[Oni-Hunt and Grave Keeper]

“Why would they do such a horrible thing…”

Magmell wore a sad expression, and the woman nodded, “Yes. It’s indeed horrible,” and continued, “but at the time, the discrimination against the demi-humans was much more severe than it is now. No, actually, it hasn’t changed that much. Everyone simply fears those different from them, after all.”

“B-but still, that’s not a reason to kill a mother and the child she’s carrying… Moreover, she’s also human just like them…”

“It’s exactly because she’s also human. Their fellow human is involved with someone of another race, and she’s carrying something of unknown nature that’s neither a human nor a demi-human. Such a thing can be nothing but an object of fear to them.”

Tirna pouted and inflated her cheek upon hearing the woman’s words. “We aren’t ‘something of unknown nature’.”

“!”

At that point, the woman seemed to have noticed that Tirna was a human and mermaid halfling

She apologetically bowed her head and said, “My apologies. You’re also a halfling, yes? That was rude of me. I beg your forgiveness.”

“I don’t mind it. Rather, I should be the one apologizing instead. You’re not a bad person at all.”

“Thank you. You’re much more mature than you look.”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m everyone’s older sister, after all.”

Humph, Tirna puffed out her small chest, bringing smiles to our faces. A smile also appeared on the woman’s face, and she said, “You guys formed a good party. I’ve always been alone, so I can’t help but feel a little jealous.”

“Haha, thank you for the compliment. Um, if I may be so bold, what happened to the other oni…?” I asked.

“If you’re talking about the villagers, they’re all scattered now. As a matter of fact, it’s related to the incident I just told you about. To continue where I left off, the oni who was robbed of his family gave himself to anger and massacred the humans. The oni disappeared soon after, never to be seen again, but that wasn’t the end of the incident. —No, it was simply a prelude to an ‘oni-hunt’.”

“Oni-hunt…”

We all knitted our eyebrows at the term spoken by the woman.

“Yes. I’ve mentioned that the discrimination was severe at the time, haven’t I? As soon as they obtained a cause, the humans formed a subjugation force, and many numbers of innocent oni were killed under the name of ‘oni-hunt’. Perhaps learning from that experience, the survivors didn’t rebuild a new village, and are now living quietly in remote places.”

“Hm, that’s such a tragic story. If it’s true, a deep hatred against humans isn’t harbored solely by the oni we are looking for, but also by the other oni, but…”

Arca glanced at the woman, who shrugged her shoulders and said, “Haha, I don’t hold any grudge against humans. After all, I was raised by a ‘human’.”

『！』

As we all widened our eyes, the woman began talking about her personal history, looking somewhat happy. “She’s already passed away, but she was a really benevolent woman. At a sensitive time when the society’s antagonism toward the oni was at its peak due to the oni-hunt, she picked me up, who was then still a baby, and raised me all by herself.”

“I see. She must have been a wonderful woman.” I said.

“Yes. She’s like a mother to me.”

“Incidentally,” the woman looked at the grave next to the one she’d pointed to earlier and said, “She’s buried here.”

『Huh!?』

Why there!? We were all surprised, and the woman crossed her arms with a look of incomprehension. “I was also puzzled over whether I should really bury her here, but it was her last request, you see. Maybe she figured that I would also tend to the other graves if she was buried here. Well, at least that’s what I believe, hence why I also tend to other graves every time I come to visit.”

“I see. I’m sorry, we must’ve held you up.”

I bowed my head, and the woman shook her head, “Not really,” and said, “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure they’ll also be happy if this place gets lively once in a while. Besides—”

Right then.

“—Ah, found them~! What the Creator said was true~!”

『――!?』

All of a sudden, two black-clothed figures appeared before us.