[Part 1/5]
"...What's wrong? Sit down quickly. Are you planning to continue talking while standing like this?"
"..."
Extending her hand towards me as if welcoming me, my master called out with a wry smile. The tense atmosphere filled the air. I remained silent. The princess I carry on my back clings tightly to me without saying a word. Only the crackling sound of the bonfire continues.
It was an extremely natural course of action. Considering the dire situations I have experienced up until this moment, it is not something that can be accepted easily.
"...Sigh. There are no enemies, right?"
And then... I accepted the proposal. There was no choice but to accept it, even though I understood the danger. Given my current state of injury, there is not even a one in a million chance that I could defeat my master. Moreover, the effects of anesthesia have greatly diminished, and my whole body is in severe pain. I don't have the stamina to continue standing like this. The problem is...
"Princess."
"...I understand. Let me sit next to you."
Aoi responds to my call. Additionally, the request to keep her within reach is likely a precaution for unforeseen circumstances.
"Now then. Although there are many things to discuss... first, let's have some tea. Do you want any?"
As Aoi and I sat down on the log opposite side of my master, with a bonfire between us, my master handed me a tea cup. Inside, tea was poured just as the words suggested. This aroma was from the premium tea leaves called "Sekkan". When I was a laborer, Fat-uemon taught me the basics of tea ceremony.
"...I shall accept."
"Tomobe!?"
"Please rest assured, princess. There is no poison. As a princess, you should understand, shouldn't you?"
I gently reassured Aoi, who was surprised by my action. I mean, Aoi could detect the presence of adulterants just by the steam rising. Besides, if my master could kill me, she could do so at any time. It's pointless to fear poison now. I made up my mind and took a sip from the tea cup.
"...It's delicious. I was surprised that my master could obtain such tea leaves. Did you embezzle funds?"
"No way. This was among the items prepared for this mission. ...It belongs to the boss."
"Isn't that embezzlement?"
We laughed awkwardly and sneered at each other. It tasted even better when I thought it belonged to that guy.
"How far did you get into this story?"
"...I feel bad for what I did to Manatsuru and the others." (T/N: Manatsuru: the temporary squad leader of the servants who accompany Aoi when harvesting spiritual herbs in chapter 140)
In other words, she was involved from the early stages.
"I see. And what about the people from the Yasunaga Institution?" (T/N: The village contains servants who are crippled.)
"It's a terrible story. They used medicine for treating limbs as a broth... Originally, the villagers had this aspect of being involved in dirty work. Stll, there should be a limit to how much they can be used as servants."
"..."
"...Is something wrong?"
"No, that's exactly right."
It seemed that she didn't know about the mask insects. I had no intention of bringing it up. It was a story that no one would benefit from.
Ignorance is bliss. There is happiness in not knowing...
"You don't seem happy."
"...Huh?"
"Those eyes. The look of satisfaction. You should stop. It hurts people's self-esteem."
It was a criticism I had never heard from my master before. I was momentarily stunned, and my master cleared her throat as if swallowing something... And then, she began to speak.
"...Honestly, I didn't expect you to come. Being assigned here is probably just a harassment towards myself. I was prepared to have your head thrown in front of me by the boss, but this is an unexpected turn of events."
"You didn't plan on helping, did you?"
"Do you think I can?"
Yun-shoku sneered, mocking herself. She laughed cruelly, terribly distorted.
"Boss must have said a lot of things, right?"
"Yes."
"Well then, you understand, don't you? How powerless I am."
Not just an ornament, but a toy... she said, bowing her head.
"I understand that you were trying to protect everyone as much as you could."
"Don't console me. I'd rather have you complain. Don't make me feel miserable."
And Yun-shoku held her head, ran her fingers through her hair, and let out a deep sigh. In a trembling voice, she expelled the dark emotions within her heart.
"Ah, I hate you. You, specifically. I just worked hard recklessly. Without knowing the direction, without producing any results. It all changed when you came. I started getting closer to my ideal, even if just a little. What... Haha, I start to wonder what my efforts were for."
It was truly an unfiltered truth. The raw and sincere emotions of a woman called Kaede Tomoe.
"Yun-shoku..."
"Maybe, I was expecting you to die? Ignoring reason and gain. But... Ah, it's frustrating."
My master cut the words once and laughed. She sipped and emptied the teacup. Along with the tea, it seemed like she was swallowing dark emotions.
"...Let's get to the main topic. The discussion about our future actions."
"...Won't you kill me?"
"Not directly from me. Being used as scapegoats for the executioners, leaving nothing behind. It's a pointless, impossible choice."
"That is..."
Denying it, I remain silent. From my standpoint, there was no point in denying those words, and above all, they were too convincing.
Certainly, there was a possibility of being silenced as a precautionary measure. So much talent has been used up until now. The addition of one more Yun-shoku shouldn't make much of a difference. I take a sip of tea and gather my thoughts before asking again.
"...What do you think will happen from now on?"
"It will surely become chaotic. The power dynamics within the Onitsuki family will be greatly disturbed."
Of course. The head of the clan tried to bring down the top candidate for the next head, who also happens to be his own daughter.
"Both you and I are involved in this case, so we will inevitably be caught up in the turmoil. We need to clarify our positions."
"...Once again, you're thinking quite strategically, aren't you?"
It was Aoi who inserted a sharp heckle from the side. Defiantly, she glares at Yun-shoku. Threateningly.
"...We are weak. In order to survive, strength is necessary, Princess?"
"It must be a mistake of your cunningness. He is my important retainer. He is different from a woman like you, who lacks any credibility."
Without delay, Aoi retorts with poison in her words. As she speaks, however, she suddenly wears a startled expression, as if she realizes something. Yun-shoku smiles.
"You have obtained a guarantee, huh... It's good, right? To be acknowledged as her retainer by the most potential candidate for the next head. You are a step above the servants."
"...What are you aiming for?"
While vaguely realizing the provocation from Yun-shoku towards Aoi, I confirm.
"Tomobe, you should climb higher. At least above Yun-shoku. If possible, even higher."
The words spoken by my master tighten my chest. Understanding their meaning, my feelings become overwhelmingly heavy.
"...I'll speak impolitely, but Yun-shoku, do you have any calculations in becoming an assistant of the head of the servant's group?"
"It's too impolite. Do you think I can survive?"
When it came to the head of the family, let alone anyone from the Aoi faction, there was no reason to keep her alive. More precisely, there was no reason to protect her. Her fate was sealed.
"Besides, escape is impossible because of this snake curse. ...In that case, there's no choice but to do what I can. They say it's better to regret doing something than regret not doing anything at all. Don't you agree?"
My master laughed and accepted the fate that awaited her.
"Yun-shoku..."
"Hmph. It's not just a troublesome task you've dumped on Tomobe. You're like a bug trying to give Tomobe homework so you can take it easy, aren't you?"
Before I could speak, Aoi spoke up. It was harsh. A contemptuous gaze was directed at Yun-shoku.
"What a terrible thing to say. ...Then, Tomobe, do you share the same thoughts?"
"I..."
Faced with the sudden question and responsibility, I fell silent. However, my master's words were indeed true. She would die. Be killed. But even after that, the servants would remain, and so would I. Cleanup and what comes after awaited.
"You should also have an attachment to the masses. Since there is a person who can be your support... you will ask for help, right? If you do well, you can use people as pawns and benefit from it, you know?"
"..."
My master appealed to emotions, reason, and desires. It was certainly an appealing and attractive proposal that stirred a sense of duty. Above all, I had experience working alongside her. I thought it wouldn't be long before I became overwhelmed with failures... or so I believed.
However,
"...I refuse. I have no intention of cleaning up after you."
I declared, pushing my master away. Yun-shoku was momentarily surprised by my words, but then understood, resigned, and sneered.
"...I see. That's a shame. Well, it's true that for someone like you, who has connections with princess and such, this poor selection is not needed——"
"——I want to learn a little more under Yun-shoku's guidance."
"Huh?"
In response to my request that interrupted Yun-shoku's words, a voice filled with confusion and astonishment came back. And by the way, Aoi beside me was equally surprised.
"Tomobe, are you... serious?"
"Yes, I am serious. I'm dead serious."
In an extravagant manner, I respond to Aoi's question.
"My cute, adorable disciple, are you in your right mind?"
"I am in my right mind, completely sober. ...Why is the questioning from Yun-shoku so harsh?"
I retort to my master's venomous remark. Then, I clear my throat and continue.
"...Leaving abilities aside, it's not appropriate for me to take the lead given our age difference. Seniors wouldn't be pleased, would they? Besides, I don't want to be in the forefront of resentment and bitterness by moving around."
"...So, you want me to be a shield, is that it?"
"To put it bluntly, yes."
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