"Hmm, Mr. Norla does have a point."
"In that case, let's give up on persuading Miss Gerda for now."
Mash let out a relieved sigh and patted her chest.
Bearing that kind of inexplicable expectation was exhausting, especially when you did not want to hurt the other person's feelings—or whatever it was they felt.
"Let's ask Miss Gerda about some other things for now."
"Miss Gerda, um, we—"
"Wait. Let me handle the questions from here."
Tap—
"Wah—"
Norla jumped at the sudden appearance of the chubby middle-aged man.
"Director, you're awake? And communications have been restored again?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka stared wide-eyed at Goredolf, who had abruptly inserted himself into the conversation.
"I couldn't sleep. I was planning to look for more sleeping pills, but then I heard communications had been restored."
He certainly looked "full of energy."
"The connection was actually restored thirty seconds ago. It's just that the video feed wouldn't display, and you couldn't hear me calling you."
As he spoke, he yawned.
"So, Mash Galahad, leave the rest of the negotiations to me."
"Okay."
Mash nodded, though her eyes still held some hesitation.
After all, Director Goredolf's stern demeanor from earlier that day was still fresh in her mind.
"Child over there, may I have a chat with you? This time, I'll only be asking some personal questions, so you can relax when answering."
Director Goredolf did his utmost to put on what he presumably thought was a kind and friendly expression as he looked at Gerda.
"Um?"
Gerda was clearly still frightened.
With a sigh, Goredolf did not dwell on it and simply asked his question.
"This Lostbelt—no, this village where you live, and everything around it."
"Those mountains, that snow, those forests, those giants—what kind of mindset do you have as you live among