Fujimaru Ritsuka felt a sense of familiarity for some reason, as if... she had been here before.
Of course, what she felt was not the "Kurokawa Mountain" she had traveled to with her parents, but this...
It was raining heavily and there were seas of fire burning all around...
Kurokawa Mountain.
She pursed her lips, licked the raindrops that fell on her lips into her mouth, and then took steps, avoiding the flames that were burning for unknown reasons, and walked down the steep slope of the ridge.
There is a figure in the middle of the lake... Who is that? The culprit who created this singularity and the disappearance? Or is it the mountain god?
Or maybe both?
Holding the simple divine seal with both hands, Fujimaru Ritsuka cautiously approached the lake.
The heavy rain falling from the sky made her unable to see clearly, and the heat of the fire made her dizzy.
"Who are you--?"
She felt that something was wrong with her spirit for some reason, but she still persisted and asked loudly.
She could see that after hearing her call, the shadow-like existence turned around and seemed to be looking at her.
"Compared to the last time you left here, you seem more confused?"
Such a sound rang in her ears.
Because of the sudden sound, Fujimaru Ritsuka's body stiffened suddenly.
"No wonder... you were inevitably a little hasty when you left."
"So, who are you?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka's body was trembling involuntarily as he froze in place.
"...You will know the answer, but not now."
After the man was silent for a while, he shook his head and said to Fujimaru Ritsuka.
“Then—did you create this singularity?”
Fujimaru Ritsuka asked again.
The figure raised his head and looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka.
call--
boom!!!
A bolt of thunder flashed in the sky and struck on the opposite side of the black lake. Fujimaru Ritsuka, who was concentrating, was so frightened that his whole body trembled violently.
And when she came back to her senses——
That shadow had already arrived in front of her.
She saw His lips moving, as if he was saying something. It was very simple, and it almost ended by itself.
But Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't hear it - the thunder just now caused her to temporarily lose her hearing.
After being in a trance, Fujimaru Ritsuka looked again.
The shadow had gone back without knowing when, and returned to the middle of the lake. It just stood there, motionless, as if it had grown in that place.
grew up in... that place...
Growing on Kurokawa Mountain...
I don't know why, Fujimaru Ritsuka had such a "ridiculous" feeling.
Growing on this mountain...is this really possible?
"What - what did you just say?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka asked again. She seemed to have gotten the answer, but she lost her hearing due to the thunder, but she couldn't read the lip reading just now.
The figure didn't answer any more, and Fujimaru Ritsuka felt his dizziness getting stronger and stronger.
The heavy rain was like bullets, carrying destructive power and seemed to be able to penetrate her body.
The fire burned the top of the mountain like a furnace, almost melting it.
She took steps again, as if she wanted to get closer to some lakes and the shadow.
But before she took a few steps, she fell to the ground due to the huge discomfort.
I knelt on one knee next to the lake, put my hands on my knees, and tried to stand up.
Can't do it.
Fujimaru Ritsuka finally fell to the ground,
Her consciousness gradually faded away, and half of her head was immersed in the water.
What did she see?
A girl, an orange-haired girl...is struggling underwater in the distance?
etc......
The moment his consciousness completely disappeared, Fujimaru Ritsuka was shocked.
The one struggling underwater...
Is it yourself?
...
When Fujimaru Ritsuka opened her eyes, it was already the next day.
It should be the next day...
Fujimaru Ritsuka lay on the tatami and did not move for the time being. He just looked at the ceiling and thought with his somewhat groggy mind.
vomit--
A desire to vomit suddenly came from his body. Fujimaru Ritsuka quickly sat up and pulled something that should be a trash can not far away.
"啕——"
A large mouthful of turbid water was spat out by Fujimaru Ritsuka. Outside the water, there were... water plants? Bones?
Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at the filth in the trash can and was stunned.
"Miss Ritsuka, you wake up!"
It's Souna's voice.
Fujimaru Ritsuka turned around and saw that Souna came in holding a towel.
"Miss Soina, what am I...?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at his hands.
I still have a dizzy feeling...what happened?
"We originally went up the mountain to investigate yesterday, but Ms. Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly fainted on the mountain path and almost fell down the mountain."
There was fear in Ezuna's tone, and she patted her chest.
"Fortunately, Nobu-san was quick enough to catch Ritsuka-san and prevent Ritsuka-san from being seriously injured."
Fainted suddenly...?
Fujimaru Ritsuka squeezed his hand.
No, something's wrong...
There must be something else going on...
But why can't I remember?
Fujimaru Ritsuka gritted his teeth.
While she was unconscious, she definitely didn't just pass out. She should have taken other actions at that time. What specific actions were they...?
Fujimaru Ritsuka subconsciously took out his divine seal behind his back.
Then she froze.
In the chamber of the simple version of the Divine Seal, there was a gem bullet given to her by Miss Lawrence.
But I didn't load it yesterday.
So, sure enough, something happened...definitely something happened.
But why can’t I remember it? Is it because I have lost my memory? Or has my memory been deleted?
No matter which possibility it is, it is definitely not good news for Fujimaru Ritsuka.
"Souna, is that lady awake?"
A familiar yet unfamiliar voice came over, interrupting Fujimaru Ritsuka's intermittent thoughts due to drowsiness.
Looking up, that face was...
"Miss Okita Souji?"
She called out a little strangely.
"Huh? Does this young lady actually know my old surname?" Souji looked a little surprised. He gently sat down next to Fujimaru Ritsuka and smiled, "But now my name is no longer Okita Souji.
, I am General Secretary Samura."
"General Secretary Samura?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka's current thinking ability is about the same as a lump of paste, so she can only call out like this.
"Suraina said you weren't feeling well. Danna made some chestnut gold dumplings for the Mountain God Festival. I brought some. You can eat some."
Fujimaru Ritsuka was stunned.
Mountain God Festival?
Chestnut gold dumpling?
More and more strangely familiar feelings are coming.