[Part 5/5]
Being pointed out like that, it took me a moment of silence before I could answer. I couldn't keep my promise. I'm just fulfilling my duty.
"I see. Out of duty."
In response to my answer, Kuchinasi briefly puffs on his smoking pipe, looking down. One puff. Then he looks at me.
"...Hisame is the newest among the subordinates I've led. With that personality, don't expect too much from direct combat. But on the other hand, she's relatively skilled at reconnaissance. Don't forget that when you decide to utilize her."
"Kuchinasi, Squad Leader..."
To this sudden explanation, I unintentionally address him as "Squad Leader." Kuchinasi takes on a mocking attitude, as if mocking me again, yet also helping me to some extent.
"Given your lowly position, you might be able to reach Squad Leader eventually. If things go well with this mission, maybe even more? ...In any case, when you're in a position to lead, you must consider individual abilities and personalities. That's only natural, right?"
"That's true, but... doesn't Hisame have a mind of her own?"
"She was likely to die early on compared to the others. With that insatiable appetite for candies, she probably used up her first paycheck."
Kuchinasi's conjecture is probably correct. Even if she had sales on discounted items, it was certain that she had practically used up his servant's meager wage. While basic necessities like clothing and food were guaranteed, after all...
"He'd probably be a burden to other teams. If I was still active, I would have taken care of her until she became competent... But then, it's a good chance. You've established a connection, so it's your responsibility to look after her."
"Seriously...?"
"It's payment for the information. I take pride in offering valuable information, you know?"
Internally sighing at the annoying development, I couldn't escape from the dilemma. I didn't have many cards to play. Well, I will note here that the information I was given wasn't completely worthless. Thank you very much, you damn swine.
When I returned to the Onitsuki main residence with Hisame, the sun had already set. Crows were cawing in the evening sky without reservation.
That's right, it's the time of dusk. The end of the day was approaching.
"Is this as far as I go?"
Parting ways with Hisame, I gazed up at the crimson sky and murmured. While he had been showing up here and there throughout the day, it wouldn't be proper to continue doing so at night. Even though I might be suspected for moving around so much, especially since I'd been practically all over the place... but I didn't need to encourage that. Besides, I still had to make dinner for Yun-shoku.
"...Should I go home?"
There is no endless night. The sun will rise again. I've done what I needed to do today. The remaining work can wait until tomorrow. Convincing myself of my inner restlessness and complicated feelings, I turn on my heel towards Yun-shoku's hut. I didn't want to see the pitiful sight of my foolish and hungry master...
"Oh my, then why don't you accompany me from now on?"
A cheeky, childish voice calls out to me from behind.
"Huh?"
As I turn around, the young figure closes in on me almost simultaneously, or rather, it was a bit faster. I catch a glimpse of beast-like eyes. Something seems to be coming at me as if pulling me in.
"...!!?"
Based on my training and experience so far, my body instinctively draws the dagger (tantō) from my waist. I hold the dagger ready to fend off whatever's coming. The dagger bends like a candy sculpture. As expected.
The split-second gained through contact with the dagger. Simultaneously, a shockwave from my arm propels me backward. If the attack had hit me directly, my skull might have been crushed. It was a smart move to strengthen my grip on the dagger by channeling spiritual energy into my arm. It wasn't something I thought of in the heat of the moment. It's a technique Yun-shoku had taught me to deal with attacks that can't be fully blocked or avoided.
"Oops!?"
I manage to counter the shockwaves as I repeatedly leap backward. At the same time, as a distraction, I twist the dagger in the direction where the opponent is likely to be and throw it. These actions are again almost thoughtless reflexes. Unless I internalize these movements thoroughly, quick responses like these would be extremely difficult.
...The problem is whether these minimal efforts will be enough.
"Behind me!?"
A momentary flicker of a shadow. Without thinking about the target, I deliver a backhand strike. I had no time to think or room to be impolite. I was sure that even a slight delay in reaction could lead to death.
"Oh my, you're surprisingly skilled, aren't you?"
"Seriously...!!?"
A mocking and slightly impressed thought. Simultaneously, I'm shocked by the voice from 'behind' and let out a scream. It was a strike with the elbow. A light elbow strike hits my side.
The impact was beyond what could be described as 'light,' shaking my internal organs.
(Gah!? I sensed the presence and immediately twisted my body to deliver a backhand punch... so why did it come from behind!?)
Trembling with pain, I manage to suppress the urge to vomit gastric fluid and summon all my willpower to retreat backward while ensuring I don't lose consciousness.
"Oh, you're still moving? Persistent."
A mocking chuckle. The figure swinging remains. I concentrate fully. I infuse spiritual energy into my joints. I'm conscious of shifting my center of gravity, using the principle of leverage and centrifugal force to avoid the onslaught as minimally as possible. Once, twice, thrice...!!?
"Come on, evade...!!?"
As I avoid the third strike, confident that I succeeded, it's already over. It was a feint. I reacted to the momentary pause on the third strike. The gap is exploited. The third hand chop comes as anticipated. Having strained my body considerably to dodge, there's no next move. I'm cornered.
"...Hehe"
"!!?"
Just before I'm hit by that blow, I finally recognize the appearance of my opponent. The countenance of an approaching young girl. She was smiling. Mocking. And I was certain. Everything was within the anticipated scenario. She held back. She guided me. It was all in the palm of her hand...
"Gah...!!?"
My consciousness momentarily blanks out, and when it returns, my vision is spinning endlessly, rolling and rolling without limit. It dawns on me in an instant that I had been spectacularly blown away like in a comic action scene. At the same time, I crash into the hedge, smash through it, and continue beyond.
"Uooh!!?"
"W-What the...!!?"
The rising screams belong to the laborers. The duo of laborers who were chatting on the other side of the hedge are dumbfounded at the sudden appearance of me, the intruder, and they stand still for a few seconds, not understanding the situation.
"Servant? Why on earth is someone like you... Wait, could it be that you're the shameless one...!!?"
They're bewildered by the sudden turn of events, flustered, confused, and even though they don't really comprehend who the newcomer is, one of them finally notices and openly displays hostility.
I didn't pay the slightest attention to that. I didn't have the time to care. There was no time to spare. I certainly couldn't afford that kind of leisure, especially not in front of that little girl.
"Dammit...!!?"
Driven by survival instinct, I completely ignore the words being spoken beside me and immediately force my upper body to rise. I look up ahead. I freeze. I am convinced of 'death.'
There was the young girl. The same young girl from earlier. She had that endless sadistic smile, like a wolf that had caught a newborn fawn.
The curses that were echoing by my side had stopped. If I just shift my gaze slightly, I can see two laborers, almost prostrating themselves, bowing down to the ground.
"Quite distracted, aren't you? Looking away again?"
"Gu...!!?"
With a slicing sound, the mask I was wearing is sent flying off in the opposite direction. I hastily feign indifference. Cold sweat drips incessantly from my forehead, and in a sense, with a bare face, I face her.
"Just a lowly servant, running around the estate and daring to utter impudent words, huh?"
The words she spun were childlike and cute, sweet and insolent. Before I realize it, I feel a cold sensation at my throat. The finely spread fan was placed there, just barely not touching.
...What I saw in a flash, like a slideshow, was a screenshot from a game. The words that flashed through my mind were 'neck spanking' and 'necklace.'
"Hey. Don't you think it's a bit rude of you, ditch rat, to want to give up the honor of serving and prostrating yourself by my side when you're no better than a pebble on the side of the road?"
The second princess of the Onitsuki family tilted her head in a feigned manner, arrogant and haughty, seeking my approval with an air of superiority...
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