The Healer in a Japanese-Style Game World: Mastering Healing to Save My Favorite Character in a Brutal World, Only to Find Everyone Around Me Becoming Obsessed - Chapter 03: The White-Haired Girl of the Abandoned Shrine

Chapter 03: The White-Haired Girl of the Abandoned Shrine

“Hey… who are you?”

It was a girl with white hair who didn’t seem human.

She was clearly dangerous, and instinctively I knew she was worse than that monkey yokai. 

She exuded a divine presence, something I’d only felt once before, and an equally strong demonic aura, which shouldn’t even be possible.

“Not going to answer?”

Lost in thought, I realized she was approaching me. 

Despite being blindfolded, she walked confidently towards me and, even with handcuffs, skillfully touched my face.

“I know… you’re here.”

“…Please don’t touch me.”

“Oh, you spoke.”

I was startled when the being I was wary of suddenly touched my face. Despite feeling a bit disarmed, I said that and took a step back from her.

“…Why, are you backing away?”

Even if she asked, I couldn’t say it was because she scared me. If she harmed me, that would be terrible, so I had to choose my words carefully.

“…Um, because I’m embarrassed?”

But the situation was too confusing, and my response naturally came out as a question, which didn’t make much sense. It was clearly the wrong choice. Worried about her reaction, I tried to gauge her expression, but the blindfold made it hard to read her face.

“―I see…”

“Hey, can I rest here for a bit?”

This shrine is clearly abnormal, but a barrier separates it from the outside. 

As long as the barrier is intact, it should be safe, and I can wait here until the monkey yokai loses interest. 

Despite the girl in front of me being more dangerous, she somehow seemed safe.

“Okay…”

“…Thanks.”

“If you want to rest, this way.”

She started walking deeper into the shrine, guiding me.

It seemed like a gesture of goodwill, so I followed her cautiously. She led me to a small hut.

“There’s a futon… so, good night?”

I couldn’t tell how old it was, but at least it didn’t look used. 

The shrine itself seemed ancient, yet the futon appeared new and untouched.

Finding it strange, but too exhausted to dwell on it, I lay down and quickly fell asleep.

―——

――

―

I had a dream.

A dream where my family gave me cold looks and blamed me.

Despite my efforts, it was meaningless as I faced all their malice. Eventually, I woke up.

And when I did, the girl’s face was right above mine.

“Would you, like to eat this?”

“Uh, well… wait a second.”

“…Would this one?”

“No, that’s not it—just give me a moment.”

“…Are you not hungry?”

When I woke up, I found myself with my head resting on the girl’s lap, and she was trying to feed me. Sure, I was hungry, but this was all so sudden. No, that’s not the point.

“…Since when was I on your lap?”

“Right after you fell asleep.”

“Why?”

“…Because you were having a nightmare?”

“I see… but how long was I asleep?”

“For a long time.”

That doesn’t help. 

But given how refreshed I feel, I must have slept for quite a while. It seems she kept me on her lap the entire time.

“For now, please eat something?”

“No, I’m good—”

“I heard your stomach growl… here, say ‘ahh.'”

“…Alright, I’ll eat.”

I thought it was a bad idea to accept food from a stranger in an unknown place, but my stomach growled, making it impossible to refuse. 

Besides, it was embarrassing, and she seemed pretty insistent, so I couldn’t say no.

“This is good.”

“Fufu, glad you like it.”

Even though her eyes were covered, I could tell she was smiling.

It wasn’t a mocking smile, but a genuine one, happy because I said the food was delicious.

The fruit I ate was the freshest thing I’d had in a long time. It tasted amazing, and tears started to flow naturally. It had been so long since I felt anyone’s kindness, and I couldn’t stop the tears.

“Yeah―it’s really good.”

“…Should I bring more?”

“No, that’s fine—hey, what’s your name?”

I didn’t want to be ignorant of the name of the person who helped me so much. Even though she was still a dangerous presence, she had shown me kindness, and it felt wrong to stay wary.

“…Kagura. Just Kagura. And you?”

“―I’m Yomi.”

“No last name?”

“No… just Yomi.”

I couldn’t use the name Shiranui anymore. It was taken from me back then, and I also felt unworthy of it.

“Same here… I don’t have one either.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, but she didn’t seem bothered at all. 

A name and surname are important, symbolizing who we are. Losing either is like losing half of oneself, a severe punishment in this world. Yet she seemed unfazed.

“…Kagura, you’re really strong.”

“Thank you…?”

She seemed confused by the sudden compliment. 

But she thanked me, and I realized just how kind she was. 

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I took one of the peaches she had prepared and started eating, turning my face away.

“Eat as much as you like.”

Her gentle words warmed my heart again, and I felt tears welling up once more.