Dancing Circles on the Horizon of Events

The Eves couldn't hide their surprises.

"(Those bears... attacked the elves...?

"(The nostalgic bear? That's incredible......)"

Elder bear that brought us this far ourselves. He like that (?) It didn't look like Elder Bear attacked a person to the two of them who had seen how they behaved nearby.

Still, Eve seems to have decided to accept it as a fact, without denying the words of the elf girl. Maybe that was what she thought of as an "adult" response.

But still, it doesn't change that it was an unacceptable story right away...... Eve turned to the elf girl in such a way as to fear.

"Um, I might want to ask you one thing... about that bear, what might the elves have been going to do?

"... with us, only part of those who live in the woods. I'm going to know you're in a circle of eating or being eaten. But it's dangerous to let a bear go wild once it occupies a person's taste. I have decided that there is no longer a way to hunt for life."

"(Yes... right...)"

"But a demon named Elder Bear is a very strong demon... It's so easy to crusade. Besides, there's deep snow around. It's impossible for us elves to fight him in this situation, so we burned our hands."

"Oh well..."

"... are you also aware of the Elder Bear, if any?

"A little... right. Mr. Hunter? You want to go for a minute?

"... oh yeah"

Before Eve, who was turning his gaze somewhere as he thought, the hunter showed a slightly contemplative bare gesture before shaking its head vertically.

And the two turn their backs on the elf girl who looks surprised...... They went out under the thicker cloudy weather than they had earlier.

◇

Ahead of Eve, who left the hall, was a large Ogi sinus connecting the inside of the elf to the ground. The two of us didn't know what to do about Elder Bear, but he would be sleeping in the sinus (?) There is no reason to leave the matter as it is... The two seem to have decided to think of a way forward as they head to the sinus.

"Mr. Hunter, what do you think we should do?

"... than killing people. As the elves said earlier, don't we have to crusade?

"Is it really that bear who killed people? Or is it another bear?

"Except for how distinctive the difference is, there's no way to be sure it's the same individual..."

"Right..."

Is the Elder Bear we know really the individual who attacked the elves...... If not, Eve and the hunter both bothered their heads wondering if there was any way to prove it.

But in the end, I can't think of a good way... The two come back to the Ogi sinus where Elder Bear is supposed to be.

But even as Eves peered into the sinus, there was no sign of Elder Bear there. Instead, on the snow accumulated on the spot, there are massive footprints —— footprints of the elves and the thinkers...

"This, maybe... Mr. Elves chased me"

"There's no trace of blood, so it doesn't look like we got into a fight here. Where are we going... down there?"

Things seemed to have moved a lot while Eve and the hunter were going to the Elf girl's hall.

Knowing that fact, Eve squeaks like trouble.

"What shall we do..."

The hunter who heard that pointed a serious look at Eve...... I asked her quietly.

"... hey, Eve. Eve really wants to help you with that bear thing?

"... how can you ask me that?

"I think this is probably a very complicated story. The elves living here would think that the people in town... or their families were killed by that bear. I'm sure you resent me so much...... Nonetheless, I wonder if we could help with the bear thing. What do you think of Eve?

"... If you're really saying that those bears attacked the elves, I don't think you can help it if you're going to be hunted... but maybe there's no evidence that those bears really attacked you, is there? Of course, there may not be any evidence that he hasn't attacked, but I think the bear is too pathetic to say that he hunts because he's dangerous in a fuzzy situation that I don't know which one."

"Sure...... Then let's ask Eve again. Eve want to help you with that bear thing? Ahead of chasing the bear thing from here... even though I know there might be something really sad going on, do you think Eve wants to go to that bear?

Eve understood the meaning of the hunter's inquiry, which was not direct. After chasing the escaped Elder Bear, the worst future that can't be helped may await. Even for hunters who had previously made killing a living (i.e.), she seemed to want to make sure that Eve would not regret it, because it was unfamiliar to know that an animal would be harmed by someone.

Eve, on the other hand, replies straight away without getting lost... It will not be necessary to say what the answer was.