第１１３３堀：見える人 (Part1)
Chapter 1133: The One Who Sees
Side: Taizo
"Yuki, you really have your hands full, don't you?"
"Tell me about it. With so many wives, it looks like quite the handful."
Taiki and I watched as Yuki gently roused Agil, then moved on to wake Comet.
"Being kind to women is the hallmark of a gentleman, but putting it into practice is no small feat. My, I could never manage what Yuki does."
Then again, Hifie-san is usually up before I am, tending to this and that for me. Of course, Comet is also usually woken by Hifie-san on a daily basis.
"I wonder, should I be doing the same?"
"No, I don't think you need to be like Yuki-san. Agil is clearly just being spoiled, and Comet is simply teasing him."
"Hmm. Well, Comet aside, there’s nothing wrong with spoiling one's wife, is there?"
As I replied, voices came from behind me...
"Yup, yup. Taizo-san is right. You should spoil your wives plenty."
"And while you're at it, Taizo-san, I think it’s perfectly fine to spoil me, too."
Agil and Comet were in complete, nodding agreement.
Hmm. It seems best to keep my comments to myself. Besides, watching Yuki pack up his sleeping bag alongside Kirika, I’m inclined to think that spoiling them might not be the best course of action after all.
"Well, I’m glad to see you two are fully awake. Popuri-dono says she’s compiled the information regarding yesterday’s incident."
"Oh?"
"Did you find something, Popuri?"
It was a blatant change of subject, but since we are all fellow scholars, we immediately shifted gears and turned our attention to Popuri-dono.
"Yes. Master. And Agil-dono. For now, here are the documents. Lara."
"Yes."
At Popuri-dono’s signal, Lara-dono handed out the materials. There were no titles, just a simple list of bullet points with a few photographs attached.
"I mentioned that the female student’s clothing I saw yesterday didn't match the current uniform, didn't I? We’ve identified it."
The documents included photos, noting that the uniform was from approximately two hundred years ago.
"However, the fact that there are photographs... does that mean the actual garment still exists?"
"Yes. I keep a collection of historical student uniforms as a hobby."
"If Lara hadn't kept them properly stored, we’d have had no idea what era they were from."
I’m grateful for Lara-dono’s meticulous nature. But this only deepens the mystery...
"Wait, hold on a second. If that’s the case, does that mean the student Principal Popuri saw was wearing a two-hundred-year-old uniform?"
"Exactly. And are there any students like that currently at the academy?"
Agil and Comet asked, practically leaning in. I shared the same sentiment. The first question is whether anyone other than Lara-dono even possesses a two-hundred-year-old uniform in the first place.
"That’s impossible. A two-hundred-year-old garment would only survive if it had been treated with preservation magic, just like Lara’s."
"Yes. Under normal circumstances, it would be nothing more than rags by now."
Well, kimonos and the like do exist from two hundred years ago, so it wouldn't be entirely strange for one to remain, but it is certainly unlikely that something used for daily wear would last two centuries.
"However, I cannot say whether it was a coincidence or intentional, but is it possible someone recreated the uniform? Cleena-dono and Samantha-dono added their own touches to the uniforms, after all."
"Eh? Ah, Cleena with the cape, and Samantha with the embroidery on the sleeves, right?"
Yuki’s comment reminded me, though I’m not sure I’d call those "touches." Still, looking at these photos, I find it hard to believe that a variation of the current uniform would look so similar to one from two hundred years ago.
"More importantly, the real issue is that she isn't appearing on the screen. It’s hard to imagine anyone playing games in the middle of the night."
That is certainly true. Before we even consider it a prank, we have to acknowledge that since she isn't appearing on the camera, we should probably consider her to be some sort of ghost.
"Exactly. And you mentioned she had silver hair, right? Principal Popuri, do you have any leads?"
"Hmm, I can't quite recall. I’m currently going through the academy’s roster from two hundred years ago."
"But even if we know it was roughly two hundred years ago, we don't know the exact year, so I imagine searching will be quite a struggle."
"No, I don't think you can search by name alone in a standard roster. Who would remember someone’s name just because they had silver hair?"
I know I couldn't. Unfortunately, I’m not very good at remembering faces. Though, perhaps Popuri-dono is different...
"Yeah... honestly, I don't think I can remember either, but I feel I have to try."
Ah, I see. Even if the probability is extremely low, she feels it is better to do something than nothing. Well, remembering a student from two hundred years ago is an immense task. Compared to that, I can barely even match the names and faces of my own classmates from my school days.
"Better than doing nothing, I suppose. Anyway, Popuri, keep trying to remember. More importantly, it’s strange that only you can see her. I’d like to hear more about that. Is that alright?"
"It’s fine. I don't know what her purpose is for appearing, but I saw her with my own eyes. I won't be able to rest until I reach some sort of conclusion."
No one would just ignore a ghost if they saw one in their own home. Well, some might ignore it simply because they don't know what else to do, but even then, they would at least ask a shrine or temple for an exorcism. When faced with a calamity, that is the first thing a Japanese person would turn to. In Popuri-dono’s case, she simply turned to us.
"Then, let’s get to it. Taizo-san, you’re recording the screen that Popuri was watching, right?"
"Yes, that’s correct."
"And you’re sure it’s the same footage we saw earlier?"
"Yes."
"Popuri, could you come to the computer? I want to check if she’s in the recorded footage."
At Yuki’s request, Popuri-dono sat in the chair in front of the computer, and we all gathered around to get a clear view.
"Can you see her?"
"Yes. I can see her. She’s right there. But this is surprising. Does that mean the rest of you really can't see her?"
Popuri-dono turned back to us, looking puzzled, and pointed at the fifth monitor.
"I can't see anything. How about you, Taiki-kun?"
"Nothing at all."
It seems Taiki-kun can't see her either. It is truly a bizarre phenomenon. Popuri-dono doesn't seem like the type to misidentify something or lie. Yet, there is absolutely no human figure on the monitor. Is this truly a supernatural occurrence?