Chapter 46

After a long night, the much-anticipated three-day, two-night field trip finally began!

However, we were still on the bus, in transit.

“Haaaaa…”

“Yuki, you look pretty sleepy. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I just stayed up a bit late last night.”

I was yawning repeatedly, and the class president, noticing my fatigue, asked me if I was okay.

The reason for my lack of sleep was Rin. It took a long time to calm her down last night, and I didn’t get much sleep. In the end, Rin still didn’t seem convinced, but Cro and Shiro offered to take care of her, so I left the house with the two of them.

Incidentally, since Near and Owl wouldn’t stand out, I brought them along on the field trip. Near was in my pocket, and Owl had turned into a spirit and was floating around me.

“I won’t go easy on you just because you’re sleepy! Eleven back!”

“Eight cut, three of hearts, and I’m out.”

“Oh, I’m out too.”

“Me too.”

“Me too!”

“What!?”

Starting with the three of hearts I played, the president, Ishida, and Aihara went out one after another, and once again, Takigawa ended up as the big pauper.

“Why!?”

Takigawa, frustrated, scattered the cards.

Hehehe, I play a lot of this game at home, so I have a lot of experience. By the way, at home, Near always wins decisively.

“Look, look, it seems we’re getting off the highway.”

At the president’s words, I looked outside and saw a sign that read “Asahikawa Takasuki.” It seemed we had arrived at our destination.

“About two hours, it felt both long and short.”

“We were playing cards the whole time.”

Ishida’s comment was echoed by Aihara. Indeed, it felt both long and short.

About 20 minutes later, the bus arrived at the parking lot of the Asahikawa Museum, and we successfully joined up with the middle school students.

“Big sister, seniors, it’s been a while.”

“From today, for three days and two nights, please take care of me.”

Runa and Owl, who had come in a separate bus for the middle school students, joined us. From here on, we would be moving in groups of 7-8, including the middle school students.

“Now that everyone is here, let’s go in.”

Responding to my voice, everyone entered the museum. We were to enter in groups, and the plan was to see the Ainu-related exhibits on display inside during the morning.

“Huh? T-this!?”

In the middle of this, I was standing at the entrance of the exhibition hall, trembling with excitement.

There was a special corner set up for a collaboration with “The Golden Masterpiece,” where the protagonist, an immortal ex-soldier, and an Ainu girl search for gold.

“What are you doing? Let’s go in quickly.”

“Ah, but, a….”

However, I didn’t have the luxury to enjoy that corner. I had to write a report on the exhibits, and to avoid confusion, we had to see everything in about 30 minutes.

Urged on by Ishida, I reluctantly left the collaboration corner. Ugh….

“There are materials we can take home from this exhibit, so let’s get them and move on.”

“This exhibit is ritual tools. Since they are for high-level rituals, it should be fine to just sketch these.”

After entering, we were able to efficiently tour the exhibits thanks to the president and Ishida’s guidance.

They were among the top five students in the grade and had quick minds. By the way, my grades were slightly above average.

“Still….”

There are so many… just like in our yard, there are a lot of them.

“Yuki, is something wrong?”

“Aowl, can you see those?”

Pointing to the reconstructed Ainu house, I asked Aowl.

“Sure enough, you can see them too, Yuki. They are probably the fairies associated with the Ainu.”

“I see. By the way, how many can you see?”

“1, 2… there are four in total.”

“All four?”

“Yes. Is something bothering you?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I see, four. 1, 2, 3… yeah, there are 13 in total.

Probably, the four colorful orbs of light in the center of the house are what Aowl can see. The other white orbs are not visible to her.

“Aowl, Yuki, is something wrong?”

Runa, noticing our conversation, also came over.

I asked Runa as well, but the result was the same. It seems that both of them can see fairies but not orbs (white balls of light).

I once heard from Cro that orbs are the souls of people and animals. I don’t know the logic behind it, but it seems that they can only see the spirits.

“Ah, everyone is moving on to the next exhibit. Let’s go.”

“Right.”

“Let’s go.”

I was disappointed that I couldn’t enjoy the “Golden Masterpiece” corner, but I was glad to have made a new discovery.

Just as I was thinking that, another discovery appeared before me.

“This seems to be a small knife actually used by the Ainu. The intricate patterns are amazing.”

“It’s called an ‘Ainu Makiri.’ The patterns are beautiful.”

“Cool!”

Ishida, Aihara, and Takigawa were giving their impressions one after another. Indeed, the patterns were beautiful and cool, as they said.

“I can faintly sense magic.”

“This is….”

“This is probably a ‘magic tool.’ It might have lost its power, but there might have been a mage among the Ainu who could create such tools.”

My enhanced hearing, granted by the gods, picked up the voices of the three mages—Aowl, Runa, and the president. They were whispering their impressions in a volume that couldn’t be heard by others.

I had never heard the term “magic tool” before, but it probably referred to a tool with special powers. It seemed that this knife was not just an ordinary exhibit.

“I’ll take a closer look.”

Focusing my eyes on the knife’s patterns, I concentrated. Then—

“Name: ‘Divine Knife.’ Mainly used for butchering animals. Its effects are….”

I learned the effects and manufacturing method of the knife in front of me.

Still, it’s an incredible magic tool. Depending on how it’s used, it could be a one-hit kill.

I’ll keep the method of making this to myself.

“Kousuke, what are you doing? Let’s go.”

“Sorry, I’m coming.”

While observing the “Divine Knife,” everyone had moved on to the next exhibit. I followed them.

The morning museum tour turned out to be a treasure trove of unexpected discoveries.

◇

“Here, the master left some snacks.”

“Muuu.”

Rin firmly refused the potato chips Cro offered.

“Caw, caw, caw?”

“Muuu!”

Shiro, chirping, tried to offer apple juice, saying, “The master also made some juice,” but Rin firmly refused.

“This is a problem. Rin might not eat anything until the master returns.”

“Caw….”

Shiro chirped, as if to say, “That’s not good….”

“I guess there’s no choice… Rin, will you cheer up if you see the master?”

“Yes! Yes!!”

“Is that so? I remember he’s going to Asahikawa for three days, two nights.”

“Caw.”

“Yes. In that case, I’ll go see the master while visiting an old friend.”

“Old friend?”

“An old friend. A great youkai who controls the Asahikawa area. He should be able to take care of us for two days.”

“Caw….”

Shiro was about to say, “Won’t that go against the master’s intention to have Rin stay and behave?” but then fell silent.

The only instruction from Kousuke was to take care of Rin, and he didn’t say, “Don’t follow him to Asahikawa.” Moreover, Shiro also wanted to be with Kousuke, so she prioritized that desire.

“Caw!”

“Shiro agrees too. Let’s go then. Rin, pack two days’ worth of clothes. The old friend will take care of your meals and bed.”

“I’ll get them right away!”

Rin pulled out Kousuke’s backpack and started stuffing clothes and underwear into it.

“Let’s go then.”

Looking at the prepared Rin, Cro transformed into a golden lion.

“Don’t hesitate to get on my back. I’ll take you there.”

“Caw!”

“Huh!”

“‘Pseudo-Mist Illusion Barrier.’”

After confirming that Shiro and Rin were on his back, Cro activated the barrier. It was a mimicry of the “Mist Illusion Barrier,” which has the effects of avoiding people and concealing, and its power was on par with the original.

“Let’s go.”

“Caw!”

“Let’s go!”

The golden lion, with a white crow and a white-haired girl on its back, took off into the sky, enveloped in mist.

The first volume will be released on October 26th!

It includes a special original story about “Kousuke’s acquired ability activation conditions” and “the fate of the white orbs (orbs).”

If you’re interested, I’d be grateful if you could pick it up.

And I’m really sorry for the late update.