「Um, I am sorry」
I bow deeply to Rina’s parents.
Yuu told me, 「You did not take it over」. But I cannot help but think that I took over Rina’s body.
If I had not been there? Maybe Rina would have lived… No, that is not possible. I actually know this. Possession can only happen in an empty body. So, what Yuu said is correct. But my feelings cannot catch up. Especially in front of Rina’s parents, I feel painful guilt.
「Please do not apologize. I think your arrival here is a blessing from the Goddess」
「Yes, that is right. It is a blessing from the Goddess to us」
At Rina’s father Rigus’s words, her mother Kana also nods.
『Is this world devoted to the Goddess? Ah, so that is why there is a statue of the Goddess on the shelf』
It seems so. Moreover, they seem to be quite devout people.
「May we continue to call you Rina, and say that you are our daughter?」
「Eh?」
I look at Kana with a surprised expression.
Did they accept my explanation just now? So easily?
「I think the Goddess pitied us for losing Rina, and that is why you came to us」
No, I wonder about that. Since I possessed her, I am an 「unexpected existence」 to the Goddess.
「Ah, yes, that is true」
Rigus also nods in agreement.
『Devotion to the Goddess is scary』
Yuu looks at Rina’s parents with a suspicious expression.
「What do you think? Can you live with us from now on? Or do you have some mission from the Goddess?」
When Rigus looks at me with worry, I unconsciously shake my head.
「Is it really okay?」
At my small mutter, Rigus and Kana nod with smiles.
「Yes, of course. We could not protect Rina, but the Goddess blessed us with a new Rina. You are a miracle to us」
Am 「I」 the blessing of the Goddess? Probably not.
But if not, who caused me to possess her? If it was not the Goddess?
『Devotion to the Goddess is scary, but this should be fine. I think it would be dangerous to deny her story』
I think so too.
「Thank you very much」
I see the two of them smiling happily at my response. This answer is probably not correct. But I do not want to put myself in danger.
I am sorry, Rina.
「Rina. There is one more thing I would like to confirm. Are you someone who can see spirits?」
At Rigus’s question, I lower my gaze slightly.
In this world with strong devotion to the Goddess, what kind of existence are ghosts?
『Why not say you do not know?』
Do not know?
『You can see them, but you do not know what they are』
I see.
「There are beings I can see. But I do not know if they are spirits」
At my answer, Rigus looks into the air.
「Could it be that one is here too?」
「Yes」
「Can you ask that being for its identity?」
『Hmm, let us say it cannot tell you right now』
Why?
『Come on, tell them』
「It says it cannot tell you right now」
Rigus widens his eyes at my answer. Kana looks around the air with interest.
「I see」
「Um, what are spirits?」
What kind of existence are spirits in this world? I am especially curious about their relationship with the Goddess.
「Spirits are beings born from nature. Apparently, there was one person who could see them hundreds of years ago, but some researchers now say it was a lie. Actually, I thought so too. I am sorry」
Rigus looks at me with an apologetic expression.
「Please do not apologize. It cannot be helped. There are few people who can see them」
Beings born from nature. Still, only one person hundreds of years ago? Is that not too few? Maybe it really was a lie.
「The Goddess cherishes spirits very much, and it is said that those who can see them receive her favor」
The Goddess and spirits seem to have a good relationship. That is good. It seems I will not be persecuted if I am misunderstood as seeing spirits.
「That is right. We must inform the Church」
Eh, I do not want that. Besides, I did not even say they were spirits!
I shake my head at Kana’s words.
「Yes. Let us go to the Church tomorrow」
Not noticing my reaction, Rigus is also enthusiastic.
This is terrible. In their minds, Yuu has become a spirit.
「Please wait. This matter must not be known by anyone」
Ah, I phrased that wrong.
『With that phrasing, it sounds like I am the one who does not want to be known. But maybe that is better』
Eh, really?
『It would be less troublesome if we say ‘The spirit does not want to be known’』
That is certainly true, but…
「Did the spirit say that?」
I glance at Yuu. For some reason, he is nodding with a confident expression, but Yuu is not a spirit.
「Yes」
This is awkward.
「I see. Perhaps there are others who can see spirits, and we just do not know about them」
I wonder? I cannot completely deny it, but I cannot agree either.
「That is true. Also, if it becomes known that you can see spirits, people might try to exploit you」
That would be extremely troublesome. Yes, I am sorry, but let us stick with the 「spirit’s request」 excuse.
Rigus and Kana look at each other. Then they look at me and smile.
「We will not tell the Church, nor anyone else. Ah, may I tell Agus? It seems he has already noticed, so I think it is better to tell him than to hide it. He will probably cooperate with us in various ways」
「Yes」
「Rina?」
「Yes?」
When I look at Kana, she has a slightly lonely expression.
Eh? Did I do something wrong?
「It might be difficult, but you can speak to us more casually, you know? We are family, after all」
Ah, right. Even though they invited me to become part of the family, I acted like a stranger.
「Yes, understood. Thank you, Mother. Father」
Saying it again feels embarrassing. Extremely embarrassing.
『Whoa, your face is bright red』
You do not need to say unnecessary things!
When I glare at Yuu, Mother lets out a small laugh.
「Eh?」
「You get along well with the spirit, do not you?」
『Exactly! Rina and I are good friends』
「Not really」
『Why? We are friends, right?』
I should have denied it more strongly.
Knock knock knock.
「Father? Mother?」
Agus’s worried voice is heard through the door, and I turn my gaze toward it.
What is wrong?
「Ara, I told him to wait until we finished talking. It seems he came because he was worried about Rina」
Worried about Rina?
「You may enter」
When Father responds, the door opens immediately, and Agus enters the living room.
「Rina」
Agus looks at me with concern.
「Thank you for worrying, onii-chan. But I am fine」
「I see. So, um…」
Onii-chan looks at me tentatively. His cute expression leaves me speechless.
Since he resembles Father, he will surely become handsome in the future. But for now, his cuteness is healing.
『This kid looks like he will become more handsome than his father in a few years. He seems like the type to make many women cry』
Yuu, I will lecture you later!
「Agus. Listen carefully to what I am about to say」
「Yes」
Onii-chan faces Father with a serious expression. My spine straightens as I wonder what is starting.
And then Father begins his explanation about me. As he explains with various lies mixed in, my gaze gradually lowers.
Was this really the right thing to do?
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