Chapter 36: Conflict and discomfort?

  "... They made friendly contact first."

  ?

  To summarize Kamil-san's story, it seems to go something like this.

  ?

  The lizards first visited Airo Vilge nearly ten years ago. They came after hearing rumors that the miko was there.

  The lizards were aware that they were a race that was easily disliked, so they kept a reserved attitude from start to finish. They probably also felt that they should not upset a miko.

  Kamil-san also didn't originally view the lizards as enemies, and treated them with a smile, gradually deepening their friendship with the lizards.

  However... Only Kamil-san's side sought friendship, he says.

  Taking advantage of Kamil-san's friendly nature, the lizards gradually became more arrogant. And what was at first, "requests" turned into "demands".

  When he finally could no longer tolerate it and refused their demands, they started to resort to violence.

  They threatened, used violence, robbed... They did whatever they wanted.

  "I can't take it anymore." When Kamil-san realized this, he banned the Lizard Tribe from the area, and when they still showed hostile behavior, he captured them and sentenced them to do bor.

  ?

  "Even so, they were released after serving their sentence... Well, we just chased them out of the vilge, but even still, we released them back. Then they started to make false accusations..."

  ?

  "False accusations?"

  ?

  "'Don't kidnap our kin, give them back!' Well, it's true that we did detain some of them temporarily, but they didn't commit a crime serious enough to warrant the death penalty, so we released them, and in first pce they were the ones who started the fight."

  ?

  "That's... A very selfish thing to say."

  ?

  "Yeah, we didn’t do anything to them after they served their sentence, we just expelled them from the vilge. I suppose they encountered a monster on their way and couldn’t make it back. However, it wouldn’t be fair to hold us responsible for what happened after their 'exile.' Don’t you agree?"

  ?

  I see, if that's the case, it's not surprising that the people of Airo Vilge have become distrustful of the Lizards. Rather, It's strange that Kamil-san said he could trust Uru... Even considering that he was respecting my words as a miko.

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  However... Unfortunately, this story may not be entirely true.

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  I have only heard Kamil-san's side of the story. It's possible that the facts have been twisted to suit Airo Vilge's convenience.

  I would like to hear the lizard's side of the story as well... I wonder where the lizards live. Let's try to find out sometime.

  I suppose I have no obligation to resolve this dispute, but it would be unpleasant to going to sleep while other people fight between themselves over something that benefits no one.

  ?

  ... Huh? It doesn't benefit anyone?

  Could it be... That there are intelligent monsters working behind the scenes?

  Even if it's true that the Lizards are rampaging, this is far too shortsighted, and far too foolish. What benefit could there be in making the Miko, who wasn't an enemy of anyone, their enemy?

  However, repeated suspicion and destruction would be to the creator god's disadvantage, so it's not impossible that it could be to the destruction god's benefit.

  Could they be maniputed in some way...? Well, at worst, there's the possibility that the Lizards have sided with the destruction god.

  Uru also said that there was a "strange smell," so there might really be something going on behind the scenes.

  ?

  ?

  After looking around the production area, I headed towards Kamil-san's mansion and lodging in the center of the vilge, where I found a statue of the creator god and prayed to it.

  "As a miko, you can't help but pray, right?" Kamil-san said with a ugh, while I was secretly creating a Return Stone, that made my heart ache a little.

  I wonder if other mikos besides me really can't create Return Stones, but... I'll refrain from asking for now.

  From now on, we'll likely continue to interact with each other as mikos. It would be best to judge his character in the process.

  ?

  Even so... It's a pretty impressive altar.

  In the center of the altar is a rge statue of the Creator God, probably about ten meters tall. Surrounding the Creator God are statues of all six gods, although they are a little smaller than the Creator God.

  The pedestals are also splendidly decorated, and there are no cracks or dirt, which suggests that they have been meticulously cleaned. However, due to the location, it seems that it is unavoidable that sand will get on them.

  ?

  "Hmm? Isn't this normal?... Ah, I guess it's hard for a vilge without a miko to make one on this scale."

  ?

  I managed to hold back a groan.

  At the base where I, a miko live, we still only have statues of the Creator God, the Earth God, and an extra for the Wind God...!

  The Earth God said that we could get the statues ter... But I guess I just don't have enough faith...

  ?

  ?

  I was told to wait a little longer until dinner, and was shown to my room.

  It seemed like they had prepared a special room for me alone, but when I refused and said, "I'd rather share a room with them," They looked at me strangely. After some hesitation, they agreed. I'm sorry I wasted their kindness (probably it's kindness, I'm sure). But Uru isn't here, and I don't want to be alone in the vilge, where there might be danger...

  I'll be sharing a room with a boy, but it should be fine if we put up a screen between us. He doesn't have any such thoughts at all. If he had any, Liese wouldn't have that much trouble. And Fricka wouldn't get jealous over something like that... I hope.

  ?

  I inspected the tea id out on the table, making sure there was nothing suspicious about it, before offering it to Regulus and Liese.

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  "So... What were your thoughts, you two?"

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  After expining my thoughts that it might be best to their story about the Lizard with a pinch of salt, I asked the two of them again.

  They might have a different impression of him than I do.

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  "Hmm..."

  ?

  "Putting aside the Lizard Tribe issue for the moment, the Miko-sama seemed like a nice person."

  ?

  "That's true."

  ?

  I nodded in response to Liese's thoughts. I agree with that.

  I can't say that I have an eye for people, but the basic premise is that he is a "Miko" In other words, he is someone chosen by the Creator God.

  There's no way he would do anything strange so soon, and if there was anything suspicious about him, the Creator God would surely have warned me.

  If I were asked whether I should pce more importance on the words of a miko or the mayor of that nameless vilge, the answer should naturally be the former.

  But still... I wonder where this hesitation is coming from.

  ?

  "Hmm, maybe it's just my imagination."

  ?

  "Hmm? You can tell me whatever it is."

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  "I definitely won't ugh," and urged him, groaning and folding his arms as he spoke with a ck of confidence.

  ?

  "Somehow, it feels like we're not welcome here."

  ?

  "Huh?"

  ?

  "Well, I guess they're just wondering, 'Who are these people?'"

  ?

  "Well... It's true, if a stranger were walking around with the miko, they might make a face like that, right?"

  ?

  It was only natural that they'd be cold towards outsiders after what happened with the Lizards.

  But since Regulus still said that despite knowing that, perhaps it would be best to take it to heart.

  He took a sip of his tea. Liese was drawn in and was about to put her cup to her mouth as well... But she stopped herself just in time.

  ?

  "What's wrong? Did you dislike the smell?"

  ?

  "No, it's not that, but... I just thought this smell was the same as the smell I smelled earlier from the people who were being forced to work."

  ?

  "... Huh? What kind of smell is... Oh, so it smells like this."

  ?

  I sniffed it, but all I could get was a herbal smell. The taste was slightly bitter, but still refreshing.

  Hmm... Maybe it was used to mask the smell caused by sweating during underground mining...?

  When I checked earlier, it wasn't poisonous, and the description said it had a fatigue recovery effect, so there was nothing strange about it, but... I should look into it a little more closely.

  It's probably made from pnts. I took another sip, and based on the taste, I searched for the ingredients using the knowledge I'd received from the Earth God. And I ended up with...

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  "Guhaa--"

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  "Oh?!"

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  "Rion-san?!"

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  I couldn't help but spit out my tea.

  Regulus was about to get caught in the fire line, but quickly dodged. I'm sorry.

  ?

  "Gefugefu... Ah... This has Rokaru leaves mixed in with the ingredients..."

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  "Rokaru... What is that?"

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  Wiping my mouth and the table, I answered Regulus' question with a bitter face.

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  "... An ingredient for drugs."