[Part 6/6]
'(´・ω・`)? What happened?'
The name Kayo mentioned left me in a state of shock. It meant that my desperate struggle plan had been crushed from the very beginning. Well, stupid spider, why didn't you realize? How often do you not listen to people's conversations?
...Considering my own situation, the fact that the protagonist was undergoing a TS, and the deviations from the original work, I desperately pondered how to resolve the situation. One of the methods was equipment enhancement through unrelated sub-events to the main storyline.
As the name implies, the Yakujishiji family, originating from the lineage of pharmacists, is an exorcists family that has come up with and passed down the methods of many secret remedies, spirit medicines, and forbidden medicines. Some of the items obtainable in the story come from this family's legacy... even though it was severed about two hundred years ago.
The reason for the severance was undoubtedly due to the first head of the Omnyouji Bureau and the salvation youkai group, resulting in many secret recipes being lost. Isn't it too despicable to gradually and legally shut down the target business over a period of a hundred years?
The sub-event of cleaning the Yakujishiji's abandoned mansion is quite literal, also involving the extermination of a monster's den that had been left untouched for two hundred years. Eliminating spirits of the deceased (亡霊), youkai acting as guard dogs, and other entities or objects of uncertain origin, there's a reward waiting beyond them in the form of valuable secret remedies and spirit medicines. Or at least, there should be.
"...Speaking of the Yakujishiji, they were once a renowned family in the field of medicine. Were there various things left inside the mansion?"
"Yes. The exorcists we hired for cleaning seemed to have had trouble beyond their expectations. They entered with overly optimistic views, so they struggled more than expected. And there seems to have been a competition for the rewards, which resulted in the explosion of the medicine storage."
"Ah, I see."
'(＾ω＾) Beautiful's firework.'
With Kayo casually making a bombshell statement, my faint hopes were shattered like glass. Along with the foolish spider remark, I could easily imagine the situation back then. Rare items! Precious Twin Splitting Elixir!
"..."
"Um, Tomobe-san? Is something the matter?"
"No... it's nothing. Yes, I look forward to visiting the mansion."
"Meow?"
'(＾ω＾Ｕ) Woof!'
As I responded to Kayo's perplexed look, my expression under the mask was probably that of a nyan cat...
"...He seemed quite shaken. Is something wrong?"
Politely declining the repeated farewells, Tachibana Kayo, riding on the back of the invisible shiki, headed back to the carriage of the Second Princess, reflecting on her beloved's reaction. Based on the flow of their conversation, it was probably about the matter of the mansion... but she couldn't quite figure it out.
"Well, is it alright? Let's just consider it a success to achieve the main purpose."
The reasons why Tachibana Kayo, her beloved's significant other, took the time to contact him during this occasion numbered three. One was self-evident. The second was to ask the question requested by the Second Princess.
Though the ever-smiling white fox brat wasn't important, encountering the princess after such a long time, the princess was considerably worn out, exhausted, and emaciated. The people around her attributed it to political strife, but Kayo immediately discerned the true cause.
And with a sense of turmoil and concern, Kayo felt a slight disappointment in this princess.
No doubt the Second Princess had her own experiences in the past. But even so, it wasn't very pleasant to harbor even a shred of doubt about him. She had shed tears and given up her seat beside him, hoping he would be strong. Kayo's question was intended to dispel the princess's slight worries and fears.
"Hehe... As expected, within expectations."
After lightly brushing her palm against one cheek and seeing the expression it elicited, Kayo let out a smug chuckle. At the very least, it wasn't due to mere neglect that he distanced himself from the Second Princess. Just knowing that was a harvest beyond sufficient... though it was a story she had understood from the beginning.
"More importantly..."
Murmuring to herself, the girl narrowed her eyes slightly. And as she recalled the other purpose, she slid a letter she had retrieved into her palm. Whether a response would come or not was uncertain. She couldn't bear that responsibility. Kayo had fulfilled her role sufficiently.
"Well, wasting the investment would be a shame, right? I wouldn't want the relationship to turn sour if possible..."
Whispering, the palm that had been touching her cheek gently stroked down to her lips. Her red tongue lightly flicked the tip of her finger. Kayo wore a stern and cold expression on her face.
Considering it, should I switch to the first princess, who was gaining the upper hand? Kayo had also considered such a move, but she quickly dismissed the idea. She could tell from a distance. That emaciated woman with no substance had no generosity to share the spoils with others.
Was it because of the ignoble blood on her mother's side? She was incredibly narrow-minded. Exclusive. It would be difficult to get along with her. If she were to be ruled together, would she do it...? It was almost like a gamble. It wouldn't be wise to do something without certainty. Betrayal wasn't something that could be done multiple times.
"It's troublesome when possessiveness is strong, isn't it? I would even lick the soles of their shoes in exchange for scraps."
She muttered that with a deep sigh. She was tired of the stubborn heart of the First Princess.
...Well, fine. Bemoaning the situation wouldn't change anything. She should make the most of the current situation. In fact, she had obtained permission, secured the statement from the haggard Second Princess. That act, risking her own danger, was her primary reason and the price she paid.
"Hehehe..."
Recalling that she had achieved the first step of her third objective, Kayo unintentionally let out a smile. It was a bit nauseating, honestly. At least, the hondou shikigami, who carry her agreed, inwardly thought so. Of course, it was a story that didn't matter to Kayo one bit.
(I'm looking forward to it... Ah, really!! I'm so excited!)
Tachibana Kayo knew that she was a loser. She understood very well that she could never be the first, that she couldn't fulfill the role of the story's heroine. She had already given up on that position. And precisely because of that, there was joy to be gained. There was excitement. Kayo had learned that.
"I would be pleased if he likes it!"
The mansion Kayo purchased and rebuilt was indeed meant for hospitality. However, in reality, she only had one person in mind as an invited guest.
A mansion built for secret meetings, for affairs, for socializing, and entertaining. She had handpicked everything from building materials to furnishings, even down to the dishes. The diverse styles of the countless rooms ranged from simple rooms with a wabi-sabi aesthetic to gaudy nouveau riche taste. She had incorporated both Japanese and foreign styles, blending Eastern and Western elements. The selection of sake in the storehouse ranged from luxury items to cheap ones, catering to his mood. And the staff who worked there...
"It can be quite expensive when being picky, huh?"
From within and beyond the country, using every available means, from every possible class, and with every possible preference, she had gathered as much as possible. It would be good if she found them first. It was troublesome if they had already gone to intermediaries or wholesalers. How many times had she competed with brothel owners and aristocratic merchants? Although she managed to gather a considerable number of rare items, she had exceeded her initial budget.
"Either way, additional purchases will be necessary."
She needed to use them and dispose of them without a second thought. She had to let him know that replacements were readily available. She couldn't make him hesitate. There was no point in preparing the mansion if she didn't. Not only high-quality goods but also the maintenance costs of real estate were no small matter.
...Well, there's no helping it. The people of old used to say, 'The real test comes after you start giving.' If she followed those words, this level of spending was still manageable. Although the amount was eye-popping, she hadn't fallen into debt yet.
"...Ah, that kind of preference is good too."
Thinking that far, Kayo suddenly recalled her conversation with him earlier and fantasized about it. A new delusion, an imaginary scenario.
...Pretending to be the host and the customer, she would be deceived and poured Nanban sparkling wine into a glass tower like an idiot. She would be demanded an unaffordable price and cry, then she would be scolded and stripped of her attire and accessories. She would be collared, used like a possession by exclusive courtesans...dangerous, dangerous. She inadvertently got excited and went blank with arousal.
"Ahaha, I'm hopeless, even I can tell. I have no self-control. It's disgraceful. Truly disgraceful."
When she became aware of it, it was already too late. Kayo laughed unintentionally. Her underwear were in a state as if they had been submerged in a well. Literally soaking wet. She would have to secretly change them later. Imagining him while feeling this way in her mouth resulted in a completely different physical response. The body is truly honest.
To be honest, from the perspective of the shiki she carried, they wanted to get rid of her now and make her change her soaking wet underwear, but reality was heartless.
...In any case, Kayo was thoroughly enjoying this situation. Merchants were cunning. They adapted to any situation and sought maximum profit. In a sense, she might have been much more resilient and tough than her competitors, collaborators, and maybe even herself.
However, that was all there was to it.
"Kyaa!?"
"Oops, my apologies, young lady... I was in a hurry."
Suddenly, her shoulders brushed past each other, and the other person hurriedly apologized. It seemed they were genuinely in a rush. With just a brief apology, they quickly departed from the scene.
"Ugh, really, it's troublesome. With this hustle and bustle, people are swarming everywhere..."
As Kayo muttered her complaints while lightly patting the sleeve that had unintentionally hit her due to the other person's rudeness, she suddenly stopped.
"...Huh?"
Naturally yet peculiarly, Kayo turned around, her gaze searching the area behind her, trying to fixate on the figure of the person.
In the face of the overwhelming crowd, that presence was no longer visible anywhere...
Fanart:
Title: Aoi's fanart
URL: here
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