Five Minutes After Meeting, She Asks: "Oppa, Are You Good at Sex?"
“The shrine that only appears at night?”
“Yeah, this is Tsukikage Shrine, after all.”
Literally, 'Moon Shadow Shrine'.
Yeah, sure, but this wasn't the game world...
“Does that even make sense?”
“Who knows. I always wondered why it was here, but maybe it existed for you. Anyway, do whatever. I don't care anymore.”
She wiped the semen off her body with some tissue, got dressed, and headed outside.
What the hell am I supposed to do with this?
If she's telling the truth, should I wait until evening?
She's not hostile, and no reason to lie to me...
Guess I have to assume it's real for now.
In the game, Belzeria wasn't originally part of the Demon King's Army.
She lived alone in the forest, fell in love with a human man, and after he died of old age, she researched forbidden resurrection magic, got chased by the kingdom's forces, and joined the Demon King's side.
No way she'd pull that crap in the real world, right?
I stepped outside and sat next to her on the veranda.
The breeze felt nice and cool.
Ding~
The wind chimes rang beautifully too.
“Y'know, I love that sound.”
“Huh?”
What brought that on?
“The wind chimes. My husband loved that sound.”
“Your husband, huh.”
She smiled at me when I asked.
“From the game. But get this—the husband I wanted to resurrect so badly... he's right here.”
“What're you talking about?”
“My current husband is the one from the game.”
“So, he came to the real world after dying there?”
She shook her head.
“Doesn't seem like it. Looks, speech, even his sex habits—everything's identical.”
“Just a coincidence? Someone who looks like him?”
She stared right at me.
“I still remember his breathing, his eye smiles, his grins, every little gesture. And it's all exactly the same.”
“...”
She must've loved her husband a ton in the game.
“Guess he's the real deal then. Congrats. You got your wish. That's why you fled the kingdom's army and joined the Demon King to become one of the Four Heavenly Kings, right?”
“Yep. But that's on you humans. I never hurt anyone, and they attacked me.”
Her research was taboo, but it didn't actually harm anyone.
No corpses involved or anything.
Something about accessing souls?
My memory's fuzzy.
“Kinda makes me feel bad now.”
“Huh? I forgot all about that world after coming here anyway. And I told you—I found my husband.”
“Wild.”
“Tell me about it. Even wilder? He doesn't remember me.”
Her face turned a bit sad.
As I started to comfort her, she looked up.
“That's why it's even better! The thrill of a fresh romance! I love it. My hubby♡”
“Ah...”
So that's why she's been squeezing him dry for five years?
“Does that mean you're stuck here forever? You said you can't leave.”
“Yeah. No clue why, but there's this invisible wall blocking me.”
Fascinating.
Like how we use skills here—is there some system in place?
“Wait, but if you love your husband that much, why'd you sleep with me?”
“But... that's his fault. He kept dodging sex for a whole month.”
“Doesn't mean you cheat...”
“Cheat? What cheat? I love my husband. He wouldn't do it, so I just used a living dildo.”
The exact words I'd used on Yui came back at me, leaving a weird feeling.
“One more thing I'm curious about. How'd you end up here in your original body?”
That form she showed earlier—
Reverse Eyes aren't something a human body can fake.
“Beats me. But how are you in someone else's body?”
“You saw my status window? No idea. Woke up in this one.”
We were eyeing each other in mutual wonder when her husband's voice called out, looking for us.
“Kaede?”
“Ah, hubby's here. Anyway, our thing's a secret.”
She winked and went to him.
At least she looks happy. Good for her.
A shrine that only appears at night, huh...
Alright, since I'm here, might as well do everything there is to do.
A bit later, I had a simple meal with the rice the couple made.
...Damn, this is good.
“How is it? Hope it suits your taste.”
“It's amazing. Especially this seasoned veggie side—first time I've had anything like it.”
I laid it on a little thick on purpose.
And it worked—Kaede's husband grinned, pleased.
“A city guy's impressed? Makes me happy too.”
I figured he was just a gruff old man, but nope—he switched straight to casual speech with me.
Ah, right, not an old guy.
45?
That face?
Kaede, how much have you been wringing him out...
“Staying the night, then?”
“Yeah. Figured I'd check out more of the shrine, take some pics while I'm at it.”
“Good call. Oh, if you got time, tour the village too. Not many people, but the air's fresh, water's clean—great place to live.”
Going down to the village sounds like a pain...
Tiring, legs'd hurt.
“Nah, just the shrine and forest around here.”
“Shame. Hey, you gonna call home? Cell won't work here.”
“Yeah... any phone I could use?”
Kaede smiled faintly.
“...Guess not.”
“Might get signal down in the village. Eat up and go with him.”
“Thanks, appreciate it.”
##
“First, gotta stop by the village head's place and let him know. C'mon.”
Following him down to the village, and he heads straight for the head's house.
Something about outsiders causing trouble if they wander.
Still no cell signal.
Gonna have to borrow a phone there.
“Hey, chief, it's me.”
“Oh? Done with the fields?”
“Nah, this city guy wants to look around the village.”
“You bringing an outsider? That's new.”
A man with a rough voice came out from inside.
This the village head?
“What brings you here?”
“Sightseeing at Tsukikage Shrine.”
“People actually come for that shrine? Rare as hell.”
“I'm a shrine otaku. Oh, mind if I borrow your phone?”
He eyed me up and down, then jerked his chin toward one side.
“Hey, chief, about that shed stock...”
While they stepped out talking, I called home.
Ring ring ring... Click.
“Hello?”
“Mom, it's Satoshi.”
“Huh? Why not your cell?”
“I'm in Tsuki Village, Nagano Prefecture...”
I bullshitted about coming for fresh air, missing the bus, heading back tomorrow, and hung up.
“Thanks for the use.”
“I'll tell the villagers, so look around. Not much to see, but whatever.”
“Appreciate it.”
Felt like passing some kinda checkpoint exam.
“Come back to the shrine before dark. Gets dark quick here... by 5 at latest.”
It's 1:30 now...
Plenty of time.
Guess I'll walk around the village to digest and sightsee.
Not like there's much else to do.
Leaving the head's house, the village loudspeaker blared.
Something about a young guy from the city touring, don't be scared.
That young guy me?
Is this how villages roll...?
As I wandered, villagers who'd heard the announcement whispered and stared.
Felt like a monkey in a zoo.
Screw it, head back to the shrine?
Spotted a fork leading into the forest.
And a stream flowing in front.
Reminded me of the water by the shrine.
Follow upstream, and it'd lead there, right?
Yeah, back to the shrine it is.
How long had I walked along the stream?
Ended up in some weird spot.
Trees everywhere.
Turn back?
Splash splash.
Hearing water sounds, I pushed deeper in.
Someone's there.
Young woman?
Around 20?
A young woman in this rural spot...
She screams local girl, born and raised here.
“Huh? Who're you?”
“Ah, here sightseeing at Tsukikage Shrine. Got lost.”
“The shrine? Oh, where Kaede-nee is?”
“Yeah, that's it. Can you show me the way?”
She just stared blankly instead of answering.
“Where you from?”
“Me? Tokyo.”
Her eyes lit up; she climbed out of the stream and approached.
Short black hair.
Dark eyes.
Tank top, short shorts.
Tan lines peeking out against pale skin.
Pretty attractive.
“Whoa! First city person I've seen!”
“How old?”
“Twenty.”
“Oh, I'm twenty-one.”
“Name? I'm Yamashita Kaho.”
“Satoshi Satoshi.”
She circled me, inspecting like I was some marvel.
What's so fascinating?
“Can I call you oppa?”
This girl... zero sense of distance.
“Sure. What're you doing out here?”
“Skipping out on farm work help.”
“Ah...”
“Hey, can you tell me the way to that shrine you mentioned?”
“What uni you go to, oppa?”
Ignored my question, just firing her own.
“Failed entrance exams, studying at cram school now.”
Heavy topics should shut her up.
“Whoa, retaker, huh? Tough. But for real, Tokyo has 24-hour convenience stores? Everyone says Tokyo houses are tiny—is that true? Are all Tokyo girls super pretty?”
No end in sight...
Just keeps yapping.
What kinda girl is this?
“And and, this is something I really saw online, but do Tokyo guys all have good sex?”
I was zoning out until that last bomb hit.
“Huh? What'd you say?”
“Sex. You good at it?”
Is she nuts?