Chapter 904 – The Disappearance of the Fox Shaman

000

After the Great Shaman’s ceremony that lasted for three days was completed, the temple was safely reopened to the public.

The guards standing at the entrance stopped blocking people by crossing their windows.

Instead, they stood facing each other, kept the passageway open, and greeted passersby warmly.

The Five Elements Festival has ended, but the enthusiasm of the people and the festival atmosphere have not yet ended.

After a few years, beautiful flowers symbolizing the blessings of the sacred tree bloomed, and public sentiment toward the temple soared.

Thanks to this, the inside of the temple was crowded with people who wanted to express their gratitude to the priests and shamans, and even though the festival was over, the people in the temple were constantly dealing with visitors.

＂Oh, it’s the great shaman!＂

And, the moment I saw Tokoyo accompanying Cleon and the others who had arrived at the temple after preparing to leave for Fairy Village, it was natural that even more people would gather.

＂Tokoyo!＂

＂Thank you so much!＂

“I believed that this ceremony would be a success!”

People surrounding her tokoyo and welcoming her.

Thanks to this, Cleon and his group were separated from Tokoyo.

＂Wow, there are so many people…＂

Lila stuck out her tongue as if she was tired of the crowds, and Cleon nodded and muttered with a slightly worried look.

“I need to be guided to the entrance to Fairy Village…”

“It can’t be helped. Because you have achieved the success of the ceremony that many people in Eastern countries have longed for.”

When Kuon says that, Amelia looks around her.

“If we stand here, won’t it get in the way of people passing by?”

The group resembles a group of hikers carrying large bags on their backs filled with the necessary luggage for the adventure.

As Amelia said, it seemed like standing in the temple’s courtyard could interfere with the movement of people passing by.

“Hmm… I think it would be better to go somewhere with fewer people.”

When Kuon said he agreed, a young shaman who had been freed from dealing with others approached the group.

＂Mr. Cleon and Mr. Kuon…? Oh, and his companions…”

The young shaman had a fox mask on her face like the ones other shamans wore, but by her voice and attitude, she could tell who was underneath the mask.

＂I… Um.＂

As Cleon tries to call her name, she remembers what she said earlier about how a shrine maiden who cannot do her part should not call her name, and she cancels calling her name. Br〉

＂?＂

Perhaps Cleon’s behavior was strange, and Lila must have been looking at him from the side.

＂Keuhum.＂

When Nagi saw Cleon’s behavior like that, he just cleared his throat and passed it off.

“Everyone. Seeing as he came with Tokoyo, he must have something to talk about… But as you can see, Tokoyo shows no signs of being freed from the city’s residents for a while.”

＂It seems so.＂

＂So, I will take you to the main hall where Tokoyo usually stays at the temple. Would you please wait there for a moment? If you stand here dressed like that… You will definitely stand out.”

The group only thought about the luggage they were carrying on their backs, but what Nagi pointed out was their clothing.

＂What do you think of our clothes?＂

“… No matter how you look at it, it doesn’t seem like they came to the temple to pray. That… Especially Kuon.”

At her words, the group looks at each other.

Certainly, although they are light now, they are fully armed.

Cleon had three swords attached to his waist and was wearing leather armor that he only wore when going out upon request.

Lila was carrying a large staff on her back, and it was inevitable that Sasha would also have a bow.

Since Amelia did not carry any physical weapons, she appeared to be wearing relatively normal clothing among her group.

However, as Nagi said, Kuon’s outfit in particular is a bit dangerous.

The entire group’s senses were paralyzed, but if they thought about it carefully, she nodded, repeating, ‘Sure…’.

The official priest’s outfit that I wore for the first time in a long time was because, like the shrine maid’s uniform, it was a ‘a little dangerous outfit worn by Kuon’.

I avoid describing it in detail, but what comes out, what goes in, and what comes out is very noticeable.

Like the chest or thighs.

“Mom! “Why aren’t you wearing pants?”

“Fizzle! It’s still too early for you!”

When the eyes of people around her, including those in her group, turn to her, Kuon’s face turns red in an instant.

＂This, this. That…”

“This is a place where there are small children, so please refrain from doing so… Oh, of course. I know very well that it is the official attire of the church, but…”

When Nagi was having a hard time what to say, Cleon was embarrassed and spoke to Nagi.

“Ah, okay. First, guide me to a place where people can’t see.”

“… Thank you for your understanding. Then this way…”

Nagi bowed her waist and began to guide her group, and her group let out a small sigh and followed behind her.

Lila slowly moved from Cleon, who was in the lead, to Kuon, who was following him, and whispered to Kuon in a low voice.

＂… More than that, Kuon. For some reason, that outfit… Didn’t it look a little more exposed than before? I don’t think it was that bad even when I was staying in Elesia… Unless the fabric has shrunk…”

＂S-Stop, Lila…! Shi, I’m paying attention… Cleon doesn’t seem to notice, so don’t tell me…”

Lila is astonished by Kuon’s potential, whose growth knows no end.

For some reason, she glances down at her own body and slumps her shoulders.

And Cleon was sorry, but he heard everything, and although he thought he was aware of it, he was controlling his mind so as not to look back at her.

“… So, what business do you have today?”

Then, seeing that Laila’s side was empty, Nagi came to Cleon’s side and spoke quietly.

“Ah… I have a place where I can get some guidance from Tokoyo. Do you know it’s fairy scent?”

＂… Fairy Incense…? No, this is my first time hearing about it. Tokoyo, do you know that place?”

＂To be precise, I should say that Tokoyo knows the entrance to that Fairy Village… Because we need to go to Fairy Village. “I heard that there is an entrance inside the temple, so I’m trying to get directions.”

At Cleon’s words, Nagi closes her mouth as if thinking about something for a moment.

Then she looks up at Cleon again.

＂Is that really all it is?＂

“… Well, what are you suspecting?”

“Tokoyo spoke yesterday. You don’t have to worry about the great shaman’s successor… After Cleon leaves.”

Cleon’s hand trembled.

And then I glanced back.

It seemed like Laila and Kuon were so busy talking to each other that they couldn’t hear Nagi’s voice.

＂Do you know something?＂

＂Ah, no… That’s… Seup…”

As Cleon held back his words, accompanied by a dry mouth sensation, Nagi’s suspicions seemed to grow stronger behind the mask.

“Should I say it’s Tokoyo’s personal matter…”

“… What. That’s probably true too. But, I’m curious. As for the next great shaman, she will be born in a field and will be picked up by a stork…”

“… Huh?”

Cleon couldn’t help but look like he didn’t know what she was talking about for a moment.

So, I guess I had no choice but to look at Nagi with slightly strange eyes.

Then, I too feel Cleon’s gaze and look at him.

“Why are you doing that?”

“No. What I just said… The great shaman is born in the field or a bird brings it to you… What does that mean?”

“Ah… It seems different from the kingdom.”

＂What!?＂

As the incomprehensible questions and answers continued, Cleon felt a little afraid.

“It’s how babies are born. In eastern countries, it is said that they are picked up from cabbage fields or carried by large birds. I can’t know which one it will be until I’m born…”

＂…＂

With a thud, Cleon felt like hitting his forehead.

Of course, there are similar stories in the kingdom… Such as that it was in a basket that floated down the river, or that a fairy visited it while it was sleeping and placed it on top of the bed.

In any case, this is a story made up because it is impossible to clearly explain to children how to make a baby.

“Mr. Cleon slept holding hands with Mr. Tokoyo, right? It’s okay. I won’t tell anyone else.”

＂… That’s right, yes. That’s right.”

It was questionable whether she really spoke without knowing anything, but Cleon kept her mouth shut, thinking that he did not want to destroy her innocence.

She will find out naturally someday, when she gets older.

Rather, I don’t even know how old she is now.

＂Hmm…＂

And Nagi closed her mouth as if thinking about something.

Because her mood was a little unusual, Cleon asked her about her anxiety.

“… Hey, what were you thinking like that…?”

“No. I was also wondering if I could make a baby if I sleep holding hands with Cleon…”

＂Key black!＂

I’m sorry, but I ended up imagining it.

Cleon coughed as if he was paralyzed by his own imagination, and the group following him looked ahead at the loud sound, wondering what was going on.

“Are you okay, Cleon?”

＂It’s okay… And… If you don’t become an adult, you won’t have a baby even if you sleep holding hands…”

＂Oh, I guess so.＂

What are you talking about? Feeling the same sense of self-destruction, Cleon feels that his mental strength is being eroded in an instant.

＂… What’s the story?＂

And it seemed like Lila had slightly misunderstood Cleon’s words.

Thinking about what had happened just last night – Lila coming back after tormenting Ventuna, Cleon felt goosebumps and goosebumps running down her spine.

“Oh, no. It’s nothing. I was just… Admiring the innocence of the children.”

＂… Huh.＂

Lila still looked at Cleon with some suspicion, but she soon switched back to sharing her story with Kuon.

＂Haa.＂

And Cleon sighed.

＂… Did I put Cleon in trouble?＂

And then, when Nagi asked carefully, Cleon shook his head.

“No. Are you okay? Because the problem is mine…”

As Cleon answers, he smiles bitterly at Nagi.

Then, I will become quiet and focus on guidance and proceed through the passage within the barrier.

However, if there was something that Cleon did not know, it would have been the conditions for creating a child that were passed down to the children of this country.

When a man and a woman hold hands and sleep on a single bed – there was one thing in the content that Nagi did not say.

＇… We like each other… It’s a shameful thing to say.’

As Nagi thought like that in her mind, the bottom of her face covered by her mask turned red.

001

Cleon and his companions were guided to such a large main hall.

After asking his companions to wait here for a while, Nagi said he would return with Tokoyo and once again passed through the barrier leading to the entrance from the main hall.

“If no one comes back like this, will we never get out of here?”

When Lila said that as a joke, Sasha looked a little frightened.

＂Is that so!?＂

“Calm down, Sasha. Because no one posts anything. Well, the barrier here specializes in making intruders lose their way around the sacred tree. It would be difficult to pass without a reliable guide.”

After Cleon calmed down Sasha, Lila went out into the main hall and looked curiously at the leaves lined up near her passage.

“What’s surprising is that this is not made using a barrier stone, but rather a sacred tree and the surrounding plants. Hmm… Is there something in the unfolding flowers that confuses my senses and direction?”

＂If there is something like that, isn’t it a harmful poison…?＂

Amelia tackles Lila’s words without realizing it.

And Lila smiled and said ‘Ahaha’ at Amelia’s words.

＂Anyway… This child named Vivre that Lila brought… He’s really cute when he stays calm like this…”

And Kuon looked at Buvre, who was sitting on his lap, raising and lowering his head in a sleepy manner.

A place across the yard where warm sunlight pours down.

The guy was dozing peacefully with his head resting on Kuon’s chest.

Of course, it was something that a normal Vivre would not do, but a magic like a green glowing leash was currently hanging around Vivre’s neck.

A suppressing magic for anti-demon beasts created jointly by Laila and Kuon.

This magic, called Suma’s Leash, was a magic that had no choice but to be used because Buvre could not keep quiet when he tried to leave the house to take her to Fairy Village.

Since it was said to be a magical beast and ordinary magic could not be applied, it was necessary to cast as strong a sleeping spell as possible. Seeing it in such a helpless state, Lila had no choice but to stick out her tongue.

The problem is that it consumes a significant amount of magic attribute.

I couldn’t stay in a sleepy state forever, so I needed to head to Fairy Village before my magic power ran out.

“No, Kuon. You saw what happens when that guy starts running wild, right? It’s hard to catch him unless he uses water magic. For such a difficult beast to raise, Gonzales alone is enough.”

“Gonzales is good!”

When Sasha counters Laila’s words, Laila shakes her head and speaks.

“But the amount González eats is increasing every day, right?”

“Ugh… That’s true…”

“What. Either way, forcibly taming and keeping such a wild beast is something only a rich noble with bad taste would do. Gonzalez, we’ve had you since you hatched, so it’s a little better.”

Moreover, being able to take on human form through magic was also great.

“I’m sorry about that guy, but he was captured by humans once, right? Rather than staying in the human world, it would be better to return to Fairy Village…”

“Sorry! I waited!”

Sigh! And when her arm suddenly extends out in a place where no one is clearly in her passage, Lila is startled by her arm suddenly passing in front of her eyes and jumps! She does, and she jumps and falls behind her.

And when Tokoyo’s full body is seen in her arms, she looks back at Lila next to her.

There was Lila, with twin tails sticking up slightly like the tail of a startled cat.

＂Huh? “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing…”

As if to calm her pounding heart, Lila answered while grumbling.

“Well, anyway. Sorry for keeping you waiting. Somehow I was able to escape in the middle.”

“It’s okay, I didn’t wait that long.”

As Cleon said that, he stood up from where he was sitting, and the other party members also stood up, gathering their luggage to move again.

At that time, when Cleon does not see Nagi, who had said he would return with Tokoyo, he questions Tokoyo.

＂Aren’t we together with Nagi?＂

＂Nagi? No? Nagi didn’t come here? I thought Nagi was with you guys…”

＂Huh…?＂

Something is strange.

If they don’t think Nagi lied to them, did something else happen in the meantime?

“What. I am also busy among young shamans. They might be caught by other children and help them with their work. Ruler. Let’s go to the entrance of Fairy Village before it’s too late.”

“… Is that true too?”

When Cleon nods to Tokoyo’s words, Tokoyo stands in front of the passage made of the trees she passed through, closes her eyes, and makes a seal with both hands.

“Twist. Open. It is the passage of Samra that connects the three thousand worlds. Show me the possibilities of all things.”

When the seal made by hand is changed several times along with a short chant, the trees that make up the passage begin to shake, and the leaves hit each other, making an eerie sound.

“Joe, it’s a little scary.”

When Sasha said that, Tokoyo glanced back and smiled.

“Hehe, the trees are just shaking, so don’t be nervous.”

＂Right, right?＂

Hehe!

＂Hiik!＂

＂What is that laughter I just heard from across the aisle…?＂

“Isn’t it the sound of leaves shaking?”

＂Do you think there is such a leaf?＂

In the midst of all that chatter, the appearance of the passage changed, and the scene unfolding beyond it changed slightly.

“With this, you will be able to go to the place where the entrance to Fairy Village is.”

＂As expected, it is an amazing magic… No, it is an amazing spell.＂

It’s clearly the same place and there’s only one passage, but it’s a magic trick where the trees shake and bend to change the path that guides you.

It is a barrier technique on such a large scale that it would be impossible without using the power of the spirit vein.

If I went into a place like this without preparation, I was sure I would get lost.

Anyway, the party throws themselves into the prepared passage again.

The road is a little darker and more eerie than when you come to the main hall.

Amelia and Sasha unknowingly went behind Cleon and grabbed his sleeves.

‘Well, it’s hard to walk…’

Although Cleon thought so on the inside, he couldn’t say it outwardly.

Finally, when we came out to a slightly larger place once again, it was a place as close to the roots of the sacred tree as the main temple.

In terms of location, it should be said that it is on the opposite side of where the main temple is located, centered around the sacred tree.

With Tokoyo at the head, the group exits the passage one by one, and looks into a dark and humid place with almost no sunlight, which is the opposite of the main temple where sunlight enters.

However, no matter where I looked, there was no sign of the entrance to Fairy Village.

“… I don’t have one?”

“Weird? It was definitely here…”

Tokoyo tilted her head at Laila’s words, and the group each walked around the small area and looked around.

What was visible was the body of a huge sacred tree, and unknown grasses and flowers surrounding it in place of a fence.

At that time, there was no plausible entrance.

＂Huh…?＂

Cleon looks for something unnatural near the place where the roots of the sacred tree protrude from the ground.

＂… Mushroom?＂

It was a mushroom.

Of course, mushrooms grow anywhere in humid and dark places, but the arrangement of the mushrooms is a bit strange.

Colorful, fairytale-like mushrooms were growing out of the ground in a circle, as if they had been artificially planted by someone.

And in the middle of it all, there was a ‘fox mask’.

Cleon looked familiar with the fox mask.

It was one of the fox masks worn by temple shamans, but this was something I had seen before.

“… Why is Nagi’s mask in a place like this?”

“Ah! Cleon, that!”

And Lila raises her voice to Cleon.

Cleon is so surprised that he almost drops the fox mask, but Lila runs over and points to the mushroom circle in front of Cleon.

“That’s it! Fairy Circle! Traces of where the entrance to Fairy Village was located!”

＂… It’s closed?”

＂If you have a circle, you can open it again. I’m glad~ I wonder how much money and time it would have taken to find the entrance again from the beginning…”

Layla sighs as if she has been resting for a while, but soon Cleon looks at her mask in her hand.

“… Cleon, what is that mask?”

＂… It was lying among these mushrooms? ＂

A story related to fairies appears in the two people’s minds.

Fairies are basically a race that likes fun.

Since it is said that the pure part of nature was born with will, it would be inevitable to pursue instinctive pleasure rather than the moral part of human standards.

In the past, children wandering through the forest were taken to the fairy village while playing with the fairies.

Of course, the fairies had no malice, but they wanted to play longer with like-minded human children.

‘Changeling’.

When a child kidnapped by a fairy disappears, what remains is a circle made of mushrooms and the child’s keepsake-like items.

For a moment, there was silence between the two.

Then, I turned my attention back to the circle where the entrance to the fairy village would have been.

＂… Ahaha… No way…＂

“Are you saying Nagi went to Fairy Village?”