I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

Well, well, look at you! So dedicated, you've earned a little extra treat! 🎉

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As dusk slowly fell, Sara found herself once again questioning this world.

The sun rose and set, there were villages and people living here… Was this truly the sealed space her master had mentioned?

Calling it another small world didn't seem far-fetched.

Leading the way was a girl named Chika, whom they had just met. She skipped ahead, her long, braided flaxen hair swinging side to side.

So lively, so well-behaved—who could possibly dislike such a charming little girl?

"Angel Sister and Sara Sister, would you like to come to my house?" Chika invited the two she had just met. "My dad says if Chika doesn't return home by nightfall, she'll be a bad child… Plus, when it gets dark, those bad doggies appear, so everyone has to get back to the village before nightfall."

"Oh! Of course, I think that—" Kiichi nodded but suddenly felt something was off. "Wait, didn't you just call me Angel Sister again? Wasn't it Kii Sister before? Change it back!"

Chika obediently nodded.

"Got it, Angel Sister. Understood, Angel Sister."

"…"

Kiichi blinked blankly, tilting her head in a daze.

"Hold on. Am I being messed with? Me, a great yokai, getting teased by a little brat like you? I'm going to drum on your little noggin!"

"Eek!"

Chika tried to run, but before she could take her first step, Kiichi had her by the scruff of the neck.

"Still being cheeky? Not listening?"

"Chika's been very obedient! Chika's a good girl."

Even as Kiichi held her, Chika remained self-assured. "Besides, wasn't it you who said I could call you whatever I wanted? So even if I call you Angel Sister, it shouldn't be a problem."

"…That does sound like something I said," Kiichi muttered, holding Chika up with one hand and scratching her chin with the other. After pondering for a moment, she sighed.

"Well, since I said it, there's nothing to be done. Fine, I'll let you off this time."

With that, she put Chika down.

Most people might feel embarrassed or angry at being outwitted by someone so much younger, but Kiichi was different.

If it amused her and added a bit of fun to her long life, she'd shrug off a small loss of face with a laugh.

Being verbally outmaneuvered by a clever child? What a delightful experience!

"Haha! Still, are you sure about this? Taking us to your house?" Sara asked, her tone more cautious than Kiichi's carefree one. "Shouldn't you get permission from your family first? We've only just met, after all."

"Huh? It's fine, it's fine." Chika shook her head. "Aren't we friends? If I bring friends home to play, my mom and dad will be happy."

"…When did we become friends?"

"Huh? What a strange question. Didn't we exchange names?" Chika tilted her head, casting a puzzled look at Sara. "Since we've exchanged names, doesn't that make us good friends?"

Fr…iends?

Sara's golden eyes rippled slightly.

She stared at Chika's radiant smile, opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Although they walked on two legs instead of flying, the village wasn't far, so the trio arrived quickly.

"Ehhh~~! Chika, your dad is the village chief?"

"Yup, that's right!" Chika puffed out her chest proudly, placing her hands on her hips. Then she looked curiously at Sara and Kiichi. "But I've never seen Sara Sister or Angel Sister before. Are you two from the 'outside'?"

At the mention of "outside," Sara's gaze sharpened.

"What about you, Chika? Are you from the outside, too? And your parents? What about everyone in the village…"

Sara had been puzzled for a while. How could there be people in this sealed space? And not just people, but a full-fledged village.

Under Sara's intense scrutiny, Chika nodded softly.

"That's right. Everyone in the village came from the 'outside'… But…" Chika's lips pouted as her brows furrowed. "But that was a long time ago. Chika doesn't remember anything about the 'outside'… Hey, Sara Sister, Angel Sister, can you tell Chika stories about the outside? Chika's sooooo curious!"

"Of course."

Sara agreed without thinking. After all, telling stories wasn't a big deal. But then she realized she had spent her entire life in the forest, knowing only bits and pieces about the outside world. She probably wasn't much better off than Chika.

But a promise made was like water spilled. Left with no other choice, Sara instinctively looked to Kiichi for help.

Surely someone who had lived for centuries, even if mostly in seclusion, would know more than her, right?

When Kiichi had carried her through the air earlier, Sara had seen this village from a distance.

A village of this size could easily house hundreds of people. She had expected to encounter many villagers before even reaching it.

However, along the way, she hadn't seen a single soul. She had assumed they were hiding from the black monsters.

But upon entering the village…

There was no one.

The large village was utterly deserted.

The silence was unnerving.

"Chika… where is everyone in the village?"

On the way here, Chika had shared countless stories about the villagers with Kiichi and Sara.

An elderly man named Takahiro Shimono, who had once been a samurai loyal to the shogunate, now liked to sit on a small chair and regale people with tales of his youth on the battlefield.

A man and a woman named Serika and Shinbei, who were clearly in love but had yet to confess their feelings, instead orchestrating daily "coincidental" encounters.

Mrs. Asami and her husband, who sold fruit—big, sweet, juicy fruit—and lived harmoniously with their young son in a happy family.

Chika's vivid descriptions had painted the village as harmonious and idyllic.

But now, seeing the empty streets, Sara was more confused than ever.

Had Chika lied to them? Impossible.

The tone and expressions she had used… A fabricated story wouldn't feel so genuine.

"Huh?"

At Sara's question, Chika turned her head, her flaxen braid swaying.

"Everyone? They've gone out. Why?"

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This bonus chapter is like an encore after a rousing performance—totally worth staying for, wouldn't you say? Oh, and don't worry, my lyre's got plenty more tunes to play next time!

But for now, it's time to take a bow. Thank you for the applause (and all that wonderful support). If you're feeling extra inspired, you know where to find me—[patreon.com/WiseTL]. Toss a coin, and who knows? Maybe the next bard will sing your praises!

Now, go forth, Traveler, and revel in the wonders of this world. Until next time! 🍃✨