One week later.
The so-called “Children’s Alliance” gathered once again, each with a subtle expression on their face as they headed to the pickle shop where the holy sword was said to be.
It was on the outskirts of Neon City, with fewer tall buildings and more natural greenery.
Furthermore, there was a residential area where ordinary people lived, giving the illusion of stepping into a completely different city, even though it was inside Neon City.
The members of the “Children’s Alliance,” having been raised in the city, found the frequent presence of nature in the city streets quite novel and eye-catching.
The parks in the city were well-maintained, with hardly any fallen leaves.
However, the trees here seemed to grow wildly, with fallen leaves scattered about.
Clare screamed as she accidentally stuck her face into a gathering of small insects…
“I want to go home…”
“No, I was surprised too, but it’s too early to say those words.”
“Even I, who am usually unflappable, was taken aback by those insects…”
“Well, basically, you don’t see insects flying around like that in the city center.”
“That’s right. Insects and mice have all moved elsewhere due to strange radio waves, or they’re dead. It’s rather surprising to see so many alive here.”
“I want to go home…”
“Hey Stella, you’re supposed to be the oldest among us. Pull yourself together.”
“If you consider the years since I was born, I’m actually the youngest. I’m a baby.”
“No, you’re not…”
“Ba-bu ba-bu.”
Nein casually dealt with Stella, who was slumping over. Then, looking at the map, he muttered, “That way, huh?” and sighed.
“No, but what’s with a pickle shop? Are they pickling cucumbers as well as eggplants and radishes?”
“It seems they don’t sell ‘Holy Sword Eggplant.’”
“That’s not what I’m talking about. How do you use a holy sword to make something like a ‘Holy Sword Cucumber’…?”
“And speaking of which, are radishes suitable for bran pickling?”
“I don’t know.”
Muttering to themselves, they walked for a few minutes.
Then, the pickle shop “Craft,” their destination, appeared before them.
…From the outside, it looked like an ordinary store.
It was a fairly large building from the outside, but were they pickling inside?
The banners outside, two of them, read “Holy Sword Cucumber for Sale,” confirming that this was indeed the destination.
Nein’s mood dropped.
…
And then, outside the store, there was a small white-haired girl in traditional Japanese clothing, sweeping up fallen leaves that seemed to have come from the trees.
The girl quickly noticed the presence of the “Children’s Alliance” and tilted her head with a “hmm?”
Then she made a thoughtful face and went back inside the store.
“Welcome.”
A man appeared immediately.
He wore blue vinyl gloves and a pure white hat that covered all his hair.
His belly was slightly protruding, and his face looked young, but not his age.
His expression was very gentle, seemingly kind, but Nein couldn’t help but be wary of the place.
“…Who are you?”
“Welcome, did you come to buy pickles?”
At the word “pickles,” Nein felt dizzy, Stella gave a wry smile, Kevin was silent, not knowing how to react, and Clare said, “Yes, I want to eat the Holy Sword Cucumber!”
“Ah, the Holy Sword Cucumber… Sorry, we’ve stopped selling it for now.”
“Stopped selling?”
Kevin tilted his head, and the man bowed apologetically.
“Well, since you’ve come all the way here, why don’t you have some tea?”
The “Children’s Alliance” looked at each other and then nodded in agreement, saying, “Understood.”
…
Then, sitting in the rest area inside the store, the “Children’s Alliance” members.
The girl who had gone back inside the store earlier appeared with tea.
“Please, it’s just simple tea.”
“Simple tea.”
“No, what were you expecting? It’s not the kind of tea we usually drink.”
Stella took a sip of the tea and her face lit up with delight.
“It’s delicious!”
“That’s good to hear.”
The white-haired girl smiled softly in response.
“It’s always a pleasure to be told by the young that it’s delicious.”
“You have a unique way of speaking.”
“Hmm… Well, I’m aware it’s not modern. But it’s something that’s ingrained in me, so it’s hard to change.”
“Are you not as young as you look?”
At Clare’s question, the girl nodded, “Indeed.”
“I am, in fact, a spirit of pickles.”
“Is that so?”
“That explains it.”
“I had a feeling.”
“No way.”
Nein retorted.
“No, but you’re a spirit of the holy sword, right?”
“…No? I’m just a spirit of pickles.”
“Then what’s with the current situation?”
“Different. I’m now just a spirit of pickles!”
“See, Nein. She says she’s a spirit of pickles.”
“No, she admitted she’s a spirit of the holy sword…”
The girl looked dejected, and the man came to her rescue, saying, “Don’t be too hard on her.”
“She’s a bit sensitive right now.”
“Sensitive?”
“Does that have to do with why the Holy Sword Cucumber isn’t for sale?”
At Kevin’s words, the girl shuddered and then admitted, “Actually, that’s the case.”
“Recently, the Holy Sword Cucumber received a long negative review. It hurt me deeply.”
“…”
“…”
“I just don’t feel like pickling Holy Sword Cucumbers right now.”
“…Is that all?”
“That’s not all. That lengthy negative review really hurt me!”
“You didn’t have to read it.”
“…Well, that’s true. But I couldn’t contain my curiosity.”
Kevin thought it was self-inflicted, but he refrained from saying so, not wanting to hurt her further.
“But why are you telling us this?”
“No, you guys. You came here for something, right?”
“But the answer is no,” she said, cutting them off.
“As I said earlier, I am now a spirit of pickles. I have no intention of joining the fight.”
“Why do you think we’re going to fight…?”
“I can sense the same aura from your bodies as mine. Especially you, Kevin, was it? I can feel a strong power from you.”
“…”
“You will undoubtedly find yourself in the midst of a battle that will engulf this entire city… If it were a few years ago, I might have been on your side, but I’m sorry.”
She bowed her head, glanced at the man, and then smiled happily.
“I have a man I’ve decided on in my heart… I’m sorry, but I don’t want to let go of this happy moment I’ve finally found.”
I am a spirit of pickles, after all.
The “Children’s Alliance” fell silent at the girl’s response.
Well, Clare said, “That’s right!” cheerfully, but the other three were silent.
More precisely, Kevin pondered the nature of the power that seemed to be hidden within him, while Stella and Nein considered what to do about the spirit of the holy sword before them and the holy sword itself.
…The holy sword was already thinking of withdrawing from the battle.
Of course, the “Children’s Alliance” had intended to use the holy sword as a bargaining tool and only as a last resort in battle.
So even if there was no intention to fight, they could surely handle it as a mere tool.
But still…
…
It was clear that there was a strong bond between the man and his spirit.
Was there anything to be gained by severing that bond?
Anyway, Nein was about to declare the plan to obtain the holy sword temporarily suspended when he noticed a presence approaching the store.
It was a presence with immense power.
And before he could warn everyone, that power stepped into the store.
…
“Why are there children here?”
It was a man dressed entirely in black.
“Children should play in parks or theme parks.”
If you want, I’ll give you a discount ticket to Penguin Land.
The man said so.
