Dressed in a man-legged kagura suit, it drew attention in a different way than it did at first, but as I walked along, not paying attention to it, I spotted a sign that said washi paper in masterful handwriting.

　Yes, simple, but really easy to understand.

　The shop was tucked away on a street a little off the main road.

　Compared to other shops, it's quite plain, and if you're not careful, you might overlook it as a background.

　However, looking at the unique atmosphere emanating from the shop, it's not so bad.

　It's these kind of hideaway stores that often have the best stuff.

　Tickled with a sense of adventure, I walked through the crowd to the store.

　Then I open the shoji-lined door and find myself in a room with a relaxed atmosphere.

　The interior of the shop was dimly lit, with a single warm, orange-colored light shining from the ceiling.

　When I breathed in, the smell of wood and paper wafted through the air, and I felt somewhat relieved.

　The interior of the shop is small, but there are many washi artworks on the shelves and tables.

　There was no one in this room. However, the sound of water can be heard from the room at the back of the shop, so someone is probably working here.

　However, I am more concerned about the item in front of me than buying the washi paper.

　The colored rectangle of washi on the table.

　Probably, I think that the dye was mixed when making Washi, but is this an ornament to be admired in this way?　Or is there another use for it?

'Oh, there's a cute little kid in here. And that's foreign.

　As I was observing, tilting my head, an old lady came in from the back room.

　I could tell that Grandma was quite old, but she had an energetic voice that didn't show it, and she was wearing a slightly flashy red kagura outfit.

　I guess it's the charm that exudes from this old lady that allows her to wear a kagura outfit like this at her age.

'I'm sorry to bother you,'

'Yeah, yeah. Maybe not anything interesting.

'No, it's not. I don't know anything about it. What are these colored squares of washi?

　I asked the humble old lady what item she was interested in.

Oh, you should do that. Press the button on the magic tool underneath.

　That being said, I looked down and saw a square board laid out. You were so engrossed in the colors that you didn't notice it.

　I pushed the button as I was told, and poof, a light lit up from inside the washi.

'Oh, a light!'

"Hey, hey, come on.

　The old lady laughs happily at my reaction.

　It was a bit of a witchy laugh, but when this old lady does it, it seems somewhat natural.

　By the way, these lights are beautiful.

　I think it was a lampshade, right?　My grandmother's house in a previous life had a light like this one. I remember turning off the lights at night and falling asleep looking at the lampshade.

　The light in front of me was so beautiful that it reminded me of that scene.

'Can I turn on the round one over here, too?'

Yes.

　I'm curious to see what kind of light the mixed white and yellow sphere next to me gives off, so I press the same button.

　Then the same light comes from inside the sphere.

'Oh, it's a full moon!'

　The color of the washi was like a full moon in the night sky, and it seemed as if I was in a room, but I was watching the full moon outside.

　The shade of this washi paper seemed to represent the unevenness of the full moon.

He's such a strange boy.

'What?　Really?

It's not very often these days that a child is happy with a washi light like this.

　For the Kagura people, they have seen these washi products since they were born, so they have become accustomed to them, haven't they?

　From my point of view, Washi is an image that there are a lot of things that I don't know though it seems to be familiar.

　While I was thinking about this, I saw another unfamiliar object next to me.

　Flowers in bright colors inside a metal frame. From the shape, I think it's a strap, but what's inside is.....

'Could this be, could it be washi paper inside?

Yeah. It's got Japanese paper in it.

　The old lady nodded with a laugh at what I asked.

'Yeah?　How do you make them?

　I ask in surprise, and Grandma pulls back to the back of the room and comes back with a board-like tool.

'You can do this by putting washi paper in this mold and putting a clear resin in it. This resin will harden when it's exposed to warm air.

　I see, so the hardening resin is used to enclose it inside. The thing like the lame that shines inside must have been made by grinding minerals. It is very beautiful because it is glittering.

　Since all I have to do is to fit it into a mold, pour the resin into it and arrange it, even beginners can easily try it.

Would you like to use it?

'What?　Are you sure?

Children don't often get interested in Washi, so it's all about missionary work. Besides, this one's too old to be used anymore.

　As Grandma said this, she let me hold a mold, a tube of resin, and a few pieces of bright washi paper for her to hold in her hand.

　Oh, I came to look at the washi and was given a nice tool I never thought I'd get.

'Thank you,'

You should come by and see what you've made.

I'll be there to show you.

　This is going to be a great hobby to do in my room.

　I'd really like to make some beautiful accessories like my grandma.

　I know this sounds like I'm leaving the store, but in order to achieve my real goal, I inquire about it as a tad bit late.

Well, I'd like to see some ordinary washi paper.

　Grandma was not dumbfounded by my words now, but nodded with a smile.



　◆



　Grandma showed me some washi paper to buy, and I transitioned to the riverbank.

　I secretly use spatial magic under the bridge to store my accessory set.

　Then I take out the poi and scissors that I had made with earth magic for scooping small fish.

　After cutting the washi into rounds with the scissors, I open only the frame of the poi and put the washi between them.

　It is the same mechanism as the poi sold in the hundred-yen store of a previous life. In this way, it can be used repeatedly if only the part of Japanese paper is re-covered and done without throwing away.

　After confirming that the washi does not come off from the poi, I found the depression where someone had set a trap.

　It seems that the endurance test of Washi can be done here without affecting the water flow. And if you look closely, you can kill two birds with one stone.

　With a shrill laugh, I bend down and put the poi in the water.

　First of all, I don't think too much about the influence on Washi, I just move the poi and try to chase the fry.

　Normally, it is a foolish plan to put it in water and chase it so as not to give water pressure to Washi, but it is an experiment.

　The washi that was moistened by water was not torn though its color was changed.

　I chased a small fish and scooped it up.

　On the washi, the fry were frolicking adorably.

　Since the washi was made of water-resistant washi, it did not seem to tear immediately.

　I released the scooped fry into the water, and put the poi into the water again.

　I wondered if the same thing was repeated twice as it was. Finally, the edge of the washi came to be torn.

　Hmm, I handled it rather roughly, and it is a level that can be used sufficiently as a poi if it is this much.

　However, this water-resistant Japanese paper. It is a little persistent. Probably, because I was just a child and was interested in Washi, it was discounted, but still the roots stick out.

　The Japanese paper which has no strength to water is much cheaper.

　I changed the Japanese paper of the poi to see if it can be done with it for trial, and challenged it.

　When I put poi in water and moved it, Washi collapsed in a fragile manner, and began to disintegrate.

　Yes, after all, ordinary Washi is no good.

　If it is done as an entertainment at the harvest festival, at least hundreds of sheets of Washi, which are strong against water, will be needed.

　I did not buy Japanese paper in the previous Kagura sightseeing, and it will be suspected that I bought such a Japanese paper suddenly.

　Besides, the influence on my pocket money is huge, and it's not a good idea to push it with such a thing.

　Since this is something that is done in the Colliat Village, I want to be able to do it with only village materials if possible.

''.........hmmm......should we hold off on the washi paper?''

　There's a way to get the Triera Chamber of Commerce to order this washi paper for me when the time comes, but that's a last resort.

　Once I made that decision, I returned to the side of the mansion in transition.



　◆



"Ninety-nine hundred and ninety-eight!　Nine hundred and ninety-nine!

　As I changed from my kagura clothes into my usual clothes and walked from the single street to our house, I heard the dignified voice of Sister Elinora outside the gate.

　And then, "Sen! And as soon as a bold voice rose, there was a scream of joy that seemed to be Meena.

　What the hell?　What the hell is going on in the courtyard?

　Curious, I walked into the courtyard as fast as I could, and there I found Meena, Saara, and Brother Silvio surrounded by Sister Elinora.

'Yes, we did it!　Lady Elinora!　We've reached the thousandth time!

Congratulations, Lady Elinora.

Hey, sis.

Yes, thanks!

　Sister Elinora returns the compliments from everyone with her mouth full of praise and refreshing words of thanks.

　By holding the ball under her arm, her skin slightly uptight and sweating, I wonder if she's been lifting the whole time.

　I don't know, because I moved on so quickly, but I guess it's in the atmosphere.

　I mean, a thousand times.....

　I don't know whether I should be impressed or dumbfounded that you've improved so much in less than half a day.

　At any rate, there's nothing I can say about it, as I hadn't been watching almost as much.

　I don't join the group in the courtyard and head towards the front door.

'Hey, Al!　How did I handle the ball?

　I thought I'd quietly distracted myself and moved on, but Elinora's sister caught me.

　Eh?　What is it?　Are you being sarcastic?　Is it ironic that he knows I didn't see it?

　However, from the look on Sister Elinora's face, there is no such malice at all.

　Rather, it looks like she wants pure praise.

　Oh?　This is a pattern where you were so busy doing a thousand lifts that you didn't realize I wasn't there, right?　This is dumb for a sharp Elinora sister.

　If that's the case, there's no need to be in a good mood by stating that you're not looking at this place honestly.

　Just praise her as you see fit, and give her a mouthful of praise.

'Yeah, I saw that. That was amazing. I didn't think you could do it a thousand times out of the blue. That's my sister Elinora!

Hmm, that's all you need to know!

　I threw the words I wanted at her, and sure enough, sister Elinora laughed happily.

　Brother Silvio, who is beside me, is smiling bitterly, probably because he realizes that I wasn't there from the beginning. However, he doesn't seem to have any intention of betraying me.

　Alright, the only thing left to do is to return to the mansion before the rags--

'Huh?　Master Alfried was out earlier, so you didn't see him, did you?

　That's where Meena's superfluous words echoed.

　Read the air!

...Heh, I didn't see that.

'Oh no, Meena. No matter how shady I am, treating me like I'm not watching is really bad.

Yeah, but it's really-- ah!

　He appeals to the air with his eyes, even though he's being frightened, but Meena didn't seem to get it, so he hit the shock ball as small as possible.

'What's the matter Meena?'

You know, my eyes are starting to sting...

It's probably just sand. Let's wash your face for a minute.

Whew, whew....

　She sent eye contact to Saara, and the air-readable maid left with the air-readable maid.

''You're thirsty. Shall we head back to the mansion too?''

You didn't see it?

　The moment I turned around, sister Elinora looked at me with eyes that seemed to see through my mind.

　Those inorganic eyes are somewhat frightening, and I ask brother Silvio for help.

I don't think so. Hey, hey, Brother Silvio?

Uh, yeah.

If you look at the dirt in the courtyard, you can see Al's brand new footprints.

'Yeah. Al went away after the first few times.

　The moment Sister Elinora muttered that, Brother Silvio easily betrayed her.

　''Brother Silvio-ah!

　d*mn it!　I can even see the footprints from a distance with the naked eye!　Could it be that you've been faked?　It could be thought of as such, but when brother Silvio betrayed you, it was all for nothing.

''Hmm, you didn't see it. It's fine, but........''　

　I thought I would be beaten for being angry and lying, but the Elinora sister only told me so in a disgruntled tone.

　To be honest, I was disappointed, but I could tell by looking at Elinora's sister that she was in a bad mood.

　What is this indigestible feeling?

　No, I don't want her to curse or slap me, but it's strange.

　And I'm starting to feel a strange sense of guilt.

　It would have been a lot more refreshing if you were angry at me for lying to you, or if you slapped me for hitting me.

　Yeah, it stays.

　I call out to Sister Elinora as I trudge back to the house.

I'd like to see Elinora's sister handle the ball since I haven't seen her do it. I can only last a bit longer with me.

Do you want to see that much?

'Yes!　Brother Silvio, you want to see it again, don't you?

　He betrayed me. Brother Silvio is also a companion.

"Huh?　Umm, yeah, I want to see it again!

　When we were both agitating like that, sister Elinora looked happy.

'I can't help it. I'll do it again a thousand times and you'll see!

"'What?　Wow, wow!

　Sister Elinora happily kicked the ball out and our dry cheering echoed through the courtyard.