During the day the next day, Fujimaru Ritsuka discovered that there were many more shops on the streets of the village.
"You should be preparing for the Mountain God Festival in two days, right?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Samura Eina walked side by side on the street, looking at the busy and bustling village.
"Yes, actually according to previous years... preparations should have started a few days ago."
"After all, everyone lives in this village and knows everything about the village. Most of them even help for free."
There was a smile on Enina's face, but there was also a touch of sadness in the smile.
She heard about the situation at Shanmen last night.
The monsters are getting stronger day by day. How can the village survive until the day of the Mountain God Festival?
If Mother Bear hadn't blocked most of the demons with her own body, I'm afraid the demons would have been able to touch the village wall.
"Tonight, I will also go to the mountain gate."
Fujimaru Ritsuka shook his fist.
"Only with me here can Miss Yukina and Miss Suzhi show their full strength."
"......Thanks a lot."
Ezuna sighed softly and bowed slightly to Fujimaru Ritsuka.
"It's okay. Since I'm in the village now, I don't plan to leave for the time being. I will definitely help as much as I can. I do the same in my hometown."
Ritsuka smiled and waved her hands.
"Miss Ritsuka's hometown... I'm a little curious."
"As for my hometown, if you look at its current geographical location...Edo?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka tilted her head.
As a rich girl in Tokyo, she does occasionally recall some of her life in her hometown.
It's just that the pace of life in Chaldea is so tight that she doesn't even have time to recall it.
"Miss Ritsuka is from Edo?"
Souna's expression was a little surprised.
"Mr. Samura also visited Edo many times when he first traveled, and he was still in Edo... eh?"
"Mr. Samura...have you ever been to Edo?"
Hasn’t Mr. Zuocun always lived in the village?
Ezuna froze on the spot.
"Miss Soina?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at the suddenly stunned Ezuna, a little confused, stretched out a finger, and lightly poked Ezuna's face.
"Huh? Ah... No, it's nothing. Maybe I remembered it wrong."
Enana smiled sarcastically and waved her hand.
"Let's keep walking."
The streets are busy and a little crowded, but the "miko" Soina is obviously respected in the village. Many people will stop and bow slightly to Souna after seeing her, and most of them
Sometimes Shina would return the favor.
"Ms. Soina, have you ever thought about what you will look like when you grow old?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly remembered the "Samura Soina" she knew.
After struggling to climb out of the flames of the Restoration, he followed his father's footsteps and embarked on the path of education. Finally, he became one of the founders of primary school education, a well-known educator at home and abroad, and...
...a kind-looking old lady.
Then he erected his old statue beside his young father.
The Samura Souna she knew and the "Samura Souna" in front of her seemed to be two completely different people.
After all, it was difficult for her to replace the old lady in the textbook with the beautiful and young girl in front of her.
"Huh? Are you old?"
Ezuna was startled for a moment and scratched her face.
"It seems that I really haven't thought about what I will be like in the future..."
She showed a thoughtful expression and held her chin with her slender fingers.
"I'm not destined to become a swordsman. Although I tried practicing swordsmanship with Mr. Samura, my talent seems to be average."
"Maybe I will grow old as a miko like Himiko-sama?"
She tilted her head, then tilted her head in the other direction.
"but......."
"Eventually I might become a teacher."
Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes suddenly opened wide.
"...Why would Soina-san want to be a teacher?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka asked after a moment of silence.
"If I have to say it, there is no reason."
Ezuna smiled.
"I just feel that if my life progresses to that point, I will definitely do this. Whether it is my own ideas or following someone's footsteps, I will eventually embark on that path."
"It's just a feeling."
Ezuna smiled and walked a little ahead of Fujimaru Ritsuka.
".......I see."
In Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes, Samura Soina's face gradually overlapped with the face of the "educator" in his own impression.
.......really alone.
No matter how unfamiliar she is, no matter how other things develop, Miss Soina is indeed "Teacher Souna".
Some things will not be changed even if they are in a singularity, even if their "set" experiences and identities are completely different.
She stopped temporarily and looked up at Kurokawa Mountain.
The entire Kurokawa Mountain is still dull black, and you can see the shrine halfway up the mountain and the swaying cherry blossom trees in the shrine from a distance.
The creator of the singularity...
Or should I say, the creator of monsters...
Is this what you want me to know?
Maybe I can't understand it.
After all, I am not a witness to that period of history. After all, I cannot personally witness the bits and pieces that the followers have experienced in the vast history.
After all, Fujimaru Ritsuka is just a girl. The lives of the followers are a huge history, and the existence of its dimensions cannot be fully understood and measured by Fujimaru Ritsuka.
This is unrealistic and too harsh.
"I will try to understand."
But Fujimaru Ritsuka said so, took a step forward, and caught up with Samura Soina in front.
"This is you, Fujimaru Ritsuka."
The man standing on the black lake in the sea of heavy rain and fire could not help but smile.
He smiled to himself.
"What an arrogant statement."
"Think about it, many people have made comments like yours, but... maybe it is because of such arrogance that you have been able to achieve so many great achievements that are unknown to everyone."
"In comparison, I always feel like I'm a little small."
"but--"
"It doesn't matter."
Shadow raised his head, looked at the gloomy sky, and closed his eyes.
"I'm just giving a random reason."
"Excuses or whatever, as long as they exist, it doesn't matter whether they are reasonable or not, or whether they exist or not, as long as I say them."
"after all--"
He opened his arms.
"here."
"This singularity."
"It's all just the result of my wishful thinking."