The Seirei Gensouki Spirit Chronicles
End Prologs

Shaking his head in embarrassment, Sayo retreated to a corner of the room. His behavior made Ruri smile amusedly. Rio had been wondering about Sayo's strange behavior for a while now, but tried to put that aside when she started talking.

“I'm looking for someone who knew my parents when they were alive. The reason I visited this village was because I had heard that Lady Yuba had the most extensive connections of those living in this area. ”

“Hm, I understand ..” Yuba nodded slightly in understanding, before encouraging him to continue speaking.

“I believe my mother and father lived in the Yagumo region about fifteen years ago, but I am not sure of the details .. Have you heard the names Zen and Ayame before, Mrs Yuba?” Said Rio, mentioning the name of his parents.

“... Did you just say ... Zen ... and Ayame ..?” Yuba's eyes widened, the arm that had extended to grab his teacup completely frozen. His head lifted as he carefully fixed his gaze onto Rio's face. He seemed to know something; his reaction clearly showed that. Even Rio's typical calm demeanor was shattered as his eyes widened as well.

“Ah no. I should hear more about them first,” Yuba hesitated, before giving a vague answer and looking towards the girls.

“Ruri, Sayo – our discussion may last longer than expected. You two can get back to work,” the orders.

“Eeeh .. But why?” Ruri pouted her lips sadly.

“Come, now. Do not interfere in the personal affairs of others. Make sure you keep your lips closed around the other villagers, too. ”

“Okaaay. Hid. And it also seems interesting ... Come on, Sayo.” Hearing Yuba's harsh and firm words, Ruri reluctantly backed down.

“Y-Ya.” After Ruri and Sayo left the house, Yuba looked at Rio and slowly started talking.

“Now, can you give me more details about the features and characteristics of your parents? They may be someone I know. ”

“Surely, of course ...” Rio hid his wavering emotions with a nod, then calmly began to tell their history.

His parents were born in the Yagumo region. When they were young, they had spent years on long journeys to migrate to the Strahl region. After that, they wandered around for a while until Rio was born, and they settled in the Beltrum Kingdom. However, Rio's father Zen died before Rio was old enough to know him. After that, she lived alone with her mother Ayame.

Rio also explained the personality of Ayame and what kind of mother she was, with Yuba listening to every word of Rio attentively.

“... After that, when I was young, my mother died too.” Rio expression was a little dark when he talked about his mother's death. He did not tell the specifics of how he died; he did not want to remember them, and he did not want to talk about them.

To be honest, he still had not set his mind on what had happened.

“Thank you for telling me. I must have made you remember some difficult memories .. But not wrong anymore. Both of them must be the same people I know. In fact, if I pay close attention, I can see some of their features on your face. For me, old age really doesn't enjoy. Hmm, no .. Maybe you can say that it is my old age that allows us to meet,” Yuba said with a somewhat helpless expression and regret.

“... If you don't mind I ask, how do my parents know you ..?” Rio asked in fear, desperately keeping his voice unshakable.

“I'm Zen's mother, and your grandmother. Glad to finally meet you,” replied Yuba, smiling somewhat awkwardly.

“You .. Ah, umm. Nice to meet you too.” Rio stared at Yuba's face blankly for a moment, before lowering his head uncomfortably. Yuba seemed to recognize her next question as a difficult one, but she could not help but ask.

“... I'm sorry, but can you tell me more? I want to hear about the reason you came to this country from afar, just to find information about the two. The effort you have put in, and the difficulty you have gone through to reach here, should be far beyond my imagination. ” Rio was worried for a while before replying.

“... I want to make a grave. I have no remains or mementos, but I want to mourn them in their own homeland. And mother ...my mother promised to take me to her hometown someday.  He died before we can make it happen, but I want to try to make it myself,” he replied carefully.

“So so. You did well here. However, the reality is ... How should I say this? Their graves are already there,” Yuba said with a little reluctance.

“Their graves ... already exist? But didn't they leave this land alive?” Rio unintentionally asked out loud, surprised.

“Yes that's right. But their graves are there. Judging from your reaction, it seems that you do not know the reason they left their homeland. Is that true?” Yuba asked as she looked at Rio face.

“Yes that's right. Does that mean you know why, Mrs Yuba? ” Rio asked back.

“indeed, I know the reason. However, you must forgive me, because I myself cannot tell you the details.” Yuba shook his head with an apologetic look.

“Can I ask why ...?”

“Special circumstances encouraged the two of them to leave the country in secret. Since it was impossible for them to return, those who knew the truth built graves for them on the hill. That's all I can say now,” replied Yuba, choosing her words carefully.

“They left the country ... in secret ..”

“For now, I will take you to their graves. Do you want to hold a memorial ceremony for them?” Yuba offered to the contemplative Rio.

“...Yes of course. Please allow me to do that. ”

To be honest, there is still a lot that is not clear, but there is no point in thinking about it any more than this. If Yuba had no intention to answer him, then he would not force her. Rio decided to focus on the matter of his parents grave first.

After that, Yuba brought Rio to the small hill to the north of the village. The top of the hill offers views of the village below and the surrounding mountains, making the view very beautiful. Two stone pillars stood in front of that background. They have been very well cared for, as they are neat, with no signs of wind erosion.

“This is their grave. Their names are not carved on them, but they are full of their mementos,” Yuba said as she stood in front of the stone pillars.

“...Once.” Rio nodded faintly, his eyes fixed on the stone pillar.

“... Maybe I can tell you what happened to your parents when the time came,” Yuba said slowly while looking at Rio. Rio's eyes widened, and he looked back at her.

“Are you considering staying in this village until the time comes?” Yuba asked, his expression filled with affection.

“... Is it okay?” Rio asked worriedly.

“You are my grandson. There is no need for a grandson to act modestly around his grandmother,” replied Yuba with a bright smile on his face.

“Goods ... Grandma ..” Rio muttered those words, as if he was contemplating it.

“There are more than enough spare rooms. All my relatives have died from war and disease, so it's just me and Ruri now. She is the older girl who brought you to my house,” Yuba explained as Rio stood there silently.

“Dan Ruri, is he ..?”

“She is the daughter of Zen's older brother, who made her your cousin. He's fifteen now. ”

“So so. It makes him a year older than me. ”

“... I was surprised to hear you were so young. While your face is still childish, your personality is so mature that I mistakenly thought you might be older. ”

“It's not true.” Rio finally smiled thinly and shook his head. It made Yuba laugh out loud.

“Is that so? Yes that's that. Can I accept that as yes to my offer? ”

“Iya. I will be in your care” said Rio doubtfully, bowing his head to Yuba.

“It is with great pleasure that I will take you with me. I know it may be difficult to adjust immediately, but there is no need to be too rigid. Calm down, and relax,” Yuba said as she shrugged her shoulders slowly.

“OK .. Yuba.” Rio decided to call her by her name only, not “Mrs Yuba.” When he thought about the fact that she was his real grandmother, he found it easier to call her that.

“Fufu. Oh, by the way .. Is it okay if we hide the truth of your heritage from the other villagers?” Yuba asked with a cheerful smile.

“Of course, it will be fine,” Rio agreed, taking the implications behind Yuba's words. They could not reveal Rio's origin to the village due to the circumstances that caused Zen and Ayame to leave the country. Maybe – no, almost certainly – that there will be people in this village who know them.

“I'm sorry for the inconvenience. We can decide the rest of the details at home. I'll be back now ... Do you want to stay here a little longer?” Yuba asked out of consideration for Rio.

“Ya please.”

“Do you know the way back?”

“I'll be fine.”

“Oh? Then make sure you get back before the sun goes down. We will throw a welcome party for you, even if it is just simple.” With that, Yuba turned around and left.

“Thank you for the hospitality,” said Rio, bowing deeply to Yuba's retreating back. As soon as Yuba's figure disappeared from sight, he raised his head to the stone pillar.

“... I guess that means I'll stay at your place for a while, dad. Still not sinking because I have relatives other than the two of you, ... ” Rio muttered towards the pillar, a trace of confusion in a smile that drew his lips. Of course, there's no answer.

After a while, he turned around to look at the village. He spent another hour on top of the hill in gloomy silence, before returning to the village chief's house just before sunset.

“Sorry,” Rio said while hesitantly walking through the open front door. There, Yuba was waiting with Ruri, who had finished her work.

“Welcome back,” they said.

“...Thank you.” Rio was surprised, but he timidly returned their greetings. Then, as Yuba said, they held a small welcome party together.

End Prologs