"Shun, what are you looking at…" Theresa followed Shun's gaze downward and immediately noticed the tombstone beneath the cherry blossom tree.
"Yae… Rin? This is…" Theresa murmured the name and found that it was very similar to Miss Yae Sakura, who had brought them here.
"Mm, you can ask Yae Sakura about it later tonight to learn a bit. As for more intelligence, I'll tell you tonight."
Yae Sakura had a favorable impression of Theresa, who resembled Kallen, and her vigilance toward her was far lower than toward Shun. This could also allow Theresa to probe for any intelligence that even he didn't know.
Theresa wasn't good at lying. If he told her now and she asked later, it would be hard to act and they might get exposed.
Theresa thought for a moment, understood Shun's meaning, and nodded. "I understand. Don't worry. Although I don't have combat power right now, I won't drag you down."
"It's not to that extent." Shun shook his head. With Theresa here, it would definitely stabilize Yae Sakura's mental state a lot. No matter what, she wouldn't drag him down. It was just that he would need to divert attention to protect Theresa, which would likely greatly reduce his range of activity.
However, the noteworthy places in Yae Village were only Yae Shrine and the tenshu. There really wasn't anything else worth paying attention to.
Moreover, Shun basically wouldn't get lost in this area. Come on, this place was more familiar than his own home. He used to race cars in Yae Village all the time.
Even though the game map and reality were definitely different, the main landmark buildings and main roads that existed in the game were all here. Shun had quietly observed them when entering the village.
However… Shun looked at Yae Rin's tombstone. Unlike Theresa being alone in the Return to the Past chapter, this time, perhaps because both Shun and Theresa were here, the ghost Yae Rin did not choose to appear.
Mm, they could talk about it later. Otherwise, even if Shun called out many times, if the other party kept playing dead and refused to come out and say a word, there would be no response.
After a while, Yae Sakura brought over two sets of bedding. There were no beds in ancient Far East, so it seemed both of them would be sleeping on tatami.
"You two, it's getting late. Shall I prepare dinner for you?" Looking at the skyline already dyed golden by the setting sun, Yae Sakura suggested.
Before long, Yae Sakura brought several rice balls larger than a human head for them. Clearly, the size of these rice balls was not for ordinary people. It seemed she still retained the habit of making rice balls for Kallen back then.
"Wow… such big rice balls!" Theresa looked at the rice ball and impatiently took a big bite. Shun was about to remind Theresa to be more careful, but seeing how happily she was eating, he simply sighed.
Since Theresa was fine after eating it in the plot, it probably shouldn't be a problem, right? Although the plot couldn't be completely trusted, reasonable inferences could still be made based on it.
Thinking this, Shun also started eating. After all, he was just an ordinary person right now. If he didn't even replenish basic carbohydrates, what was he thinking about fighting the boss?
At least eating his fill would give him strength. Moreover, the ingredients in Yae Sakura's rice balls included salt. This was not something ordinary people could eat in ancient times. Only Yae Sakura, as a miko supported by an entire village, could afford it.
After dinner, a feeling of fullness rose in their stomachs. Shun also felt much more at ease. It seemed this dinner was indeed fine.
"Then, Shun, I'll go gather intelligence." Right after eating, Theresa proactively stood up and said.
"Mm, don't worry. I'll be nearby. If anything's wrong, I can rush over immediately." The sky hadn't completely darkened yet, and lanterns were lit in the shrine. Shun's combat power wouldn't drop for the time being.
Theresa found Yae Sakura sitting quietly in the main hall. Although the other party was a miko, she seemed to have done almost no acts of worshiping the gods besides cleaning every day.
"Big Sister Yae, I have some questions I'd like to ask you." Theresa began using the appearance advantage of this body. After all, she looked only about twelve years old.
Of course, even so, getting engaged or even married at this age in ancient times was perfectly normal. At most, it was just a bit early.
Seeing that it was Theresa who came, Yae Sakura also showed a kind smile and displayed her best side to this girl who resembled Kallen.
"What's wrong, Theresa? Is there anything about the shrine that you're not used to?" Yae Sakura asked with concern.
"No, no. I'm just a bit bored and wanted to chat with Big Sister." What Theresa said wasn't wrong. While Shun planned to hold everything until the two of them could talk secretly at night, she could only chat with Yae Sakura for now.
After all, there were no entertainment options in ancient times. Forget games—there weren't even Houmu comics. How was a heavy ACGN addict like Theresa supposed to live?
Moreover, even if she wanted the only form of evening entertainment in ancient times, the other party wouldn't give her the chance at all!
Damn it, I was clearly here first! It's all Grandpa's fault for washing away my memories back then!
"Sure. What does little Theresa want to talk about?"
Theresa naturally wouldn't be so naive as to ask about the tombstone under the cherry blossom tree right away. Instead, she first praised how beautiful the cherry blossoms near Yae Village were.
Then she made up stories about her and Shun's travels in the Far East, though they were taken from the Far East chapter of Houmu's Great Adventure.
After listening, Yae Sakura sighed with emotion: "Little Theresa, you really like your fiancé."
Hearing Yae Sakura's words, Theresa was momentarily stunned. After reacting a while later, her face reddened and she stammered for a long time before nodding.
What use was it that she liked him? She had given herself the identity of fiancée, and while the concubine had feelings, the lord had none. She could only fantasize about it.
Yae Sakura looked at Theresa's blushing, shy appearance and for a moment recalled herself and Kallen. Her gaze became much gentler.
"By the way, Big Sister Yae, I saw a tombstone under the largest cherry blossom tree in the shrine. The person buried there must be very important to Big Sister Yae, right?"
Theresa quickly and naturally changed the subject, making it seamless. It was completely the flustered reaction of a girl in love whose feelings had been exposed, hastily diverting the topic.
"Tombstone…" Hearing Theresa's question, Yae Sakura's eyes dimmed considerably. Buried there was her younger sister—the sister she had killed with her own hands…
"Sorry, Theresa. I don't really want to talk about this topic. Let's leave it at that for today, okay?" Seeing that Yae Sakura's state was clearly starting to go wrong, Theresa quickly nodded.
"Then I'll go back to rest. Big Sister Yae, remember to sleep early too." After bidding farewell, Theresa turned and hurriedly trotted back without looking back.
The large main hall of the shrine was once again left with only Yae Sakura. "Rin…" She murmured her sister's name, her eyes full of sorrow.