is...?"
"It's payback for what you did to the fox, Shiro. Did you plan on staying like that forever?"
Iruka laughed derisively, mocking him. Trying to maintain her composure, she smiled defiantly, as if trying to deceive him.
"No, I'm grateful. Thank you."
"Tch, what a pathetic response."
Rather than being sincerely thanked, Iruka felt irritated. She thought that he was not skilled in conversations, just like during the incident in the city. She clicked her tongue and sat down on the ground next to him, taking out food she had taken from the storehouse bucket.
"Did the brat give in and fall asleep?"
"No, I told her to sleep. She must be tired. And I'll feed her plenty in the morning."
The servant responded to Iruka's remark. He answered kindly, looking down at the young half-youkai fox girl curled up beside him. The small girl emitted soft breaths as she slept peacefully. Despite the situation, Iruka felt that her relaxed sleeping figure lacked a sense of urgency.
"Seriously, such carefree creatures," Iruka sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Coming from you, who always snores loudly, is that really appropriate? ...They say that sleeping children grow. It's better than being unable to sleep out of fear."
Saying that, the servant gently strokes the head of the sleeping girl beside him. In response, the white fox girl loosens her mouth slightly. Her small hand grabs onto the hem of the servant's clothes.
"Hmph, what a cunning fox. ...Hey, you guys, here's your sake and cigarettes. Take them, you thieves!"
