"It is still lonely when you leave the Tower." As I helped ready the ward around the Shrine before our leave, Shiri described the situation in the village. On our Mission, in the search of outside information about the Human god, we ventured into the distant mountains of the Northern Region, where we found dilapidated houses and fields. One of these is a home rented as a permanent accommodation during our stay, and it has accumulated a lot of dust, as it would have been a while since the original residents left. The further you go into the countryside, the more people abandon overrun land. Baroque migrate to the Tower to avoid the threat of Monsters that are flooding in from the wilds. Monsters take over the residences in the abandoned exclaves, and those who remain are either consumed or, when overwhelmed with hopelessness, transformed into Monsters themselves. That is how the Human god expands its power. Life is never easier when you just move someplace else. The basic livelihood has been lost, and without a reliable Guide, the only place you can end up is a poor one. Writhing in malice and violence, in the end, remnants of fallen lands are preyed upon wherever they flee. That's the reality. "But, hey, a lot of women are dressed up. Are they having some kind of Festival?" Intrigued by the words, I put aside my thoughts and stop helping to look toward the village. Even from such a far distance, I could see the cheery villagers. Many young women have floral decorations on their heads, and when a man stops them, they exchange a few words before leaving. "Kurori, it would be a good idea to walk around the village to gather information before our next departure." ..... "Yoromichi" [1/8] #baroco連合軍