When I opened the door in the temple, I found myself—- in a hanging
garden.
No, it's not like I'm making a gag or anything like that, but seriously,
when I opened the door and went in, what I saw before me was a
hanging garden with no one in sight. And the door that I've just passed
through, which I should have passed through just a minute ago, is gone.
To be honest, my mind hasn't really quite caught up with it but… Eh?
Could it be that this is actually the waiting room? Maybe it's just I who
doesn't know and this is actually the norm—- No, as expected, that isn't
possible. I mean, how the heck could anyone call this place a room!?
[...…]
[Eh?]
And just as it was too sudden that I found myself in here, I suddenly
found someone there as if they had been there from the start.
Yes, before I noticed it, without even making a sound nor did I even feel
her presence, standing a few feet in front of me was a woman… No,
there's "something" standing there of nature I do not know.
She has the appearance of an unparalleled beauty—– I can't think of
anything else to say about her. Long, silver-white straight hair that
doesn't have any curls reaching to her knees, they even seem like they're
faintly glittering, and golden eyes that don't have any hint of cloudiness.
Her body, which is about 160cm tall and dressed in white vestments, is
so beautiful that you would think that her existence embodies the
perfect divine proportions—– and most of all, she's kind of eerie.
When I met Kuro, I thought that her appearance as she stands against
the sunset was like art, but the appearance of the woman in front of me
is art in itself, not just a metaphor that describes her.
Yes, everything is too perfect for the woman in front of me, that it gives
me an inexplicable sense of foreignness from her.
She should have been right in front of me, but she doesn't feel real, as if
I'm just looking at a finished painting. My instincts were telling me that
the being in front of me is in a "different level" from me—— Is this being
perhaps, a God?
[Nice to meet you, Miyama Kaito-san, the human from another world
liked by Kuromueina from first sight. I'm "Shallow Vernal", nice to meet
you.]
[...…]
After the woman opened her mouth in front of the completely
speechless me, I felt like something cold ran down behind my spine.
Her voice is so beautiful that I thought it was a gospel from God, but at
the same time, I felt a strong sense of discomfort that I can't put into
words.
It didn't really take that long for me to understand why I felt that way.
It's because it was hard for me to believe that the words I just heard
emanate from the woman in front of me.
[I suppose you're surprised by the abruptness of the situation. I was led
to this place at Kuromueina's request. And just as they said, the better
the view of the surrounding is, the more calming it will be.]
[...…]
If I just put my attention to the words she said, I don't think I would have
found anything strange among them—– But I can't sense any intonation
in her voice.
Although her voice is supposed to be beautiful, but having the same
loudness, speed, and intensity makes it look like there's no emotion in
her voice, as if it was just a machine speaking to me… No, her voice is so
constant that it feels like even a machine would have more emotion if it
was to speak.
Furthermore, her facial expressions didn't change at all, as if she didn't
have any emotions right from the start. I don't even know if those golden
eyes are looking at me, or if they're looking at the background as if I
didn't exist.
They said that people are afraid of the things they don't understand, and
that's probably what I'm feeling right now, the reason why I'm feeling a
chill running down my spine.
[You look quite confused, are you alright?]
[…Eh? Ah, y- yes… I'm sorry.]
[No need to apologize. It's my fault for bringing you here so suddenly.]
As expected, each of Shallow Vernal-sama's words was spoken without
any changes in her expression or voice, I frantically moved my head,
which had been frozen in place, and replied to her words.
[I- I'm Miyama Kaito. N- Nice to meet you. Errr, Shallow Vernal-sama…]
[You can just call me "Shiro" if you want. That's what Kuromueina—-
Kuro calls me.]
[N- No, but, errr…]
[You can just call me Shiro if you want. That's what Kuro calls me.]
[Errr… Shiro-sama?]
[That "-sama" is unnecessary.]
[No…]
[That "-sama" is unnecessary.]
[As expected, I can't just impudently…]
[That "-sama" is unnecessary.]
[Ah, yes… Shiro-san.]
[Best regards.]
Our conversation finally moved forward!? She's not even trying to pull
back for the others! That would have just ended up in an endless loop!
…I'll do what you say, so please stop sounding like a broken record in a
repeated playback. Seriously, it's scary.
To be honest, I didn't feel really comfortable calling a being that's
obviously in another level compared to me such a thing, but having to
hear the same words repeated over and over again with her completely
unchanging expression and voice, I just gave up and changed the way I
called her.
[T- Then, once again… Shiro-san said that Kuro requested you
something… But why exactly did I get summoned to this place?]
[I think it's plausible to question it—– Well then, I will now grant you
your blessing.]
[Huh? Eh?]
Arehh? That's weird… Didn't she just hear me asking that question? Just
because you told me what you think about that question, that doesn't
mean you explained anything, you know!?
After telling me in a voice with no inflection at all, Shiro lightly pointed
her hand at me without answering my question.
[Bless you.]
[ !? ]
After her short, emotionless words were spoken, my body seemed to
glow for a moment.
However, there was no other change and the light quickly subsided.
Arehh? That's it?
[Now then, shall we have some tea?]
[What?]
Wait a minute, I'm begging you, please explain the situation a little bit. I
don't even have any idea what's going on.
What did Kuro ask Shiro-san to do, is the blessing finished with just that,
and why the heck are we having tea now, it's fine if you just briefly talk
about it, but could you please explain it to me!?
[Kuro requested me to grant you my blessing. Your blessing is complete.
However, it will take some time until the blessing to your companions is
completed, so let's have a cup of tea to get to know each other.]
[Ah, yes.]
I thought you would just put that aside, but she really concisely
explained it all!? I really don't understand this person at all… Are all
Gods like her?
Honestly, I want to hold my head in my hands right now, but before I
knew it, a garden chair and table appeared in front of me, and Shiro-san
is already taking her seat.
If I don't take my seat, I feel like I would just end up in that endless loop
again, so I sit down in one of the simple but beautiful white garden
chairs, facing Shiro-san.
And then, as if it's natural, a cup of amber-colored liquid appeared in
front of me.
[......]
[......]
A- Awkward. The combination of her silence and expressionlessness
turned everything really awkward. A C- Conversation… We should have
some conversation, at least…
I- It's alright. I've been through a lot since I came to this world, and even
though I'm a loner, my communipower should have improved a little
bit… I need something, some kind of clue to initiate our conversation…
Even though we sat daw facing each other… Having no conversation
starting at all, I got a little impatient, so I just turned to the drink placed
in front of me while looking for a clue to initiate our conversa—- whoa,
this is delicious! What is this black tea? Even though I'm not that
knowledgeable about teas, even I can see that it's outrageously
delicious… Should I say that it's to be expected from the tea served by
God huh… That's right, how about we start with this tea…
[T- This tea is quite delicious, isn't it?]
[I'm glad you like it.]
[...]
[...]
I can't push the conversation forward at all!? Or rather, even if I tried to
push forward our conversation, I couldn't continue at all with the combo
of her complete lack of facial expressions and voice intonations.
Kuhhh… I guess the level up of my communipower is nothing but my
imagination huh. Reality really is ruthless… I mean, I'm the type of
person who basically waits and receives what the other person says.
What I've learned in my long, loner life is how to adapt to what the other
person is saying… In other words, the opening conversation is left to the
other person, and I'm just basically adapting to that and keeping the
conversation going without straining it.
This conversation technique is effective for most people, especially for
the type of people like Kuro who is willing to talk to me.
Unfortunately, there's a fatal flaw in this tactic. It doesn't work well if I'm
talking with the same type of person. This is exactly what's happening in
my current situation with Shiro-san.
I may be able to push forward some topics if I was talking with a normal
person, but Shiro-san is a difficult adversary for I don't know what she's
thinking nor do I even know how to talk with her in the first place…
Shiro-san, anything is fine, but don't you have anything we could talk
about?
[In that case, let me ask you a question—– What did you mean when you
said communipower?]
[…It's short for communication power, which is basically the power to
have a good conversation with others.]
[I see—- Then what does being a loner mean?]
[It basically means someone being alone… By the way, Shiro-san. Could
you possibly be able to read my mind or something like that?]
[I can certainly read your mind.]
[Ah, is that so.]
She just affirmed it as if it's a matter of course!? Does that mean she had
read everything I just said!? That's really embarrassing…
Then, I think it's best to let Shiro-san take the lead in this conversation…
[Ah, it won't do if we don't have some teacakes, right?]
[...…]
I've been thinking for a while now, but haven't you gone along with your
own pace all these times? Are you that free? Hey, are you that free?
She doesn't even care about our current situation, and she just switched
from one conversation to another with the same expression on her face
and voice. It's a common say in all eras and cultures, but it seems that
gods don't really understand the feelings of people.
[Please enjoy your meal.]
[…Shiro-san, even you too huh…]
To be honest, I had a bad feeling when I heard that she was Kuro's
acquaintance, just like how she showed up in front of me like it was
natural. The baby castellas has undoubtedly turned into the thing that
I've seen the most in this world.
Not having any energy to complain anymore, I pick up a baby castella
that I'm already used to eating and put it in my mouth…
[ ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ? ]
——I feel like fainting in agony.
The moment I take a bite of the baby castella, a piercing spiciness spread
in my mouth and it stuck not only in my mouth, but also in my nostrils.
D- Don't tell me, this is—– Wasabi!?
Eh? Why is there wasabi in the baby castella!? Is she harassing me? Isn't
wasabi in a completely different vector of existence? This should have
been a combination that couldn't exist…
A baby castella filled with wasabi—- A bizarre disproportionate taste of
sweetness and spiciness began spreading in my mouth. I began to pour
tea into my mouth, desperately wanting for the violent disgusting taste
to be washed away.
And just when I moved my gaze to the person who brought out the
cruelness incarnate teacakes that carved a new trauma inside of me,
Shiro-san brought it to my mouth without any particular change in her
expression.
…Why are you eating that normally? Don't tell me, she isn't actually
trying to harass me and just a regular teacake for her? T- This person…
Don't tell me that not only her very being, but even her sense of taste is
also weird?
[Shi- Shiro-san?]
[What is it?]
[Is that good?]
[No, it's so bad that I'd rather eat dirt.]
[...]
Then, at least show a little bit of that kind of feeling in your expression
or your voice!!
I mean, in the first place, why the heck did you make that kind of stuff
and serve it as teacakes! Say it!!
[Kuro once gave me these as a gift, saying "I tried to make it but it was
incredibly bad, so I'm giving these to you.".]
[…However, didn't Shiro-san also think that it doesn't taste good?]
[Yes. It's hard to believe that a food as terrible as this exists in this
world.]
[…Then, why did you offer such a substitute for the teacakes?]
[Kuro told me that "Baby castellas are the best thing to eat with tea.", and
since I want to deepen my friendship with Miyama Kaito-san, I served
what I heard was the best thing to welcome you.]
[…However, what about Shiro-san's thoughts regarding these teacakes?]
[It tastes so bad that I think its very existence should be a sin.]
[...…]
I think I now understand a little bit regarding this person. Her
expression and intonation of her voice don't change at all as usual, but
this person is probably… A really outrageous natural airhead.
Adding up being a natural airhead to being expressionless and
emotionless is a terribly poor disposition. I would like it if you give back
all the reverence I felt for you just a short while ago…
[Don't you think it would be quite difficult for me to return it since it
isn't tangible?]
[…It's just a metaphor.]
Dear Mom, Dad— I met God but… She was eerily expressionless,
chillingly emotionless… And to top it all off—– She's an outrageous
natural airhead.