Kays Translations

Chapter 16: First Adventure

"Huh? Aya-chan...?"

Aya-chan, who was just in front of me a moment ago, is nowhere to be seen.

Not only that, but everything around me feels completely different from the forest we were in just a while ago.

...Where am I?

In an instant, I find myself in a completely different location, and I look around in confusion.

Maybe I can gather some information here.

Just as I thought that, I suddenly notice something shining from my chest.

"Hmm?"

It looks like "Silveite Threads," similar to the "Silveite Threads," but what makes it different is that the end is thinner and almost invisible.

This mysterious thread extends straight from around my heart.

Could this be what White Snow-sensei was talking about...?

The story about being connected by threads when "resonating" with someone.

If that's the case, does it mean that Aya-chan and I resonated?

But Aya-chan is supposed to be "rejecting" it.

To be precise, it's not Aya-chan who is rejecting, but... well, that's a side note.

"...Let's go and see."

As I say that to myself, I follow the thread and walk through the forest.

However, it was an unexpected turn of events. But if I really resonated with Aya-chan, it might be convenient. I can release Aya-chan, who was captured, and solve everything.

And while I'm at it, I can grasp the feeling of "resonance" and grow.

It's a win-win situation.

With such thoughts in my mind, I walk through the forest, and within 10 minutes, I find myself out of the woods.

What I see ahead is a gentle basin.

It's as if a large spoon scooped out a depression, and small houses are gathered together as if attracted to it.

It's a typical rural landscape.

I've seen it often on TV, and even when I entered Aya-chan's mind earlier, it was a similar rural area, so it's not particularly surprising.

However, there is clearly something odd about this place.

...?

Every... sin... gle... building... is... old...

That's right.

Even though I say "old," it doesn't mean they are decaying.

It means they are old-fashioned.

For example, the roofs. When I think of old houses, I imagine traditional Japanese architecture like my own house... but the houses in front of me are not like that at all.

The roofs are thatched... or something like that.

They resemble the ones I've seen in textbooks from my previous life, but they are not as beautiful as the ones in the textbooks.

They are covered in moss, and I can't tell if they are covered in mold or rotting, but they give off that impression. Several such old houses are standing there.

And around them, there are people.

Not just one person. I can see multiple people.

The clothes they are wearing are also old-fashioned.

They can be described as clothes from the Edo period, for instance.

In any case, it feels like I have slipped through time and arrived here, which makes me doubt my eyes.

"...Huh?"

I can't help but let out a surprised voice.

It feels like I'm seeing a hallucination, but if this is indeed inside Aya-chan's mind, then perhaps such things are possible.

...Well, are they possible?

If I consider that Aya-chan saw something about the Edo period on TV and developed a longing for it...?

I don't understand at all, so I'll ask White Snow-sensei about this situation when I go back.

With a determined mindset to dismiss the scene in front of me, I follow the thread straight into the village.

However, it didn't take long for me to find the person the thread is connected to.

She is probably around the same age as me.

She is also wearing clothes that resemble those from the Edo period, carrying a baby on her back, and hanging laundry.

Her profile looks very similar to Aya-chan.

"Aya-chan, let's go back."

As soon as I call out to her, the girl looks at me.

When she faces me directly, I feel an indescribable sense of discomfort.

Her face resembles Aya-chan.

To be more precise, she looks very much like her.

But... it's different.

The girl in front of me has an expression that is clearly different from Aya-chan's, and she murmurs.

"Are you... a priest? But you're not Aya-chan."

As soon as the girl murmurs, I hear a voice resounding from the sky.

"The arrogant one."

Boom! And my consciousness is once again thrown away.

Again. I'm thrown away from here.

At this rate, I won't make any progress.

So I instinctively press the "Silveite Threads" into the ground.

In the next moment, my consciousness barely connects.

"Intruding into people's hearts and even trying to stay there, the arrogance of an exorcist seems to know no bounds."

It's a delicate consciousness, like when I'm half asleep during afternoon classes... but still, it's definitely connected.

"...Who are you? Who is inside Aya-chan...!?"

In that fleeting moment, the voice actually responds.

"Ice Princess."

And with that voice as the last thing I hear, my consciousness is once again violently thrown away.

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