One-way traffic

"Of course I can tell. I'm asking what you plan to do with these things?"

Some of the mushrooms Alice was holding were clearly no longer the normal mushrooms they used to be.

The mycelium even developed sharp edges, and some parts even trembled from time to time.

—Wait a minute.

This guy… don’t tell me he’s going to cook these so-called mushrooms?!

"You look incredulous. That's right, it's the ingredient used for cooking."

"What kind of bullshit are you talking about... You call these wriggling things food?"

"You have the same expression as those humans who visited this mansion before... You really lack common sense."

Alice was completely oblivious to the incredibly strange expression on the other person's face.

"These are basically all the food you can find in this magical forest... Ah, there are other plants, but they usually contain more toxins than these mushrooms."

"I'm starting to wonder more and more about the meaning of this ridiculous forest's existence."

"Don't be confused. For us magicians, these things are actually natural gifts of magic, and great tonics."

Alice, carrying the bamboo basket full of wild mushrooms, walked toward the kitchen.

"If you're assuming you're staying here, I should at least make sure you have dinner."

It would be problematic to eat something like that.

However, Accelerator did not stop her. Just as she said, the only edible plants in this forest were basically the mushrooms.

Then, surprisingly, only about three minutes had passed.

Accelerator's nose had already detected a very unique scent.

The smell... it's not exactly disgusting, but it's not particularly pleasant either; it's a completely indescribable feeling.

In any case, the girl had already returned from the kitchen.

There wasn't much preparation; they simply placed two plates on the table and a medium-sized stone pot in the middle.

That's probably the kind of food Alice made.

However, just when Accelerator was prepared to reflect all the scent vectors, the scene in front of him caught his attention again.

What I saw the moment I opened the pot lid wasn't the unpleasant sight I had imagined.

On the contrary, it was a very appealing scent.

Because the pot lid had previously blocked the view, we couldn't smell or see the specific taste and appearance of the food, but now it's all clear at a glance.

That was definitely not some inedible food.

The dishes cooked by the young girl were so delicious that they made one's mouth water.

The reason for saying this is that Accelerator already felt an uncontrollable urge rising in his throat.

If he hadn't quickly manipulated his stomach vector, his stomach would probably have been making embarrassing gurgling noises by now.

"How do you feel about it?"

The sound awakened my consciousness from beside my ear.

Looking ahead again, the blonde doll-like girl revealed a somewhat triumphant smile.

"Can you still say those derogatory things about these ingredients as before, sir?"

"Tsk..."

The first person clicked their tongue in utter displeasure.

But he couldn't say anything and could only quietly enjoy the food the other person had prepared.

Alice was quite pleased with the scene. She happily ladled the food onto her plate and ate it gently with a spoon.

It must be a mixed soup of mushrooms. I wonder how she managed to transform those ingredients, which looked so unappetizing, into such a delicious and mouthwatering dish.

Its color, aroma, and taste are all top-notch.

If that's the case, perhaps the tea the other person brewed earlier was also very delicious; it's just that the ingredients weren't very appealing.

This made Accelerator realize once again that he could no longer define people and things by their appearance alone.

"Well... it's about time to get down to business."

The meal for two was quickly finished in just a few minutes.

Alice ate very little; most of it was eaten by Accelerator.

She wiped her lips with a tissue that had been prepared beforehand and continued to ask the key questions.

"Although you want to leave Gensokyo as soon as possible, as you know, everything here depends on the decisions of the Hakurei Shrine Maiden and the Youkai Sage. They are the key figures in managing the Great Barrier."

Regarding the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, both of them had just seen her.

Alice was puzzled. It was a rare meeting time for Accelerator, so why did he choose to leave so easily?

"This is not the best time."

"Oh?"

"Even if the Hakurei Shrine Maiden has appeared before me, I cannot approach her immediately."

Under Alice's somewhat surprised gaze, Accelerator stated his current plans directly.

"If you think about it carefully, there are too many issues to consider, aren't there? Whether it's the monster attack on that village or the fact that someone like me suddenly appeared in your place, they're all problems. And during this time, so many different issues have unfortunately all fallen on someone like me... You can imagine, right?"

Of course, neither the appearance of those monsters nor his sudden arrival in Gensokyo was Accelerator's own choice, nor was it his fault in essence. He had no intention of doing such a pointless thing.

That's true in essence, but it might not be so on the surface.

Especially from the perspective of those long-time guardians of Gensokyo, someone who suddenly appeared like this must be the most suspicious.

We should wait until the other party is less wary.

At least in the current situation, if Accelerator dares to directly confront the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, the result will definitely be that both sides are caught in a fierce and impasse-like situation.

Avoid trouble whenever possible.

Given the current situation, the best compromise is to temporarily avoid the matter of that shrine maiden.

"That makes sense. Anyway, that shrine maiden is always in Gensokyo, so you can find her whenever you want."

This is the consideration regarding the Hakurei Shrine Maiden.

then.

Next, there are even more issues to consider.

“I remember you and that guy named Bai Ze also mentioned the existence of another person.”

As he watched Alice tidy up the plates and stone pot, Accelerator simultaneously uttered his second question.

"That guy seems to be called the Demon Sage, right?"

In that very next instant.

Whether it was his imagination or not, Accelerator seemed to feel that the air around him was becoming somewhat denser.

But he remained unmoved.

"To be precise, that's not her name, it's just a form of address."

"Tsk, judging from this situation, it's probably the kind of situation that only those guys who come and go without a trace and whose information can't be found at all would have this feeling."

"You really have a sharp mind. Did you guess what I was going to say even before I told you?"

Alice's tone also became somewhat somber.

"Regarding the Sage of Yokai, almost everyone here knows of her existence."

"Some say she is the creator of Gensokyo, the most mysterious and unpredictable being in this Gensokyo. Others say that the sage of youkai probably existed long before Gensokyo was established, or even longer."

"But all of this is just hearsay."

Rumors are not reality.

"What is the actual situation? I'm afraid the number of people who know the specifics is probably no more than a handful."

Clearly, Alice was not one of those people.

This makes one thing very clear.

“If it’s just the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, I can still help you to some extent, but if it involves that youkai sage… I think that’s all the information I can get.”

"...So that's how it is."

As a result, those with such ambiguous identities are the most troublesome kind of people.

Accelerator raised an eyebrow, as if he had thought of something, but he didn't show it on his face.

"What are your plans next?"

"If I have no other choice, I am confident that I can find my way back even if I don't see those two people... but I will not do that if necessary."

"Hey~ Just as I thought, you'll probably be spending a long time in Gensokyo from now on."

"...Does the sight of me being trapped really make you smile like that?"

"While staying here is indeed like hell for ordinary humans, you are clearly not an ordinary person, right?"

Alice slightly raised her hands, and behind her appeared a series of doll-like figures.

And so, like servants, they gathered up all the tableware on the table and flew all the way to the kitchen.

Then you can hear the sound of water washing.

"Although people have stayed overnight at my residence before, this is truly the first time I've experienced something like this."

It's more than just a simple overnight stay; it's already a full-fledged cohabitation arrangement.

But the person in first place couldn't possibly show the slightest ripple on their face or in their heart.

In his view, the girl named Alice was probably the same.

"It doesn't matter what, I can just lie down on any tree and there won't be any problem."

"No, this is enough."

The blonde girl calmly met her own gaze.

"Although I wouldn't normally stay here for long if I were a human, you're not exactly a human either."

"So, if it's you, I have no objection for now."

Even though her appearance conveys a coldness that makes her unapproachable.

However, there is probably some unknown side hidden behind this blonde doll wielder.

"…snort."

So, the first person simply smiled.

"Staying with a guy like me is unlikely to end well."

"In that case, I'll return that sentence to you verbatim."

The place called the Magic Forest has always had this environment.

Eerie, terrifying, desolate.

This is the word that the Enchanted Forest has given people so far. No one thinks that such a lifeless place could be a good place.

But tonight is different.

At least for today.

In a corner of this forest, there was indeed a sense of life.

"Ah... there's something else that's quite intriguing."

"You've got a lot of trouble, so what is it?"

"Well, how should I put it... are you male or female?"

"...Can't you see it, you brat?"

Chapter 413 In the Stillness of the Night