Nana: A member of the Mercury Race working in Village Five. A spy for Village Five. Hii: A member of the Mercury Race working in Village Five. The core of Village Five’s military. Roku: A member of the Mercury Race working in Village Five. A Civil Official of Village Five. Futa: A member of the Mercury Race who managed the Teleportation Gates. Miyo: A member of the Mercury Race working in Shashato City.
Hello. My name was Nana. Nana Fougma. I was a member of the Mercury Race, created for the purpose of managing the Sun Castle. At that time, I worked in Village Five. As for my job description... I could only say that I handled a variety of tasks. In short, I was a fixer. Specifically, for the darker side of things.
I made it a point to regularly visit the Village of the Great Tree. This was a calculated effort to ensure the Village Head did not forget me. To be clear, it was not born of romantic feelings or anything of that nature. It was simply a necessary effort to maintain my presence. I did not possess what one would call a striking face, and I took great care to dress as an ordinary village girl. Consequently, I was quite difficult to remember. I was well aware of this fact. Even in Village Five, people I had worked with for years would occasionally greet me as if we were meeting for the first time. Can you imagine how I felt when Lady Yoko, having witnessed such an occurrence, suggested I wear a name tag? I did not wear it because it would have hindered my work, but I did carry it with me while I performed my duties for several days afterward.
Then there was the Village Head. The Village Head remembered me properly. As expected of him. ... If that was the case, why did I feel the need to show my face so frequently? I did not wish to be suspicious, but it troubled me that Lady Yoko was always by his side whenever the Village Head met with me. Furthermore, whenever the Village Head looked at me, he would cast a beseeching gaze toward Lady Yoko, as if pleading for assistance. Whenever that happened, Lady Yoko would whisper something into the Village Head's ear. I did not know what she said, but it weighed on my mind. Yes, it weighed heavily. I trusted the Village Head, and yet, it still weighed on my mind. I will say it once more. It weighed on my mind.
Oops, it seemed my expression had become quite frightening. One of the High Ogre Maids cautioned me. I offered my apologies.
Pulling myself together, I intended to greet the Village Head with energy, but... he was nowhere to be found. Moreover, I wondered what had happened to all the Dwarfs who were slumped over in various spots throughout the mansion. Had they realized the possibility that the sake consumed in movies might not actually be sake? Well, considering the logistics of filming, that was only natural, was it not? Performers could hardly be expected to do their jobs if they were genuinely intoxicated. For the time being, I was told there was no need to worry about them, so I set out to find the Village Head.
On a table in the center of a large room sat a Five-tiered Large Cake. The Fairy Queen and the village children were dancing chaotically around the table. I wondered what that was about. Guronde informed me that it was a "dance of joy" dedicated to the Five-tiered Large Cake. I thanked her for the explanation.
Then there was Ol, the Orthrus. I truly wished he would remember me soon. It wounded my heart to be barked at as a suspicious intruder every single time we crossed paths.
Guronde did not know the Village Head's current location. However, she did mention that the Village Head, having found himself with too much leisure time, was the one who had prepared that five-tiered cake. I see. So the Village Head was at a loose end. In that case...
I headed toward the workshop inside the mansion. I predicted that he might be inventing something peculiar with the Mountain Elves. Unfortunately, only the Mountain Elves were there. However, they did know where the Village Head was. That was a help.
By the way, I asked if they were currently manufacturing Magic-powered Barikans. They were quite a hit in Village Five. I informed them that a bulk order would likely arrive soon and told them I looked forward to their hard work. Oddly enough, I expected them to be pleased, but they only made exhausted faces. I wondered why. Ah, they said they didn't particularly enjoy mass-producing the same item. I understood their sentiment, but I encouraged them to persevere until the Village Five orders were filled. I even offered to place the order right then and there using my authority. I suggested a preliminary batch of five hundred units. I wasn't joking. An order of that magnitude would certainly be coming their way. I told them to do their best.
I left the workshop, ignoring the screams of the Mountain Elves. According to their information, the Village Head was making something near the High Elves' houses. I wondered what it could be. As I made my way toward him, I offered greetings to Kuro's Children and Zabuton's Children.
... I discovered the Village Head. He was busy weaving grass alongside the High Elves. When I tried to approach, the High Elves brandished their weapons and blocked my path. Not again. It was me. Nana. Nana Fougma. I was glad they seemed to recognize me eventually. However, I really wished they would remember me once and for all. They told me that was impossible. How terrifying. To speak such wounding words so nonchalantly... As expected of the High Elves. I decided I would report this to the Village Head.
They claimed it was my fault for being unmemorable? To refuse to admit their own fault and shift the blame onto me instead... As expected of the High Elves. I would report this to the Village Head and ask him to give them a stern warning.
"Village Head, the High Elves are being so mean to me!"
The Village Head took the High Elves' side. How cruel. Wait. Did the Village Head also believe it was my fault? I was well aware that I was plain, but I was doing my best to rectify that... That wasn't it? Then, what did he mean? ... Yes, it was true that I usually wore skirts, whereas today I was wearing trousers. They were easier to move in. Lately, I had been assigned many tasks that involved running and jumping. I had even changed my hairstyle to complement the trousers, but... Could it be that he was unable to identify me because of those changes? No, calling this a disguise was going a bit far. It was merely fashion. I hadn't changed my gait, my scent, or my heart rhythm, had I?
He suggested that changing my heart rhythm was excessive. That wasn't true at all. Identifying or being identified by one's heart rhythm in a normal state was standard practice everywhere. Yes. It was no lie. We even used it as a counter-intelligence measure to catch spies infiltrating Village Five. The method to change it? It changed simply by maintaining a state of tension. Once one grew accustomed to it, it could be controlled at will. Ah, I asked him not to teach the children. It was dangerous, after all.
The conversation had strayed. I was shocked to think he couldn't tell it was me just because of my fashion choices. Come to think of it, whenever I met the Village Head in Village Five, I always dressed up specifically for him. Hmm. I reflected on this. From then on, I decided I would try to maintain the same clothing and hairstyle as much as possible.
Regardless, to ensure the Village Head remembered me, I decided to join him in his work. I asked what he was making. Armor? Out of grass? He explained that if one applied a liquid made by boiling down animal bones and hides, it would become quite hard, resulting in Lightweight Armor. I see. I asked if I could try making some as well. He gave me his permission.
A few days later. In an attempt to demonstrate what a true disguise was, I went to the Village of the Great Tree in a serious disguise. The moment I emerged from the Teleportation Gate, I was apprehended by Arako, the Arachne.
So, that was how it worked.
High Ogre Maid: "That walking style... it's Nana, isn't it?" Guronde: "I can tell by the specific shape of her magic power." Ol: "An unfamiliar face! Stay away from Mother!" Mountain Elves: "Is that someone from Village Five?" Zabuton's Children: "We can tell by the presence." Kuro's Children: "We can tell by the scent." High Elves: "Don't approach the Village Head in a disguise!" Village Head: "As I thought, if you're in a disguise, I really can't tell."
Nana: "It was not a disguise! It was just fashion!"
Yoko: "No, anyone can tell just by looking, can't they?"
Nana: "As expected of Lady Yoko!"
Hii: "My shadow is even thinner than Nana's, so I wonder if I'm even remembered." Roku: "I also... have no screen time..." Futa: "Even though I made my appearance at the same time as Miyo... ugh." Miyo: "I'd happily swap places with you if you'd like." (While staring at a mountain of paperwork)
Ol the dog surprisingly judged things more by appearance than by scent. The liquid made by boiling down animal bones and hides was Hide Glue.