第１２４７堀：未来を考える (Part1)
Chapter 1247: Contemplating the Future
Side: Hivia
"Phew. Man, this is honestly so interesting. Manga, I mean."
When I said that, Comet, who was reading the same manga alongside me, nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. The level of imagination is incredible. On top of that, the way they take those images and translate them into drawings so we can understand them at a glance is truly amazing."
"Right? You can clearly grasp the feelings and the imagery. Man, ninjas are something else."
What we’re reading right now is a ninja manga that’s hugely popular in Yuki’s homeland.
Techniques like the Body Replacement Jutsu are so convenient. I wonder how one would go about practicing that?
Besides, the story is so gripping I can’t stop reading.
"Come to mind, don't you need to help Noriko with her manga?"
"Ah, that’s right. I need to do the solid fills..."
As I thought that, I turned my gaze toward the workstation, where a tablet with an unfinished manuscript lay.
"This is so convenient, isn't it? Being able to redraw things as many times as you want."
"Computers really are a godsend. Oh, that reminds me—I was so caught up in the manga I completely forgot, but I’m sending over the data from the investigation."
"Thanks."
I checked the data Comet sent over, which arrived on my tablet in an instant.
"Hmm, nothing out of the ordinary here. I guess we really have no choice but to head to the center of the Great Forest, huh?"
"Well, that seems to be the case. Though, everyone around here is quite busy, so it’ll probably be a while before we can organize a team to storm the center."
"Is that so?"
"Yuki, in particular, is swamped. You know, there was that talk about taking you to Weed, right?"
"There was, but is that really something that can be resolved so easily?"
I mean, I’d love to visit Weed, but I’m basically like a land-bound spirit; I can’t just go anywhere, even within this Academy. I’m not some "Super Ghost" like Noriko-san.
In fact, I’m worried that if I’m not careful, I might just suddenly pass on to the afterlife.
Well, if it were a peaceful passing, that would be one thing, but I’m also terrified that I might revert to that previous state—where my memories, my consciousness, everything was just a blur.
I’m fully aware of how unstable my own existence is.
I think the idea of fixing that is an incredibly difficult task.
"Having just enough knowledge makes you realize how impossible it is, doesn't it?"
"Hm? Ah, well, that’s only if it were just me and you, Hivia."
"What do you mean? The way you say that makes it sound like there’s a way to make it work?"
"Well, Yuki is the one making moves now. It’ll work out. Though, you’ll have to make a choice, Hivia."
"I don't follow. Can Yuki really do something about my condition? What about Souta-san? Or Kagura?"
It’s true that Souta-san and Kagura are practically experts on ghosts, so maybe they could do something... but if they could, they would have done it already, right? The fact that they haven't means it’s not that simple.
"Ahaha. Well, I’m sure Souta-san and the others could do something. But that approach is still incomplete. So, we’re currently taking a more certain path."
"A certain path? If such a thing exists, why only now?"
"Hivia, do you believe in gods?"
"Huh? If we’re talking about peace of mind, maybe, but are you suggesting 'praying to the gods'?"
I couldn't believe that Comet, a researcher, would suddenly use the word "god" when talking about a "certain path."
Gods are just things you pray to for the sake of your own spirit.
I’ve heard stories about a God of Magic, but it’s not like they actually *do* anything.
Everything is the result of our own research and the accumulation of our efforts.
It’s not something made possible by the grace of a god.
That’s our own power. Comet should know that better than anyone.
"No, no, I understand that well, and you’re right. But, what if they really did exist?"
"Eh? What do I think... come to think of it, why do gods even exist? And why do we exist? If gods could grant any wish, we wouldn't need to do research like this, would we?"
"Ahaha, your way of thinking is quite extreme. Even gods have their limits."
"Limits to what they can do?"
"Well, there’s a God of Magic, a God of Love, and so on, right?"
"Ah, now that you mention it, that’s true."
"Exactly. So, even gods have restrictions. That’s why Yuki asked an acquaintance of his—a god—to look after you, Hivia."
"…Hmm, I don’t know how much of that I can believe."
The idea that gods exist, let alone that one could negotiate with them... it sounds like a tall tale.
"Ah, I understand that feeling all too well. Well, you can ask the person himself."
"The person himself?"
As I tilted my head at Comet’s words, the door opened, and Yuki walked in, followed by Noriko-san, Souta-san, and the others.
"Oh, you were already here."
"Yeah. How’s it going?"
"The manga I was reading is interesting. But more importantly, why is everyone here? That 'plan to take me to Weed' that Comet mentioned—is it really possible?"
"What, Comet? You told her?"
"Yeah, I did. Oh? Didn't you get the solution from Luna-san?"
"No, I got it."
"Luna? A solution? Wait, are you saying it’s really, truly possible to fix this?"
I asked, thinking it was impossible, but Yuki replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"It’s possible. If you drink this."
He held up something that looked like a box of cold medicine I’d seen in a manga.
The title logo on the packaging looked incredibly suspicious.
*“The ‘Ghost Won’t Pass On’ Fixative: Stabilizes spirits and prevents them from becoming vengeful. Mortal World Medicine.”*
This is definitely a fake. Even I can tell that much.
My thoughts must have been written all over my face, because Yuki made a very subtle expression and said...
"Ah, I understand that feeling. But it works. If it doesn't, I’ll just go complain to the person who made it, so it’s not a problem."
"…That’s not a guarantee that it works, is it? I’d almost find it more convincing if you told me I’d pass on the moment I drank it."
"Yeah, I get that too. That’s why I brought Souta-san and Noriko."
"Eh? What do you mean? Do those two have something to do with the medicine?"
When I asked, Souta-san nodded with a wry smile.
"Well, I understand it looks suspicious, but there is no medicine better than this."
"That’s right. This, at least, is the truth. I mean, I drank this medicine myself to stabilize my own existence."
"Eh? Really?"
Souta-san is a Shinto priest, and Noriko-san is a ghost like me.
Souta-san has considerable power as a priest, and Noriko-san was originally a powerful vengeful spirit.
If those two say so, maybe I can believe it.
"I’ll be here to follow up if anything happens, too."
"Yeah. I’ll help out if you need it."
If these two are going to help me, I think it’ll be just fine.