After separating Kojiro from me at the riverbank, Roomba and I crossed the bridge and started walking at our leisure, as we had intended.

　As we walked for a while, the residential area became quieter, and there were more rice fields and mountains than people.

　It seems that because we were away from the center of the city, it became an agricultural area like this.

　It is very nostalgic to see not the wheat fields, but the rice fields like this.

　I'm not sure if I've ever seen these fields before or not, but Lumumba was curious.

'Oh?　There's some red building over there.

　We walked leisurely through the farmland for a while, and then Roomba pointed ahead.

　We did as Roomba said and looked ahead to the mountains, where we saw a red building that looked like a shrine.

　It was located quite high and there were hundreds of steps to reach it.

　........Probably, to get to that place, you have to go up hundreds of steps made on that steep slope.

Yes, it's beautiful and red. There doesn't seem to be anything else going on over here, so let's go back to the city, shall we?

'No, no, wait, Al. Aren't you worried about that red building over there?

I don't care, let's get back to it.

But I care. So, Al, let's go.

　I deny it once and for all, but Roomba pulls away from me and walks away.

　Roomba is completely disregarding my intentions, isn't he?

'What?　It's a pain in the ass to go up those stairs on such a steep slope. I'm sure you're exhausted!　Rumba, it's not too late to reconsider!

I thought you'd be so reluctant to do this, but that's the idea. Why don't you just let me walk down the stairs on my back?

Yeah, that's fine.

Something about Al is easy to understand.

　Rumba says that and easily lets go of my hand and says.

　No, no, anyone would make the same decision if they saw those endless stairs. It's not something easy to go to with a little curiosity.

　It's the kind of thing that you'll regret when you actually go there and you'll say, "Oh, it's harder than I thought it would be.

　While I was thinking about this, we walked across the countryside and came to a thick forest of trees.

　However, there is a building at the top that looks like a shrine, and thanks to people coming and going, the path was relatively well maintained and easy to walk on.

　There were several rays of light streaming through the trees on the ground, leading to the back of the path. It seemed to be leading me and the Roomba deeper into the woods, and it didn't take long before we were following the path that the sun was shining through the trees.

　A flat, open area, a change from the sloping road. At the end of it, there was a row of stairs leading up to the shrine I had just seen from afar.

　Just thinking about the amount of work it would take to get up there was already enough to make my head hurt. There are many more steps in front of us than when we see them from afar.

'Alright then, I'm going up and I'll carry you on my back!

You're in charge.

　The rumba seemed to remember his promise, and as he said this, he lightly lifted me up and placed me on his right shoulder.

　I then look at the top of the mountain, which is far ahead, and climb up the endless steps.

　Rumba, perhaps because she has big feet, skipped two steps at once.

　It's funny because I'm already moving along more easily than a seven-year-old boy. As the Roomba takes one or two steps forward, he leaves the ground with a bang, and my gaze goes higher and higher.

　I was a little scared as I was being carried on my back on my shoulder as I was inevitably rocking up the stairs.

　But it wasn't so bad, because as the steps went up, we could see the scenery in the distance. I could see the forest and countryside we were walking through, the riverbanks where Kojiro and I met, and the bridge.

　The slope is a little too steep for me to be afraid of the bottom, but I don't have to look at it, and it's a relief to be held in the arms of a stout Roomba.

"Huh, my legs get tired indeed when I climb up all these steps at once.

　As I was gazing at the scenery in the distance like that, I muttered as I exhaled to see if Roomba had finished climbing the stairs.

　For saying that, though, she doesn't look tired at all. It's strange that he should have been skipping two steps the whole time and not changing his pace.

　As I was surprised at the seemingly inexhaustible strength of Roomba, Roomba lowered me to the ground.

'Ooh, that's a beautiful thing,'

　As soon as Rumba does his gaze forward, he exclaims in admiration.

　Ahead of her gaze, there was a shrine with beautifully red-colored pillars. The roof was large and beautiful, and just by looking at it, the building itself gave off a majestic atmosphere.

　There was none of the glitz and glamour of a royal castle or castle, but instead, it seemed to emit a divine atmosphere while still being in harmony with nature.

'Is this a mansion where the great men of Kagura live?　I didn't have any servants or guards for that, and I got in easily.

　The Roomba seems to have mistaken this place for a mansion where some great person lives.

If someone who doesn't know anything about this, it wouldn't be surprising that they would misunderstand that.

''It's not particularly sealed off, there are no guards, and it's not a mansion where a great man lives...I'm sure.

'Right. So what the hell is this building all about then?

　Rumba twists her head to look around. As I turned my gaze to the same, I saw a girl coming out of the building of the shrine.

　She has crinkly black eyes and a childish but well rounded face. Her hair is cropped at the shoulders and her hair is reflected in the sun's light and looks shiny.

　She wears kagura clothes based on red, and she is a girl about my age.

　The girl who has had eye contact with me does not seem to be afraid of me, and is staring at me intently as if my appearance is unusual.

'.........Roomba, there's a kid over there.

Oh?　Really.

　When Roomba stared at her, the girl was a little surprised and a little disconcerted by Roomba's toughness. Even so, she never ran away, but instead gazed at Roomba as if devouring his appearance.

　I wonder if something more like curiosity prevailed than fear.

　'We're not like the Kagulans,' he said, 'our hair color and facial features are different from the Kagulans.

'It's rare to find a girl who has seen a rumba and hasn't run away from it.

Al, what does that mean?

You'll know exactly what I mean when you look in the mirror.

　It's rare to find a pirate-like man this big and strong and wearing an eye patch who doesn't freak out.

　Me and Roomba stare at the girl, staring at her face as she says this.

'Hey, Spring. What are you looking at in there?

　We stared at each other in silence for a while, and then I heard a boyish voice from behind the door where the girl was looking in.

　Then a boy with a face similar to the girl's appeared out of the corner of his eye.

'Hmm?　You have an unfamiliar hair color and face. Are you exotic?

　A boy with short black hair and black eyes. This one is wearing a blue kagura outfit, and his face is a bit more fearless than the girl's, perhaps because he is older than her.

　I wonder if they are brother and sister from the similarity of their faces.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

''Hey, Spring?''

　A boy who looks like an older brother calls out to me, but the girl doesn't bother to come over to me.

　Then she stands in front of me and opens her mouth.

Spring, I'm eight years old. And you?

　The girl who calls herself Haru, who says only the name below and asks that question in a straightforward manner.

　Her dark eyes do not budge, and she gazes straight into my eyes.

　What is it?　You seem to have a dignity and a strength of will that's uncommon for a normal girl.

''........Alfried, I'm seven years old.

　When I tell him his name and age in the same straightforward manner, Spring smiles happily with a smirk.

''I'm older than you!

'Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

　I think they are only a year or even a few months apart, but I think they are old enough to want to look at kids younger than they are and feel great about themselves.

This kind of personality tends to come from kids who have only older relatives. There was a time when I used to be like that.

Do you know what you're talking about?　I'm older than you, remember?

Yeah, I know exactly what I'm talking about.

　When I am replying with a smile, Haru turns to look at me quizzically as if something is bothering her.

　It's a bold girl to not be afraid of dealing with a foreign, even a stranger. She looks a bit pompous and aristocratic, but she's an interesting girl.

I'm Roomba!　I'm thirty-six!

Uh-huh.

　Spring replies vaguely, as if he didn't expect Rumba to say his name as well.

　Not enough to run away from Roomba's face, but he seems a bit scared to be approached.

　I mean, I feel like I've never heard of Roomba's age before in a sober way.

　Well, but I've heard she's about the same age as Nord Dad and Erna Mom, so that's about it. You don't look like that at all.

'So what about you?'

　Rumba turns his attention to the boy who has come up behind Spring.

'Me?　.........er, Shuichi, I'm eleven.

'Gahaha!　You're younger than me.

'What?　Oh, yes.

　Shuichi responds as Rumba bashes him on the back and pats him on the back.

　I'm not sure what it is, but thanks to Haru, it's a strange way to introduce myself.