With Black Yukina's help, the pickled-radish monster was finally subdued.
"So what exactly is going on? Why was this guy going berserk while shouting about pickled radish?"
Black Yukina was thoroughly displeased and disgusted.
Coming to this Singularity had already made her feel awful, and now she had to get involved in all this messy nonsense.
You bastards sure were acting mighty arrogant in someone else's home, weren't you?
"Perhaps it's because he hadn't had pickled radish in a long time. The chief is just that kind of person. And Miss Yukina, your skills are truly impressive." Yamanami Keisuke gave Black Yukina a slight bow in thanks, then somehow produced a jar of pickled radish, took out a piece, and stuffed it into Hijikata's mouth.
"Oh! I'm fired up!"
Hijikata regained his senses almost instantly, his eyes becoming clear again.
Yukina: ...
Just what was this guy's brain made of?
"Why are you here?"
Having returned from his pickled-radish-monster state to that of a normal person, Hijikata Toshizo casually freed himself from beneath Black Yukina's foot, then looked toward Fujimaru Ritsuka and Sakumura Kanna.
"There are some matters we'd like to ask Mr. Hijikata about."
Fujimaru Ritsuka pulled over a chair.
"Before the village chief disappeared, did anything else happen in the village?"
"I know what answer you're looking for, little girl from out of town."
It was not Hijikata Toshizo who spoke, but Yamanami Keisuke.
He sighed, looking utterly helpless.
"Since the chief returned yesterday, I've begun investigating this matter. But the truth is—other than beast attacks that would be considered fairly routine for the village, nothing strange happened."
"The origin of all these abnormalities can more or less be confirmed to have begun only after the village chief went missing."
"There is one detail that cannot be overlooked: