'It's not that we can't cooperate, it's that we won't cooperate that's the answer.

　The chief said once and for all.
　I feel a strong rejection from his words.

　It's not just because I'm human....
　There may be some other reasons for this.

　This isn't going to be a straightforward process.
　I can't give up on this one.
　I'm determined to do this.

Can I ask you why?
I have nothing to say to the humans.
....
"You can consider this the best possible compromise we can make, even though we've met here. There is no such thing as cooperation. Well, that's all I have to say. I will leave the village as soon as possible.
Holy shit.

　With a pop, Al tapped the chief on the head.

'Hey, what are you doing, Al?'
A young man comes to your village and you have an attitude. No matter how human they are, they have a certain attitude.
But a human being or something... ouch!

　He hit it again!

It's precisely because you are human. If you behave like that, you'll make me question the dignity of my fellow spirits. Can't you understand that?
Mmm....
The mistress of the house let him in. You will not be driven away without question. You're going to destroy her face.
But you see....
But there's nothing to it. Here, start over.

　Al-san and the chief were bouncing words about this and that.

　While I was looking at the scene with a blank stare, Sora and Luna softly whispered in my ear.

''........Mother has lived longer than the chief.
...So even the chief can't get over your mother.
...I see.

　The two of them make sense, but....

　But if we're just going by looks, it's like Al is the grandson and the chief is the grandfather.
　Looks and substance are reversed.

　As for Suzu-san.....
　Do women of the strongest species seem to get younger as they get older?

Well that's human.

　Again, the chief's gaze turned to me.

'I take back the words 'leave now'. I'll just listen to you a little longer.
Thank you.
'I've heard the general story from Al but it looks like the Heavenly Clan you sealed so long ago has been released.
'Yes. So I wanted to seal it up again could you lend me the items I need to do that?
Cooperating with the humans and others is not...
'Hmm?　What did you just say?
You can tell me more about it if you want.

　Al-san showed his fists at his side, and the chief changed the subject as he broke out in a cold sweat.
　No matter how you look at it, he's threatening her, but is that enough...?

　However, I'm sure that if I don't do this, we won't be able to talk about it?
　'Sorry,' I apologize inwardly, but still, I continue to talk.

'I can't leave Iris alone. We need to seal it off again.
That's none of our business. They say that humans broke the seal. It's all your fault, you know.
'Yes, we do. That's why we have to stop Iris by ourselves.

　I stared straight at the chief.
　The chief also looked into our eyes.

　Our gazes collided with each other....

　Eventually, the chief let out a sigh.

''Huh ... you're a stubborn person. Normally, I would give up if you treat me this coldly.''
I don't want to give up on you in the slightest.
What is it that drives you so hard?　To protect humans?
'There's that too. But that's not all.
What do you mean?
It's also to help Iris.
"Huh?

　The chief seemed to be interested in my words.
　He urged me to continue the conversation, so I told him my thoughts.

'Iris only cares about revenge. He doesn't think about himself at all. It's not normal for her to live like that. She will destroy herself. That's why I want to stop it. I want to help Iris.
The enemy...?
'Speaking of enemies, they may be enemies. But.....

　I wonder when it was.
　I think back to the night I spent with Iris at River End.

　That time....
　Maybe it was just then, but....

　But it certainly felt like he and Iris had a heart to heart connection.
　Maybe it was just a whim and a trivial time for Iris.
　I didn't think that deeply about it, either.

　Still.

　I never forgot it, and it's still there, in my memory.
　So I can assure you.

We may be enemies, but we can have a heart to heart.
....
'I'm not going to tell you that I understand everything about Iris. What I did understand, maybe just a small part of it it might just be pity.
You are aware of that, aren't you?
But am I not supposed to feel sorry for him?
....
Sympathy is a way of thinking about others. I don't think that's a bad thing.
Hmmm... that's one way to put it.
But I mean it.

　He lays out the words to the chief, who says something in denial.

'I'm going to seal it to help Iris. I know it may be contradictory but as it stands, I think it's the best thing to do. So please help me to do that.
Don't you think it would be faster to take them down?
It doesn't solve anything. No, maybe it solves the problem for us humans but it just puts a lid on the stinkin' thing.

　It was us humans who caused this.
　Therefore, we humans must take responsibility for it.
　And it's not in the form of a self-serving revenge.
　At the very least, I think it has to take the form of a seal.

'Killed, killed ... killed, killed ... that's sad, isn't it? Somewhere, we have to break this chain of events.
....
I'm... we're gonna break the chain of command. I'm going to end it.
All right.

　The chief nodded quietly and deeply.

''If you have that much thought and determination, then there is no longer any question.
Well then....
I'm happy to help you.

　I felt relieved and relaxed from the tension in my body.
　Finally, I was able to take a step forward.

　Keep going forward at this rate....
　And I will stop Iris.
　Once again, I made up my mind in my chest.

'Just on one condition.'
Good grief. What do you mean by that? Are you trying to turn this into a problem?

　Mr. Al glared at him, but this time the chief was not frightened.

''I don't mind cooperating with you, I mean it. If that Heavenly Clan is left on the loose, our spirit race might be harmed as well.

　The spirit race is the one who put the seal on Iris.
　There is no possibility of being included in the target of Iris's revenge.

''However, it's hard to say if it's something we can leave to this human. I need to see the power first. Without seeing the power, entrusting everything to him would be a foolish thing to do, right?
"Mmm, that's...

　Al seems to have lost the words to return it.

　However, what the chief is saying is a correct argument.
　If I don't have the power to seal Iris, then I can't seal her, so....
　If you don't prove it, you won't be able to get people to trust you.

　I think there is no other way but to have them see it directly with their own eyes, not with words.
　Which means.....

Human. Let's see how much power you have.

　I knew it was going to be this way.
　But it's fine.
　If that's how we can get to a way to seal Iris, then I'll take whatever it takes until we can get to it.