Chapter 109: Forest Shrine
I followed the path I was told to follow and came to the hollow area Mira-san had mentioned.
There were no trees around here, and the afternoon sun was illuminating the surroundings.
The meadow was covered with colorful flowers, making it a fantastic sight.
[It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I didn’t know a place like this existed.]
Michelle was fascinated by the fragrance of the flowers.
Looking at her again, I think Michelle has changed a little.
In the past, she gave off a vibe that suited the darkness, but now, even beneath the sun, she doesn’t feel out of place.
Michelle looked lovely as she affectionately gazed at the flowers under the bright light.
[Ah, wolfsbane! There’s also spidervine here. Oh my, there’s even methanicones here! With these, I can make the best numbing potion. I kinda feel like making Yuusuke drink some……]
[Oi!]
[Don’t worry, it’ll only make you immobile.]
[W- What are you even gonna do by making me immobile?]
[A monopoly it’ll be ? While you’re number, I will have Yuusuke to myself.]
[Haahhh……]
Seeing Michelle the same as always, I sighed.
While I leave the practical matters to Nakaram-san, there are still various small, miscellaneous tasks that need my particular attention as the territory lord.
Perhaps I got caught up with how busy things are, and as a result, the time spent with Michelle decreased, making her feel lonely.
That’s probably why the idea of “having me all to herself” came to her mind.
[I’ll be with you all day, so stop giving me poison.]
[Ehh…… How about a tinsy bit of a trial?]
I knew it, she really wasn’t joking, saying that with a high degree of seriousness.
[In that case…… Just enough to make me immobilized, okay?]
[Really!? Can I really do it!? I’m so happy……]
Michelle gleefully picked up her poisonous plants.
If I firmly refused, Michelle wouldn’t give me poison.
She has that much sensibility in mind.
However, if she holds herself back, it would definitely cause her a lot of stress.
I felt like it might be for the best to set aside some time to satisfy her desires.
Hmmm, am I being too lenient on her?
[What are you planning to do while I can’t move?]
[Ehh~~ That’s a secret. It’s embarrassing.]
Good grief……
[Oya, is that the small shrine they were talking about?]
Across the meadow, behind some shrubs, I saw a small building.
[Let’s go.]
Putting the numbing potion aside for the moment, we headed for the small shrine.
It was a stone shrine about the size of a storage shed.
There were stone steps in front of the shrine, and an old man was sitting there.
That must be the one Mirai-san had mentioned.
He was an old man with a unique atmosphere.
Even though he’s in a forest, his kimono is pure white and without a single stain.
His hair was also pure white, with almost no bangs, and the hair on both sides and in the back was long and flowing down to his chest.
[Hello.]
When I called out to him, the old man looked up at me with dazzling narrowed eyes.
[Hey, hey, good day. I see you’ve arrived.]
From the way he spoke, I guessed that he lived in this neighborhood.
However, there was something strange.
The entrance to the shrine was open, but there were no household goods inside.
It’s just an open space.
Is his house not here, but somewhere else?
[I’m Yahagi, the new lord of Luganda. Is Grandpa living from around here?]
[Hmmm, possibly so……]
Looking troubled, the Grandpa thought about it.
Perhaps he has forgotten the house he’s going home to.
It’s common for old people with dementia.
Or perhaps, someone dumped him here……
I mean, Japan has that “Ubasuteyama” legend.
It’s a story about an elderly relative who, upon not being useful anymore, was abandoned in the mountains.
If that’s the case, this is just too pitiful……
[Is Grandpa’s house around here?]
[Hmm~~……]
The Grandpa seems to be unable to give out an answer.
If he came here from Betzel or some other place, it would be difficult for him to go home on his own.
If that were the case, we would have to send him home in a carriage.
However, if he can’t even remember the name of the place he lives in, things are going to be slightly tricky.
Can’t he at least remember his own name?
If I knew that, I would be able to inquire about him to Betzel’s lord, Leymus-san.
[What is Grandpa’s name?]
[Machine God Mani.]
So this is what Mirai-san was talking about!?
Come to think of it, this old man was a self-proclaimed God……
However, with a world like this, that doesn’t necessarily seem like pure nonsense at all.
In fact, I’m someone who has died once and seen the afterlife.
I definitely felt the presence of God nearby at that time.
[Errr, Mani-san, what are you doing here?]
[I was looking at flowers. Aren’t they beautiful?]
Mani-san smiled and pointed at the flowers in the meadow.
It’s just, it’s hard to tell whether he was just a good-natured old man or an actual God.
[What are we going to do, Yuusuke?]
[We can’t just leave him alone here……]
Michelle and I talked it over, and decided that we would bring the Grandpa back to our settlement.
[Mani-san, would you like to come to my home?]
[Hmm, to Yahagi’s house?]
It seems like he remembered my name.
[Yes. We have food and bed there.]
[Food huh…… I haven’t eaten for a long time……]
Mani-san was skinny and had arms as thin as dead trees.
[That’s not good. How long has it been since you ate?]
[Hmmm…… I forgot.]
God or human, it seems like he has severe forgetfulness.
[Then, I’ll make you some delicious yakisoba. Let’s go.]
When I said that, reaching out my hand to her, Mani-san grabbed my hand and smiled again.
[Ohhh…… Yahagi has the Blessing of Commerce God Elmera. He’s my brother, you know? We’re pretty close. If you’re Brother Elmera’s treasured child, then you are like a nephew to me. I have to protect you.]
And like that, the self-proclaimed Machine God came under my protection.
Well, it seems that he intends to protect me though.
<Translator’s Notes>
Mani
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