第１１４４堀：第二次接触作戦会議 (Part2)
"......Understood. Hairen, I'll leave Kagura to you."
"Leave it to me! Though, didn't you agonize quite a bit before finally giving me an answer?"
"Hah... considering how many times you've gone off the rails in the past, that's only natural."
"......I-I know that, and I feel bad about it."
Perhaps she genuinely feels guilty for disrupting our plans, as she says this with a sheepish expression.
"......*Sigh*. Well, there's no point in dredging up the past and dwelling on it. Sota-san, if you and Enoru-san say the water is safe, then it should be fine. Besides, Hairen came to us before taking action on her own this time. Alright, let's clear our heads and begin the meeting."
"Yes!"
And so, with Hairen added to our ranks, we began to deliberate on how to approach Havia.
However, as of yesterday, we had already confirmed that she was "capable of producing sound."
"As I mentioned yesterday, today's goal is to 'establish a conversation with Havia.' The voice recorder I gave to Comet captured Havia's voice quite clearly."
I connected the speaker and played the recording.
*"Hey, Principal. Can you hear me? Hey, Principal......"*
Even listening to it again, the voice sounds perfectly normal, as if she were just speaking to someone in a casual, everyday manner.
But the problem is...
"Isn't it rare for someone not to get angry after being ignored for this long?"
"Indeed. If a ghost possesses emotions, even a saint would grow angry after being consistently ignored. Yet, why does she only repeat the same thing over and over? If she's being ignored this thoroughly, she should be capable of taking actions other than just calling out..."
Taizo-san hits the nail on the head.
That was exactly what I was worried about.
If I were to carelessly show my face again, it wouldn't be strange for her to snap and say, "Are you kidding me?" We have been treating her like thin air, after all.
That is precisely why I was struggling with how to handle this "contact."
Though, the fact that she doesn't seem to mind being treated like air is a problem in itself...
"Hmm. It would be better if she attacked us. The real issue is if she is merely a record or a collection of information."
"If you say that, then ghosts are, at the end of the day, just shadows left behind by the living. Wasn't that the case with Sota's spirit fragment, too?"
"That was a special case. I created it using magic I learned after coming here, so it can properly accumulate data. Ah, I see—there are indeed types of ghosts that cannot accumulate information."
Sota-san says this while clutching his head.
Exactly. The problem with her not caring is that the ghost of Havia might be incapable of accumulation or learning.
In other words, she is being reset every single time.
That is why she doesn't get angry, no matter how many times she meets us and is ignored.
Because to Havia, every single instance is her very first experience.
If she cannot retain memories, there is no way for anger to accumulate.
Most ghosts are merely remnants of who they were when they were alive. As the water said, they are nothing more than shadows.
Therefore, it is common for them to lack memories and emotions entirely.
Well, conversely, if a ghost were to spend every day with all their memories intact, they would surely go insane.
After all, no one notices them. No one reacts to anything they do.
In other words, it is synonymous with not existing in this world.
They are left behind by the world, entirely alone.
In such a state, if even one person were to notice them...
Of course they would want to cling to them.
"Wait? In that case, does that mean Kagura and I are pointless?"
Yeah. That was the biggest reason I didn't force Kagura to do this in the first place.
There is a very high possibility that even if she performs a seance, it won't mean anything.
"Hmm. Well, if we manage to resolve everything within that day, we won't need her to carry over any memories, right?"
"What, then let's aim for that! Right, Kagura?"
"Yes! I'll do my best!"
"......Well, the direction of trying to extract information isn't wrong, so I suppose it's fine?"
"I think it's fine for now. They say information should be prioritized above all else. Ah, though I don't know how her emotions will react."
"Sota-san said he'd hold her down if she starts rampaging, so that should be fine, right? As for the rest, it'll be Popuri who actually speaks to her. How about it? Do you think you can do it?"
All eyes turned to Popuri, who responded...
"Yes. I am ready. Why has my student appeared here? Why has she taken that form? As her teacher, and as her predecessor, I will listen to her properly."
It seems her resolve is set.
"Alright, Kagura. Let's do our best! Now is the time to use the 'Special Move' I taught you at lunch!"
"Yes!"
Wait, wait—don't kill her.
A "Special Move" is a move meant to kill.
Now, how will Kagura perform with the Hairen-correction added?
Will Popuri be able to converse with her safely?
Also, I accidentally forgot to schedule the previous post.
This time, it should be fine.