I thought the séance was a mimicry contest, but it's more like a costume contest.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm sure that ...... is certainly not surprising that this figure is seen from afar, and that there is something to be misunderstood.
Well, at least it's something that people in the village would think was possible.
Oh, I didn't expect someone to prepare full body armor and even a helmet. The fact that everyone is laughing at ...... means that someone has done something like that.

　I'm not sure why Allen and the others find it funny, so I can't laugh with them, but it was interesting in various ways.

　In the darkness of night, lit by a bonfire, which is said to be a guide to the dead, the laughs of the villagers, which only seem vague, echo around them.
　It may look eerie, but it doesn't seem so because their voices seem to be really happy.

This is a rare experience. It was certainly worth it to stay. I didn't know this kind of festival existed in the world. ...... You might want to thank that woman later.
...... Well, yeah . Surely, what was the point in bothering to stay?

　As he said it, he turned his gaze to the next.

　As usual, Leeds remains silent, but his gaze is drawn to the festive scene.
　But rather than gazing, it seems vaguely blurred, seeming either distracted or disappointed.

　Then turning to Beatrice, she too was looking at Leeds, but with a pained look on her face, you could see no small amount of relief.
　Well, no one would look at this festival and think that the dead really do rise temporarily.
　It's natural for Leeds to be disappointed, and for Beatrice to be relieved to see the tense atmosphere fade away.

　And even if that's not the result you wanted, if seeing this made Leeds better, then it was worth it to stay.

...... I thought you would do something special since you would be doing something so peculiar as reuniting with the dead, but I didn't see that coming.
That's true. And when the festival started, the chief would just say hello.

　In our world, the dead are treated as a kind of taboo.
　It does not mean that the dead are to be treated poorly, but rather that they should not be touched carelessly.

　The dead should exist as the dead and are no longer considered different from those of this world.
　It is common knowledge in this world that the dead and the living must never intersect, regardless of race or region.

　Therefore, among the various "powers" that exist in this world, such as gifts and magic, resuscitation of the dead is treated as a forbidden act along with going back in time.
　It is not only forbidden to do research, but in some places it is even forbidden to speak about it.
　Yet, the festival held in this village is a kind of temporary reanimation ceremony of the dead.

　Even if it's not, it's still a problem just because it looks that way.
　If this was an ordinary village, the inhabitants would have been burned to the ground as soon as they were found.

　Or perhaps it is precisely because it is in a remote area that such a festival is held.

If there's one thing that's a bit peculiar, it's the smell.　But you can't do anything about the dead by smell alone,
As expected.

　Beatrice is right, the only difference between before and during the festivities is the smell of this wafting through the village.

　But considering that the place is not particularly closed off, one can only wonder how much work went into it, but that's it.
　To begin with, it's really just the smell.
　There is no power from it, and the best you can do with it is to disguise (・・・・・) other smells (・・・・) at best.

　Alternatively, you might get a sensation similar to some kind of intoxication, but that's about it.
　I didn't think this was involved in any ritual.

　Incidentally, that smell is one that Allen and his team had smelled before.
　Incidentally, that smell is one that Allen and his friends have smelled before.

　But that's really all there is to it--

By the way, as a knight, are you willing to let these things go?　I know I said it was a rare experience, but I don't think it's something that can be done away with.
Well, sure. If I'd been sent here on a mission, I don't know what I would have done. But now a mission is one thing and quite another, and this ritual isn't bothering anyone. Then I guess we can leave it alone.
...... Well, yeah. It's rather entertaining, and that includes us.
Yeah. Hopefully, this will be a nice change of pace.

　Well, we'll see what happens with that, and so on and so forth, there was a change in the place of the festival.

　The place where the festival is held is the village square.
　Up until now, there was a figure in the center of the square, and the villagers were surrounding the figure.

　The figure changes from time to time, wearing silver full-body armor or a strange mask; in short, someone who is dead.
　In such a state of disguise, and even more like a trick, they all play along and laugh at each other.
　That was the festival we had just witnessed.

　You'll be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for, and you'll be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.
　There are two, three, four, and more, and all of them look very familiar.
　They were the ones who had finished their tricks and retreated first.

　All of them ...... or almost all of them gathered in the middle and wondered what they were going to do when the ...... villagers took them by the hand and began to dance.

It's a good thing ...... that this is the case. I remember that this festival is for socializing.
"Yeah. That's what it sounds like. So that was a self-introduction, as it were.
So this is where the real work begins, right?

　While I was talking about this, a person came over to me out of the dancing villagers.
　The familiar figure was that woman.

"Hey, are you having fun?
"Oh, enough . I really appreciate your advice to stay.
"Come on, man, that's not very pretentious. Now, more importantly, I know you didn't understand what the hell was going on, but now you do.　You guys can come over here and dance. I don't care if it's appropriate.


"Hmmm. ...... Wouldn't it bother you if we mixed up?
No one cares about that. You're a pretty girl, so the village sukebe won't leave you alone. Look at you. Even our deadbeats are looking at us with their noses in the air. She'll be tortured later, though.
Haha, that's scary. Isn't it still better not to go?
What? We won't be able to stop you if you want to do something weird. But if you're willing to do it, we're willing to do it too.

　I see, it seems that this is one of the reasons why you are trying to keep me here.

　Well, it's a special village even for them.
　If they had the opportunity to recruit more villagers, they wouldn't miss it.

　Whether or not you'd ever take it, though.

Hmmm ...... Well, surely these things are only worthwhile if you participate. It's a good thing you invited me.
Well, yeah. It's not like I'm just going to be watching them all the time. What about Leeds?

　I thought there might not be a response, but there was a decent response.
　However.

...... No, no, I'm sorry, but I'm seeing it here. I'm not in very good shape.
"Hmm?　You don't look so good. Don't you think you should take a break?
...... Yes, thank you. If it seems impossible, I would like to do so.
Yeah, we'll do that. So you guys are going to join us?
Well, he's not a kid anymore. Besides, it's safe to be the only one in this village, right?
Surely the locals won't do anything to you since we'll be watching for them. All right, let's get going.

　Beatrice seemed to be concerned about Leeds' condition, but in the end she thought it would be better to leave him alone.
　With a reluctant look on his face, he followed the woman as she began to walk away.

　Allen also followed.
　But he didn't even look at Leeds because he knew that Leeds was pale (・・・・) and that it wasn't due to a physical condition (・・・・・).

　This is the same thing that Beatrice just mentioned, not surprisingly.
　As long as you are not bothering anyone, it's fine to leave it alone.
　That's the idea.

　As he followed the woman, Allen looked up at the star-studded sky and let out a breath.







　Reece watched alone as Allen and the others headed to where the villagers were.

　The faces of the two people who are being invited to dance are filled with a wry smile, but they also seem to enjoy it.
　You will find that Beatrice, despite what she says, seems to be enjoying herself in her own way, and even from a distance, she is twisting the arm of the man who is about to perform the oita(...) and smiling happily.

　I'm glad to see that, but at the same time, a feeling of loneliness arises, as if I've been left behind, and a smile of self-mockery appears on my face.

...... I'm selfish, really.

　You worry about them, and you know it, but you don't do anything about it.
　And you're trying to do something else that worries you.

I'm sorry about ....... But I just can't help but go to ......

　Muttering, he slowly stood up.
　I'm sure you'll be able to see them once more, but as if determined, he removed his gaze and disappeared into the outskirts of the village, as if to disappear into the darkness of the night.