In life, you experience all sorts of things.
Like getting a concussion from a flowerpot that falls out of nowhere while you're walking down the street, or the misfortune of being run over by the very ambulance called to save you...
And sometimes, you even experience something as mysterious as closing your eyes, thinking you're about to die, only to wake up in another world.
"Mr. Lee. Have you heard the news? They say a little girl appeared on the back mountain."
"She must have gotten lost in the mountains. Her parents must be worried sick."
Old Man Sato, who I was farming with, seemed quite interested in the girl.
He slung his plow over his shoulder and whispered cautiously in my ear, as if it were some great secret.
"You know, yokai appear on the back mountain. So everyone's being careful, wondering if that girl might be a yokai."
"I've seen yokai before. They didn't take the form of a little girl."
I tilled the earth.
It's a common ghost story. A tale of a yokai who transforms into a human to devour people.
However, this rural village is surprisingly close to the capital, so cases of yokai directly harming the villagers were rare.
The Onmyoji who traveled back and forth from the capital periodically exterminated them, so we had little to worry about when it came to yokai.
Perhaps that's why the old man seemed even more interested in the rumor. Uncharacteristically for his age.
"Right? It's a very strange thing. They say when people approach her, she just stares blankly like a truly innocent child, but she doesn't follow them."
"...So, is the girl still in the mountains?"
"Is there any need to meddle? If she's a yokai, we must naturally get rid of her, and even if she's human, it's not like we can bring her here and raise her. We barely have enough rice for ourselves."
It was the cold, hard judgment of the head of a household.
"Have you taken an interest in the girl?"
"I was taught to live by helping the weak. Where on the back mountain is she? I'll go and see for myself."
"Just as I thought, Mr. Lee, you're a good man. And adventurous, too."
The old man gave a grim smile.
He planned to use me from the start.
"It's not that far. You know the large rock halfway up the mountain? They say she's been hiding behind it."
"I'll head out early today. I've already made up for the work you skipped, so that should be fine, right?"
"Of course. Go on, now. And be careful."
An unmarried outsider like me had to prove his worth in this way. If there was a dangerous task, I had to be the first to raise my hand and volunteer.
It's been over five years, but these people still refuse to trust an outsider.
Rural society is small and insular.
It might be different if I were to marry. But showing no interest in the village maidens, I was an oddball by the standards of this era.
"All I have is a wooden spear, but I suppose I should take it."
Never mind steel weapons, I don't even have a stone axe. The plow I use is also made of stone.
What did you expect? This is a backwater village. As if there would be a high-class facility like a blacksmith's forge here.
Besides, there's no way an outsider like me would have much money.
The reason I'm not taking the plow is that it's my only farming tool. It's a precious thing.
"The large rock… this must be it. Is she behind here?"
Climbing the mountain was easy. I found the rock quickly enough.
If I meet a yokai, I'll run without looking back. If it's a human, I'll try to talk first.
Having established my course of action, I walked cautiously. The area hidden by the rock slowly came into view.
"…?"
"…Hello?"
It was a young girl, about five years old.
Despite being a child, she had a lovely appearance that made me certain she would grow up to be a great beauty.
Pink hair and large eyes. A well-defined face. A calm demeanor that made her seem like a child of nobility.
She was quite filthy from living in the mountains, but it was nothing a good wash in a stream couldn't fix.
"Can't you speak, by any chance?"
"...…"
She doesn't seem to be a yokai.
But she doesn't respond when I talk to her. From her bright, clear eyes, it's obvious she's aware of my presence, though.
"Where is your home? Your parents?"
"...…"
"This feels like talking to a brick wall."
Is she a child with a story, just as Old Man Sato said? If so, it's best not to get involved.
It was growing more and more suspicious. If a child this beautiful was abandoned, wouldn't there be a good reason for it?
It wasn't for nothing that people called her a yokai. She really is incredibly cute, though.
"I'm not sure. Am I allowed to take you with me? I'd rather not see you as a corpse later… What do you think?"
"...…"
I wish you'd just say something instead of staring at me.
I guess that's a no. I'll take it as such.
Just as I turned my back to leave, I felt a presence.
"…What are you doing?"
"...…"
The child was holding onto the hem of my clothes. Even when I tried to shake her off gently, she wouldn't let go.
"So that's a yes?"
For the first time, the girl nodded.
"If you can understand me, then speak."
I gave her a light bonk on the head. The child showed no reaction.
That's kind of creepy.
"Anyway. Let's get along from now on. I should be able to take care of one person… probably."
"...…"
I think she just smiled a little, but it must have been my imagination, right?