As Sakuya guides us through the demon gods’ village, we pass by a lot of people of other races.
That almost never happened in the divine beast people’s village or the alfar village, so it feels fresh.
“Daddy.”
“Hn? What is it?”
“Put Snow on your shoulders.”
She says with her arms in the air, so I do just that, and she holds my head like she’s used to it.
“That’s a familiar sight now.”
“It’s higher than mommy’s”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Snow boasts on my shoulders.
I don’t know what she’s bragging about, but they’re both happy, so it’s fine.
We keep moving, and I gradually smell hot springs more and more.
“Ooh…”
Snow is having fun, seeing something completely different from what she’s used to.
“Are you having fun?”
“Yes! Smells weird!”
She’s so excited that she’s pulling my hair. Now that I think about it, would this body go bald?
Well, Tiltue’s flames engulfed my entire head and didn’t burn my hair, so I think I’ll be fine…
“Is this the smell of the source?”
“Yes.”
I ask, and Sakuya points to the mountain with a smile.
“There are a few mountains in our village, but when there was an eruption long ago, it cracked the earth and it came pouring out.”
“Eh…”
“It is more effective at making the skin beautiful and improving overall health than regular baths.”
“Beautiful skin…”
Reina whispers with interest as she listens to Sakuya.
Sakuya does have beautiful skin. Reina does something like moisturize before going to bed, but hers looks even softer.
“Sakuya, can you tell me what effect it has?”
“Yes, of course.”
I guess even in another world, that sort of beauty treatment is important for women.
And Sakuya smoothly answers Reina’s question.
“…”
I feel like just watching these two beautiful women talking is having a healing effect on my eyes.
“Let’s go have dango over there mister!”
“Dango!”
These two care more about dango.
Luna is pointing to an old lady that looks to be a demon god, and all the kids around her enjoying the dango.
Luna pulls my arm towards them, and Snow my hair like she’s trying to steer me.
Resistance is futile, so I go along with them and say hello to the lady making the dango.
◇ ◇ ◇
Our tour of the village continues after everyone is done eating.
It’s on the mountains, so I get the feeling that there are a lot of slopes.
Then again, even normal beast people on this island have more stamina than regular people, so I can’t see them getting tired because of this.
“There are people of all sorts of races.”
“Everyone visits us to enjoy the hot springs.”
“Hot springs…”
I was reminded of Kusatsu near the entrance, but it really does remind me of a hot spring town, even if it was a long time ago.
And everyone walking around, including elves and divine beast people, are wearing kimono like it’s normal.
“Do you like kimono?”
“Yes. We had something similar where I came from.”
“Oh? Did you?”
“That said, it’s seen as more of a form of clothing people wore in the past. I’ve never worn one.”
I actually heard that there are many ways to make them, and they can be worn pretty casually nowadays.
And I’ve also heard that young people in particular are worried about how they’ll look, so a lot of them go to events dressed in modern clothes.
I wouldn’t be able to hear one as just regular clothing. It would stand out too much.
“I’m interested, because it’s something I never saw where I lived before.”
“I think it would look good on you, Reina…”
“…R-really?”
What I’m thinking slips out of my mouth, and Reina even manages to hear it.
She looks a little embarrassed.
“Then maybe I could wear one for a bit…”
“Oh!”
“…S-Sakuya?”
Sakuya has the same graceful smile as before, but somehow, I feel a strange pressure from it now.
It’s like I’m standing before a powerful enemy that it’s impossible to escape from no matter what…
“So you are interested in kimono? Then you need to try them on.”
“Eh?”
Sakuya says that with a sparkle in her eyes, and goes into a residence.
And since she’s the one leading us, we follow her. Actually, it’s more because she’s giving off the feeling that we can’t say no to her right now.
“Welcome.”
Once we get inside, we see different colored kimono lined up.
I’ve seen places that sell kimono, but only from the outside.
Being surrounded by them is a stunning sight.
“Uwah.”
“It’s incredible…”
“Pretty!”
Flower patterns, dragon patterns, beast patterns…
There are all sorts of kimono, and they all feel like the best craftsmen used the highest quality cloth to make them.
They actually give off a sort of strange power.
“Fufu, I got a little excited preparing when I heard you were coming.”
“Preparing…”
It almost sounds like she’s the one who made them…
“Sakuya’s the best at making kimono!”
“Eh? Then did you really make all…?”
Hearing that from Luna shocks me. I mean, this is a lot…
“W-wow.”
“Fufu, this really is no big deal.”
Apparently demon god women make clothes like this for other races too.
“And Luna, since everyone has their own peculiarities, no one is the best.”
“But Luna likes yours the best.”
“Fufufu, thank you very much.”
They’re adorable, like sisters.
These kimono just get better the more I look at them. If she made them, it really does make sense to call her the best. But it sounded like she meant what she said, and wasn’t just being humble.
But she’s still Luna’s favorite.
And in actuality, her kimono are also popular with her own race for their vibrant colors and detailed patterns.
“Let me get ready. Please wait for a moment.”
We’re taken to a room with tatami, before Sakuya closes the sliding door and leaves.
I’m a little taken aback by how much this is like I’m visiting a hot spring ryokan.
This old Japan atmosphere is making me feel nostalgic, and like the air is laid-back.
Luna is already lying on the tatami, and Snow copies her.
I want to do the same, but I can’t just lie down after we were brought here.
“It’s a little surprising.”
“Eh? What is?”
Reina reacts to what I say.
“Well, when we first got to this island, Elga said a lot of young demon gods had rough tempers, and that we should watch out for them…”
And now that we’re actually here, that’s not the feeling I get at all.
They make clothes and supply them to other races, and run a hot spring town that welcomes all sorts of races and everything.
“He said they were intellectual people.”
“Oh? Did he?”
“Yes. But he said they were full of youthful vigor towards young ancient dragons, and that we should be careful not to get dragged into it.”
“I see.”
I guess I got that mixed up.
I’ve seen people of many different races here, but the demon gods don’t really seem like they’d do anything.
If anything, they seem like a very friendly and quiet race.
“We really do need to reserve judgment for when we actually meet people.”
I can’t get my own ideas and imprint them on others.
Like Gyes. He’s big and gives off a lot of pressure, but he wouldn’t hurt anyone when he’s not fighting ancient dragons.
“But what is she preparing?”
“Yes… I’m also curious.”
I felt pressure from Sakuya the moment we showed interest in kimono.
It was like the excitement of someone finding another person who’s interested in the same hobby.
“Well then everyone, everything is ready, so come this way.”
There’s clear excitement hiding behind that graceful smile.
And so, we feel a little unsure about following her.
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