落とし穴１６８堀正月：祀られている神様ともう一人 (Part2)
"Ha, the locals are something else, aren't they? Calling a deity named 'Danzai-sama' just 'Dan-sama' like that."
"I suppose that’s how it goes. Besides, this is a shrine, not a temple—we aren't enshrining a Buddha or a human corpse. It’s just an object, after all."
"Ah, right, it’s a sword. I guess that’s why there’s no fear of being cursed for something so casual."
"Likely. It’s not as if it cut down some legendary monstrosity like the Dojigiri Yasutsuna, after all."
"…Well, I’d be in trouble if there were swords like that just lying around everywhere."
As we chatted, we returned to the 'Dan-sama' shrine, only to find that instead of the usual elderly locals, a young woman—a girl who looked to be in middle school—was bowing in earnest prayer.
"Huh. So, the younger generation comes here too. Well, I suppose it’s not strange if she lives in the neighborhood."
"I was told the same thing, you know. To make sure I paid my respects at the auxiliary shrines, not just the main one."
*Ah, so that’s how faith is passed down,* I thought at first. But something about the scene felt off. She was praying with such desperate, lingering intensity… What could she possibly be asking for so fervently?
"…Yuki-san. I haven't seen her face, so I can't be certain, but don't you find that silhouette familiar?"
"Huh? That girl?"
Prompted by Taiki-kun, I took a closer look. Her black hair reached down to her waist, but it was unkempt and frizzy in places, as if she’d neglected her daily grooming. She didn't seem to care much for her appearance.
"Hm? Wait a second. Isn't that the girl from the protagonist's class?"
"Yes. Likely that shut-in student. I believe her name is Kiku Nozaki."
"Ah, the one with the plain name."
"That’s the very reason she’s being bullied, unfortunately."
"Bullying, huh," I muttered, watching Nozaki intently as she continued her desperate prayer.
"Come to think of it, what kind of supernatural incident is Nozaki involved in?"
"It happens at school. In the scenario, that incident is the reason she becomes a shut-in, though she ends up being forced to return to school anyway."
"Right, it was a doppelganger type, wasn't it?"
"Yes. That one had a very high kill count. The people bullying Nozaki ended up getting severely injured. From the day those bullies disappeared, she started attending school again, but then the doppelganger began targeting her. It was a total collection of school ghost stories."
"Isn't that the 'dig two graves if you seek revenge' trope? Wait, does that mean this shrine is the cause?"
I see. She’s praying to 'Dan-sama' to do something about her bullies? What a grim request to make at the start of the New Year. Or, given the origins of this deity, is it actually the *correct* request?
"Who knows. In that scenario, you solve the ghost stories and eventually persuade the doppelganger to stop. Well, if you pick the wrong choice, you die. In the end, Nozaki grows stronger."
"Ah, it’s a coming-of-age story, then. Well, if she can overcome ghost stories, bullying should be a piece of cake. So, what do we do? Stop her?"
"We have the matter with Meue-san to consider. If we intervene now, I feel like we won't get to the root of the problem. I vote for observing for now. As for the school incidents, we'll just have to do our best. Since we know the script, we should be able to manage..."
"True. Yeah, let's go with that. After all, this is a result of relying on a god for vengeance; we shouldn't stop her from growing."
"Exactly."
And so, we decided to watch over Nozaki. I was about to call out to her once her prayer was finished, but then, a transparent armored warrior wielding a drawn blade appeared behind the shrine.
"…Can you see him, Kazuya-san?"
"…Yeah. You can see him too, Taiki-kun?"
"Yes."
"I see."
The armored warrior didn't just nod at the sight of the desperate Nozaki; he turned toward us, nodded once more, and then quietly vanished.
"What was that just now?"
"Who knows? But that armored warrior—ghost or whatever he is—definitely recognized us."
"Yeah. But what should we—wait, it looks like Nozaki is moving..."
Nozaki finished her prayer, turned around, and started to leave, but suddenly her body swayed unsteadily, and she collapsed.
"Hey, hey. What’s going on?"
"Huh? She’s a shut-in, isn't she? Probably anemia. I suppose that’s why the armored warrior was asking us to look after her."
"Hey, that was the request?! Damn it, fine. Let’s take her. We can just carry her to the shrine office. Give me a hand."
"Understood."
And so, due to this unexpected turn of events, we found ourselves in a truly precarious position regarding whether or not we would make it to our meeting with Sudo-san on time.
Yes, another character added. And while the New Year scenario is on hold here, I will be starting a separate novel for this storyline and will continue it there. As for the update speed... I'll have to see how it goes.
Well then, the main story begins next time. Look forward to it.