After gathering information from the library, I headed home. I gathered the children in one place and made an announcement.
"You all know that Hare's reward comes first, right? The picnic is tomorrow, so everyone prepare your luggage. It'll be one night and two days."
"Huh? That's too sudden!"
"That's how life is. You were also suddenly kidnapped."
"...That's oddly convincing, mister?"
Luna nodded her head in understanding. Just in case, I looked around at the other children. Hare had already left to pack her things, and Estia was just standing there blankly.
"My, my holy water..."
She still seemed unable to recover from the shock of defeat. Seeing Estia like that, I turned around to prepare myself as well. At that moment, Cecilia asked me a question.
"Mister, is participation in the picnic mandatory?"
"Why do you ask that, Cecilia?"
Based on this flow, things would surely go as I expected... Could it be...? Cecilia nodded and continued speaking.
"Yes, just as you're expecting, I don't want to go on the picnic. I absolutely hate such childish activities."
She didn't want to go on the picnic. Cecilia was expressing her refusal. However, refusing her refusal was also my freedom.
"You won't go on the picnic because it's childish behavior. That's not a valid reason, Cecilia. I refuse your refusal."
"I don't like going outside, mister. I don't particularly want to go out. I need time to think. BlackMeow is at home, so I'll guard the house alone."
...That won't do. If something happens while I'm away from home—if someone breaks in or something goes wrong—I won't be able to help Cecilia. The picnic location is a bit far from Henencia, so it's safer to take everyone. I answered Cecilia firmly.
"If you're worried about BlackMeow, we can take BlackMeow too. And I'll give you plenty of time to think there. You're a group and there are no exceptions, Cecilia."
"..."
Cecilia pressed her lips tightly shut. Her expression was full of dissatisfaction.
*...Still, I can understand this reaction to some extent.*
Cecilia was a child with an extremely individualistic personality. She was comfortable being alone and liked moving according to her own plans. If those plans were disrupted or changed, she would feel stressed.
*She probably already made plans for tomorrow, so she didn't want to be interrupted.*
I didn't know what emotions were mixed in there, but I could understand to some extent why Cecilia was dissatisfied. I knelt down to meet Cecilia's eye level and spoke.
"Cecilia."
"...Yes."
"Don't avoid my gaze. Look straight into my eyes, Cecilia."
"Yes."
Cecilia met my gaze with emotionless black eyes. However, she couldn't hide the sprout blooming within them. Cecilia was definitely sulking at me.
"Cecilia, are you angry because I didn't listen to you?"
"What are you talking about, mister? You said I have no emotions. I'm absolutely not angry."
"It's not that you have none at all, but rather the door is closed and you don't realize it yourself. That's why I have you practice expressions and teach you about different types of emotions."
Because someday you'll be able to realize it. Because you'll be able to avoid death.
"It's not that you have none at all. I said you can find them again, I didn't say otherwise. Don't use having no emotions as a shield."
"...Yes."
If Cecilia couldn't fully realize her emotions, the moment she satisfied all her curiosity, she would take her own life. Because she would lose her purpose and have no reason to live. To provide that direction, Cecilia needed to come out of the dark, pitch-black room first.
"I'm forcing you to come along for your future, Cecilia."
"...If it's for my sake, wouldn't it be better to just leave me alone as I want?"
"That might be true for this moment. But if you think about later, it'll be different. Even if you don't realize it now..."
Someday, the day will come when you understand this.
"...?"
Cecilia tilted her head as if she didn't understand my words. Certainly, it seemed like difficult words for the current Cecilia.
"You'll understand as time passes. Just know that much."
"Ack! Mister, you just sounded totally like a boomer!"
"...Be quiet, Luna. Go pack your things."
She should hurry up and pack instead of butting in. I thought Cecilia understood and stood up from my kneeling position. If we wanted to leave early tomorrow, we needed to sleep early, so I should hurry and start preparing.
"So, Cecilia. You're coming with us too. You understand sufficiently, right?"
"...I don't really understand, but I do understand that you have no intention of giving up on me."
"That's enough. You should prepare too."
"Yes, mister."
Cecilia returned to her room with a blunt tone. She would prepare well on her own, so there was no need to help her. So...
"Sob sob, my holy water... give me my holy water quickly..."
"Be quiet, Estia. Go to your room quickly and prepare, I'll help you."
"Holy water... give it... sob sob..."
"Don't pretend to cry, it's too awkward."
"Tch."
I just needed to help that drug-addicted Saint. Leading Estia, who was even acting out tears to get holy water, I began preparing in earnest for the picnic.
Early morning. The children who woke up early for the picnic ate simple bread and came out to the hall. Their bags were full of luggage for the picnic, and they were clearly excited with anticipation.
"Where! Where are we going! I want to see the ocean!"
"O-ocean...? What's an ocean...?"
"A land with tons of water! They said it's really deep! I only saw it in books so I don't know... but anyway, it's like that!"
Luna and Hare were chattering away, talking about the travel destination.
*The ocean...*
The ocean would be nice too. Even better for children who've never seen it. However, since the Grimoire gang was at that tourist spot, maybe later but not now. I patted Luna and Hare's heads.
"If you want to see the ocean, go by yourselves later. Unfortunately, today isn't the ocean."
"Ugh...! Don't touch my head! I'm not a little kid!"
"I-I'm fine with it, mister...! You can do it more...!"
"If you don't like it, I won't."
If she doesn't like it, there's nothing I can do. I removed my hand from Luna's head.
"Eh...? Th-this isn't what I meant!?"
Luna made a disappointed expression. Anyway, did everyone pack their things properly? There aren't any forgotten items or useless things, right? I stopped patting Hare's head and spoke to the children.
"Let's check for a moment if you've forgotten anything. Everyone put your bags on the floor."
"Hmm, a bag inspection?"
"It's more of a check than an inspection. If you don't want it, I won't inspect."
It's not like a training camp where children hide alcohol, so there's no need to inspect bags. If they don't want it, they can refuse. I told them to raise their hands if they didn't want a bag check. For 1 second, 2 seconds, up to 3 seconds, no one raised their hand. However, when 5 seconds passed, one person raised their hand high toward the sky.
"I-I...! I think you don't need to check mine...! I-I already checked everything...!!"
Raising her hand high and shouting was Hare. She had a somewhat anxious expression.
*What on earth is in her bag that she's refusing inspection?*
From her expression... it looked like something that absolutely must not be discovered by me... Perhaps it's "that thing" I saw in her room before? I asked Hare lightly.
"Are you sure I don't need to check? You haven't forgotten anything?"
"Y-yes...! I checked everything...! I-it's fine...!!"
"...There's no need to be so startled, Hare."
Right. That can happen. Hare's face was so red it resembled a tomato about to burst. If I pressed further, she seemed like she'd explode with a pop sound, so I decided to save my words.
"Then, I'll check everyone's bags except Hare's."
The first person to check was Luna.
"I'm smart so I packed everything! You don't really need to check!"
Looking at Luna's confident expression, I opened her small bag.
"Clothes, socks, toothbrush... you've packed everything you need. Same with the wooden sword on your back."
"You said it, mister! The sword is my friend! Or was it...? Anyway! You told me to stay together with it!"
"Yes, you're listening to me well. Good job."
"I-it's not like I listened to you because of that! I just... in case...! I packed it...!"
That's a long excuse. Anyway, there was no particular problem with Luna's bag. She packed all the important things and even packed spare clothes in case of emergencies. However, one important thing was missing.
"...Luna, just in case, let me ask. Where are your underwear?"
"Oh, right."
"Here's your bag. Go to your room and put them in."
"Okaaay."
It would have been a disaster if I hadn't checked. I almost made Luna wear my underwear from Hare's bag. Since Luna's turn was over, next was Estia and Cecilia's turn.
"The only thing missing from my bag! Just put in holy water and it's done! Put in holy water right now, oppa!"
"Estia, I packed for you yesterday so there's no need to check."
"N-no! I'm telling you holy water is missing! Oppa! Can't you hear me!?"
Estia's check was done. So automatically only Cecilia remained. I approached Cecilia's bag. Even at a glance, it seemed light.
"Cecilia, did you pack everything..."
"I packed everything. I efficiently packed only what's necessary."
Was that statement true? To confirm whether Cecilia's words were truthful, I opened the bag. Inside was full of black clothes, and if there was anything unusual...
"Meow?"
"You packed BlackMeow too."
"...I was originally going to leave it behind, but it kept getting into my bag. I had no choice but to pack it."
Cecilia was looking at BlackMeow with a disgusted expression. But if she really hated it, she wouldn't have even thought of putting it in the bag. Cecilia was just clumsy at expressing herself; she clearly liked BlackMeow deep down.
"Still, there's nothing problematic in anyone's bags. Except for Hare, whose bag I didn't check."
"M-my bag has no problems either, mister...!"
"Hmm, then wouldn't it be okay to check?"
"Ah, ugh... th-that's... n-no...! More importantly...! M-mister...! Where are we going today...!?"
Hare hastily changed the subject and asked about the destination.
*Come to think of it, I never told them.*
Where we're going for the picnic. Since I didn't explain, it would be better to let the Hero Party know. Today, the place where the Hero Party is going for their picnic is...
"A high and deep mountain."
"Huh...?"
Mountain climbing. The purpose of this Hero Party picnic was mountain climbing, where they could train both body and mind.