Chapter 33 Bridge Monster (Part Two)
"Tsubasa, sorry, but could you explain to everyone?"
Tsubasa looked a bit bewildered, but soon began to speak.
"When I took hold of this bow, it spoke to me, remember? Various information rushed into my mind in an instant, and among them was the message, 'The next landmark is The Witch of the Valley.'"
"The Witch of the Valley?"
Kondo asked in return.
"Yes. I don't know the exact reason, but it's clear that in order to return to our world, we have to go to 'The Witch of the Valley' next."
(Was Tsubasa given a revelation this time?)
In the underground labyrinth, the next destination is indicated to the one who takes a magic weapon, but the recipient of this revelation has been different each time. Nevertheless, the initial destination being The Witch of the Valley is consistent. By the way, I was the one who heard this revelation in the first loop.
"What kind of opponent is The Witch of the Valley?"
Morimura asked to himself. Gina, who was serving tea, stopped abruptly, surprised by Morimura's question. She must have overheard him. Kondo Shuichi noticed Gina's reaction and asked,
"Gina-san, do you know anything about The Witch of the Valley?"
Gina, looking a bit flustered, replied,
"Yes, but it was just a well-known legend in the town."
"Can you tell us?"
"Yes."
Gina began talking as she served tea to each person.
"The Witch of the Valley is a legendary witch who has supposedly resided in this area for centuries. It is said that she possesses clairvoyance and knows everything."
"Where does she live? That The Witch of the Valley?"
"From here, if you go northeast for a long way, there is a large mountain range. After crossing a couple of those mountains, there is a big valley, and within it, there is a place isolated from its surroundings like a landlocked island. People live there."
"Have any of the people in this town met The Witch of the Valley?"
That's what Morimura asked.
"I don't think there are any people alive today. I've heard the last person who went to see The Witch of the Valley was about fifty years ago."
Kondo Shuichi asked suspiciously.
"Does that witch dislike contact with people? Or does she view humans as enemies?"
Gina shook her head.
"No. While it's true that the witch doesn't appear in front of people indiscriminately, I've never heard that The Witch of the Valley views humans as enemies. Instead, she provides important information to humans. Like how to cure epidemics, or what to do when there are continuous crop failures. It's just..."
Everyone except me was on edge, hanging on Gina's every word.
"It's necessary for at least two people to go to The Witch of the Valley's place. And among them, one person will definitely not come back."
"Not come back?!"
Morimura couldn't help but raise his voice. Yes, this was the trial to meet The Witch of the Valley. In order to meet her, someone would be unable to return. I have a way to avoid that, at least...
Gina continued speaking.
"It doesn't seem like The Witch of the Valley is demanding a sacrifice, but it seems that the people who have returned don't remember the ones who disappeared. It's like someone else was there, but we don't know who or what kind of person they were."
"Not just disappearing, but erased from the memories of the people who went with them? It's like they're being completely erased from existence."
Morimura muttered, and suddenly Aoki Runa raised her voice.
"I don't care about that anymore! Anyway, I don't want to go to such a dangerous place! Absolutely not!"
"But if we don't go to The Witch of the Valley, we won't be able to return to our original world."
Tsubasa tried to persuade in a calmer tone than before. However, Runa looked sharply at Tsubasa.
"If you want to go so badly, Tsubasa, why don't you go alone?"
"Huh?"
Tsubasa widened her eyes.
"That's perfect. You have your boastful magic bow. There's no need for all of us to go."
"No, we need to go together!"
I asserted forcefully. Runa looked at me with a frightened expression. But I continued speaking.
"There must be some meaning behind our survival. We have to go to The Witch of the Valley together. Probably, if even one person is missing, the chance to return to the original world will be lost."
"But, but, if we go, someone will become a sacrifice! I don't want that, to die in this kind of world!"
"Well, Aoki-san, do you have the confidence to live alone in this world?"
When I asked that, she had a tense expression.
"You have no money, no knowledge of this world, and nowhere to live. If you stay here alone, you won't just waste away, right?"
"Like that, like that... If someone stays with me... Akito..."
She looked at me with pleading eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I won't stay. I don't intend to spend my life in this world."
And then I looked at everyone again.
"What will you all do?"
The first one to answer that question was Tsubasa.
"I will definitely go. I understand that I have to go."
Morimura also said, "I will go too. I haven't heard that prophecy, but I understand that we have to move forward."
Alice said, "It's impossible for me to stay while Tsubasa and Akito-kun go." Following that, Kondo Shuichi and Mizuno Kaede also agreed to go. Nemoto Reiko responded, "Considering everything so far, what Akito-kun says is right."
Fukui, who had been observing the situation until the end, then quietly said, "I'll go too." Aoki Runa, who had been sulking for a while, eventually muttered, "I understand, I'll go too. There's no other choice, huh?" as if resigned.
I just hope everyone can feel positive. I decided to talk about a contingency plan for not being able to return alone.
"Everyone, please don't worry too much. It's true that it's dangerous to go to The Witch of the Valley, but I have a way around it. So, leave that to me. It probably won't turn out bad."
Everyone looked up when they heard that. Kondo Shuichi had asked.
"Is that the knowledge we talked about yesterday?"
"Yes."
Kondo nodded solemnly.
"Well, then we have no choice but to trust you."
Everyone looked relieved. It seems like they've started to trust me quite a bit. Although in this situation, they probably just want to cling to even the slightest hope. It's true that I have a plan.
But that plan has never succeeded in any past loops...
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