Around the mansion, there was a forest and a small path, and the path seemed to lead to a settlement. A road whose colors I couldn't see alone... with the two of us, we could surely walk it with joy.

Koai took her hand, and relying on the distant lights, they walked down the dark night road. Whenever she stopped to gaze up at the starry sky, Koai would also find herself looking up at the stars.
They say the celestial stars show various colors of brilliance and twinkles of light. Humans admire them, the Suimazoku (Green Demon Clan) use them to predict the climate and the abundance or failure of harvests, and the Himazoku (Scarlet Demon Clan) are said to convert them into magical power, into sustenance.
All of this was something the former Koai could not comprehend. She had never admired the sparkle of the stars, nor read anything from them, nor felt any power in them.

But now, she felt like she could understand it... just a little.

Koai walked, feeling the warmth in her hand, occasionally glancing at the girl.

"Hey, Oni... nee-san, what's your name?"
"I am called Koai."
"Koa... i?"
"Is it difficult to pronounce, as I thought?"
The name Koai had always seemed to have a sound that the people of this world found unfamiliar. The girl was from another world, but Koai was suddenly reminded of the past.

"Koai... Koai, Koai... Ko."
She repeated it several times, and then something seemed to click.
"Hey, can I call you Aiko?"

"Ai... ku?"
"Not Aiku, Aiko!"
"Aikwoh?"
What a strange sound, a strange name, she thought.

"It's good, right~?"
"...I'd rather you not."
"C'mon, don't be a spoilsport."
Was she disappointed? Her expression was also strange, but Koai found it a little pleasing.

"By the way, what is your name?"
"Ah, hah, yes!?"
Suddenly, her voice went high-pitched.

"Yes, I am..."
Her expression suddenly stiffened; she seemed flustered. Was it a bad idea to ask her name?

"I-I am Yukino Mayumura! I came from Kitagawa University!"
She stood ramrod straight—arms, legs, and back—and shouted with a stiff expression. But just as quickly, she sighed and sank to the ground.

"Haaaah..."
"Are you all right?"
Looking at Koai, she silently held out her hand. Should I take it?

Koai didn't fully understand Yukino's intention, but she wanted to take that hand and offered her own. Koai didn't know why the hand she touched was trembling slightly, and she probably never would understand everything in the future. However, Koai believed it wasn't a significant problem. Right now, she and the girl were here in this world, and she could touch her. That meant everything would surely be all right.

Without another word, the two walked the path, weaving through the trees. With Koai supporting the occasionally stumbling Yukino, they reached the edge of the settlement before they knew it.

"Well, it would be nice if there's a tavern."
"Let's drink, let's drink!"
She cried out cheerfully. It felt like the first time in a while Koai had heard her voice, and it filled her with a pleasant feeling.

"If there isn't one, we'll just make someone provide it."
"Is that... alcohol, I wonder?"
Where she pointed, there was a building with a barrel placed next to its entrance. If that was a liquor barrel, it was probably placed there to signify a tavern.

"Let's go see."
Without hesitation, Koai walked up to the building and opened the door.

"Customers? Welcome."
Inside, a sturdy-looking man was sitting on a chair. Besides the one the man was using, there were several other sets of tables and chairs, but they were all unused, simply lined up.
"As you can see, there are no other customers. Sit wherever you like."

"Will you two be having some drinks?"
"What do you have~?"
"We've got wine (Oinos). There's white (Retsina) and purple (Kozani)."

"Then I'll have the white. What about you, Koai?"
"...The same."
"Alright."
The man replied and walked away.

"Is wine all they have here? I don't remember there being shops that specialized in just wine."
"Is something bothering you?"
"I was just wondering if they had beer or anything."
"Beer?"

As the two were talking, the man returned carrying two handled mugs.
"Two whites (Retsina). That'll be six Dils."

"Six Dils?"
"Too expensive? I think it's on the cheap side."
"Expensive, cheap... are you talking about money? Do we pay now?"
"Of course. What are you talking about?"

Come to think of it, they didn't have anything of monetary value. Now, what to do... Koai considered a solution.
"Money... will this do?"
"What the heck is this?"

The girl took out several silver coin-like objects from a sort of pouch, but the man didn't seem convinced. There's no need for that. I can just threaten him and take it. The powerful obtain what they need. That is reality. Koai reached this conclusion, but decided to watch for a little longer.

"This certainly has a nice shine to it... but where in the world is this silver coin from? It seems awfully light."
"Oh, you can't use it? Then how about this?"
"Hm, what's this? Is that a picture of a person on it...? Is it a scrap from a book or something?"
"Ehh..."

Ah, what a troublesome bunch...

That was Koai's honest impression as she watched their exchange.