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(Oh no… They’ll easily figure out I’m not from this world! Am I going to be found out in less than a day? Is this some kind of skill? They’ll also figure out that I was behind those mana disturbances! Nooo! Noooo! Let’s talk about something more fun! That’s right! Dinner! We’re having deer, right?! Deer steaks! Yes! Deer! You’re a deer! Become the deer! Huh? Wait, that’s not right… What am I doing…)

Susie’s mind was trying to escape reality and go somewhere else.

“I can’t believe this,” Howard said.
“The Great Iroshio Forest, where an extraordinary amount of Mana gathers. It’s not strange for unusual things to occur there. Visitors from another world have occasionally been confirmed there, just like the legends about the heroes from two hundred years ago.”

(Whoa! Here it is! Legends about heroes! Isn’t this way too sudden though? I’ve never heard of something like this! Besides! There’s no way I could’ve known about something like that! Isn’t this going in a messed-up direction?! Hey, you two! Stop it!)

While Susie felt an odd shiver at the mention of the word “heroes,” Howard and Henry continued their conversation.

“The only individuals with well-documented histories are the ‘heroes’ and their attendants. Beyond that, there is no substantiated evidence or historical record—it’s merely a tall tale! This girl is not involved in any way.”

“In the past ten years, I’ve identified three people in the forest. They’ve all worn strange clothes with strange symbols. After conducting an Ether Scan on all of them, I figured out that they came from an unknown place. If the Mana disturbances are anomalies caused by an aftershock of some kind, then it wouldn’t be surprising if a huge vortex of Mana led to space distorting and creating a gateway to another dimension¹.”

“Don’t you think that it is still a bit too hasty to link all of that to Susie here?”
“There’s no disputing the results. Sir Cloud, this is the truth.”
“A—assuming that’s the case, what do you believe this girl to be?”

“Let’s start here. Sir Cloud, you know that the Great Iroshio Forest is unforgiving. What would happen if an ordinary human were suddenly cast all alone into its depths?”
“They’d die in a heartbeat.”
“Then what if the same happened to a person from this village?”
“Unless the person is highly skilled, they’d be no different than an amateur in the depths of the forest!”
“Then what does this say about this girl who managed to survive in that place all alone for several days?”

“……”

“It’s conceivable that numerous entities from other worlds have entered the Iroshio forest over the years. Yet, perhaps none possessed the strength necessary to overcome its challenges and survive to recount their experiences. But what if someone with the requisite capabilities were to appear?”

“They’d likely be on the same level as the people that appeared 200 years ago. Henry, are you suggesting that Susie is a manifestation of those heroes? If that’s true… then what exactly do you intend to do with this child?”

Howard and Henry exchanged sharp glances, then both turned their gaze to Susie.

(No, no, nooo! There’s no such thing! Heroes, my a̲s̲s̲! Stop it!!!)

Susie, catching their gazes, placed her hands carefully on her thighs. With a serious look on her face and in an oddly elegant posture, she shook her head violently from side to side.

“No! No!!! No!!! Me… no… hero…!!!”

Susie’s desperate voice and her strange, exaggerated movements broke the tense atmosphere between the two. They looked at each other and softened their expressions.

“I really can’t win against her.”
“That makes two of us, Sir Cloud.”

Susie tilted her head, looking confused as she watched them suddenly lose their intensity.

“Sir Cloud, I’m grateful to be here today on this occasion.”
“Henry, what are you saying?”
“If she hadn’t been able to survive the Great Iroshio Forest’s environment, she wouldn’t be here today. She too wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t met you, Sir Cloud.”
“That goes for me as well. I too wouldn’t have been here.”

“As you know, for the Soul Searcher to work properly, one must first open up their heart. If Miss Susie had harbored any distrust toward us, the Ether Scan would not have been as successful. This just goes to show the trust that both of you have for one another.”
“Susie is an honest girl after all.”

“That’s right. I’ve figured that much from talking to her. But the bond between you two is so strong that it’s hard to believe you’ve only just met. It almost feels as if your souls are connected².”
“Henry, you… you…”
“As a follower of God, I do not believe in coincidences. Everything happens for a reason.”
“…….”

“Whoever Miss Susie may be, I can sense that her connection to you, Sir Cloud, is extraordinary. Please take care of that connection. I apologize. That was presumptuous of me. Please forgive me.”
“Henry… Thank you, Henry. I’ll hold your words close to my heart. Thank you.”

“Now, now, we’ve left Miss Susie all alone for too long. Let’s save her from torture.”
“You’re right. If we delay any longer, her stomach will start protesting again.”
“We wouldn’t want that, hahaha!” Henry laughed, as both he and Howard went over to Susie.

As Susie listened to their conversation, she silently protested at Howard’s last words.

(H-How could he say that!)

Her eyes widened, and she turned red, staring in silent objection, mouth agape.

Taking Henry’s hand, Susie rose from her chair, still staring at Howard. Howard only responded with an amused smile. “Miss Susie, you must be tired. Please rest here for a bit. I’ll have some tea and a cherry pie ready for you.”

At the mention of cherry pie, Susie’s eyes lit up with delight.

“Cherry… pie?!”
“Oh my, your renowned cherry pie?”
“Yes. My wife baked it just before noon.”
“Now that’s lucky! Her cherry pie’s the best in the whole village!”

A soft, inaudible sigh of excitement escaped Susie’s mouth.

“Well then, let’s go. I’ll have it ready for you right away.”

Susie’s mood seemed to brighten entirely as Henry took her hand and led her happily out of the room, with Howard following behind, smiling as he watched them.

◇◇◇

Susie and Howard left the temple much later than they’d expected.

“Oh no, it’s getting quite dark. I told Sonia we’d be home before dinner. She must be worried.” Howard said as they walked side by side along the road between wheat fields, heading home.

“I’m sure she’s hard at work preparing that deer. If we’re late, the food might get cold.”
“That… bad… Go… home… fast!”
“Are you sure you have room for dinner after eating all that cherry pie?”
“Sweet… things… different… stomach!”
“Now that’s something I didn’t know!”

Howard chuckled, and the two quickened their pace. After walking for a bit more, Susie, who was walking on Howard’s left, suddenly stopped.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” Howard turned to look at her.
“Sir Cloud… Sir Cloud… Sir Cloud!!!”

Howard glanced over, surprised at the urgency in her voice.

“What’s the matter, Susie? Are you alright?” As he turned fully toward her, she grabbed his sleeve tightly with both hands.

“Golden… sea… Burning…” she murmured, her wide eyes fixed on the western sky, unable to move as she stared intensely at something far beyond the horizon.

The setting sun’s rays bathed the wheat field that stretched endlessly before them. The ends of the wheat fluttered back and forth, spreading out like a vast ocean that seemed to stretch for eternity. The tips of the wheat, swaying in the wind, rippled like waves across the golden expanse.

The seemingly endless golden sea stretched beneath the sky colored golden by the setting sun’s hues.

“Pretty…” Susie stood motionless, her eyes transfixed on the golden landscape before her. “Dream… like…”

“It’s not a dream.” Howard replied softly.

Susie looked up at him, startled by his response. Their eyes met, and Howard gave her a gentle smile in return.

Susie once again turned her gaze towards the golden sea, and a single tear slid down her cheek, glistening in the light.

Howard saw the tear fall, and his heart skipped a beat.

“What’s wrong, Susie? Why are you crying?!”
“Huh? Crying? Me?”

Susie placed her hand on her cheek, taking in the wet sensation.

“W-Why? Cry… me?”

Susie looked at Howard, her voice shaky as the tears spilled down one after another.

“W-Why… W-Why…” In a quiet outburst, Susie clung to Howard, continuing to weep.

“Susie, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Are you hurting somewhere?!” Howard asked urgently, grabbing her shoulders in concern.

“T-This is bad! We must get you to Sonia! Hold on, Susie! I’ll take you home in no time!” Without another word, Howard hurriedly scooped Susie up into his arms and began rushing down the road that led home.

Susie, cradled in Howard’s arms, gazed ahead at the golden light reflecting in her eyes. She continued to sob, the tears streaming down as she trembled quietly.

1. Robinxen: Imagine a fantasy world where this is just considered within the realm of reasonable sense… well he is from a somewhat appropriate background for this line of thinking, but still.
2. Robinxen: What’s this weird development…?

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