夏のスペシャル ２０２５年度 夏の怖い話 その３
Side: Prol
Yuki-sama and Taiki-sama are wearing expressions more bitter than I anticipated.
They had assured us there would be no danger, so what is it that worries them so deeply?
I keep such thoughts to myself, taking a moment to catch my breath while sipping the chilled water Orelia and the others provided, my gaze drifting to the map spread across the table.
"We’re here. Just one block in from the main crossroads in the center. Well, the roads are laid out clearly enough, so this district is the northeast section."
As Yuki-sama says, this town is neatly divided by intersecting roads into northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast sectors.
Such zoning is convenient, isn't it?
In fact, the town of Weed prioritizes this kind of clarity.
It makes delivering letters and cargo much easier.
The addresses are simple to understand, too.
But setting that aside, our current priority is escaping this strange space.
"Our goal is to escape this inexplicable space and inspect the houses. Well, that might be a hint in itself."
"What do you mean by that?"
Orelia asks the question.
I had caught on immediately, but it seems Orelia and the others did not.
"Exactly what I said. Luna knows that our purpose here is to inspect the houses. After all, she’s the one who prepared this place. So, completing that task might be the trigger to get us out."
"Ah, I see. So if we finish inspecting all the locations marked on this map, we can escape."
"Right. Fortunately—or perhaps intentionally—there’s a safe house like this one. It’s likely meant to be our base for exploration and inspection. It’s not something that can be finished in an hour or two."
Hmm.
Yuki-sama is certainly correct.
Even if Luna-sama’s intention is to surprise Yuki-sama and Taiki-sama, since she called this a "job," I cannot imagine she would ignore that premise.
There is no doubt that if we carry out the tasks, the path forward will naturally open.
However...
"Yuki-sama. Do you truly believe this will take more than an hour or two?"
Yes, that is the time frame that concerns me.
Since it is an inspection, I do not expect it to be quick, but for Yuki-sama to have more than two hours of his time taken away is a loss for the nation of Weed.
I cannot simply accept that as unavoidable...
"Ah, Prol. You don't need to worry about that."
"What do you mean? If it doesn't end quickly..."
"Do you have your watch?"
"Yes. Of course."
For us, Yuki-sama’s attendants, time management is an absolute requirement.
When Yuki-sama is busy, his schedule is managed by the minute.
I immediately take out my watch to check it...
"Eh? Hmm?"
I check the watch a second time.
I am certain we arrived in this place around 11:00.
Since we have already entered the town and attempted to escape, at least an hour should have passed by any estimation...
"It’s still 10:12? No, is the watch broken?"
Looking closely, I notice the second hand is not moving.
"No, the watch isn't broken. Did you check Call’s watch?"
"No. I shall check it now."
Upon checking Call’s watch, it is also frozen at 10:12:43.
"What in the world is this?"
"In other words, as long as we are in this space, time does not pass."
"Whoa~. I’ve heard of such things in stories, but it’s mysterious to see it in person~."
Yayui reacts as if something rare has occurred, but to maintain such a cheerful attitude amidst this god-like feat of carving out a space and stopping time—should I call that an incredible talent?
No, Luna-sama is indeed a goddess.
To feel her power in this way...
And it makes me realize once again just how extraordinary Yuki-sama and Taiki-sama are to remain so composed within it.
"Well, it’s natural to feel uneasy, but it’ll be fine. Luna wouldn't do anything truly harmful, and we will protect you."
"Th-thank you very much."
Normally, I should be the one putting my body on the line to protect Yuki-sama, but in this instance, there is nothing I can do, and that is all I can manage.
No, let us remain calm.
Yuki-sama said it was just one of her usual pranks.
"Phew. My apologies. This is my first time in a situation where time is stopped, so I was a bit flustered."
"That’s normal, so don't worry about it. That said, even if time is stopped, we still get tired, and I suspect that by the time we finish the scheduled inspections, the sun will have set."
"Eh? Does that mean time is passing, or moving?"
"No, it’s a performance. If she can stop space and time, it wouldn't be strange for her to easily swap day and night."
"Ah, is that how it works?"
Luna-sama is truly a goddess, then.
"The real ghost stories start at night, after all~."
"I believe Taiki-sama is right~. But it’s starting to make me feel anxious~."
As Hoviss says, being confined until night—or rather, until night by our own perception—naturally makes one feel uneasy.
"Well, you’ll have to get used to it. Have you ever watched ghost-related programs?"
"Yes. Well, since Kirika-sama mentioned that Luna-sama often plays pranks, and I have met Suzuhime-sama and Touji-dono, I have at least some knowledge."
"We have a basic understanding as well."
"Those ghost programs are so interesting, aren't they~?"
"Uh... Hoviss seems to surprisingly like ghost programs."
"I don't know anything about that. When you say 'ghost,' do you mean something like a spirit? Like Suzuhime or Touji?"
Orelia, Yayui, and I only know the basics from our studies.
Surprisingly, Hoviss seems to enjoy that sort of thing.
As for Lyushi, she is completely clueless.
Well, that cannot be helped.
After her wounds healed, she immediately began training as a nurse under Rurua-sama, and after that, she became Yuki-sama’s attendant; she likely never had the opportunity to encounter such hobbies or ghost-related matters.
"Basically, since Luna is the one setting this up, there is no danger to your lives. I don't think you'll get hurt, but we might slip or fall from being too surprised, so be careful not to let your guard down."
"Heh~, do you get surprised? What is it like?"
Lyushi tilts her head, having never seen such programs.
"Let’s see... things like something suddenly appearing right in front of you."
"Is that so?"
"Well, you won't understand until you experience it. Things that only appear in mirrors, or things only you can see. Since our attacks won't work on them at all, it feels more like your spirit is being whittled away."
"Ah..."
Even with Taiki-sama’s explanation, Lyushi still doesn't quite grasp it.
"For now, just stay calm and report if there is anything unusual."
"Understood."
"Also, it’s a basic rule, but move in groups of at least two."
"Isn't two people still dangerous?"
"I said *at least*. There is a possibility we might get separated. Look, we split up when we inspected this safe house, didn't we?"
"Ah, now that you mention it."
Indeed, we did split up slightly to check this house.
After all, it is cramped for seven people.
No, in a normal house, seven people would rarely move together anyway.
"It would cause congestion at the entrances, too. Two or three people is best."
"When you put it that way, I suppose so~. Now, back to the inspections and exploration; where shall we start?"
Oh, that is right.
If time isn't moving, the situation won't improve unless we finish the inspections, so we must move.
"Well, nearby. There is a house facing the same main road in the northeast section."
Yuki-sama says this and taps his finger on the map Lyushi brought.
Indeed, it is close to this safe house, just one block in from the main road.
It shouldn't take even five minutes on foot.
"We will all go there together."
"Eh? We aren't splitting up? You just said two people..."
Yayui asks, looking puzzled.
Indeed, if we prioritize the inspections, we should send groups to the houses we need to check, but...
"We don't know the detailed situation yet. We’ll all step into a place where something might be waiting. Or rather, there’s a possibility that it won't be satisfied unless I see it myself."
"I see."
It is also to reduce danger.
If that is the case, I am convinced.
I was surprised by Luna-sama’s power earlier, but protecting Yuki-sama remains unchanged.
That is the very reason for my existence.
"That said, this is going to be a long day. Let’s take a lunch break first."
"Agreed. By our perception, it is about lunchtime. Since we have a kitchen, a refrigerator, and air conditioning, we should take a rest."
And so, my motivation was put on hold, and it was decided that we would move after a lunch break.
Yuki and Taiki are already used to being trapped in different spaces, but Prol and the others are quite surprised.
Experience is important, isn't it?
Though I certainly never want to get used to this.