Truth of the Straw Dummy?

Hey! Yeah, you, bro!

Huh?

Hey, hey! So you're not from around here, are you?

Nope. I ended up in Zami while on my travels.

I thought so! Umm... I have a favor to ask you. Will you hear me out?

A favor?

Yeah... The truth is I saw something recently.

Late at night, a straw dummy set out from in front of my house.

Umm... And you find that surprising somehow?

How can you say that?! Of course it's surprising!

I see... I'm kinda used to it cause of Straw Boy and Yukino, but I guess most people would be surprised.

I see... I'm kinda used to it cause of Straw Boy, but I guess most people would be surprised.

What was that?

Oh, nothing! Nothing at all!

Hmm. Well, whatever.

I just want to find out what that thing was!

A straw dummy? Is that even possible?

Surprising, right?! I want to find out what it was!

I noticed it, because I was unable to sleep that night. It's totally possible it's out there on nights I'm able to sleep soundly as well...

If you're that worried, why not look into it yourself?

Of course, I tried pretending to sleep and going after it myself...

But... I keep getting exhausted along the way. Even when I ask the adults, they merely laugh it off as a dream and won't listen to me.

So, please help! You're the only one I can ask!

Okay, fine. In that case, I'll look into it.

For real?! Thanks a ton! I just knew you'd take this on for me!

I mean, you must have all the time in the world if you came to this remote place!

You ask for my help, because I seem available?

So, why does the straw dummy move while everyone's asleep? It'd be nice if there was a place where I could wait until then...

In that case, you should rest at my home! I'll head back first to prepare! Come by when you're ready!

A straw dummy... If it's really moving around at night, what in the world could it be up to?

Welcome! I see you made it here okay!

Well, I did promise, after all. And besides...

Oh I know, bro. You've got nothing better to do!

No, no matter how it may look, I can assure you it's not that.

But I'm just as curious as you are about what the straw dummy is doing in the middle of the night. That's why I'm going to get started immediately.

All right! Then just rest and wait here until nighttime!

Everyone should be fast asleep by now... But the straw dummy hasn't even flinched.

And even if it did manage to break away from the plant pot, where would it go?

......

......

Hmm... I'm starting to get a little sleepy...

*yawn*

Hmm? Huh?

The straw dummy is gone?!

N-No way! I only took my eyes of it for a moment, and it's gone!

Where could it have gone?

What?! So you have no idea what happened to the straw dummy?!

Yeah, I'm sorry. I tried my best to chase it down after that, and yet... There wasn't a single trace of it to be found.

When I returned to your house, I found that the straw dummy had also returned, too...

Then... Could it be...?

Huh? Do you have an idea?

Could it be... That you were asleep on the job?!

What?!

Aren't you the one who said the straw dummy was moving in the first place?!

Ugh, you have a point. And I'm hardly the type who falls asleep easily...

......

But you're right... No matter how hard either of us seem to try, we just can't seem to stay awake.

N-No, I wasn't asleep at all...

Oh, you weren't? But you did say it vanished when your eyes were closed, right?

But I only shut them for a second!

Oh, I see. Then how come it's already morning if it was only for a second!

Ugh... If you put it that way...

This is troubling, though. If you can't even do it, what am I supposed to do...

I'll give it another try. I can't just leave this mystery unsolved. It'd bother me to no end if I did.

Okay, but... Won't you just fall asleep again?

I'll be far more careful not to close my eyes this time. So please count on me just one more time!

All right! I'll leave you to it! I'll be waiting right here, so come and talk to me when you're ready!

You're back! Now you can solve the mystery of the straw dummy once and for all!

Yeah, I've got a plan this time. Just sit back and wait for it!

All right, it looks like everyone is asleep.

Then it's time to use this for the first time in a while. Feinne created this to prevent Baruoki guards from falling asleep at night. Blazing Broth Deluxe!

The flavor is a bit strange, but it's a proven winner!

Ugh... Man, that's bitter!

All right! Now, I'm sure to stay wide awake.

......

......

It's...not working?! So strange... Sleepy...again...

Ugh... Drat!

The straw dummy is gone again!

It's not every day that someone gets sleepy on Blazing Broth! But then again...

I've got another trick up my sleeve!

All right! There's wheat on the ground! Thinking this might happen, I put a hole in the straw dummy and attached a bag of wheat to it!

It's going just as I planned!

If I follow this trail, it's sure to lead me to the straw dummy. I've got you this time!

The path of wheat ends right around here. So where's the straw dummy?

Ah... There!

It's a straw dummy... And it's not alone!

Are they discussing something? But what? I'll try to get little bit closer...

Oh no! I'll be discovered...

Or maybe not. That's a relief...

Ngh!

The sea breeze stings my eyes...

Waaaaaagh!

Huh?!

Wh-What the...? Am I... Am I dreaming?

Good morning! Any word on the straw dummy?!

Umm... Well...

You seem unsure... You didn't fall asleep again, did you? I was really looking forward this...

S-Sorry... I tried my very best, but I couldn't stay awake.

Ugh... This is awful. It only makes matters worse... And my mother is mad about all the wheat and shell fragments in front of the house, too.

Wheat? Shell fragments?

Then... It wasn't a dream!

Huh?

I did follow the straw dummy yesterday after all! They were discussing something... They'd be in trouble if someone were to hear them talking outside at night!

In trouble how?!

I'll figure that out this next time! I remember exactly where the straw dummies gathered. I'll keep watch at the beach tonight!

Okay! Just be careful out there!

......

They're not coming... Could it be because I'm keeping an eye out for them?

They certainly don't want to be heard. If they've already talked, maybe they're laying low for a while.

It's also possible that they've changed locations or something like that... At any rate, it doesn't look like they'll show up here tonight.

Oh? That sound just now...

What was it? A cat?

Are you free by chance? I'm also killing time today... You don't happen to know anything about the straw dummies, do you?

Meeeow?

Haha... Of course, you don't. Sorry... Sorry...

Meowww?!

Huh? Did something spook that cat just now?

S-Something's here! Is it the straw dummies?!

Huh?! Monsters?! Here, of all places?!

Ngh... There's no time to think! I'll have to defeat them first!

Hahh... Hahh...

Urgh!

This is...!

Phew... Never thought I'd see monsters appear instead of the straw dummies...

My cheek was scratched. It's not serious, but still...

Ugh. I wonder if there's any chance that the straw dummies will show up tonight?

Huh? Wh-What? I think I heard something like a voice just now...

Y-Your friend?!

One of you?! What do you...?

Ngh... Getting sleepy again... Darn it all... I can't...keep...awake...

What's going on here?!

Wait, what? I'm back at the house?

Was that voice a dream? Or has everything I've seen so far been a dream? Umm, but from where did it come from?

Don't tell me. You slept like a baby again last night.

Ah! No, that's not it!

Ugh... No need to force the issue anymore, bro.

Face it. You're as bad at staying awake as I am, aren't you?

I'm sure that's not the case... It's just that...

(Why do I end up here every morning?)

What'll it be? If you can't stay awake, the straw dummy investigation is going to be a serious struggle, right? If you're giving up, I'll give up, t...

No... I'm going to look into it one last time!

What?! You still want to do it?!

I mean, it'd be frustrating to stop without learning anything whatsoever.

Yeah, but...

It's not the third time... The fourth time's the charm! This time, I'll solve the riddle for sure!

All right! I'll be awaiting here, so whenever you're ready...

Hold on a second.

You... You're the one who has been spending time with my son.

You're... You're this boy's father?!

Hehehe! He's going to solve the riddle of the straw dummies for me!

I see, I see... Thank you for doing so much for my boy. By the way, it appears that our chief has been wanting to see you.

Your chief?

Yes... Would you mind paying him a short visit?

All right. I'll head on over to his house.

So, what is it you wanted to discuss?

Hmm. Is it true that one of our children asked you to investigate the straw dummies?

You shouldn't pursue it too far. Or rather, you can't pursue it too far.

Huh?

Long ago... The truth was pursued in much the same way. It was pursued by a young person... The youth tried night after night to investigate them... But one night... He disappeared completely.

Disappeared?

The youth said he found it, pinned down their location at last. Said he'd solve it next time for sure... But that evening, he disappeared, never to return to this land again.

That's a true story. Surely, it'd be in the best interest of your personal safety to leave this land behind?

......

What?! You look like you've seen a ghost?!

Huh?

Hoho! I'm joking! I'm joking!

But if you take a child's dreams too seriously, you could easily end up on a wild goose chase forever!

Ha, haha! So, it was all a joke?!

But... You're right. If that's the case, I'll put the straw dummy investigation to rest. If anything, I've learned that I might be even more stubborn than that boy is.

Hoh, hoh, hoh! Nothing wrong with that.

Thank you, Chief. I'll be sure to tell the boy as well. Then, I'll happily be on my way.

Hmm. Take care.

Oh, that's right. Just one more thing...

Yeah?

This is completely unrelated, but can I ask you how you got that scratch on your cheek?

Oh, this... Huh? Where did I get this scratch again?

...... I apologize for keeping you. Be safe, traveler...

O-Okay...

I'm pleased to see you're all right...

At night, the straw dummies quietly leave their pots and get up to something. But because they don't move until everyone else is asleep, nobody's figured out what they're up to. Well, at any rate, I'll definitely solve the mystery eventually!

You checked the beach. Maybe the truth will come out this time? Good luck!

What did the chief have to say? Let me know when you know!

I was summoned by the chief after that, too. He said that the movement of the straw dummies was a dream... You saw it, too, didn't you? I can't accept what he said... But the chief said it in a scary way, so I'm not going to look into it any further.