CHAPTER 1 STORY 26
Alte and Linaria’s History Hunt: A Traditional Statue
My history hunt with Linaria was continuing as always.
I said, “with Linaria,” but if anything, I had the sense that I was more like Linaria’s assistant. I was just kind of along for the ride.
“Hey, look at this statue. So cool!”
My partner, Linaria, was rubbing her cheek against an ordinary-looking statue and chuckling weirdly to herself. “Heh-heh-heh-heh.” I had absolutely no clue what was so great about it.
“What’s the deal with this statue? I don’t really get it.”
“I’m glad you asked. Once, there was an incident where a mighty witch said playfully to herself, ‘I’m out of money… I know, I’ll go pull a few quick scams,’ as she went around defrauding the townspeople. In those days, the leader of the city said, ‘Let us build a statue so that we will never forget the witch who is doing these ridiculous things,’ and that is how this statue came to be built at the city museum. To put it simply, rather than celebrating some great figure, this statue was built for public scorn. Statues like this are a rare sight.”
I see, I see.
“I’m sorry, but even after hearing that, I still don’t understand.”
“You ought to have a little more interest in history.”
“And I think you ought to have a little more common sense, Linaria.”
“How rude. I’ve got plenty!” Rub, rub, rub, rub. “See, Alte? We almost never get the chance to encounter a statue as rare as this one.”
“Well, that is true.”
“There’s a good chance that we’ll never get to see it again after this.”
“Yes indeed.”
“If I didn’t rub my cheek on it now, I’d never get the chance to do it again, don’t you think?”
“Sorry, just that last part. I don’t really get what you’re saying…”
Don’t I think? I’m not the one to ask…
“In any case, it’s a good experience to rub your cheek on a historical statue, you know. Won’t you give it a try?”
“No, I don’t really—”
“Don’t be shy.”
“Uh, I’m not really being shy, but—”
I mean, after all…before we get to that…
“Linaria, you’re not allowed to go in there…”
“Oh?”
Linaria cocked her head to one side cutely. The perimeter had been carefully enclosed by a partition, and to make things worse, there was even a notice posted that said: NO ENTRY. DO NOT TOUCH THE STATUE. And yet Linaria was inside the barrier, rubbing up against the statue.
“—Heeeyyy! You there! What are you doing?!”
Unsurprisingly, Linaria, who was breaking the rules, was arrested right there on the spot by the security guard.
“…Huh? Ah, um…” Linaria’s eyes went wide, and she looked to me for help. So after I quietly averted my eyes, I had just one thing to say to her.
“…Well, um, things like this also offer valuable experience, don’t you agree…?”
[Publication Information] Volume 9
Gamers Buyer’s Bonus
[Author Comments]
Initially, the plan for Alte and Linaria’s stories was to write them as a new project that had absolutely nothing to do with Wandering Witch, but one way or another they ended up getting included in the main narrative. I feel like I wrote out all the details somewhere or other, but anyway, as far as how they fit into the timeline of the story, I think it’s nice that they became a way for us to see the world after Elaina has already become an adult. That said, someday I would like to do the stories I originally planned for them (he says, looking over at the publisher).
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