As I step out the front door, the sun is fading, and it feels a little cooler. It was only a slight feeling because of the humidity.
“We’ve been here almost a month, so it’s time for us to go home.” (Hunter)
“We rented an ostrich and went back to Sugamo on our days off, but life here is not so bad at all. It’s not as urban as Sugamo and there is no entertainment, but the villagers are nice and the food is good.” (Hunter)
“Everyone has an accent, though, and sometimes it’s hard to understand them.” (Hunter)
“If the disturbances were resolved, the villagers would be able to live in peace.” (Hunter)
“That’s right.” (Hunter)
That preliminary investigation is an important task.
“Be careful! Abe-bro, Squirrel-sis!” (Hunter)
“Squirrel-sis?” (Shuu)
“If you want to be my disciple, you’ll have to get me the best acorn by the time I get back, squeak.” (Tamiko)
“Yes! Squirrelsis!” (Hunter)
After Kurano and the others saw us off, we next headed for the hut used by the hunters of Komagome City. I was about to knock on the door just to say hello, when I heard a snoring sound, so they might be asleep, so I left it alone.
“Then, let’s say a few words to Kaya before leaving.” (Shuu)
“Squeak!” (Tamiko)
As soon as I say that I bumped into Kaya, who is pulling an ostrich.
“This one’s nails are crackin’. So, I’m goin’ to paint resin to protect ‘em.” (Kaya)
“I see.” (Shuu)
We talked about my mission and the recent animal damage, and I followed her to the nearby ostrich pen.
The ostrich pen with a pile of straw by the entrance. When I peeked in through the entrance, I saw that the ostriches were separated individually like a stable, and they smelled quite bad.
“Smell like sh*t, eh? Well, all animals sh*t, don’ they?” (Kaya)
“Uh…” (Shuu)
Until a little while ago, I was living like an animal, so I can’t say anything about it.
“But… we’ve bin t’getha since we were kids…” (Kaya)
Kaya clung to the ostrich’s neck and buried her face in its feathers.
“Ratha, right now… I cana’ get enough of this smell… I feel like I’m not calm ev’ry day. Mufufu…” (Kaya)
“Grufu……” (Ostrich)
“The Ostrich seems baffled?”
She has a similar attribute to Noa.
“Ah, Mr. Abe. Hey, can ya hold this one down?” (Kaya)
“Oh, sure.” (Shuu)
He put his arms around her torso and held her down so she wouldn’t move, feeling her feathers fluffing up. The ostrich was docile even without my help. They bend their neck and stare at Kaya, their caretaker, as she brushes the surface of their nails.
“Are these ostriches used as transportation or for laying eggs?” (Shuu)
Ostrich eggs and riding ostriches are both specialties of this village.
“They are for lay’n eggs. Though it is not the egg-lay’n season. The eggs are big, tasty, n’tritious, and popula ‘especially with Sugamo.” (Kaya)
“I would like to try them again.” (Shuu)
“Kaya’s egg rolls were perfect, squeak. I want to try it again. It was so soft and fluffy, squeak.” (Tamiko)
“I made it befer, in a whim. I’ll make some mo’ in the fall. I hope ya lay healthy eggs, Monjovino.” (Ostritch)
“Kueeeee.” (Ostrich => Monjovino)
Monjovino rubbed their head against Kaya, whether they understood or not. Her naming sense is amazing.
“Our village is ‘lmost entirely made up of fields, medicinal ‘erbs, and ostriches. When the Rikugi Metro appeared more than ten years ago, the village was crowded wit huntas and city survey teams, but nothin’ has changed…” (Kaya)
“I heard that mycelium plants are plentiful.” (Shuu)
“Well, wound med’cines and simple an’dotes are materials that aren’t that exp’nsive. There aren’t any rare Metro Beasts or treashas, but we’re caged in the mid’l of the day. Gran’pas, Gran’mas made ostrich buns, rice crackers, and other things, but most of ‘em were food fer ourselves.” (Kaya)
“I see.” (Shuu)
“…Once the attacks from the Mtero Beast is ova, it’s back ta bus’ness as usual. It will be a peaceful, relaxin’ village until we b’come old and wrinkly. (Kaya)
“Sqeaka.” (Tamiko)
I was just about to leave when I saw her slightly forlorn profile and asked her a question.
“…Kaya.” (Shuu)
“Yeah?” (Kaya)
“…well, I hope you don’t mind me asking… but do you like this village?” (Shuu)
Her hand stops but she doesn’t lift her face.
“What do ya mean?” (Kaya)
“Well, I am not sure… I heard before that you were chosen as the village chief because of an old custom.” (Shuu)
Rikugi Village is a historic village that claims to be “one of the oldest villages in New Tokyo”.
The village has been through the wringer of the Tribal War Period, lost its workers during conscription and the exodus during the “Demon War,” and has been tormented by repeated epidemics and beast attacks. Even so, it has never belonged to any other tribe or city and has continued to exist as an independent settlement until the present day. The villagers are proud of the fact that they were deeply involved in the establishment of Sugamo City 30 years ago as a labor force.
Although it is an old village with such a long history, it has recently been losing young people to cities including Sugamo, and is suffering from an aging population and a declining birthrate. In the worst case, it may be said to be on the verge of collapse. The last time I stayed in this village, I was often a sounding board of elderly people who came to have lunch with me that “all the young people have left” and that “this is just the times we live in.”
On the other hand, there is a long-standing custom in the village that the village is ruled by a person who has a Fungal Class. Kaya is the daughter of the former village chief, and she herself was born a [Knight]. She was groomed from an early age to be a leader of the village and took over her father’s position two years ago when he died of illness at the age of 20.
“You’ve been doing your best to take care of livestock and protect the village, but… I wonder if there’s something else you want to do…” (Shuu)
While other young people her age were leaving the village, she was not given that choice. For her, her lineage was her destiny, and her talents could be a curse.
I can’t ask her straight out if she really wants to leave the village but… I was somewhat curious.
Kaya put down her brush and began filing the nails.
“I have neva thought of becomin’ a hunta? I’m not good at rough things.” (Kaya)
The ostrich shakes its head from side to side as if urging her to finish the grooming.
“I cana’ read much, and I’m not educat’d like the city pepl’. Then, if ya ask me what merits I have, I can only cook, work in the fields, and take care of the ostriches. there’s no one in the whole metro area who’ll take a hick like me.” (Kaya)
Kaya nonchalantly shrugged her head. I hesitated a bit whether it would be better for me to follow up. Putting aside her accent and animal odor fetish, she is young enough, beautiful, and good-natured. There will be plenty of potential employers.
“I wond’r… I really like this village. Howeva, when I was a lil’ girl, I had a lot of troubles. Still, I don’ think I wanna live anywher’ but here. Then, the role of village chief b’came excuse for me not to go out, ya know? Ahaha… But it’s just that… The boys and girls who left the village… Abe and the oth’rs… I cana’ deny I am dazzled by the others who left the village.” (Kaya )
Her slightly troubled smile is illuminated by the slightly tilted, reddish sunlight.
Her eyes turn to the other side of the fence, beyond the forest, and into the distance.
Looking at that profile—there was something squeezing my heart.
“…I’m sorry, I asked you something strange.” (Shuu)
I lowered my head a little so that my expression could not be seen.
I felt a faint heat warming up my chest tightly like a cloak.
“Ahahaha, not really. I cana’ tell anyone ‘ere ‘bout this, so I’m glad I did.” (Kaya)
Kaya stood up and patted the ostrich’s neck. She faced me while patting my shoulder and patting Tamiko.
“Mr. Abe, Little Tamiko, be careful. Ya mustn’t push ya’self hard. If ya come back safe n’ sound, I’ll make ya a delicious meal. (Kaya)
“Yes, I’ll do my best” (Shuu)
“Leave it to me, squeak! I want Kaya’s yummy eggs, squeak!” (Tamiko)
Rikugi Metro is a small metro as a whole, but it has multiple entrances and exits. There are three entrances: the west side, southwest side, and south side, all leading out to Rikugi Village.
In most cases, baphomets come from the southwest and south. It was Kurano and his team’s job to exterminate them, and my job was to check on the colony, which was said to be located on the sixth underground floor, and its surroundings. So, in order to avoid encountering any enemies, I decided to go in through the western entrance, using my [Beast Repellent Spores].
“…Abeshu, what were you thinking, squeak?” (Tamiko)
Tamiko asks me as we exit the western gate on the outskirts of the village.
“Hmm? What?” (Shuu)
“Something is strange. Since you talked to Kaya earlier, squeak.” (Tamiko)
As expected from my partner, Tamiko was very perceptive. I have not been sleeping and eating with her for five years.
“Are you by any chance… Being Squeak-xist to Kaya? Are you some sh*thead, squeak?” (Tamiko)
“No, no, I am not. Somehow, your words are slightly strange.” (Shuu)
“Squeaking confess! It’s dangerous to hide things from your wife, squeak!” (Tamiko)
“What wife? Who is she? Ouch, ouch, I get it, I get it.” (Shuu)
I received a lot of slaps on my cheeks and leaned against the trunk of a tree. Talking while walking might provoke the magic beast, so let’s get it over with before we head for the metro.
“Well, that’s right. How to say it… I thought, ‘Humans are amazing.'” (Shuu)
“Squeak?” (Tamiko)
I wonder if you would understand if I explained it to you. I’m not sure if you can understand. I’m not even sure if I understand it.
“Even in the previous era, it was a common story. Villages shrinking, young people leaving, children worrying because they can’t have dreams for the future. I, too, couldn’t get a job in my hometown, so I went to a Tokyo university and studied thoughtlessly, and even though I didn’t have much to offer, I got the only job offer I could get…” (Shuu)
Looking back, I saw a light on in the village. The light from a lantern. It was still bright enough to see all around, but it seemed to be used to guide the livestock. It is probably Kaya.
“What I meant was, even if times change, even if a civilization dies out. Humans come together, build houses and villages, eat meals, work, and laugh. We eat, work, laugh, worry, fight, and sometimes make mistakes. In the end, human beings live through recurring events. Even though civilization collapsed a hundred years ago. That’s why people are so amazing! …I think about it all over again.” (Shuu)
The scenery I have seen in this village. The sight of Kaya working. The smiles and complaints of the elderly. The sight of livestock running around.
They may not be anything special. But – because they are everywhere, it was very precious.
“I don’t know, it’s just natural. Sugamo and Rikugi villages were all created by humans, and humans live there. I thought it was our job as hunters to protect such important things. I know it’s too late to say this, but I was able to put it firmly in my heart. It’s like I’m even more motivated now.” (Shuu)
I patted my blanked-out partner’s head and chuckled.
“The point is, I’m going to do my best at work.” (Shuu)
“Humans are great, but I’m also great, squeak. Let’s do our best.” (Tamiko)
“How reliable.” (Shuu)
Once again, I turn my attention toward the village. I saw Kaya with a lantern in her hand and a flock of ostriches being drawn by the light.
“Let’s do our job for Kaya and the others. Nice working with you again, partner.” (Shuu)
“Squeak! I am not a lazy squirrel, squeak!” (Tamiko)
“You sometimes are.” (Shuu)
Finally,
Let’s go to Rikugi Metro.
