The secret conversation with Danuel ended without incident.
There was no fight, just a time to confirm each other's positions.
Through it, I was able to properly understand how the Church had become corrupted.
*As expected, whistleblowing is the most effective method.*
I easily learned information I hadn't known.
The one thing that bothered me was what the Grimoire gang had demanded from the Church.
It was regrettable not to know that.
But I should be satisfied since I gained a lot of other information.
"Well then, Danuel. I suppose we have nothing more to discuss?"
"Yeah, I know why you came to this mountain now. I don't really want to talk to you anymore. Especially since you're a criminal who kidnaps only young children. Ugh, scary!"
"...Look who's talking. I'm better than you, obsessed with the Goddess Church."
Danuel looked at me as if viewing a criminal.
Having known the notoriety of "Fanatic Danuel" from before, I couldn't understand it at all.
*That era's Danuel was really something...*
Danuel, who had shouted she would assassinate the king if he didn't change the state religion to the Goddess Church.
Eventually yielding to her words, the small nation of Dehten began believing in the Goddess Church, but...
After that, I recalled reading in the newspaper that other countries had banned Danuel from entering.
Because of that, news spread that Danuel's range of activities had drastically decreased.
I headed outside the cabin and offered a farewell.
"Well, since there's nothing more to say, I'll be going. If you need anything, you can come find the tent I've set up nearby."
"Oh, okay. I'll come find you if I'm hungry. Oh right, there's one last thing I want to ask."
"What is it?"
"Why. Why didn't you come to my brother's funeral back then? I thought you were pretty close colleagues. Couldn't you at least see him off at the end?"
"..."
At that time.
Was she asking why I couldn't attend Daniel's funeral?
Recalling that memory, I could only give a bitter smile.
"I had my reasons."
"So what were those reasons?"
"Your brother—you could find his body and hold a funeral. But my master Aina..."
We couldn't even find her body.
I dug through the scene for three days without eating anything, but there wasn't even a trace of Aina's corpse.
"There were many people besides me who could hold Daniel's funeral. That guy was kind and well-liked. But Aina wasn't. That person was alone."
Except for me, there wasn't a single person to look after her.
Regardless of talent, she didn't have many close friends.
Aina had always lived a lonely life.
"That's why I couldn't attend Daniel's funeral. Is that answer enough?"
"...I was being a bit selfish. You lost someone too. I'm sorry."
"Good that you understand."
Danuel scratched her head and apologized.
Still, I could understand Danuel's feelings having lost family, so I didn't particularly mind.
Having lost someone like family myself,
I could understand what Danuel was feeling.
I opened the cabin door and headed outside to escape that gloomy atmosphere.
I needed some fresh air.
"By the way, how long have you two been listening?"
"Uh, we didn't hear much! We, we just arrived! Right, Estia?"
"R-right! We didn't hear anything! We only heard the funeral talk!"
"Why would you say that!!"
Smack—!
Luna struck Estia's shoulder in surprise.
Though it looked like a light hit, was Luna's palm quite spicy?
Estia hopped around saying it hurt.
"Ow, ow! That stings!! Oppa! She hit me!!"
"Luna, you shouldn't hit people. Especially not Estia. That child is similar to a walking corpse."
"Y-yes... I'm sorry... Sorry, Estia!"
"Fine. I'll accept your apology, Luna. But a walking corpse? Oppa, what does that mean?"
"...Don't eavesdrop from now on. That's not good behavior."
"Oppa? What do you mean by that? Hm?"
"..."
I ignored Estia and headed into the grass to set up the tent.
Estia shouted something from behind.
But before long, the sound diminished.
As expected, she really was similar to a walking corpse.
Three large tents were positioned among the lush trees.
A campfire blazing in the center brightened the camping atmosphere cheerfully.
I spoke to the children staring blankly at the fire.
"You shouldn't stare at the fire too much. Your eyesight will worsen, so move back a bit."
"Okay~"
Luna easily stepped back at my words.
However, Estia remained still, watching the fire, as if she hadn't heard my voice.
"Heee..."
"Estia, come back here."
"Heee..."
"...I'll help you."
Heave—
I picked up Estia and moved her backward.
Had she been too absorbed in fire-gazing?
Estia belatedly noticed and shouted.
"What! Why am I here?! Who moved me?!"
Estia cried out in surprise.
Luna looked at her with pitying eyes and exclaimed.
"Estia isn't very smart! It's okay! Smart me is here, so I'll help you! Fighting!"
...To my eyes, they're both about the same.
But perhaps those two think they're each doing fine?
As I turned my attention to Luna and Estia, I heard someone approaching from behind.
Judging by the quiet footsteps, it was definitely Hare.
"U-Uncle...! I'm back from playing...!"
"Yes, Hare. Where did you go?"
"Th-there was nice scenery over there, so I went...! It's my first time outside, so there's a lot to see...! Hehe...!"
Hare seemed to be enjoying her freedom, feeling the cool breeze.
Though there had been some strange incidents, she seemed to have had fun.
In Hare's hands were sparkling stones.
"Hmm... Where did you get those?"
"Th-there are lots near the trees over there...! They sparkled, so I brought them...! These are expensive, right, Uncle...?!"
Hare's eyes sparkled with expectation.
As expected of a Thief, was she keen on money?
I decided to tell Hare what those sparkling stones really were.
"Hare. Don't be surprised when you hear this."
"Yes...! Since Uncle told me not to be surprised...! I definitely won't be surprised...!"
"Those are the excrement of magical beasts living in the mountains."
"Wh-what...?!"
Thud thud thud—
Hare immediately dropped the magical beast excrement on the ground.
Contrary to saying she wouldn't be surprised, her eyes were round with shock.
"Th-this is magical beast excrement...? B-but it sparkles and looks like jewels..."
"Magical beasts hunt not for nutrients like protein in meat, but to absorb magical power. If they obtain far more magical power than they can handle, they excrete it like that."
"O-oh... So they're not jewels then..."
Dejected—
Hare hung her head, showing disappointment.
Still, there was no need to be that discouraged.
"It's more expensive than the 'Mana Stone' called a magical beast's heart. It'll fetch quite a bit of money."
"What?! Why?! So you're saying magical beast poop is expensive?!"
Hare hurriedly picked up the magical beast excrement again.
She was concentrating as if not to miss a single piece.
"It's rare for magical beasts to overeat and defecate, so it's called a rare item."
"I-I see...! Understood...!"
"If you sell it on the market, you can get quite a bit of money, so keep it safe. You can use the money however you want."
"...Okay, Uncle...! I'll work hard to earn money...!"
Hare working hard to earn money.
Suddenly recalling her profession in the Hero Party, I said there was no need to go that far.
Hare didn't need to work hard to earn money.
*...I should hope she earns it honestly later.*
Speaking of which,
Where is Saten right now?
I can't see her anywhere.
I asked Hare about Saten.
"Hare, do you know where Saten is?"
"Saten is... umm... The last time I saw her... was near the cliff. I'll guide you...!"
Patter patter patter—
Hare said she knew the location and started running toward where Saten was.
Perhaps pleased that the mountain was moving, she seemed excited even while running.
Following the running Hare toward the cliff, Saten was there.
"That's..."
"U-Uncle...! S-Saten is in danger...!"
Very.
In a dangerous state.
Saten was sitting at the edge of the cliff, reading a book expressionlessly.
She didn't seem scared at all.
I asked Saten.
"...Saten, what are you doing there?"
"Reading a book."
"Must you read a book in such a dangerous place?"
"It's not particularly dangerous. If I fall, I can just use magic, and BlackMeow doesn't die even if she falls, so it's fine."
"Meow—"
BlackMeow also answered with a cry.
*That's not why I assigned BlackMeow to Saten...*
Sigh.
I exhaled and approached Saten.
Without making a fuss, maintaining a calm appearance.
I had to pull Saten down from there, as she didn't think it was dangerous at all.
"...It's time to sleep, Saten. Come down from the cliff now."
"Is it that time already? The breeze was nice, so it's a bit disappointing."
"Yes, stay still there. I'll lift you up."
...It's quite high, yet she's not scared at all. How curious.
I lifted Saten, who had been perched on the cliff railing, and set her down in a safe spot.
After that, BlackMeow, who hadn't looked after her owner at all, followed along.
"...No snacks for you for a while."
"Meow—?"
Anyway.
Fortunate that no accident occurred.
Thinking that, I guided Saten toward the tent where the children were.
In such a wide space, I felt more at ease when all the children were in my sight.
As I led Hare and Saten toward the tent,
Hare grabbed my sleeve and smiled.
"U-Uncle... I'm glad I came here...! The picnic was fun...!"
"I'm glad you had fun, Hare."
"Yes...! It was fun...! So... n-next time too...!"
Hare started to say something but stopped.
Then, as if nothing had happened, she continued.
"Next time too...! Let's all come together...! It's a promise...!"
"...Yes, I understand. Let's definitely come together next time."
"It's a promise...!"
Hare forcibly made a promise by hooking her finger with mine.
I didn't know if that promise would be kept.
But I could only respond with an awkward smile.
Once you promise with your mouth, you have to keep it.
"The stars are beautiful..."
I had to awkwardly change the subject.