Matsune sat cross-legged – Ariyama following her example – as she began to explain.
"I'll keep this as brief as possible, since we're here to apprehend the unregistered Tribute, not to chat. But simply, the Pilgrims are similar to us humans – in terms of their bodily functions and shapes, that is. They come from a place referred to as the Reverse World. It's like earth, if it was stuck in a fantasy novel. In that world, special artifacts, monstrous creatures, and magic are commonplace. The Pilgrims are a group of a few thousand who are denizens of that world. Their origins were that they were a legion of people who undertook what we call the 'Great Pilgrimage'. Not a lot is known about this journey, but all we do know is that many Pilgrims died, while the ones who lived through it were blessed with immense power by some foreign god. However, somehow, their powerful artifacts began manifesting in our world, around a one-and-a-half thousand years ago. Ever since, they've been appearing in Shrines guarded by magical creatures, who also seem to be residents of the Reverse World. The Pilgrims' Society was set up in order to stop the knowledge of these manifestations from spreading to the wider world, collecting the untouched Enchanted Tools for safe keeping, as well as battling anyone who would use the Tools for malicious reasons."
Ariyama took a moment to sort through the information given to him.
Was that really what Matsune thought of as 'concise' or 'brief'?
Then again, thinking about what he was actually told, Ariyama realized he really wasn't told much at all. He
could tell Matsune, under the right conditions, could likely spew on about their backstory for hours.
Along with that explanation came a feeling of overwhelming disbelief deep in Ariyama's chest. He was what one would refer to as 'lukewarm', when it came to his beliefs. But he still believed.
But after all this, the idea of that – a genuine alternative version of the earth with super-abled beings with powerful items that could apparently range from a clunky, half-cut sword to a pristine bracelet – actually existing just made him question his own existence.
How important were humans, then?
As a concept, they seemed inadequate and inferior to these Pilgrims in every which way.
"Was that too much to take in at a time like this? I apologize, Ariyama."
Snapped out of his own thoughts, Ariyama looked to Matsune, who had a sheepish look on her face.
"I suppose it's just that the history of the Pilgrims and their Reverse World fascinates me, even though I was born into their world with parents who told me all this before I even attended preschool."
Ariyama smiled at her, pulling his coat close again to combat the cold.
"Oh, it's fine. I actually find it… kinda charming that you've got a little hobby like that."
At the word 'charming', Matsune froze up and turned her face away from him. Confused, Ariyama murmured under his breath.
"Huh? Wuh?"
Then louder, he spoke.
"What's up, Matsune? Did I say something that hurt you?"
Ariyama honestly wasn't sure when he came to girls, whether they liked him or didn't. He was probably as dense as you could get in a guy.
"O-oh, it's fine, Ariyama-kun. Just surveying the area for our rogue is all."
"Ah. OK, if you're sure."
But unbeknownst to Matsune, she had turned her head ever so slightly, to the point where Ariyama had a solid look at the blush that burned brightly across her cheeks.
Weird. Why was she doing that?
But before Ariyama could voice his question, Matsune's face shifted instantly into one of concentration. He whispered quickly as she lay flat on her stomach, using her hands to raise her head just enough to peek down at the school
"Ariyama-kun, get down!"
Hurriedly following her order, Ariyama also peered down at the school, his heart racing, his eyes darting from point to point in an attempt to locate something, anything.
"What's going on, Matsune? Did you see–"
Matsune didn't answer, and instead pointed wordlessly at a spot just beside the school wall. Zeroing in on that same spot, squinting his eyes against the darkness, it took Ariyama a few seconds to clock it.
There he was. There was the hooded man, dressed in all dark colors and his hands in his pockets, ducking unhurriedly under a branch and disappearing from view.
This was all happening very fast. Ariyama was prepared to be waiting at this vantage point for possibly hours, as had Matsune. But there was their target, in nearly perfect view.
Without a word of warning, Matsune got to her feet, dusting off the dirt clinging to her clothes as she burst through the border of trees and leaned back, skidding down the mound. Once she hit the foot of the hill, her whole body shot up and she started into a sprint which took her further into the woods.
Ariyama was flabbergasted for a bit, before he righted himself, and blasted after Matsune, blood pumping in his veins as he prepared for his initial contact with the culprit.