"I see."
"For specifics, you'll need to ask someone whose field that is. I only know what's necessary."
"I did, compared to common folks, you are pretty knowledgeable on things unrelated to your profession."
"It is only natural. I hold people's lives in my hands. I must possess at least a working knowledge of many things."
"You are so cute, Sara. That's very responsible." He replied casually.
Dantalion agreed with her, it is the responsible thing to do when many lives can be influenced with just your voice.
Upon returning to Kujou Encampment, Kujou Sara sent out a ship to pick up the squad she sent out to the agreed location while also giving them the time and the expected day the squad would be in said location.
Suddenly, vibrations--No, static--was heard.
It was the radio Dantalion had given before.
Now, it was being used and studied to replicate and mass produce for military use.
And they indeed can do that.
Compared to the radio back in Dantalion's original world, the radio he had given to Kujou Sara was made using the 'space' and his [Attribute Absorption].
While it indeed got a downgrade after being sent to the real world, it still works as intended.
At first, as he was making it, he thought of just doing what he was doing with the system.
Processing everything directly into his mind--basically, he's the server and the computer.
However, that thought vanished the instant it took shape as it got overwritten in less than a second by;
'Kujou Sara would probably try to replicate it.'
Of course, she would.
But then, another thought followed.
Even if she tried, even if the entire Shogunate's research division threw themselves at the task, it wasn't as if they'd be able to recreate it exactly.
They lacked the context, the raw conceptual infrastructure of his world.
What they would gain, inevitably, was the idea behind it--the logic, the function, the core principle.
And that was fine. That was enough.
They would rebuild it based on their understanding, their materials, and their worldview. It wouldn't be a copy. It would be an interpretation.
So, in the end, he just decided to; 'Fuck it'.
And just made it how he originally intended.
So, now, if anyone tried to dismantle the radio, they would find out that it can't be dismantled as it was just a single, solid block of dense, durable material with exterior designs.
No visible mechanisms.
Just form.
It was, in a way, an artifact.
"Cute?" Sara responded dryly--though the smile in her voice was unmistakable, her usual stern tone softened by something lighter. "Like how your questions are just attempts at conversation?"
She was, evidently, quite proud of that comeback.
However--
"Was that supposed to be a 'Ha! got 'em!'? Like. 'He wouldn't be able to say anything to that!'?" Dantalion wheezed a short, humorless laugh before immediately snapping her back to reality.
"Answer the radio. They've probably already made contact with snake STDs."
Sara sighed--and reached for the device.
With just her touch, the static stopped instantly.
---
"Yes. Roger that."
Beep.
"Sigh... "
"How did it go?" He asked as Inaba Kyuuzou lowered the device.
It was one of the tools the General had assigned for field communication--each of them had a miniature version fitted to their ears.
To Kyounosuke, it honestly resembled an earplug.
The one Kyuuzou held in his hand, however, was slightly different--bulkier, clearly built for direct command link--but the same principle applied.
"We're to bring all the villagers back to Kannazuka," Kyuuzou replied, eyes scanning the villagers a distance away. "But only after confirming it's not contagious."
Kyounosuke's expression soured at that, "And what if it were indeed contagious?"
Kyuuzou turned to look him dead in the eye, face suddenly unreadable.
The wind passed between them, a dry breeze rustling the brush, carrying a silence that lingered just a second too long.
"…Then we'd have to wipe out the village."
Kyounosuke stiffened. "...!"
But then--
"Relax," Kyuuzou said, after a pause. "That was a joke."
He let out a single chuckle, dry as the wind around them. "Mostly."
"You…" Kyounosuke exhaled sharply, brushing off the slap. "Quit messing around. Seriously--what would happen if it is confirmed to be contagious?"
Kyuuzou's smile faded, but not completely. He looked up at the sky for a moment, as if the answer might fall from the clouds.
"…Then," He said quietly, "Orders will come from higher up."
He glanced sideways at Kyounosuke, his tone turning pointed.
"Just look at the Vision Hunt Decree. You yourself--you'll be subject to it one day, right?"
Kyounosuke stiffened.
He was a Vision wielder. Pyro.
Kyuuzou's gaze didn't waver. "You think you'll get a say when they come for yours?"
The silence that followed wasn't just uncomfortable--it was accusing.
Kyounosuke looked away.
"…No," he admitted under his breath.
"Exactly," Kyuuzou muttered, exhaling. "You're no rookie. You've served the Shogunate for--what, over a decade now? You know better than most that we don't get a say in these things."
Inaba had, of course, heard the name Kurosawa Kyounosuke before.
In Inaba Kyuuzou's impression, Kurosawa was a high-ranking officer known not just for his experience but for his unwavering sense of justice.
Frankly, he never struck Kyuuzou as soldier material at all.
After all, Kurosawa Kyounosuke was known for having his sense of justice, one shaped by personal conviction, not by orders.
Not the kind of justice a soldier is supposed to have.
For a soldier, justice is whatever the higher powers say it is.
"Do not dwell on it too much. The General would never issue a command to harm innocents without cause." Kyuuzou added, voicing that final thought out loud--for Kurosawa to hear.
Then he straightened, voice rising.
He spoke through their earpiece, connected to everyone.
"I'm calling a meeting."
The plan had changed.
All because of what they found in Higi Village.
"General Kujou Sara has issued new instructions for us going forward."
---
"How were the check-ups?"
"There is nothing wrong with the environment, though the storm won't stop; everything seems to be as it should be."Ogura Yuu exhaled through his nose, arms crossed. "Nothing new. Just as the Traveling Pharmacist reported. He tried everything to cure the villagers--even direct anesthesia."
"And?"
"None of it worked. Not even slightly. The patient still felt everything."
"That's impossible," Ishizaki--one of their squad mates--said sharply. "If you numb a body properly, even basic sensation--touch, temperature, pain--it all shuts down."
"I know." Ogura Yuu's expression remained unmoved. "Which is why... I'm starting to believe the rumors. If it's a curse--some kind of spiritual affliction--then it makes sense."
Kurosawa Kyounosuke chimed in, "If so, then that would confirm that it's not contagious."
"That's right."
"Let's leave it at that for now. I will relay the General's command first." Inaba Kyuuzou tapped the table gently, gathering their attention.
"Yes."
"Okay."
"Mhm."
"..."
"Understood."
They all nodded in unison.
Inaba exhaled quietly.
There were two sets of instructions prepared by the General.
One was to be delivered only if certain conditions were met.
The General had probably also heard about the rumors about this place since the demotion of Kujou Masahito.
General Kujou Sara had even expressed her frustration about it. Orders, she said, should be clear and simple--something any soldier could follow without hesitation.
But their situation was far from ideal.
So… this would have to count.
Close enough.
He chose the second set.
This one leaned more toward the assumption that they were dealing with a curse.
He glanced at each of them in turn before continuing.
"We are to evacuate all villagers to Kannazuka before the Resistance Soldiers catch wind of this. If this truly is a curse, it must be dealt with swiftly. Lady Guuji is already preparing to assist with the afflicted."
A moment of silence followed.
Kurosawa was the first to break it. "So… we're assuming this is spiritual in nature. That it can't be spread by touch or air."
Inaba gave a small nod. "Correct. Until the Guuji confirms otherwise, we treat this as a contained spiritual affliction. No quarantine. No containment procedures. Just evacuation. As this is a location-bound curse."
"Additional ships should be waiting for us at the initial planned pick-up location, along with doctors and shrine maidens," Inaba continued, his voice steady despite the weight of the task. "We would all be guarding and guiding the villagers throughout the journey until all have boarded for transport to Kannazuka."
"We are to document every single thing that happened and the findings upon arriving at Higi Village."
Inaba continued, "Our current count estimates around sixty-seven villagers. Priority will be given to those already exhibiting symptoms: high fever, night terrors, sensitivity to touch, and most notably--pain resilience."
"And the route?" Imatani Keisuke asked.
"We'll move them along the eastern forest path, avoiding the main road near the Narukami trail. Too exposed. Too many eyes," Inaba replied. "We will get to transportation later."
"Understood," Imatani Keisuke acknowledged.
Takasaka Izumi finally spoke. "Do we have anything on the shrine maidens being sent?"
Inaba nodded and reached into his satchel, pulling a thin scroll sealed with violet wax. "Not much, three of them. Sent directly from the Grand Narukami Shrine. Not apprentices--actual officiants. They'll begin conducting preliminary warding rituals once the villagers reach the shore."
He paused, then added, "They've also brought with them purifying incense and ceremonial paper charms… in case symptoms flare during the trek."
"Do we have a contingency?" Ishizaki said slowly, "In case someone lashes out? Or… loses their mind? Like those three soldiers."
The question was met with silence for a breath longer than anyone liked.
"Yes," Inaba said, carefully. "But we are to exercise no force unless necessary. The General's warning was explicit: fear strengthens it. If we respond with violence, it may… respond in kind."
Ogura's jaw tightened. "So we'll be traveling through storm-ridden roads with villagers infected by something that can't be seen, can't be measured, and might kill us if we panic."
"Correct," Inaba replied.
Inaba didn't look up as he tapped his fingers against the table.
"Then we pray the Guuji's rites are strong enough. That the curse stays here. And that none of us brought it with us."
A quiet descended over the room once more, broken only by the faint sound of distant thunder rumbling over the horizon.
Ogura broke the silence, voice dry. "Let's hope the storm is just weather, then."
Inaba didn't reply to that but said, "Let's continue on the matter of transportation."
"The General instructed us to carry the villagers on carriages as much as we can. As the ships are expected to arrive before us, they will send out the newly researched vehicle, and the carriages shall be attached behind it to be pulled upon meeting amidst travel."
"I think I've heard something like that a few weeks ago," Ishizaki chimed in, rubbing the back of his neck. "The Engineering Division was pretty proud of it. They can't stop talking when it comes up."
He shook his head, half-amused. "Still… that was absurdly fast. I didn't think they'd finish a prototype in just weeks."
Inaba turned his gaze toward him, surprised. "You didn't mention this earlier."
Ishizaki shrugged under the scrutiny. "It didn't seem important at the time. I only overheard chatter near the barracks. I don't know more than that."
"I see," Inaba muttered, exhaling slowly. He swept his eyes across the room. "As expected, the number of carriages and horses is uneven."
He straightened.
"Which means some of us will have to pull."
No one responded immediately.
Inaba continued, calm but firm, "Me, Kurosawa, and Takasaka will each take one. The rest of you will rotate as guides and rearguards. Able-bodied villagers will assist as needed. We keep a steady pace. No rushing."
"We're seriously understaffed for this." Imatani Keisuke.
Inaba closed the scroll and tucked it away. "We'll begin formation at dawn. Carriages will be brought to the north end of Higi. Ishizaki, you'll review the cargo. Ogura, prep the villagers. And the rest of us will manage loading."
He paused, then added, quieter, "Remind them to bring nothing they can't carry."
"Understood," came the chorus of replies--low, resigned, steady.
Imatani Keisuke cracked his neck, "Let's hope that damn prototype works, or we'll be dragging
this entire village by rope--"
Ogura jabbed him in the ribs. "Shut up."
"Good. We'll hold a final briefing tomorrow before we depart from Higi Village. Rest up until then."
---
"The village chief is the only one missing."
"There's nothing we can do. We have to leave as soon as possible," Inaba stated calmly. "We don't have time to wait--just leave a note."
Without another word, he turned to address the others. Some of the Tenryou soldiers stood at attention, while a handful of able-bodied villagers--roughly two dozen--gathered, anxious but ready.
He gestured toward Takasaka and Kurosawa, then toward the two carriages stacked with food, blankets, and clean water.
"These two carriages will be pulled by both of you in the middle of the convoy," Inaba instructed. "They carry all our supplies--rations, medicine, spare clothing--so their integrity is our priority."
Then he raised his voice so all could hear.
"There are sixty-seven villagers in total. We've prepared five carriages--six, if you include mine. Two will carry supplies. There are three for passengers. Only the elderly, children, the sick, and those too weak to walk will ride. That's non-negotiable."
He paused, letting the words settle. Some villagers exchanged glances. No one protested.
"The rest--anyone able to walk--will move on foot and rotate shifts, pulling the carriages when needed. It doesn't matter how many people pull as long as it moves. We'll switch every few hours, or sooner if necessary."
He motioned to the route behind them.
"Our path won't be easy. Storms are expected because of the curse. With luck, we'll meet the prototype team before we're halfway there."
Inaba turned to the soldiers.
"You'll handle perimeter security--two scouts at the front, one at the rear. Anyone fit enough among the villagers may assist with observation and keeping formation. Do not stray."
He then faced the villagers directly.
"This isn't a march. This is an escape. Move with purpose, conserve your strength, and look after the people beside you. If someone falls, you stop and help them. If the curse follows us, we'll need every hand to stay alive."
Naturally, they kept the details about the fear quiet. Tell people that fear feeds the curse, and they'll panic trying not to panic. Hilarious in theory--disastrous in practice.
***
Days later.
"General, we have met with the pickup team, and they are now attaching the carriages to the vehicle."
Over the radio, there was a brief pause over the line, then Kujou Sara's voice responded, clear and unshaken despite the static:
"Understood. Proceed with formation. Maintain the formation and keep your eyes open for any anomalies."
"Roger." Ogura Yuu responded.
The transmission ended with a short, metallic click.
When the vehicle came into view, it startled them. For a moment, no one spoke.
It didn't look natural.
Its form was alien--its frame larger than any carriage they'd known, its surface a skin of cold metal. There were no reins, no beast to pull it. It moved on its own.
Its low mechanical hum vibrated through the ground.
Inaba Kyuuzou stood nearby, arms crossed, silent as he studied the machine. He did not understand half of what powered it, but he recognized the expression on the technicians' faces: composed, focused, sure. This prototype would move. Hopefully, it would keep moving.
It had arrived ahead of schedule.
It had crossed cursed terrain and treacherous paths without stalling once.
That alone earned it a cautious trust.
The villagers didn't speak. They only stared.
It was massive--denser than anything they had seen. Every part of its body was forged from solid steel. It was something one might expect to see in Fontaine, not here.
Then came the orders.
At the soldiers' command, the elderly, the sick, and the children were transferred from the carriages--guided up into the truck's padded interior. Some sat on the benches. Others settled on the floor, silent but visibly relieved.
Those who had walked--who had braved storm and mud, who had pulled carriages through cursed lands--were now given rest. Some rode atop the carriages, others inside the vehicle.
They boarded it not with understanding, but with weary gratitude.
Inside, it smelled of steel and oiled leather. It was warm, dry, and dimly lit.
Outside, soldiers moved in practiced silence, latching the wooden carriages to reinforced metal couplings bolted onto the truck's rear.
As for the three soldiers they found at the beginning? They were placed in the last carriage--the same one that Inaba Kyuuzou had been pulling, now loaded with extra supplies.
Unlike the other villagers, the three were not transferred to the truck.
They were deemed too unstable.
Their condition had worsened over time. Even the faintest noise could send them into fits of screaming or violent thrashing. Sometimes, they spoke in whispers that chilled the spine, describing things no one wanted to hear. Sometimes, they simply stared--unblinking, unmoving--for hours.
So they were kept apart, confined inside one of the carriages, tied down tightly on slabs with reinforced metal cuffs.
The cuffs had been forged from the dismantled wheels of the carriage, reshaped and tempered under the intense heat of Kurosawa's Pyro Vision. Their arms were twisted behind their backs, bound around the slabs, while their ankles were fastened in place as well. The metal was affixed directly to the slabs, locking them into a posture that left no room for movement.
They are contained like monsters.
Still, they brought them along rather than kill them outright.
They might be the only link to understanding the curse. Killing them would be easier, but they can't afford ignorance.
As for the carriage itself, it no longer had wheels.
Inaba Kyuuzou had been pulling it by hand, the old wheels replaced with thick, curved wood that allowed it to slide over dirt and stone like a makeshift sled.
There had been no other way.
Besides, he had to lead by example, especially for the volunteers. They weren't soldiers; they didn't have the same training or mindset. If he didn't put himself through it, too, how could they be expected to endure it?
While there are doctors with them right now, there are no shrine maidens.
They just have to bring all of them to the ships for the shrine maidens to begin purification.
***
-Chapter End-