Kays Translations

Chapter 5: The First Encounter

Startled by the voice, I turned around.

Two women were standing in front of me across the boundary.

One looked to be in her early twenties, wearing a white shirt with a collar, black pants, and an apron, dressed like a waitress at a fashionable cafe. The other was probably in high school. She was wearing plain clothes and had a rather large eco-bag slung over her shoulder.

They appeared to be Japanese, and their words sounded Japanese. It is possible that it is some  otherworldly translation skills, but they looked like typical Japanese with black hair and eyes.

Both of them had very good facial features, although dirt stains were noticeable on their clothes and faces. They were beautiful, to say the least.

I had assumed that there would be other transients, but as I was wondering how to respond to the sudden question, the woman dressed like a sales clerk spoke up.

“I am Tsubaki Sasamiya. This woman here is Todo Sakura.”

Following Sasamiya’s name, the other girl bowed her head.

“You may wonder what I’m going to say all of a sudden,……, but please listen to me.”

I thought I should tell them my name, too, but I didn’t know what to expect. Deciding to be vigilant for the time being, I just nodded and continued listening .

“Around noon today, we suddenly saw a tremendous light and everything in front of us went completely white. The next thing I knew, we were in this forest. ……”

(Almost the same situation as mine.)

She broke off there and seemed to be watching me, so I nodded back again.

“Could you please tell me where I am? And ………… please, please. Could you please let us stay here tonight?”

Suddenly they were  in an unknown place, and after wandering through the forest,  finally found a Japanese man. If he has a home there, it is natural to rely on him, right?

(But is it safe to accept them?)

Both of them look exhausted. It doesn’t look like they are acting, and I think it is unlikely that they will suddenly attack me. At all costs, I want to take this opportunity to check the effects of the village skill of invasion and expulsion.

There is a possibility that it is some kind of trap, but there is no end to the risk. I decided that checking the skills should be my first priority, and decided to talk to the woman.

“okay I’ll let you  stay.”

“Thank you very much!”

“But I have a few conditions, or rather, requests.”

“Condition ……?”

The woman seemed to be very upset by my response.

（Yes, it’s a condition of exchange from the opposite sex, and from an old man. It’s natural to be wary of all kinds of things. ……)

It’s true that she is beautiful and I myself am not withered that way. I’m not, but that’s not the point right now.

“When I say ‘conditions,’ I don’t mean disreputable requests. In exchange for staying with me, I want you to follow some of my instructions.”

“Instructions?”

 (You are still skeptical. You don’t even know what kind of instructions I have for you.)

“If you are dissatisfied with my instructions, you may refuse. But in that case–I’m sorry, but I’m not going to let you stay.”

The woman who had come to ask looked at the other girl and nodded at each other.

“I understand. I will follow your instructions, so could you please let us stay the night?”

Apparently, they were willing to negotiate.

“Then, please come this way. By the way, do you see a thin membrane in front of your eyes?”                                                                                      “Yes, actually, I’ve been wondering about it ever since I saw this place” (Now it’s just a matter of whether I can enter it on my own. ……)

Turned out that other than myself, they  could see this boundary normally.                                                                                                                                                                                                        I answer the women with this thought.

I see. Then please slowly touch the membrane.

As I instructed, the two who fearfully touched it with their fingertips stopped their fingers as if they were being blocked by the …… boundary.

“…….”

This time they  pressed harder with the palm of their  hand, but it still did not budge.

“It feels like there’s some kind of solid wall. I can’t go to ……. I can’t go there.”

Apparently, there was no way to get in. The next question was how to get permission. If i suddenly say out loud, “Permission to enter!” and nothing happens. Ill be embarrassed. I think about this nonsense, and as I look at the girls, I try to give them permission in my mind.

“Touch it again.”

“Ah.”

The two fingertips that were extended – they had successfully penetrated the wards.

When I told them to continue inside, they were a little puzzled, but entered the wards. They showed a look of relief that they were able to enter safely.

(Now that i’ve accepted these two, I’d like to make sure i can expel them …… just in case.)

However, if I do it suddenly without saying anything, I feel it might leave a stain later on. With that in mind, I will get a prior confirmation.

“What I’m about to say is not an instruction, but a request.”

“Yes, what is it? ……”

“I don’t know if you believe me, but I have the ability to exile others on my property at will.”

“What ……?”

I ignored the woman’s response and continued on.

“I’ve never used it yet, and I really need to check it out now.”

“…… is that dangerous?’

“I honestly don’t know. I’m saying please because I don’t know. –If you don’t like it, you can refuse. If you don’t want to, you can say no. In that case, I’ll still let you stay.”

While the woman was pondering, the other girl, who had been silent all this time, spoke out..

 “Don’t worry, you can try me.”

“Oh, wait a minute. It might be dangerous.”

 “It’s okay. We are in a position to help you.”

The girl who answered that to the worried woman who called out to her said that while looking at me firmly. The woman, too, in her position, had nothing more to say. I felt like I was doing something terrible, but I couldn’t turn my back on her.

“Thank you very much. Maybe, but from now on, I think you will be temporarily removed from this membrane.”                                                                                                              

“Yes, I understand.”

I don’t know what this girl’s intention was in agreeing to this, but I don’t want the conversation to get complicated. Before she changes her mind, I quickly will her to be expelled.

What do you think? As soon as I thought of it, the girl disappeared from in front of my eyes. And she was standing outside the boundary of the place where the gate of the house used to be before the transition.

(Thank God, I succeeded.)

It seems that the ability of banishment was successfully activated. There was nothing unusual about the girl from what I could see. I immediately reactivated my permission to enter and told them to come inside.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Todou –san.  We are done checking. I still have a few more things I would like to ask of you two, ……, but for now, please get some rest.”

I turned to face them, and this time I firmly identified myself.

“I’m sorry I didn’t even identify myself. My name is Keisuke Kusakabe. Please come in.”

The two looked somewhat relieved as they followed me.

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