[Part 1/4]
"Dieeee!! Expose themmm!!"
It was a scream that sounded more like a furious shout from the woman. Along with her scream, a broadaxe swung.
'Ssshh...!!'
Dodging the attack of an approaching tongue by a hair's breadth with her dynamic vision, the face of the startled 'Akaname' floated in the air with a sound that seemed like it would frown immediately afterward.
"And therrreee!!"
'Jaa?!'
Continuing to roar, she rotated with centrifugal force and crushed the skull of the other 'Akaname' approaching from behind, kicking it up and pushing it out through the window they had unlawfully entered.
"That should end it, right...!?"
With that shout, the room was finally freed from its commotion and enveloped in a heavy silence. For a moment, only the rough sound of breathing continued to echo.
"Haah, haah, haah... damn, did I get grazed a bit?"
The wolf-woman who had dealt with all the creatures that had leaped in through the inn's window caught her breath, somewhat recuperating from her breathlessness. She let out a significant sigh when she noticed the pain and discomfort.
She glanced down at her shoulder. A flash of the 'Akaname' creature's claw that had barely grazed her skin. If she touched the wound, her palm would be stained with fresh red blood...
"B-Big Sis...!?"
"I-Iruka-sama?! Are you okay...!?"
In response to the calls from Magoroku, who had drawn his Wakizashi at the back of the room, and Mari, who had collapsed behind him, Iruka shrugged her shoulders. She shrugged and then spoke up.
"Ha! Of course. Do you think I'd fall behind these small fry!?"
Iruka's declaration was made as she stepped on the motionless corpses, which was a silent affirmation of her words.
"That's a relief. Really..."
"I'll attend to your wounds. Please wait a moment."
Mari was truly relieved that Iruka's words were sincere. Magoroku immediately fetched a medical kit and began tending to Iruka's injuries.
"It's just a scrape. If I spit on it... ow ow ow!?"
As Iruka tried to refuse Magoroku's treatment with an annoyed expression, she suddenly yelped as a mixture of warm water and strong alcohol for disinfection was applied to the wound.
"It would be trouble if it got infected. These creatures... they look like moving corpses, don't they? We have to be careful."
In a hushed voice that Mari wouldn't overhear, Magoroku muttered. Iruka glanced once again at the corpses of the slain 'Akaname' creatures. She sighed and gave in. While her half-youkai body was more resilient to infections than a human's, it wouldn't hurt to accept the care. There was no harm in it.
"Well, if we're disinfecting, I wish I could have a drink."
"Hahaha, the taste wouldn't be good for drinking purposes..."
Magoroku chuckled at Iruka's remark that didn't quite sound like a joke. He finished wrapping the bandages. After checking Iruka's condition, she expressed her gratitude.
"But seriously..."
After glancing outside the window, Iruka looked back on the situation that had led them here. It had been a sudden event. Presumably, they had come through the underground sewers or some other route. Creatures had attacked the inn and the entire area of the city.
There had been some commotion in the baths in the lower city not too long ago, and it seemed that the army stationed there had gathered, delaying the initial response. No, the initial response had indeed been delayed. The army's initial response had been late.
The exorcists who were staying in the capital for Joraku had responded swiftly. The three great youkai that had appeared disappeared in an instant without accomplishing anything. The smaller families also descended to the city, centering their efforts on eliminating the 'Akaname' and its minions. They had worked efficiently.
(It's irritating that no one checked on these rooms.)
It wasn't just Magoroku and his group, but the protection of the humans staying at the inn had prioritized the influential figures. It was true that even though Magoroku and the others weren't the only ones, the protection of the humans staying at the inn had indeed favored the higher-ups. Still, it wouldn't hurt for someone like a servant or the Hidden Group to check in on them...
(Things would have been dangerous if I hadn't come...)
When Lady Onitsuki ordered her to deal with her husband and stay behind, Iruka had felt a sense of resentment... but in the end, could it be said that her injury had been a blessing in disguise?
"What are those gloomy couple thinking...?"
...
...
...
"Truly, what could they be thinking? That couple."
As if unaware of the commotion outside, the honey-colored young girl whispered and sipped from her teacup. After taking a sip of the tea, she let out a small sigh.
"Is there anything that comes to mind?"
She smiled at the guest in front of her, her deep green eyes gazing at the black butterfly lady as she posed the question.
"I'm embarrassed to say. It's unfortunate to reveal our incompetence, but there really isn't any noteworthy information."
"That's a shame."
The Advisor of the Onitsuki family, who held a teacup in front of her as well, shook her head. The Tachibana family's young lady responded with a friendly smile. However, the expression on a merchant's face was as untrustworthy as a youkai's. Who knows what she might be thinking... She could even be insulting their current allies behind their backs.
In one of the rooms of one of the most prestigious inns in Shiromoku-kan city, Tachibana Kayo was engaged in a tea gathering. There was only one participant: Onitsuki family's Advisor, Onitsuki Kochou, the wife of the former head of the Onitsuki family. It was called a social gathering. It wasn't entirely wrong, but it certainly had some negative implications.
"It's also troublesome. There are unwelcome intruders causing a disturbance in this important matter, it seems?"
"Indeed, while there were suspicious activities in the city, I never expected it to escalate to this extent."
Ruffians suddenly appearing and wreaking havoc in the city. Even the turmoil in the baths of the lower city would have been a significant issue on its own, but they had gone to such lengths.
"Absolutely, it's really troublesome!"
In a somewhat deliberate childish manner, Kayo complained with a pout. However, considering the overall situation in Shiromoku-kan city, it seemed that she lacked a sense of crisis more than anything. No, in reality, the problem they, as a group, were facing had a slight or significant difference from what many might have imagined.
"It's such a waste that the Second Princess is absent!! It's like all the talks we had until now have been put on hold just to see the situation!"
The meeting of these two women was inevitable, considering the absence of their mutual ally and de facto leader, the sakura-haired princess. To plan for the future in her absence required them to meet in secret.
Kure-etsu Doukyou... A case of coexisting but not quite overlapping interests... three allies who helped each other when necessary, but seized each other's gains at any chance. What a delightful friendship it was.
...The problem lay with him and the changes in the princess.
"I wanted to ask him about his true intentions..."
The head of the family and his wife conspired to dissolve the relationship between the two. It was unclear what had happened to him and the Second Princess as a result. One could only speculate about the changes in their emotions. However, once a strain appeared, it seemed unlikely that things would return to the way they were before. The question was whether this would be for the better or worse...
"Thinking about it again, isn't it reckless? Just making contact would be difficult enough. And in this tense situation... can we really expect a peaceful conclusion to the conversation?"
"That girl has a childish arrogance about her. I can't believe she really thinks she can get away with leaving this situation..."
Kochou recalled a scene from the previous day. The incident involving the young lady of Hotoya. There had been more to Sumire's words than just a simple punishment. Had she anticipated Aoi's decision from the start? Was she trying to undermine her plans?
"A trap... was everything planned from the beginning?"
"I doubt it. They probably just took advantage of an opportunity that presented itself. The situation itself is likely the doing of someone elsewhere."
Immediately after those words, a distant roar of agony echoed. The thunderous sound of something massive collapsing reverberated through the room.
"...Was that an ally?"
"No need to worry. Lord Miyataka simply exterminated a youkai."
In response to Kayo's question, Kochou smiled alluringly and triumphantly. Unlike Aoi, who had answered with utmost sincerity, Kochou was still operating her surveillance network secretly throughout the city. Through that network, she had some level of awareness of the situation outside.
For example, they knew which room the wolf-woman had jumped into to assist, as well as the circumstances of the three-person search party led by Tamaki. The former was a situation where they no longer needed to intervene, and the latter was currently under control, with their secret weapon being held in reserve. It would be more likely to provoke resistance than to earn gratitude to meddle in unnecessary situations. For now, there were no plans to intervene...
"...Where is Tomobe-san?"
Upon Kayo's prompt, Kochou remained silent with her smile still in place.
"...If he hasn't been caught by my reconnaissance at all, he probably has layered suitable curse-tools."
The graceful voice responded smoothly, as usual. ...Though her inner thoughts were far from calm.
(That question just now, did it have a hint of sarcasm?)
In Nanban's terms, one might say she came to "assert dominance." Kayo had always been the treasurer among the trio alliance. She knew it herself and had no complaints. In fact, she managed her role without excess or deficiency, fully understanding it.
(So, this is about pressure. While I am fulfilling my role, you're over there... Is that what this is about? Wearing that innocent expression so convincingly...)
If it came to rough actions, Kochou thought she might stab her in the back at any opportunity. Their gazes met, and the young lady smiled sweetly. Kochou returned it with her full-powered smile. At this point, she wouldn't lose in such a playful encounter.
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