Souji remained behind at the square on the village's western side, while the other members of Mibu Police Station guarded the mountain gate in shifts.
"I can rest up by tonight, actually."
Mama Bear raised one hand as though volunteering to speak.
"Can you use that move repeatedly?"
Ryoma's eyes widened.
"You can use it repeatedly, that's true, but let's not."
White Yukina helplessly patted her mother's arm.
"None of us want to remember that day. If using it or not using it leads to about the same outcome..."
She knew she was a Day-Hiding Demon, but still...
If you became a good person, probably no one would want to remember the time they had been evil.
Mama Bear, however, did not care much about that.
"But at least I can transform back into my original form and fight."
Mama Bear transformed into a massive brown bear roughly three meters long.
"...Are you sure it's on our side?"
After a moment of silence, Saito Hajime cautiously asked Sakumura.
"Probably. Actually, this is still pretty small. Yesterday, it looked at least ten meters long."
Sakumura shrugged.
Saito Hajime: ...
"You're stronger now."
He cupped his hands toward Fujimaru Ritsuka.
Fujimaru Ritsuka: ???
"Make way. There's still some time before nightfall, and I need to deliver some things up there before it gets dark."
Carrying an enormous backpack and accompanied by Himiko, Takasugi Shinsaku squeezed through the crowd.
"Sometimes I really wonder what the Mountain God is thinking. On one hand, we're told to protect the village, and on the other, we're told that the Mountain God Festival has to continue. It's really strange."
Takasugi Shinsaku was in charge of coordinating this matter, but he looked somewhat unwilling.
"I also think safety is more important. It may be daytime now, but we