A sudden summer rain was pouring down on the mountain.

The sky, which had been clear until just a moment ago, had turned dark, and cold raindrops were soaking the mountain along with the wind. I hurriedly gathered the sheep into a safe place and was waiting by the small hut for the rain to pass.

It is common for the weather to change so suddenly in the mountains. Since I have lived here for a long time, I am used to the rain and wind, but today, for some reason, it felt different than usual.

Right then, I heard the sound of unfamiliar footsteps through the sound of the rain.

I raised my head and looked toward the mountain path, and soon I discovered a person standing in the rain.

...Lady Guest?

It was the daughter of the ranch owner.

She is someone I would almost never encounter up on this high mountain under normal circumstances. A person who felt like she belonged to a completely different world from mine was standing here in the rainy mountains today.

You must have been very surprised. How did you come all the way here?

The lady said she had come up the mountain at her father's request to help with the ranch work. However, it seems she encountered the sudden rain on her way back and could no longer head down.

Because of that, the hem of her dress was soaked with rainwater, and she looked a bit exhausted, perhaps from walking the long mountain path. I soon pointed toward the hut and spoke quietly.

First, please come inside. I think it would be best to rest here until the rain stops.

On this mountain, which was always filled only with the bleating of sheep and the sound of the wind, another person's voice was lingering for the first time today.

I thought that Lady Guest would only be staying for a short while. That she was someone who would return to her own world once the sun rose...