Main Story/8-6

Sympathy and Understanding

Night had already fallen, and we all rested how we pleased.
Everyone was worried about Minerva, so we just spent our time trying to keep ourselves amused.

Avi

"...they’ve got some nerve showing up."

Avi suddenly stood, sword in hand.

MC

"Eh?"

I spun around and there...

Dream Eaters Appear

Navi

"Dream Eaters! Be careful everyone!"

Kairi

"You're being loud, fluffball."

We stood against the looming Dream Eaters...-.

Battle

We let out sighs of relief after safely defeating the Dream Eaters.

Hinata

"Aaah, I'm so tired because of those Dream Eaters."

Byakuyo

"Agreed."

Navi

"I'm so glad nobody was injured."

MC

"Now that you mention it... Minerva...!"

Shigure

“…!”

Avi looked out the window to check on the temple.

Avi

"Relax. It looks fine over there."

MC

"Thank goodness..."

Hinata

"But you know, how come she's not coming out even though she's free?"

Luke

"I'm sure there must be some reason, right?"

Byakuyo

"I don't know. At the very least, we should check if there's a reason she won't leave."

Medi

"Perhaps she beheld my beautiful form and is now too shy to come out!"

Luke

"...in that case, would you mind disappearing for a while?"

Medi

"I shall do so if that is the best course of action! Aah! It's such a crime to be so beautiful!"

Luke

"Yes...it really is."

Byakuyo

"Luke, don't laugh."

Shigure

"...I may know why."

Avi

"Hm?"

MC

"Shigure?"

Byakuyo

"Oh, what on earth do you mean you know?"

Shigure

"Ah, sorry..."

Byakuyo

"I'm not trying to blame you. Just tell us."

Medi

"That's right, Shy Boy! You're far too restrained around us. Be more like me, and speak your words artfully and with flair!"

Shigure

"Ah... right..."

Hinata

"But Medi, you talk too much and are annoying."

Medi

"On occasion, there are times when you just can't understand though!"

Avi

"Aah, that's enough! Shigure, what do you mean?"

Shigure

"Right... Maybe Minerva... is disillusioned with the people in this country?"

MC

"Disillusioned with the people?"

Shigure

"Yeah..."

Shigure nodded slightly.

Shigure

"When she showed her face through the window, I saw her wings... and they were injured. I bet it's because the Magna Sect and the people were rough with her."

Kairi

"It's possible."

Avi

"If that's true, those guys did something really cruel..."

Shigure

"I...think so too."

Shigure, who usually spoke so little, spoke his thoughts one at a time.

Shigure

"That's why maybe Minerva doesn't think it's necessary to interact with anyone? Once you feel that way... and it can take some time before you trust yourself again. That's... how it was for me."

MC

"Shigure..."

Shigure

"I... want to help Minerva."

Shigure voiced the words in his heart, and they echoed in ours...-.

Shigure

"Ah, sorry... for going on like that."

Byakuyo

"Oh my, you don't need to apologize though. It's quite alright, I like it."

Avi

"Yeah, it's much easier to understand you that way."

Medi

"That's right! Just like me..-"

Kairi

"You stay out of it."

Medi

"What!?"

Luke

"You've changed, Shigure."

Shigure

"Eh...?"

Hinata

"That's right, that's right! When we met, you almost never talked~."

Medi

"Yes! Back then you were like a dark rain cloud."

Shigure

"D-dark rain cloud..."

Luke

"Don't pay any attention to what Medi said."

Shigure

"No... that's how I felt back then. But... I'm happy... if I've changed."

Shigure smiled shyly.

Navi

"I'm certain your feelings were conveyed, Prince Shigure."

Shigure

"Y-you think so?"

Navi

"Feelings... are stronger than anything else. The stronger they are, the more power they have to influence others... that's what I believe."

Shigure

"Yeah... That's nice..."

Kairi

"At any rate, you're basically saying you won't give up right?"

Shigure

"Eh...?"

Kairi

"You, and her."

Kairi glanced at me for a second.

MC

"...yes. I want to help Minerva too."

Shigure

"MC..."

MC

"Because it would be wrong to give up."

Byakuyo

"You've changed too."

MC

"Eh...?"

Navi

"Indeed, you've become very strong Princess!"

Hinata

"Why are you the one that looks so happy Navi~?"

Navi

"Apologies... I just..."

MC

"Let's give it our all again tomorrow."

Shigure

"Yeah, let's...!"

I looked out the window at the temple.
(It'd be nice if Shigure's feelings reached Minerva.)
I sent that thought up to the night sky...-.
…
In one area of the town, a crowd was gathering.
At its core was Kaasa.

Kaasa

"Throw away your hopes. If you do not, disaster will befall you!"

The people were enraptured by Kaasa's words.
However, at that time...-.
A deafening sound of something collapsing came from an outer wall a little distance from the crowd.

Kaasa

“…!”

Follower 1

"Lord Kaasa!"

Kaasa

“……”

Follower 1

"Just now... what was that?"

The followers were murmuring about what happened, and Kaasa calmly chided them.

Kaasa

"Just now, your feelings wavered. That is why this happened."

The followers looked at each other in fear, listening attentively to what Kaasa said.

Kaasa

"It's alright. Everything will work out."

Kaasa spoke with certainty.
With a composed voice and demeanor, Kaasa's conviction was not swayed in the slightest.
The people of the town looked at Kaasa with eyes full of trust.

Kaasa

"Now, let us continue..."

Kaasa began his sermon once more...-.
…

Avi

"...hey."

MC

"...nn..."

Avi shook me, and I opened my eyes.

MC

"Avi?"

Avi

"Everyone wake up...!"

Keeping his voice quiet, Avi woke the others.

Luke

"What's going on?"

Byakuyo

"Yes~ don't wake me so suddenly like that."

Hinata

"I want to sleep more!"

Avi

"Look out the window! It's Minerva..."

Shigure

"Minerva!?"

We all looked out through the window.
Then....-.

MC

“…!”

Minerva had left the temple and now perched on the peak of the roof.
Everyone was quiet, watching Minerva intently.

Minerva

“……”

Minerva looked sorrowfully at the ruined forest.
Then in the next instant...-.
Minerva spread her large wings.

MC

“…!”

She beat her wings in a rhythm, causing the dead leaves to fly upwards.
In the next instant, the desolate trees were restored with fresh greenery.

Avi

"Is that the power Minerva has?"

Medi

"What a divine spectacle! I'm so moved I can't put it into words!"

Luke

"...you're putting it into words just fine, Medi."

Avi

"We need to hurry and persuade Minerva."

Minerva

“…!”

As we all left the small hut, Minerva noticed us before we'd realized.

Minerva

“……”

Minerva glanced at us, then took off into the sky.

MC

"W-wait...!"

Avi

"Where is she...!?"

Luke

"Isn't the town in that direction?"

Shigure

"Let's go after her...!"

Navi

"You're right, let's...-."

Navi's words were cut off.

MC

"Navi? What's wrong?"

Kairi

"...Dream Eaters, huh."

Navi

"Yes..."

Avi

"Stopping us at a time like this!"

Hinata

"Aw man! Let's just hurry and get 'em everyone!"

Battle

After safely defeating the Dream Eaters, we hurried off in the direction of the town where Minerva had flown off to.
(I wonder what Minerva's thinking...)
I remembered Minerva's eyes when she'd peeked out of the temple.
In those eyes, there had been no energy, only panic.
Only the ruined trees surrounding the temple were covered in beautiful greenery...

Translation: HanXanth

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