I Can Speak with Animals and Demons

"Beyond this, we forbid any intrusion other than that of one of our own. Say thou a word that is a sign, if thou art of thy own people?

I read the inscribed letters at the foot of the stone statue of the temple and speak quietly.

Hmm, should I say the words right?

"Such complex characters, you can read them well."

Yak's squeaky voice echoes in my ear because he's standing on my shoulder.

I wouldn't be able to read if I didn't have the ability to understand all the languages.

I'm not particularly good at language. That's why I'm dead.

'Anyway, why don't you just say the words you're writing here? Just say it. "

"Yes, sir."

I respond lightly and move my gaze down to try to do exactly that.

And the key words will be written, fingering the location of the next string.

"... the letter rubs and I can't read it..."

"Ha!? It's important there, isn't it? What are you gonna do if you can't read it! Read it carefully. '

Shut up Yak calling in my ear. So I'll pinch your neck and put you down to the ground.

"I know. But I can't read because the letters are rubbed."

I gazed and stared, wondering if I could read it.

Then I can't even narrow my eyes, try to shift the angle, or look upside down.

"…… no. I can't read it at all!

I screamed half-fucking-heartedly and fell into the back to be a big letter.

When I checked this letter, I said, "This is going to work!" What a joy in my heart.

Are you okay with that? Then there's no point in coming. Just hold on tight. "

Yak says as he hairs boringly next to my face.

There will be no choice. I can't see the letter itself at all, so there's nothing I can do about it if you tell me.

Rather, isn't it a great achievement just to be able to decipher the meaning of this letter?

At least there was a far greater likelihood that there would be some kind of civilization ahead, or human beings, as Yak said.

That said, it seems like it would be useless because there are so many problems, such as how do I know...

I came all the way here, but I scolded him at the end.

I just had expectations, I'm multiple times stronger than I am.

I gaze at the blue sky for a while.

A slow-flowing cloud, in an infinitely spreading blue.

"Yikes, do it!

A bird flying freely through the sky creates a shadow on the ground for only a moment and flies away.

It would seem nice to be free to fly in the sky like that.

With that in mind, I unwittingly narrow my eyes in the comfortable sun and breeze.

"You want to take a nap here like this, huh?

"That's a nice suggestion, but I'm afraid there's a demon."

For some reason, I don't think it's safe for demons to come near us.

"Really? But why?

'No, I don't know either. I just rarely see demons around here. "

We had a half-reality conversation, but I heard a slight voice.

"Hmm? Did you just laugh couscous?

'No, I'm not laughing. There's no way I'm laughing like that. "

I see. Yak laughs more nasty, and there's no reason for him to laugh at Couscous. I mean, it would be disgusting if Yak laughed that way.

"Couscous... human..."

A voice that sounds all over the air as if it's echoing from everywhere. It's a pretty, clear woman's voice as if she had rolled a bell.

I wake up and check my surroundings.

But there are just trees around and I can't see the kind of creatures in particular.

"What's wrong?

"Didn't you hear my voice right now? A voice like a pretty girl."

"Is that the voice of a female?

Yak who listens to my words, looks around and snorts his nose.

"There are no people or demons around here, no sign of animals, of course?

Sure, there's no sign of organisms around.

There is a gentle air flowing here, and I can't hear animals or demons at all.

From time to time, I can hear birds passing through the sky like I did earlier.

"... couscous... this way."

I wave my head in the direction of the voice and towards the temple.

Above the temple, there was something round in the air that was blurry but emitted phosphorescent light.

It would have looked clearer and brighter at night.

I fix my gaze so that the light invites me.

"I haven't been human in a long time. Glad you made an offering. I want to put you in the woods, but you can't because they say no. '

A ball of light that says as it brightens the light. It is like the voice of an infantile child.

"…… light?

"What's this? Demons? '

whining in a low voice as Yak cautioned as I stared.

"No, I'm not."

When the light answers ridiculously, it drifts loosely around the yak.

"Wow! What is this light?

Yak can't hear that voice, or he waves his arm desperately trying to shake off the light that he can't get at.

But that just cuts the sky without making any sense at all.

Seeing Yak raise his voice, which he noticed completely frightened, the light leaks a smile with pleasure.

From what I've seen, it doesn't seem like a demon, and I don't feel anything like hostility at all.

By analogy, it feels like the child is innocent.

Eventually, the light flickers up into the air whether he was satisfied with the yak.

"Couscous... it's easy to get into the woods though. If you say the word, you can cross the line. - We, hosting the blood of the Spirit, are proud guardians of the forest... Was it? But you don't know it because humans can't read it. 'Cause all you know is the people inside.'

When the light said so ridiculously, it flew off somewhere just because it was done for.

"Hey, Yak. Did you hear what I just said?

"Hit me, okay!? Light...... Scary '

Yak still shrunk when he glanced next door.

"I've already gone somewhere."

"Ho, is that true?

When I tell you, Yak slowly looks up like he's scared.

'... okay, I'm not here anymore. I don't know what it is, but it was creepy...'

"Just in case, did you hear a voice from that light?

"No, it didn't sound like me."

After all, was that the only voice I heard?

I have no idea what that light is, but you heard the words once and for all with your ability to understand all languages.

I couldn't have had a conversation because I was distracted.

"…… indeed, you said that you could cross the line if you speak the word"

Perhaps it is something that causes things to return to the same place over and over again.

"Huh? The Junction?

Yak, who was listening to me talking to myself next door, raises an astonishing voice, but leaves it alone. Because if I don't, I'm going to forget what I said earlier.

"-We, who dwell in the blood of the Spirit, are proud guardians of the forest -"

As the light had said, I will try to utter the euphemism and the doings.

But I don't see any change around me. I can see the junction, or the forest breaks and the road opens, and nothing happens.

Will this really get us out of line?

If the words of light speak, will I be able to reach beneath the great tree?

I look up at the great tree that glitters divinely.

I feel like I can see it clearly, like I can see it with wonder.

I feel like I can get there this time.

I grip my fist with my arm against the tree.

Then exhale and talk to Yak well.

"All right! Let's go for Oki one more time!

'No, aren't you coming back again?

"No, I said the whole thing, and now I think I can."

'Is that really a fitting word? Didn't I say it was appropriate? You said earlier that the letters were rubbed and couldn't be read.'

"'Cause it's okay. Because I heard it right."

Though if that light was lying, it would come back. There won't be either. I thought you wouldn't hear me anyway, so it's like we talked over there.

"... from whom?"

"Light just now"

"Ugh."

"……… Is it true?"

Thus we set foot in the great tree again.