Chapter 168-3


    [Part 3/4]


    "......"


    "If you distort it too much, it won''t fit in the sheath, and you won''t be able to draw it in a hurry. Be careful."


    To the seductive yet matter-of-fact remark, I respond with a short "Yes" after a brief silence. It was a word spun with renewed determination.


    "...Prepare for service by tomorrow. ...I''ll be attending a poetry gathering with that person from now on, so your assistance is unnecessary. I''ll inform him as well. First, strive for your own duties."


    "...Yes."


    "Good answer."


    And with that curt deration, thedy stood up. I lifted my head and looked up. Our gazes met as she looked down upon me, then I averted mine. Yet she still lowered hers with a carnivorous smile, just like her daughter.


    "Well then." With that concise dismissal, thedy left, dragging her steps. She slid the shoji paper door closed, exiting the room. Her presence faded away, yet I remained frozen in ce for a while longer... until I slouched and exhaled.


    I crawl pitifully, sweat flowing profusely. Damn, talking to that woman is always unpleasant. Would Gori-sama''s pressure interview seem a little better...?


    "Even so... Hah, for my own sake, huh?"


    I touched my cut neck. The thin, narrow scar felt as if it had been there for weeks... My body aches all over too. If what I was told was true, my muscles and bones should have been shattered and I should have been bedridden.


    (A monster...)


    I touched my stroked abdomen. In fact, it''s highly unlikely that I would have survived having my stomach cut open. How should I handle the worst-case scenario...? I want to avoid hurting anyone, especially Yukine, Mari, Magoroku, and Shiro. If only that old man had prepared something for me tomit suicide with...


    "...Iruka?"


    "You''re awake. Did your nose get better?"


    Without turning around, I knew who the presence behind me was. I slowly turned around. There stood a tall wolf girl with twitching animal ears...


    "It''s my ears. ...What are you doing here?"


    I answered with a dismissive tone and questioned her. She couldn''t have juste here to kill time... or maybe she did.


    "Don''t be so cold. By the way, were you thinking something rude? ...I was told toe and see you because I was worried."


    "...Well, you''re not the kind of person who would willingly show up. So, it was Tamaki''s order, right?"


    I figured out who sent Iruka. Or rather, she''s probably the only one this Ezo wolf would obediently follow.


    "I heard that Master summoned you. She asked me to look after you because you''re injured. She''s really a kindhearted person, isn''t she?"


    Iruka shrugged, exasperated by her master''s actions. She is indeed kindhearted. Too pure.


    "I see. Thanks for your help. ...How about you? Are you doing okay?"


    I asked specifically about the magical... I mean, Miyataka''s debaucherous Minister of the Left, who was rumored to be into crossdressing.


    It was the first time I had heard about this since I returned, and to be honest, my first concern was Tamaki''s purity. I was even prepared for her to be an addict and a wreck. I even doubted her sanity multiple times even after seeing her physically intact. That''s how dangerous the two people she met were.


    "? Nothing much. If I had to say anything, she''s annoyed at being made into a dress-up doll for that old hag."


    "Is that all?"


    "...Is that all?"


    "I see..."


    Ignoring Iruka''s strange gaze, I covered my mouth and pondered.


    (They say she immediately became unwell... didn''t she look closely at her face?)


    In the original story, the Minister of the Left immediately touched Tamaki as soon as they met, but they say he didn''t even talk at the meeting. He quickly suffered and left, and the meeting ended awkwardly. Such a convenient story... but that''s that crazy Minister. It''s hard to believe that he hasn''t interfered for more than a week, even with Tamaki "kun", whom he wrote letters to every day and met every other day. Did he really not look at his face?


    "What''s wrong? What are you thinking so deeply about? Is it a secret?"


    "No... it''s just my anxiety. Probably. I don''t hear many good things about Miyataka''s family. Be careful."


    "To be exact, you want me to protect Tamaki and Suzune, don''t you?"


    The wolf howls sarcastically and annoyingly.


    "I''m also concerned about your well-being, but..."


    "Probably about one percent or one tenth."


    "You got me."


    "Don''t admit it."


    We exchange a light-hearted words. The atmosphere rxed. Neither of us wanted a tense conversation.


    "You seem to be in good enough health to be sarcastic. I''ll let them know. ... If you have time,e by again? Tamaki and the others would be happy to wee you."


    "Yeah. If I have time."


    It''s a promise of unknown sincerity. At the same time, it was also Iruka''s way of being considerate. She gave me the opportunity to see Suzune, no, Yukine, my precious sister.


    I won''t have much time left, will I, to watch over my family...


    "...I''ll go see them when this job is over."


    I struggled to my feet. Lightly, but with all my gratitude, I passed by and left.


    At any rate, I was truly grateful for the hope I had just received to live.


    "... What a damp guy. Really."


    Ezo''s wolf shrugged her shoulders at the man who had disappeared beyond the veranda. She was dumbfounded by the man''s unchanged attitude.


    "Well, I guess you could say he''s true to himself."


    The wolfpared his friend''s maid and her brother, realizing how simr siblings can be. They both had a bad habit of being sharp-tongued, but they were also caring and loyal to a fault. Perhaps the sister took after her brother. It didn''t matter either way.


    "Thanks to you, I''m getting too attached to you too. Was I always this easy to bond with?"


    She thought she had a drier personality... She doesn''t even remember crying when her mother passed away. Maybe she has softened up since she moved to Tamaki family. And the images of her two friends crossed her mind.


    "Oh, I almost forgot to tell her..."


    And now, Iruka remembered it, but she was wondering how to convey it.


    "I don''t think she''ll react badly, will she?"


    The wolf was seriously contemting whether or not she should tell Suzune about her recent malepanionship, and how to do so.


    * * *


    It was the first day of the 7th month of the 14th year of Emperor Seiri''s reign. I had arrived at the imposing front gate.


    The Inner Pce, located in the center of the capital of Fusō-kuni, was a so-called "Ministry City". It housed facilities for official ceremonies, the Eight Ministries, other offices, bureaus, and academies, as well as barracks for the imperial guards and the treasury. With thousands of people working there at all times, it was the heart of the country, and the main gate guarded by guards in front of me was its entrance.


    ...Well, to be precise, there are other smaller gates, but for official business, it is customary to enter through the main gate at the front. So, in some cases, people end up making a huge detour. That''s why noble families build their mansions near the main gate to show off their status over lower-ranking nobles, warriors, and exorcists.


    "...Tomobe-san"


    "Oh, Shiro"


    Mounted on my ck horse, I looked down at the white fox by my side. The white fox looked up at me with a worried expression.


    I had been wondering who would be assigned to assist me with my duties, and while Magoroku was the obvious choice, I didn''t want him to be away from Mari. I was thinking of asking anotherborer, or even one of the servants, since the atmosphere wasn''t very good, but... I suspected conspiracy when I saw this young fox assigned to me on the day of the event.


    No matter how I felt personally, they were sending a half-youkai into the Inner Pce. I was worried that it would cause trouble... no, I was more worried about the white fox''s safety than my own status.


    "It would have been better if Princess had objected too..."


    "Well..."